Chapter 033 033 (Two supplementary plot segments)

Although the criminals were caught red-handed, the kidnappers did not admit to their crimes. They only argued that they saw these children could not afford to eat, so they bought them out of kindness, gave them a hot meal, and then let them help with some small tasks within their ability.

“Nonsense!” The magistrate slammed the bench, angrily rebuking, “These children are all as beautiful as carved jade. Even the children who are losing their baby teeth, their remaining teeth are all white and cavity-free. If their families were so poor that they couldn’t afford to eat, how could the children have grown such good teeth!”

[The magistrate’s judgment seems a bit hasty. It’s not like Anguo doesn’t have toothpaste. As long as you brush your teeth diligently, you won’t get cavities.] [I think this judgment is quite accurate. Even in economically developed times now, you can still judge a person’s family situation from their teeth.] [+1, for people from well-off families, their teeth won’t be too ugly, being neat and standard is a must. For people still struggling to make ends meet, eating is already a problem, where would they have the spare effort to care about how good their teeth look.]

The traffickers hemmed and hawed for a good while before opening their mouths, “These children are so good-looking, I carefully cultivate them, so that when they grow up in the future, they can be presented to Her Majesty. Their parents would be happy to know that.”

“Absurd!” The magistrate was furious beyond words and slammed the table, standing up, “Her Majesty is wise and martial, working tirelessly for Anguo. If Her Majesty knew of your evil deeds, she would surely throw you into the dungeons, never to be pardoned!”

From the moment they met, the magistrate had always had a smile on her face, so much so that this was the first time Yan Jin saw her so angry.

Originally, Yan Jin thought this was just the magistrate’s one-sided admiration for the empress, but unexpectedly, as soon as the magistrate finished speaking, the surrounding people started shouting.

“Exactly! If Her Majesty really wanted to take in new people, she would definitely reopen the selections, not use such underhanded methods to accept people.”

“Which family’s son doesn’t want to enter the palace to serve Her Majesty? Even if the kidnappers didn’t abduct them, wouldn’t their biological parents raise the children themselves? Do they really need a kidnapper to help raise them?”

The surrounding people were all worked up, making Yan Jin and Yu Shu, the two outsiders, particularly conspicuous. Some people’s gazes had already drifted to them.

Yan Jin poked Yu Shu, signaling the socially inept to say something.

Yu Shu received Yan Jin’s signal and indignantly shouted, “Her Majesty works so hard, yet this group of conscienceless kidnappers dared to use Her Majesty’s name, trying to make us misunderstand Her Majesty. Hmph! We won’t be fooled!”

Yan Jin couldn’t make an indignant expression like Yu Shu, so she solemnly nodded beside him, “Right!”

The nearby people nodded in satisfaction, angry that Her Majesty was being slandered. This was how qualified Anguo citizens should be.

And the people’s already high emotions were fueled by Yu Shu, becoming even more righteous. “Don’t even think about fooling us! Whoever falls for it is an idiot!”

[In court, you two are actually making secret gestures, arrest them.] [Yan Jin poked Yu Shu, and Yu Shu actually understood what Yan Jin meant, this tacit understanding is amazing.]

“In court, you still dare to distort right and wrong!” The magistrate threw down a token, “Guards, drag them down and give them ten heavy beatings.”

When the magistrate ordered people to beat the traffickers, the live broadcast room became lively.

[Awesome! So awesome! Human traffickers should be struck by lightning! Beat them to death!] [Traffickers who have lost all conscience should be sentenced to death!]

After the two watched the magistrate finish interrogating the traffickers, it was already a bit late.

Yan Jin was still thinking about the thin, tall old man who tried to abduct Yu Shu, so she went to tell the magistrate about her discovery.

Magistrate: “If I guessed correctly, that old man was probably trying to abduct your young husband and present him to a noble.”

“Is that old man out of his mind?” Yan Jin didn’t understand, “If he had really succeeded, wouldn’t he be afraid of Yu Shu’s revenge?”

“That old man probably thought the young husband would gain immense fortune and favor, and would instead be grateful to him.” The corner of the magistrate’s lips curved in a mocking arc, “Back then, the Phoenix Consort was presented by his subordinates. At that time, everyone thought the Noble Consort would be the Phoenix Consort. But who knew, as soon as the Phoenix Consort entered the palace, he immediately gained sole favor, and was even bestowed the title of Phoenix Consort in the end.”