After hearing the words spoken by You Jiang and You Qian in court, Zhao Baozhu realized one thing.
The eldest You brother would never again step even half a pace near Wuya County.
The reason You Qian and You Jiang had fallen into his hands was first because the You family believed themselves perfectly secure and had lowered their guard, and second because of You Qian’s cowardice and mediocrity, and You Jiang’s recklessness and impulsiveness. But as the head of the family, the eldest You brother was scheming and deeply calculating. Now that both younger brothers had fallen into Zhao Baozhu’s hands, he would never charge forward despite the difficulty. For him, the best strategy was nothing more than stirring up the Qingzhou Prefect to pressure Zhao Baozhu. At that time, even if Zhao Baozhu did not wish to release them, he would have to. Perhaps he would even need to return all the confiscated family property in full.
That was why Zhao Baozhu had made up his mind. Before the Prefect could make a move, he absolutely had to make these two bandits’ heads fall to the ground!
Cheng Wenxiu also understood Zhao Baozhu’s implied meaning. His expression became extremely complicated, and after struggling several times he still said: “This… but if they are killed, then when the Prefect and that eldest You brother attack together, My Lord won’t even have room left to negotiate.”
Cheng Wenxiu was filled with worry. He greatly admired Zhao Baozhu’s uprightness and hatred of evil, yet even more he wished Zhao Baozhu would think a little more about his own future and not push himself into a situation beyond redemption because of the You family matter.
Looking into Cheng Wenxiu’s eyes, Zhao Baozhu knew he was only persuading him out of concern and worry. His gaze softened. “Wenxiu, don’t worry about me. It may not necessarily reach that point.”
Caught off guard by the eye contact, Cheng Wenxiu suddenly felt a numb tingling shoot up his spine. For a moment his mind went blank and he forgot all the words he wanted to say. Yet the very next instant, he saw Zhao Baozhu’s expression change. Lowering his brows and eyes, he slowly stood up from his seat.
“Besides,” he said, “this official will never make deals with bandits.”
Standing with his hands behind his back, determination filled his handsome features, cold light flickering in his eyes. “Since these bandits have been captured, they must pay for their crimes with their lives. If, for the sake of my own future alone, I let these two villains escape punishment, then first I cannot soothe the grievances of the people, and second I cannot calm public anger. In that case, what face would I have left to serve as this county magistrate!”
Hearing this, Cheng Wenxiu’s heart shook violently. Only now did he realize that, out of concern for Zhao Baozhu’s career, he had just placed the interests of the people of Wuya County to the side. He himself had personally experienced how the people of Wuya County had suffered under the You family all these years. Yet even he had nearly forgotten such suffering, while Zhao Baozhu remembered it firmly in his heart, even willing to risk his own future to uphold justice for the people.
At once Cheng Wenxiu felt unbearably ashamed, while his admiration for Zhao Baozhu reached its peak. The fleeting frivolous thoughts from earlier were all pushed aside. Slowly standing up, he looked solemnly at Zhao Baozhu and deeply bent his waist in salute.
“My Lord’s righteousness reaches the heavens! This commoner is willing to follow you for life.”
Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu found it somewhat amusing. “Follow me for life? Then what about the imperial examinations?”
Cheng Wenxiu froze, truly seeming to have forgotten for a moment that he still possessed the status of a xiucai scholar. Blankly he stared at Zhao Baozhu.
Zhao Baozhu had only been teasing him. Seeing his expression, he burst out laughing with a “puchi,” waving his hand.
“I’m joking with you. Hurry home now. Today I caused you injury, so get some rest early.”
Cheng Wenxiu walked away turning his head back every three steps. Only after most of the people in the main hall had dispersed did Zhao Baozhu sigh. A worried expression surfaced on his face as he paced back and forth through the hall.
Ah Long had only half understood the earlier conversation. Seeing Zhao Baozhu looking anxious, he too became anxious, trailing behind Zhao Baozhu like a little tail.
“Old Master, what’s wrong? You’ve been busy all day already. At least eat first.”
Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu stopped walking and sighed. Right now, there was no use in his anxious worrying anyway.
Everything depended on whether the eldest You brother could first persuade the Prefect, or whether Shanyi could first deliver the evidence he had gathered to the Provincial Governor.
***
The next day, You Jiang and You Qian were executed at the marketplace execution grounds.
Nearly the entire county came to watch. Even many villagers from the surrounding countryside abandoned their farm work during the busy season and hurried all the way into the county town just to witness the heads of the two infamous You family villains fall to the ground.
Zhao Baozhu also attended the execution viewing. This time his expression was far calmer than before.
You Qian had always been cowardly and weak. Upon seeing the execution blade, he fainted directly. As for You Jiang, although he remained arrogant on the way to the execution platform, once death truly loomed before him, fear still showed on his face.
With one swing of Tao Zhang’s blade, the two great lords who had once dominated this county became nothing more than a puddle of filthy blood and two severed heads beneath the edge of the knife.
In an instant, the people erupted into loud cheers. Their great vengeance of many years had finally been avenged, and all danced with excitement. Standing among them, Zhao Baozhu found people all around him either kowtowing or speaking words of praise. Several strong young men even crowded over, lifted Zhao Baozhu up, and tossed him into the air several times. Only after the older folks nearby scolded them did the youths awkwardly grin and apologize to Zhao Baozhu.
Somewhat disheveled, Zhao Baozhu straightened his crooked official hat and good-temperedly smiled. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Today is a good day. Everyone is happy.”
Only then did the women twisting their sons’ ears finally stop.
Today, with the You bandits put to death, every household in Wuya County with even a little wealth slaughtered pigs and chickens and ducks, setting up grand feasts outside their homes. All along Zhao Baozhu’s route from the execution grounds back to the yamen, he was continuously refusing invitations from every household. He had already served for several months, and with Cuiniang now cooking at the yamen, most commoners already had some understanding of his tastes:
“Young Lord Zhao, come eat at our place! My ma cooked meat!”
“My Lord, take a few pumpkin cakes with you!”
“Young Lord Zhao, come eat at our house! My wife braised goose—”
For a moment Zhao Baozhu resembled Tang Monk fallen into the Spider Cave, except what tempted him were not beauties but all kinds of fragrant dishes. Everyone knew Zhao Baozhu liked sweets and loved eating meat, so they all tried tempting him with various pastries and meat dishes.
A road that normally took only half a quarter-hour to walk ended up taking Zhao Baozhu over half an hour. By the time he finally broke through the encirclement, both he and Ah Long had their hands full of food and pastries.
Ah Long held a greasy fat goose leg in his right hand. Turning his head, he watched Zhao Baozhu happily chewing on two ribs and bit into his own goose leg as well.
“What should we do? Sister Cuiniang has probably already finished cooking the meal.”
Zhao Baozhu polished off the two ribs in a few bites and said, “What’s there to worry about? We’ll eat that too.”
Hearing this, Ah Long looked at Zhao Baozhu somewhat astonished. The two of them had eaten all the way back. Following Old Master, he himself was already stuffed. Yet Old Master could still eat more?
“Old Master’s appetite these past two days seems very good,” Ah Long remarked, taking another bite of goose leg.
Zhao Baozhu swallowed another black rice cake in two or three bites. Turning back to glance at the joyous and peaceful commoners behind him, his eyes darkened slightly. “If you don’t eat, where will you get the strength to fight a war?”
Ah Long froze upon hearing this, then laughed. “Old Master must be joking. Now that the bandits have all been beheaded, where would any war come from?”
Zhao Baozhu turned his head back around. His expression shifted slightly as his gaze traveled down the county road toward the city gates outside. “Just wait and see. It won’t be long before it arrives.”
Ah Long felt utterly confused listening to this. Though he could not fully understand, he could still sense from Zhao Baozhu’s expression the feeling of storms soon to come.
***
Over the next three days, Wuya County remained calm and peaceful. Zhao Baozhu acted swiftly and decisively, dealing with all those from the You family who needed punishment. The fertile fields, shops, and other properties they had seized were all returned to the commoners according to the registry lists. The Tao brothers’ butcher shop was finally restored to them as well. After discussion, Tao Rui would continue running the butcher shop while Tao Zhang would remain serving under Zhao Baozhu.
By now it had already entered late autumn. Yet Wuya County seemed finally to have welcomed spring. Once the massive stone that was the You family had been removed, the diligent and resilient commoners immediately burst forth with new life once again.
The silk factory that Zhao Baozhu had burned to the ground had now been planted with a new crop of grain. The endless green covering the mountains and fields made people feel warm inside just looking at it.
It was the busy farming season, and Zhao Baozhu could not stay cooped up in the yamen either. At this moment, he was standing by the fields with a furrowed brow, watching the common people farm.
“Ah, you there, how come you don’t even know how to plant rice seedlings!”
Zhao Baozhu stood at the field edge for a while, but truly could not bear to watch anymore. Rolling up his trouser legs, he stepped down from the ridge and snatched the rice seedlings from a youth’s hands: “Watch carefully. This is how you plant them. You planted them so densely, how are the seedlings supposed to grow properly?”
As he spoke, Zhao Baozhu personally bent down and planted two rows of seedlings, then tilted his head toward the youth and said: “Like this. Understand now?”
A youth dressed in short coarse cloth garments stood to the side, his entire face flushed red, seeming extremely embarrassed. Seeing Zhao Baozhu look over, he nodded forcefully twice.
The surrounding villagers working in the fields also stopped what they were doing upon seeing the scene and teased the youth: “White Dog, why aren’t you hurrying to thank Young Lord Zhao?”
The youth named White Dog heard this and awkwardly yet earnestly said to Zhao Baozhu: “Thank you, Lord.”
This youth’s parents had both been harmed by the You clan. Over the past few years he had already fallen to the point of having no fixed home, surviving entirely on the aid of neighboring villagers and meals from different households until today. After confiscating the You family’s property, Zhao Baozhu had returned several mu of farmland to White Dog’s family. But worried about the child being all alone and helpless, he often came to check on him.
“Young Lord Zhao, the weather’s cool today. You should hurry back to the yamen and rest. We’re keeping an eye on White Dog.”
“Exactly. That little bit of land of his, I’ll help him finish it in a while.”
Seeing a dignified county magistrate personally going into the fields to plant rice seedlings, the people all urged him to return to the yamen.
But Zhao Baozhu merely smiled and said: “It’s fine.” Only after personally watching White Dog plant several more rows correctly did he finally feel reassured and climb back onto the field ridge.
However, just as he stepped up and before he even had time to put on his shoes and socks, he suddenly spotted Ah Long at the end of the country road. From far away, Ah Long’s face looked flushed red as he ran while shouting toward him: “Old Master! This is bad, the prefectural office has sent people! There are so many of them–”
Zhao Baozhu’s heart skipped hard, and his expression changed abruptly.
***
By the time Zhao Baozhu and Ah Long returned to the county yamen, they could already see from afar that the yamen gates had been surrounded by armored officers and soldiers. Seeing Zhao Baozhu approach, all the soldiers turned their heads toward him at once, making the scene extremely terrifying.
Frightened, Ah Long pressed tightly against Zhao Baozhu’s side, clutching at his robe hem with both hands. Zhao Baozhu wore a grave expression. Turning around, he patted Ah Long on the head and softly said: “Don’t be afraid. Once we go inside, stand by the wall and don’t make a sound, understood?”
Ah Long nodded fearfully and followed closely behind Zhao Baozhu into the yamen. The prefectural soldiers stretched all the way from outside the gates to inside the compound. As soon as Zhao Baozhu entered, he saw Tao Zhang and the other court runners being watched as they stood to one side. Upon seeing him, they all lifted their heads nervously. Tao Zhang opened his mouth, just about to say something to Zhao Baozhu, but was stopped by the latter’s slight shake of the head.
Zhao Baozhu signaled with his eyes for them not to act rashly, then walked toward the main hall. From afar, he could already see someone seated inside.
The man wore a dark green official robe but no black gauze hat. Pale-faced with narrow eyes, he was leisurely holding a cup of tea and drinking it.
At a glance, Zhao Baozhu knew he was not Eldeset You. And though he wore official robes without the black gauze hat, that meant this person was likely some sort of privately employed aide under the Qingzhou Prefect, not a legitimate court-appointed official.
Having roughly guessed the man’s identity, Zhao Baozhu quietly exhaled. Yet just as he crossed the threshold, the man turned his head to look over.
“Oh.” Seeing Zhao Baozhu walk in, the man immediately put on an eager act, neatly setting down his tea cup and turning with a smiling face. “This must be County Magistrate Zhao Baozhu, Lord Zhao?”
Zhao Baozhu walked closer, his gaze briefly pausing on the man’s face as he said coolly: “I did not know an honored guest had arrived, and failed to welcome you from afar. I ask Sir’s forgiveness.”
The man still wore a smiling face. “Your Lordship is too courteous. How could I count as any honored guest?” Though his words were humble, his backside seemed glued to the seat; even after Zhao Baozhu entered, he showed not the slightest intention of rising to greet him.
Zhao Baozhu did not sit either and simply stood there asking: “May I ask what brings Sir here? Please enlighten me.”
Hearing this, the man did not answer immediately. Instead, he picked up the tea cup again, blew lightly across the surface, and said: “Your Lordship truly is impatient.” After leisurely taking a sip of tea, he continued: “I am a clerk from the prefectural office. Today, under orders from the Prefect, I have come regarding the matter of the tax silver.”
At the words “tax silver,” Zhao Baozhu’s eyes flickered. The excuse they found was quite good. Thus he said: “Please report back to the Prefect that I have already fully collected and organized last season’s tax silver. I shall send men to deliver it to the prefectural office shortly.”
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the clerk’s smile turned slightly cold. “The tax silver is a matter of utmost importance. My purpose in coming this time is precisely to invite Your Lordship to personally accompany me and deliver this important matter into the Prefect’s own hands.”
Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu sneered inwardly. According to the law, last season’s tax silver could wait until the next season before being submitted. Though important, there was no need for the county magistrate himself to escort it personally. It was merely an excuse to force him to the prefectural office.
Zhao Baozhu’s face cooled somewhat as he gestured outside. “Then what about the prefectural soldiers outside?”
The clerk’s smile remained unchanged. “We have heard that mountain bandits have recently been causing trouble. Concerned for Your Lordship’s safety, the Prefect specially dispatched these men to escort you.”
Escort in name, surveillance in truth. Zhao Baozhu understood in his heart that matters were already settled, and he could not be bothered wasting words arguing. Calmly he said: “If that is the case, then please wait while I go change clothes.”
Hearing this, the clerk originally wanted to refuse. Yet after glancing at the mud sticking to Zhao Baozhu’s trouser legs, his expression stalled slightly, and contempt flashed through his eyes. “Naturally. I shall wait here for Your Lordship.”
Thus Zhao Baozhu turned and went into the inner room to change clothes. He truly had no other intentions in doing so, he genuinely just wanted to change. However, just as he took out a clean pair of trousers from the cabinet, two thumping sounds suddenly came from the window above his head.
Zhao Baozhu looked up and at a glance saw someone crouched like the nimblest cat, squeezing through the window. With a thud, the person landed on the floor, it was actually Ah Long.
“What are you doing?” Zhao Baozhu was startled, then immediately frowned and scolded in a low voice: “Didn’t I tell you to wait outside?”
Ah Long lifted his head, tears brimming in his round eyes, and reached out to hug Zhao Baozhu around the waist. “Old Master, the Prefect wants to harm you, doesn’t he? I’m going with you!”
Zhao Baozhu was stunned upon hearing this, not expecting Ah Long to understand the situation so clearly. Thus he smiled and said: “What nonsense are you saying again? Just stay here together with Tao Zhang and the others.”
Seeing the child looking on the verge of tears, he somewhat tenderly rubbed his forehead. “Don’t worry. I am a county official dispatched here by the imperial court. No matter what, they would not dare kill me on the spot. And if they truly want to accuse me, I also have my reasons. For the time being, they cannot do anything to me.”
But hearing this only made Ah Long feel even worse. Tears dripped down pattering nonstop. He was not entirely an ignorant child either, and knew that the government offices contained endless methods for tormenting people. No matter what, he refused to release Zhao Baozhu’s robe corner. “No! If Old Master won’t take me, then I, I’ll fight them with my life right now!”
He raised a hand and fiercely wiped away his tears, stubbornly looking toward Zhao Baozhu. On the childish face there actually appeared a trace of sharpness. “I-I can also pick locks. If Old Master really gets thrown into prison, then I’ll help Old Master escape!”
Zhao Baozhu had not expected Ah Long to possess such courage at a critical moment. Seeing him so determined, he hesitated briefly before finally nodding. “Alright, then come with me. But if anything goes wrong, you must say you know nothing at all. Understand?”
Ah Long nodded. He then wiped clean the tears on his face, and after Zhao Baozhu finished changing clothes, followed him back outside.
When the clerk saw Zhao Baozhu emerge, he smiled and rose from his seat. “If Your Lordship is all prepared, then let us set out.”
Zhao Baozhu nodded. “I would like to bring this servant boy along. I wonder whether the Prefect would mind.”
Naturally, the clerk did not regard Ah Long, a mere child, as worth noticing. He merely glanced at him and said: “Of course not.” Retracting his gaze, he smilingly added: “It is only that the Prefect instructed that the entourage be kept as simple as possible. If Your Lordship wishes to bring this servant boy, there is naturally no issue. But as for others, there is no need.”
Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu knew they were wary of Tao Zhang and the others, so he said: “I will bring only him.”
At these words, Tao Zhang and the others immediately looked over anxiously. Tao Zhang subconsciously tried to rush forward. “My Lord—”
Seeing movement from him, the prefectural soldiers instantly drew their blades. Zhao Baozhu’s heart tightened, and he hurriedly shouted: “All of you stay here and do not follow!”
Hearing this, Tao Zhang halted, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Zhao Baozhu. Yet Zhao Baozhu no longer looked at him.
Seeing this, the clerk chuckled. “It seems Your Lordship is a clever man.”
Having said that, he leisurely lifted his head and glanced at the sky. “It’s getting late. Please accompany me on this trip, Your Lordship.”
Zhao Baozhu maintained a cold expression, nodded, and followed him outside. However, just as the two crossed the doorway, the clerk suddenly turned back and casually asked: “There is one more matter. The Prefect instructed me to ask Your Lordship.” Smiling, he said: “May I know where You Jiang and You Qian currently are?”
Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu’s mind stirred. The map exhausted and the dagger revealed, this clerk had finally exposed the Prefect’s true purpose. Zhao Baozhu sneered inwardly, then raised his head and smiled faintly at the clerk: “Does the Prefect have matters to ask those two criminals? What unfortunate timing. They were sentenced to immediate execution and were already executed several days ago.”
Zhao Baozhu spoke casually, as though talking about some utterly ordinary triviality.
Yet the clerk first froze, then his face changed in horrified shock, his slit-like eyes widening. “M-Milord, what did you say?”
“I’m saying they’ve already returned their lives to the Yellow Springs.”
The clerk only then believed it. His expression changed several times in an instant; his lips opened and closed a few times before he finally squeezed out a sentence through clenched teeth: “B-but all death penalty cases must be reported to the prefectural office, then reviewed by the Ministry of Justice. How could Your Lordship privately carry out such an execution?!”
Faced with the questioning, Zhao Baozhu’s expression did not shift in the slightest. “According to the legal code, any criminal involving the ten great crimes may be executed immediately without further review. You Jiang and You Qian committed the seizure of good farmland for commercial use, collusion between officials and merchants, disrespect toward law and authority, and more than fourteen counts of murder. By law, they were to be beheaded at once!”
The statute Zhao Baozhu cited had been established in the early years of the previous dynasty, in order to regulate the then-prevalent trends of land annexation and collusion between local gentry, powerful clans, and government offices. This law had not been abolished under the current dynasty. Not to mention the You family’s countless evils, among those killed in the streets by You Jiang alone numbered more than several dozen. Criminals of such a vicious nature could originally be sentenced by the authorities to immediate execution and carried out on the spot.
Yet the clerk had never imagined Zhao Baozhu would be so audacious and lawless as this, not only directly executing You Jiang and You Qian, but even daring to say the words “official-merchant collusion” right in front of him.
This was outright rebellion!!
His expression became frighteningly ugly. He glared viciously at Zhao Baozhu for a long while before coldly snorting: “I must report this matter to the Prefect immediately. When the time comes, hmph!” He no longer retained any of his previous leisurely demeanor. Striding quickly outside, he ordered the prefectural soldiers to bring over the carriage, and had lost even his smile toward Zhao Baozhu. “Your Lordship, please board the carriage.”
Zhao Baozhu’s expression remained unchanged as he brought Ah Long into the carriage.
Ah Long pressed tightly against Zhao Baozhu’s side. “Old Master, where are we going?”
In a comforting gesture, Zhao Baozhu held him a little tighter and said softly: “We’re going to the prefectural yamen. We’ll arrive soon.” Afraid that Ah Long might be frightened, he paused, then gently coaxed: “That yamen was built extremely magnificently. Just think of it as going out to play.”
Ah Long’s eyes were red-rimmed. Like a small beast seeking shelter, he curled into Zhao Baozhu’s embrace and bit his lip. He wasn’t some toddler a few years old, how could he be fooled by words like that? The situation was so dangerous, how could it be treated as play?
The party traveled all the way to outside the city gates when a disturbance suddenly broke out.
Inside the sedan, Zhao Baozhu heard the commotion outside. Pulling aside the curtain over the side window and looking out, he saw that at some unknown point a large crowd of common people had gathered behind the carriage. They did not come forward, only trailed distantly behind the prefectural soldiers, pair after pair of eyes fixed upon the carriage as they shouted inside.
“Young Lord Zhao! Young Lord Zhao, ”
“Is Young Lord Zhao inside?”
“You dog officials! Where are you taking Young Lord Zhao?!”
The clerk also heard the commotion. Poking his head out from the sedan ahead, he saw such a huge crowd and immediately jumped in alarm, angrily rebuking: “These unruly peasants! Are you all dead? Hurry and drive them away!”
Upon hearing this, the prefectural soldiers immediately moved forward to block the common people. How could Zhao Baozhu bear to watch that? He immediately leaned out and shouted: “No one is to go near them!”
The moment the crowd heard him, the noise among them immediately stilled.
Zhao Baozhu’s gaze swept across face after face within the crowd, the color in his eyes softening somewhat as he said gently: “It’s the busy farming season. Everyone’s occupied. There’s no need to see me off. Hurry back.”
The youth’s clear, cool voice carried into the people’s ears along with the autumn wind.
After hearing his words, the crowd did not step forward again, yet neither did they retreat. A vast mass of people stood beneath the city gates, like another city wall. Even after traveling a long distance, one could still see their figures watching the caravan depart.
The clerk was not a fool. Seeing this scene, he felt several degrees more alarmed. The popular support this County Magistrate Zhao had gained truly could not be ignored. Looking at it now, it really would be best to eliminate him as soon as possible, to cut off future troubles forever.
***
From Wuya County to Qingzhou Prefecture, the journey was neither especially long nor especially short.
In less than half a day, the group arrived at Qingzhou Prefecture. Zhao Baozhu stepped down from the sedan and was immediately dazzled by the scorching sunlight. Today was one of the rare bright, sunny days. The brilliant sunlight shone upon Qingzhou Prefecture’s white walls and black tiles, making it appear exceptionally splendid.
Ah Long had never seen such a grand estate before. It was much larger even than the You family’s manor. For a moment, he was so astonished he could not close his mouth.
Beside him, Zhao Baozhu instructed in a low voice: “When we go inside, don’t speak, and don’t raise your head either. If I bow, you bow. Don’t make any unnecessary movements, understand?”
Ah Long nodded nervously. Not even daring to tug at Zhao Baozhu’s robe corner, he simply followed closely behind him step by step. He also did not dare raise his head. His gaze stayed fixed on the bluestone bricks beneath his feet, though he cast quick glances left and right, angrily taking in the surrounding terrain, preparing that if things turned bad he would take Zhao Baozhu and run.
The group walked silently to outside the room. The clerk stopped and raised a hand toward Zhao Baozhu, smiling yet not smiling. “Young Lord Zhao, after you.”
Zhao Baozhu could not even be bothered giving him a look. Taking a slight breath, he lifted his foot and crossed the threshold.
The prefectural yamen was still just as dark as before. Crossing the threshold, the curtain dropped behind them, and the light immediately dimmed.
Zhao Baozhu gathered his focus, and suddenly found something strange, the incense burning in this yamen seemed different from last time.
He did not pay it much attention. Walking slowly to the front of the hall, he bent in salute toward the person seated above. “This subordinate greets Lord Prefect.”
According to the etiquette regulations of the Yuanzhi dynasty, when a subordinate first took office and paid respects to a superior, he was required to kneel and present himself; afterward, further kneeling rites were unnecessary. Yet even if ritual regulations required kneeling, Zhao Baozhu was unwilling to kneel to this superior official blinded by profit and desire, wallowing together with villains, corrupt and lawless.
Behind him, Ah Long dropped to his knees with a thump. Though frightened, he truly wanted to see what sort of appearance this dog official who was scheming against their master actually had, and so he cautiously raised his head.
Yet the moment he did, Ah Long abruptly froze.
Looking at the official seated upright upon the high platform, cold-faced as he lowered his eyes toward their master, Ah Long’s mouth unconsciously opened, and he sucked in a sharp breath.
How come this dog official didn’t look anything like what he imagined?
