Lin Shen walked forward, reached the courtroom, lifted the county magistrate with one hand, and sat down casually on the chair. He stretched out his legs, placing them on the table in front of him.
"I don't blame you for this. As a seventh-rank county magistrate, you couldn't defy the Duke of Lu."
"But it's unnecessary to pin a charge of defying the Tang Code on me..."
"If you want to summon the Imperial Guards, I won't stop you. Go ahead."
Lin Shen waved his hand casually.
The county magistrate and the steward fled in panic.
Snap—
Lin Shen reached out and grabbed the gavel on the table, smashing it on the steward's head.
"I only allowed the county magistrate to leave, not you. Roll back."
The steward held his head in his hands and reluctantly returned.
The county magistrate gritted his teeth.
Arrogant!
Too arrogant! He had never seen someone so arrogant before!
Just as they stepped out of the courtroom, the county magistrate instructed the ruffians nearby, "Quick, go and summon the Imperial Guards."
Meanwhile...
Several eunuchs held an imperial decree and hurried to the entrance of the Ruyi Supermarket.
Chen San hurriedly greeted them.
Eunuchs were exclusive to the royal family.
An elderly eunuch bowed respectfully to Chen San, "Is Master Lin here?"
Chen San was taken aback.
Master Lin?
Was he addressing his boss?
He wasn't stupid.
Seeing the eunuchs being so polite and holding something resembling an imperial decree, his slight unease vanished completely.
It must be a reward from the emperor to his boss.
Was it about the incident last night when the Imperial Guards came to transport the self-heating rice?
Countless thoughts raced through his mind.
Chen San shook his head and replied promptly, "My boss was just taken away by the county office of Chang'an."
The eunuch's expression changed, "Taken away by the county office of Chang'an?"
Chen San nodded, "Yes, they said it was for defying the Duke of Lu..."
The eunuchs didn't dare to delay and went straight to the county office of Chang'an.
...
The morning court session had ended.
Hou Junji rushed back home, but couldn't find his steward. He grabbed a guard and asked coldly, "Where's the steward?"
The guard looked at Hou Junji's expression, trembling in fear, and replied, "Reporting to my lord, the steward went to the county office of Chang'an."
"When did he go?"
"About an hour ago."
An hour ago!
Hou Junji's vision darkened.
Too late!
Everything was too late!
An hour was enough time to reach the county office of Chang'an, enough for the ruffians to capture Lin Shen, or even administer the corporal punishment.
Hou Junji turned and ran out, instructing the coachman to saddle the horse and head straight to the county office of Chang'an.
At the county office of Chang'an...
The county magistrate was anxiously waiting at the door, eagerly anticipating when the Imperial Guards would arrive to punish this ignorant criminal.
But the first group of people they encountered was not the Imperial Guards.
It was several eunuchs.
Judging from their purple sashes, they were at least third or fourth-rank officials.
In the Tang Dynasty, eunuchs could only hold positions up to the third rank. These people were among the highest-ranking eunuchs.
The county magistrate hurriedly greeted them, "What brings you here, gentlemen?"
The leading eunuch, with a worried expression and furrowed brows, asked, "Is Master Lin Shen here in the county office?"
The county magistrate's heart skipped a beat.
Such respectful tone...
A third-rank official addressing a mere merchant as "Master Lin"? He was momentarily stunned and forgot to respond.
The leading eunuch's frown deepened, scolding, "I'm asking you, is Master Lin Shen here? The owner of the Ruyi Supermarket."
The county magistrate snapped out of his daze and nodded vigorously, "Yes, Master Lin is in the courtroom!"
The eunuch continued, "You have suffered even the slightest injustice."
The county magistrate shook his head vehemently.
The eunuch breathed a sigh of relief, "Thankfully not, otherwise your life might have been forfeit."
His words sounded grave.
Just a bit of suffering, and his life would be forfeited?
The county magistrate felt a bit bewildered.
Walking behind the eunuchs, they entered the courtroom.
Inside the courtroom, the steward glared at Lin Shen fiercely, speaking coldly, "Do you know what you're doing? Defying the Tang Code is a capital offense! Even if you know nobility, it won't save your life. Who do you think you are? Just a lowly merchant..."
At that moment, the eunuchs pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Lin Shen sitting calmly in the courtroom, the leading eunuch breathed a sigh of relief.
He respectfully bowed to Lin Shen, "Master Lin Shen, His Majesty has issued an edict. Please receive it."
The steward's words stuck in his throat.
Receive an edict?
A command from His Majesty?
Lin Shen stood up boldly and walked over to the eunuch.
The eunuch unfolded the edict and began to recite it in a solemn tone, "By the decree, Lin Shen, with a heart of benevolence and righteousness, sheltered the people, generously providing aid during the locust plague crisis. He assisted in alleviating the locust plague and, after careful consideration by His Majesty and the court officials, has been conferred the title of prince, with the royal title of Chu..."
The content of the edict was brief.
But every word felt like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of the steward and the county magistrate.
Prince of Chu!
He was actually a prince!
Especially for the county magistrate, he felt a chill run down his spine, cold sweat drenching his back.
He had actually apprehended a prince, and even contemplated corporal punishment against him.
Luckily, he hadn't acted yet.
Lin Shen's actions of repelling the guards just now didn't seem like defying the Tang Code at all.
It was clearly saving his life!
Lin Shen accepted the edict and nodded, "Alright, thank His Majesty for me."
The eunuch's expression was somewhat strange.
He had read edicts to other dukes before, and they were all grateful, eager to flatter and curry favor.
But Lin Shen was different...
His attitude was so indifferent.
The eunuch nodded stiffly, "I will convey your message to His Majesty."
Lin Shen thought for a moment.
According to custom, he should give these eunuchs some money as a reward?
He did have some silver on him.
But... what was silver?!
It was his lifeline!
It was for drawing lots!
To give silver to these eunuchs as a reward would be too extravagant.
Lin Shen said softly, "I came out in a hurry. Please wait here for a moment. Let me go back and fetch something nice for you to take. Please accept it."
The eunuchs bowed respectfully, "Thank you, Your Highness the Prince of Chu."
The steward couldn't stand anymore.
The moment the edict was read out, he collapsed to the ground, his eyes staring blankly at Lin Shen.
Finally understanding why Lin Shen was so confident.
Why he wasn't afraid of the Duke of Lu...
So that's how it was.
This young man, whose background couldn't be determined, turned out to be the Prince of Chu...
It's over!
Completely over!
Hou Junji wouldn't die. He was a duke, and although he might suffer injuries, his life would surely be spared.
But he was just a lowly servant, only basking in the Duke of Lu's glory to be able to flaunt his power in front of the county magistrate.
Compared to the lofty Prince of Chu, he was nothing.
No...
Even ants could survive, but he didn't have the slightest hope of survival.
The county magistrate stepped forward, bowing deeply to Lin Shen, wishing he could prostrate himself on the ground, "Your Highness the Prince of Chu, I have offended you before. Please forgive me..."