In the county, just as dawn was breaking, a group of people had already gathered together at the city gate.
They pointed at and discussed the tattered clothes on the ground.
“A Gou has been begging here for many years.”
“Yeah, it must have been over ten years.”
More and more onlookers gathered. After lingering for a while, they finally learned the whole story.
It turned out that A Gou, the beggar who had begged here for many years, had been eaten by a tiger last night. His bones were gone without a trace, leaving behind only a pool of blood.
“He was definitely eaten by a tiger. This is his bowl. There’s no way he would throw away the treasure he used to eat with.”
“Yeah, this Cane was also something A Gou always carried with himself. I remember!”
Two beggars who also made their living begging came over, and they recognized A Gou’s belongings at a glance.
“Look, there are bloodstains on the clothes. They’ve all been bitten to shreds.”
“Look, they’re all long tiger hairs!”
Long white tiger hairs had fallen onto the surface of the tattered clothes. When someone picked them up and gave them a gentle shake, even more large patches of white and yellow tiger fur fell off.
This frightened the crowd.
It also confirmed the fact that the tiger had come out at night to eat people.
The tiger Zhao Family had just captured would run out at night to eat people!
Once this rumor spread, the entire county was thrown into panic. Before night even fell, every household had closed the doors, and they had even stopped doing business.
Li Zhen watched all of this secretly, the corner of his mouth smiling as he felt very satisfied.
Of course, all of this was his scheme.
He had bribed A Gou to leave, then used A Gou’s broken bowl, torn clothes, and tiger fur to set up a scheme. His goal was to smear the Zhao Family and frame them for the crime.
He had succeeded.
Public opinion was like a blade. Some Common People began speaking ill of the Zhao Family behind their backs. Even more worried about being Spread To, they went directly to the authorities to report it, hoping the authorities would kill the Zhao Family’s tiger.
The pressure was now on the Zhao Family.
The Zhao Family.
“Who was it? Who is smearing our Zhao Family?”
“That beast was clearly locked in a cage by us the entire time. It never went anywhere. How could it have gone out to eat people?”
This rumor put tremendous pressure on the Zhao Family. Master Zhao and Young Master Zhao could not sleep at night.
Although it was only a rumor, such a matter was a double-edged sword to them and had to be handled with the utmost care. If they handled it poorly, it could damage the Zhao Family’s foundations.
“This is all because of you. Why did you raise a worthless tiger?”
Master Zhao vented his anger on Young Master Zhao.
“Father, I’ll go out right now and see who dares to speak recklessly. I’ll tear their mouths apart!” Young Master Zhao’s handsome face twisted slightly.
This matter had caused him to lose face, and he had pent-up anger with nowhere to vent it.
“Haven’t you caused enough trouble already? You’re not going anywhere now. House arrest!”
“I’m going to see the County Magistrate. Wait until this storm passes before you come out.”
“If you dare sneak out, just watch me break your legs!”
Master Zhao left the Zhao Mansion furiously and headed straight for the County Magistrate’s Manor.
The Zhao Family and the County Magistrate were close. Everyone in the county knew this.
The County Magistrate’s Manor.
Master Zhao and the County Magistrate chatted happily. After paying a certain price, the County Magistrate agreed to settle the matter for them.
“I’ll suppress this matter. Keep a close watch on that beast, and make absolutely sure it doesn’t run out to eat people again.”
The County Magistrate reminded Master Zhao.
“Elder Brother, how can you believe the rumors Outside as well? That beast has been locked up at my residence the entire time. It truly wasn’t responsible for the killings.”
Master Zhao explained awkwardly.
“I don’t care whether that beast did it or not. This is the only time. I don’t want to hear about anything similar next time, or even I won’t be able to cover for you.”
“With those words from you, Elder Brother, I can rest easy.”
Master Zhao left the County Magistrate’s Manor reassured.
Sure enough, the next day, people from the county government came out and announced that, after an examination by the coroner, it could not be Confirmed that A Gou had been bitten to death by a tiger. The Common People were forbidden from spreading rumors and smearing the Zhao Family.
They also guaranteed that the beast was safely locked up at the Zhao Family residence, and the County Magistrate could testify to it.
Anyone who dared to continue spreading nonsense would be arrested and thrown into prison.
Afraid of being arrested, the Common People allowed the matter to be thoroughly suppressed by the County Magistrate.
After learning of this, Li Zhen, hidden secretly, was dissatisfied.
“County Magistrate, County Magistrate, why bother? I didn’t drag you into the water, but you insisted on wading into this muddy water yourself. In that case, you can’t blame me.” Sitting in a Restaurant, Li Zhen poured himself a cup of wine and drained it in one gulp.
Li Zhen set up another scheme and spread a rumor that the reason the Zhao Family had gone to such lengths to hunt the Tiger King this time was to curry favor with some high-ranking official in the capital and buy the position of county magistrate here.
This county was called Taifeng County. The County Magistrate had only been temporarily assigned here and had not yet been officially confirmed. If his position were bought away at this time, all the years he had spent building his career here would go to waste.
The Zhao Family could buy the position and take it for themselves. After that, they would no longer need to curry favor with the County Magistrate. It would save both effort and money, so why wouldn’t they do it?
These rumors were practically an attack on the heart, like a fishbone lodged in the current County Magistrate’s throat—impossible to swallow and impossible to spit out.
He could not afford to gamble.
Before the County Magistrate could seek out Master Zhao, Master Zhao himself came looking for him that night in a great hurry.
“Elder Brother, you must not be deceived by the rumors Outside. I truly have no intention of buying an official position, much less buying the position of magistrate of our Taifeng County. It’s slander—pure, unfounded slander!”
The moment Master Zhao heard the rumors Outside, he brought a large amount of gold, silver, and treasures. He had a group of servants carry all the valuables into the County Magistrate’s Manor, looking as though he had come to apologize.
He was genuinely afraid.
Wouldn’t such a rumor put the entire Zhao Family over a fire to roast?
The County Magistrate dealt with Master Zhao perfunctorily. Seeing how sincere Master Zhao was, he seemed unlike what the rumor claimed. Besides, he had already agreed to help him.
This left him in a difficult position, unsure how to go back on his word.
Master Zhao returned home satisfied that night.
The sixth day, then the seventh.
Seeing that the County Magistrate still made no move, Li Zhen thought, How could this be allowed?
Thus, he added more fuel to the County Magistrate’s fire.
Early that morning, another beggar was eaten by a tiger.
The Common People erupted once more, and public opinion became turbulent.
This time, the County Magistrate had legitimate grounds to act.
Following public opinion, he ordered Master Zhao to hand over the Tiger King.
“Hand it over! Hand it over! Hand over the tiger that eats people!”
A huge crowd of Common People surrounded the entrance of the Zhao Family residence, filled with righteous indignation.
Some even threw stones at the Zhao Family’s main gate, making it resound with loud thuds.
Li Zhen hid behind the crowd and watched the spectacle.
Faced with the overwhelming tide, Master Zhao gave in.
The Tiger King was taken to an open area, where its throat was slit.
The Zhao Mansion spent a large sum of money, claiming it was to perform charity for the county. Only then did they appease the arriving Common People and calm this farce.
“Look at what you’ve done! You almost destroyed our Zhao Family’s foundation!” Master Zhao picked up a wooden stick and viciously beat Young Master Zhao.
The agonized howls of Young Master Zhao rang out from the Zhao Family residence.
【Mission completed】
When the Tiger King was killed, Li Zhen also received the Mission completion notification.
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