Chapter 12: The Beautiful Matron and the Young Girl, Both Too Eager to Advance (Requesting Monthly Votes)

When returning to the city, Pei Shaoqing did not wear a mask, and everyone behind him wore none either; each of them was in high spirits. After all, it was a matter of showing off and gaining prestige, so why wear a mask?

Pei Shaoqing pulled on the reins, his posture upright as he swayed on horseback at the very front. Only when approaching the crowd did he leap down, bow, and cup his fists toward Zheng Xuancheng, saying loudly and spiritedly: "Reporting to the Hundred-Household, this subordinate has successfully fulfilled the mission, having thoroughly wiped out the Phoenix Mountain horse bandits and beheaded the bandit leader Xu Yuanqing!"

"Good!" Zheng Xuancheng praised him loudly, patting his shoulder with great satisfaction, "Small Flag Pei truly did not disappoint me, nor did he disappoint the people of the entire city!"

He then continued with a pained and indignant expression: "I already know everything. I never imagined the bandit leader would be an inside traitor—that shameful degenerate Xu Zhiyong! He has disgraced the Jing'an Guard! Fortunately, Small Flag Pei, you saw through him and purged the ranks, otherwise our Tongzhou Hundred-Household Office would have truly lost all face."

"I didn't expect it either; you must be more careful when employing people in the future, my lord," Pei Shaoqing said with biting sarcasm.

The expression on Zheng Xuancheng's face stiffened for a moment.

Are you teaching me how to do my job?

Although he was angry inside, he forced a bitter smile on the surface and nodded repeatedly, "Indeed, indeed."

The people behind Pei Shaoqing exchanged glances.

What exactly is our Small Flag's background? He lectures his superior as if he were lecturing a subordinate, yet the Hundred-Household lord doesn't even get angry.

"I thank Small Flag Pei on behalf of all the city's people for saving our lives!" Wang Xianling hurriedly stepped forward to relieve the awkwardness for Hundred-Household Zheng, bowing solemnly with a moved expression.

"It is my duty; I dare not claim credit." Although Pei Shaoqing said this, his expression held no hint of humility.

Hundred-Household Zheng looked at Ye Hanshuang, who was tall, large, and cold-faced beside him, and said with a smile: "This must be the heroine who saw injustice and drew her sword to help, wiping out the horse bandits. Her bearing is truly extraordinary."

Meddlesome little... big bitch!

"My lord, her name is Ye Hanshuang; from now on, she will be a follower by my side," Pei Shaoqing introduced.

Ye Hanshuang was sparing with her words, "Greetings, my lord."

"Ah, no need for formalities, no need. It is a blessing for Small Flag Pei to have the help of Miss Ye, and a blessing for Miss Ye to be valued by Small Flag Pei. Truly a joyous occasion," Hundred-Household Zheng said with pleasant words. He looked up at the sun, laughed, and said: "It is getting late, and the victory banquet is already prepared. Small Flag Pei, we couldn't drink to our heart's content last night, so today we must drink until we are drunk."

"Easily done! After you, my lord," Pei Shaoqing raised his hand.

"No, no, no, you are the hero of the hour; you first."

Pei Shaoqing did not show false modesty and strode away.

"This person is so arrogant. Seeing how both the Hundred-Household and the County Magistrate are so obsequious toward him, he is likely a descendant of some high-ranking family," Zhao Zhilan, wearing a long purple dress in the crowd, stared at Pei Shaoqing with a look of mockery.

Clearly, she hated the rich.

"Lan'er, hold your tongue!" Seeing his young disciple speaking without restraint again, Gongsun Yi, who stood to the side with a beautiful beard and a fair, gentle face, was quite annoyed. He rarely lost his temper with this disciple, whom the couple had raised themselves and regarded as their own daughter: "If you dare to speak nonsense in public again, I will send you back to the mountain gate first, lest you bring disaster upon the Iron Sword Sect because you cannot control your mouth!"

"Please, Master, calm your anger; the Junior Sister did not mean it!" The eldest disciple Jiang Yebai, whose posture was like a pine tree and who was as handsome as jade, hurriedly stepped forward to plead for his beloved.

Gongsun Yi glared at this equally troublesome eldest disciple, "It is you who have spoiled her!"

Zhao Zhilan was frightened, her small face turning pale. With red eyes, she murmured: "Master, I will never dare again."

"Hmph!" Gongsun Yi flicked his sleeves with a dark face.

"Alright, Lan'er, don't cry." Gongsun Yi's wife, Liu Yuheng, took out a handkerchief embroidered with willow branches and gently wiped Zhao Zhilan's tears, comforting her in a soft voice: "That Small Flag surnamed Pei is a low-ranking official, yet he can make a superior as noble as a Jing'an Guard Hundred-Household go to such lengths to humble himself. It is clear he must come from a prominent family. Such people are always overbearing. If he feels offended by you, let alone your fate, the rise or fall of our Iron Sword Sect rests on his word. Your master scolding you is for your own good."

Listening to his wife's words, Gongsun Yi's heart was also full of bitterness and helplessness. He was a dignified expert of the Roaming Dragon Realm; in terms of martial power, he could beat ten of Zheng Xuancheng and Pei Shaoqing, but he was terrified of offending the Jing'an Guard and the government.

After all, behind Zheng Xuancheng and Pei Shaoqing stood the Great Zhou imperial court, tens of thousands of Roaming Dragon Realm experts, several Masters of Transformation Energy, and vast armies clad in Mysterious Armor.

This is the sorrow of the people of the Jiang Hu; apart from Masters of Transformation Energy and a few major sects, other so-called heroes are nothing in front of government officials.

Especially since his journey across mountains and rivers to Tongzhou this time involved an important scheme concerning whether the Iron Sword Sect could be revitalized, he had to be careful everywhere for fear of complications.

The commotion here attracted Pei Shaoqing's attention. He turned his head and immediately saw the gentle, plump, and mature beauty Liu Yuheng and the pure and cute young girl Zhao Zhilan.

These two were truly beautiful and full of charm, each with their own merits, making him unable to resist taking a few extra looks.

Sensing someone looking at her, Liu Yuheng subconsciously raised her head and met Pei Shaoqing's eyes.

Pei Shaoqing smiled at her and then withdrew his gaze.

However, Liu Yuheng felt uncomfortable in her heart. The look the other party had just given her made her feel a sense of shame, as if she had been stripped bare and left for him to admire at will.

This person has a crooked mind and is not a good man.

She made this judgment in her heart.

It can only be said that her judgment of people was truly accurate.

…………………………

At the victory banquet, there was laughter and joy, but everyone had their own hidden agendas.

Pei Shaoqing, surrounded by everyone like the moon among stars, seemed to have lost himself amidst the endless flattery and praise.

"Hundred-Household lord," suddenly, Pei Shaoqing asked, looking at Zheng Xuancheng with burning eyes: "Regarding the vacancy for the position of Total Flag after Xu Zhiyong's death, I wonder what arrangements you intend to make?"

Instantly, the previously lively scene gradually quieted down. Everyone was stunned; Pei Shaoqing's meaning was very clear—he wanted that position.

This is wanting to advance too much! He had only been in office for one day and already wanted a promotion, and he was even asking his superior for it righteously. This subordinate was truly bold!

Zheng Xuancheng was also taken aback, then asked with a smile that wasn't a smile, "What does Small Flag Pei think?"

"The so-called 'eating the ruler's salary and worrying about the ruler's concerns'—I was born under the imperial city and raised in a noble family, bathing in imperial grace far more than all of you. Therefore, I feel I have the responsibility and obligation to take on the vacant position of Total Flag to repay the Emperor's vast grace." Pei Shaoqing, with a face full of loyalty, cupped his fists toward the direction of the Capital and said with a resonant voice.

Shameless!

Seeing him speak so righteously about asking for a promotion and even bringing up his background without any avoidance, Zheng Xuancheng, Wang Xianling, and the others cursed in their hearts simultaneously.

As for the others participating in the victory banquet, they were all astonished; they hadn't expected Lord Pei to be a descendant of a noble family!

"Small Flag Pei's sincere heart to serve the country is truly admirable to this official. Speaking of which, this vacancy for a Total Flag is indeed a difficult problem. Thanks to Small Flag Pei stepping forward to solve my dilemma, however, my authority is limited and I cannot appoint you directly. I will wrong you by letting you serve as the acting Total Flag for now, until I report to the Thousand-Household Office to obtain an official appointment for you," Zheng Xuancheng said with a chuckle.

Of course, he didn't want to promote Pei Shaoqing, but given this bastard's arrogant and domineering personality—daring to beat the nephew of Wan Guifei to death in the street—if he refused in front of so many people, wouldn't he offend him?

Now he needed to stabilize and deceive Pei Shaoqing; as long as he was still in Tongzhou, he wouldn't be able to escape his grasp.

Thinking that this bastard had killed his confidant, yet he still had to promote him for it, Zheng Xuancheng's heart was filled with anger and distortion. He felt a sense of frustration like being cuckolded and still having to help push the hips. How hateful!

Pei Shaoqing was immediately beaming with joy, raised his wine cup, and said: "Then I thank the Hundred-Household lord!"

Never mind that getting a promotion right after starting a job didn't follow the rules; rules were specifically made by the powerful to restrict ordinary people, and he was now one of the powerful—not to mention that all he wanted was a small position as a Total Flag.

"Congratulations to Lord Pei on your promotion!" Everyone else present smiled and raised their cups to congratulate him, though their hearts were filled with mixed feelings.

Power relies on one's father; it is not something one can envy.

After eating and drinking their fill, Pei Shaoqing feigned drunkenness and left the scene.

"My lord, please lift your feet, watch the threshold."

The pale and plump Song Youcai and the thin, refined-looking Sun Youliang supported Pei Shaoqing on his left and right, respectively, with great attentiveness.

As soon as he stepped out of the restaurant, Pei Shaoqing could no longer be bothered to keep up the act; he straightened his body, pulled away from their hands, and said, "That's enough. You two go back and continue drinking with the brothers. Having Hanshuang escort me back to the manor is enough."

"Hehe, without you, my lord, even if this wine were nectar, it would taste like nothing. Safe travels, my lord, I shall also be taking my leave now." Sun Youliang cupped his hands respectfully, a smile on his face as he spoke.

Song Youcai chimed in with a grin, "Me too. Without you, my lord, drinking is like drinking piss."

"Crude! How can you speak such vulgar words in front of the lord!" Sun Youliang looked at him with disdain.

"Old Song here is just a rough man, unlike you, a Cultivated Talent who abandoned the brush for the sword. Besides, the lord is magnanimous and broad-minded; he wouldn't be as petty as you." Song Youcai threw a sarcastic jab at him, then turned his head to look at Pei Shaoqing with a fawning grin, "My lord, wouldn't you agree?"

"I happen to like your straightforward nature." Pei Shaoqing laughed heartily and patted his shoulder, then looked at Sun Youliang and said, "I hadn't expected you to actually hold the status of a Cultivated Talent. How did you end up joining the Jing'an Guard? It seems there's a story there. Since we're free tonight, why don't the three of us have a small gathering? You must tell me all about it."

He knew nothing about people like Zheng Xuancheng and the County Magistrate, so this was the perfect opportunity to gather information from Song Youcai and Sun Youliang; one must know oneself and the enemy to be victorious in every battle.

Besides, his former bandit brothers had already been transformed into the nutrients for his rise in rank and wealth, and now that he lacked capable people by his side, he needed to recruit a couple of trusted henchmen.

"It is our honor, my lord! We shall await your summons at any time!" Song Youcai's face was practically splitting from his wide grin.

Sun Youliang, the scholar, was more reserved than him; he bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes, my lord."

"Good, then we shall meet here at Hongbin Lou at the Hour of the Dog. Don't be late." Pei Shaoqing waved his hand and turned to leave.

The two called out behind him, "Respectfully sending off the lord!"

"Big Brother, those two look like nothing but sycophantic villains who fawn over their superiors and bully their subordinates." Once they were further away, Ye Hanshuang expressed her disdain for the two with a cold face.

Pei Shaoqing smiled indifferently, "Hanshuang, you only see their sycophancy, but I see their ambition. Villains? It is precisely such villains who are useful—they can set aside their pride and pick up a blade! As long as I let them see the hope of advancement, they will grasp it firmly at any cost and be used by me."

To put it plainly, they are just too eager to get ahead.

And to get ahead, they must be willing to go through fire and water for him.

Furthermore, he himself is no good man; did he expect to gather a group of upright gentlemen around him? If that were truly the case, he would be the one feeling uneasy instead.

Starting today, the PK begins. Help me crush the competition! I will post ten thousand words daily upon release! I never take leave during my serialization, I never miss an update, I am like a model worker—when I say ten thousand words, I mean ten thousand words! Please, monthly votes, please keep reading!

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(End of this chapter)