At that moment, Fang Yun possessed not only the dignity of a Void Sage, but also the authority of a county magistrate, a Nation-Quelling Duke, and a Grand Secretariat Councillor, with the vast popular will of the Jing Kingdom behind him.
As though struck by an invisible force of literary guts, the restaurant proprietor's knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the floor, staring at Fang Yun in despair.
A Legalist School Legalist Canon appeared before Fang Yun.
"Who was responsible for purchasing the pork?"
The proprietor braced himself against the floor with his hands, barely managing to keep from falling flat. The flesh beneath his chin trembled nonstop, and when he spoke, he sounded like a leaking bellows.
"M-my lord... it was this humble one... no, no, no... my wife's younger brother handled the purchasing. I only kept the accounts..." The restaurant proprietor's words were incoherent at first. Finally, he pointed at one of the young men, his lips quivering too hard to speak.
Fang Yun turned his gaze toward that young man.
The young man trembled slightly and stared nervously at Fang Yun, refusing to kneel.
Fang Yun's expression remained calm. Holding his Official Seal in his right hand, he sent the authority of his office, his literary qi, the power of his literary guts, and the aura of the Legalist Canon crashing toward the young man like an invisible tidal wave.
Fang Yun opposed torture, but supported the use of scholars' various powers.
"Your magistrate asks you: what is your name?"
The young man's eyes abruptly widened. As though a noose had tightened around his neck, terror appeared on his face, and his mental defenses shattered in an instant.
"I'll confess..."
Fang Yun listened carefully. The man was named Pu Zi, and he was the restaurant proprietor's younger