Chapter 378 - Chapter 378: How Dare He?
Chapter 378: How Dare He?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
He immediately called for the steward and sent him with a group to investigate near the inn.
When the steward returned, he brought two carriages. When Magistrate Wu saw the bodies, he almost fainted.
They were all dead. He had invested so much in cultivating these elite soldiers, but they were all gone overnight. This was his reliance, and now it was all lost.
Distressed, he quickly instructed the steward to take the men out of the city and bury them secretly.
Sitting in the study with swollen eyes, he lost all mood. He sat down, stood up, stood up, and sat down again. Finally, he ran to the bookshelf, twisted a bottle, and a secret compartment appeared on the wall.
He pulled out a large box from inside, filled with silver notes, each worth ten thousand taels.
You could see how much wealth he had accumulated during these years in Liangzhou.
Grinding his teeth, he took half of the silver notes, put the box back in place, and tucked the silver notes into his arms.
When the steward returned, he went to his private vault again, picked out many precious treasures, and hurried to the inn without breakfast.
In the inn, the emperor and others were already awake. Naturally, Qiao Mai couldn’t keep this matter a secret.
She truthfully recounted what happened. The old emperor was furious.
He pounded the table and scolded, “How dare he? It infuriates me!”
“Many elite soldiers came last night, but my pet dealt with all of them. I don’t know what he’ll do next.”
“Others usually make diplomatic gestures before resorting to force. He started with force. Perhaps he will try to butter us up soon. After all, he knows we are not to trifle with.’
They stayed in the inn, drinking tea without going out.
In no time, the innkeeper came to the third floor. When he saw Qiao Mai and others, his tightly clenched hands betrayed his nervousness and panic. “Esteemed guests, my master wants to meet you. Would you be willing?”
The old emperor was still angry. “Your master? Who is it?”
“It’s, it’s Magistrate Wu.”
“I don’t know him. I don’t want to see him.”
The innkeeper felt awkward, but he didn’t leave.
He stood there and continued, “My master is the magistrate of Liangzhou. He sincerely wants to make friends with you.”
“If we didn’t know any better, we’d think your master is the emperor.”
The innkeeper broke into a cold sweat upon hearing this. These guests were bold. The emperor? A local emperor might work, but it wasn’t something he could claim.
“This inn belongs to my master.”
“Are you suggesting that we can’t stay in the inn if we don’t meet him?” “No, no.”
“Tell him to scram far away. Don’t think we don’t know what he’s been up to.
Someday, he might bite off more than he can chew.”
And so, the innkeeper was dismissed. Magistrate Wu left, stomping his feet in frustration.
With one plan foiled, he came up with another. Since they were staying in his inn, why not?
The emperor and others were upstairs, watching Magistrate Wu leave. When it got dark, the Golden Dragon Guards secretly returned to the inn. The emperor assigned them a mission to prepare tor action tonight.
On Magistrate Wu’s side, he instructed the innkeeper. Tonight, they would set fire to the inn.
He was malicious. In the inn, except for Qiao Mai and her group, people stayed on the second and first floors. The innkeeper sent an attendant to pour oil in the dead of night, evacuated their staff, and prepared to set the place on fire.
If not for Qiao Mai instructing Blackie to watch over them, the fire would have been started.
Just as one of the attendants was about to ignite the tinder quietly, Blackie bit off the man’s neck.
The torch fell to the ground, extinguished by its hoof. Outside, people waiting anxiously decided to come in and check. Unexpectedly, a dark figure rushed out from the inn, biting and killing everyone.
Under the moonlight, the street was covered with numerous bodies.
The emperor and others were still awake, waiting in the room with lights off. After hearing the screams outside, they sent guards downstairs to check.
The returning guards reported to the emperor, “Your Majesty, the first floor is filled with firewood and oil.”
The emperor clenched his teeth, “This scoundrel wants to burn us alive. There are many guests downstairs; they are so ruthless. In their eyes, human lives aren’t worth a penny. Bastards!”
The emperor used coarse language, scolding vehemently. Qiao Mai chuckled.
“Enough already. How many of these corrupt officials are good? If they had sympathy for the common people, they wouldn’t act like this. Why rush it?”
At the same time, at Magistrate Wu’s residence, the Golden Dragon Guards surrounded the entire mansion accompanied by the troops from Liangzhou. In the dead of night, the Wu Mansion echoed with wails and howls until daybreak. They found over sixty thousand taels of silver, countless jewels and jewelry, and hundreds of silver notes hidden in a secret compartment.
The emperor immediately decreed the execution of the main perpetrators in the Wu family, while others were banished to harsh lands. Fortunately, it didn’t result in a complete massacre.
The emperor had prepared for the replacement of Liangzhou’s magistrate. Qin Yide, Lu Ruyi’s husband, was sent to take over.
Before he arrived, the military temporarily took control of the city. All the property was escorted to the capital and handed over to the national treasury.
Meanwhile, those who conspired with Magistrate Wu were all arrested and had their properties confiscated.
He who takes bribes shall be punished, and heavier penalties for those who receive them!
On the execution platform, Magistrate Wu finally saw the few faces. At this moment, what else did he not understand?
No wonder he failed. What did he have to compete with the emperor?
Those were the Golden Dragon Guards, even superior to his secret guards.
Coupled with the mysterious and unpredictable Madam Qiao by the emperor’s side, Magistrate Wu could only admit defeat.
He had heard about the emperor’s southern journey and had been cautious all along, but in the end, he still lost.
On the day of the execution, the people of Liangzhou City were on the verge of erupting. This detestable Magistrate Wu was finally going to die. How could they not be excited? They all carried baskets, waiting at the market entrance.
As soon as Magistrate Wu was placed on the execution platform, the people below began to throw rotten vegetable leaves, stinking eggs, and even stones.
After all, it was a death penalty. Whether it was the executioner or the headman, they wouldn’t care. Even if the thrown items killed Magistrate Wu, they would still ensure the execution was completed with an extra blow, ensuring their death.”
With the corrupt magistrate eliminated, Liangzhou felt a breath of fresh air.
Magistrate Wu had many industries, which were investigated and confiscated. Two brothels and five gambling dens were gone, and many connections were severed.
The emperor’s group didn’t plan to stick around. They packed their bags, sat in a carriage, and left after staying there for half a month.
They had dealt with a corrupt official, and the enthusiasm wasn’t as high as when they arrived.
The old emperor, being of advanced age, relaxed after the matter concluded. He slept throughout the journey, and the empress had to accompany him in their carriage.
For once, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi could sit together alone, looking at the scenery outside the window.
“Wife, we would have been in trouble if it weren’t for you.”
“Saying that too often makes it as tasteless as water. The emperor brought us here for safety, right? Besides, it’s not my merit; it’s Blackie who worked the hardest.’
Blackie rolled its eyes, finally hearing something appreciative from its master.
“Yeah, we’re fortunate to have them. That’s why we can be at ease.”
“I just wonder if we’ve been away for so long. Is there any good news from Ling’er?”
“It’s been almost half a year. If there’s good news, the emperor’s people will send a letter. Don’t worry; this matter can’t be rushed.”
“I’m afraid I won’t be at home to take care of her.
“There are so many imperial physicians in the palace; nothing will happen.”
“Hopefully.”
The carriage continued its journey due south, with its destination being Luzhou City ahead. Qiao Mai looked at the vegetation along the road, and her brows furrowed in contemplation. “Wife, what’s wrong?”
“Look at the flowers over there.’
Yuan Jiaqi looked up. “Why are flowers planted everywhere on this side? Those flowers don’t look like decorative flowers.’
“Those are poppies.”
“What are poppies?”