A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 136: Chapter 135 Jinling City 7

Lady Hou hadn’t brought many people with her, and Hou Tianbao’s men, having been beaten down, were few in number. Seeing the icy expression on Zhao Junyao’s face, no one dared to approach. Zhao Junyao, somewhat annoyed and not wishing to bicker with women, gave a direct order.

”Li Shengan, I leave this to you to handle. I am tired!”

With that, he left. Lady Hou and the others stood there stunned, only snapping back to reality after Zhao Junyao was far in the distance.

”He... he... he went too far!”

”He just hits someone and then walks away?”

”Are you all dead? Why aren’t you chasing him for me?”

Lady Hou howled, but still, no one dared to move. She was furious, shouting at the top of her lungs, ”Can I truly no longer command you? Fine! Just you all wait!”

Having spoken, she called to Hou Tianying, ”Quick, help your elder brother up! We will settle this score later, slowly and thoroughly!”

Hou Tianying, still infatuatedly gazing in the direction Zhao Junyao had departed, was jolted by Lady Hou’s reminder. She inattentively helped Hou Tianbao to the carriage, glancing back repeatedly.

The servants also came to their senses, hurriedly assisting by lifting and supporting where needed.

Just before boarding the carriage, Lady Hou noticed the onlookers smirking and immediately flew into a rage. ”What are you looking at? Scram, all of you!”

The common folk hurriedly lowered their heads and swiftly dispersed. But in their hearts... HEH! Who respected the Hou Mansion anyway? They deserved that beating! It was the Hou Mansion’s own bad luck, a consequence of their usual misdeeds.

Watching the crowd below gradually disperse, Li Shengan returned upstairs, still feeling uneasy.

”Master, perhaps... we should find another place to stay?” It was hardly fitting to be harassed by a swarm of pests like this!

Zhao Junyao sneered. ”No! I will stay right here!”

He then asked, ”The matter I asked you to inquire about earlier, how is it progressing?”

Li Shengan replied with evident frustration, ”I sent men to inquire, going through streets and alleys to ask... but the common people dare not speak!”

”What do you mean, they dare not speak?” Zhao Junyao was puzzled.

After a moment of thought, Li Shengan could only say, ”They dare not say anything at all!”

Zhao Junyao: ”...”

Li Shengan continued, ”Judging by the common folk’s reaction today, this Prefectural Magistrate Hou must have committed numerous misdeeds, yet the common people refuse to speak out! After a short while of us asking around the streets, they all became extremely wary!”

Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes in thought for a moment, then sneered, ”A cunning old fox, quite skilled at hiding his tracks! Summon Chen Juzheng!”

”Yes, Master!”

Chen Juzheng was an official accompanying the Emperor to Jiangnan, an Imperial Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate. A Zhuangyuan, a scholar who had achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations, he was upright, incorruptible, and detested evil as if it were a personal enemy. His primary responsibility was to supervise the work of various officials.

If he discovered any official performing poorly, his actions could range from instigating a debate in the Imperial Court to directly submitting a memorial for their impeachment. Such was his duty.

Of course, if the Emperor himself did something unsatisfactory, Chen Juzheng could also voice criticism. Therefore, fulfilling such a role required immense courage!

Chen Juzheng performed his duties exceedingly well. He was known for berating the Emperor most fiercely, and upon hearing that the Emperor intended to tour Jiangnan, he was the first to request permission to accompany him.

Dealing with corrupt officials? That was his specialty! His greatest wish was to root out corruption, serve the Imperial Court, and bring benefit to the common people of the realm.

TSK TSK, there is never a shortage of individuals with such lofty aspirations!

Zhao Junyao had nodded in agreement almost without a second thought. And indeed, Chen Juzheng, that old fellow, had not disappointed him.

Throughout their journey, Chen Juzheng stayed only in the most ordinary rooms and ate the simplest meals. Whenever they stopped, if there were people nearby, he would personally visit them.

He would inquire about local customs and the lives of the people, asking questions like, ”How is your local official? Is he corrupt? Has he ever forcibly abducted women or exploited the common folk?”

Zhao Junyao held great admiration for him in his heart. Though such efforts were of little practical use, many people weren’t even willing to do that much!

Upon being summoned by the Emperor, Chen Juzheng appeared before Zhao Junyao with the utmost speed.

He was thin, dressed in a simple blue cloth robe, his attire exceedingly plain. At first glance, he looked nothing like a high-ranking official but more like a village schoolteacher.

Arriving before the Emperor, he first made a deep bow. ”Greetings, Empero— Third Master Huang!”

”Dispense with the formalities.” Zhao Junyao observed him for a moment, then handed him a secret imperial decree.

Chen Juzheng was momentarily stunned, but after opening the decree and reading its contents, he kowtowed deeply without hesitation. ”Rest assured, Your Majesty, this old subject will not fail to live up to your expectations!”

Zhao Junyao was silent for a beat. ”I’m traveling incognito,” he finally said. ”Can’t you play along a bit?”

Chen Juzheng snapped back to his senses. ”Oh! Yes! This old subject obeys the decree!”

Zhao Junyao: ”...”

Li Shengan: ”...”

「Meanwhile,」

At the Hou Mansion, after Hou Tianbao was dragged back, the physician examined him, then shook his head and sighed.

”Alas! It’s hopeless!”

Lady Hou instantly burst into tears, clutching the unconscious Hou Tianbao and wailing her heart out.

”You... you insolent dog! How dare you say my son is hopeless! If you can’t cure him, I’ll have your life!” the physician stammered, trembling.

”La-Lady Hou, you misunderstand. It’s not that the Young Master is hopeless, it’s... it’s *this* that’s hopeless!” The physician pointed towards Hou Tianbao’s bloodied crotch as he spoke.

”Ah...?” Lady Hou was suddenly unable to even cry.

Her only son, now a eunuch? This was as difficult to accept as his death.

The Hou family was counting on him to continue the family line. If my son is... incapacitated, then Aunt Mei... Aunt Mei’s son, wouldn’t he then...

As this thought crossed Lady Hou’s mind, she instantly dismissed it! ”No! Absolutely not! You must cure him! You must cure my son! Otherwise, I’ll take your old life!”

The physician, deciding to risk it all, said, ”Lady Hou, it is beyond cure. This old one is incompetent. Please find someone more skilled!”

With that, he picked up his medicine box and left, not returning no matter how loudly Lady Hou shouted after him.

Hou Tianying then advised, ”Mother, please stop shouting! If word of this gets out, what will happen to Elder Brother’s reputation?”

Realizing this, Lady Hou, fuming, slumped to the ground and wept. ”What sins did I commit in a past life to be saddled with such a disappointment! Oh, heavens!”

Hou Tianying said, somewhat impatiently, ”Mother, Father must be the one to handle this! What’s crucial now is to prevent those people from escaping!”

Hearing this, Lady Hou wailed like a shrew, ”Do you think I don’t want to? That slut Aunt Mei is constantly clinging to your father! How can I even get near him?”

Hou Tianying thought for a moment, then said, ”I will go!”

Just as she spoke, Old Master Hou arrived. Perhaps the Prefecture of Jiangning was an exceedingly lucrative post, for he appeared greasy all over, so corpulent that his belly swayed with each step.

”What is all this? All day long, all you do is keen and wail! You’ve completely ruined my luck with your depressing, luck-sapping presence!”

Hou Tianying immediately ran up to him, calling out in dissatisfaction, ”Father!”

Prefectural Magistrate Hou waved his hand impatiently. ”What has happened now?”