The three old foxes were successfully bound by Imperial Censor Zhou.
The reason: Collusion between officials and merchants, indulging in pleasure. (What an odd reason!)
Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing dressed up and acted as the other two imperial envoys.
In the courtroom.
A few old and fat, ornately dressed old foxes were tightly bound and kneeled in a row.
On both sides, government officials wielding intimidating sticks shouted in unison with the greatest volume, dragging out the sound: "Mighty...Vigorous...!"
Jiangnan Prefect Yu Qingbo sat upright in the courtroom.
To his left sat Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing disguised as a man, the two imperial envoys, while to his right sat the dissolute Lord Zhou Yu.
The two on the left wore expressions of solemnity, while Envoy Zhou looked as if he had committed a mistake.
Yu Qingbo was chosen personally by Zhao Junyao after dealing with the previous magistrate, Hou Yaozong.
This man studied diligently for many years, earned the status of a graduate from two ranking exams, and was upright in character, not inclined to seek grand achievements, nor to pursue fame and fortune.
Though he had some scholarly rigidity and wasn’t very adaptable.
Yet, despite these minor flaws, such a fertile land like Jiangnan still had to be governed by someone like him to be reassuring.
Therefore.
Zhao Junyao kept him as the Prefect of Jiangnan for so many years.
Unfortunately, he still ended up disappointing him.
The biggest city in Jiangnan, Jinling City, was under his watch, and he could still govern it to such a state.
So many years passed with no progress at all; he really troubled him.
It seems... It’s time to change someone again!
Zhao Junyao rubbed his forehead feeling somewhat headache-stricken, wondering whom to appoint?
Xia Ruqing secretly nudged his arm.
"Lord... Start the trial!"
Zhao Junyao quickly regained his composure, directing his gaze toward Yu Qingbo in the courtroom.
He saw Yu Qingbo forcefully restraining the trembling of his hands, fiercely slamming the gavel.
"Audacious miscreants, daring to collude with imperial officers, misappropriating public funds to indulge in pleasure at taverns, do you acknowledge your guilt?"
Old Master Song was the first to spring up, pressing down his anger full of resentment.
"Sir, we are wronged!"
"It was the invitation from Lord Zhou Yu; an invitation from an imperial envoy, how dare we refuse!"
"As for squandering public funds, we truly have no knowledge!"
"If I knew it was misappropriated public money, I certainly wouldn’t have gone!"
"Please, my lord, discern clearly!"
Old Master Rong also stepped forward, saying.
"We are truly wronged!"
"Please, my lord, stand up for us!"
Old Master Lian couldn’t help it, stepping forward with a sarcastic tone to plead for himself.
"My lord, we are just ordinary merchants, how could we know about public funds!"
"Moreover, to bring such charges against us for this affair, isn’t it too partial?"
Finishing his words, he sharply glanced at Zhou Yu on the side.
Clearly, this fellow is the real culprit, isn’t he?
Yu Qingbo was stumped, unable to speak, his complexion darkened.
Zhao Junyao’s eyes flashed a hint of disappointment.
He immediately raised his brows and coldly said.
"Mistakes made by an imperial envoy will naturally be punished by the court, and as for your errors..."
The three old foxes secretly wiped their sweat.
Yu Qingbo was easy to fool; this imperial envoy, however, wasn’t.
Just as they thought of countering, Zhao Junyao coldly interjected.
"Ordinary merchants? According to my investigation!"
"Your deeds are far from those of ordinary merchants!"
"Lian Family, Song Family, Rong Family, do you acknowledge your sin?" His voice was chill, tone icy.
At the sight of those eyes, they appeared like a pair of extremely sharp blades that could shred a person instantly.
Too terrifying.
They looked at each other, seeing death-like fear in each other’s eyes.
Cold sweat sprang up on their backs and foreheads simultaneously.
"We..."
"We... What sin have we committed?"
Old Master Rong stammered uncontrollably.
He barely had the courage to listen to his own words.
Old Master Song, slightly bolder, immediately kowtowed.
"Imperial Envoy, what mistake have we made, please clearly inform us, so we can correct it in time!"
Old Master Lian, the oldest with the most experience, also said immediately.
"If we have used public funds, you may as well fine us silver!"
"If necessary, double it, triple it! Imperial Envoy, I am truly wronged!"
People do not contend with officials.
No matter how resourceful a merchant is, they can never compete with the imperial court.
Hence, Old Master Lian simply gave up, realizing the situation.
’This bunch playing the righteous robbery merely wants silver!’
’If you want it, I will give it to you!’
’Anything that can be solved with money, is no trouble!’
For so many years, similar situations have occurred more than once.
There’s yet to be an imperial envoy they couldn’t settle with silver.
Thinking thus, a sneer of disdain crept into his heart for the imposter envoy present.