The Cold-Hearted Princess Who Transmigrated Here

Half an hour later, the Prime Minister's carriage stopped in front of the Shancheng Prefect's office.

The two servants guarding the government office saw that what arrived was a very ordinary carriage, followed by several mounted men.

The horses looked good, and the guards were also quite imposing, but their clothes were of poor quality. After considering all this, the two men felt a bit disdainful.

The people in the carriage were obviously ordinary merchants who needed something from the adults, so neither of them paid much attention to them and did not intend to greet them. They simply waited for the other party to come forward and introduce himself.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Upon seeing the gatekeeper's expression, Wang Xiyue instantly formed a less than favorable first impression of the prefect: an arrogant and prejudiced enforcer.

Wang Xijie didn't see him, so he still held a sliver of hope for the unseen prefect.

As soon as he stepped off the carriage, he stepped forward and politely explained his purpose to the guards: "I am Wang Xijie from the Prime Minister's Office. I am passing through this place today and have come to pay my respects to the Prefect..."

Upon hearing that the young man dared to impersonate the prime minister's son, the two burst into uncontrollable laughter, their mockery palpable. They thought this kid was incredibly audacious, lying without a second thought.

Not content with a sarcastic remark, he then thrust the spearhead directly at him, saying, "How dare you! Where did you come from, a destitute wretch, to impersonate a prince and swindle people like this?"

"If you don't get out of here, I'll lock you all up in jail and execute you all."

Wang Xiyue was standing behind her brother as his subordinate and was not supposed to speak without permission. However, these two snobbish people dared to insult her without even verifying her identity and even convicted her brother without her consent.

How could she possibly tolerate this? She stepped forward and easily stomped the two guns under her foot.

"Shut up."

Do you two want to die?

The cold, ruthless, and androgynous voice pierced the hearts of the two guards like two icy blades.

The words they were about to say seemed to be frozen in their throats, preventing them from continuing.

The two looked up in the direction of the voice and saw that it was just a handsome young guard, so thin and unremarkable.

But when they met his eyes, it was like facing the death stare of a ferocious beast; if they made the slightest further offense, he would tear their bodies apart at any moment.

Seeing that the two had quieted down, Wang Xiyue asked, her coldness undiminished, "Is the prefect here or not?"

One of the guards sensed that the murderous intent that had enveloped him had receded, so he immediately suppressed his fear and carefully bowed, replying, "Yes, sir, I'm here. I'll go and inform him right away. Please wait a moment, Your Highness!"

Wang Xijie nodded with a long face, "Okay, go and come back quickly."

He had originally intended to try diplomacy first, but since these two gatekeepers were so arrogant and domineering, he had no choice but to resort to extreme measures.

Watching the servants flee for their lives after speaking, he felt even more depressed.

Although he no longer holds his original position, he is still the legitimate son of the Prime Minister's Mansion and has his father's authorization. This time, he is an inspector personally appointed by the Emperor, with the authority to supervise the policies and orders of officials of all ranks throughout the country.

This inspectorate was an honorary title that Father specially sought out from the Emperor, because Father was afraid that they might encounter special situations during their travels that they wouldn't be able to handle.

In the event of an overwhelming enemy or a difficult situation, this decree can be used to mobilize local troops to resist, such as bandits, pirates, or some secret dark cult.

He never imagined that the first time this decree was presented, it would be used to deal with the lord of a city.

The messenger quickly returned, his face full of obsequiousness, "Young Master, the Master requests your presence!"

Wang Xijie grunted and entered the room expressionlessly, his face dark and unusually serious the whole time. He wasn't faking it; he was genuinely angry.

He only brought his sister, "Shadow", Mo Yun, and Wang Yi with him. The remaining guards from the Prime Minister's residence naturally stayed behind to guard the horses and carriages, which were their escape route and they had to ensure that everything was in perfect order.

As soon as she arrived at the entrance of the main hall, Wang Xiyue saw a middle-aged man in official robes, looking very wealthy, come out to greet her with a big smile.

"Your Highness's presence is an honor to us!"

Wang Xijie ignored the other person, brushed past them, and went straight to the main seat in the hall. He sat down, elbows on his knees, hands supporting his head, and carefully examined every object in the hall.

Jade Ruyi, jade cabbage and other precious ornaments, various rare and exquisite bonsai trees and plants, rosewood tables and chairs, screens, tables and other furniture inlaid with various flowers, birds, mythical beasts, figures, characters, landscapes and so on, as well as many gemstone, jade and gold ornaments, the small living room is filled with a dazzling array of valuable items.

The items displayed in the hall were all more luxurious than those in the Prime Minister's residence, and some of them were of such high quality that they could rival those bestowed by the imperial palace.

The entire main hall can be described in one word: luxurious.

Prefect Ling Daquan was initially not so eager to go out and greet the young master because he thought that the young master was a fake and that someone was probably impersonating him to take advantage of him.

But now that he saw the real person, he was certain that the other party was indeed the prime minister's son, exactly the same as in the portrait. Except for his ordinary and low-key clothes, his figure and aura also resembled the prime minister.

He collected relevant information about anyone who held a position in the officialdom.

He had a very comprehensive file on those influential people who were close to the center of imperial power, and he even had a clear understanding of their wives, concubines and children.

He wasn't afraid to admit his mistakes at all, and even if it was a fake, his mansion wasn't a place where anyone could come and go as they pleased.

Ling Daquan stood quietly to the side, his head slightly bowed, waiting for the young master to give instructions. However, after waiting for a long time, he found that the other party remained silent.

His heart began to pound. Could it be that the Prime Minister had discovered what he had done and was deliberately sending his son to test him?

The more I think about it, the more uncertain I feel.

Wang Xiyue had walked all the way from the ceremonial gate to this place, and had already taken in everything. This was a magnificent mansion with overlapping courtyards and deep corridors, exuding luxury and filled with an atmosphere of wealth.

It is far more expensive than the Prime Minister's residence, and its facilities are completely unlike those of a fourth-rank government office. If you didn't know better, you would think it was the emperor's palace or the ancestral home of some century-old family.

Looking at the prefect, who was adorned with large pure gold ornaments on his hands, waist, and head, Wang Xiyue had a premonition that their trip today would not be disappointing and that they would return with a full load of treasures.

After exchanging a knowing glance with his sister, Wang Xijie realized he had given her a good start.

He snorted coldly before slowly and mockingly addressing the sweat-drenched man below, "It is extremely difficult for this young master to see the Prefect!"

"There must be some unspeakable secret hidden in your mansion, right?"

"Do I have to overcome five obstacles and defeat six generals just to enter your mansion?"

"Or do I have to offer gold and silver jewelry to have a chance to meet you, sir?"

Wang Xijie continued sarcastically, "Who is the prefect backing? Even his servants are so arrogant and lawless."

“Even two gatekeepers dared to throw me, the eldest son of the prime minister’s family, into prison at will.”

He changed the subject abruptly, saying coldly, "You've got some nerve."

"To tell you the truth, I am a special inspector personally appointed by the Emperor! I am here to secretly supervise local government performance. Think carefully before you answer."

After Wang Xijie finished speaking, he took the secret decree out of his bosom. "If you don't believe me, you can see for yourself."

When Magistrate Ling looked up, he saw the familiar yellow silk and was so frightened that his face turned pale and he knelt heavily on the ground.

His already anxious heart leaped into his throat, and he replied cautiously and tremblingly, "Your Excellency, you...you are joking. It is...it is my fault for not disciplining my servants properly, which caused them to offend you. I will kill those two ignorant bastards to avenge you."

"What I can rely on is His Majesty's earnest teachings."

Wang Xijie originally just wanted to bluff the other party, but he didn't expect the answer to be both unexpected and expected.

A prefectural governor was in charge of the administration of the prefecture. In addition to governing the people, recommending virtuous officials, resolving lawsuits, and investigating crimes, he also had the power to oversee and appoint officials at all levels in the subordinate counties.

This prefect is not only negligent in his management and shirking responsibility, but he has also compounded his mistakes by killing two people without hesitation. He is completely indifferent to human life and doesn't know how many means he obtained the wealth of the people in this prefecture.

No wonder Dad always said that many local officials wield enormous power that is unchecked.

He used to hear his father lament about "a county magistrate ruining a family, and a prefect wiping out an entire clan," but he never believed it. Now, the facts were clearly laid out before him.

Wang Xijie felt a chill in his heart. Faced with such a cunning and treacherous old fox, the initial "courtesy" completely disappeared, and the real show of force had only just begun.

He carefully put away the imperial edict, then leaned back lazily in his chair, his official arrogance no longer restrained and fully unleashed.

A contemptuous smile played on his lips as he stared directly at Prefect Ling, his tone extremely gentle. "I have been here for several days and have seen the people living in peace and prosperity. It seems that Your Excellency's achievements are quite remarkable."

"Actually, I've come to your door today to discuss a small matter with you, so please don't be too nervous."

"Get up! Sit down quickly, let's have a good talk."

"Mo Yun, stay. Everyone else, leave."

"Yes."

All the irrelevant people in the main hall left.

Ling Daquan felt the oppressive aura emanating from the Crown Prince growing stronger and stronger; for a moment, he felt as if he were facing the Prime Minister directly.

He was both alarmed and quickly composed himself. It wasn't time to fight to the death yet; killing someone to silence them was too early.

He stood up despite the pressure and found a seat that was neither too close nor too far away.

The best course of action now is to deal with the problems ahead. "Your Highness is too kind. Please do not hesitate to ask if there is anything you need my assistance with."

-

When Wang Xiyue left, she saw that her brother had adjusted to the best state of defense, and she felt relieved. She then closed the main hall door behind her.

With Mo Yun inside and An Ying and Wang Yi outside, she could go about her business with peace of mind.

She approached an older servant of the prefect and whispered, "Brother, I urgently need to relieve myself. Could you please take me to the outhouse?"

Ling Shun has always looked down on ordinary people, but seeing his master treat the young master with utmost respect, he naturally dared not offend the young master's guards.

Therefore, when facing this young boy who was clearly only a teenager, he had to be obsequious and flatter him politely: "Brother, I dare not accept such a title. I am Ling Shun. You may call me by my name."

"Young man, please come this way!"

Wang Xiyue nodded to "Shadow" and Wang Yi, signaling them to protect her brother and not to worry about her.

Watching Xiyue leave alone, and seeing her figure getting further and further away, Dongfang Yu frowned, feeling both anxious and helpless.

He knew she was definitely going to do something secretive and dangerous, and their relationship was on the verge of breaking down because of his hug last time.

She no longer fully trusted the people in his palace and deliberately distanced herself from them in everything she did. He didn't know how to make amends, but he didn't want to let go either.

After receiving the prince's signal, the shadowy figure, hidden in the shadows, quickly followed the future princess. His task was naturally to quietly help the princess resolve all her worries.

Wang Xiyue cautiously followed Ling Shun, taking a long, winding road, until she finally spotted a latrine in a secluded corner of the courtyard.

About three or four zhang away from the outhouse, Ling Shun turned around and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Wang Xiyue, "Young brother, it's over there. I'll be waiting here."

Wang Xiyue listened intently, confirming that there were only the two of them nearby.

So, in the instant Ling Shun was caught off guard, she quickly pressed his pressure points and, with a flick of her hand, sprinkled a handful of hallucinogenic drugs onto his face.

"Ling Shun!"

Ling Shun's gaze slowly shifted from surprise to blankness, then to confusion, and finally to unwavering determination. "Here!"

She looked him straight in the eye and left her final instructions in his mind: "Wait here for fifteen minutes, then go back to your duties. If anyone asks about me, just say, 'Something came up at the inn, so he left.'"

Ling Shun naturally bowed his head and clasped his hands in greeting: "Yes."

Wang Xiyue pointed to the back of a giant artificial mountain, "Hide there and leave when the time comes."

Ling Shun nodded and obediently went to the secluded spot and hid inside.

The hallucinogenic drug can only last for half an hour at most. After the effects wear off, he will lose the part of his memory that was poisoned. She is an insignificant character, and the prefect will not pay much attention to her, so there is no problem in concealing her whereabouts.

Her brother's situation wouldn't last much longer either, so she needed to hurry.

When acting, you have to do the whole thing.

Wang Xiyue only has fifteen minutes to report to the gate.

Once outside the gate, she found Xuan Yi standing guard there. "Where can I get in?"

During their time outside, Xuan Yi, Xuan Tian, ​​and An Yi had already ascertained the guard situation of the government office and answered directly and affirmatively, "There are no guards or sentries in the northeast and northwest corners."

Wang Xiyue understood; the northeast corner was where the outhouse had been, no wonder no one was guarding it.

Why is there no one in the northwest corner? She has to go and find out.

Once inside her carriage, she took off her uniform as a guard from the Prime Minister's residence and used it as an inner garment, while swapping the light-colored inner layer of clothing for the outermost layer, which became her coat.

She quickly changed her makeup using the disguise materials she had prepared beforehand, and once everything was ready, she went straight to the northeast corner, intending to sneak in from there.

This government office is laid out with its main structure facing south.

This place could serve as the office for the heads of the six ministries of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works, and it was also the living quarters for the prefect and other staff members on duty, along with their families. Logically speaking, it shouldn't be too big.

Unfortunately, the prefect was very good at accumulating wealth after taking office, so the prefectural government office was not comparable to an ordinary government office. It covered a vast area, and the back garden she just passed was at least an acre in size. It had all kinds of beautiful scenery, such as gardens, rockeries, and small artificial lakes.

According to normal layout, the most important treasury and the prison should be located in the northwest of the government office.

It's quite a distance from here, she needs to speed up.

Many people think that it is easier to conduct covert investigations at night, but Wang Xiyue does the opposite. She believes that while the darkness can hide one's whereabouts, it also greatly limits one's observation ability. After all, how much of a disguise can be seen in the dark?

Daytime is a time when it's easy to expose yourself, but it's also when the other person is most relaxed.

If everyone takes a situation for granted, that in itself is a loophole.

The moment when the other party is least vigilant is the time for her to take advantage. In broad daylight, she can observe more clearly and see more carefully.

Wang Xiyue chose a secluded path and used all her lightness skills to reach the northwest corner in just half a cup of tea's time.