Cunning Beyond Compare

Hu Jinghui and Li Xiao listened to Di Renjie's history of struggles and nodded in admiration.

Di Renjie continued, "I've seen plenty of things like this, and dealt with even more people like him. Just watch. The real show is yet to come."

At that moment, Li Yuanfang's voice came from outside. Di Renjie rose upon hearing it. "Yuanfang is back."

Li Yuanfang entered and reported, "My lord, Zhao Chuanchen, the magistrate of Three Harmonies County, is waiting in the main hall."

"Good," Di Renjie said. "I've been waiting for him."

In the main hall of the Youzhou Governor-General's Office, Zhao Chuanchen, the magistrate of Three Harmonies County, paced back and forth anxiously, his heart unsettled. Beside him, Di Chun watched him without blinking, lest he try to flee.

Not long afterward, Di Renjie arrived at the main hall with Hu Jinghui, Li Xiao, and Li Yuanfang.

When Zhao Chuanchen saw Di Renjie enter in a chancellor's official robes, he hurriedly knelt and saluted. "This lowly official, Zhao Chuanchen, magistrate of Three Harmonies County, pays respects to the Imperial Commissioner."

Di Chun whispered his report into Di Renjie's ear, then withdrew.

Di Renjie studied Zhao Chuanchen without speaking for a long while. Zhao Chuanchen, kneeling on the floor, grew exceedingly nervous, cold sweat streaming down his face.

Holding a pair of scissors, Di Renjie trimmed the wick of a candle in the room. Then he suddenly asked, "Zhao Chuanchen, do you know your crime?"

Zhao Chuanchen raised his head slightly and replied in confusion, "This lowly official does not."

Di Renjie slowly set down the scissors, returned to the seat of honor, and sat down. Looking at Zhao Chuanchen below him, he said, "Then let me remind you. A year ago, the prefecture distributed relief funds to every county. You