Meng Huaining's sudden move left Liu somewhat puzzled.
"Sir, I'm here to plead injustice. Why do you treat me like this?"
Meng Huaining's face was cold as he said in a low voice, "How dare a deceitful woman openly bribe an official like me? What crime should she be charged with?"
Liu was instantly dumbfounded.
Usually when people came to Deputy Magistrate Cui's house to ask for help with something, this was how it was done.
Moreover, as long as the gifts were valuable enough, there was nothing that couldn't be accomplished.
How could it not work when she tried it on the new county magistrate?
Not only did it not work, she was actually charged with the crime of bribing an official in public?
The family treasury had already been stolen bare, and the jade bracelet she just pulled off her wrist was meant as a gift.
She had spent a lot of money to buy this jade bracelet many years ago. If she hadn't wanted to leave a good impression on the county magistrate, she would have been reluctant to give it away.
Now, with the bracelet in the other's hand, she was to be convicted.
Liu felt extremely wronged.
"Sir, you can't treat me like this. I'm really wronged."
Hearing Liu's cries of injustice, the yamen runners immediately eased their actions and looked towards Meng Huaining, waiting for his cue.
Meng Huaining didn't even glance at Liu. He waved his hand at the yamen runners.
"Take her inside."
Although the yamen runners had been with Deputy Magistrate Cui for a long time and had done some shady business for him, they could also see the situation clearly now.
The county magistrate was now the biggest official in Yuncheng, and it was undoubtedly clear that Deputy Magistrate Cui would be dismissed from his position. They must clarify their stance at the first moment.
Therefore, at Meng Huaining's command, the yamen runners pushed Liu inside the yamen.
Seeing this, several maids turned to run away, but were blocked by the onlooking commoners.
He Zhiran saw there were no idle yamen runners behind Meng Huaining. He took the initiative to grab two maids by their collars and threw them into the yamen.
Meng Huaining was not idle either. He held up the jade bracelet the maid had stuffed into his hand earlier for all to see.
"Everyone, take a good look. This is the jade bracelet that Liu just had her servant sneak to me. This is evidence of her attempt to bribe me."
This move was met with a round of applause from the commoners.
"Heaven has eyes. Finally, a grand magistrate from heaven has been sent to our Yuncheng."
"The commoners of Yuncheng will have good fortune."
"In the future when we suffer injustice, we shall seek justice from the grand magistrate!"
"......"
Meng Huaining was delighted to gain the recognition of the commoners on his first day in office.
He waved his hand at the commoners while the yamen runners also came out to signal them not to clamor loudly in front of the yamen.
Meng Huaining looked up at the sky. The yamen runner he had sent to ‘invite’ Deputy Magistrate Cui had left for almost an hour but still hadn’t returned. Instead, his wife had come pleading injustice. This inevitably made Meng Huaining suspect that Deputy Magistrate Cui intended some dirty tricks.
Just as he was pondering this, Deputy Magistrate Cui was carried to the front of the yamen on a stretcher by several servants.
At this point, Deputy Magistrate Cui still didn't know exactly what had happened.
Seeing Meng Huaining, he did not forget to greet him obsequiously.
"County Magistrate, you have just arrived in Yuncheng today while I have an injury on my body and couldn't personally welcome you. Please forgive me, sir."
Meng Huaining looked scornfully at Deputy Magistrate Cui.
He saw that Cui's body was wrapped tightly in a brocade quilt, with only his head poking out to speak to him.
Although his tone was ingratiating, the fleeting contempt in his eyes was caught by Meng Huaining.
Meng Huaining sneered inwardly: Still so arrogant even when nearing death...
He kept a straight face and ordered the yamen runners: "Take him to the public hall."
Deputy Magistrate Cui realized his bootlicking attempts were futile. He instantly felt something was wrong.
"Sir, my uncle is the Prefect of Qingzhou." As a last resort, Deputy Magistrate Cui had to play his trump card, hoping that mentioning this would make Meng Huaining change his attitude.
Prefect of Qingzhou?
Meng Huaining was not unfamiliar with this role.
On his way to take up his post in Yuncheng, he happened to pass by Qingzhou where something had occurred that he did not forget.
Prefect Liu offended someone, his acceptance of bribes was reported to the capital, and his official post had already been revoked.
Judging by Deputy Magistrate Cui’s manner, he probably hadn't received the news yet.
Moreover, in Meng Huaining’s mind, even disregarding the fact that Prefect Liu had already been dismissed, even if he was still in office, he would surely severely punish an official like Deputy Magistrate Cui.
As a local father and mother official, an inability to eliminate harm for the people meant he was unworthy of this position.
At this moment, seeing Deputy Magistrate Cui, Meng Huaining felt like he was watching a clown jumping wildly on stage.
He couldn't help but step forward and said unhurriedly, "I have good news to tell you on my first day in office today."
Deputy Magistrate Cui thought Meng Huaining was intimidated after he mentioned his uncle and intended to appease him.
"Sir, what good news? Tell me quickly!"
Meng Huaining suddenly changed his expression. He raised his hand and forcefully overturned Cui's stretcher.
"How dare a dog like you not bow before me, an official, and even lie arrogantly in front of me? Do you believe I will convict you this instant of the crime of disrespecting your superior?"
Just when Deputy Magistrate Cui was gleefully waiting to hear the “good news,” in the blink of an eye, he was dumped off the stretcher.
Unfortunately for him, he fell face down. The wounded area of his body also collided with the ground intimately.
Deputy Magistrate Cui was in so much pain he almost fainted.
After what seemed to be an eternity, he finally cried out in pain.
"Ah...I’m dying..."
Meng Huaining angrily strode over and gave him a kick: "Who gave you the gall to address yourself as 'this official' before me?"
He then moved closer and whispered to Deputy Magistrate Cui: "The good news this official has for you is that yesterday on my way through Qingzhou, I witnessed Prefect Liu dismissed from office by the court for bribe taking."
Upon hearing this, Deputy Magistrate Cui froze in shock. He was in too much pain to care. His expression became increasingly panicked.
"What did you say? That's impossible. My uncle cannot possibly be dismissed. You must be lying to me!"
Meng Huaining was too lazy to explain. He clasped his hands behind his back and strode into the yamen hall in big steps.
"No one is allowed to help him. In one incense stick's time, even crawling, he must get into the hall to see me, or he'll get the rod as punishment.”
The yamen runners were all hip to which way the wind was blowing. Who would still help Deputy Magistrate Cui?
No sooner had Meng Huaining left when some of the yamen runners swaggered over to Deputy Magistrate Cui to hurry him along, even threatening him with the rod if he moved too slowly.
Deputy Magistrate Cui had seen such scenes no shortage of times, he knew better than to continue irritating the county magistrate now.
In unbearable pain, he had no choice but to crawl into the grand hall.
As soon as Deputy Magistrate Cui crawled into the hall, he saw Mo Jiuye and his wife sitting to one side.
