Long Live the Empress

The second prince's secret guards rode fast horses and arrived in Hechang County in less than half an hour.

County Magistrate Song Xinghuai was feeding chickens. When he saw the token presented by the secret guard, he immediately invited the guard to the government hall and asked, "What do you want, Second Prince?"

The secret guard told him that Yan Liyuan was coming to investigate the dam, "Master, please be careful!"

Song Xinghuai was a little surprised. Why would the Ninth Prince suddenly want to check the dam? "I obey your command!"

After the secret guard left, Song's wife came in from outside, "Master, what should we do?"

Song Xinghuai patted her hands, "Don't be afraid, Madam. We have done this very secretly. Even if they find out something, I have a way to save my life!"

Song's wife knew that Song Xinghuai was a cautious person, so she felt relieved.

The next day, the Nine Thousand Year Old Man's carriage slowly drove into Hechang County. Song Xinghuai and other minor officials knelt by the roadside in the rain to greet him.

"Your humble servant Song Xinghuai, the magistrate of Hechang County, greets the Nine Thousand Year Old Man!"

"Since you are all here, follow me to take a look at the dam." Jiu Qiansui ignored the greetings of the crowd and the carriage drove towards the dam.

No one dared to say anything. They immediately stood up and ran after the carriage.

After several days of heavy rain, the river became turbulent and the water level became higher.

Song Xinghuai's shabby official uniform looked even more shabby under the rain. "Your Majesty, please look, the Hechang County dam is as solid as a rock! Someone, come!"

As soon as Song Xinghuai finished speaking, two guards took orders and flew to the two sides of the dam, chiseling hard, and soon came back carrying a cloth bag.

Song Xinghuai opened the cloth bag, which was filled with stones. "Please look, Your Majesty, I have used only the finest stones!"

The Ninth Prince didn't even look at it, just waved his hand, and a shirtless guard jumped into the river.

Song Xinghuai was shocked, and he couldn't tell whether the water drops on his head were raindrops or cold sweat...

Although the nine thousand year old guard was underwater, he was not slow in his movements. When he came ashore, he also carried a cloth bag, but it was filled with mud and sand.

"Do you have anything to say?" Wang couldn't help it any longer. As soon as he opened the cloth bag, he questioned Song Xinghuai harshly.

"Your humble servant... I don't know! Someone must be plotting against me!" Song Xinghuai knelt on the ground righteously, without a trace of fear on his face.

"Return to Beijing!" The Ninth Prince glanced at Song Xinghuai who was still pretending, and ordered.

The remaining minor officials stared at Song Xinghuai's back, looking at each other, and wondering what they should do!

Song Xinghuai and his guards ran behind the carriage, stumbling many times before finally arriving at the Jiuqiansui Mansion.

At this time, Song Xinghuai was in a miserable state. The shabby official clothes stuck tightly to his body, revealing his originally skinny body.

Yan Liyuan tapped the table with his fingers. "Who ordered this?"

Song Xinghuai knelt straight and said, "I have been wronged. Please investigate clearly, Your Highness!" After saying this, he kowtowed heavily, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

Yan Liyuan waved his hand, and Wang Yi handed an account book to Song Xinghuai.

Song Xinghuai's eyes almost popped out of his head. What was going on? He hid it so secretly that even his wife didn't know about it. How did the Nine Thousand Years Old Man find it?

"This account book was searched out of your chicken coop. It contains evidence of your corruption and abuse of power. Could it be that County Magistrate Song can't even recognize his own handwriting?" Wang Yi looked at Song Xinghuai with contempt. This old man is even more pretentious than a woman. Bah!

Song Xinghuai was moved and kowtowed again. "The handwriting is forged. This fake account book must have been deliberately placed in the chicken coop by someone! I have been an official for decades and have always been honest. This official uniform has been repaired many times. If the Nine Thousand Years sends someone to my house to take a look, they will know that I am telling the truth."