Chapter 37: You're really called Sasaki?

The scholars and others stared at the stack of silver notes on the table, their mouths about to drop to the floor; they lifted their heads and instantly felt Shen Qing's whole body radiating an immense light.

At this moment, they had only one thought: they would die for Shen Qing.

Everyone felt parched and said, "Sir... is this too valuable...?"

Shen Qing waved his hand indifferently: "Stop haggling, just buy what I tell you to, don't leave me any change, or I'll beat you."

Although Shen Qing said that, none of the scholars reached out.

This is three thousand taels of silver—even selling their lives wouldn't cover a fraction of it.

Shen Qing grabbed the stack of notes and shoved it into the scholar's hand.

Are you women? Quit the nagging, scholar, you take it—stay sharp so they don't kill you, hurry up and leave!

Saying this, Shen Qing shoved them out of the courtyard.

After they left, Shen Qing lay on the nearby drunkard's chair, cracking the melon seeds the scholars had bought—uh, five-spice flavor.

Sunlight poured down; hearing the faint revelry outside the courtyard, he cracked melon seeds and felt the warmth of the sun.

Shen Qing's mouth curled slightly; this is the ordinary life, a hundred-household office with immense backing and endless silver.

After an unknown amount of time, Fang Ming walked into the courtyard and spoke softly.

"Sir, someone outside the hundred-household office is looking for you."

Shen Qing opened his eyes: "Someone's looking for me?"

"Yes, he calls himself Ding Yi and says he's a thief."

"A thief?"

Fang Ming scratched the back of his head: "Although it's strange, he indeed said he's a thief and has something very important to discuss with you, sir."

A strange feeling suddenly welled up in his chest—could this world have gone mad?

A thief seeking the Embroidered Uniform Guard? What's the difference between that and a mouse looking for a cat?

Shen Qing rose, brushing the melon‑seed shells from his body.

"Then let's go see—let me find out what's going on."

The two passed through the courtyard and arrived at the public hall of the hundred‑household office.

A man about thirty years old knelt on the public hall, surrounded by a dozen Embroidered Uniform Guard officers staring intently at him.

Ding Yi knelt on the ground, cold sweat pouring from his forehead.

Suddenly, the Embroidered Uniform Guard shifted their gaze and shouted.

"Greetings, Lord Shen!"

Ding Yi moved his head and saw Shen Qing; at the same time he was shocked, having heard these past days that the newly arrived hundred‑household officer of West City was young, but upon seeing him he found Shen Qing far younger than he imagined.

Shen Qing sat in the official's hat chair on the public hall.

"Are you Ding Yi?"

Ding Yi hastily bowed with clasped fists: "I am indeed Ding Yi."

"I heard you're a thief."

He lowered his head and said nothing.

"What business do you have with me, the hundred‑household officer?"

Ding Yi seemed to recall something, a flash of fear appearing in his eyes.

"Sir, the situation is this: my brothers and I scouted a courtyard; yesterday several carts delivered ten boxes inside, we thought they were treasure, so we struck last night, but upon opening the boxes we found they were all soybean seeds."

The surrounding Embroidered Uniform Guard were puzzled: soybean seeds?

Ding Yi hurriedly explained: "My lord, soybean seeds aren't remarkable, but I believe those two are not of the Great Wu dynasty—they are Wokou."

"One of them calls the other Lord Sasaki."

As soon as he said that, the hall buzzed with discussion: to the east of Yongning Prefecture lies Jia Shui Jun, further east is East Sea Prefecture—that's the coastal region where Wokou have long harassed, so the Embroidered Uniform Guard here mostly know nothing of Wokou.

But Shen Qing, upon hearing that name, was certain: this guy is a Wokou.

Ding Yi pulled two yellow beans from his pocket.

"Sir, I also brought back two beans; sir, you should take a look."

Fang Ming took the beans and handed them to Shen Qing, who glanced at them and tossed one into his mouth.

Soon the red entry Innate Poisonous Body activated, showing that the beans were indeed poisonous.

However the poison was weak, merely broken down instantly by the Innate Poisonous Body; Shen Qing could only vaguely feel it was a somewhat suppressive but non‑lethal toxin.

Shen Qing gradually understood what this group of Wokou intended.

In three days it will be the Autumn Harvest Festival; during the festival some merchants, to answer the prayer for blessings, sell seeds at low prices, which is also why the surrounding countryside folk come to participate—buying cheap seeds.

This group of Wokou likely intends to use this opportunity to sell the poisoned seeds.

Shen Qing threw the remaining bean to Fang Ming.

"Take the seeds to the Shennong Institute and have someone examine them."

Fang Ming grabbed the seeds and hurried out of the public hall.

Shen Qing rose and came before Ding Yi.

"You just said you and your brothers scouted the place—that means you still have a few brothers, right?"

Ding Yi's forehead beaded with cold sweat, a dry mouth.

"Sir, we're just petty thieves, small‑time pilferers; in light of my meritorious report, punish me if you must—don't make things difficult..."

Shen Qing cut him off outright and helped him to his feet.

"What are you talking about? When did you become a thief? You aren't a spy I planted, are you?"

"If those people really are Wokou, the merit register should have an entry for your brothers."

"Now, lead the way—take me to that manor!"

Having finished speaking, Shen Qing strode out of the Hundred Household Office hall; the Embroidered Uniform Guard on both sides showed not a trace of hesitation, gripping their blades tightly as they followed closely behind Shen Qing.

Meanwhile, Ding Yi stood frozen on the spot for a moment, a huge joy spreading across his face, his brain quickly rebooting after a brief outage.

Wasn't what Shen Qing just said that he would overlook their past faults and even record a merit for himself?

If they had this merit, the situation would be completely different; the three brothers might not need to be thieves anymore.

Ding Yi hurriedly lengthened his stride to keep up with Shen Qing's pace.

And up ahead, Shen Qing's eyes flickered with anger; no matter where, are these Japanese pirates always stirring up trouble?

Even causing trouble in his jurisdiction?

Damn it.

In the dead of night, sneaking to the Hall of the Yama King.

They've come to die!!

Huang Mansion

Today the Huang Mansion was especially lively; the sacrificial official Huang Fu invited some friends over as guests.

This was a private small gathering; basically everyone who came were Huang Fu's relatives and friends.

Huang Fu and one person whispered in a corner to the side.

This person was a short-statured man, using the alias Huang Min, and spoke in a rough, unrefined tone.

"Lord Huang, how's your situation...?"

Huang Fu performed a respectful salute: "Reporting, sir, everything is proceeding smoothly; the autumn harvest festival three days from now will surely sell these seeds to the surrounding counties of Luoshui City."

Huang Min's eyes flashed with a mad grin as he clapped Huang Fu on the shoulder: "Good, good, good! Well done; the Empire will not forget your achievements and will surely reward you handsomely."

"With this success, over the next ten or even a hundred years we will surely shake the foundations of Yongning Commandery and the Wu Dynasty."

"This fertile land will sooner or later be ours!"

Huang Fu's eyes were full of excitement; this plan had gone smoothly, attracting no notice from any officials, and moreover his superior, a master of the Sixth Rank of the Innate Realm, Huang Min, had also arrived in Luoshui City.

He had only one thought in mind.

This is secured.

Just then, a commotion rose inside the house; many people rose to greet the elderly man who had entered, offering salutations.

Huang Fu straightened his clothes, strode over to the old man, and respectfully supported his arm.

"Father-in-law, you've arrived."

The visitor was Huang Fu's father-in-law, Zhang Zhu, who also held the position of a sixth-rank official in Luoshui City, serving as a prefect judge.

Zhang Zhu stroked his beard, looking at Huang Fu with eyes full of satisfaction: "Well, well, isn't this our Huang sacrificial official?"

Huang Fu gave an embarrassed smile: "It's all thanks to your blessings, father-in-law."

Zhang Zhu is the prefect judge of Luoshui City, so naturally there's no shortage of people flattering him.

"Huang sacrificial official, Official Zhang is certainly blessed with great fortune, but your appointment as sacrificial official is also due to your own abilities!"

All around rose voices of agreement, and the house instantly filled with laughter.

Just then, the courtyard gate was kicked open with a single foot.

Many faces showed displeasure; they turned to shout, but before they could utter a sound, they silently lowered their heads.

Shen Qing strode into the Huang Mansion, while Ding Yi kept close at his side.

Ding Yi's eyes scanned the courtyard manically, then his finger suddenly pointed at Huang Fu.

"Sir! Sir! It's him!"

Shen Qing's eyes were full of contempt.

"Damn it, your name is Sasaki?"