Chapter 75: Keep Kneeling

“Dong! Dong! Dong!” The resounding strikes of the county drum echoed across the air, drawing the attention of every passerby outside the Wang Family Town County Office. Watching a large procession arrive grandly at the government gate, the crowd couldn’t help but break into murmurs and speculation.

Yet Wang Zhongfu paid them no heed, pounding the heavy drum with unwavering intensity, as if each blow vented the outrage that had long simmered in his heart. With every thunderous strike, he seemed to find the faintest relief.

The gatekeeper, witnessing this, strode forward with a grim face and shouted angrily, “Wang Zhongfu, what are you up to this time? You’ve just been released from prison—do you wish to go back so soon and eat prison meals again?” As he spoke, he raised his staff, ready to drive Wang Zhongfu away on the spot.

He had already spotted the familiar face of Wang Fugui among the crowd. However, just as he was about to greet Wang Fugui, the latter gave him a subtle signal, and the gatekeeper pretended not to recognize him, holding his silence.

Observing this, Li Lizhi frowned slightly, but then her expression softened with a smile as her gaze fell upon Li Yi.

Li Yi let out a helpless sigh and spread his hands in protest, “Your Highness, isn’t Linlang here with you? Why must I deal with this? I can’t outfight him!”

Li Lizhi rolled her eyes with an amused smile. Though Li Yi was shameless, she found herself rather fond of this quality in him. If anyone else dared speak to her this way, her mood would have soured instantly.

“Linlang, you go,” Li Lizhi relented with a shake of her head and a gentle smile, handing her waist token to Linlang.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Linlang shot Li Yi a glare, muttering “useless” under her breath as she strode forward, brandishing the token. “Lead us inside—now!” she ordered coolly.

“Oh? And who do you think you are? Is this your family’s county office?” the gatekeeper sneered, dismissing her words. He was about to lay hands on Wang Zhongfu when, recalling Wang Fugui’s unusual silence, a sense of caution arose within him. He glanced at the waist token—and froze.

There, emblazoned in gold, were the words “Princess Changle.” At once, his soul nearly fled his body. This truly was the Li family’s domain!

“Forgive my blindness, Your Highness! I have offended you—please grant me your mercy!” The gatekeeper fell to his knees, trembling uncontrollably as he begged forgiveness. “Your Highness, please, enter!”

With a dissatisfied glare, Linlang turned and instructed Wang Zhongfu, “That’s enough—come.”

“Yes, officer!” Wang Zhongfu finally ceased his drumming and nodded.

Only now did the surrounding onlookers realize what had transpired. In a rush, they too knelt and respectfully called out in unison, “Long life to Your Highness, the Princess!”

Never had they imagined that the princess herself would grace their humble town—a supreme honor indeed!

“Rise, all of you,” Li Lizhi said with a gentle wave and a smile.

“Thank you, Your Highness!” With gratitude, the crowd stood, though none wished to leave. With the princess present and Wang Fugui airing his grievances, curiosity compelled them to linger at the gates, eager to witness what would unfold.

Li Lizhi ignored them, striding into the county office with Wang Fugui and company in tow, drawing no small amount of attention.

Within the magistrate’s private quarters, Magistrate He Chishan was enjoying an intimate moment with his concubine, Lady Wang. Suddenly, the sound of the drum of grievance resounded from outside, and He Chishan’s face twisted with anger. “Who dares disturb my pleasure with such insolence?”

He kissed Lady Wang again and pressed himself to her. Lady Wang wrapped her legs around him with serpentine grace, purring, “My lord, perhaps you should see what’s happening. If someone truly seeks justice and word spreads that you ignore the people, it won’t look well.”

He Chishan laughed heartily. “Beloved, it matters not—let me have you once more first!”

“My lord…” Lady Wang closed her eyes in delighted surrender.

Just then, an urgent voice came from outside the door: “Master, urgent news—the Princess herself has arrived!”

He Chishan, caught in the throes of pleasure, was startled. He rose abruptly from Lady Wang and called out, “The Princess? How could that be?”

“It’s true, Master!” the panicked servant replied. “Her Highness is already seated in the magistrate’s chair. You must go at once!”

All desire vanished from He Chishan’s mind. He leapt from the bed, hastily dressed, and made for the main hall.

In the main hall, Li Lizhi sat in the magistrate’s seat, with Li Yi and Linlang flanking her sides. Before them knelt Wang Zhongfu, Wang Fugui, the Daoist priest, and his two disciples. The assembled clerks and constables stood silently, heads bowed, rigid and tense, the air thick with a chilling gravity.

Outside, the townsfolk craned their necks in anticipation, their curiosity piqued. What on earth was happening?

At that moment, the gatekeeper who had gone to summon the magistrate returned, bowing respectfully. “Your Highness, the magistrate will be here momentarily.”

“No matter,” Li Lizhi replied coolly, though a hint of anger touched her cheeks. The gatekeeper, sensing the mood, wisely withdrew to the side in silence.

A brief hush fell over the room until Magistrate He Chishan finally arrived. The moment he saw the solemn scene before him, his brow furrowed. When his gaze fell upon Li Lizhi seated at the head, he immediately bowed low. “Your humble servant, He Chishan, Magistrate of Wang Family Town, greets Your Highness. A thousand blessings upon you!”

Li Lizhi did not respond, but instead smiled faintly at Li Yi, as if to say, “The matter is yours.”

Li Yi shook his head in resignation and sighed. “Remain kneeling.”

A cold voice echoed from Li Yi’s lips. He Chishan froze, as did the rest. No one had expected this—he was not asked to rise, but to remain on his knees! Was this an accusation?

And it was not the princess herself, but a man at her side who dared utter such words. Who was he to seize the princess’s authority?

Puzzlement filled the magistrate’s heart, yet he dared not question the man’s identity. He merely asked, “May I be so bold as to inquire—what crime have I committed?”

Though uncertainty clouded He Chishan’s mind, he refrained from pressing further; anyone standing at the princess’s side was no ordinary person.

“What crime, you ask?” Li Yi responded with a faint, mocking smile. “The Princess arrives, yet you are nowhere to be found—what explanation is there for this?

“A citizen beats the drum of grievance outside your gates, yet your men do not investigate. Instead, your constable would have driven him off—how do you explain that?

“Your attire is disheveled, you reek of a woman’s perfume—plainly, you have just risen from your lover’s bed. In broad daylight, you neglect the people’s affairs for your own pleasure—how do you justify this?”

With each cold, cutting question, Li Yi’s words struck at the very heart of He Chishan.

(End of chapter)