After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

In the main hall of the county government office, three shifts of yamen runners stood on both sides.

Cheng Zhirong invited Liu Jian to take the seat of honor, but Liu Jian insisted on sitting to the side.

Unable to refuse, he sat down at the table himself, pondering how to question the other party so as to demonstrate his keen insight and solidify the suspicion that the other party had gathered a crowd to plot something sinister.

Before long, Constable Zhang led two constables and escorted a man into the courtroom.

The man was dressed in an ordinary blue cloth robe, his hair was slightly messy, and there were some grass clippings on the hem of his robe, but his steps were steady and his expression was calm. When he entered the courtroom, he glanced around and finally his gaze landed on Liu Jian, who was sitting upright with his head turned to the side. He paused slightly.

When Liu Jian saw this person, his expression suddenly turned strange.

Snapped!

Cheng Zhirong grabbed the gavel and slammed it down heavily!

"Who is standing below? Why do you not kneel before me?"

Wang Shouren stood in the hall, glanced at Cheng Zhirong sitting behind the judge's desk, then at Liu Jian, who was sitting with his head turned to the side and expressionless. He seemed quite surprised as well. He first turned to the side, clasped his hands in a salute, then turned back to Cheng Zhirong in the hall and said, "Your official rank is not as high as mine, so if anyone should kneel, it should be you kneeling to me!"

Cheng Zhirong was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, "What did you say?"

"I said," Wang Shouren said, emphasizing each word, "your official rank isn't as high as mine!"

Cheng Zhirong's smile vanished, and he leaned forward: "Who exactly are you?"

"Left Spring Palace, Right Director of Justice, Wang Shouren."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhirong's mind went blank.

He glanced at Liu San below the hall, then at Constable Zhang.

Wang Shouren had already taken out a waist token from his bosom and held it in his palm.

Cheng Zhirong gave a wink, and Constable Zhang stepped forward to take the waist token and presented it to the official case with both hands.

The bronze waist badge has clear inscriptions: "Left: Spring Palace, Right: Director of Justice," indicating a sixth-rank official.

And he, the magistrate of Wuqing County, was only a seventh-rank official.

Cheng Zhirong quickly looked at Liu Jian beside him, casting a pleading glance at him.

Liu Jian finally spoke slowly: "Director Wang, what are you doing here?"

Cheng Zhirong's hand trembled, and the waist token almost fell onto the table.

Wang Shouren bowed to Liu Jian and said, "Your Excellency, I do not know why I am here. For various reasons, you should ask Magistrate Cheng."

Cheng Zhirong hurriedly got up and came down to the hall, his face beaming with a smile: "Oh dear, Chief Secretary Wang! It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! Quickly, someone untie Chief Secretary Wang!"

Wang Shouren looked at him: "Was it also a misunderstanding that Liu San went to the kiln to collect protection money?"

"this……"

Cheng Zhirong chuckled dryly a few times and said, "He's just being silly and ignorant! I'll deal with him later!"

"Oh, are you still paying protection money?"

Cheng Zhirong waved his hand and laughed, "Since this is your business, Chief Secretary Wang, why pay protection money? We're both officials in the same court, we should look after each other!"

Wang Shouren pressed further, "If it's the business of ordinary people and merchants, then they have to pay, right?"

Cheng Zhirong's smile froze, and the atmosphere in the hall became subtle.

He glanced at Liu Jian, who was sitting to the side, and lowered his voice, saying, "Director Wang, I'm only giving you face out of consideration for our colleagueship. You, a Left and Right Director of the Imperial Household Department, shouldn't you be serving the Crown Prince properly in the Eastern Palace? Instead, you've gone to Wuqing County to run some brick kiln. If I were to impeach you for dereliction of duty and engaging in corrupt practices, could you handle it?"

Things have completely spiraled out of control; the most important thing right now is to label people!

I'm asking you whether you're a magistrate or something, because you've gathered a crowd of refugees and are plotting something sinister!

Thinking this through, he seemed to gain some confidence and continued, "Although this is Wuqing County, it's only a few dozen miles from the capital. Wang Sizhi, what exactly do you intend to do by gathering thousands of refugees?"

Wang Shouren was amused and annoyed: "Wuqing County suffered a flood. As the magistrate, if you had properly provided disaster relief, how could there be so many displaced people?"

Cheng Zhirong's face turned pale and then flushed, and he forced a smile: "Director Wang, you are mistaken! Since the flood, this county has been worried day and night, unable to eat or sleep. We have already opened the granaries three times and set up five soup kitchens! But the disaster is just too severe, and this county is willing but unable to do anything..."

Wang Shouren stepped forward, pressing the issue relentlessly: "How much grain did Magistrate Cheng distribute? How many meals of porridge were served daily at the soup kitchens? Was the porridge so thick that chopsticks could be stuck upright without it tipping over, or was it so clear you could see the bottom? Why did thousands of refugees choose to walk dozens of miles to the capital to beg for food rather than stay in Wuqing County and wait for relief?"

Cheng Zhirong's forehead was covered in a fine sweat, and he subconsciously looked at Liu Jian sitting to his side.

Liu Jian remained calm, as if watching a play that had nothing to do with him, and even took a sip of tea.

"This, this..."

Cheng Zhirong hesitated for a while, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He turned to Liu Jian and bowed, saying, "Your Excellency, please understand! Although I have tried my best, Wuqing County is small and weak, and it is really difficult to deal with such a disaster. However, this Director Wang—"

"As an official under the Crown Prince, he abandoned his post and went to Wuqing County to gather thousands of people and start a brick kiln! May I ask, Wang Sizhi, where did you, a mere sixth-rank Right Sizhi, get the capital to open ten brick kilns? If these refugees cause trouble, the capital is just around the corner. Can you bear the responsibility?"

It's still the old-fashioned approach: label first, then choose sides.

Constable Zhang and his gang of constables gripped the hilts of their swords, staring at Wang Shouren with hostile eyes.

Liu San, sitting below the hall, perked up and muttered under his breath, "Exactly! I think they're up to no good!"

Wang Shouren remained calm and composed, instead offering a gentle smile: "Didn't Magistrate Cheng just say that since this is my business, there's no need to pay protection money? As fellow officials, shouldn't we look out for each other? How come you're suddenly accusing me of having ulterior motives?"

Cheng Zhirong was speechless for a moment, his fair face turning a deep purplish-red.

Wang Shouren continued, "Wuqing County suffered a disaster, and refugees were everywhere. Seeing that they had no food or clothing, I provided them with labor relief, letting them dig soil and make bricks to support themselves. Isn't this relieving the court's burden? Magistrate Cheng, as a local official, not only showed no gratitude, but also condoned his brother-in-law's extortion of protection money and sent scouts to arrest people. I would like to ask, is this Wuqing County the Wuqing County of the Ming Dynasty, or your Cheng family's Wuqing County?"

Labeling is a basic skill for scholars; Wang Shouren simply disdained to use it, not that he was incapable of it.

"You...you're spouting nonsense!"

Cheng Zhirong's fingers trembled with anger. He turned to Liu Jian and said, "Your Excellency! This man is spouting nonsense and slandering an official of the court! I request that he be detained and dealt with after the truth is ascertained!"

Liu Jian put down his teacup and finally spoke: "Magistrate Cheng."

"Your humble servant is here!"

"You say that Wang Sizhi gathered a group of people to plot something wicked, do you have any evidence?"

"The gathering of thousands of refugees is proof!"

As soon as Cheng Zhirong finished speaking, Manager Zhao, who was standing beside him, could no longer contain himself and stepped forward, saying, "Your Excellency, please forgive me! What Magistrate Cheng said is all true! Although we are merchants, we know the meaning of loyalty and righteousness. These days, we have all seen how hard the magistrate has worked for disaster relief."

Seeing this, Manager Chen immediately chimed in, "As for that brick kiln, Wuqing County is only a few dozen miles from the capital. If some villains take the opportunity to incite trouble, the consequences would be unimaginable! I dare to say that Magistrate Wang's actions are indeed difficult to avoid suspicion!"

Manager Zhang quickly added, "It's clearly using disaster relief as a pretext to gather crowds!"

Seeing that someone was speaking up for him, Cheng Zhirong became even more confident and straightened his back, saying, "Director Wang, did you hear that? The people's hearts are like a mirror, clearly reflected!"

Liu Jian sat to the side, his face expressionless.

Having spent so much time in the imperial court, how could he not see through this act?

He put on such a convincing performance, his heartbroken expression was spot-on.

But Wang Shouren…

Thinking of this person, a thought flashed through his mind.

This young man is an official under the Crown Prince's residence. He always acts in an orderly manner, but today he went to Wuqing County to open a kiln and gather a crowd. Could it be that the kiln... is opened by the Crown Prince?

Just as he was pondering this, Liu San suddenly jumped out from below the hall, pointed at Wang Shouren's nose, and shouted, "Your Excellency! You must investigate this thoroughly! This Wang fellow, relying on his position as a high-ranking official in the capital, doesn't take Wuqing County seriously at all! Many of his refugees are strong young men, spending their days digging and carrying bricks like they're doing drills. I think they're plotting something sinister!"

Taking the opportunity, Cheng Zhirong sighed, "I was also worried about this matter, which is why I invited Wang Sizhi here for questioning, but who knew... alas!"

"In my three years in office, I dare not say I have devoted myself entirely to the cause, but I have certainly done my best. This summer's floods kept me up at night, wishing I could donate all my wealth to disaster relief. Yet, who would have thought that someone would use this as an excuse to slander me, accusing me of condoning my brother-in-law's extortion!"

As he spoke, his eyes reddened slightly, and his voice choked with emotion: "I have studied diligently for over ten years to finally pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi. I have been appointed magistrate by the Emperor, and for the past three years I have been trembling with fear, walking on thin ice, lest I fail the Emperor's trust and let down the people. But today I have been falsely accused. It is truly, truly..."

He covered his face and sighed deeply, unable to continue speaking.

Shopkeeper Zhao immediately presented the "Ten Thousand People's Umbrella," proclaiming loudly, "Your Excellency, please look! This is a 'Ten Thousand People's Umbrella' made spontaneously by the people of Wuqing for Magistrate Cheng. The names on the umbrella are all real, and the words of praise on the silk cover come from the bottom of their hearts! If Magistrate Cheng were truly a corrupt and incompetent magistrate, how could he have won the hearts of the people?"

Looking at the large, shimmering umbrella and then at Cheng Zhirong's tearful expression, Liu Jian's doubts deepened.

Despite acting so convincingly, Wang Shouren remained calm.

The fact that they remained so calm in such a situation suggests that this matter might really be related to the Crown Prince.

Just then, a series of chaotic footsteps suddenly came from outside the yamen.

Immediately afterwards, a slightly immature voice rang out—

"Once inside, they'll attack anyone they see!"