The system sighed in amazement: [Zhao Panggua's hide is every bit as thick as the host's, if not thicker.]
The moment it finished speaking, Shen Yuxi gave it a death stare.
A trace of amusement flashed through Mo Xuanchen's long, narrow phoenix eyes.
The slow-witted Zhao Panggua finally realized that the voice he had heard came from Shen Yuxi.
He could hear Shen Yuxi's thoughts.
Zhao Panggua was utterly shocked, but he dared not let anything unusual show on his face.
Mo Xuanchen said coldly, "I'll let it pass this time. Go prepare the rooms. Lord Little Shen, the others, and I will be staying at your residence for the next few days."
During his campaigns on the frontier, he had even gnawed on grass roots and tree bark. To him, there was little difference between rare delicacies and pickled vegetables with steamed buns.
As long as he had enough to eat.
Shen Yuxi was different from him.
The Shen family cherished her like a pearl, a treasure. She could not be made to suffer when it came to food, clothing, lodging, or travel.
"Huh?" Zhao Panggua exclaimed in surprise.
"What, is that a problem?"
"No, no."
Terrified that he might say something to displease Mo Xuanchen, Zhao Panggua hurriedly explained, "Your Highness, please understand. I didn't know you intended to stay at the magistrate's residence, so I haven't cleaned or prepared anything in advance..."
He had assumed the fourth prince and the others would stay at an inn, or that he would arrange another residence for them.
Wouldn't they find staying at his residence inconvenient?
Who would have thought Mo Xuanchen would simply say, "It doesn't matter," firmly cutting off anything else Zhao Panggua might say?
Zhao Panggua dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction and obediently ordered the servants to prepare the rooms.
Credit where it was due, the food Zhao Panggua had prepared suited Shen Yuxi's tastes quite well.
After eating, Shen Yuxi stretched and let out a lazy yawn.
[Host, when are you going to make your move?]
Shen Yuxi glanced at Zhao Panggua, who had drunk himself senseless and was snoring away, and said, [Tonight.]
[While Zhao Panggua has his guard down, I'll raid his lair outright, rather than leave him around to harm the people.]
After learning from the system about Zhao Panggua's collusion with merchants, inflated grain prices, abuse of the common people, and a whole series of other unconscionable deeds, she felt that letting him live even one second longer was a kindness to him.
Shen Yuxi left the table early, saying she wanted to take a walk and admire the scenery around the magistrate's residence.
Naturally, no one stopped her.
She walked alone along a bluestone path, following the system's directions to the dog kennel.
Zhao Panggua kept a fairly large wolfdog, with black-and-brown fur and sharp fangs. Its fierce eyes stared unblinkingly at Shen Yuxi.
Animals had extremely powerful senses.
Especially creatures as keen as wolfdogs.
When facing one down, you must never show fear. The more afraid you were, the fiercer it became.
Shen Yuxi met its gaze without flinching.
After an unknown length of time, the wolfdog gave in first, letting out two howls as though it had lost interest.
It wagged its tail and lay down to one side.
With the protection mechanism to rely on, she had nothing to worry about even if the dog bit her.
With the system's help, Shen Yuxi successfully dug the key out of the kennel.
The large wolfdog watched a strange woman rummage through the pile of poop it had left.
Smelling the dog poop clinging to the key, Shen Yuxi carried it over to a nearby small pond with considerable distaste and rinsed it.
"Good dog, thank you for cooperating."
Shen Yuxi smiled brightly and patted the wolfdog's head.
"Woof, woof, woof."
The other key was in Zhao Panggua's study.
Shen Yuxi was considering how to get inside. Zhao Panggua's study was bound to be guarded.
Forcing her way in alone was not a wise choice.
"Lord Little Shen, why aren't you asleep at this hour?"
A man's low, magnetic voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Shen Yuxi's thoughts.
Shen Yuxi turned to look. Mo Xuanchen stood quietly a short distance away, tall and elegant as jade.
His abyss-black eyes appeared even darker and more unfathomable in the night.
"You're not asleep either, Your Fourth Highness."
"I'm not used to suddenly finding myself somewhere unfamiliar."
[Host, just tell the fourth prince what's really going on. With him here, a mere county magistrate won't be able to stir up any waves.]
[I know, but... what if Mo Xuanchen asks how I know Zhao Panggua's secrets when I only arrived today and have barely exchanged a few words with him...]
[Just make something up. Isn't that what you do best, Host?]
Shen Yuxi was speechless.
Still, the system was right.
The people at the magistrate's residence would not dare use force to stop the fourth prince.
After two seconds of silence, Shen Yuxi raised her almond-shaped eyes and said earnestly, "Your Fourth Highness, I have something extremely important to tell you."
Mo Xuanchen asked despite already knowing the answer, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? I'm all ears."
Shen Yuxi glanced around before saying solemnly, "Over the years, County Magistrate Zhao has used his authority to accept bribes, seize fertile farmland, and exploit public office for private gain. He has pocketed untold wealth, enough to equal at least half a year's tax revenue for the national treasury..."
"What do you intend to do, Lord Little Shen? Arrest Zhao Panggua first?"
Shen Yuxi studied Mo Xuanchen's expression. His face was entirely serious.
He was not joking with her.
Shen Yuxi was surprised. "Your Highness... you believe me?"
[Mo Xuanchen doesn't suspect anything? This concerns a county magistrate. I've only mentioned it and haven't presented any evidence, yet he's already considering arresting Zhao Panggua?]
[The fourth prince surely understands that if you dare say these things to his face, you must have concrete evidence, Host.] [Otherwise, with no grudge against Zhao Panggua, why would you bother slandering him?]
Mo Xuanchen smiled faintly. "I trust that you wouldn't say such things without reason, Lord Little Shen. I also trust your character."
Hearing this, Shen Yuxi let out a small breath of relief.
She knew that bringing this up to Mo Xuanchen was very abrupt, but the sooner Zhao Panggua was dealt with, the sooner she could stop worrying.
Zhao Panggua's study was a restricted area. Outsiders were forbidden to approach, and six guards had been posted at the door.
But Mo Xuanchen's men were no pushovers either. They knocked the guards unconscious in no time.
The commotion at the study was considerable. As word spread, almost everyone arrived one after another.
A sharp-eyed personal servant scrambled off to alert his master.
"My lord, my lord, wake up! Something terrible has happened!"
Zhao Panggua lay sprawled on the bed, sleeping soundly. At the servant's cries beside his ear, he frowned, his head aching.
He cursed, "What could possibly be more important than my sleep? Get the hell out!"
Clueless fool.
The servant said miserably, "The fourth prince has brought men to force his way into your study. The guards couldn't stop them. They've all been knocked unconscious."
Those words struck like a thunderclap out of a clear sky, blasting every trace of drunkenness from Zhao Panggua's mind.
"What did you say?!"
Zhao Panggua's eyes flew open. He sat up and stared at the servant in disbelief.
It was as though he wanted to find some trace of a lie on the servant's face.
But there was none.
Nor would the servant dare deceive him about something like this.
Zhao Panggua's heart lurched, and a vague sense of foreboding rose within him.
Not caring how disheveled he looked, he ran all the way to the study, afraid of arriving even a second too late.
For twenty years, he had lived in pampered comfort, rarely walking more than a few steps.
Running so abruptly, Zhao Panggua could not coordinate his legs and feet and tripped several times.
When he finally reached the study, the sight before him nearly split the corners of his eyes.
The door to the underground secret chamber stood wide open, and large red wooden chests were being carried out one after another.
When the chests were opened, they were filled with gold, silver, and jewels. The glittering gold nearly blinded everyone.