The Rebirth of the Deposed Empress

Hua Zhukong was also puzzled as to why Manager Xue became a "traitor" out of nowhere.

After hearing this, he understood.

Hua Zhukong sighed, not expecting it was because of him.

Hua Zhukong ordered the servant to go to the study and get a plate of documents, then signaled the servant to open the document and show it to Manager Xue.

Volumes of documents were spread out in front of Manager Xue, recording the reports from officials of all ranks at Beimo Pass.

Each and every one of them was handled very appropriately, without any mistakes being found.

It’s just that the writing style of the review is a bit immature and a bit familiar.

Manager Xue frowned, not understanding what Hua Zhukong wanted him to see.

"I have always known that you have managed Beimo Pass very well, but for the sake of the young city lord, I have no regrets!"

"Now that I have been captured by you, you can kill me or chop me up as you wish."

Looking at Manager Xue's excited look, Hua Zhukong was so angry that his face turned red and his neck became thick.

"You know what you know?"

"Take a good look at the signature on that document!"

Manager Xue looked down and saw that the last signature on the document in front of him was just two words.

Duan Rui.

Manager Xue opened his eyes wide.

He bent over in disbelief and read every piece of literature in front of him carefully.

Then I found out that the final review signature on every document and every matter was Duan Rui.

"How could...how could this happen? Didn't you do all this?"

Hua Zhukong snorted disdainfully.

"I was only entrusted by the former city lord to be Rui'er's master. I called myself the acting city lord because I was afraid that this city lord's mansion had no city lord but only a young city lord, and that he would be targeted by someone with ulterior motives."

"I will leave Beimo Pass sooner or later, and Rui'er will also be able to stand on his own in Beimo Pass one day."

"These are matters that the city lord should handle personally, of course. I am just giving some pointers from the side."

"You keep saying that you know how much better Beimo Pass has become since I took over, but don't you know who made Beimo Pass better?"

"Have you ever gone out to hear how much the people outside are praising Rui'er?"

Hearing Hua Zhukong talking about these things that he had never paid attention to, Manager Xue's heart was filled with regret.

But he was also somewhat relieved.

Manager Xue's eyes were red, and he smiled and said:

"Okay, okay! Former City Lord, have you seen that? The Young City Lord has been able to manage Beimo Pass very well! The City Lord's Mansion has a successor!"

Manager Xue looked up and spoke to the sky, as if he could see the former city lord.

After saying this, Manager Xue restrained his expression and looked calm.

He said calmly:

"Acting City Lord, I have done something wrong. I plead guilty and will let you deal with me as you wish!"

Hua Zhukong stroked his beard.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Duan Rui biting his lips tightly, his eyes were red, but he was trying not to cry.

"How do you think this matter should be handled?"

Duan Rui squeezed his tightly clenched fists again and then released them.

He ran to Manager Xue and knelt down in front of Hua Zhukong.

"Master, Uncle Xue was at fault first, so he must be punished!"

"Rui Er is willing to be punished together with Uncle Xue. I hope Master can spare Uncle Xue's life!"

"Aren't you afraid that I will throw you and your uncle Xue into jail? Then you won't be able to be the mayor of Beimo Pass in the future."

Duan Rui stiffened for a moment, then took a deep breath and made a decision.

"Rui Er, don't be afraid!"

"Although Rui'er wants to inherit his father's legacy, even if Rui'er can't be the city lord, there is still you, Master."

"If Master became the mayor of Beimo Pass, he would definitely be able to do better than Rui'er and protect the people in the pass."

"But Uncle Xue only has Rui'er. Uncle Xue made a big mistake because of me. Rui'er can't ignore Uncle Xue's life and death for her own sake."

Manager Xue finally saw the day when Duan Rui could serve as a good city lord, so how could he let Duan Rui be thrown into jail because of him?

"Young City Lord, you can't do that! I am a worthless slave, and death is not a pity. Young City Lord, please don't forget the instructions of the previous City Lord for me!"

Manager Xue looked at Hua Zhukong and said sincerely:

"Acting City Lord, after all this time, I can actually see that you are really good to Rui'er."

"Not only you, but also General Hua, Young General Hua, and Miss Hua, all treat the Young City Master like a family member. Especially Miss Hua, who treats Rui'er like her own brother."

"I was blinded by my prejudice against you and thought that I was the only one who truly cared about the young city lord."

Manager Xue looked at Duan Rui, who was kneeling beside him and wiping his tears, and consoled him:

"Young City Lord, now that you have a new 'relative', I am relieved."

Finally, he pleaded with Hua Zhukong:

"Acting City Lord, I only beg for death!"

Who knew that Hua Zhukong would actually glare at him impatiently.

"Why do you want to die? When did I say I would sentence you to death? Although your crime is unforgivable, if you are willing to make amends, I can show some leniency."

As early as after Ye Buhuo intercepted the letter, he told Hua Zhukong that the person who delivered the letter was Manager Xue.

Manager Xue works hard in the City Lord's Mansion every day and is very sincere to Duan Rui. It is impossible for him to sell out Beimo Pass for money.

Hua Zhukong guessed at that time that Manager Xue must have some unspeakable secrets that led him to do such a thing, and immediately decided to give Manager Xue a chance to atone for his sins if he was willing.

Ye Buhuo also thought this was feasible.

Manager Xue didn't expect that he still had a chance to survive.

If he could make amends for his mistake, he wouldn't have to implicate Duan Rui.

"Yes, I am willing. I will do whatever the city lord commands."

Hua Zhukong winked at the servants standing nearby, signaling them to untie Manager Xue.

Then Hua Zhukong glared at Duan Rui again.

"Stay up! How can a city lord kneel down at every turn?!"

Duan Rui was instantly happy when he saw Hua Zhukong was willing to give Manager Xue a chance to live.

After standing up with the help of the servant, Duan Rui returned to his seat.

"Rui'er didn't kneel down for no reason. Rui'er knelt down to his master. It's only natural for an apprentice to kneel down to his master!"

"Humph, you little rascal."

Hua Zhukong stopped looking at Duan Rui who was acting cute and asked Manager Xue:

"Where did you get the defense map?"

"I don't know either, but one day when I woke up, I saw this defense map next to my pillow."

"There was also a letter attached, which said, 'If you want to get rid of Hua Zhukong, send this blueprint to the North Country.'"

I thought Manager Xue was Ye Chuji's spy planted in Beimo Pass, but I didn't expect that Manager Xue didn't even know where the drawings came from.

Hua Wu Ke frowned:

"Then why didn't the person who put the defense map next to your pillow deliver it himself, instead of asking you to do so?"

"I don't know. The letter also said that if the acting city lord is not dead, a pigeon should be released as a signal."

"If there is a red cloth tied to the pigeon, it means that the city lord is seriously injured. If there is a white cloth tied to the pigeon, it means that his life is safe."