Chapter 378: How Dare He

Immediately have someone call the Steward and send them with people to inspect near the inn.

As a result, when the Steward returned, they hurried two wagons, and when Prefect Wu saw the corpse, he almost fainted.

All died; they spent such a huge price, the Death Warrior they cultivated, all died in one night; that was their reliance, now it's all gone.

Feeling pained, they quickly have the Steward take people, slip out of the city, and secretly bury them.

He, with his eyes swollen red, sits in the study, feeling nothing, sits down, stands up, stands up, sits down, finally runs to the bookcase, twists a bottle, and a Secret Compartment appears on the wall.

He pulls out a large box from inside, inside is a box full of silver notes, each denomination worth ten thousand taels.

It shows how much of the people's blood and sweat he has extorted in Liangzhou over these years.

He grits his teeth, takes out half of the silver notes, then puts the box back, and places the silver notes into his bosom.

When the Steward returns, he goes to his private vault, selects many rare treasures, hasn't even eaten breakfast, and hurriedly goes to the guesthouse.

In the inn, the Emperor and his party all got up, and Qiao Mai naturally couldn't hide this matter.

If Qiao Mai hadn't had Heizi keep an eye on them, the fire would have been set.

So he spoke plainly, and the Old Emperor, angry, had his Huzi bristling; he pounded the table and scolded.

Thus, the Shopkeeper was driven away, and Prefect Wu, angry, bit his teeth and stamped his foot as he left.

A few people didn't go out, just sat in the inn drinking tea.

Before he arrived, the whole Liangchengzhou was temporarily administered by the garrison, all assets were sent with heavy troops to Jingcheng, turned over to the state treasury.

"Exactly, exactly, Prefect Wu, Lord Wu"

The Emperor and his party actually hadn't slept, they kept the lights off waiting in the room; after a wail came from outside, he sent guards downstairs to investigate.

The Prefect of Liangzhou City, the Emperor had already prepared, sending Qin Yide, who is Lu Ruyi's husband, to take over.

The Old Emperor was simply old; once this matter was over, his mood relaxed, and he slept all the way, and the Empress had to accompany him in their carriage.

The Shopkeeper was a bit embarrassed, but they didn't excuse themselves, stood there motionless, and continued speaking.

The Emperor immediately issued an edict, ordering the principal offenders of the Wu family be beheaded on the spot, and all other personnel be dispatched to a harsh, cold place, still not a total extermination.

Rarely, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi could sit alone together, looking at the scenery outside the window.

This mess is waiting for a new Prefect; they don't intend to continue managing it, packed their belongings, and left by carriage.

"Madam, what's wrong?"

The Emperor actually uttered coarse words, cursed people, and Qiao Mai let out a snort of laughter.

And Prefect Wu, on his side, also told the Shopkeeper, planning to set the guesthouse on fire tonight.

"My lord is the Prefect of Liangzhou, he sincerely wishes to befriend a few people."

No wonder he slipped up; what could he use to contend with the Emperor?

That's the Golden Dragon Guard; even the Dark Guard falls far short, and with the mysterious Lady Qiao by the Emperor's side, Prefect Wu could only admit defeat.

"Indeed, thanks to them at home, we can be so worry‑free."

The Shopkeeper, upon hearing that, broke out in sweat on his forehead; these few really dare to speak— the Emperor? The Local Emperor is fine, the lord may want to take the role, but cannot.

Just as a worker with a torch quietly tried to light firewood, Heizi opened his mouth from behind and snapped the man's neck in one bite.

"Others first observe etiquette then use force; he attacks first, perhaps he'll soon offer courtesy, after all a Guizhou donkey has run out of tricks, knowing we're not to be trifled with."

Prefect Wu's numerous holdings were investigated and many seized; two Brothels, five gambling houses, his connections were also confiscated, so those places in Liangzhou naturally diminished.

Having been here for over half a month, dealing with a major corrupt official, everyone's morale wasn't as excited as before arriving.

Anyway it's all death penalty; whether execution officials or executioners, they won't mind, even if they throw them to die, in the end they'll add another slash to ensure they truly die.

At the same time, Prefect Wu's residence, the Golden Dragon Guard with troops outside Liangzhou City, surrounded the whole house; late at night, Wu's manor wailed like ghosts until dawn, uncovering silver amounting to over 600,000 taels, countless jewelry pieces, just the common people's Ginseng numbered a hundred and ten, and the Secret Compartment held silver notes totaling several million taels.

On the day of execution, the people of Liangzhou City nearly erupted; the detestable Prefect Wu was finally to die, how could they not be excited, all carrying baskets, waiting at the market entrance.

He had long heard that the Emperor was traveling south, and had been cautious, but in the end he still failed.

"You mean, if we don't see him, we can't stay at the inn?"

"I'm just afraid that if I'm not at home, I can't take care of her."

Under the moonlight, the main street was strewn with many corpses, arranged haphazardly.

"Let him go, far away; don't think his deeds are unknown, beware that one day he won't be able to get away."

The Old Emperor, still angry, "Your lord? Which one?"

The returning guard reported to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, the first floor is filled with firewood and oil,"

The Emperor gritted his teeth, "That bastard actually wants to burn us to death; there are many guests downstairs, they are so vicious, to them a human life is worth not even one Wen, you son of a bitch!"

Heizi on the carriage rolled his eyes, the master finally said something with conscience.

"Hope so."

"Madam, if you weren't here this time, we'd all have to answer."

At the same time, those who colluded with Prefect Wu also had their homes seized and were exiled.

"Don't know, not seen."

It must be said, with Prefect Wu's death, the air in Liangzhou City became unusually fresh.

When one plan failed, he devised another; they live in his inn, so to root out the weeds, why not?

The Emperor and his party were upstairs, watching Prefect Wu leave; at dusk, the Golden Dragon Guard quietly returned to the inn, and the Emperor assigned them a mission, to act tonight.

"Just wondering, after being out this long, is there any good news from Ling'er?"

"Several guests, my lord wishes to meet you, may I?"

When the Wu family's guillotine platform was raised, the common folk below began throwing rotten vegetable leaves, foul eggs, and even stones onto it.

"Enough, these corrupt officials, how many are good? If they cared for the people, they wouldn't act like this; why the haste?"

Soon after, the Shopkeeper went up to the third floor of the inn, and upon seeing Qiao Mai and the others, although he appeared natural, his clenched hands revealed his tension and panic.

"Saying this too often makes it tasteless like water; the Emperor brought us here, didn't he…"

In the main hall, Prefect Wu finally saw a few people; at this point, what else does he not understand?

"Last night many Death Warriors came, and my pet dealt with them; I don't know what he'll do next."

"You, there are so many imperial physicians in the palace; nothing will happen."

"This inn belongs to my family's lord."

"How dare he? I'm furious, I'm furious."

Accepting bribes is punishable; taking bribes deserves even heavier punishment!

He really is malicious; besides Qiao Mai and the others, both the second floor and the first floor of the inn have residents, yet the Shopkeeper actually sent a worker to pour oil at night, moved all his own people away, and then prepared to set fire.

"No, it's not."

The torch fell to the ground and was stamped out in one swipe by its big hoof; the people waiting outside were uneasy and planned to go in to check, but unexpectedly a black shadow burst out of the inn and bit the people outside one by one to death.

"It's been almost half a year; if there's good news, the Emperor's messengers will send a letter, so don't worry; this matter can't be rushed."

"I didn't know; I even thought your family's lord was the Emperor."

The carriage headed straight south; their destination was the Luzhou City ahead, and Qiao Mai stared at the roadside vegetation, her brows furrowing repeatedly.

"Look, that flower over there?"

Yuan Jiaqi lifted his eyes and said, "Why are there flowers planted here? Those flowers don't look like ornamental ones."

"Those are poppies."

"What is a poppy?"

(End of chapter)