Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 175: Did I Get Promoted?

Xie Xun was taken aback, a Fifth Rank Minister?

He looked at Yu Zhong, then at Su Juan, when did this happen? Weren’t you just a Junior Sixth Rank not long ago?

Su Juan blinked, not immediately grasping what Yu Zhong had said, "What Fifth Rank Minister?"

"Me?"

Xie Xun: "?"

Yu Zhong: "?"

"Did I get a promotion? When did this happen?"

"Big Butt wouldn’t make things up. Could it be that the Old Emperor promoted me that day?"

Xie Xun was shocked: You got promoted, and you didn’t even know?

Yu Zhong’s thumb repeatedly kneaded the wine cup. "..." Big Butt.

The wine cup was about to be crushed in his hand.

Su Juan thought carefully; when the Holy Decree arrived at the Duke Mansion that day, she was in a rush to pack, and didn’t look closely. It seems the Old Emperor indeed promoted her.

"I didn’t expect the Old Emperor, who’s usually so stingy, to be quite generous at crucial moments."

The promotion was so unexpected that even she hadn’t anticipated it.

Xie Xun: If he hears what you just said, he’d probably demote you three ranks overnight.

The meal ended with barely any food eaten; Yu Zhong instructed County Magistrate Dong to send the untouched dishes to the villagers outside who were still hungry.

County Magistrate Dong wanted to please Yu Zhong, so he complied and immediately found someone to take the meals out to the villagers.

These high-ranking officials from the Capital City liked to put on such appearances to leave a good reputation, thus ensuring a bright future when they return to the Capital. He understood this well.

...

That night, Xie Xun sneaked around and explored the whole house without anyone detecting him.

Yu Zhong and Su Juan were discussing the case of the relief silver. This time, they followed the route Vice Minister Jiang had taken when he went to Xu State. Now they knew that the incident with Vice Minister Jiang and his entourage was unrelated to the relief silver, nor had they encountered any bandits brazen enough to rob them. They needed to consider how the route of the relief silver was leaked and what the conspirators’ goal was.

Su Juan had a vague suspicion, but it hadn’t happened before, so she couldn’t be certain.

When Xie Xun returned, the two were pondering over this matter.

"I’m telling you, that guy named Dong is no good. I just saw with my own eyes, he had people move several boxes out of his courtyard and hide them in a secret room in the study. I opened it immediately, and there was a pile of silver notes and jewelry."

Yu Zhong nodded; the probing during dinner revealed that County Magistrate Dong was indeed hiding stolen goods out of guilt.

Now that they knew where the goods were hidden, they only needed to wait for the Prefect of Suzhou to arrive with troops to arrest County Magistrate Dong.

Xie Xun looked at Su Juan and took out a hairpin from his sleeve, "Didn’t see Miaoqing, but I found this in the box."

This Golden Rattan Wood hairpin was a gift Su Juan gave to Liu Miaoying when she entered service, carved by Su Juan herself, so Xie Xun remembered it.

The hairpin now appeared in County Magistrate Dong’s house, indicating the contents of those boxes were indeed stolen goods and evidence.

Yu Zhong reassured them, "There’s still no news of Miss Liu. Perhaps she realized the people at the inn were colluding with County Magistrate Dong, so she found a place to hide. Once County Magistrate Dong’s matter is resolved, we should be able to find her."

They had been asking around with Miaoqing’s portrait, and some people claimed to have seen her.

The testimonies from the people at the inn indicated Liu Miaoying was the first to flee after the incident. Later, Vice Minister Jiang was rescued and taken from Xu State to the Capital City. It wasn’t hard to deduce from the news that Vice Minister Jiang and the others had realized He County’s County Government was unreliable, so they sought refuge in Xu State Prefecture, leading to the reports of Vice Minister Jiang being seriously injured and unconscious.

Liu Miaoying had gotten separated from them. A young lady unfamiliar with the roads would not dare to wander, so she likely stayed in He County. After what happened, she would surely have gone to the County Government for help. Realizing there was an issue there, she must have found a place to hide.

So as long as she knows people have come from the Capital City, she will likely appear.

Su Juan nodded, "Mm."

Yu Zhong, being the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, had handled hundreds of cases if not more. She trusted Yu Zhong’s judgment, and she had given Miaoqing many personal hidden weapons and medicine before, so she believed nothing would happen.

Xie Xun looked at Yu Zhong, then at Su Juan, and felt that the feeling he had with Shen Ruhui and Su Juan was coming back again.

Why would solving County Magistrate Dong’s case lead to finding Miaoqing?

What are you "mm"-ing about, you understood without him explaining everything?

Xie Xun dug his ears and chose to play deaf. He realized now: if you can’t fit in, don’t force yourself. Even if you forced your way in, you’d still be an outsider.

...

Yu Zhong’s group placated County Magistrate Dong for two whole days, forced to eat, drink, and be merry with him. The County Magistrate initially thought someone from the Capital City had finally come to deal with County Magistrate Dong, but his hopes were dashed upon seeing this.

On the third day, a letter was sent to the Capital City but was intercepted by Yu Zhong’s subordinates.

Reading the letter’s content, Su Juan narrowed her eyes, "This He County’s County Magistrate is quite dutiful."

He wrote a damning report about his superior and about how they indulged with County Magistrate Dong after arriving in He County clearly.

Presumably, he’s written quite a bit before, but it was intercepted, otherwise, he wouldn’t still be a County Magistrate now.

That day, County Magistrate Dong selected some treasures, preparing to send them to Yu Zhong and Su Juan later. After spending these days with them, he felt he’d completely grasped their personalities.

As he entered the flower hall, he heard his subordinate report that the Prefect of Xu State had arrived and was waiting at the County Government, already having met with Yu Zhong and the others!

County Magistrate Dong thought to himself, it must be because they heard the people from the Capital City were in He County that they came running.

He had tried to curry favor with Prefect Zeng before, but the man was like a wooden block that wouldn’t understand, repeatedly returning everything he sent over. But now, it seemed he ran over impatiently, wanting to impress the Capital City people, right?

After tidying himself, he headed to the County Government.

Entering the County Government, he saw Prefect Zeng speaking with Yu Zhong and Su Juan.

County Magistrate Dong’s eyes showed disdain, but he still plastered on a smile, "Ah, what wind blew the Prefect here today!"

Prefect Zeng looked at County Magistrate Dong, his eyes full of displeasure, "Dong Hai, Lord Yu and Lord Su have spoken quite a bit about you."

County Magistrate Dong beamed, unexpectedly finding these two so tactful, already putting in good words for him. He saluted Su Juan and Yu Zhong, "Thank you, esteemed officials, for the high regard."

Yu Zhong said nothing.

Su Juan smiled, "There’s no need for such formalities, we just spoke the truth."

Xie Xun couldn’t bear to watch anymore; with disaster looming, Su Juan still made jokes. She was truly mischievous.

County Magistrate Dong’s face was all smiles, looking at Prefect Zeng, "Will Lord Zeng be staying today? I’ll have some food prepared..."

Prefect Zeng snorted coldly, with his hands behind his back, he shouted sternly, "Arrest him!"

Suddenly, seven or eight people rushed in and pinned County Magistrate Dong to the ground before he could react.

County Magistrate Dong was dumbfounded, still not understanding what had happened.