The steward, seeing them about to leave without getting any information about the hunter, blocked the bailiff's path in distress.
"There really is a hunter living here. You can't just leave like this. What about those drawings? How will we explain to Miss Chu? If we don't find him, not only you, but even your county magistrate might not be able to keep his head!"
This threat made the bailiff lose his temper, but he truly couldn't find the hunter now. "As you can see, the villagers are all tight-lipped. Who knows where the hunter has gone!"
He spread his hands, unafraid. Even if the higher-ups blamed him, there were taller people to take the fall. What was he worried about? It would just mean a change of county magistrate.
The steward looked at him speechlessly but could still offer advice.
"That hunter surely hasn't gone far. Why not search the vicinity? Perhaps you'll find him!"
The bailiff thought this was sensible. He then pulled a few men from the group of prisoners to accompany the steward in the search. After all, only the steward had seen what the hunter looked like.
What was initially meant to be a perfunctory task turned into a real find. They discovered the hunter in an inn in town. Finding him was effortless, which delighted the bailiff!
Seeing this, the village chief grumbled, "They've caught them all in one go!"
Liu Qinshi glanced at Fan Zehao, not seeing Mrs. Fan, and muttered quietly, "There's still one who escaped!"
She truly hoped this fish was smart enough to avoid capture.
Walking in the biting cold, all of them were old, weak, and infirm. A journey that should have taken less than an hour took them a full hour and a half.
By then, it was already dark outside. The county magistrate, however, could not postpone the matter to day or night.
Once the people were brought in, they were interrogated. The entire focus of the interrogation revolved around the drawings.
Fan Zehao frowned and asked, "What does the county magistrate mean by these questions? Even if there are drawings, shouldn't we first ask whose they are? And why were we arrested? What crime have we committed?"
Seeing his questions, the steward became furious. Before the county magistrate could speak, he repeated to Fan Zehao what he had said to the village chief earlier.
Fan Zehao was both amused and annoyed. "We have certifications for making the cloth dolls. These dolls weren't made by just one person. You should think carefully before you speak!"
The steward scoffed, "Of course, I've thought it through, or why else would they have arrested you!"
Fan Zehao didn't want to waste his breath. He turned to the county magistrate. "You can bring out the cloth dolls sold by Hexinzhou and compare them with the dolls made by our village. Look at the stitching and embroidery. If you investigate based on these aspects, you'll know who is lying!"
These words struck a raw nerve with the steward.
He knew better than anyone how those things came into being. If an investigation were to take place, it would surely expose their tricks.
However, they were not afraid of an investigation, only of the villagers' mouths.
"Presumptuous! Those items were sold to noble officials in the prefectural city. Do you think you can just demand them back? It seems you won't confess without a taste of the rod!"
As soon as the steward finished speaking, the bailiffs standing nearby eagerly rubbed their hands, ready to fetch their batons!
Fan Zehao raised an eyebrow and looked at the county magistrate sitting on his high seat. He sneered, "I never knew a steward of a mere residence could order the county magistrate in his own court!"
The county magistrate blushed at the sarcasm. He shot a glance at the steward and then casually ordered the torture.
"I see your resolve is tough. You won't know the weight of this stick until you feel it!"
With that, he shouted to those about to administer the punishment, "Give him thirty heavy blows first! A little appetizer for him!"
Immediately, the courtroom erupted in gasps. Thirty heavy blows! If he endured that, even the strongest body would be flayed.
The village chief, kneeling on the ground, stepped forward. "Hit me, hit me! He's still young and can't withstand such blows!"
"Hit me instead! I'm already sixty, I won't live much longer!"
The people in the courtroom pleaded with the county magistrate on behalf of Fan Zehao, each offering to take the punishment themselves. This shocked the county magistrate and deeply moved Fan Zehao.
The county magistrate wasn't after their buttocks; he wanted to intimidate the hunter.
Without further ado, he would be punished!
Zhao Jiaqi, standing among the onlookers, saw her husband about to be beaten in public. She strode into the courtroom.
"What great authority the magistrate wields!"
The moment Zhao Jiaqi entered, everyone in the courtroom who saw her gasped. Almost simultaneously, they signaled for her to leave quickly.
But she merely smiled at them and did not retreat.
The steward in the courtroom, upon seeing her, was overjoyed. He pointed at Zhao Jiaqi and shouted, "It's her! She is the hunter's wife! They are a couple!"
Hearing this, the county magistrate's eyes gleamed, much like a weasel spotting meat.
He was ecstatic!
"Guards, seize her!"
Te Shi'er emerged from beside her and, looking at those eager to apprehend the mistress, roared, "How dare you! I'll see who dares to lay a finger on the Princess, and I'll have his head!"
Princess?
Whether it was those in the courtroom or the villagers below, they were all stunned. After a long moment, they came to their senses.
The county magistrate sneered. In his life, he had seen women impersonating ladies, and merchants, but never anyone impersonating a prince or princess.
"You, a nobody, dare to call yourself a princess? If you were truly a princess, then I'd be her father!"
Hearing this, Zhao Jiaqi's expression remained unchanged. To be her father, he should first look at his own wretched appearance!
Before Zhao Jiaqi could speak, Xiao Ce arrived with soldiers, surrounding the county yamen. He then led his elite troops into the yamen, his face a mask of fury as he glared at those on the dais.
"Guards, apprehend them!"
He had watched the Princess outside for a long time, so angry that the fire in his chest threatened to consume him. Now that he saw the Princess take action, how could he stand idly by? His sword would not be sheathed today without drawing blood!
After General Xiao gave the order, the armored soldiers stepped forward in unison, seizing the magistrate without a word, and then binding the steward.
Zhao Jiaqi stepped through the crowd to Fan Zehao and said with a charming smile, "Keep the steward for me. The rest is up to you!"
"Don't worry, they won't escape!"
With that, she walked directly to the dais and sat on the chair symbolizing power. At this moment, Zhao Jiaqi helped up the village chief and his wife.
The two were bewildered, as was the entire village, who felt as if they were dreaming, unable to believe that the hunter from their village was a prince, and Mrs. Fan was a princess.
Meng Sunshi lowered her head and murmured, "I said she had the bone structure of nobility, so she's a princess after all!"