Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her gaze from the low table and looked down at County Magistrate Hu, who was slumped limply on the wooden couch. Without much expression, she asked, “County Magistrate Hu, do you know Village Head Fang from Xintian Village?”
County Magistrate Hu nodded. “I know him. Does County Administrator Zhao also know him? The wine he brews is absolutely exquisite.”
“It is indeed exquisite. I’ve heard he’s been brewing wine for you all along. I wonder how much you pay per jar of wine, County Magistrate Hu?”
To disperse the effects of the drug powder, County Magistrate Hu had drunk quite a bit of wine. At this moment, he was floating in a daze, in a state where his spirits were excited yet his mind was muddled. Hearing this, he sneered, “It’s his honor to brew fine wine for me. What need is there to speak of payment?”
Zhao Hanzhang rested her hand on her sword hilt, rubbing the patterns on it, and asked without any change in expression, “This is exactly the time for attending court. Does County Magistrate Hu often come out at this hour to drink wine and… consume drugs?”
County Magistrate Hu smiled foolishly. “There’s nothing happening in the county, so why not be at ease and enjoy myself?”
He reached out, trying to grab Zhao Hanzhang. “County Administrator Zhao, I have another dose of powder here. Shall I give it to you?”
Zhao Hanzhang sidestepped to dodge. Behind her, Fu Tinghan’s expression changed, and he couldn’t help but step forward to knock away his hand.
County Magistrate Hu felt the pain and looked at Fu Tinghan with displeasure. “Young Master Fu has quite a temper. But you merely rely on your lady’s favor. Hmph, a dignified man yet subjecting himself beneath a woman…”
Zhao Hanzhang’s face darkened. She drew her sword from its sheath, and in an instant, it was pressed against County Magistrate Hu’s throat. Even in his drugged state, County Magistrate Hu sensed Zhao Hanzhang’s killing intent. He froze.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “I originally had no intention of killing you. On the way here, I had already decided how to deal with you. For someone like you who abuses power for personal gain and exploits the common people, my Runan Commandery cannot keep you, so I planned to expel you.”
“But after seeing you, I realize I still thought too well of you,” Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes flashed with coldness as the sword tip pressed forward. “During court hours, you come out to seek pleasure and consume drugs, showing no remorse for the evil deeds you’ve committed. Most importantly, while the people under your governance cannot fill their stomachs and countless die of starvation and disease, in your view the county still has no problems…”
“How can I possibly keep someone like you?”
Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her sword and turned her head slightly toward Qiu Wu. “Take him to the marketplace and behead him immediately. The charges are dereliction of duty, lack of compassion for the people, and consumption of Five Stone Powder!”
“Yes!” Qiu Wu brought two soldiers forward and dragged County Magistrate Hu away.
The two people nearby were frightened. They hurriedly reached out to grab County Magistrate Hu’s clothes, nearly stripping him completely. “You cannot, you cannot!”
The two of them hadn’t drunk as much wine, so although they were somewhat dizzy and felt as if a fire was rising within them, their rationality remained. They quickly said to Zhao Hanzhang, “He’s drunk on wine and drugs and doesn’t even know what he’s saying. Please spare his life, County Administrator Zhao.”
Seeing that Zhao Hanzhang remained unmoved while Qiu Wu had already pulled their hands away and had soldiers drag County Magistrate Hu off, they hurriedly chased a few steps, then turned back to angrily shout at Zhao Hanzhang, “Zhao Sanniang, he’s a renowned scholar, a county magistrate. How dare you kill him at will?”
“Renowned scholar?” Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze grew even colder. She pursed her lips and said, “What kind of renowned scholar takes pride in exploiting the common people? What kind of renowned scholar sits by and watches the people suffer and die without lifting a finger? If this is what renowned scholars are like, then I’ll kill every renowned scholar under heaven!”
After speaking, Zhao Hanzhang drew her sword and chopped off a corner of the table, then pointed her sword at them. “I don’t care who you are. From this day forward, the consumption of Five Stone Powder is forbidden. If you don’t comply, get out of my Runan Commandery!”
Zhao Hanzhang declared sternly, “Guards! Issue a decree—from this moment on, the consumption of Five Stone Powder is forbidden in Runan Commandery. Those who violate this order will be punished!”
The soldiers responded in unison with a resounding “Yes!” The sound was deafening, making the two men’s ears ring and their vision blur. By the time they came to their senses, Zhao Hanzhang had already turned and left with Fu Tinghan, and County Magistrate Hu had long been dragged away.
The two men shuddered violently. Remembering something, they bolted outside. County Magistrate Hu wouldn’t really be beheaded, would he?
He absolutely couldn’t die.
The two had no time to put on shoes, hadn’t even properly fastened their clothes, and ran outside barefoot with their garments hanging open.
The common people outside were startled at first, but quickly calmed down. Having seen such things often, they were no longer surprised. It seemed these noble gentlemen had consumed the immortal elixir again.
The two stumbled after the soldiers but couldn’t even catch sight of their backs. Along the way, they even fell down from being drunk. The two simply stopped running and grabbed a servant who had run out after them. “Quickly go to the county office to save him, quickly go to the marketplace to save County Magistrate Hu…”
However, it was too late. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t go to watch the execution—she didn’t enjoy watching such things. What was there to see about killing people?
Besides the battlefield, this was the second person she had executed, but her mood wasn’t particularly good. Therefore, she kept a stern face throughout and headed directly to the county office.
The yamen runner who had given Zhao Hanzhang directions, thinking he had completed his work, leaned against the door again to doze off. Hearing the sound of footsteps, the two opened their eyes impatiently and saw Zhao Hanzhang walking toward them. They couldn’t help but be startled—had she failed to find County Magistrate Hu?
Zhao Hanzhang had already passed them and headed straight into the county office.
The yamen runners came to their senses and hurriedly called out twice, chasing after her. “Noble one, noble one, this is the county office—you can’t just barge in. We’ve already said our county magistrate isn’t here…”
Zhao Hanzhang turned her head and asked, “If the county magistrate isn’t here, where is your county administrator?”
Zhao Hanzhang gave a half-smile. “What, has your county administrator also gone to drink and make merry?”
“Who are you, and what do you want with me?”
Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan turned their heads at the voice and saw a middle-aged man frowning at them, his face showing some displeasure.
Zhao Hanzhang directly revealed her identity. “I am Zhao Hanzhang, County Administrator of Runan Commandery.”
The middle-aged man showed slight surprise, but the surprise only flashed briefly. He immediately stepped forward and bowed. “This official is Liang Hong, County Administrator of Biyang County. I pay my respects to the County Administrator.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly, turned, and continued toward the front hall. This time no one stopped her, and Liang Hong and the yamen runners immediately followed.
Zhao Hanzhang sat in the main seat. Liang Hong immediately whispered instructions to a yamen runner, “Quickly go invite the county magistrate back.”
“No need—”
“This is terrible—”
Zhao Hanzhang’s next words were swallowed back as she raised her eyes to look at the person who had burst in with a panicked expression.
The yamen runner who rushed in didn’t see Zhao Hanzhang sitting above. His eyes were only on Liang Hong. Out of breath, he pointed toward the outside of the county office and shouted loudly, “County Administrator, County Administrator, our county magistrate, the county magistrate has been taken to the marketplace and beheaded…”
Liang Hong’s pupils contracted, and he turned stiffly to look at Zhao Hanzhang in the seat of honor.
Zhao Hanzhang nodded to him, her face stern. “That’s correct. It was my order.”
The yamen runner who came to report only now noticed Zhao Hanzhang. Startled, he hid behind Liang Hong, not daring to speak further.
Liang Hong’s lips trembled. His heart was full of questions—he wanted to ask but didn’t dare. After standing stunned for a long while, he finally couldn’t help but ask in a trembling voice, “May I ask why the County Administrator executed our county magistrate?”