Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 955 - 930: Quibbling

County Magistrate Zhou was taken aback, quickly turning to look at Xie Jue, the government officials reacted even faster, unsheathing their knives in unison to block Xie Jue’s path. Fang Chuning grabbed Xie Jue’s wrist, protecting him by her side, and with a cold gaze directed at the shocked County Magistrate Zhou, said in a deep voice, "What audacity you have!"

County Magistrate Zhou felt a chill throughout his body; he never expected someone like Yama from the rumors would appear in Pingnan County. Prince Yan, Xie Jue... a surname of Fang... that means the person with him is Fang Chuning? The rumored-to-be-dead Fang Chuning is still alive and appearing with Xie Jue in Pingnan County, what for? Is it a disguised inspection? Does Xie Jue know everything about Pingnan County, and would he still survive? This could be a crime that leads to extermination of the entire family!

"Your... Your Highness... are you Prince Yan?" County Magistrate Zhou’s voice trembled, his legs went weak, nearly causing him to kneel. The steward and others also came, each stunned beside him.

"Now that you know His Highness is here in person, do you still dare to confront with arms? Are you tired of living?" Fang Chuning shouted sharply. The Ningzhou Iron Cavalry had not yet arrived in Pingnan County, so Fang Chuning did not dare be too reckless, fearing County Magistrate Zhou might have a concealed dagger ready, but in this situation, County Magistrate Zhou likely wouldn’t let them leave.

County Magistrate Zhou was frightened. With the kind of reputation Xie Jue had in the rumors, there were no officials in Beining who weren’t afraid of him; his reputation alone was intimidating. County Magistrate Zhou quickly came to his senses; actually, the identities of Xie Jue and Fang Chuning were obvious. He had already believed it; such demeanor and authority couldn’t possibly be cultivated by the children of ordinary clans. Xie Jue and Fang Chuning also possessed a similar imposing manner akin to iron-blooded generals. County Magistrate Zhou’s heart pounded, knowing he had committed a grave mistake, hurriedly ordering the government officials holding weapons to fall back, "Stand down, stand down, all obey my orders and stand down..."

He shouted himself hoarse, and the group of officials quickly retreated to the side, not daring to step forward without County Magistrate Zhou’s orders. County Magistrate Zhou’s thin official robe was soaked with cold sweat, especially when he saw Xie Jue’s cold and eerie gaze, he was frightened into speechlessness and fell to his knees, "This official Zhou Ming greets Your Highness. I did not know Your Highness was gracing us with your presence, this official... this official deserves death a thousand times!"

County Magistrate Zhou kneeled, and the steward, officials, and others beside him also kneeled one after another. Xie Jue sneered, "Mr. Zhou, this ceremony, I cannot accept."

County Magistrate Zhou, drenched in cold sweat, prostrated himself on the ground, his body slightly trembling with fear.

*

In the main hall of the county government, County Magistrate Zhou had dismissed everyone, privately meeting with Xie Jue and Fang Chuning, still kneeling and not daring to rise. The servant presented tea, which Xie Jue did not touch, simply looking at him coldly, "Since you confessed, what crimes do you confess to?"

Of course, County Magistrate Zhou knew he had committed a heinous crime; he didn’t dare to enumerate his offenses, knowing full well they were intentional. However, he had his explanations, "This official shouldn’t have superficially complied while secretly resisting, shouldn’t have failed to implement new policies, nor properly settled the Beiman people, and also secretly collaborated with robbers to suppress the Beiman people. But Your Highness, this official truly has difficulties."

Fang Chuning stood beside Xie Jue with a sword, feeling uncomfortable seeing this treacherous official pretending to justify himself. This person’s acting skills were far greater than his ability to govern, a pity indeed.

"What difficulties do you have?" Xie Jue’s voice revealed no trace of emotion. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

County Magistrate Zhou’s eyes filled with tears, couldn’t help but pour out his grievances, "Your Highness may not know, the Pingnan County Government, according to regulations, has only over one hundred and twenty officials, but needs to manage nearly ten thousand people across surrounding towns and villages. Every year during busy farming seasons like spring plowing and autumn harvest, manpower is severely lacking. These two seasons are the most prone to incidents, and the government simply cannot handle it all. Often, we have to ask clans for help, so everywhere in Pingnan County there’s reliance on personal relationships. Implementing new policies is truly difficult. All the major clans are protesting, unwilling to return the land. The government wants to give them subsidies, but the clans are unwilling. They cannot give up the land they rely on for survival. We usually rely on clans for assistance when there’s trouble, so we cannot forcefully implement new policies. If we want to, we lack personnel. The government officers and officials are all locals from Pingnan County, each with lands and ancestral properties. Who would want to take back their land? Implementation of new policies is very slow. The government had no choice but to persuade clans to recover half of the land, now unified under government management but not yet distributed to the common people."

Xie Jue thought to himself, such clever rhetoric and deceit!