Slap him!
Prefect Wang's fierce yet cowardly roar echoed in the courtroom.
Two fierce-looking constables, wielding fire and water clubs powerful enough to break bones, pounced on Xiao Che with savage grins on their faces!
In their eyes, this reckless out-of-town businessman will be severely punished today, if not killed!
The crowd outside the courtroom screamed in terror. Some of the more timid people even instinctively closed their eyes, unable to bear witnessing the bloody scene that was about to unfold.
On the faces of Young Master Gao and Gao Changsheng, a morbid, sinister smile filled with vengeful pleasure appeared!
beat!
Beat them hard!
Kill this bastard who has ruined their plans time and time again!
However, just a split second before the two whistling water and fire sticks were about to strike Xiao Che—
A cool, emotionless voice, slowly yet clearly, resounded in everyone's ears.
"Let's see who dares!"
The sound, though not loud, seemed to contain some strange magic, causing the two constables to freeze instantly!
Xiao Che remained calm and composed, without even changing his posture.
He simply and slowly took something out of his pocket.
It was not a dragon-shaped jade pendant symbolizing supreme imperial power, but a waist plaque that was entirely black, of unknown material, and engraved with only an ancient character "察" (cha).
He subtly flashed the waist token in front of everyone, then, in a tone so calm it bordered on disdain, said:
"I am a distant cousin of Governor Wang of the Imperial Censorate in the capital. I have been ordered by Governor Wang to inspect the conditions of the people in Jiangnan!"
"You... dare to touch me?"
Boom!!!
The three words "Censorate" struck like a thunderbolt from the heavens, hitting all the officials present hard on the head!
The two constables at the forefront dropped their fire-and-water clubs to the ground with a clatter! Their legs trembled violently, and their faces turned deathly pale in an instant!
In the courtroom, Prefect Wang, who had just been so imposing and arrogant, felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water, and his spirits were completely dampened from head to toe!
With a "thud," his massive body slid off the official chair that symbolized authority and collapsed to the ground!
Censorate!
That's the Censorate!
It is the nightmare of all officials in the world! It is the sharpest guillotine hanging over their heads, ready to fall at any moment!
Let alone a mere prefect of Jiangnan, even the governor-general of Jiangnan Circuit would be terrified to the point of wetting his pants upon hearing the words "Censorate"!
He... he actually... offended someone from the Censorate?!
It’s over!
This time, it's really over! Even the grass on our graves will be dug up!
“Lord Wang… Lord Wang?” Xiao Che looked at Prefect Wang, who was slumped on the ground and trembling like a Parkinson’s patient, and a “kind” smile appeared on his face.
He slowly walked forward, put the waist token that he had made up to bluff people back into his pocket, and then, looking down at Prefect Wang, began his verbal sparring performance in a "meaningful" tone.
"Lord Wang, please don't be so nervous. I'm not here to investigate you, I'm just... here to sit in on the proceedings."
He paused, then changed the subject, his "kind" smile instantly turning cold and oppressive!
"but……"
"Speaking of which, I am reminded of a clause in the 'Great Liang Law Commentary' that I would like to discuss with you, Lord Wang."
The Great Liang Code Commentary?!
Prefect Wang's heart skipped a beat!
It should be noted that the "Great Liang Code" is the general outline of the laws of this dynasty. It is a huge volume, and even officials of the Dali Temple who are in charge of criminal cases could not possibly memorize it all!
This guy actually knows the "Great Liang Code" by heart!
He...he really is a member of the Censorate!
Xiao Che ignored his ghost-like expression, instead walking unhurriedly through the courtroom with his hands behind his back, quoting classical texts in a melodious, teacher-like tone.
"The *Daliang Lüshu*, Volume 3, Criminal Law Section, Article 7, states—"
"Any local official who hears of injustice and ignores it, resulting in death or injury, shall be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane and exiled three thousand li!"
Its commentary further states—
"Any local official who colludes with local powerful figures to oppress the good and honest, or who bends the law for personal gain, shall be punished even more severely! He shall be dismissed from his post, investigated, his property confiscated, and his entire family, including three generations of his clan, shall never be employed again!"
With each word he spoke, Prefect Wang's face grew paler!
In the end, Prefect Wang was completely limp and soaked in cold sweat!
He... he had no idea whether these two articles actually existed in the "Great Liang Code Commentary"!
but!
Xiao Che's confident and effortless demeanor, along with his powerful and undeniable aura, left him no room for doubt!
He could only watch helplessly as Xiao Che ruthlessly slapped one heavy label after another, enough to crush him completely, onto his head!
Lin Wanwan stood to the side, watching her husband's serious yet nonsensical appearance, and almost laughed her back off!
The Great Liang Code Commentary?
Damn the Liang Dynasty legal code!
That thing was something Xiao Che had the Hanlin Academy compile for fun after he ascended the throne, when he was bored! Forget about the seventh article of the third volume, that thing wasn't even finished in the first volume yet!
This guy... he's practically the grandmaster of getting something for nothing!
Using laws that haven't even been promulgated yet to judge the officials under his command!
That move was absolutely outrageous!
Just as Prefect Wang was terrified, Xiao Che finally stopped.
He slowly turned around, his deep eyes filled with a cold, undisguised killing intent!
He walked step by step to Prefect Wang, slowly squatted down, and said in a low voice that only the two of them could hear:
"Lord Wang."
"As an official appointed by the imperial court, you receive the emperor's salary and bear the emperor's worries. You should stand up for the people and bring peace to the world."
"But what about you?"
"Instead of thinking about serving the people, you collude with local rats like the Gao family! You're in cahoots!"
His voice suddenly rose, and his questioning tone was like a heavy hammer, slamming into Prefect Wang's already broken heart!
"Just how much benefit did the Gao family give you?!"
"You dare to gamble away your own life?!"
"I...I didn't...I'm innocent..."
Terrified by these hurtful words, Prefect Wang burst into tears, becoming incoherent and unable to utter a single word except to cry out that he was innocent.
The people outside the courtroom finally realized what was happening!
Censorate!
This legendary organization, which is said to strike fear into the hearts of all officials, has actually sent people!
Moreover, they came to seek justice for ordinary people like them!
"The prefect and the Gao family are in cahoots!"
"Severely punish corrupt officials! Severely punish corrupt officials!"
"Master Xiao, you are a righteous and upright official!"
At this moment, the pent-up public anger finally erupted!
The shouts of the people were like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing, almost lifting the roof off the entire government office!
As Prefect Wang listened to the deafening shouts around him and looked at the "Master Xiao" who was like a demon god, controlling his fate, he knew that if he didn't find a scapegoat today, he would never be able to get away with this peacefully!
His survival instinct kicked in, and he abruptly raised his head, turning his gaze, filled with resentment and anger, towards the culprit who had dragged him down with him—
Mr. Gao!
He leaped to his feet, pointed at the already pale-faced young master, and roared hoarsely:
"Gao Chang Gong!"
"In this case, there are both witnesses and physical evidence! Your cousin, Gao Changsheng, is unforgivable!"
"What else do you have to say?!"
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