can't promise anything more than that.""Times are tough, and it's not easy for anyone to make a living. You understand, right"Liu Youcai listened, and quickly nodded."Alright, alright, no problem! As..."My lord, what if the magistrate refuses to cooperate"

Song Qian asked with some worry.

We've already come this far, if the county magistrate can't handle things, it will all be for nothing!

Those who had figured things out were also watching Yang Lin with worry.

"Hmm"

Yet Yang Lin was taken aback and retorted, "Why should he cooperate"

Everyone was astonished.

Yang Lin said calmly, "Tracking down criminals and catching thieves falls under the jurisdiction of the County Magistrate; while adjudicating cases is the responsibility of the County Clerk."

Now that everyone has been apprehended, it's best to simply have the County Magistrate oversee the trial. There's no need to trouble the County Chief with this matter.

Everyone listened and agreed that it made sense, but they also felt something was off.

Song Qian, however, was taken aback after a moment of surprise. She became increasingly alarmed and stared at Yang Lin in disbelief, her eyes full of astonishment.

He has already thought of a possibility!

Originally, he just thought that after Yang Lin finished all of this, Wu Zhixian would have no choice.

Now he finally understands that Yang Lin is actually trying to nullify the county magistrate's authority!

Song Qian couldn't help but gasp, this lord's actions were so daring!

Once this is successful, then from now on, the County Magistrate of Jianghe County will just be a puppet. Yang Lin will be the true emperor of Jianghe!

"Hmph, got it Now just do your job well, I won't mistreat you."

Yang Lin patted Song Qian on the shoulder.

"I am willing to go through fire and water for you, my lord, and serve you with all my heart!"

Song Qian hurriedly bowed respectfully.

It was still early morning when the county magistrate Zhao Kang was asleep. He heard a hurried knocking at the door outside.

"Grandpa, something terrible has happened!"

The sound of Steward Zhao Zhongming came from outside.

"What's the matter"

Zhao Kang reluctantly sat up, frowning slightly.

Zhao Fugui from Koushan Village came to say that Yang Lin asked you to go and have a detailed talk!

Thinking about what Zhao Fugui had said, Zhao Zhongming felt a mix of emotions.

Back then, when he first went to Kaoshan Village, it was as a superior meeting Yang Lin. Afterward, when he went again, he was on equal footing with the other party and cooperated.

Now, one's own identity in the other person's eyes is no longer enough!

Zhao Kang's face darkened with displeasure. He glanced at the sky outside. It should still be before dawn. Someone dared to disturb his peaceful dream, which made him even more furious.

That young man, who I had initially taken a liking to, turned out to be so arrogant and presumptuous!

To think that just because they're slightly favored, they've already become an outsider

Do you still want to go see him

Why doesn't he go to heaven!

"Have them wait outside!"

After finishing, Zhao Fugui was about to lie down and continue sleeping.

However, Zhao Zhongming outside was hurriedly shouting: "Master, something really serious has happened! Zhao Fugui said that they went to Zhou Kun and Zhao Deyi's homes last night and arrested everyone from both families!"

"What"

Zhao Kang suddenly jolted awake, sitting bolt upright. He didn't even bother calling for a maidservant; he hurriedly dressed himself.

Moments later, the door swung open and Zhao Kang rushed out, eyes wide with alarm. "What on earth is going on"

Zhao Zhongming quickly shook his head: "I don't know, sir. Zhao Fugui only sent a few testimonies, saying that they captured people from the Zhao and Zhou families last night. Right now, Yang Lin is in the county magistrate's hall and wants to invite you there for a detailed discussion."

Saying that, Zhao Zhongming handed several statements to Zhao Kang. Zhao Kang took them and couldn't help but gasp!

These testimonies include confessions from both the Zhou family and the Zhao family. The crimes they confessed to range in severity.

If we were to convict based on this confession, then Zhao Deyi and Zhou Kun's families would face at least imprisonment or exile; at worst, they could be beheaded!

Zhao Kang gasped, hurriedly asking, "Where is my cousin now"

He wants to find Zhao Fugui first and clarify the ins and outs of this matter.

However, Zhao Zhongming said with a face full of difficulty: "After he passed the message, he left."

"Hiss——!"

Zhao Kang gasped, and his teeth suddenly ached.

Although he appeared to be quite close to his cousin on a daily basis, everyone understood that it was merely a facade. Zhao Fuguai would not become oblivious to his place in the world simply because he was called "cousin" a few times.

And now, after just passing the message on, he left directly!

This is beyond self-awareness now!

Every time I think about the things they did...

"Saddle up the horses! This official wants to see what those rascals are up to!"

Besides the county government hall, there are also the hall of the deputy magistrate and the hall of the magistrate's assistant in a county government office.

But in fact, most magistrates were transferred from elsewhere. To avoid their powers being undermined, they always held both civil and military authority. They personally oversaw the duties of both the county clerk and the county lieutenant. That's why the place for handling cases and presiding over court sessions has always been the main hall of the county government office.

As for the halls of the County Magistrate and the County Lieutenant, gradually, they were reduced to merely their offices.

And at this moment, when Zhao Kang just arrived at his County Magistrate's hall, he was completely stunned!

The usually deserted courtyard of the county magistrate's office was now teeming with people, a scene of unprecedented excitement.

Among them were the families and servants of Zhou Kun and Zhao Deyi, as well as almost all three shifts of county guards from the entire county town, and many ordinary people like him who didn't know what was going on.

"Sir Zhao, our lord is just across the way, and he has tea prepared. He awaits your arrival."

Zhao Fu貴 smiled broadly as he walked over and bowed, saying:

"Lord"

Zhao Kang was a little confused.

"Lord Zhao, let's go."

Zhao Fugui pointed to the teahouse across the street.

When Zhao Kang followed Zhao Fu貴 to the teahouse's private room, he couldn't help but frown upon seeing the young man seated there. He turned his head and looked at Zhao Fu貴 with confusion: "The lord you mentioned is Yang Lin"

"Exactly." Zhao Fugui smiled and nodded.

"What are you talking about!"

Zhao Kang was immediately furious.

"He The Baron"

Zhao Kang sneered: “That's sheer nonsense! Do you know, impersonating a nobleman is a grave sin that brings disaster to three generations!”

He had served as an official in Jianghe County for many years, yet he had no idea that there were still nobles existing in this small county town!

Don't even talk about a village boy being from nobility

Are you kidding me

Zhao Kang strode over, just about to teach the other party a lesson.

The result was a woman beside Yang Lin who threw over a bright yellow scroll.

Zhao Kang was slightly taken aback, and opened it with a hint of confusion. In an instant, he couldn't help but gasp!

"This… is this an imperial edict"

His eyes widened as he intently stared at the text above, examining the texture of the imperial edict.

After staring for a long while, he still couldn't tell if it was real or fake. Just as he was about to ask, Yang Lin spoke first: "Lord Zhao, you don't need to doubt the authenticity of the imperial edict. This marquis was indeed enfeoffed by the late emperor as a guardian male marquis. It's just that this matter has never been told to outsiders."

Yang Lin leaned leisurely against a chair, his face calm.

The more lies he told, the more he began to believe them himself. said, "Third Sister, you seem so flustered. Could it be that you're also coveting our husband's body Are you jealous""You, you don't talk nonsense!"Even Liao Hongying's nervous face flushed red, and...