In the court, County Magistrate Liu was hearing an ordinary theft case.
As a county magistrate, he was in charge of the county's government affairs, so he couldn't do everything by himself. Usually, these small cases were handled by County Lieutenant Zhou. However, County Lieutenant Zhou was still in prison, and the newly appointed County Lieutenant Li hadn't come to the county government office yet, so he could only temporarily take on the duties of County Lieutenant. These days, he was much busier than usual, and he didn't even have time to fool around with his concubine.
In a county, the county magistrate was responsible for coordinating the county's government affairs; the county deputy's main duty was to assist the county magistrate in administration; the registrar was responsible for checking documents and supervising the county's administration; the county lieutenant was in charge of justice, arresting thieves, hearing cases, making judgments, and collecting taxes. He was the busiest among the four people.
Now, besides the county magistrate, even the county lieutenant's affairs were all on him. How could County Magistrate Liu not be distressed?
"Why hasn't County Lieutenant Li come yet?"
At this moment, a government runner came to report that the newly appointed County Lieutenant Li had arrived.
County Magistrate Liu was overjoyed and went out to greet him in person.
From a distance, he saw County Lieutenant Li and a young man walking towards him. The young man was talking to County Lieutenant Li with a smile, but County Lieutenant Li was obviously not in a good mood and seemed to be too lazy to talk with him.
"That's … Childe!"
County Magistrate Liu vaguely felt that the young man was a little familiar. When he remembered, he suddenly stopped and was stunned.
County Magistrate Liu was fortunate enough to follow His Lordship to Prince Ning's Mansion and saw Prince Ning. Because of the special identity of Prince Ning and his handsome appearance, County Magistrate Liu had a deep impression of him, so he recognized him at a glance.
Seeing the heir in the county government was enough to surprise him. Last time, County Magistrate Zhou had offended the heir, so he ended up like this. But what surprised him more was that the new County Magistrate Li actually talked and laughed with the heir, and it seemed that they had a good relationship.
Looking carefully, it was not talking and laughing at all. It was obviously Prince Ning's one-sided talk, but County Lieutenant Li didn't even bother to pay attention to him …
"What's the background of this County Lieutenant under my command?"
He was merely a minor eighth rank county officer, yet he was able to be bestowed the title by the Emperor himself. He even chatted with the Crown Prince of Ning Wang and attracted the attention of Her Royal Highness …
Yesterday, the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict had already vaguely revealed Arrester Li's identity to him and asked him to serve him carefully. After knowing the truth, County Magistrate Liu broke out in a cold sweat on the spot.
Even though he already had some guesses in his heart, the truth was even more terrifying than he had imagined.
The county government already had such a great figure. Was there going to be another one today?
Could it be that County Magistrate Li was also …
Yes, it must be. His surname is also Li. Li is the surname of the emperor … Connecting all the things related to County Magistrate Li, County Magistrate Zhou broke into a cold sweat again. The identity of the Xiucai of Li family village must be fake!
Apart from being frightened, he was also complaining incessantly in his heart. This damned Anxi County Government wasn't a blessed land. Why did all the big shots come here? Any one of their subordinates was someone he couldn't afford to offend. What was the point of being the county magistrate …
Too vexed!
Thinking of this, County Magistrate Liu felt like there was a ball of fire in his heart that was about to be vented. He strode over with a bright smile on his face, "Your highness, please forgive me for not welcoming you earlier."
Li Xuan waved his hand casually and said, "Don't be so polite. I'm just here to accompany County Magistrate Li. Just do your thing and don't worry about me."
He said these words casually, but County Magistrate Liu, who had been an official for many years, was shrewd and cunning. He immediately understood the meaning of the prince's words.
He was telling County Magistrate Liu that he had a close relationship with County Magistrate Li and that he could do as he pleased in the future …
County Magistrate Liu understood. When he looked at Li Yi, he smiled even more and said, "The imperial court sympathizes with us lowly officials and allows us to delay our appointment for one month after we receive the appointment. County Magistrate Li, you really don't have to worry."
What County Magistrate Liu said was the truth. In this dynasty, the previous dynasty, and even the dynasty before that, officials had enough time to take up their appointment after receiving the appointment letter.
In order to avoid corruption and forming cliques for personal gain, since ancient times, officials were not allowed to take up their posts in their birthplace. Because of the long journey, in order to give them enough time to take up their posts, the Imperial Court gave them a month's time.
However, County Magistrate Li's situation was a little different. His Majesty had personally conferred him the title of Anxi County Magistrate, so there was no need for him to travel long distances. Normally, he could take up his post on the same day. However, County Magistrate Liu knew that Li Yi was reluctant to take up his post and presumably didn't want to come to the yamen so early, so he might as well do him a favor.
County Magistrate Liu, who had been looking forward to Li Yi taking up his post as soon as possible, instantly changed his mind after seeing the scene just now.
He didn't expect the imperial court to have such a humane system. Li Yi's mood became a little better, but only a little better. He could avoid it for a day or a month, but he couldn't avoid it for a lifetime. What was supposed to come would come back, and he couldn't run away from the position of County Magistrate Liu.
At this moment, County Magistrate Liu said, "I still have a case to hear. Would County Magistrate Li and Heir Li be willing to have a look?"
Since he knew that he didn't have to take up his post immediately, Li Yi didn't want to stay in the yamen for a second longer. Li Xuan was a little interested in this and said, "Isn't it the duty of a County Magistrate to hear a case? Why don't you go and have a look?"
Li Yi, who didn't want to go at first, was a little shaken after hearing his words.
After being dragged to the court by Li Xuan, County Magistrate Liu didn't introduce them. He ordered a yamen runner to bring two chairs and sat back on the main seat. Then he slammed the gavel and looked at the person kneeling down below, saying loudly, "How dare you! Someone clearly saw you steal the silver from your master, but you refuse to admit it. Do you want me to punish you?"
"Your honor, I'm wronged!"
The kneeling young man kowtowed a few times and said with a bitter expression, "This lowly one has been wronged. That Wang Er and this lowly one have always been at odds. It is clear that he stole the silver and framed me. This lowly one really did not steal master's silver!"
"You're lying. Although we don't get along, it's true that I saw you steal the silver with my own eyes. Why should I frame you?" A person kneeling beside him immediately said.
"Your honor, I'm really wronged!" The young man kowtowed again.
County Magistrate Liu asked several times, but the two people insisted on their own words. However, he couldn't find other evidence, so he couldn't help feeling a headache.
He began to miss County Magistrate Zhou a little.
"County Magistrate Li, what do you think of this case?" He got up and walked to the court, looking at Li Yi and asking.
He decided to liven up the atmosphere and ease his embarrassment. He didn't have any hope that this new county magistrate could solve the case.
Not until then did the runners know that the young man who came in with County Magistrate Liu was actually the new county magistrate of this county. They were all shocked. It was said that this county magistrate was appointed by His Majesty, but they didn't expect that he looked so young.
However, this county magistrate came at the right time. County Magistrate Liu obviously wanted to shift the blame.
Hearing the familiar line of County Magistrate Liu, Li Yi felt that he could change his name to Li Yuanfang.
He cupped his hands to County Magistrate Liu and looked at the two people in the court. Thinking that he would have to deal with these trivial things all day in the future, he became more agitated and his face darkened. He pointed at the young man who was accused and said loudly, "When you argued just now, you repeated your words and raised your voice, which showed that you were lying. In just a few words, you rubbed your nose five times, which showed that you were trying to cover up the truth. Your right thumb kept rubbing, which showed that you were panicking …"
"Last but not least, you look shifty-eyed and ugly, which means that you are not a good person. If you didn't steal the silver, who else could it be?" Speaking of this, Li Yi's voice suddenly sank, "Guards, drag him out and behead him!"
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