USWHC -Chapter 387 The Mysterious Master (Part 7)

But in the very next moment—smack!—a loud slap landed squarely across his face, knocking the county magistrate stumbling backward until he collapsed onto the ground. W-what was going on? His eyes widened in shock.

Then Commander Zhao spoke in a mocking, sarcastic tone, “That slap is your reward—for sending those seductive vixens to the capital!”

The magistrate froze. What was this about? He had followed Consort Li’s instructions to the letter! How could he be accused of sending “vixens” to the capital? That person had been specifically requested by Consort Li herself! He couldn’t very well refuse to send her just because she was good-looking, could he?

But Commander Zhao’s face darkened as he said coldly, “A reward from Consort Li—why aren’t you kneeling to receive it with gratitude?”

The magistrate was filled with humiliation and grievance. Not only had he been slapped for no reason, but now he had to kneel and kowtow to accept this so-called “reward.” What kind of absurd situation was this?

Yet no matter how wronged he felt, he still had to kneel and bow, saying, “This humble official thanks Consort Li for the reward!”

Seeing this, a trace of disdain curled at the corner of Zhao’s lips. “Now, tell me everything about the family that makes that soap.”

What? Who was asking that? The magistrate was momentarily stunned, and panic began to rise in his heart. If he answered poorly, another slap could come at any moment!

“Well? Speak! Tell the truth!” Commander Zhao barked.

The magistrate shuddered and hurriedly replied, “Reporting to Your Excellency, the soap was made by a farmer from a village under my jurisdiction. It was originally said to be made by the second son, Ji Yi, but Consort Li said—”

He quickly glanced at Zhao Xuguang. Seeing him frown slightly, he hastily corrected himself, “No—I investigated and found that it couldn’t have been made by a grown man, so I questioned them further. Their family then firmly stated that it was made by their youngest daughter!”

Yes! If he had been left to investigate on his own, he might have just grabbed a man and sent him off. But since Consort Li insisted it was made by a woman, how could he go against her wishes? So when the Ji family claimed it was Ji Mei, he readily accepted it—only to find out in the end that it was still wrong.

“Oh? So they have a younger daughter. How old is she?” Commander Zhao continued.

“Fourteen or fifteen,” the magistrate answered in a small voice. Honestly, how would he know? Just a rural peasant family—was he supposed to keep track of every detail? If he knew everyone that well, how would he have time to do anything else as magistrate?

Besides, wasn’t the person already sent to the capital? If they wanted to know, couldn’t they just investigate there? Why rush all the way here from the capital on horseback just to ask? The magistrate couldn’t help but worry about the commander’s intelligence.

Then Commander Zhao asked again, “And this daughter—was she born to the family?”

“Huh?” The magistrate was even more stunned. If she wasn’t their biological child, was she adopted later? He wasn’t some gossiping busybody—how could he know such family secrets? He didn’t even know her exact age!

Seeing the blank look on his face, Zhao’s expression grew even darker. “You don’t even know something this simple, yet you casually sent someone into the palace? Do you realize that if she causes chaos in the imperial court or harms His Majesty or the consorts, your head will roll as well?”

“W-what?” The magistrate was so shocked he couldn’t even speak. What? Sending a technician into the palace could cost him his head? He had only followed Consort Li’s instructions!

Trembling, he cautiously asked, “W-were these questions… instructed by Consort Li?”

Unexpectedly, Zhao’s eyes widened as he snapped coldly, “Does it matter who’s asking? I’m asking. Is that not enough?”

Yes, yes! A higher official crushes those below him—let alone someone five ranks above! The magistrate felt utterly miserable. Such a high-ranking official had rushed all the way from the capital just to dig into the gossip of some rural family—this was… absurdly meticulous!

“Please rest assured, Your Excellency,” the magistrate immediately declared with firm resolve. “This subordinate will investigate at once! I will trace her ancestry back eight generations and report everything clearly to the Jin Yi Wei!”