Xiangzhou County Yamen was located in the very center of Xiangzhou, the most conspicuous building in the entire region.

Zhao Ting didn't even need to ask for directions to find it.

Zhao Ting stopped the carriage and said, "Young master, we're here."

Jing Yue lifted the curtain and jumped down first, followed by Jiang Chen.

Looking at the rather imposing Xiangzhou County Yamen, Jiang Chen sneered.

"Jing Yue, this Xiangzhou County Yamen, its scale is almost comparable to the imperial palace, isn't it?"

Jing Yue nodded and said, "It's not much different from a prince's mansion."

Jiang Chen looked at the grievance drum at the entrance of the Yamen and said, "Beat the drum!"

Inside the Yamen, Magistrate Lu Changyang, who hadn't been awake long, was amusing himself by training the birds in his cage when his aide walked in.

Lu Changyang withdrew his gaze and said indifferently, "Have you found His Majesty's whereabouts yet?"

The aide shook his head and said, "Master, not yet."

"Not a single clue?"

Lu Changyang was somewhat displeased. "Send more people out and be sure to find his whereabouts for me!"

"Yes!"

The aide quickly agreed and turned to leave to make the arrangements.

Lu Changyang stopped him again and said, "While you're at it, go and inform the people sent by the Tang Prince that I've agreed to cooperate with them."

The aide was taken aback and said, "Master, this matter..."

As he spoke, the aide gestured at his own neck.

"Of course, I know!"

Lu Changyang snorted. "Of course, I don't want to take this risk either, but now we can't find His Majesty's whereabouts at all. If my side is discovered, you know the consequences."

The aide nodded repeatedly. In Xiangzhou, Lu Changyang, the magistrate, was like a local emperor.

Many of the court's laws were completely disregarded in Xiangzhou.

If discovered, it would be a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of relatives at the very least!

Everything had been peaceful until now, but for some reason, His Majesty had lost his mind and decided to travel incognito!

If discovered, he was sure to die.

It was better to take a gamble!

Understanding Lu Changyang's plan, the aide said, "Master, should we have the Tang Prince send some people over? In case they discover His Majesty's whereabouts..."

Lu Changyang nodded heavily. "You're right, have them send people over as soon as possible!"

Just as the aide was about to leave, the sound of drumming came from outside the County Yamen.

The aide couldn't help but look back at Lu Changyang, who was also looking at him. A trace of surprise flashed in both of their eyes.

The grievance drum of Xiangzhou County Yamen hadn't been beaten in years!

The locals certainly wouldn't come to beat the drum...

Thinking of this, Lu Changyang said in a deep voice, "Aide, have Head Constable Wu bring people over!"

The aide shuddered. "Does Master mean that the one beating the drum is... His Majesty?"

"It should be right!"

A cold glint flashed in Lu Changyang's eyes. "In any case, let's prepare first!"

Outside the County Yamen, Zhao Ting sneezed after striking the drum.

There was simply too much dust on the grievance drum.

After holding his breath and striking it a few times, a yamen runner ran out, impatiently shouting, "What are you drumming for? What are you drumming for?"

Jiang Chen stepped forward and said, "We have a grievance to be redressed!"

"Redress a grievance? Hahahaha..."

The yamen runner laughed as if he had heard a great joke, stopping only after a long while.

"You kid really knows how to joke. Let me tell you, there hasn't been a grievance here in Xiangzhou for years!"

As he spoke, the yamen runner waved his hand to drive them away. "Go, hurry up and get out of here. If you want to cause trouble, don't do it in Xiangzhou, or don't blame me for not warning you!"

At that moment, a heavy cough came from behind.

Hearing the cough, the impatience on the yamen runner's face instantly turned into a smile as he turned to the person coughing and smiled obsequiously, "Master, why are you here?"

Lu Changyang asked, "What's going on?"

The yamen runner said, "Someone said they have a grievance, and I'm trying to chase them away!"

After speaking, the yamen runner waited to receive Lu Changyang's praise.

Because Lu Changyang had said that he hated people seeking redress from him the most.

But unexpectedly, Lu Changyang suddenly shouted, "Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"

"Redressing grievances for the people is the duty of this Xiangzhou County Magistrate, how can we drive people away?"

The yamen runner was dumbfounded, unable to react for a moment.

It was already surprising that Lu Changyang had come here in person.

His current attitude made him wonder if he had misheard.

Was this still the magistrate he remembered?

Lu Changyang ignored the yamen runner, walked outside, looked Jiang Chen and the others up and down, and then smiled, "I am the local magistrate. If you three have any grievances to redress, please come in and tell me."

As he spoke, Lu Changyang took the lead and walked into the County Yamen.

"Young master, he..."

Zhao Ting was full of surprise. Lu Changyang's performance completely exceeded his expectations.

In his opinion, Lu Changyang's attitude shouldn't be much better than the yamen runner's, but now it seemed that wasn't the case at all.

What exactly was going on?

Could it be that his previous guess about the local magistrate was completely wrong?

Jiang Chen saw through Lu Changyang's nature at a glance.

He was trying to deceive them!

Unfortunately, he had already investigated the problems in Xiangzhou thoroughly!

Entering the main hall of the County Yamen, Lu Changyang was already seated above, with twelve yamen runners holding water and fire staffs standing on either side.

With a bang of the gavel from Lu Changyang, the yamen runners shouted "威武 (wēi wǔ - majestic)."

Everything looked quite impressive.

Jiang Chen watched Lu Changyang's performance coldly.

Xiangzhou must have already received news of what happened in Baozhou.

Under such circumstances, the fact that the other party was still putting on a show meant that they definitely had other intentions.

However, the other party hadn't revealed their intentions yet, so Jiang Chen couldn't be sure.

"Who is in the hall below? What grievance do you have?" Lu Changyang asked at this time.

Jiang Chen didn't answer. Jing Yue, who was beside him, said, "We are travelers passing by, and we are here to accuse the Xiangzhou Education Officer!"

Lu Changyang frowned. Besides stalling for time, he also wanted to have the thrill of trying the emperor.

But the other party actually let his subordinate answer, which made Lu Changyang very unhappy.

Lu Changyang stared at Jiang Chen, slammed the gavel, and shouted, "Which of you three is the plaintiff? Let the plaintiff speak!"

Anyway, after today, he would completely rely on the Tang Prince, so he didn't need to worry about anything.

Unexpectedly, Jing Yue, who was beside him, said, "I am the plaintiff."

"You are the plaintiff?"

Lu Changyang was extremely surprised and pointed at Jiang Chen, "Then what about him?"

"You're talking about my young master?"

Jing Yue said, "He's here with me."

Lu Changyang was choked half to death. Jing Yue's answer made it impossible for him to have the thrill of trying the emperor.

Then I'll torture your subordinate!

Lu Changyang quickly made up his mind.

"Alright, you're the plaintiff, right? You just said that you want to accuse the local Education Officer?" Lu Changyang asked.

"Yes," Jing Yue said.

Lu Changyang then said, "The local Education Officer is a ninth-rank official appointed by the imperial court. When a commoner accuses an official, they must first receive twenty strokes of the large paddle!"

"Come! Drag her down and give her twenty strokes!"