County Magistrate Zhang, What an Impressive Display of Authority
The main hall of the County Yamen.
County Magistrate Zhang was still handling official business.
The past few days have been peaceful, and the anxiety that had been hanging in his throat has finally subsided.
It seems that although this His Highness the Heir is arrogant and domineering, he still respects the reputation of the Prince Ning's Residence and the Immortal's prestige, and has not acted recklessly.
That's good; it's like inviting an ancestor back to be worshipped.
As long as this ancestor behaves himself, everything will be fine.
However, despite his high hopes, reality dealt County Magistrate Zhang a harsh blow.
"Your Excellency, something terrible has happened!"
A flustered Yamen Runner rushed into the main hall, his voice trembling with excitement.
County Magistrate Zhang's hand, which was holding the pen, trembled violently. He looked up and quickly asked:
What happened?
"The Prince Ning's Heir caused trouble at the Drunken Immortal Tower, injuring not only the restaurant's staff and manager, but also sending men to break down the door and forcibly abduct Xiucai Liu's daughter."
Upon hearing the Yamen Runner's words, County Magistrate Zhang dropped his writing brush to the ground with a thud, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him.
He had heard of Xiucai Liu's daughter, whom the Yamen Runner had mentioned. She was the most talented woman in Heyang County, well-educated, beautiful and intelligent, and second only to his own daughter in beauty.
She and her daughter were known as the Heyang’s Twin Beauties.
He was initially relieved that the Prince Ning's Heir hadn't caused any trouble.
But he never expected that,
His first move resulted in such a terrible disaster.
Beating civilians and abducting women in broad daylight is a serious crime.
"Outrageous! Utterly outrageous!"
County Magistrate Zhang, rubbing his forehead in anger, roared.
Things are different now. He is intolerant of any wrongdoing now, and he would never allow outsiders to run rampant on his turf.
Even if the other party is of noble birth, a member of the royal family, so what?
"Where is Constable Chen? Let him take his men and accompany me."
"Reporting to Your Excellency, Constable Chen has already led his men to the Drunken Immortal Tower, but the Prince Ning's Heir's guards are blocking them from entering and preventing them from disturbing the Prince's enjoyment."
"Very well, you use the people under my rule as a source of amusement."
County Magistrate Zhang was so enraged that he gritted his teeth.
"Summon all the yamen runners and Yamen Runner, and bring their weapons. I want to have a good talk with this Prince Ning's Heir."
After saying that,
County Magistrate Zhang lifted the hem of his official robe and stormed out of the County Yamen hall.
Outside the Drunken Immortal Tower,
By this time, a large number of people had gathered.
Constable Chen and his men were in a tense standoff with the guards of Prince Ning's Residence.
In the crowd, an old Xiucai dressed in a simple robe sat slumped on the ground, wailing and crying out in grief. The people around him were all moved to tears by what they heard.
"In broad daylight, under the clear sky, a man broke into a woman's home and forcibly took her away. Is there no justice? Is there no law?"
"My daughter... my daughter..."
"..."
As time went on, more and more people gathered.
After learning the whole story, the people were like dry tinder that had been ignited, instantly erupting into a raging fire of anger.
"How dare they abduct a woman in broad daylight! They're worse than animals!"
"This is outrageous! How could such a horrific atrocity happen in my Heyang County?"
"The last person to do something like this was the county magistrate's brother-in-law, and he ended up in jail and hasn't been released yet."
"I heard that the person inside is the heir of the Prince of Prince Ning's Residence."
"So what if he's the heir of the Prince of Prince Ning's Residence? My Heyang County is a blessed land where Immortals descended, and even princes and nobles cannot act recklessly here."
"To pollute a blessed land will incur the wrath of the Immortals, who will unleash divine punishment."
"That's right. If we stand idly by and do nothing, the Immortals will surely blame us when they find out."
"That's right, release them, release them immediately."
Release them.
"..."
In an instant, public opinion surged and people became indignant.
The guards from the royal palace at the entrance of Drunken Immortal Tower initially paid no attention, as such things were perfectly normal in Zhenning City.
His Highness the Heir does this kind of thing every now and then.
Who in the entire Zhenning City dared to say anything? Let alone these lowly commoners, even the Prefect of Zhenning City wouldn't dare to meddle.
Even when the prince and princess found out, they simply smiled indifferently and didn't take it seriously at all.
What they didn't expect was that...
Such an impoverished county has somehow stirred up public resentment.
Aren't these country bumpkins afraid of death?
With the number of people gathering approaching a thousand, all of them agitated and glaring angrily, the guards began to panic.
They were indeed the elite of the Prince's mansion, but their numbers numbered only 30, which was no match for the dozens of armed Constables and the thousands of enraged civilians.
"Let us in."
With a face full of anger, Constable Chen shouted sternly.
"No, without His Highness the Heir's order, none of you are allowed to step inside."
The guards were still holding on.
They were guards of the Prince's mansion, and their duty was to obey the Prince's orders. Without the Prince's permission, even if the sky were to fall, they could not retreat even a single step.
"Stop wasting words with them, charge in!"
Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, a majestic and domineering voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.
The crowd dispersed, and County Magistrate Zhang led dozens of Constables Yamen Runner runners in quickly.
I'd like to see who dares.
Upon hearing this, the guards of the Prince's Palace immediately drew their long swords and shouted coldly.
"I dare."
County Magistrate Zhang stepped forward and shouted loudly.
"This is Heyang County, not your Zhenning City. Everyone, listen to my command! Charge into the building! Anyone who dares to resist or obstruct will be killed without mercy!"
Upon seeing the county magistrate appear, the Yamen Runner Constable immediately felt as if they had found their pillar of support.
Upon hearing the county magistrate's domineering words again, I felt my blood boil.
"Clang--"
Soon, the only sounds in the room were the sounds of constables and Yamen Runner Constable drawing their swords and sticks.
Upon witnessing this scene, the guards of the Prince's residence gasped in shock.
"County Magistrate Zhang, don't ruin your future. Offending His Highness the Heir will have consequences you can't afford."
Upon hearing County Magistrate Zhang laughed heartily.
"I am the magistrate of Heyang County. If I cannot even protect the people under my jurisdiction, then I might as well resign from this post."
"Enough with the nonsense. I'll ask you one last time: are you going to let me pass or not?"
"Kill!!"
The Yamen Runner Constable shouted angrily in unison.
Prince's Guard: "..."
Crazy!
These people are all insane.
In those eyes, there was no reverence for the Prince's mansion, no fear of power.
All that remained was anger and a will to fight.
Faced with this overwhelming public opinion and raging anger, the guards of the Prince's Palace involuntarily took a few steps back.
Just as they were struggling with whether to give way or not, the His Highness the Heir's voice finally came from behind them.
"County Magistrate Zhang, you certainly have quite the air of authority!"
The Prince Ning's Heir, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, emerged from the building, a woman dressed in flamboyant attire embracing him.
County Magistrate Zhang took a closer look and immediately froze on the spot.
That woman was none other than the concubine he had cruelly divorced.