220 Atonement
County Magistrate Liu was immersed in his memories when he suddenly heard someone ask.
“Lord Liu, when will you give us the hundred taels of silver you promised?”
Magistrate Liu suddenly came back to his senses and asked with wide eyes, “What silver?”
The commoners were shocked by his fierce appearance, but when it came to a hundred taels of silver, everyone mustered their courage and continued.
“You said it yourself in front of everyone just now. As long as we can stop the ox cart, we can get a hundred taels of silver. You’re an official. You can’t lie!”
At this moment, County Magistrate Liu no longer felt hot-blooded.
All that was left was the pain of losing a hundred taels of silver.
No wonder many seniors often told him that it was not easy to be an official, and it was even harder to be a good official.
Now, he finally understood.
As a corrupt official, he could easily pocket money, but now, not only did he not earn any money, he even had to give money away.
He was indeed not suitable to be a good official. He’d better continue being an official who slacked off.
When County Magistrate Liu returned to the county office with his men, he found out that Prince Min had brought his men to wipe out the human traffickers’ nest and even saved many kidnapped women.
County Magistrate Liu immediately praised Xiao Juan and the Eagle Guards to the point that they were unprecedented.
Xiao Juan did not like to hear these useless praises and said to him bluntly, “Send someone to inform the families of the kidnapped women and tell them to come to the county office to pick them up.”
“Okay, okay, okay. I’ll do it now.”
Magistrate Liu turned around and took two steps before stopping.
Xiao Juan looked up at him. “What else?”
Magistrate Liu asked ingratiatingly, “Well, since the kidnapped women have been found, I guess I’ve made amends, right?”
Xiao Juan had already learned from the Eagle Guards that County Magistrate Liu was indeed very diligent today. In order to save the women, he did not hesitate to take risks and performed very well.
“I’ve always been clear about rewards and punishments. Since you’ve made a contribution, I’ll let bygones be bygones.”
Magistrate Liu was overjoyed and was about to thank him.
Then, he continued, “But you have to dig out all the cases you’ve done sloppily before and retry them. If you dare to smooth over the case again in the future, I’ll let the Eagle Guards lead you to the Justice Department.”
County Magistrate Liu’s smile froze. The other party was clearly not prepared to let him off.
His plan to continue being a good-for-nothing official was ruined.
Xiao Juan looked at him coldly. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you unwilling?”
How would County Magistrate Liu dare to say no?
He forced a smile. “Thank you for your advice, Your Highness. I’ll definitely be fair in the future and try not to disappoint you.”
Xiao Juan said indifferently, “The Eagle Guards have spies everywhere. I hope you won’t let me down.”
The threat was clear in his words.
Magistrate Liu’s heart tightened and he hurriedly expressed his loyalty.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll definitely do as I say!”
Xiao Juan waved his hand, indicating that the other party could get lost.
Magistrate Liu bowed and left.
After they were gone, Yu Niaoniao walked out from behind the screen.
She asked quizzically, “Your Highness, since you know that County Magistrate Liu is not a good person, why did you let him continue to be an official?”
In her opinion, a fellow like County Magistrate Liu, who did not treat the commoners as humans at all, should be fired and investigated. He should have a taste of being wronged but unable to complain.
If he was asked such a question by anyone else, Xiao Juan would definitely send him back with an admonition to the effect of “don’t ask about anything unrelated to you”.
But facing Yu Niaoniao, his patience was surprisingly good.
“Then do you know that there are many fools like Magistrate Liu in the Dayan Dynasty? Even if I investigate County Magistrate Liu today, can you guarantee that the next county magistrate sent to Wangsong City will definitely be a good official?”
Yu Niaoniao was speechless.
Not to mention a small county princess like her, even the emperor might not be able to give an accurate answer.
After all, the human heart was complicated.
How many people could maintain their original intentions when faced with the temptation of benefits? The bureaucracy of the Dayan Dynasty was far more complicated than she had imagined. It was impossible for a single person to keep all the officials clean.
The more she thought about it, the more powerless she felt. Yu Niaoniao lowered her head in frustration. Even the strand of hair on her head drooped. She looked like a frosted eggplant, listless.
Xiao Juan reached out and touched her little head.
“There are indeed many issues with County Magistrate Liu. No matter how you look at it, he’s not a good official, but he’s not hopeless. I had looked through his past dossiers. He liked to gloss things over and didn’t want to offend the local gentry. Many of the cases had been left almost unsettled in his hands.”
“However, he had never wronged any innocent citizen, nor had he plundered the people’s wealth. He had also not used his status as a county magistrate to bully good citizens.”
“He could build a good relationship with the local gentry without making any big mistakes. In a way, he was actually quite capable. If he can sustain this on the right path, it will definitely benefit the people.”
Yu Niaoniao was still a little unconvinced.
“Previously, a poor scholar went to the state capital to sue County Magistrate Liu. In the end, the poor scholar’s house was destroyed. That family was forced to leave their hometown. This matter must have something to do with County Magistrate Liu!”
Xiao Juan said unhurriedly.
“I’ve already sent someone to investigate. The matter of the poor scholar really has nothing to do with Magistrate Liu. It was a local squire who hired a few ruffians in private to please County Magistrate Liu. He would go to the poor scholar’s house every few days to cause trouble.”
Yu Niaoniao was skeptical. “Really?”
Xiao Juan patiently sorted out her thoughts.
“Think about it. With County Magistrate Liu’s status, it’s actually very simple for him to take revenge on that poor scholar. As long as he found a reason to cross out the poor scholar’s name when he participated in the county examination, the poor scholar’s future would be gone.”
“Why would he send so many people to the poor scholar’s house to cause trouble? Is he not afraid his reputation isn’t bad enough?”
Yu Niaoniao thought about it and agreed.
County Magistrate Liu looked like a tactful and experienced person. This kind of person was best at protecting himself and would never do anything openly.
From the looks of it, County Magistrate Liu was not hopeless.
Yu Niaoniao leaned over and hugged his arm, asking eagerly.
“Then can you ensure that Magistrate Liu will definitely become good?”
Xiao Juan had originally planned to reach for a brush to write a letter. With her hugging him, he temporarily put the matter of writing a letter aside.
He lowered his eyes to look at her and said slowly.
“Let’s observe for a while. If he still doesn’t change, I’ll send him to the prison of the Justice Department and let him experience what it’s like to be an official that doesn’t make decisions for the people.”
Yu Niaoniao praised, “Your Highness is so thoughtful!”