The County Magistrate's Woman, Still Robbed

"Ning Chuan is a squad leader in our Imperial Guard. Whatever he does represents the Imperial Guard!

The Imperial Guard answers to the Emperor. Since when does the County Yamen have the right to interfere?

Or does the Han Family believe they have the strength to rebel and no longer hold the Emperor's authority in regard?"

Leng Hanshuang's words boomed through the hall. County Magistrate Han Zhang's expression shifted slightly, his imposing aura immediately weakening.

Although the Han Family was powerful, they were still inferior to imperial authority.

Moreover, imperial authority was legitimate. At least on the surface, the Han Family wouldn't dare openly oppose it.

Underhanded dealings were another matter entirely.

"Younger Sister Han, you jest. My Han Family is loyal to the Great Ming Dynasty and has no intention of rebelling!"

County Magistrate Han Zhang quickly explained. He couldn't bear such a heavy accusation.

Even if the Han Family intended to overthrow the Ming imperial family, he wouldn't be qualified to be the first to step forward.

Han Zhang's expression flickered between worry and uncertainty. He seemed to recall something, his eyes lighting up, and he continued:

"This official is merely discussing the matter at hand. Ning Chuan only joined the Imperial Guard yesterday.

In other words, before yesterday, he wasn't part of the Imperial Guard!

Therefore, any misdeeds before yesterday cannot represent the Imperial Guard, can they?"

Leng Hanshuang felt a surge of anger and asked coldly:

"What? When did this official recruit a subordinate? Does the County Yamen need to approve it?"

Han Zhang was momentarily speechless.

The Imperial Guard operated in secrecy, and indeed, many informants were not officially registered.

Seeing how Leng Hanshuang defended Ning Chuan, and recalling the rumors from yesterday, a bad premonition arose in his heart.

"Could the rumors be true?

Could Ning Chuan really be Younger Sister Leng Shuang's male favorite?"

This time, he was no longer certain.

Once the spark of suspicion was ignited, it spread like wildfire, becoming uncontrollable.

He looked at Ning Chuan again. Although Ning Chuan was handsome and refined, he was still somewhat inferior to Han Zhang himself.

If one considered family background and status, Ning Chuan was merely a humble Imperial Guard captain, incomparable to him.

Han Zhang couldn't help but ask himself the question:

"Young Master, where exactly did I lose?"

He then looked at Leng Hanshuang's incredibly alluring figure, her curves a potent temptation, and a strong sense of jealousy surged within him.

He had already imagined various scenarios of Leng Hanshuang lying in Ning Chuan's embrace. Rage washed over him like a tidal wave, crashing into his mind.

Pfft!

Han Zhang, driven by desperation, spat out a mouthful of blood. He trembled with anger, pointing at Leng Hanshuang and then at Ning Chuan, gritting his teeth as he said:

"Younger Sister Shuang, you are truly going to protect this brat!"

"That's right. Ning Chuan is this official's man. This official will protect him!"

Leng Hanshuang stated resolutely, her cold reply ignoring his spitting blood, causing his heart to sink even further.

Leng Hanshuang's words struck Han Zhang like lightning, the phrase echoing in his mind:

"Ning Chuan is this official's man!"

He didn't stop to consider the true meaning of the statement.

"The rumors are true!

The rumors are true!

Younger Sister Shuang has personally admitted it. Ning Chuan is her man!

That brat Ning Chuan dares to steal my woman. I'll tear him to pieces!"

Han Zhang trembled, muttering to himself, his eyes turning redder and redder, like an enraged bull.

His fury surged, almost uncontrollable, threatening to burst from his chest. He was about to erupt on the spot.

His muttering was clearly heard by everyone present, all of whom were martial arts experts.

Ning Chuan was utterly bewildered, while Leng Hanshuang's beautiful brows furrowed.

"What rumors?"

"What stealing my woman!"

Ning Chuan himself was unaware that not only had he faced no repercussions for killing Squad Leader Ma Dayuan, but he had also replaced Ma Dayuan as the new squad leader.

As a result, rumors had spread throughout the Imperial Guard in recent days, with whispers everywhere that Ning Chuan was Leng Hanshuang's male favorite.

Everyone knew about the rumors except for Ning Chuan and Leng Hanshuang themselves.

Seeing that County Magistrate Han Zhang was about to lose his temper, the Straw Bag Strategist beside him quickly pulled him back and whispered in his ear:

"Your Excellency, think twice. If you can't bear small things, you'll ruin big plans!"

"The urgent matter is to figure out how to snatch back the six leaders. Otherwise, if the evidence falls into the hands of the Imperial Guard, the consequences will be unimaginable..."

The strategist's words were like a basin of ice water, thoroughly waking Han Zhang up.

Han Zhang shivered and quickly suppressed his anger, collecting his thoughts.

His face turned purple, then green, and he forced a smile before continuing:

"Since Sister Shuang says so, we'll put Ning Chuan's matter aside for now.

The County Yamen was robbed last night, and the million taels of disaster relief silver were looted. This was the work of the Six Bandit Overlords.

I heard Sister Shuang captured the Six Bandit Overlords, so I came to interrogate the prisoners and recover the silver as soon as possible to save the people from dire straits.

I hope Sister Shuang will hand over the prisoners to me for interrogation, for the sake of the millions of common people!"

County Magistrate Han Zhang believed he was on the side of righteousness and that Leng Hanshuang would surely hand over the prisoners to him.

He clearly overestimated himself, underestimated his own intelligence, and underestimated Leng Hanshuang's.

"Hahaha..."

Leng Hanshuang let out a silver bell-like laugh, her laughter filled with boundless coldness.

"Lord Han, you're overthinking it!

My Imperial Guard will interrogate the Six Bandit Overlords thoroughly once captured. Outsiders don't need to worry!

When it comes to interrogating criminals, who else but my Imperial Guard can do it!

On the contrary, Lord Han lost the disaster relief silver. Your head is likely on the line. Hahahaha..."

"You!..."

Han Zhang was so choked he couldn't speak.

Losing the disaster relief silver was just a pretense he used, his only goal being to snatch the six leaders.

Seeing that his County Magistrate was no match for Leng Hanshuang, the Straw Bag Strategist fanned himself and stepped forward.

He bowed to Leng Hanshuang first and slowly said:

"Lord Leng, I am Cao Bao, the strategist of the County Yamen. Does Your Excellency abide by the laws of Da Ming?"

Leng Hanshuang looked at the strategist with some impatience and said indifferently:

"Of course I do!"

The strategist lightly fanned himself and said:

"If that's the case, according to the laws of Da Ming, when co-defendants are to be interrogated by multiple departments, the case with the greater significance takes precedence!

My County Yamen losing disaster relief funds concerns the lives and safety of millions of people. The case is of great importance and extremely urgent!

According to the laws of Da Ming, my County Yamen has the right of first interrogation.

I request that Lord Leng hand over the Six Bandit Overlords to the County Yamen!"

The strategist's face showed a smug expression.

"Little brat, you're still too young to argue with me?"

Leng Hanshuang chuckled coldly, her face full of mockery.

"Truly a straw bag strategist, a complete straw bag and rice bucket, nothing but a wine sack and food bag!

Since you are a strategist, how can you not know that my Imperial Guard has priority in interrogating all cases?

As for the matter of the County Yamen losing disaster relief funds, now that I, an official, am aware of it, I will also file a case and investigate it!

Perhaps I'll even need to expedite the process and interrogate all officials in the County Yamen.

As for the matter of the six bandit leaders, the County Yamen need not interfere. You may leave!"

The strategist's smile froze on his face. He exchanged a look with his County Magistrate, and both their hearts sank to the bottom.

Leng Hanshuang's refusal to yield to either threats or persuasion threw them into a panic.

County Magistrate Han Zhang's eyes flashed fiercely, about to order a forceful seizure, but the strategist quickly stopped him with a look.

Attacking the Imperial Guard in broad daylight was at least a capital offense. No matter how powerful the Han Family was, they couldn't protect him.

The master and servant's faces flickered with changing emotions, and the atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

"Sister Shuang, you and I are well-matched. We'll be family sooner or later. Can you truly not give your brother this face?"

Han Zhang, unable to win the argument with Leng Hanshuang, resorted to emotional appeals.

"Hmph, you flatter yourself. Get lost!"

Leng Hanshuang roared with her Grandmaster-level true qi, and the word "get lost" echoed throughout the hall.

"Hmph!"

"Let's go!"

County Magistrate Han Zhang's face was flushed red. Ashamed to stay any longer, he waved his large sleeves and led everyone away in disgrace.

After walking a few steps, he turned back and stared at Ning Chuan with a sinister gaze.

"Kid, you dare to steal my woman and ruin my big plans, you're dead!"

The brown-robed Martial Emperor looked at Ning Chuan, his eyes filled with chilling killing intent.