Chapter 303 Questioning
"What!" County Magistrate Jiao was so shocked that he stood up from his chair: "Who did you say is here?"
"My lord, it is... it is the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince of the Marquis of Xuanping's Mansion, the Second Rank General personally appointed by the current emperor!" The soldier who came to report hurriedly repeated it again.
"Hurry up, hurry up and go welcome the prince!" County Magistrate Jiao quickly brushed off his official uniform, straightened his official hat, and walked out.
"Sir, sir!" Master He said hurriedly, "This is not right!"
Hearing this, County Magistrate Jiao frowned and looked at Master He: "What's wrong?"
"Sir!" Master He hurriedly said, "Look, we just learned two days ago that the Crown Prince was heading south to provide disaster relief. Logically, our Yukang Mansion is located in a remote area, so why would the Crown Prince come to our Yukang Mansion first?"
"Hiss—" Just now, County Magistrate Jiao was stunned by the news of Huo Xifei's arrival. Now, hearing what Master He said, he couldn't help but suck his teeth. "Master, what you said makes sense. But, what do you think is the reason?"
"I don't know!" Master He said hurriedly, "But, sir, you'd better be careful!"
"Yes, I understand!" County Magistrate Jiao nodded. "Let's go and welcome the Crown Prince first. After all, the Emperor has personally sent someone south to provide disaster relief. We can't neglect him!"
"yes!"
"Your humble servant Jiao Haixing greets the Crown Prince!" After leaving the County Magistrate's Mansion, County Magistrate Jiao saw Huo Xifei standing outside the gate, and hurried forward to pay his respects!
The advisor and soldiers behind him all saluted!
Huo Xifei waved his folding fan, looking nonchalant. "Lord Jiao, the governor of Yukang Prefecture?"
"Yes, Prince, it's me!" Before Huo Xifei called out, County Magistrate Jiao did not dare to get up without permission. When he heard Huo Xifei's voice, he hurriedly responded respectfully.
"Master Jiao is very busy!" Huo Xifei continued to wave his folding fan, chuckled softly and said, "This prince wants to see Master Jiao, but he has to go through five gates and kill six generals. It seems that these soldiers of Master Jiao are guarding the gate very tightly!"
These words made County Magistrate Jiao break out in a cold sweat. He didn't know why the Prince of Xuanping Marquis was finding fault as soon as he arrived. Could it be that the County Magistrate's Mansion could be entered and exited as he pleased?
But thinking that he had no connection with this prince, he didn't think he had offended him in any way. He just thought that this prince just wanted to show his power!
So, Magistrate Jiao quickly said with a smile, "Your Highness, you are joking. These soldiers didn't know it was Your Highness who arrived, so they were quite negligent. If there is anything wrong, I will discipline them strictly."
"Strict discipline?" Huo Xifei snorted coldly upon hearing this. "Then let me ask you, how does Lord Jiao discipline his children? What kind of discipline does he want? Is he disciplining his soldiers, or is he disciplining his family members?"
"This..." County Magistrate Jiao smiled awkwardly: "Of course I will discipline them. As a county magistrate, I must restrain my subordinates and family members and prevent them from doing evil."
"Heh!" Yuan Ziyu couldn't help but sneer when he heard this.
County Magistrate Jiao had just seen Yuan Ziyu and thought he was Huo Xifei's attendant. Seeing Yuan Ziyu sneer, he dared not say a word.
Huo Xifei just smiled and said, "Don't dare to do evil? But from what I've heard along the way, that's not the case!"
"Replying to the Crown Prince!" When County Magistrate Jiao heard Huo Xifei say this, he thought he understood why Huo Xifei was finding fault with him, and hurriedly said, "I think the Crown Prince must have heard some bad things about me on the way here. I am aware of all this."
"What? Lord Jiao admits it?" Huo Xifei asked with a smile.
County Magistrate Jiao kowtowed and said, "Your Highness, please understand. I cannot acknowledge these things. Since I came to Yukang Prefecture as the county magistrate, I have made many drastic changes, which have offended some people. Since then, these people have been spreading unfavorable remarks about me from time to time. So...so, Your Highness, you cannot believe what you heard!"
"Unbelievable?" Huo Xifei raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile, "Then Lord Jiao, how can you prove that what you said is true?"
"Your Highness, Your Highness!" Magistrate Jiao said hurriedly, "Please understand, Your Highness, everything I say is true!"
"Is every word true?" Huo Xifei snorted coldly. "If what you say is true, then as a local official, you can't even suppress rumors that are unfavorable to you. How can you make this prince believe that you can govern this land well? And if what you say is false, then as a local official, you actually oppress the people and make their lives miserable. What crime should you be punished for?"
"Prince...Prince!" Huo Xifei's words made Jiao Jun Shou break out in a cold sweat. "It is my fault for failing to manage the situation well. I will definitely arrest and punish those who slandered my reputation one by one. Please forgive me this time, Prince. I was thinking of forgiving others before, so I didn't bother with those people. I originally thought that the innocent will be cleared, but who knew it would be... In short, I will definitely manage the situation well this time. Please give me a chance, Prince!"
Huo Xifei sneered inwardly as he listened to County Magistrate Jiao's high-sounding words, but now was not the time to get angry, so he smiled and said, "So, those are really rumors that slander Lord Jiao. If that's the case, Lord Jiao must take good care of Yukang Mansion. Lord, you may not know, but all I've heard along the way is unfavorable to you, so this prince is a little anxious. I hope Lord Jiao won't blame me!"
"I dare not, I dare not!" County Magistrate Jiao said repeatedly.
At this moment, Huo Xifei seemed to have just realized that County Magistrate Jiao was still kneeling, so he smiled and said, "It's my fault for making Lord Jiao kneel for so long. Hurry and get up!"
After hearing what Huo Xifei said, Jiao Jun Shou stood up and said to Huo Xifei with a smile: "Your Highness has come a long way. Come into the inner court to rest for a while and have a cup of fragrant tea."
"Good!" Huo Xifei folded his folding fan, clapped his hands and said, "I've always heard that the Yukang Mansion's Yusong Tea is mellow and refreshing. This prince has never had the chance to taste it. I think today I can finally enjoy it!"
County Magistrate Jiao said with a quick smile, "Your Highness, you also know about Jade Pine Tea. To be honest, although this Jade Pine Tea may not be as good as the four famous teas, it also has a unique flavor. Please come in, Your Highness. I will personally serve you tea!"
"Okay!" Huo Xifei turned to Yuan Ziyu with a smile and said, "Pingfeng, let's go and try this Yusong tea!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" Yuan Ziyu suppressed his laughter and responded quickly.
When they entered the inner court, County Magistrate Jiao personally served tea to Huo Xifei. Knowing that Yuan Ziyu was Huo Xifei's attendant, he did not dare to neglect him.
Huo Xifei held the teacup, carefully examined the tea, and asked County Magistrate Jiao, "The flood disaster is rampant now. The emperor has personally issued an edict ordering this prince to come to provide disaster relief. However, why do I not see many victims outside Yukang City? Why is that?"
Thanks to Ls, book friend 854***509, Lily, hlqa, Rose Home, and Snow Baby for their recommendation votesヾ(▽)ノ
(End of this chapter)
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