"What is the meaning of this?" Magistrate Ho narrowed his eyes at the Governor and asked.

The Governor waved his hand down and his men started to encircle Magistrate Ho.

Magistrate Ho tried to stare at the Governor's men to ward them off, but it didn't work; they kept advancing slowly towards him.

"I am an official appointed by his majesty! Don't you dare come near me." He pointed at one of them, turned his head back at the Governor and shouted, "Tell me! What are you trying to do!"

"Hmph!" The Governor wasn't having any of it from the Magistrate and he glanced at his men nearest to the Magistrate.

His men nodded and two of them came from behind and kicked at the knees of Magistrate Ho.

Thud.

Magistrate Ho knelt onto the ground from the impact of their kick and his knees slammed onto the ground, giving out a loud thud.

"That is for speaking rudely to your superior." The Governor came up to him and said.

"I was just reacting to your men's behavior towards me." Magistrate Ho looked up at the Governor and said.

This time his voice became softer.

"And they were doing it under my orders." The Governor said and put his hands behind his back and started to pace in front of Magistrate Ho.

Lin Xuan Qi looked on, standing by the side and shook his head.

Magistrate Ho was asking for it.

Consequences will eventually come for you, he thought silently to himself.

And it was not over yet for Magistrate Ho.

The Governor suddenly stopped and looked down at Magistrate Ho. "How many times have I asked you to get something done with the price of the rice?"

"Three... Four..." Magistrate Ho couldn't recall exactly, and he murmured some numbers.

"Hmph. That's what I thought. You can't remember!" The Governor barked at Magistrate Ho and his stare at Magistrate Ho sent chills down Magistrate Ho's spine.

"I tried... But they..."

"You tried and were too busy counting the money you've made from the commissions, I guess."

"No, I..."

"Do you think I'm a fool!" The Governor wasn't going to let Magistrate Ho off today.

"For yesterday and just now, while dispensing the charity porridge, there were thugs and an assailant that came and tried to stop Master Lin.

"You have any idea who it was?" The Governor squatted down to stare at Magistrate Ho eye to eye.

Magistrate Ho's eyes ducked away from his stare and he stammered, "I'm not... sure... I will..."

"I'm not a three-year-old kid." The Governor said and gestured to his men with his hand.

His men came to the side of the Magistrate.

They grabbed onto the arms of the Magistrate and pulled his arms towards the back.

With fear in his heart, Magistrate Ho tried to struggle free but couldn't do so.

The Governor's men overpowered him.

Another of the Governor's men then came from behind and placed his foot onto the back of Magistrate Ho's back.

"How dare you do this to me!

"I shall let his majesty know and you shall pay for this!"

Magistrate Ho shouted at the Governor's men and tried to break free, but when he did so, the man on his back pressed forward with his foot.

The force made him bow forward to the Governor uncontrollably.

"Hmph. So, you still remember that there's a majesty above." The Governor said coldly.

He stood up, flung his hand to the side, and the sleeve of his imperial official's uniform flew in the wind like a flag.

The Governor went on and gave his verdict. "Due to Magistrate Ho's inability to contain the price of the rice and inability to keep the peace of Hong Feng City,

"Colluding with others even, I hereby judge that Magistrate Ho is to be stripped of his official position and his property be under confiscation by his majesty."

"No! You can't do this to me!" Magistrate Ho shouted and stared at the Governor with his now bloodshot eyes.

He went hysterical when the Governor's men started to strip his imperial official uniform off him.

The crowd in the queue and those who had gathered around watched with glee as it happened.

They've suffered tremendously under the Magistrate.

No one would miss Magistrate Ho for even a little bit.

He and his constables were in cahoots with so many corrupted souls.

If they could, they would be throwing stones at Magistrate Ho right now.

But the Governor and his men were around; they didn't dare to try.

When the Governor's men were done, Magistrate Ho was left with his silk undergarment underneath his imperial official's uniform.

The imperial official's uniform in its bright flashy red was scattered on the ground.

Magistrate Ho scurried and tried to grab onto one piece of it, but his hand was stomped by one of the Governor's men.

"Argh!" Magistrate Ho gave out a loud cry in pain, and he stared at the Governor.

"You will regret this! Wait till I go to the capital city and let his majesty know what you've done!" Magistrate Ho pointed at the Governor and threatened him.

The Governor smirked and shook his head. "Be my guest, go and let the majesty know what you've done.

"I've got nothing to fear from his majesty."

He had executed what the majesty wanted, which was to stabilize Hong Feng City and bring peace back to it.

So, he had no fear at all.

"You!" Magistrate Ho lunged at the Governor, but he wasn't able to get near him before he got kicked to the side by the Governor's men.

Magistrate Ho tumbled across the ground and groaned in pain.

When he tried to get back onto his feet, he saw Lin Xuan Qi by the side, and he pointed his finger at Lin Xuan Qi.

"It's you! The one behind all of this!" Magistrate Ho shouted.

Everything that was happening to him was due to this man.

Anger rose from within and Magistrate Ho lunged at Lin Xuan Qi suddenly.

But it was a grave mistake.

Lin Xuan Qi relished this opportunity, and he began to direct some of his Five-Element Qi to his heart.

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