Chapter 562 – Come, Come, Come, Let Me Show You a Big Treasure (Part Four)
The Superintendent’s chest heaved rapidly, sweat dripped from his chubby face, glistening with grease; he could almost feel the oil on his fingertips.
“You—how dare you! Can this official harm your county’s magistrate?”
The presence of two rows of soldiers had already frightened him enough, and now, with his guards disarmed, he felt as exposed as a dried fish gasping for breath on the chopping block, desperately flapping its tail to escape, and the sweat poured down even more.
Dian Yin chuckled, “Naturally, there’s nothing to fear. With your abilities, Superintendent, who could you possibly harm?”
The Superintendent fell silent, feeling belittled.
Though Dian Yin believed he wouldn’t harm Jiang Pengji, there was a hint of disdain in his tone.
After all, a dried fish is just a dried fish. What great deeds could it manage besides weakly flailing about?
Dian Yin gestured for the Superintendent to enter the county office.
“Please, Superintendent, my Lord has been waiting for you in the main hall for quite some time.”
Nervously swallowing, the Superintendent felt his shirt soaked with sweat, sticking uncomfortably to his skin.
With sturdy legs, he followed Dian Yin into the county office.
The Superintendent thought that with such prosperity in Xiangyang County, the office would be lavish, but it was anything but.
Had Dian Yin said this was the county office, he might have doubted he hadn’t stumbled into a fallen noble’s home. There were no artificial hills, flowers, or pavilions; just an empty space with a few bamboo drying racks.
Taking a few steps further through the courtyard and around a stone screen, the wide-open main hall came into view.
The Superintendent squinted, straining to catch a glimpse of the scene inside.
Jiang Pengji had already been waiting in the main hall for a while, secretly chatting with the audience, guessing what kind of figure the Superintendent would be.
When Dian Yin finally brought him in, the live chat erupted in complaints, claiming their eyes were blinded and they needed something attractive to revive their sight.
The Superintendent, dressed neatly, was unfortunately sweaty from the heat; his forehead, cheeks, and plump neck glistened under the sun, and after sitting in the carriage for most of the day, his clothes were rumpled and his collar slightly askew, presenting a rather poor image.
The audience, accustomed to various ancient handsome men, was taken aback at the sight of the Superintendent, collectively gasping in horror.
【Tea Mifi】: Host, are you sure you didn’t walk into the wrong set? Is that the actor for Second Brother here?
【Cat Demon Lord】: Hahaha—Hey, don’t you dare insult Second Brother like that! Before he mistakenly reincarnated as a pig, he was the mighty Tianpeng Marshal! This Superintendent looks like a pig demon come to life. If he was acting as Second Brother, he wouldn’t even need a pig head or a big belly prop—just a brain full of intestines to do the role!
【Cloud Flowing Clouds】: Phew—what a relief! Finally saw a not-so-handsome ancient man! From watching the streams, I thought your subordinates all looked splendid; I figured ancient genes were superior, but seeing the Superintendent, I feel reassured.
【Laugh for Three Days】: You appearance-minded mortals! Unlike you, I value inner beauty like the host! I’ll never mock this guy just because he looks like a pig—what the heck, who’s stopping me? Can’t you see there’s a pig here? Don’t snatch my butcher knife!
【Genius Guo Fengxiao】: #Disdain, being a Superintendent carries weight in ancient times. Those who can hold such a position for a long time are rarely simple. Just look at Dongqing’s current state and then look at this Superintendent’s tonnage—do you think he’s ordinary?
【Chancellor Zhuge Liang】: Not simple at all, but there’s a saying, “One strength overwhelms ten skills.” I doubt this Superintendent can fool the host out of three counties. If he does nothing, he might live; if he oversteps, not even the Buddha can save him.
The audience was busy cracking jokes and making playful remarks, which amusingly lifted Jiang Pengji’s mood, and she found the Superintendent slightly more tolerable.
As the Superintendent stepped into the main hall, he saw a striking young boy, no more than sixteen or seventeen, seated at the head—his brows arched, lips red as blood, youthful face filled with a specific vitality, eyes slightly upturned, and his medium-thick lips pressed tightly together, giving off an inexplicable pressure.
Faced with any other young boy, the Superintendent would have set himself up for a display; but after Dian Yin’s intimidation, he felt a bit meek.
After greeting, Jiang Pengji’s attitude was lukewarm; the Superintendent plastered on a fake smile and said a few flattering words to lighten the mood.
However, Jiang Pengji was impervious to flattery, her demeanor showing no sign of warmth.
Yet her coldness lacked any aggressive edge, which offered the Superintendent a slight sense of ease.
He recalled his purpose for coming and sternly asked, “I’ve heard that Liu County’s magistrate has mobilized private troops and occupied three counties?”
According to his script, Jiang Pengji should be panicking and denying it, leading to a back-and-forth where he could extort some benefits, scare the young magistrate, speak justly while squeezing out some bribes, then reporting Liu Xi to the Governor.
That way, he could profit from Liu Xi while seeking favor from the Governor—a perfect win-win, right?
But alas—
Jiang Pengji nodded with utmost sincerity, saying, “Yes, Superintendent, do you have a problem with that?”
The Superintendent was momentarily stunned, thinking she had denied it, and instinctively replied, “Liu County Magistrate, don’t panic. I’m here on official business inspecting Xiangyang County; if it’s just rumors, I’ll surely report fairly to the Governor; you haven’t used private troops—what?”
After rambling half the time, he finally realized something was off.
Jiang Pengji smiled lightly, “I did mobilize private troops and occupied the other three counties. Does the Superintendent have any further questions?”
The Superintendent’s plump face quivered, his pale skin losing even more color.
An unprecedented sense of crisis surged into his head.
“Th-this doesn’t comply with…” he stammered, “Liu County Magistrate, are you trying to revolt?”
Jiang Pengji dodged the issue and countered, “You can eat your meal haphazardly, but don’t speak recklessly. If you claim I’m revolting, does the Superintendent have any evidence?”
The Superintendent had considered various scenarios but never expected Jiang Pengji would be so shamelessly brazen; he didn’t know how to respond.
He forced himself to ask, “Occupying three counties without returning them, isn’t that an obvious piece of evidence?”
The audience watching eagerly recognized that the Superintendent was at the end of his rope, enjoying the spectacle.
【Genius Guo Fengxiao】: I think in the Superintendent’s script, the host should be trembling in fear, not boldly confronting him like this. Oh, the woes of a Superintendent whose script is disrupted.
【Acatris】: I bet this Superintendent wanted to extort the host for bribes.
Jiang Pengji chuckled lightly, “If I allow the Green Garment Army to seize four counties in Fengyi, can I claim that the Governor is colluding with the Green Garment Army and committing treason?”
The Superintendent was left speechless.
