The Tyrant’s Drama Queen Empress

CHAPTER 48: Do I Smell Jealousy?

　　“Are you done talking? If you are, then let’s go,” Xie Yuanxun said as he walked out.

　　Seeing Shen Ling staring blankly at her own hand, lost in thought, Xie Yuanxun followed her gaze and looked at it too. It wasn’t injured. He asked, “Still not leaving? How long are you planning to keep chatting with them?”

　　Shen Ling made a small sound. “Mm, no. We can go now.”

　　—The way you said that makes it sound like you’re jealous that I left you alone while I kept chatting with someone else.

　　Xie Yuanxun snorted. “Then hurry up.”

　　—Oh my god! The jealousy in the air just got even stronger.

　　Xie Yuanxun, “……”

　　He glanced at her, and that look clearly carried the meaning of “At least you’re not completely stupid. You actually figured out what I was thinking.”

　　Shen Ling blinked in confusion. She felt like she must have read it wrong.

　　She turned her head a little awkwardly, putting on a serious expression. But out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the gossip-hungry looks on Aunt Wang and the others’ faces. She fell silent for a moment, then the next second she lifted her lips into a gentle smile and said warmly, “What are you all staring at so intently?”

　　The gentleness she imagined came across to Aunt Wang and the others like a death sentence. They all shook their heads frantically, insisting they had seen nothing, heard nothing, and knew nothing.

　　Shen Ling clicked her tongue. “Tsk, not a single one of you is speaking.”

　　Everyone: “……” That’s because you told us not to! If we speak, your fists will land on our heads again!

　　Xie Yuanxun noticed the strange tension between them and asked bluntly, “What did you do to them to make them so afraid of you?”

　　Shen Ling rolled her wrist casually. “Nothing much. We just had a very harmonious and friendly conversation.”

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “Oh.” He didn’t really care what these people had gone through. None of their arms or legs were missing, and in his eyes, Shen Ling had only been playing around with them anyway.

　　Shen Ling made them all stand up, then said to Xie Yuanxun, “Isn’t it a bit too obvious if they go out like this? They’re all tied up with ropes. What if the townspeople see them and misunderstand?”

　　—They’ve been in Yongning Town for quite some time. People might think they’re good folks. If that happens, wouldn’t the two of us who tied them up look like the bad ones?

　　—People in small towns tend to protect their own.

　　—If they really misunderstand, there are only two of us, and they’re a big group. We’d definitely be at a disadvantage.

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “That’s easy. Just tell everyone they’re human traffickers.”

　　Shen Ling, “……”

　　—Since when did you become this naive? You think people will just believe whatever you say?

　　Xie Yuanxun took out a money pouch and gave it a shake. The clinking sound of silver coins came from inside. “If anyone tries to stop us, just toss these pieces of silver out. They’ll be too busy picking them up to block the way.”

　　Shen Ling smacked her lips thoughtfully.

　　—As expected of you. Throwing money around just like that. If you’re not the one managing the household, you’ll never understand what rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea really mean.

　　—If you want me to clear the road with silver, I’d rather think of another way.

　　Shen Ling put on a serious expression. “Let me ask you one thing. If you throw the silver away, what are we supposed to eat later? Wait! Where did that pouch and all that silver even come from?”

　　Xie Yuanxun said indifferently, “Do you really think I can’t find food to support you? As for these bits of silver, I found them under the threshold of the main room. Probably someone here hid them.”

　　Shen Ling, “……”

　　—I’m touched that you said you’d support me, but up until now, hasn’t it basically been me taking care of you? Well, except for the part where I brought you into this den of thieves.

　　—And also, why is it you again who found their hidden stash?!

　　—How are you so good at finding these things? Do men just have some natural talent when it comes to secret money?

　　Shen Ling began doubting life itself. Xie Yuanxun asked, “What are you thinking about?”

　　Shen Ling answered without thinking, “I was wondering if you’ve been hiding secret money too…” Oh no, this is bad!  

　　Xie Yuanxun looked at her with a half-smile. “Do you think I do?”

　　Shen Ling shook her head stiffly. “No, no.”

　　—The whole world belongs to you. Why would you even need to hide secret money? The one who actually needs to hide some is clearly me. Boo hoo!

　　Dazhu stared blankly at the pouch in Xie Yuanxun’s hand. He wanted to say it was his, but his lips moved and in the end he didn’t say anything. First, he knew Xie Yuanxun and Shen Ling would never return it anyway. Second… Aunt Wang was glaring at them from the side, clearly trying to figure out who had secretly hidden such a large stash behind her back.

　　For now, Aunt Wang decided to set aside the matter of who had hidden the money. Seeing Shen Ling preparing to take them straight to the authorities like this, she felt a bit relieved. Once they reached the street outside, she would immediately start shouting for help. She might have been a human trafficker for years, but she had never exposed her crimes in front of outsiders. When the townspeople heard someone calling for help, between her and Shen Ling, a stranger, they would definitely choose to help her.    

　　She had thought this through pretty well, but she forgot one thing: Shen Ling was never someone to leave herself open to mistakes.

　　Shen Ling didn’t actually do much. She just went to the back of the house to fetch a chamber pot and had Aunt Wang and the others carry it. To anyone watching, this group looked like they were just hauling nightsoil, so people naturally kept their distance.

　　Pinching her nose, Shen Ling said, “If anyone dares to mess with us, the knives in our hands won’t be polite. You probably don’t want to die before the verdict comes down. Push us too far, and you’re guaranteed to end up dead. But if you go to jail, at least there’s a chance you might survive.”

　　—Fake.

　　—Under the law, the lightest punishment for human traffickers is immediate execution, or exile and hard labor. Whether they were the main culprit or just accomplices, criminals could be sent a thousand miles away.

　　Shen Ling had Xie Yuanxun hold the knife, knowing full well that his presence alone carried far more weight than hers.

　　When she said this, Aunt Wang looked at Xie Yuanxun, swallowed, and didn’t even think about resisting. She genuinely believed he could kill them—and that he wouldn’t even flinch. The others felt the same way. Even if they were sent to the authorities, they figured they’d be fine and come out quickly because, after all, they had powerful connections behind them.    

　　Seeing that they had quieted down, Shen Ling leaned close to Xie Yuanxun and whispered, “They can’t really think they’ll be fine just because they go to jail, right? Don’t they even read the laws?”

　　Xie Yuanxun replied, “People die for money and perish for food. Do you think the law means anything to them?”

　　Shen Ling nodded, “Yeah, that’s true.”

　　—If they knew the law, then breaking it would make them guilty beyond redemption. If they didn’t, then they’re just law-illiterate. Either way, they couldn’t claim ignorance of right and wrong. After all the sins they’ve committed, they deserve what’s coming to them.

　　Shen Ling flattered him, “You really hit the nail on the head. Everything you say could be carved into a warning for the world.”

　　Xie Yuanxun scoffed, “So what? I’ve always been like this.”   

　　Shen Ling, “……”

　　—No, you’re overthinking again.

　　The journey to the ¹yamen went smoothly, just like Shen Ling had expected. The moment anyone caught a whiff of the chamber pot, they stayed far away, and Aunt Wang and the others didn’t dare act recklessly with Xie Yuanxun around. Once they arrived at the yamen, Shen Ling handed Aunt Wang and the others over to the officers and constables. They were serious and cooperative, locking the people up without a fuss, assuring her that the magistrate would handle everything fairly. Shen Ling left feeling satisfied. If the yamen ever let Aunt Wang and her crew go… well, that was never going to happen!

　　This yamen wasn’t just the magistrate’s playground. She had heard that the assistant magistrate and the magistrate didn’t get along well, always scheming to push him aside. If the magistrate didn’t act fairly, would the assistant magistrate let such a golden opportunity pass? And Shen Ling hadn’t forgotten—the magistrate and the madam’s daughter had been kidnapped by these people. Even if their protector, that concubine, tried to beg the magistrate for mercy, would the madam let them go? Not a chance.

　　In short, they were done for.

　　Aunt Wang, being dragged by the officers, had her arms twisted painfully. She snapped, “Do you know who I am? I’ll tell you—I’ve got people backing me up. Does Concubine Yan know? She’s my niece. If the magistrate finds out…”

　　The officer sneered, “Your protector can’t even save himself.”

　　Aunt Wang’s face paled. “What? What do you mean by that?”

　　The officer didn’t answer. He just escorted them straight into the prison cells.

　　Inside the magistrate’s office, the old magistrate sprawled on the floor. Standing before him was none other than Senior Eunuch Feng, who had just removed his official hat. The new magistrate had already been decided—the assistant magistrate.

　　Someone approached Senior Eunuch Feng and whispered in his ear. After listening, Senior Eunuch Feng looked at the new magistrate and said, “What a coincidence. There’s just been a human trafficking case reported outside. A new magistrate, three inaugural fires. Don’t you think it’s time to hold court?”

　　The new magistrate nodded, “Yes, yes, I’ll hold court right away and issue a ruling according to the law.”

　　Senior Eunuch Feng was not someone to be trifled with. Though no one knew exactly why he had come to Yongning Town, all that mattered was to do exactly what he wanted. Otherwise, he would suffer the same fate as the old magistrate.

　　The case was decided quickly. Almost as soon as Shen Ling and Xie Yuanxun returned, Aunt Wang and the others were sentenced to death, set to be executed in half a month. Shen Ling heard the news just as she was heading to the tavern to buy a meal. She paused, catching snippets of the crowd discussing the matter.

　　“Though I knew they wouldn’t end well, isn’t this a little too fast? Not even a full day has passed.” She had expected to wait ten or fifteen days before seeing the outcome.

　　—Fast or slow, it doesn’t matter. They weren’t good people anyway.

　　Shen Ling carried the food box, noting that this meal was as good as the one Xie Yuanxun had bought. She muttered, “When I get back, I’m asking him which tavern he got this from.”    

　　Over at the pawnshop, the owner froze when he overheard his customers talking about Aunt Wang and her gang of human traffickers being caught and sentenced to death.

　　“Really, you can’t judge a person by their face,” one said.

　　“Exactly, I never would’ve guessed she was a trafficker. I even talked to her once, and she complimented my daughter’s looks. Thinking back now, it’s terrifying.”

　　The pawnshop owner listened quietly. He didn’t fully understand why this time Aunt Wang and the others weren’t getting off easy—why they were not only going to prison but were also about to be executed—but for some reason, he kept thinking about the two people Aunt Wang had taken that day. Somehow, it all felt connected.

    

 

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Glossary:

¹Yamen (衙门) 

Definition:

A yamen is the administrative office or residence of a local government official in imperial China. It served as both an office and courthouse, handling administrative, judicial, and sometimes police duties.

Key Roles in a Yamen:

☘️ Magistrate (知县 / Zhīxiàn): The chief official in charge of the county. Decided civil and criminal cases, collected taxes, and maintained order.

☘️ Assistant Magistrate (副知 / 副县) – Deputy to the magistrate: Helps manage office affairs, oversee investigations, handle paperwork, and occasionally hear minor cases, but with less authority than the magistrate.

☘️ Clerks / Secretaries (书吏 / Shūlì): Handled documentation, record-keeping, and filing official papers.

☘️ Bailiffs / Yamen runners (捕快 / Bǔkuài): Enforced the law, arrested criminals, and maintained security.

☘️ Treasurer / Accountant (典史 / Diǎnshǐ): Managed finances and tax collection.

Functions:

1. Judicial: Hearings, trials, and punishments for local disputes and crimes.

2. Administrative: Tax collection, registration of residents, and issuing permits.

3. Police / Security: Enforcing law and order, maintaining public safety.

4. Community services: Occasionally handled petitions and local grievances.

Structure & Layout:

☘️ Entrance hall for petitions and public access

☘️ Magistrate’s main office

☘️ Clerk rooms for record-keeping

☘️ Courtyard for interrogations or punishments

☘️ Storage for official documents and sometimes treasury

Cultural Notes:

☘️ Yamens were a central part of daily life in the community.

☘️ Officials were often portrayed in literature and dramas as either just and wise or corrupt and oppressive, depending on the story.

☘️ Visitors to a yamen were often commoners, petitioners, or criminals.

 

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