After being reborn, I stole the female lead's cheat ability and raised the empress.

Chapter 242 Breaking Free (Part 3)

Zhao Jihua stroked his chin and thought for a moment before saying, "I think it's very likely."

Xia Li: "Then we are not very safe here."

Zhao Jihua: "Yes, we need to find a way to run away as soon as possible."

Having made up their minds, the group opened the door and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, the official walked over!

Seeing that someone was about to leave,

He chuckled and asked, "Where are the three ladies headed so late?"

Xia Li quickly made an excuse: "Uh...we, we need to go change."

The official chuckled and said, "Taking off clothes? I know how to do that. Come on, let me help these young ladies undress."

He stopped pretending, walked into the room with a sleazy look on his face, and closed the door behind him.

"Hehehe... Little beauties, today I, your humble servant, will pamper you properly..."

Tao Yao was both angry and anxious: "You! Don't come any closer! Aren't you afraid of the world finding out what you're doing?"

The official didn't care at all: "Keeping a mistress in a golden house, who would know? And who would care?"

Zhao Jihua's eyes flickered slightly, and he spoke fearfully but defiantly: "If you dare to sleep with us today, I will report you to the authorities in the vicinity tomorrow."

The official laughed heartily as if he had heard a joke: "It seems the local government offices around here have no one to back you up!"

"Then, then I'll report it!"

"Report it? The state government takes so much of our tribute every year, they've already turned a blind eye. Why would they bother with their own money for a few young women like you?"

"So, even the prefectural government knows about this and is protecting you!"

The official sneered, "We haven't broken any laws. How can you say we're covering it up?"

Zhao Jihua continued, "If the prefectural government won't do it, I'll report it to higher levels. I refuse to believe I can't get you to comply!"

"You can't sue them!" the official said confidently. "Like I said, we haven't broken any laws, and we give them so many extra treasures every year. Why would they turn down their own wallets for a few young women like you?"

"You, you all..." Zhao Jihua laughed angrily, "Good, good! I never knew that there were so many filthy places hidden in the land of my Azure Dragon Empire!"

The official, however, didn't seem to notice anything amiss and laughed heartily: "That's how it is to be an official. I used to want to be a good official who wholeheartedly serves the people. But everyone does it this way! If you don't, you'll be ostracized and squeezed out. Gradually, I learned that you have to turn a blind eye to some things. That way, everyone's better off!"

Zhao Jihua didn't want to say anything more to him and subdued the official in a few swift moves.

She whistled towards the door, and in the blink of an eye, a man in black appeared before her.

Zhao Jihua said:

"Go quickly and capture and interrogate those officials he just mentioned. Don't let the news leak out! Send a few of you with the tokens to gather the troops. We're going back to rescue them!"

The man in black responded, "Yes!" and led the official out.

Tao Yao's eyes sparkled as she looked at Zhao Jihua and exclaimed with a grin, "Wow, Your Majesty is so cool! I love it!"

Xia Li then asked, "When did your men arrive?"

Zhao Jihua: "Just arrived."

"..."

The officers and soldiers quickly assembled and, led by Xia Li and others, rushed back to that evil village overnight.

The villagers were still asleep when they were surrounded by soldiers.

In an instant, the village was in chaos, with cries and curses filling the air.

Before long, several representatives, led by the village chief, were brought before Zhao Jihua.

These oily-faced men showed no fear, only resentment.

They thought the person in front of them was just a newly appointed official who was inexperienced and naive.

"Where did this petty official come from, showing off his power in our poor, remote village!" A burly, shirtless man with dark skin spat in Zhao Jihua's direction, his face full of disdain.

Another person said, "Where are you, a newly appointed official? How can you be so ignorant?"

The surrounding villagers echoed this sentiment, and a torrent of foul language followed.

"Hey!" The village chief stopped everyone, his face all smiles, but his eyes revealed a shrewd calculation.

He feigned concern, trying to quell the commotion: "Fellow villagers, please calm down. Sir, how about this? Although our village is poor, we will definitely pay our respects according to the rules. Please be lenient and take your soldiers back. Don't make things difficult for us here." As he spoke, he secretly winked at the people next to him.

Zhao Jihua's expression was cold and stern, showing no intention of compromising.

She straightened her back, her gaze sharp and cold as she swept her eyes over the crowd: "Offering tribute? This is a place governed by the law, not a place where you can act recklessly and bribe your way out."

The villagers became even more agitated when they saw that she remained unmoved.

An elderly woman with gray hair and a fierce expression jumped out, pointing her finger at Zhao Jihua's nose: "How can you be so ungrateful, you little official! Believe me or not, we'll unite and make sure you lose your position, and we'll get rid of you!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd, and the shouts and curses grew louder.

As Zhao Jihua listened to the villagers' curses and threats, he sneered inwardly, but maintained a calm and composed expression on his face.

She slightly raised her chin, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping across everyone's faces.

"Gentlemen, why are you so angry?" Zhao Jihua spoke, his tone suggesting fear.

"I'm new here and don't know the local rules very well. I just want to get things done so that everyone can live in peace."

The village chief's eyes darted around, and he quickly said, "Sir, you don't understand our situation. If you're lenient, we promise to be obedient from now on."

Zhao Jihua's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile. "I'm new here, so naturally I want to get along well with everyone. I only came here today because I received a report."

Upon hearing the whole story, the village chief breathed a sigh of relief: "Oh dear, it's all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. It must be some woman who's been wronged at home and came to you to complain. You've troubled the officials to come all this way for such a small matter, really!"

"But I'd like to ask you all to tell me more about what's behind this. Take the matter of offering tribute, for example. Has it always been the prefectural governor who's in charge? How has he treated you on a daily basis?"

As she spoke, she took two steps forward, her gaze falling on the village chief's face, her eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry.

The village chief hesitated for a moment, just about to give a perfunctory answer.

But a young villager interrupted him: "That prefectural governor has taken a lot of benefits from us. He always says he will protect us. With him around, no one can do anything to us!"

Zhao Jihua was secretly delighted, but remained outwardly calm. "Oh? I see. How does the governor usually help you? I'd like to learn so I can do more for everyone in the future."