Chapter 272: No One Can Be Spared

Actually it wasn't only Qiao Mai; the three goats noticed it too, only Qiao Mai acted first.

After searching the soul, the man in white also died from a ruptured heart.

After Qiao Mai emerged from the space, she pulled those people back into the space; one person sat inside the house, and the whole courtyard was silent.

The record only mentioned that Ding Wang, no other useful clues; looks like we have to go to Jingcheng.

That Ding Wang is courting death, harassing me again and again; I have to give him a proper lesson.

While Yuan Jiaqi hadn't returned home yet, she set off for Jingcheng immediately, leaving the house to the three goats; they won't come back for a while.

When she arrived in Jingcheng, night had already fallen; she walked hands behind her on the wide streets of Jingcheng.

Passing the Ding Wang gate, she tilted her head and glanced.

No wonder it's the residence of the Emperor's eldest son; it's grand, two rows of soldiers guard the outside, the main gate remains wide open, inside the lights blaze, and from the living room you can hear laughter and chatter.

Qiao Mai's spirit probed and found that Ding Wang was entertaining that group of guests.

Could it really be a deity's doing? But that old man is a deity; why would he steal from Ding Wang's residence?

The Emperor grew suspicious and immediately sent the Golden Dragon Guard to investigate Ding Wang Zhai.

Thinking of the deity, the Emperor recalled that night the deity waved a hand and conjured a lot of grain out of thin air.

Several figures flickered; it seemed they had official business to discuss even at night.

"But the Emperor is now placing great importance on the Yuan County Magistrate; moving against him would be difficult."

Once the meeting ended, she went to an empty spot and tossed the guests into the space one by one.

"Probably the same result."

"If you release me, I'll tell."

Now even Ding Wang Zhai has been robbed; I must say, the authorities are powerless, reporting to the Emperor, who is angry, but with a theft like this leaving no trace, it can only be blamed on a deity.

Qiao Mai doesn't care what he's doing behind the scenes; she just wants to punish that scoundrel—kill who must die, steal what must be stolen, two words: leave!

As soon as she left, Jingcheng fell into chaos; such odd incidents seemed to have occurred a few years ago, reported but never solved.

Ding Wang, having never intersected with me, why would he covet my property?

"Master, he's become a fool; just toss him outside, that'll also give Ding Wang a lesson."

The guest wasn't stupid; hearing this, he despaired, looked left and right, this is definitely not Ding Wang Zhai, where is this place?

"You just want…?"

"We can't afford more losses of Dark Guard; how about this, I'll think of another method, and if it fails, I'll use her husband's official rank to force her compliance."

"Master, I'm here."

It's New Year soon; rewards are being distributed to subordinates.

"Just this lesson is too cheap for Ding Wang,"

"Hmph, Ding Wang is nothing; I even killed his Dark Guard, and coming to Jingcheng this time is just to collect interest."

"Deal with him,"

After drinking several cups of wine, she dispelled the chill on her body.

"Will you speak or not?"

The winter in the South is much colder than in the North; though it doesn't snow, it's especially damp and cold, the chill pierces to the bones.

She flashed and leapt into midair; this time she didn't use wings, just her cultivation, floating toward Ding Wang Zhai.

That night, Qiao Mai swept Ding Wang Zhai clean, like invaders entering a village, leaving not even a grain of food.

"Xiao Qing"

"Prefect Wang's father was invited to live at home as a teacher; his mother also always stayed there. There's nothing special; the whole family lives off that shop, but the matriarch keeps the prescription and refuses to use it, staying in Tianshui Town. If we obtain those prescriptions, they'll surely spread throughout our Imperial Court, and then there will be endless money."

Tonight, she won't let anyone off; the first to act is that guest.

Ancient houses were all similarly designed: front, middle, and back courtyards; the back courtyard was usually the women's quarters. Ding Wang's residence also had its back courtyard, and because he often rested in the women's courtyard, his study should be there as well.

"Really treating me like a fool."

"Who am I? You cowardly Ding Wang schemed against my shop; tell me who I am?"

"I… I didn't mean to."

She saw a courtyard lit up and went to check, finally finding where Ding Wang was.

"Right, my two sons are of age now; it's time to prepare some Betrothal Gifts, let's cut into Ding Wang's family."

"Who are you? Audacious assassin."

My shop's open earnings are just over a thousand taels a month, about ten thousand taels a year; even adding the Shexian side, at most twenty to thirty thousand taels annually, plus the family's Deer Antler and Musk, at most fifty thousand taels. For Ding Wang, that's not even enough for two months' expenses of his residence, so why would he target me?

"I also have Chuan'er and Ling'er; the more the better."

It seems his frantic hoarding of wealth is definitely plotting something illicit.

From midair, Qiao Mai heard their words clearly; the one who just made a suggestion, she placed her spirit into his body.

"But my cultivation of Dark Guard is more valuable than the old shop, right?"

After drinking a small pot of wine, she walked the main street; pedestrians were few, but carriages kept passing.

Qiao Mai was too lazy for idle talk; she simply reached out, pressed his celestial spirit cover, the guest rolled his eyes white, and soon became a fool.

"Just a morsel of food—does anyone say it's that sinister?"

"Now it's a mess we can't untangle; knowing oneself and the enemy ensures hundred battles, hundred victories."

"None have returned."

This sweep of his residence will at least keep him unable to get up for a long time.

"Tell me, who exactly is gossiping behind your back?"

"Prince, a single shop makes ten thousand taels a year; ten shops, a hundred shops? That's food—people live by food. She only operates in a small town; if she opened in the prefectural city, Jingcheng?"

"Does that merchant have some backing?"

But tonight we will get the answer; if Ding Da doesn't speak, then she will have no choice but to use Sousoul.

A guest, unbelievably cowardly Prince made a move on her shop; there must be hidden circumstances, and Ding Wang also, under their cowardice, made a move against her.

"Send more people over! This time, how many first‑rank Dark Guard do you send?"

This time the operation yielded abundantly; after tallying gold, silver and jewels, it amounted to over one million taels.

"There will be an opportunity."

"Prince, the several waves of Dark Guard dispatched to Tianshui Town have all vanished without a trace."

"No, there isn't; you release me quickly, otherwise Ding Wang will find out."

The banquet has ended; at this moment Ding Wang should be in the back courtyard.

"He's just a merchant; why did he lose so many men?"

She raised an eyebrow, walked from the doorway, found a small tavern, ordered two dishes and a pot of hot Wine, and sat down to sip it slowly.

"I built you several warehouses; all the jewelry, gold, silver and fine goods are inside."

In the study, several candles were lit.

After all, his status was displayed there, but Qiao Mai didn't let him have it easy; the two big‑faced men beat him into a pig's head for him, she didn't act herself, but let Xiao Qing do the deed.

She didn't take those farmland deeds and such; the tiny Ding Wang could be said to be rich enough to rival a nation—just those holdings could sustain the officials and nobles of an entire Jingcheng.

It was merely a lesson; for Ding Wang, as long as the people don't die, the wealth will naturally be delivered into his hands.

The guest suddenly changed location, eyes widening in fright; upon seeing Qiao Mai, they immediately screamed.

If you don't investigate you won't know, but once investigated it startled the Old Emperor; Ding Wang is constantly hoarding wealth? What does he intend?

Could it be that he is raising an army, intending to rebel?

Thus they kept letting the Golden Dragon Guard casually probe, and indeed, in a mountain just five hundred li from Jingcheng, twenty thousand elite soldiers were hidden.

Whether armor, weapons or warhorses, all were top‑grade; they train daily, far more formidable than the Ming Emperor's army.

The Old Emperor thanked the thief from the bottom of his heart; had it not been for this incident, he would never have noticed the eldest son, who indeed harbored malicious intent.

(End of chapter)