Chapter 377 - Chapter 377: Do You Want To Try It?
Chapter 377: Do You Want To Try It?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The guards returned to the inn and approached the emperor.
“Your Majesty, he did great on the surface, but when he wielded the paddle, the force was insufficient, and it didn’t hurt. The screams were all feigned. Sending them to the prison was for show.”
The emperor’s face darkened. “Okay. Go rest.”
After this incident, neither Qiao Mai nor Yuan Jiaqi could sleep peacefully. The emperor, accompanied by the empress, sought them out.
“In-law, you must help me vent this anger, or I might be infuriated to death.” “Speak. How can I help?”
“After we brought those people to the court, they are still alive. They were whipped and sent to prison, and it has nothing to do with us after that. I want those people to die without anyone knowing!”
“Great minds think alike. Rest assured, they will all be dead within three days.”
“What? Three days?”
“During the fight just now, I secretly administered a drug.”
“A poison?”
Qiao Mai glanced at the emperor. “Do you think I would administer a healing medicine to them?”
“It’s better if they die miserably.”
“It’s rotting poison. It rots the human body from the inside out, leaving only the skeleton in the end.” The emperor and empress turned pale. “Is there such poison in the world?”
“Do you want to try it?”
The two quickly shook their heads, and Yuan Jiaqi burst into laughter. His wife was too adorable!
On the fifth day in Liangzhou City, the emperor’s Golden Dragon Guards arrived quietly. Qiao Mai didn’t care about their arrangements. She left them alone, roaming freely with Yuan Jiaqi.
Occasionally, they took the four maids with them to broaden their horizons.
“I planned to visit Taihang Mountain’s Qingfeng Temple after handling Ling’er’s wedding.”
“That won’t be a problem. If we head southeast, shall we go take a look?” “Sure, but it might be troublesome with the emperor tagging along.”
“Hehe, he’s practically your tail now. Whatever you do, he insists on following. When we return to Tianshui Town, you can focus on seclusion, and I’ll handle the external affairs. By then, we can enjoy peace.”
The two held hands, followed by four sensible maids.
They had all started practicing internal Qi. Despite their young age, a few months of training had made them agile.
Suddenly, someone shouted about catching a thief. The thief passed behind them. Without making a sound, Xi Yu swiftly extended her leg, tripping the thief and providing an opportunity for the people behind to catch him. The thief was seized, and the stolen money was recovered, but not without receiving a good beating.
The petty thief struggled to get up, glaring menacingly at Qiao Mai’s group moving ahead.
“Wait for it. Damn it!”
Qiao Mai turned around, looking at Xi Yu. She stuck out her tongue, “Mistress, I tripped him.”
“Well done. However, you’re still young. You don’t have the strength to protect yourself. If I’m not with you, don’t get involved in unnecessary matters.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
On the way, Qiao Mai also bought snacks for the girls. Those who didn’t know might have thought they were her daughters.
The four maids were dressed delicately and didn’t look like servants.
On the other hand, Qiao Mai and her husband, dressed in ordinary clothes, lacked any distinctive features. However, appearances could be deceiving.
Just the ink jade on Yuan Jiaqi’s waist was a priceless treasure. The cotton robe he wore was a low-grade defensive spiritual tool, making ordinary swords useless against him.
While strolling in the street, they were stopped by a group of people.
They were from the criminal underworld, large and rough, with muscles bulging when they spoke.
“Outsiders?”
Seeing the young thief behind the bulky man, Yuan Jiaqi instinctively protected
Qiao Mai behind him. “Yes.”
“You don’t understand the rules. You blocked our way earlier, causing us financial losses. You have to bear the consequences. Understand?”
“Thieves are punished wherever they are found.”
“But here, if you interfere, you must take responsibility. Bring one thousand taels immediately. Otherwise, get out of Liangzhou City right away. If you don’t, I’ll chop you up and feed you to the dogs!”
Yuan Jiaqi’s hands trembled with anger. This was even worse than dealing with bandits. To extort people so confidently!
This Liangzhou City might as well be called Bandit City!
Qiao Mai pulled Yuan Jiaqi behind her and took a silver note from her sleeve.
“One thousand taels.”
“Wow, what a rich woman.”
The strong man appraised the two and the four maids behind them.
He intended to extort money. If they don’t have it, their maids look good and could fetch a good price if sold. Unexpectedly, Qiao Mai was straightforward, giving one thousand taels.
Now, he had no reason to make trouble. “Humph, be careful next time. Interfere again, and it won’t be just one thousand taels.”
They walked away, and Xi Yu pouted.
“Mistress, why did you give them money?”
“People come and go. If trouble arises, it affects our mood. Also, using my silver is not that easy. Just wait and see.”
The next day, Magistrate Wu’s son died at home, and all his subordinates perished.
This news caused a stir in Liangzhou City.
People spread the word. “Did you hear? That troublemaker from the Wu family is dead. Haha, heaven did justice!”
“Yes, it would be best if the whole family died. There’s not a single good person among them.”
The emperor was having breakfast at a small eatery. After hearing this news, he finally smiled.
“In-law, it worked like a charm. Thank you.” “Look at you, acting politely with me.”
“Absolutely.”
“Look at how happy the people are. The Wu family has caused quite a bit of trouble here.”
“I know. Results will come soon.”
Two days later, another group collecting protection money on the streets suffered the same fate as Magistrate Wu’s son. Dead bodies, poisoned just like him.
Magistrate Wu was terrified. He wasn’t a fool. One after another, these incidents were not difficult to link together when investigated.
Had he and his son offended someone they shouldn’t have?
Was the newly arrived group a force he couldn’t afford to provoke?
He had many sons, and losing one wasn’t a big deal. As long as he had money and women, he could live the life of an emperor with numerous children.
His eldest son had offended this group, and the extortionists also had problems, though the incidents were separated by several days. However, all the victims appeared to be poisoned.
They were silently poisoned. Magistrate Wu feared that he would be next.
The person who had administered the poison must have harbored intense hatred towards them. How cruel were they?
At home, he was like an ant on a hot pan. Finally, he gritted his teeth and decided to use force first, then resort to diplomacy if needed.
He gathered all the loyal guards he had cultivated and decided to strike a decisive blow.
If even this plan fails to eliminate those people, he would have to resort to
using money.
The night was dark – the best time for murder and robbery.
On the rooftop of the inn, Blackie crouched at the highest point, raised its eyes to survey the surroundings. With no moon in sight, it seemed disinterested in howling.
It raised its head, communicating with Qiao Mai through mental waves.
“Master, there’s action.”
Qiao Mai waved her hand, casting a barrier on the three-story inn. “I’ve left a few little thieves for you. Don’t disturb our sleep.”
Blackie grinned, showing its teeth. “Master, you’re unkind. These people are all loyal guards.”
“You’re a seventh-rank demon beast. Don’t tell me you can’t handle a few mortal guards? When you go to the cultivation world, you’ll be embarrassed to mention being beaten by them.”
Blackie’s head drooped in acknowledgment. Qiao Mai’s words hit a nerve. It had been idle for too long. It stood up, stretching lazily. Facing the sky, it howled.
Before the black-clothed men could approach, it dashed towards them.
The night was too dark to see clearly. However, the shadow moved swiftly, and amid human cries and dog howls, those asleep were awakened, trembling and afraid to come out.
Magistrate Wu couldn’t sleep. He paced back and forth in the study.
The night was almost over, yet none of his men had returned. He knew that things were going downhill..