A Modern Man Reincarnated Into Tang Dynasty And Become A County Magistrate (Patreon)

Chapter 4: We Have Protection

When Lu Xia returned with the innkeeper and a few thugs, both Li Shimin and Du Ruhui's expressions were as dark as could be.

Both of them were high-ranking officials with a commanding aura, cultivated over years of holding power. Their cold stares were enough to pressure anyone in the room.

Lu Xia, the innkeeper, and the thugs were immediately overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere as soon as they entered, feeling as if they were being looked down upon.

Fortunately, the innkeeper, in his forties, had met many people in his life, and being in Wuling County helped him quickly regain his composure.

"Why are you still standing there, kneel!"

The innkeeper suddenly shouted, kicking Lu Xia in the back of her knee.

With a thud, Lu Xia collapsed in front of Li Shimin and Du Ruhui, pain contorting her delicate face.

Li Shimin and Du Ruhui remained cold and unmoving, with no change in their expressions. They didn’t speak a word, and the atmosphere remained suffocating.

"Dear guests, Lu Xia made a mistake, and I apologize for the trouble she caused."

"The future costs for your stay at the Guest Lodge will be halved as compensation. Is that acceptable?" the innkeeper said with a fawning smile.

However, Li Shimin and Du Ruhui still remained silent.

The cold, unyielding stares and the tense silence caused the innkeeper and the others to feel an icy chill in their hearts.

"Our Guest Lodge is the cleanest and most sanitary in the entire county. Every room is spotless, and I trust you've experienced that firsthand," the innkeeper continued.

"Furthermore, our toilets are meticulously cleaned, and the water used is clear and clean, safe enough to drink."

"In addition to halving the charges, I will reduce them by half again, showing my sincerity. Please, let this matter be settled, how about it?"

The innkeeper’s smile grew more strained, his lips twitching slightly.

"Then you drink it too," Li Shimin said coldly at last.

Upon hearing that the water was safe to drink, Li Shimin’s heavy heart was momentarily relieved. However, the deep-seated murderous intent still lingered. He felt an urge to wipe out the entire Guest Lodge staff to release the pent-up anger.

But Li Shimin also knew that if he acted out and revealed his identity as the emperor, it would cause a huge scandal, damaging his reputation.

The innkeeper’s smile became completely stiff, his brow furrowing instinctively.

Before he could respond, Lu Xia, who was still kneeling, acted first.

"Dear guests, the water from the toilets in every room at the Guest Lodge is drinkable," Lu Xia said, struggling to get up.

She winced from the pain of having knelt earlier, nearly losing her balance, but managed to stabilize herself and stumbled toward the toilet. Without hesitation, she knelt down, scooped up the water from the toilet, and drank it in front of everyone.

After drinking, she slightly parted her lips to show that she had indeed swallowed the water from the toilet.

"I didn’t ask you to do that," Li Shimin said coldly.

"Innkeeper, you drink it."

Lu Xia turned pale, looking at the innkeeper with a pitiful expression.

"Please, Dear guests, don't go too far," the innkeeper pleaded, his expression slowly darkening.

"We've already apologized and offered compensation. Please stop now."

"Go too far?" Li Shimin's voice grew mocking. "And if I do, what will you do about it?"

Li Shimin laughed in anger, his murderous intent surging. His eyes turned icy cold.

The dragon's dignity has been insulted, yet you tell me not to go too far?

"Dear guests, you may be important people, but this is Wuling County!" the innkeeper sneered.

Li Shimin’s expression darkened further at this defiant attitude.

"Ha! Does Wuling County have the law to let you act with such impunity?"

Li Shimin's voice was full of rage, and his gaze became more menacing.

A mere innkeeper dared to threaten him?

"Exactly!" the innkeeper sneered with disdain.

Li Shimin's face immediately darkened, and his eyes grew even colder.

"Enough!" Du Ruhui, who had been silently watching, suddenly stood up, furiously scolding the innkeeper.

"The Empire has its iron-clad law, how dare the small Wuling County say that it has its own law?"

If not for being unsure of Li Shimin's intentions, Du Ruhui would have already summoned the hidden imperial guards outside.

"You’re the one being outrageous!"

"In Wuling County, the magistrate is the law!"

"Let me tell you something—the magistrate is the patron of this inn and holds shares in it!"

"You can either accept the compensation offered or stir up trouble if you want, but jail food is unpleasant. Don't blame me for not warning you."

The innkeeper had been thoroughly provoked.

Even though Du Ruhui's imposing presence was terrifying, the innkeeper was no longer willing to back down.

As his words fell, the thugs behind him took a few silent steps forward, making their stance clear.

"Fang Yuan is the law?"

"And your so-called patron?"

Li Shimin's gaze turned razor-sharp and icy, sending chills through the room.

Very well. Fang Yuan, the supposed magistrate, turned out to be such a person.

Collusion between officials and merchants, acting as a shield for the wealthy while oppressing commoners, and even threatening jail time.

What qualifications did such a man have to be a county magistrate in the Tang Dynasty? How could he possibly be the virtuous minister foretold in a dream?

Although Li Shimin didn’t know what “shares” were, at this moment, his impression of Fang Yuan plummeted. The likelihood of Fang Yuan being his fated virtuous minister seemed almost nonexistent.

If it were confirmed that Fang Yuan wasn’t the virtuous minister, his collusion with merchants alone would justify his dismissal and investigation.

"What’s the problem?"

"In Wuling County, all 80,000 residents know it!"

The innkeeper sneered.

Even though Li Shimin’s glare felt like a knife, stabbing into his bones, the innkeeper couldn't retreat at this stage.

With Fang Yuan as his patron and the backing of Wuling County’s authorities, he had nothing to fear from a caravan representative.

"80,000 residents?"

Li Shimin was furious, but his anger was momentarily stifled.

Before setting out incognito, he had briefly reviewed the records of the southern regions.

According to his memory, the southern counties were sparsely populated, with Wuling County having about 5,000 residents. How could it now boast 80,000?

Moreover, Li Shimin had noticed something peculiar since entering Wuling County—it was bustling and prosperous, entirely unlike a county with just 5,000 people.

Li Shimin remembered Wuling County’s population so clearly because of the preface to The Peach Blossom Spring, which described the legendary Peach Blossom Land as being located in Wuling County. As a result, he had paid extra attention to its records.

"What’s the problem?"

The innkeeper snorted, preparing to ignore Li Shimin and Du Ruhui.

Let them cause trouble. If things got out of hand, the authorities would surely come and arrest them.

"If Fang Yuan is your patron, summon him to handle this matter."

Li Shimin suddenly decided he wanted to meet Fang Yuan.

How had a county of 5,000 turned into 80,000?

Such a miracle—could it be that Fang Yuan truly was the virtuous minister from his dream?

At this thought, Li Shimin once again believed Fang Yuan might be the one.

Compared to identifying the virtuous minister and avoiding the need to issue a self-criticism edict, the earlier toilet water incident seemed trivial.

"You wish!"

"The magistrate is already resting. Why would he bother with you?"

The innkeeper sneered, noticing that Li Shimin’s anger seemed to have dissipated.

But going to find Fang Yuan late at night was absolutely out of the question.

"Whether or not he’s available, notify him first," Li Shimin said, standing up and walking toward the innkeeper with a cold expression.

The innkeeper suddenly felt an overwhelming aura crashing over him like a tidal wave.

Even with the thugs behind him, he felt no sense of security.

From the start, he had suspected that the man before him was no ordinary person, and now that feeling was even stronger.

After hesitating for a long time, and recalling that Fang Yuan had personally brought these two guests to the inn, the innkeeper threw out a terse "Wait here," before leaving.