After Li Cheng reported to the City Administration Department, he was directly appointed to his position!

He received his official robes and entered the “office” that the City Administration Department had prepared for him.

Although the place was small, it had everything!

It also provided his own private space.

But the one thing he disliked was this official position. It seemed prestigious, but in reality it was just a patrol officer.

Li Cheng was accustomed to being carefree and didn’t like being constrained by others.

He picked up a writing brush from the desk, twirled it a few times between his fingertips, propped his feet up on the desk in front of him, and leaned back lazily in his chair.

His young master’s demeanor was fully evident.

A young junior official stood before him, asking with a face full of flattery, “My lord, do you want to review all the previous documents now? Or go out for a walk and look around?”

“Go out? Go out for what?”

“To go on patrol!”

Not mentioning patrol would have been fine, but mentioning patrol made him angry.

He slammed the brush in his hand down on the desk!

With a “thud.”

The junior official jumped in fright, his body shrinking back.

His steps also retreated several paces.

“My lord?”

Li Cheng glared at him fiercely, his finger tapping heavily on the desk, and told him, “Listen, this lord did not come here to oversee the common people’s hardships, nor did I come to manage the city’s safety. So, don’t come find me when there’s nothing, and especially don’t come find me when there’s something. Do you understand?”

“This…”

“This what?”

The junior official’s mouth trembled, not daring to speak anymore.

Just a face full of embarrassment.

Li Cheng still had a belly full of anger. This official position was one he’d been forced to take by his own father, and moreover, it was his mortal enemy’s father, Left Minister Gong, who had pulled strings to get him this position. This grievance was buried in his chest, accumulating over time. Being provoked by that junior official’s remark, it suddenly erupted like a volcano. Of course, he could only take it out on the “small fry.” If it were his older brother, he’d probably just be a punching bag who could take beatings and scoldings.

Just when the junior official didn’t know what to do—

A senior official from the City Administration Department came in.

That senior official looked much more authoritative.

He had been here for several decades.

The senior official said, “Lord Li, the Marquis has already given his instructions. After you arrive here, you must follow the rules of our City Administration Department. At this time, you should be leading people to inspect the city gate.”

Unlike the junior official, the senior official clearly had much more presence!

He showed no fear of Li Cheng’s identity as an heir apparent.

After all, before Li Cheng arrived, the Marquis of Pingyang had already given instructions.

The Marquis of Pingyang’s exact words were: “No need to consider my dignity. If he doesn’t follow the rules, just punish him. If punishment doesn’t work, beat him. Beating him to death is also acceptable.”

So with these words, the senior official had sufficient courage.

After hearing the senior official’s words, Li Cheng laughed coldly. “Are you using my father to pressure me?”

“My lord, these are the rules. They apply to everyone who comes here.”

“What if I don’t comply?”

“Then I’ll have no choice but to send someone to notify the Marquis, or handle things according to the rules!”

“What rules?”

“Fifty strokes of the cane.”

“You…” Li Cheng slammed the desk in anger.

Indeed, old ginger is spicier!

Li Cheng restrained the anger in his heart. His eyes rolled, and an evil idea suddenly sprouted in his mind.

The corners of his mouth curved into a wicked smile.

He walked around the large desk in front of him, went over and patted the senior official’s shoulder, saying, “Fine, if you want me to patrol the city, I’ll patrol the city.”

He compromised so easily?

The senior official had never dealt with Li Cheng before, but he’d heard about his exploits many times. He’d thought he would have to argue with him for a long time before he could persuade him to patrol the city. Who knew he’d convince him so quickly? Now he still found it a bit hard to believe.

But since Li Cheng had agreed, it was better than continuing to argue with him!

So the senior official quickly assigned four guards to accompany Li Cheng out.

They walked through the streets of Gaoding.

But Li Cheng’s mind was always preoccupied with something else. He had no intention of patrolling the city at all, but headed straight for the city gate.

Along the way, some common people recognized Li Cheng.

“Isn’t that Heir Cheng from the Marquis of Pingyang’s residence? How did he become a patrol officer?”

“Isn’t that right? I heard he just returned yesterday.”

“Doesn’t this little tyrant usually run around outside all the time? How is he an official now? His father is the Marquis of Pingyang. Even if he’s an official, he shouldn’t be a patrol officer! Isn’t this position just a gatekeeper?”

“Who knows? Maybe he made some mistake, and the Marquis of Pingyang’s residence punished him by making him take this position.”

“Mm, that’s possible…”

…

All along the way, voices continued discussing.

Li Cheng completely ignored these and continued walking forward.

A young guard following behind quickly walked to his side and asked, “Lord Li, where are we going?”

“Just follow me.”

“But we’re not supposed to patrol this street today.”

“This lord goes wherever he wants. I don’t need you to tell me.”

“But this doesn’t follow the rules.”

“Rules? What are rules? I am the rules!” Li Cheng had a domineering and arrogant attitude.

He didn’t put anyone in his eyes!

The guard didn’t dare speak anymore, to avoid bringing trouble upon himself. Anyway, if something happened later, it had nothing to do with him.

When Li Cheng reached the city gate, he discovered that Gaoding city had many more people today, and many more carriages as well.

Almost all were from out of town!

Most were scholars coming to Gaoding to take the imperial examinations this year.

Although there were still several months before the exams began, most scholars would come here early to familiarize themselves with the environment, secure an inn to stay at, and even try to make contact with court ministers during this time, hoping to have some connections when the time came. Moreover, if they came too late, there basically wouldn’t be any inns with vacancies.

The gate guards were conducting routine searches of those entering.

The lead guard saw him and quickly came forward. “Lord Li.”

Li Cheng commanded, “Go get this lord a chair.”

“Ah?”

“Are your ears deaf? Didn’t you hear what this lord just said?”

“I heard, I heard.”

“If you heard, then hurry up and go.”

The lead guard was completely bewildered. Why on earth bring a chair here?

But in the end, he still ordered someone to bring one.

And so—

Li Cheng plopped down on it, crossed his legs, assumed a lazy posture, and even carried a few traces of roguishness!

All that was missing was a cup of tea placed beside him!

The four guards he’d brought and several guards from the gate all stood beside him.

Waiting for his instructions.

As a result, those entering the city were lined up in a long queue!

Li Cheng quickly waved his hand. “Aren’t you supposed to be inspecting? With so many people, why aren’t you hurrying?”

“Yes!”

Having received the order, the guards finally continued inspecting those entering the city!

Just as they finished inspecting a scholar entering Gaoding for the examinations, Li Cheng suddenly called out, “Wait.”

The scholar froze, standing in place without moving.

Then he cupped his hands and asked, “I wonder what matter my lord has?”

Li Cheng rose from his chair, sauntered over to the scholar, his gaze fixed on the bundle on the scholar’s shoulder. Squinting his eyes, he asked, “What’s in your bundle?”

“Books!”

“Oh? Open it and let me see.”