Chapter 11: Confusion and Being Struck by Lightning, A Triumphant Return (Seeking Monthly Votes)

"Subordinate Sun Youliang, greets the two officials!"

The refined young man sent back to the city by Pei Shaoqing to report the news walked quickly into the courtyard, then knelt on one knee and cupped his fists in salute to Zheng Xuancheng and the County Magistrate, Wang, who were in front.

"What on earth happened?" Zheng Xuancheng didn't even bother to tell him to rise, asking impatiently.

Sun Youliang maintained his kneeling posture, raised his head, and answered loudly: "Reporting to the officials, it turns out that Flag Chief Xu is that bandit leader Xu Yuanqing, who always covers his face with a black cloth whenever he moves, and whose true face no one has seen to this day!"

"What?" Zheng Xuancheng, the County Magistrate, and Chen Zhongyi to the side all blurted out the two words in unison.

"What did you say? Xu Zhiyong is the Phoenix Mountain bandit leader Xu Yuanqing?" Zheng Xuancheng asked with a face full of disbelief, and before Sun Youliang could answer, he angrily rebuked: "Nonsense! How could Flag Chief Xu be Xu Yuanqing? It's simply absurd!"

As Xu Zhiyong's superior and the planner of the entire scheme, how could he not know what kind of person the other was?

"My lords, please listen as I explain in detail." Sun Youliang pursed his lips and organized his words: "Today, news of the bandit suppression leaked, and we were ambushed by bandits as soon as we entered the mountains. Fortunately, Lord Pei remained calm in the face of danger and led us to face the enemy himself. All of his guards were killed. The mountain bandits were fierce, and we fought to the death, requesting Lord Pei to return to the city first to bring reinforcements.

Although Lord Pei wanted to fight side by side, he knew the urgency of the situation and could only leave first. Unexpectedly, he fell into a 'luring the tiger from the mountain' trap and was intercepted halfway by the bandit leader Xu Yuanqing, who had not yet appeared... In the end, with the righteous help of a passing swordswoman, Lord Pei personally killed the blood-stained bandit leader Xu Yuanqing..."

"Wait!" The County Magistrate interrupted him, saying incredulously: "You mean Pei Shaoqing killed Xu Yuanqing?"

Zheng Xuancheng also had a look of suspicion on his face.

After all, they knew Pei Shaoqing was not skilled in martial arts.

"Yes! That's right!" Sun Youliang nodded repeatedly without hesitation, answering with ironclad certainty, and added: "At that time, Xu Yuanqing had already been wounded by the swordswoman who intervened, but he still wanted to resist when death was imminent. Lord Pei killed him with one strike. This is something we all saw with our own eyes, absolutely correct!"

This could be explained, and Zheng Xuancheng's furrowed brows gradually relaxed: "What else? What is this about Flag Chief Xu being Xu Yuanqing?"

"After Xu Yuanqing took off his mask, that face was Flag Chief Xu!" After Sun Youliang finished speaking, he added his own insight: "My lords, no wonder Xu Yuanqing always wore a mask, and no wonder he could repeatedly escape the County Government's encirclement and suppression. It all makes sense now!"

Chen Zhongyi's brows were furrowed into a 'chuan' shape, his mind a mess. He couldn't tell, he really couldn't tell, and he subconsciously looked at Zheng Xuancheng and the County Magistrate.

At this moment, both of their faces were uncertain.

"You may go down first." Zheng Xuancheng waved his hand.

"As you command!" Sun Youliang responded, and after rising, he added a reminder: "Lord Pei should be collecting the bodies of the bandits and will be back in the city soon."

After speaking, he cupped his fists in a salute before leaving.

After watching him leave, the County Magistrate asked Zheng Xuancheng: "Lord Zheng, what is going on? Didn't you say it was foolproof? How did Flag Chief Xu become Xu Yuanqing? Now that Pei Shaoqing isn't dead and has even performed a meritorious deed and made a name for himself, how are we going to answer to the Noble Consort?"

"Flag Chief Xu is definitely not Xu Yuanqing!" Zheng Xuancheng said with a resonant voice, gritting his teeth: "The plan must have gone wrong. The real Xu Yuanqing never showed up at all. How innocent was Flag Chief Xu's death? It's all the fault of that bitch who suddenly appeared! Otherwise, even without Xu Yuanqing, Flag Chief Xu could have killed Pei Shaoqing!"

"Even if Flag Chief Xu isn't Xu Yuanqing, he is now!" The County Magistrate exhaled and said.

They had to admit that Xu Zhiyong was Xu Yuanqing, otherwise, how could they reasonably explain his behavior of appearing masked at the scene with the mountain bandits to intercept Pei Shaoqing?

"Bang!" Zheng Xuancheng hit the pillar next to him with a hateful punch, his eyes red with rage. Not only had his scheme failed and he had lost a trusted aide, but he also had to tearfully and angrily acknowledge that Pei Shaoqing had performed a great service by killing his own aide. He felt stifled to death: "Bastard! That damn little thief!"

"Actually, it's a good thing. At least if Pei Shaoqing mistakenly believes that Flag Chief Xu is Xu Yuanqing, he won't realize that someone is plotting against him in the dark." The County Magistrate said, then added with worry: "The key now is whether Flag Chief Xu said anything before he died."

"Flag Chief Xu shouldn't have said anything. After all, with Pei Shaoqing's playboy personality, if he had already learned the truth, he would have been furious and run all the way to the Capital to file a complaint." Zheng Xuancheng slowly shook his head and said.

"That's good." The County Magistrate breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned again: "How should we answer to the Noble Consort?"

"Pei Shaoqing is in Tongzhou. As long as he hasn't noticed, we will have plenty of time to deal with him in the future. The Noble Consort surely won't mind giving us a few more chances." Zheng Xuancheng was quite optimistic about this.

"Then let's stay put for now and take it one step at a time." The County Magistrate shook his wide sleeves and said in a deep voice: "As for now, we should also go out of the city to welcome this great hero. We must give this Marquis Mansion Young Master enough pomp and face."

…………………………

At the Pei Mansion, Xie Qingwu was strolling around the mansion, familiarizing herself with the environment, when she suddenly heard faint noises coming from the street outside. She said: "Cui'er, go and find out what's going on. Why is it so lively?"

"Yes, Madam." Cui'er responded and left. A moment later, she ran back with a face full of joy, panting: "Ma... Madam, everyone outside is saying that Lord Pei wiped out the Phoenix Mountain bandits and personally killed Xu Yuanqing. They are all praising him as a great hero!"

After hearing this, Xie Qingwu was stunned, then her expression became strange, and finally, she let out a cold, restrained laugh.

That thief himself was the bandit leader Xu Yuanqing!

Watching so many people being fooled into singing his praises as a hero, while she found it ridiculous, she also recognized Pei Shaoqing's ability more, but at the same time, she felt a palpitation at his ruthlessness in being able to kill his own subordinates.

However, she had to admit that it was often such heroic figures who could eventually achieve great things.

Cooperating with him was no less than skinning a tiger for its hide.

She had to maintain a sense of proportion and be careful, ever so careful.

"Madam?" Cui'er felt puzzled.

"I'm a bit tired, I'm going back to my room." Xie Qingwu lost interest in strolling and left after dropping that sentence.

The fat cat lying on the rockery yawned lazily, jumped down, and followed her leisurely.

Liu'er and Cui'er both wanted to pet the chubby civet cat, but they had already tried, and this cat was not affectionate at all and wouldn't let them touch it.

General Li: Heh, mere mortals want to offend this General's jade body? Wishful thinking. Not punishing you is already proof that this lord has a heart as vast as the ocean.

The County Government's organizational power was still very strong. Soon, a welcoming group composed of local gentry and citizens gathered outside the city gate, waiting to welcome Pei Shaoqing's triumphant return.

"They're here! Hurry, hurry, hurry! Beat the gongs and drums!"

Seeing the figures of the Jing'an Guard appearing in the distance, the County Government Registrar immediately turned back to greet the crowd.

For a time, the sound of gongs and drums filled the air, and cheers were constant.

"Look! The one in the very front must be Lord Pei! Truly outstanding temperament, heroic and extraordinary!"

"Yes, he looks so handsome and truly mighty."

"The woman behind him is so tall! So big!"

(End of chapter)