Chu Shun looked at Young Master Zheng’s attire, and it wasn’t much different from theirs.

Chu Shun was puzzled, "Ancestral worship is a big deal, shouldn’t the government office make some concessions?"

One should not forget their ancestors, that’s fundamental.

At the border, the people can’t decide which country they belong to; they belong to the strong.

The border folk are the least willing to engage in war, because living here, they might have not only Daqi blood but also Nanliang blood.

No matter which side they stand on, the blade in their hands would stab their own brothers.

Going out of the city to worship ancestors is reasonable, even if the government office doesn’t compromise, money could pave the way.

The Zheng family is wealthy; spending some money is better than Old Master Zheng taking a side route, right?

Talking about this, Young Master Zheng was filled with anger. Looking at Chu Shun, he swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue.

"What’s wrong?" asked Chu Shun.

Young Master Zheng shook his head, "Brother Chu, we are not like you; we’ve only been Daqi people for two months, not good to criticize the court."

Chu Shun chuckled, "I thought it was something serious, just go ahead and say it."

"Then I’ll curse," declared Young Master Zheng.

"...."

Young Master Zheng was truly angered, saying, "When the city was about to fall, the County Magistrate ran away with his family, and the Daqi County Magistrate just arrived a few days ago."

"My father and I went to see the County Magistrate, asking if we could go out of the city to worship our ancestors."

"The County Magistrate praised my father’s filial piety and agreed to let us pass."

"My father and I thought the County Magistrate sent by the court was a good official, reasonable and understanding. However, the reason he was so agreeable was conditional, demanding a thousand taels as a bribe... "

A thousand taels of silver, the Zheng family could afford it, but giving it wasn’t satisfying.

Especially since Old Master Zheng is a stubborn person, not tolerating any nonsense, in his younger years, he even scored high in the exams, but his straightforward personality almost cost him his life after half a year in the officialdom.

The Zheng family reached Old Master Zheng’s generation with only one son, a sole heir, and the Zheng family didn’t seek his fame or fortune, just wished for him to live a stable life, not to cut off the family lineage.

The Old Madam of the Zheng family felt Old Master Zheng wasn’t fit for officialdom and forced him to resign and return home.

His straightforward nature couldn’t mix in the officialdom, nor could he do business.

Previously, the Old Madam of the Zheng family held things together, later it was Mrs. Zheng managing, and now Young Master Zheng handles things independently.

As for Old Master Zheng, he immersed himself in writing and painting; his calligraphy was excellent, and his painting was even better.

If someone else were in this situation, they might not only give a thousand taels but would offer two or three thousand taels to curry favor with the new County Magistrate, to secure peace for the Zheng family.

But with the stubborn Old Master Zheng, it was already good enough he didn’t curse the County Magistrate; how could he possibly assist tyranny?

Huffing and puffing, he returned to the mansion, clutching the painting meant for the County Magistrate.

Hmm.

The painting the County Magistrate didn’t accept, Su Jin and his group coincidentally moved to the small courtyard and used it as a congratulatory gift.

The rest was clear.

Old Master Zheng gambled on this breath and ended up suffering greatly.

Young Master Zheng sighed.

Even at his father’s age, he still had a sharp edge, whereas he himself was already more tactful than his father.

In most families, it’s the father worrying about the son, but in their family, it’s the son worrying about the father.

Chu Shun laughed mischievously. Young Master Zheng looked at him, and Chu Shun said, "Don’t worry, your father’s temperament is rare. He’ll definitely suit my sister-in-law, and she’s sure to treat your father."

Young Master Zheng was bewildered.

Sister-in-law?

Doesn’t the Heir of Prince Zhenbei only have one brother?

And that brother colluded with Nanliang and was escorted to the Capital. By now, his head should have fallen.

However, since Chu Shun said he would help heal his father, Young Master Zheng didn’t ask further. After all, he wasn’t that familiar with Chu Shun and his group; how could he be suspicious when they offered help?

Young Master Zheng held back his questions on the way back, thinking of asking when he returned to the mansion.

Who knew Chu Shun and Xie Jingchen would pass by the alley leading to the mansion and head to the government office instead.

As County Magistrate, having just taken office and already daring to extort so brazenly, how could Xie Jingchen and Chu Shun tolerate it?

This is the border, especially territory reclaimed from Nanliang.

The people here haven’t yet developed a strong sense of belonging to Daqi and might even lean more towards Nanliang.

Now, with such a local official, it’s bound to destroy any goodwill towards the court, making the people wish for Nanliang to retake the city!

These captured cities should not only be managed but managed well.

Before any adverse effect arises, it should be nipped in the bud.

Xie Jingchen and Chu Shun visited the County Magistrate intending to request permission to leave the city.

However, it wasn’t the County Magistrate who met them but the Master.

The Master didn’t recognize Xie Jingchen or Chu Shun but had an impression of Young Master Zheng.

The Master chuckled, "Young Master Zheng, why are you back again?"

Young Master Zheng glanced at Chu Shun and Xie Jingchen before saying, "We want to leave the city."

The Master waved his fan, laughing, "That’s easy, three thousand taels."

Xie Jingchen’s eyes turned cold.

Chu Shun laughed, "Three thousand taels? Isn’t that a bit too expensive?"

The Master sat down, sipping tea, "Our County Magistrate agrees to open the city gates at the risk of losing his head, asking for more money, but not keeping a penny, all to pay respects to those above."

"Above?" Chu Shun was curious.

"Who exactly ’above’?"

"Isn’t the County Magistrate the highest authority here, given the distance from the Emperor?"

The Master enjoyed hearing this, laughing, "Who else but the most honored identity at the border?"

"Naturally, it’s the Heir of Prince Zhenbei and his wife."

"The Emperor’s most beloved princess."

Chu Shun’s mouth twitched, glancing at Xie Jingchen, "So the three thousand taels are for bribing the Heir of Prince Zhenbei and his wife?"

The Master didn’t speak, sipping his tea.

Xie Jingchen looked at Chu Shun and said, "Pay up."

Chu Shun, "...."

Young Master Zheng, "...."

Chu Shun looked at Xie Jingchen reluctantly, "Do we really have to pay?"

Xie Jingchen remained silent.

Chu Shun took out a five thousand tael silver note from his pocket.

When the Master was about to take it, Chu Shun pulled his hand back, "Let your County Magistrate come out, such a big matter, you as a Master can’t be the one to decide."

The Master wasn’t angry, quickly glancing at the government official.

The government official went to find the County Magistrate.

The County Magistrate arrived quickly; after all, three thousand taels wasn’t a small sum.

As the County Magistrate walked over, he was accompanied by a woman, charming and graceful, her body seemed to cling to the County Magistrate’s.

While walking out, the County Magistrate was playing with the woman’s hand, impatiently glancing their way.

The first glance didn’t matter.

Then he quickly glanced again.

And then—

The County Magistrate’s face turned pale.

"The Heir of Marquis Jingguo?!"

His voice trembled.

Chu Shun snapped the fan open with a pop, patting Xie Jingchen’s chest, "See, this is the benefit of wandering the streets aimlessly, even the smallest officials recognize me."

"You, on the other hand, the mighty Heir of Prince Zhenbei, as the Prince Consort carrying the token, might even be suspected of being an imposter."

His words were filled with smugness.