When Fang Rui was released from prison, many of the prison guards felt a little uneasy.
Especially those who had interacted with Fang Rui, they were afraid of retaliation.
"Everyone be careful! For now, don't go to any remote or deserted places."
Chen Ping'an reminded everyone.
As the direct descendant of the Fang Family, Fang Rui had suffered greatly and been humiliated in prison, so he wouldn't just let it go.
However, the Mu Family was not to be trifled with either.
They shouldn't just stand by and watch the Fang Family retaliate at will, sitting idly by. Otherwise, it would be a slap to the Mu Family's Face.
It's just...
Chen Ping'an thought about the struggle between the Mu Family and the Fang Family.
"I wonder who will win in the end!"
Judging from Fang Rui's release, there were two possibilities.
One was that the Mu Family had failed, and the Fang Family had used their power to get Fang Rui out of prison.
The second was that the Mu Family had won, obtained the desired benefits, and both sides had reached an agreement, actively releasing Fang Rui.
If it was the latter, even if the Fang Family retaliated, they would definitely not go too far. It would be more of a formality. But if it was the former...
Then it would be troublesome!
This matter wouldn't be so easy to pass!
Concerned about the struggle between the two great families, Chen Ping'an went to find Mu Wanjun again. However, this time, he found nothing. Mu Wanjun was not in the Nancheng Suppression Office.
Speaking of which, he hadn't seen Mu Wanjun for several days.
"Did something happen?"
Chen Ping'an's heart instinctively skipped a beat, and he had a faint premonition of something bad.
...
Fang Rui's retaliation came even faster than expected.
It started with some minor, fragmented matters, such as the use of funds within the Nancheng Prison, like prisoner meals, prison repairs, and the use of consumables, all of which had dedicated accounts.
Annual account books were made, and then funds were used according to the budget in the books, with reasonable reimbursements made based on actual circumstances.
The overall process was already lengthy, and if every reimbursement had to correspond item by item, it would be incredibly cumbersome.
Therefore, in the process, to save trouble, there were often cases of consolidated accounting.
This situation was also common practice.
Originally, the higher-ups turned a blind eye to this matter.
However, unexpectedly, the Outer Town Envoyship, for the first time, decided to conduct an audit of the accounts, ostensibly as a random check, but in reality, it just so happened to randomly select the Nancheng Prison.
The investigation team, formed by the Outer Town Envoyship, acted with an extremely rare efficiency, without issuing notices, without greeting, without listening to reports, without requiring accompanying reception, going directly to the grassroots and the scene.
They thoroughly scrutinized the registered accounts of the Nancheng Prison, inside and out, uncovering a series of accounting problems.
Among them, some issues were historical legacy problems, which were collectively attributed to Chen Ping'an.
After the investigation of the problems was completed, the Outer Town Envoyship processed the matter with astonishing efficiency.
Thirty-seven people from the Nancheng Prison involved in a series of accounting problems received varying degrees of punishment.
Minor offenses resulted in deduction of merit and immediate caning, while severe offenses led to demotion, salary reduction, and deprivation of registered status.
As the head of the Nancheng Prison, Chen Ping'an bore primary responsibility for these issues. However, considering his recent transfer to the Nancheng Prison and short tenure, his monthly salary was docked for half a year, accumulated merit was deducted, and it was reiterated that his future performance would be observed!
Various punishments were quickly implemented, which could be described as lightning-fast measures!
"Reasonable, legal, and compliant. The Fang Family certainly has good methods!"
Chen Ping'an sat in the public office of the Nancheng Prison, his expression cold.
This was the power of the aristocratic families!
Influencing every aspect within Weishui County City.
The power of the aristocratic families was not only reflected in military strength but also in righteousness and legitimacy, striking with overwhelming force, leaving you with no room to act.
"The Mu Family should also step in to protect!"
The Fang Family's retaliation complied with the rules and system. Even if the Mu Family knew, they couldn't say much. However, if the Fang Family took any further actions, it would be a breach of rules, considered overstepping.
Presumably, after this, the Fang Family's anger would have subsided! And they wouldn't make any further moves!
Just when Chen Ping'an thought that the Fang Family's retaliation had temporarily come to an end, the Outer Town Envoyship received news from an unknown source, stating that they had received a Report letter regarding the Nancheng Prison. They began to form an inspection team to severely crack down on corruption.
Extortion, demanding benefits!
It had always been a common practice in the Nancheng Prison, serving as an additional income source for various Yamen Runners and prison guards outside their monthly salaries.
Such a situation was not unique to the Nancheng Prison. From various Errand Offices to various grassroots patrols, this phenomenon existed.
As long as it wasn't too excessive, it was considered an unwritten rule within the Zhenfu Division system.
Who would have thought that this time, the Outer Town Envoyship would deviate from the usual routine, going directly to the scene and beginning to inspect all matters within the Nancheng Prison.
As the inspection deepened, problems within the Nancheng Prison gradually began to be exposed.
Many implicated Yamen Runners and prison guards began to receive punishment.
Chen Ping'an had originally thought that the Mu Family's influence within the Outer Town Envoyship should begin to exert pressure, causing the inspection team's review to stop at an appropriate point and be controlled within a reasonable scope.
Who would have thought that the inspection team's review became increasingly thorough, and its scope began to widen.
From unregistered temporary prison guards to registered prison guards, and then to veteran prison guards... gradually moving towards investigating the Chief Constable level.
By the time the investigation concluded, various Yamen Runners and prison guards, large and small, within the Nancheng Prison were more or less implicated. As many as seventy or eighty Yamen Runners were affected, with severe cases being directly escorted to the Outer Town Envoyship's dungeon.
Even Chen Ping'an himself was significantly affected.
His merit was reset to zero, his monthly salary was docked for another half a year, and his status as a Total Affairs Office Candidate entered the review and evaluation stage.
Generally, entering this stage meant that they were already considering and discussing whether to remove him from his position.
The inspection team had been investigating for a long time, with no intention of leaving.
For a time, the entire Nancheng Prison was filled with unease!
Despite this, Chen Ping'an seemed unaffected, still living a secluded life and diligently practicing his Cultivation Technique.
As Chen Ping'an had just walked to the ground floor of the Nancheng Prison, preparing to leave work and go home, he ran head-on into a middle-aged man dressed in white.
"The investigation is not yet over, Lord Chen. Leaving work so early, you certainly have a good leisurely spirit!"
When the man saw Chen Ping'an, a hint of inexplicable mockery appeared on his Face.
This person was none other than the head of the current inspection team, named Wang Changxu. Within the Outer Town Envoyship, he was at the level of a veteran Squad Leader.
In terms of rank, he was one level lower than Chen Ping'an, but considering his connection to the Outer Town Envoyship, he was roughly Chen Ping'an's peer.
Chen Ping'an glanced at Wang Changxu, ignored him, and directly walked out of the main gate of the Nancheng Prison.
In the first few days, Chen Ping'an had been quite polite to Wang Changxu, giving him some Face. But who would have thought that Wang Changxu would first inexplicably suppress and question him, and then act even more excessively, occasionally making remarks that insulted his family. During the inspection and understanding of the situation, he even interrogated Chen Ping'an like a prisoner. It was entirely based on the logic of first assuming guilt, then sequentially looking for evidence!
Chen Ping'an's principle of dealing with matters had always been: if others respect me by a foot, I respect them by a foot. If others destroy a grain of my rice, I take three dou from them!
Naturally, Chen Ping'an would not give Wang Changxu any Face for his actions. He immediately turned hostile on the spot and thoroughly reprimanded Wang Changxu.
Afterward, Wang Changxu dared not confront him directly, but his petty actions in secret were constant.
Judging by the other party's actions, he probably wanted to pull him down from this position as a Total Affairs Office Candidate.
Seeing that Chen Ping'an completely ignored him, Wang Changxu's Face darkened, and he let out a cold snort.
"Hmph! Let's see how long you can be smug!"
"When this inspection is over and the files are sent to the Outer Town Envoyship, if I don't strip you of your skin, I'll take your surname!"
Wang Changxu said what he said, but ultimately, he was intimidated by Chen Ping'an's outburst a few days ago, so his voice was not loud, only a quiet murmur.
Leaving the Nancheng Prison, Chen Ping'an headed straight for his own small courtyard.
As for Wang Changxu's provocation, he didn't take it to heart at all.
He was nothing more than a clown. Don't look at how lively he's jumping now; when the day comes that he displeases him, he will erase him with a flick of his hand!
Today was the day his Eight Steps Catching Cicadas was about to reach Perfection, and he had no desire to waste time on such a person.