The soldier slowly raised his head.
What did the Marshal ask just now? He actually asked if he smelled of alcohol. The regent of Dayan had led troops for many years and had drunk a lot, but he was actually afraid of a little girl.
The soldier said: "A little bit..."
"Keep watching and report her movements to me at any time."
"Yes! Master Jiu! I'll take my leave!"
Back in the corridor, Jiu Ye winked at Lieutenant Xiao, who immediately understood and went to bring over a large stack of rice paper. He worked on the paper while grinding it. Just then, a soldier came in and whispered something to Lieutenant Xiao, who flew into a rage: "This is outrageous! Bring it in and let Jiu Ye deal with it!"
Lu Zhenzhi walked back to the chief and sat down. Lieutenant General Xiao said, "Master Jiu, the magistrate of Liushui County refused the order from your headquarters to issue a notice to collect road and bridge taxes from salt merchants, saying that you couldn't make the decision and it wasn't your business. Now the person has been captured."
As they spoke, two soldiers had brought Liushui County Magistrate Shu Mu'an before Jiu Ye. Duan Sihai, the salt smuggler, secretly thought it would be fine if Jiu Ye didn't prosecute him. Prosecuting the Liushui County Magistrate would be like investigating Duan Sihai, and he wouldn't have to drag Duan Jiazhuang into the matter, angering the owner of Duan Jiazhuang and ruining his own financial resources while also bringing him into the spotlight.
Deputy General Xiao cursed: "You are a Liushui County Magistrate, what's your name!"
When Shu Mu'an saw Deputy General Xiao beside Jiu Ye, he looked at him with contempt and lowered his head: "Your humble servant Shu Mu'an." There was not a trace of respect for Deputy General Xiao in his tone, and it was even full of contempt and disdain.
But then, he spotted His Royal Highness, Prince Hui, the 12th Prince, standing beside the Ninth Master. He was wondering, if His Royal Highness wasn't the most disliked by the Emperor, why was he accompanying Regent Prince Chun on his southern tour? Was he doing so at the Emperor's behest, or had he joined Regent Prince Chun's side?
Just as he was lost in thought, he heard Deputy General Xiao say, "How daring of you! Jiu Ye's headquarters issued you a summons, why did you refuse to appear?"
Shu Mu'an looked up at Prince Hui and said, "The Grand Master of the Palace informed me in advance that Concubine Yu was about to give birth, and asked me to prepare gifts and send them to her, so I didn't have time to read the Ninth Master's order."
His Royal Highness Prince Hui sneered: "What the hell is this Great Thousand Years Old? How dare you disobey the orders of the Ninth Prince? I think you are tired of living."
Then he turned to the Ninth Master and said, "Uncle Ninth, why keep such a cunning official around? He keeps talking about the Great Thousand Years Old. If the big brothers in the palace knew that someone was using him for entertainment like this, they would have him executed!"
Jiu Ye supported his knees with a cold face and said calmly: "Shu Mu'an——"
Deputy General Xiao has followed Master Jiu for many years and knows that the quieter this commander is, the more dangerous he is.
Shu Mu'an knelt in front of Jiu Ye. Although he did not hear Jiu Ye get angry, he felt a strong sense of oppression coming from the regent Prince Chun who was standing high above him.
Then I heard Jiu Ye shout: "Dismiss him from his post, imprison him, and never employ him again! Drag him out and give him twenty lashes."
Shu Muan was frightened out of his wits.
At this moment, General Yi Huoqi suddenly came in quickly from outside the Taimiao with a small soldier.
"Nineth Master!"
The soldier lowered his head and said nothing, following closely behind General Yi.
A hint of surprise flashed in Jiu Ye's eyes, and he propped himself up on his knees, stood up, and said, "You Yi, sit down for a moment." He then turned to the soldier behind him and said, "You, follow me."
Shu Mu'an was dragged out by Deputy General Xiao and his men, stripped of his clothes, tied to a tree, and whipped with twenty canes. Finally, he was stripped of his official uniform and taken to prison.
Inside the Taimiao, Jiu Ye led the soldier through many twists and turns and entered an uninhabited villa. As soon as they reached the door of the wing room, Jiu Ye pushed the vermilion door open.
Here, it is shabby, covered with cobwebs and dust.
The soldier followed Jiu Ye in.
"Close the door." Jiu Ye walked up to the pale statue, put his hands behind his back, and said calmly.
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