Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

Chapter 399 Prefect Wang

A moment later, Lieutenant Zhao rushed back, his face grave: "Sir, something bad has happened! Several people claiming to be from the Chuzhou government have arrived at the village entrance, saying they want to... to search our luggage!"

"Search their luggage?" Shi Wanxia frowned. "What right do they have?"

"The leader said that recently some bandits have been impersonating government officials to commit fraud, and they are here on orders to investigate."

Captain Zhao said in a deep voice, "I showed them my token, but they wouldn't accept it and said they wanted to check it themselves."

Choi Ji-ho's eyes turned cold: "I'm afraid it's not as simple as a simple interrogation."

To encounter such a thing so soon after arriving in Chuzhou is clearly because someone doesn't want them to enter Chuzhou smoothly.

"Let's go take a look." Shi Wanxia made a decisive decision.

The three followed Captain Zhao to the village entrance, where they saw more than a dozen people dressed as yamen runners surrounding the few personal guards they had left behind.

The leader was a skinny man with a pointed face and a monkey-like appearance. He had a "Head Constable" sign hanging from his waist and was shouting, spitting as he spoke: "Enough nonsense! Produce the documents! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"We are officials appointed by the imperial court, and we have tokens personally bestowed by His Majesty. How dare you stop us?"

The captain of the personal guards roared angrily.

"A token? Who knows if it's real or fake!"

The skinny constable scoffed, "There are plenty of counterfeit things these days! Hurry up and open your luggage so we can check it. If it's really official business, we won't hold you back."

"If it's fake, humph, don't blame us for arresting you as bandits!"

"you dare!"

"What am I afraid of?"

The skinny constable puffed out his chest. "I'm acting on the orders of the Prefect of Chuzhou. If anything goes wrong, the Prefect will take responsibility!"

Shi Wanxia stepped forward and looked at him coldly: "You said you are a constable of the Chuzhou Prefecture?"

The skinny constable looked her up and down and saw that although she was soaking wet, she had an extraordinary air about her, especially her eyes, which were so bright that people dared not look directly at her.

His heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to remain calm: "So what if I am? Who are you?"

"I am Shi Wanxia, ​​who was ordered to go to the south for disaster relief."

Shi Wanxia revealed the black token at her waist. Her voice was not loud, but it carried an air of authority.

Do you recognize this token?

The skinny constable's expression changed instantly when he saw the dragon pattern on the token, but he quickly retorted, "The token... the token might be fake! I need to report to the prefect and ask him to make a decision!"

He knew in his heart that the token was most likely genuine, but since he had accepted the bribe, he had to stall these people.

"No need." A calm voice came from the side.

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a middle-aged man in a blue official robe walking leisurely from a distance, followed by several attendants.

He had a square face and sharp eyes; he was clearly no ordinary person.

"Wang...Wang Tongpan?"

When the skinny constable saw the newcomer, his face turned deathly pale, and his legs went weak, almost causing him to kneel down.

The man called Wang Tongpan ignored him and walked straight to Shi Wanxia, ​​bowing respectfully: "I am Wang Qinian, Tongpan of Chuzhou. I was unaware of your arrival, Lord Shi. I apologize for not welcoming you properly."

The Tongpan was the deputy to the Zhifu, and although his official rank was one level lower than that of the Zhifu, he was still considered a high-ranking official in the local area.

His respectful attitude clearly indicated that he recognized Shi Wanxia's token.

The skinny constable was terrified and knelt on the ground with a thud: "My lord, spare me! I was blind and didn't recognize you, sir..."

Wang Qinian gave him a cold look: "You scoundrel! How dare you offend an official of the imperial court! Get out of here!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" The skinny constable scrambled away with his men.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Lord Shi."

Wang Qinian turned around and said apologetically to Shi Wanxia, ​​"It's all because I failed to discipline him properly, which allowed such a petty person to disturb you, sir."

Looking at him, Shi Wanxia knew that this skinny constable dared to be so presumptuous because someone must be behind him, and this Wang Qinian might also be involved.

But now is not the time to investigate; the most urgent task is to get to Chuzhou as soon as possible to handle disaster relief matters.

"Prefect Wang is too kind."

Shi Wanxia said calmly, "We are here in the south to provide disaster relief on His Majesty's orders. Time is of the essence. I wonder if we can get to Chuzhou City as soon as possible?"

"Naturally."

Wang Qinian nodded, "I came here specifically to greet you after hearing that a high-ranking official from the imperial court was coming."

"A carriage and horses have been prepared ahead. Please proceed, sir."

Shi Wanxia glanced at Cui Zhihao, and seeing him nod slightly, she replied, "Thank you for your trouble, Magistrate Wang."

Once inside the carriage prepared by Wang Qinian, Shi Wanxia realized that it was much more spacious and comfortable than their previous carriages, and hot tea and snacks were also provided in the carriage.

"This Wang Qinian is quite good at dealing with people."

Lin Yiyu picked up his teacup, pursed his lips, and said, "I just don't know what they're up to."

"No matter what kind of medicine they sell, we'll handle it with caution."

Cui Zhihao said in a deep voice, "Chuzhou is suffering from severe flooding, yet the prefect sent a sub-prefect to greet him instead of showing up himself. This is highly suspicious."

Shi Wanxia nodded: "Yes. When we arrive in Chuzhou City, we should first try to contact the local officials to find out the specific situation, especially the whereabouts of the disaster relief grain."

The carriage traveled for about two hours before finally arriving at Chuzhou City.

From a distance, half of the city wall was submerged in water, and a large number of disaster victims were gathered at the city gate, with cries of distress rising and falling.

The soldiers guarding the city, armed with long spears, stood expressionless as they blocked the refugees from entering the city.

"This is Chuzhou City?"

Lin Yiyu looked at the scene before him and gasped, "It looks much more serious than in Ge County."

Wang Qinian helped them off the carriage and explained, "There were several heavy rains in the past few days, and the water level has risen considerably. The city gate is almost at its breaking point."

"The situation in the city is not good either. There is a shortage of food, and many people have contracted the disease."

Looking at the disaster victims shivering in the rain, Shi Wanxia felt a sharp pain in her heart: "Why not let them into the city? At least there are places in the city to shelter from the wind and rain."

Wang Qinian sighed: "Lord Shi, you may not know this, but the city's food and medicine supplies are almost exhausted, and there is really no room for more people."

"Besides, many of the disaster victims outside the city have contracted the epidemic. If they are allowed into the city, the consequences will be unimaginable."

This reason, though cruel, makes some sense.

Shi Wanxia paused for a moment, then said, "Take us to the government office first, summon all the officials, and discuss disaster relief matters."

"In addition, immediately send someone to Luomapo to check on the situation of the disaster relief grain."

"Yes."

Wang Qinian responded, but did not act immediately. He hesitated for a moment and said, "Lord Shi, the Prefect is unwell and I'm afraid he will be unable to attend the meeting."

"Feeling unwell?"

Shi Wanxia raised an eyebrow. "What illness? Is it serious?"

"Yes... I just caught a cold and am resting at home." Wang Qinian's eyes flickered.

Shi Wanxia sneered inwardly; this excuse was too clumsy.

She said, "Since the prefect is ill, then the affairs of the prefecture will be temporarily handled by you, Judge Wang."

"I'll leave the task of summoning the officials to you."

"This……"

Wang Qinian looked troubled. "I am only a sub-prefect, and I'm afraid I won't be able to convince the people."

"With His Majesty's token here, who dares to disobey?"

Shi Wanxia's tone was icy, "Or are you saying, Prefect Wang, that you intend to defy the imperial decree?"

Wang Qinian's expression changed, and he hurriedly said, "This humble official dares not! This humble official will take care of it immediately!"