Madam Hu’s words gave Hu Yong a bad feeling.
“You, what are you trying to do?”
He couldn’t help but take a step back, then raised his head and shouted loudly, “Someone! Come quickly! The madam has gone insane, someone come tie this vile woman up for me!”
The magistrate’s voice was so loud that it echoed through the entire courtyard, even into the adjacent one.
However—
No one came.
Not a single servant showed up.
Hu Yong began to panic. “What did you do! Where is everyone? Where are the people in this residence?!”
Guo Yajun didn’t reply, only looked at him quietly. The longer she looked, the more mocking her gaze became.
Her attitude pushed Hu Yong over the edge. Since no one was coming anyway, he hardened his heart and pointed a finger at her in accusation.“You really have gone mad! Guo Yajun, let me tell you, I am an imperial official! It was Lord Guo who personally sent you to me! If you dare lay a hand on me, be careful—if Lord Guo finds out, he won’t spare you!”
He would’ve been better off not mentioning that—because at the mention of it, Guo Yajun let out a cold laugh.
“Young Master Ding, I’ll leave it to you.”
The title “Young Master Ding” was clearly not directed at Hu Yong.
Before Hu Yong could react, a group of people dressed in black suddenly appeared in the courtyard.
Hu Yong’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Who are you! Guo Yajun, how dare you collude with other men!”
See? That’s the kind of thing someone like Hu Yong can come up with.
And yet someone like him still managed to become an official…
Guo Yajun’s lips twitched slightly as she gazed at the husband she had lived with for seven years. Her eyes were indifferent, tinged with disdain.
There was no point in talking to a fool. It would be a waste of breath, so Guo Yajun didn’t bother speaking anymore. She gave a slight bow to the approaching Ding Facai.
“Young Master Ding, thank you.”
Ding Facai replied, “Don’t worry, Madam.”
Guo Yajun nodded. “Since that’s the case, I’ll leave my good-for-nothing husband to you all. Thank you.”
Ding Facai: “…You’re too kind, Madam.”
Guo Yajun turned and walked away.
As she left, Hu Yong shouted after her.
“Guo Yajun! You wretched woman, come back here! I command you to come back!”
“What are you trying to do? How dare you! I am an imperial official! If you dare lay a hand on me, don’t blame me if you lose your lives—”
“I’ll kill you all—!”
—
Inside the study tower, Wei Yu suddenly lifted his head.
He asked Yi Shisan, who was perched on the beam, “Did you hear that? I think someone’s loudly spewing nonsense?”
Yi Shisan replied, “Young Master, that’s the magistrate.”
“Oh—the magistrate.”
Only then did Wei Yu remember what their objective was this time. “Then it’s fine.”
Although he said it was fine, Wei Yu ran to the window, looking very excited—clearly eager to watch the drama unfold.
The magistrate’s residence was not small, and Wei Yu was on the second floor of the study tower. He could only hear Hu Yong’s pig-like shrieks but couldn’t see him.
Wei Yu clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Shisan, you see this? That’s women for you. When they get ruthless, men don’t stand a chance… She’s got what it takes to do big things. Not bad.”
Yi Shisan: …
Actually, laying hands on the magistrate wasn’t Wei Yu’s idea. It was Madam Hu who had written to them and asked for help.
If it had been up to Wei Yu, he had planned to deal with Hu Yong and the other officials later on, all at once.
But just as a country cannot go a day without a ruler, right now Ziyang also couldn’t go without a magistrate.
Though Hu Yong wasn’t a great one, having a magistrate in office and not having one were two completely different things.
At the very least, someone needed to handle county affairs.
Coincidentally, Madam Hu was a fitting candidate.
She had been the magistrate’s wife and had access to everything he did. She was intelligent and bold. Hu Yong would often consult her when he couldn’t make decisions. Over the years, she had likely been involved in many of his administrative matters.
Replacing Hu Yong with Madam Hu—after observing her for some time—seemed feasible to Wei Yu.
As for her being a woman, Wei Yu didn’t care. What mattered to him was her capability.
As long as someone had good character and could get the job done, that was enough for Wei Yu!
Let alone women—if an elderly person or a child could be useful, he’d use them too!
Sigh. To put it plainly: he was short on people.
Talents were hard to come by!
Wei Yu sighed inwardly, then saw Madam Hu approaching the study tower.
Hmm?
Wei Yu was a bit surprised.
The magistrate’s screams had just barely ended, and Madam Hu was already on her way. Clearly, she didn’t think Hu Yong was even worth watching fall. She didn’t care enough to personally watch him get humiliated…
Wei Yu stared at the approaching Madam Hu and suddenly smiled.
This Madam Hu was truly cut out to be a politician.
She walked quickly, and soon arrived at the study tower, where Wei Yu was already waiting.
Her maid opened the door, and before entering, Madam Hu gave the maid a quick order.
“Go check the courtyard.”
The maid replied, “Yes, Miss.”
At that “Miss,” Wei Yu couldn’t help but lift his head.
When Madam Hu stepped inside, with only the two of them in the room, she stopped before Wei Yu and suddenly gave him a deep bow.
“This humble woman, Guo Yajun, thanks Young Master for your help.”
Considering how much Wei Yu had helped her, such a gesture was not inappropriate. However, the tone seemed a bit overly respectful.
Wei Yu looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, then smiled and asked, “Madam flatters me. I’m just a mountain bandit—how could I deserve such a grand gesture from you?”
Guo Yajun didn’t raise her head. Instead, she replied with something seemingly unrelated: “Bandit troubles have plagued Ji Prefecture for a long time. Guo Xiu nurtures danger and colludes with officials, covering for each other. Ji Prefecture is effectively under his sole control… I have gathered evidence for years, all for this day.”
Oh?
Wei Yu smiled in surprise. “When did you find out?”
This Madam Hu—no, calling her Madam Hu seemed to insult her a bit. She should be called Miss Guo!
From her words, it was obvious she had long known they were people from the imperial court.
So clever.
Guo Yajun said, “I once visited Oxhead Mountain. The people there trained with military discipline. The ones around you are not from ordinary households. And ordinary bandits would never think to ask for letters between the magistrate and Guo Xiu.”
Wei Yu cast a sidelong glance at Yi Shisan on the beam.
Hear that? So many flaws. And to think you’re part of the Gray Guards—how careless. She figured it all out!
Yi Shisan, reading the look: …
That look should be for Lord Fang. He’s the information broker!
Since she had already guessed, Wei Yu no longer tried to hide it.
He gestured for Guo Yajun to rise.
“Miss Guo, you’re perceptive. Please rise. Since we all know the truth, let’s speak plainly with each other.”