Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Ye Hanshuang’s Grand Ambitions, Testing Old Wang a Second Time

Pei Shaoqing didn’t want the news of his imprisoning the Shaking Light Saintess to leak out, so he had deliberately closed the distance and lowered his voice when he taunted her.

But even so, he specifically warned everyone present to keep their mouths shut and not go around spouting nonsense.

Of course, a warning alone wasn’t enough.

So he added loudly, "All you brothers have worked hard today. Standard-Bearer Chen, make the arrangements. A reward of one hundred taels of silver for everyone. After your shift, head to Qunfang Garden and drink your fill. I’ll cover the bill."

Ever since he arrived, Qunfang Garden had practically become the Hundred Households’ long-term strategic partner.

’Hmm, I should ask Qunfang Garden for a cut of the profits.’

’Otherwise, I’ll take the brothers to a different coop next time.’

"Yes, my lord!" Chen Zhongyi replied, clasping his hands.

Song Youcai shouted, "Thank you for the reward, my lord!"

"Thank you for the reward, my lord!" The rest of the Jing’an Guards, finally catching on, shouted with excitement, their faces flushed.

Why were they willing to lay down their lives for Lord Pei?

Besides the fact that Lord Pei had powerful backing and was their Shangguan, it was because he never short-changed his brothers.

Never mind the rewards of gold and silver after every completed mission.

He had treated them to lavish banquets at Qunfang Garden several times, where every man received his own single-head abalone.

Fresh abalone might not have been as precious as the dried variety, but it wasn’t cheap, and it was tender. They themselves could only afford to splurge on a feast like that once or twice a month to improve their quality of life; normally, they got by eating salted fish at home.

And that was why they swore to serve Lord Pei to the death!

"Clean this place up." Pei Shaoqing tossed out the command, gave Liu Yuheng another glance, and started to walk out.

Liu Yuheng, Zhao Zilan, and Ye Hanshuang followed him.

Pei Shaoqing deliberately slowed his pace. Once Liu Yuheng caught up, he began to speak slowly. "I owe you my thanks again for today, Madam. Otherwise, my life would have been in grave danger."

He’d only managed to turn the tables today for two reasons. First, the Shaking Light Saintess was arrogant, lacked real-world experience, and had misjudged his strength. Second, Liu Yuheng had been there. Otherwise, even injured, the Shaking Light Saintess would have been able to escape.

"I was merely doing my duty. Fortunately, I arrived in time. If you had been harmed by that villain, Young Master, I truly don’t know how I would have faced my senior brother." Liu Yuheng lowered her head slightly, her gentle voice like a clear breeze in a mountain valley.

Pei Shaoqing was not just the great benefactor of the Iron Sword Sect.

He was also the future husband of her beloved disciple.

For reasons both professional and personal, she didn’t want anything to happen to him.

Pei Shaoqing said solemnly, "I won’t offer any more words of thanks. I will keep this matter close to my heart."

Liu Yuheng smiled, her lips pursed, and nodded slightly. As her head bobbed, her ample assets trembled precariously.

"Madam, that demoness won’t be able to unseal her Dantian on her own, will she?" Pei Shaoqing asked worriedly.

Liu Yuheng shook her head. "There is no need for you to worry, Young Master. I will reseal her Dantian every three days. Besides, she is injured right now. The notion of unsealing her Dantian without outside help is nothing but a fool’s dream."

"Your words put my mind at ease, Madam. I’ll also have to trouble you with the matter of giving her water each day." Pei Shaoqing nodded, then added, "For now, Madam, please return to the estate and rest. Lan’Er and Sister Shuang are coming with me on an errand."

"Mm," Liu Yuheng replied softly.

Only after watching her voluptuous, hourglass figure disappear from sight did Pei Shaoqing turn to Zhao Zilan. "Was it you who notified Lady Gongsun?"

"Yes, Young Master," Zhao Zilan replied softly.

"Well done." Pei Shaoqing revealed a satisfied smile. "I’m shortening your probation period to two months. If I’m still satisfied after two months, I’ll take you into my household."

"Really? Thank you, Young Master!" Zhao Zilan’s eyes instantly lit up, and she bowed, overjoyed.

But then her pretty face flushed as she belatedly realized, ’How could I be so debased?’

’Just because I have the chance to become his concubine a month early, I’m acting like it’s some immense blessing.’

She bit her red lip, her heart filled with shame.

Ye Hanshuang curled her lip, her expression impassive.

’It’s just a matter of cleaning him up, right? Something anyone with a mouth can do. I can do it too! So why does this little chit get to be Brother’s concubine? I’ll find a chance to show him that I’m no worse than some outsider!’

’She had to compete. Not to prove how incredible she was, but to show everyone that she would take back what she had lost with her own two hands!’

A heroic ambition surged deep within Ye Hanshuang’s heart.

...............

「About a quarter of an hour later, County Government Office.」

Seeing Pei Shaoqing being led in by a Scholar, County Magistrate Wang put down his documents and rose to greet him. "I knew those magpies were chattering for a reason! So a distinguished guest has arrived. What wind has blown Standard-Bearer Pei to my County Government Office today?"

In that instant, Pei Shaoqing knew for certain that County Magistrate Wang hadn’t met the Shaking Light Saintess yet, and didn’t even know she had arrived in Tongzhou. He could relax.

’That woman really was overconfident. She arrived in Tongzhou, didn’t even contact the local branch, and came straight for me.’

’Such arrogance comes at a price.’

With one of his objectives for the visit already achieved, Pei Shaoqing’s mood lightened considerably. He sauntered over to a chair that had a cup of hot tea waiting beside it, sat down, picked up the teacup, blew the froth from the surface, and began to sip it slowly.

County Magistrate Wang was taken aback for a moment. Then, he made a show of looking around the room before saying sarcastically, "For a moment there, I thought this was your Hundred Households. But no, I don’t seem to be in the wrong office."

"You’re getting more and more acerbic, County Magistrate Wang. I was just too thirsty to speak and wanted a sip of tea first, and you mock me for it?" Pei Shaoqing shook his head and put down his teacup. "Fine, I won’t drink it. Happy now?"

"You’ve already started, so you might as well finish it. The rest would just be thrown out anyway." County Magistrate Wang plopped down into his seat, shook out his sleeves, and asked again, "Now, what business brings you here? Is it about the case of the three kidnapped girls?"

"The Jing’an Guard already solved that case. The five culprits were hiding in an abandoned earth god shrine outside the city. We beheaded them on the spot," Pei Shaoqing said without batting an eyelid.

’That’s what the report will say, anyway.’

"That quickly?" County Magistrate Wang was startled and instinctively began to probe. "When those three women came to the County Government Office to file their report, their clothes were tidy. It didn’t look like they’d been molested. Did you, Standard-Bearer Pei, find out why the culprits abducted them?"

Hearing this, Pei Shaoqing breathed another sigh of relief. He seized the opportunity to feign confusion. "Old Wang, they came to your County Government Office first. You didn’t ask them?"

"I was presiding over another case at the time. How could I get distracted by a matter for your Jing’an Guard?" County Magistrate Wang replied, then added, "Besides, I was afraid of delaying the investigation, so I sent them straight to the Hundred Households."

His second reason for visiting the County Government Office had also been achieved.

Pei Shaoqing could finally relax completely. He shook his head, putting on an act. "We never did learn the motive. Those five were tight-lipped right up to their deaths."

"It seems this case isn’t so simple, then. Perhaps they had backers. A premeditated, organized crime," County Magistrate Wang analyzed gravely.

"Perhaps," Pei Shaoqing replied dismissively, then picked up his teacup for another sip. "Aside from coming to thank you for your help with the case, I also wanted to ask: has your brilliant and beautiful Shaking Light Sword Immortal arrived in Tongzhou yet?"

"No," County Magistrate Wang answered without hesitation.

Pei Shaoqing deliberately feigned suspicion. "Really?"

"Really, no!" County Magistrate Wang looked exasperated.

He was also puzzled. ’Logically, the Shaking Light Saintess should have arrived by now. But our branch hasn’t received any news, much less seen her in person.’

’She couldn’t possibly have gotten lost, could she?’

"She’s still not here... Every day she doesn’t show up is another day I have to live on pins and needles!" Pei Shaoqing shook his head with a great show of worry, then stood up. "Well, I won’t keep you from your official duties, Old Wang. I’ll be taking my leave."

"Take care. I won’t see you out," County Magistrate Wang said with a nod.

The moment he stepped out of the County Government Office, Pei Shaoqing, who had appeared somewhat listless just moments before, was instantly back at full strength. His expression was calm as he strode down the street with his head held high, his steps long and purposeful.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.