That cocky attitude really deserves a beating.

But in the room, apart from Xie Jingchen having no expression on his face, everyone else was more shocked than the other.

The first one who couldn’t believe it was Young Master Zheng.

Is he actually the Heir of Prince Zhenbei?!

The person he’s looking for is his wife, Princess Consort Zhenbei?!

And the County Magistrate and Master, they couldn’t even stand steady anymore.

They were about to bribe the Heir of Prince Zhenbei and the Heir of Marquis Jingguo?!

The County Magistrate was, after all, someone who had mingled in the bureaucratic circle, his mind reacted quickly, he turned his head and immediately scolded the Master for being blind and neglecting the two Young Masters, then said, "The matter of the passage fee was just a joke...."

A joke?

Xie Jingchen lifted his foot and directly kicked the County Magistrate flying.

The County Magistrate crashed onto the desk and fell down.

Chu Shun added a kick, and the Master was also thrown over.

The plaque hanging overhead, "Justice and Honor", dropped with a thud, directly knocking the County Magistrate unconscious.

As for the woman leaning against the County Magistrate, she was scared witless by what she saw, and without another thought for the County Magistrate, she turned and ran.

After beating the people, Xie Jingchen turned and left.

Chu Shun tucked the silver note into his pocket and followed closely behind.

Young Master Zheng was frozen there, Chu Shun turned and said, "Brother Zheng, let’s go."

Young Master Zheng snapped out of his shock and took steps to chase after them.

Chu Shun was talking to Xie Jingchen, "Later when we get back, we must coax sister-in-law to write a letter to the Capital to scold the Emperor a bit, what kind of lousy officials has he chosen?"

Young Master Zheng said awkwardly, "I didn’t know you two had such esteemed identities, I even addressed you as brothers..."

Chu Shun disagreed, "Brotherhood doesn’t depend on status."

Young Master Zheng gave a sheepish smile.

After kicking the people, everyone rode their horses back to the house.

Young Master Zheng had a request for Su Jin, while Chu Shun and the others dismounted, he was still riding on horseback.

"Get down," Chu Shun said.

Only then did Young Master Zheng dismount and follow behind Xie Jingchen and Chu Shun into the inner courtyard.

Upon entering the garden, they saw Su Jin feeding Little Princess with water.

Xingxing saw Xie Jingchen, quickly saying, "Miss, master is back."

Su Jin glanced over and saw Xie Jingchen, along with Young Master Zheng who was slightly behind.

Chu Shun called out to sister-in-law, Su Jin looked at Young Master Zheng, "Who is this...?"

"He’s our neighbor," Chu Shun replied.

After saying this, he casually gestured towards the direction of the garden.

Su Jin raised an eyebrow, "Isn’t Old Master Zheng...?"

Chu Shun was surprised, "Sister-in-law is really well-informed, his father got injured and came to find you for treatment at the military camp."

Su Jin, "...".

Fortunately.

Half of what was said left half unsaid, she thought Old Master Zheng had already...

Xingxing looked at Young Master Zheng and said, "In the morning I smelled the scent of burning paper money coming from next door."

Young Master Zheng quickly explained, "Father got injured and couldn’t go to the ancestral grave to pay respects, so I chose the closest spot in the house to burn some paper money, disturbing Princess Consort Zhenbei’s peace."

Burning paper money in one’s house is their own freedom and cannot be considered a disturbance, it’s just that the smell is a bit unpleasant.

Since Xie Jingchen and Chu Shun brought him before her, Su Jin would have to give face to Zheng Family, at least to the two of them.

"After lunch, I will go see Old Master Zheng’s arm," Su Jin said.

Young Master Zheng feared, "I wouldn’t dare to trouble Princess Consort Zhenbei to move, I’ll bring my father here later."

Su Jin, "...".

"Stop tormenting your father," Chu Shun said.

Sister-in-law surely still wants to go out for a stroll.

Isn’t that killing sister-in-law’s little plan in the cradle?

Young Master Zheng cupped his hands in gratitude, then bid farewell.

The maid escorted him out of the house.

Chu Shun poured himself tea and talked about Old Master Zheng’s injury and the event of Xie Jingchen kicking the County Magistrate earlier.

Xingxing listened, fuming with anger, "The city gate wasn’t built by the County Magistrate, opening the city gate costs a thousand taels, is he a County Magistrate or a bandit?!"

"How could the Emperor allow such people to become officials?"

Chu Shun thought there might be no need for encouragement, Xingxing the maid might just actively write a family letter to the Emperor.

Su Jin said, "The public sentiment at the border is unstable, the most needed are incorrupt officials to preside, understanding the people’s situation, letting these Nanliang people truly belong to our Daqi, how could the Emperor casually send someone?"

Although employed by the Emperor multiple times, Xie Jingchen still spoke a few words on behalf of the Emperor, "The County Magistrate is a small official, usually recommended by a note from the Ministry of Personnel, and approved by the Emperor if deemed suitable."

Charging a passage fee of three thousand taels, even claiming to pay tribute to Xie Jingchen and Su Jin under false pretenses, one look shows he excels at deceiving both superiors and subordinates, such a leech deserves more than just a kick.

Although Xie Jingchen was the Heir of Prince Zhenbei, the Prince Consort of the current dynasty, he really didn’t have the authority to dismiss a County Magistrate.

Such matters, it’s Su Jin who has to handle them.

Even though Su Jin didn’t have this authority, if she acted first and reported later, the Emperor wouldn’t criticize her, he might even reward her.

Of course, if he wanted to manage, he would surely endure a scolding.

Xie Jingchen, "...".

What he could do was have someone bring the ones knocked out by the plaque to Su Jin for her to deal with.

During lunchtime, the Hidden Guard brought the County Magistrate and Master over.

With a kick.

The two fell to the ground with a thud.

The sound of them hitting the ground was harsh to hear, their knees hurting.

The County Magistrate repeatedly admitted his mistakes.

Su Jin had the County Magistrate dragged away, and questioned the Master first.

The court had not held examinations, this County Magistrate must have been transferred from elsewhere.

The border is bitterly harsh, it’s a hardship assignment, usually filled by those who have made mistakes elsewhere.

Asking the County Magistrate might not reveal the truth, and if Master wanted to survive, he had to be honest.

Sure enough.

Before coming to the border, this County Magistrate was a Magistrate, accepting bribes at his duty station and was impeached, found guilty, demoted, and sent to the border.

"Just demoted, didn’t know how to restrain himself, and dared to intensify his reckless behavior?" Su Jin said sternly.

Master didn’t dare lift his head to look at Su Jin, his head lowered as he said, "Having served as a Magistrate for three years, Master couldn’t endure the pain of demotion and planned to squeeze a bit more from these Nanliang people, to flex upon returning to the Capital to become a Magistrate again."

Who would have thought he just reached out to grab and caught two hot potatoes.

The County Magistrate regrets too late. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Up till now, the County Magistrate didn’t realize that most of the money he grabbed in office was used for flexing, yet still demoted.

How could he have guessed that the impeachment letter came from the military camp, it was written by Xingxing?

Demoted from Magistrate to County Magistrate, if he had mended his ways that’s one thing, but instead stumbled into Su Jin’s hands.

Especially, Master’s words about Nanliang people annoyed Su Jin.

Precisely because there are such parent officials at the border, it’s unstable and leads to chaos.

Su Jin waved her hand, "Remove his official hat, hang him in the government office for two days, then escort him back to the Capital."

Sister-in-law is fierce!

Chu Shun admired her extremely.

Though everyone knew Su Jin’s way of handling things was acting first and reporting later, the court doesn’t allow such actions, but Su Jin did good deeds and the Emperor adored her, hence no one interrupted.

Besides, this was all Xie Jingchen’s coaxing, wasn’t it?

If he hadn’t brought the person to Su Jin, she wouldn’t have gone to the government office to handle this trivial matter.

However, since it was handled, it couldn’t be half-hands-on, who knows what kind of individual the court will send next, Su Jin said, "Given your mention of Old Master Zheng, I feel he would be suitable for being this County Magistrate."

Firstly, Old Master Zheng has experience as an official, only being too principled, not suitable for bureaucratic maneuvering.

But Su Jin admires this indomitable character.

With her as Princess Consort Zhenbei as the backing, there’s no fear of him making blunders because he doesn’t tolerate sand in his eyes.

Secondly, Old Master Zheng used to be a Nanliang person, now a Daqi person.

This town has too many people like him.

And Old Master Zheng is quite respectable, with him as County Magistrate, being their parent official, these people wouldn’t feel uneasy in their hearts, without a sense of belonging.

Su Jin’s arrangement, Xie Jingchen’s lips curled slightly.

Chu Shun looked at Su Jin with a peculiar gaze.

Seeing this, Su Jin said, "What are you looking at me like for?"

"Too bad sister-in-law is a woman, it would have been great if you were a man," Chu Shun said regretfully.

"...".

Xie Jingchen’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

He has heard this comment more than just once!