After swallowing my anger and taking the blame, I became the lucky little queen

Deng Xiu waited in the study for two quarters of an hour, feeling very uncomfortable. He stretched his neck to look out the window, stood up and walked back and forth in the study, punched his palm, and sighed. What on earth does this mean? That Mr. Qin... can't he really be the emperor? But I've never heard of an emperor going on a secret visit? And he came to Wujun, which is far away from the emperor. It's hard to believe.

But apart from the emperor, who else knew the answer he gave on the spot during the palace examination?

Apart from the royal family, which other families have the surname Qin? Which family dares to have the surname Qin?

Deng Xiu wanted to beat up his yesterday self. Why didn't he meet the two people who reported to the police? Now he regretted it, but it was too late.

He stood up again, bowed, and thought about how he should confess his guilt to appear sincere when he met "Master Qin" later.

"Ugh……"

Just as he was worrying, he heard footsteps outside the window. The sound came from far away and then got closer. Deng Xiu suddenly became panicked, his heart in his throat.

A figure walked past the window at a leisurely pace. Deng Xiu did not see his face clearly, but recognized him at a glance. The "Master Qin" who came to see him was the emperor!

The door was pushed open with a creaky sound. When Deng Xiu saw the person coming, his legs instantly went limp. With a plop, his knees hit the floor with a dull sound, just as heavy as his mood.

"Your Majesty! I kowtow to the Emperor! Long live the Emperor--" Deng Xiu emphasized his tone and performed the salute solemnly.

Qin Junyu was holding a string of white marble beads in his hand. With every step he took, the tassels and beads collided, making a crisp and pleasant sound.

Nian Susu asked him to change into the clothes he brought from Shengjing, a simple and clean bamboo green robe with narrow sleeves and dark patterns and a round collar. With every step he took, the bamboo leaf pattern embroidered on the robe seemed faintly visible, like a dangerous poisonous snake lurking in the dark, staring at its prey.

Qin Junyu walked to the desk and sat down with his legs crossed.

Deng Xiu was still kneeling, facing the door. He didn't dare to move unless Qin Junyu called him. Sweat was seeping from under his underwear, and his hands and feet were shaking.

"Get up, Lord Deng." Qin Junyu threw the white marble bracelet onto the table, crossed his fingers, placed them on the table, and looked at Deng Xiu who was walking towards him with a scrutinizing attitude.

Deng Xiu stood in front of the desk, head lowered, feeling extremely guilty.

When he thought about how he had been turned away by the emperor, he felt a chill on his neck.

He carefully chose his words, trying to defend himself, but Qin Junyu broke the silence before him, "Mr. Deng."

Deng Xiu shuddered, "I am here."

"I remember that during the palace examination, I praised your essay writing and your ability to respond to situations well."

"Yes, I have been blessed by the emperor's kindness, which has enabled me to achieve what I have today. I will never forget it."

"If it weren't for the emperor, I would still be an unknown scholar, so I... cherish this opportunity very much." Deng Xiu rolled his throat, hoping that the emperor could understand what he meant.

Qin Junyu understood and sneered, "I really treasure it, so I dare not lose it easily."

"Don't dare to offend anyone, don't dare to let anything exist that may destroy everything you have. Otherwise, you will become the scholar who only knows how to read books and will never be able to make a name for yourself in your life." Qin Junyu sighed regretfully, his eyes became meaningful.

Deng Xiu fell to his knees again.

It is said that a man's knees are as precious as gold, and scholars consider character to be more important than life. It seems that Deng Xiu is really scared.

It is very difficult for people born in a poor family to enter the official career. Before Qin Junyu ascended the throne, the imperial examination was almost controlled and monopolized by aristocratic families, and children from poor families had no chance to succeed. However, there were still many people who worked hard, hoping that one day they could enter the officialdom, display their talents and realize their ambitions.

Deng Xiu studied for fifteen years, and when he was thirty-five years old, he finally met his mentor. How could he not cherish him?

"Your Majesty!" Deng Xiu clasped his fists, tears in his eyes, "I am unworthy of your Majesty's trust! But I have not gone along with them! Please understand, Your Majesty!" He slowly lowered his body and touched his forehead to the ground.

Qin Junyu picked up the bracelet and rolled it up, his attitude still nonchalant, "Oh? Then I'll give you a chance to defend yourself. If your reasons can't convince me... then wait for your property to be confiscated." His tone became colder and colder.

Deng Xiu straightened up, wiped his tears, and organized his words while calming down his emotions.

"Your Majesty also knows that a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. On the first day I took office in Wu County, I was suppressed by the local Liu, Li, Chen, and Yang families. They deliberately caused trouble, and the letters of complaint sent to the court every day were as high as five fingers!"

When talking about the time when he first took office, Deng Xiu couldn't help but burst into tears of grievance. He kept it all in his heart and had no place to complain. When he talked about it today, he burst into tears.

"At first, I was also determined to eliminate harm for the people, but I could not defeat the four big families by myself. They threatened me that if I did not want to take office, I would resign and cooperate with them."

Qin Junyu nodded nonchalantly, and it was unclear whether he had listened or not.

"I agreed on the surface and went along with them, but I was secretly infiltrating my power into their midst little by little. They have been bullying the local area for a long time. It will not be accomplished overnight if we want to defeat them and take them north. We can only disintegrate them gradually and slowly."

Deng Xiu's eyes were firm, as if he had seen the day when he would succeed.

Qin Junyu's eyes were ambiguous, and made Deng Xiu feel uneasy. He didn't know whether the emperor believed what he said. After all, he had just started to plan and could not produce any substantial evidence to prove himself.

After a while, Qin Junyu showed a faint smile on his face. He personally helped Deng Xiu up and patted his shoulder. "My dear Deng, I believe you and what you say. I also believe that you can govern Wu County better and prevent the people from being bullied."

Deng Xiu pursed his lips tightly, his cheeks trembled with excitement, and he was about to cry again.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! I will definitely live up to your trust!"

Qin Junyu nodded heavily, "You will have to be transferred back to Shengjing when the results are announced in February next year. I hope that before then, you can produce results that satisfy me."

Deng Xiu clasped his fists and said in a sonorous and powerful voice: "I will obey the imperial decree!"

The two talked in the study for half an hour. When Deng Xiu was about to leave, he remembered that the matter of the flower shop had not been resolved.

"Your Majesty, I have no way to bring the tyrants to justice. I can only compensate them as much as possible..."

"I haven't spent 500 taels of the 1,000 taels of silver the emperor gave me before. I am willing to use it to pay for all the expenses of rebuilding the flower shop for Miss Yu."

Apart from the five hundred taels, Deng Xiu really had no money left. As a county magistrate, he didn't even have a decent house and was currently living in the duty room of a yamen runner.

Qin Junyu refused, "No need for money, I just need your help with something."

Deng Xiu's eyes lit up: "What?"