The cruel little princess

Chu Huaijin watched him quietly, thinking to himself, as the county's parent official, he should have waited in the county office to hear the people's demands and make fair judgments. But this county magistrate chose to sleep after the sun went down. This was really disappointing. Such an official should indeed be punished!

However, considering that he had just arrived and had limited knowledge of the plague situation in Tongniu County, he urgently needed someone who was more familiar with the local situation. And this County Magistrate Liu was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

Therefore, despite his inner dissatisfaction, His Royal Highness Prince Jin did not show any displeasure on the surface. He nodded slightly, extended a hand, and gestured for County Magistrate Liu to stand and answer.

His Royal Highness Prince Jin said, "I have been ordered to come to Tongniu County to provide relief to the victims. I hope your county will fully cooperate."

Hearing this, County Magistrate Liu felt relieved and quickly stood up and responded, "Your Highness Prince Jin, rest assured. I will do my best to assist Your Highness Prince Jin in successfully completing the relief work."

As he spoke, he respectfully led His Royal Highness Prince Jin and his entourage into the county government office, carefully guiding them as they walked. "Your Highness Prince Jin, please come this way!" He spoke humbly, with a somewhat tired smile on his face.

Following the direction indicated by County Magistrate Liu, he asked as he walked, "What is the current epidemic situation in Tongniu County?"

County Magistrate Liu sighed and replied solemnly, "Your Highness Prince Jin, the epidemic in Tongniu County is currently very serious. Thousands of people have been infected, and hundreds have died. Furthermore, the epidemic is still spreading, and the situation is extremely serious."

Shen Youyou, who was standing next to him, frowned upon hearing how serious the situation was, secretly pondering how to deal with it.

"After the flood and plague occurred in Tongniu County, how did you prevent and control it in the two neighboring counties?" His Royal Highness Prince Jin asked County Magistrate Liu.

County Magistrate Liu said respectfully, "After the Tongniu County flood, we heard that the county magistrate had died in the flood. We in Wutong and Tongan counties felt obliged to do our part. We immediately deployed personnel along the county roads and urgently requisitioned medicinal herbs and grain from our county towns to be sent to Tongniu County for distribution to the people."

His Royal Highness Prince Jin nodded and continued, "So what's the current situation in Tongniu County?"

County Magistrate Liu shook his head. "But the flood is raging, and the roads leading to Tongniu County are all flooded! The water is flowing so fast that our medical rescue team can't enter Tongniu County..."

At this point, County Magistrate Liu's eyes moistened. "Later, the flood receded, and we were able to deliver food to the people of Tongniu County... But then another plague broke out in Tongniu County. Although we sent our most experienced doctors to treat the injured, we were unable to save the situation... Later, we had no choice but to strengthen the blockade and control of Tongniu County. All people were only allowed to enter, not leave! To prevent the further spread of the epidemic... At the same time, we recorded the petitions and situations of the people of Tongniu County and reported them to the court..."

Prince Jin nodded repeatedly. "You're doing the right thing! If we can't control the source of the plague, we'll be putting the entire Golden Dragon Kingdom on fire!"

Upon hearing this, His Royal Highness Prince Jin realized that he had almost wrongly blamed County Magistrate Liu! He was not negligent in his duties, but had been running around recently and was too tired to fall asleep early.

County Magistrate Liu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, your praise is too great! I, your humble servant, do not deserve it!"

He led His Royal Highness Prince Jin and his entourage to the main courtyard at the back of the county government office, and everyone took their seats one by one.

Magistrate Liu continued, "After the road was blocked, most of our yamen runners were concentrated at the intersection with Tongniu County to defend it. But the outbreak was too rapid...it was beyond our control. We could only watch helplessly as the people of Tongniu County lost their lives one by one..." Magistrate Liu's eyes welled up with tears. "The scene was horrific! But for the safety of the people of Wutong County and even the entire nation, I will not open the passage even at the cost of my life..."

Shen Youyou leaned over and whispered a few words into An Er's ear.

An Er immediately accepted the order and took some guards to carry out the mission.

His Royal Highness Prince Jin saw the little movements of Shen Youyou and An Er from the corner of his eye, but pretended to be unaware of them and continued to discuss the next anti-epidemic measures with the county magistrate.

County Magistrate Liu mentioned that the imperial doctors sent by the emperor before are now stationed at the intersection of the roads in Tongniu County.

As for the current extent of the plague research, it is not something that a mere county magistrate like him can find out!

Due to the constant running around and working hard these days, we are now exhausted. It has become impossible to continue on our journey!

In desperation, everyone had to stop in Wutong County, rest there for one night, and then set off for Tongniu County early the next morning.

County Magistrate Liu had already made arrangements and ordered people to clean up several rooms in the backyard of the county government office so that everyone could stay there for one night.

It was not until this moment that he learned that this petite woman in guard uniform was actually Princess Jin! This discovery surprised him greatly.

County Magistrate Liu hurried forward to salute Shen Youyou and express his congratulations. However, due to the remote location of the small county, information dissemination speed is relatively slow, and they have not yet received any news about Princess Jin.

In fact, His Royal Highness Prince Jin and Shen Youyou were hurriedly packed up and sent to Tongniu County in the evening of the day after their wedding. They were even more anxious than the imperial envoy who delivered the imperial decree!

Therefore, it is not surprising that they do not know Shen Youyou's true identity at this time.

Before the couple went to bed, they heard a gentle knock on the door.

Shen Youyou immediately stopped unbuttoning her clothes, turned to look at His Royal Highness Prince Jin, and gestured to him to open the door.

However, His Royal Highness Prince Jin smiled playfully and asked softly, "Shall I open the door?" Then, he ordered in a low voice, "Come in!"

Only then did Shen Youyou realize her negligence - this was the Kingdom of Golden Dragon, a country that valued status, etiquette, and distinctions between high and low.

Uh... okay, she actually forgot that. She thought it was modern times, and the owner would go to open the door when someone knocked...

"Your Highness!" The person standing outside the door was none other than An Er. However, since it was already late, An Er was a little unsure whether he should come in and disturb them.

"Who is it? An Er?" Shen Youyou walked out of the inner room calmly and saw An Er standing at the door hesitantly.

"An Er, come in quickly! Is there any result for what I told you before?" Shen Youyou smiled and waved to him, motioning him to come into the room to talk.

An Er hesitated for a moment, but still walked into the room.

"Replying to Princess! Your subordinate..." An Er just opened his mouth to speak when he was interrupted by Shen Youyou in a low voice.

"Shh~ An Er, be careful, there are ears on the other side of the wall!" Shen Youyou quickly walked back to the door and closed it, then walked back to the room and sat on the chair beside the table with His Royal Highness Prince Jin.

His Royal Highness Prince Jin was simply amused. With his internal strength, any movement within a hundred meters wouldn't escape his ears!

The reason why he was sitting here so calmly just now was because he recognized the breath and footsteps of the person outside the door as An Er, so he sat calmly in the room.

If there were thieves trying to harm him, his secret guards would have been dispatched long ago... Now, looking at the cautious look on his little princess's face, he couldn't help laughing.

"It's okay, Youyou, just tell me whatever you want to say. I'm here! I'll tell you if someone comes!" His Royal Highness Prince Jin couldn't help but comfort her.

Shen Youyou rolled her eyes at Prince Jin coquettishly, muttering to herself, "You could observe the situation at any time, why didn't you tell me earlier? You made me so nervous for such a long time..."

She stretched out her little hand and secretly pinched Prince Jin's thigh under the table, as if this could vent her dissatisfaction.

However, His Royal Highness Prince Jin did not get angry or complain. Instead, he looked at her lovingly and tenderly, as if telling her that as long as the princess was happy, she could do whatever she wanted.

At the same time, An Er lowered his head, repeating in his heart: "The subordinate is not here, the subordinate is not here, the subordinate is not here..."

He felt that being here at this moment seemed to be a wrong decision.

I was ordered by the princess to go out for an investigation and have been busy until now and haven't had time to have dinner.

But for some reason, he suddenly felt incredibly full, with no desire to eat at all. An Er wondered, could this be the legendary feeling of spiritual satiety? He could only silently await the answer.

If Shen Youyou knew what An Er was thinking at the moment, she would definitely tell him, An Er, you've had enough dog food...

However, Shen Youyou didn't know what An Er was thinking, so An Er didn't know that he was fed too much dog food by his own prince and princess...

Getting back to the point, An Er straightened his expression and said, "Reporting to the princess! My subordinates and I have been investigating outside and found that Magistrate Liu Renhe of Wutong County is indeed a good official who serves the country and the people! The people speak highly of Magistrate Liu!"

It turned out that after Shen Youyou heard what County Magistrate Liu said, because he was not familiar with County Magistrate Liu, he asked An Er to take a few brothers to secretly investigate whether what County Magistrate Liu said was true!