Chapter 351 Using Both Kindness and Strictness
"Shh!"
As Tang Zhizhou pulled her inside, he whispered to her, "These two are indeed important figures we can't afford to offend, but they're not just some young masters and ladies; they are His Highness the Crown Prince and the Second Princess!"
"What?!"
The prefect's wife looked shocked and stopped to ask repeatedly, "Sir, is what you're saying true?"
"There's no mistake. I had the honor of meeting His Highness the Crown Prince many years ago when I was in the capital. It was him!"
"Heavens! What are His Highness the Crown Prince and the Second Princess doing here? No wonder they don't look like ordinary people..." After her initial shock, the Prefect's wife became excited. "I think the Princess is about the same age as our precious son. Children are at the age when they are very playful. I'll go and bring my son over. Maybe the two of them can play together, and we can even build a connection!"
I heard that the second princess was very favored. When the second princess was first found by the royal family, the news spread throughout the entire Yu Kingdom.
If the son could get his face in front of the second princess, the two could at least have a pretense of childhood friendship!
The prefect's wife was about to go and call for help when Prefect Tang stopped her, exasperated: "What are you calling for? Don't you even know what time it is!"
"Master, this is wonderful..."
"Even the best opportunity shouldn't be taken lightly. Didn't you hear His Highness the Crown Prince say that the situation is urgent? You need to suppress these inappropriate thoughts!" Prefect Tang said nervously. "I wonder what could have caused the two princes to come to me personally. Judging from their behavior just now, could it be that I did something wrong?"
"Oh? No way!" The prefect's wife was also startled. "My lord, you have always been diligent and conscientious, and you have never done anything wrong. Corruption, dereliction of duty, and such things should not be related to our prefect's office."
"Oh well, let's not worry about it. We're here now, so let's make the best of it. The two princes probably came here concealing their identities, and they only brought a maid with them... Hmm, it shouldn't be a matter of losing their heads!"
Prefect Tang flicked his sleeve. "We'll find out what it is when the time comes. Go quickly and tell the kitchen to prepare some flower tea and snacks that the children like. Judging from how much His Highness the Crown Prince dotes on the Princess, I have a feeling that pleasing the Second Princess is more important than pleasing His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Yes, sir, I will go and give the order right away!"
The couple split up; one went to prepare the food, while the other quickly went to the front hall.
In the front hall, the butler had already arrived with his men, and Xie Yun was sitting and waiting with Sheng Sheng.
They had been sitting for a while, and Xie Yunyang, estimating the situation in Shuimiao Village, felt somewhat impatient and dissatisfied as Tang Zhizhou had not yet arrived.
The butler carefully observed the expressions of the two men, and his heart was filled with anxiety.
Oh my lord, why haven't you come yet!
Sheng Sheng and Xie Yun have agreed that when necessary, one of them will play the "good cop" and the other the "bad cop," which will sometimes make things more efficient.
So Sheng Sheng crossed her arms, pouted, and asked the butler unhappily, "Where are they? Are you trying to make us wait a year?"
The little dumpling's delicate features furrowed, her brows slightly lowered, and her lips pouted just right, perfectly portraying the image of a spoiled princess.
Fortunately, the servants around the front hall had been dismissed, and since there was no one around, the butler didn't need to be careful about what he called others.
The butler shuddered, drenched in sweat: "Your Highness, please calm down. Our master will be here soon, very soon."
No sooner had the butler finished speaking than Prefect Tang entered, wiping his sweat.
Hearing the angry shouts, Prefect Tang immediately performed a sliding kneeling motion upon entering: "This humble official greets His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Second Princess!"
The butler, being very perceptive, also knelt down.
Xie Yunyang remained silent, propping her head up with one hand and tapping her fingers on the table with the other, seemingly impatient.
Prefect Tang glanced over furtively, his eyes meeting Xie Yun's, and immediately lowered his head.
"Sheng Sheng is getting impatient, brother, they're so slow!" Sheng Sheng complained to Xie Yunyang.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness, this humble official..."
"Alright." Xie Yun interrupted him and said slowly, "I heard that today is your son's birthday, and I was thinking of giving him a gift, but I haven't come across anything suitable to give to a child along the way, so I took the liberty of coming to bother you. Lord Tang, please don't blame me and Sheng Sheng for our intrusion."
"How could that be? Your Highnesses' presence at my humble abode is truly an honor! And also..."
"Alright, alright, stop talking, it's hurting my ears." Sheng Sheng pretended to pick at her ear and muttered.
"Oh, okay, okay, okay." Prefect Tang shut up.
"Sheng Sheng, you mustn't be rude." Xie Yun chuckled, speaking words of discipline, but his tone was extremely indulgent. "Lord Tang, you flatter me. Sheng Sheng is the youngest among us siblings, and we've spoiled him."
"Not at all, the Second Princess is charming and adorable, a true gem among men. It is only natural that she is so beloved by the princes."
Prefect Tang didn't dare to breathe too loudly when he spoke. His heart was pounding, and he felt like he had been slapped and then given a sweet treat.
The pressure was so intense that, after a while, Prefect Tang no longer dared to act recklessly.
This is the essence of combining kindness and severity.
The prefect's wife finally brought tea and refreshments with her maids. Just as she was about to greet the group, Ta Ying brought in the assistant prefect.
The magistrate's surname was Lin. Prefect Tang was quite surprised to see him and asked, "What brings you here?"
Lin Tongzhi was even more surprised: "Sir, didn't you send someone to summon me here, saying you had important matters to discuss?"
The two exchanged a glance, as if they understood something.
Prefect Tang hesitated, then looked at Xie Yun and asked, "Your Highness, what is this...?"
Xie Yun smiled and said, "No need for tea. My Sheng Sheng doesn't like snacks either. I appreciate your kindness. But for now, let's talk about something else."
Xie Yunyang glanced at Ta Ying and said, "Ta Ying, please briefly explain what happened."
"yes!"
After Ta Ying recounted the whole story, Prefect Tang's expression changed from confusion to surprise and solemnity, and finally he looked angrily at Assistant Prefect Lin.
Xie Yun-yang spoke in a flat tone, posing a probing question: "May I ask Magistrate Lin, why did you turn a blind eye to the villagers of Shuimiao Village reporting the matter to the authorities?"
"It's not that I'm turning a blind eye!"
Lin Tongzhi hurriedly tried to explain: "My lord, I didn't mean to not report this matter to you! Today is the young master's birthday. You dote on him, and you are usually busy with official duties. I was thinking that since you finally had some time to spend with him today, I thought we could discuss it tomorrow..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com