After the Liaosburg incident, local officials everywhere believed they understood Ninth Royal Uncle much better. They thought that although he was cold and distant, as long as they didn't cross his bottom line, someone of his rank wouldn't bother to fuss over minor officials like them. As long as they did their jobs and didn't oppress innocent commoners, if they skimmed a little for themselves, Ninth Royal Uncle would just turn a blind eye.
When the common people heard about this, they called Ninth Royal Uncle a true 'Blue Sky Magistrate.' Even though he only went after the officials in Liaosburg, it still served as a warning to others.
Officials in towns surrounding Liaosburg were terrified of becoming the next Liaosburg inspector-governor. Each one buried themselves in reviewing recent cases under their jurisdiction, and those who had seized property from the people quietly returned it, hoping to avoid attracting Ninth Royal Uncle's attention.
"Did you expect all this to happen too?" Inside the carriage, Serena gritted her teeth as she spoke.
If Miles hadn’t come to tell her, she wouldn’t have known how the story was spreading outside. Ninth Royal Uncle was just too scheming.
Ninth Royal Uncle glanced at Serena, then continued reading the book in his hand and said slowly, "Does it really matter whether I expected it or not? As long as I get the result I want, that's enough."
Even if Serena hadn’t been unhappy about it, he would have chosen some local officials to make an example of, just to establish his authority. It just so happened that the Liaosburg inspector-governor was the one who got caught.
He was away from the capital and needed the support of local officials. If he was too harsh, they would band together to push him out; if he was too soft, they’d think he was easy to bully and not take him seriously. This way was just right.
So annoying! She’d planned to go after the Liaosburg officials herself, and yet he made it look like he’d done it all for her—she’d almost been moved by it.
Serena gritted her teeth. Seeing Ninth Royal Uncle so calm and relaxed, reading his book, she got so mad she went over and bit his hand.