Chapter 18: Thief Crying 'Stop Thief', Pei Shaoqing; Blood Splatters the Hall (Seeking Monthly Votes)

"Greetings, Hundred-Household."

"Flag Chief Pei has arrived, please, sit." Zheng Xuancheng put down the book in his hand, "Someone, bring tea."

"Is the Lord summoning me because of the Mo Fu bloodbath last night?" Pei Shaoqing asked with a knowing air.

"It seems Flag Chief Pei is already aware." Zheng Xuancheng sighed, slapped the table with his palm, and said in a deep voice: "The murderer has no regard for the law, and their methods are cruel and shocking. As long as this thief remains at large, my heart will not be at peace. My subordinates are all good-for-nothings; they couldn't even catch the Xuan Sect rebels who killed officials two years ago. This time, I dare not count on them. Is Flag Chief Pei willing to take on this labor?"

"Naturally, I am willing." Pei Shaoqing accepted the matter with an arrogant expression, then added: "I already have some thoughts on this case. In my view, it is highly likely the work of the Xuan Sect rebels again. After all, besides them, who else would dare to be so audacious? Plus, the fact that the people who killed officials two years ago were never caught has only emboldened them."

The Xuan Sect is a basket; anything can be dumped into it.

The key was that he also intended to use the Xuanhuang Sect to frame Zheng Xuancheng, but these people were too hard to find. He couldn't just rely on Song Youcai and Sun Youliang; this was a perfect chance to see if he could use this case to force them to reveal a trail.

They surely wouldn't be willing to be the scapegoats, would they?

"Flag Chief Pei's words are very true." Zheng Xuancheng felt there was some logic to it upon hearing this; he hated the Xuanhuang Sect, which had ruined his future, to the bone. "In that case, I will trouble Flag Chief Pei to ferret out these skulking rats. If you need any assistance, feel free to come to me."

The Xuanhuang Sect was not easy to deal with. If Pei Shaoqing really found a trail, he would also have merit; if he found nothing, the superiors would have a hard time blaming him. If he died at the hands of the Xuan Sect rebels, he would also have an explanation for the Noble Consort.

Regardless of the outcome, he was in a win-win situation.

"Please rest assured, Lord. They are just a group of stinking rats in the gutter; watch me capture them with ease." Pei Shaoqing stood up, cupped his hands, and said with his head held high and a look of disdain.

What an arrogant and ignorant child, Zheng Xuancheng sneered inwardly, but said aloud: "Truly worthy of a hero among the youth. Then, I shall use tea in place of wine to wish Flag Chief Pei new successes, and we shall drink heartily once the case is solved."

"I accept your auspicious words, Lord." Pei Shaoqing picked up the tea that had just been served, took a sip, and set it down again. "This subordinate takes his leave."

"No need to see you out." Zheng Xuancheng nodded and said.

Outside the Zheng Mansion, Sun Youliang, who was waiting with the horses, saw Pei Shaoqing come out and immediately went up to him, "Lord."

"Pass on my order: within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, have the five Small Flags and their men arrive at the Hundred-Household Office to await orders."

Sun Youliang immediately replied: "Yes!"

He then handed the horse to Pei Shaoqing and turned to run off.

Pei Shaoqing mounted his horse and hurried toward the Hundred-Household Office.

"Good morning, Flag Chief Pei."

"Peace to you, Flag Chief Pei."

Upon arriving at the Hundred-Household Office, the officials entering and exiting all stopped to greet him with pleasant expressions.

Pei Shaoqing went straight to his official office.

His subordinates, several Small Flags, arrived one after another.

"This subordinate, Shen Zhen, greets the Lord."

"This subordinate, Ye Guoyun, pays his respects to the Lord."

"Subordinate Li Jun greets the Flag Chief."

Above, behind the desk, Pei Shaoqing was flipping through a book he had picked up at random, seemingly unaware of the three people entering, let alone having heard their words.

And the three of them remained in their bowed, hand-cupping posture, standing quietly in place without moving.

During this time, Jing'an Guards continuously arrived and assembled in the courtyard outside the office. Soon, all fifty men under Pei Shaoqing's command were present and awaiting orders.

After nearly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Pei Shaoqing finally put down the book in his hand and said calmly: "Rise."

"Thank you, Lord!" The three, who had been on tenterhooks, finally breathed a sigh of relief, straightened their bodies, and retreated to the side to await orders.

Pei Shaoqing asked again: "Who else has not arrived?"

"Reporting to the Lord, Small Flags Gao Yunliang and Zhou Yong have not yet arrived." Ye Guoyun, the eldest and visibly over thirty, stepped out first to answer.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sound came from outside the house.

"We're here! Here, we're here!"

Then, two disheveled men stumbled into the room, both bowing and cupping their hands in salute.

"Gao Yunliang (Zhou Yong) greets the Flag Chief!"

Pei Shaoqing stared at the two of them without responding.

The two, having just rushed over from a brothel, knew they were late; they were sweating profusely and kept their heads down, not daring to make a sound.

"My tea has gone cold," Pei Shaoqing said.

The two knelt on the spot, "Please, Lord, forgive us!"

"Bang!" Pei Shaoqing grabbed the teacup and smashed it in front of them. The flying shards left several small cuts on their faces, but the two didn't even dare to groan.

"Forgive you? The Jing'an Guard is the Emperor's own army. Disobeying military orders and delaying military affairs is punishable by death!" Pei Shaoqing scolded sternly, escalating the matter, but then his tone shifted and softened slightly. "However, I am merciful and shall spare your lives, but you are no longer worthy of the name 'Jing'an'. Someone, strip them of their official uniforms!"

"Yes!" Sun Youliang and Song Youcai immediately rushed in with several men and pinned the two kneeling men down.

Shen Zhen and the others on the side exchanged glances; they all knew that Zhou and Gao were simply unlucky, having run into Pei Shaoqing's crosshairs to be used as a warning to others.

But Sun Youliang knew that these two weren't purely unlucky, because he had intentionally delayed delivering the message after learning they had spent the night drinking in a brothel.

After all, if no one committed a crime, how could Lord Pei, this acting Flag Chief, establish his authority? If there were no empty positions, how could Lord Pei promote a confidant like him?

As a subordinate, one must always worry for one's superior!

And incidentally, seek benefits for oneself.

"Lord, forgive us! Please, Lord, forgive us!"

Zhou Yong and Gao Yunliang struggled and shouted.

"Drag them out!" Pei Shaoqing waved his hand.

"Let go of me! Let go!" Zhou Yong's face flushed red as he resisted, cursing in desperation: "Pei Shaoqing, what kind of loyal subject to the Emperor are you pretending to be? If it weren't for your family's connections, what right do you have to be placed above us..."

As soon as he said this, everyone's expression changed drastically.

The next moment, like a ghost, Ye Hanshuang, who was behind Pei Shaoqing, appeared beside Zhou Yong. Her sword flashed like cold light, and in an instant, his head was severed from his body. Blood gushed from his neck, and Ye Hanshuang was already holding his head by the hair, dripping blood.

Everyone in the courtyard gasped in shock.

But the people inside the room were deathly silent.

Gao Yunliang, who had been splattered with blood, felt his bones go soft. Sweat poured down like rain, and he cried out in panic: "I accept the punishment! I accept it! I accept it!"

Pei Shaoqing waved his hand expressionlessly.

Two Jing'an Guards immediately dragged Gao Yunliang away.

"Zhou Yong, this scoundrel, defied superior orders and even attempted to assassinate this official; he must be killed! Someone, come and clean up the scene." Pei Shaoqing set the final verdict for Zhou Yong's death.

No one was blind enough to come forward and plead for him.

Ye Hanshuang tossed the head aside, sheathed her long sword with a cold face, and stood behind Pei Shaoqing once again.

Pei Shaoqing continued, "The vacant position of Small Flag will be temporarily filled by Song Youcai and Sun Youliang; once I report this to the Hundred-Household, I will secure official appointments for you both."

"Many thanks to you, my lord, for the promotion!" Sun Youliang and Song Youcai were overjoyed; they knelt on one knee on the spot and cupped their fists to express their gratitude.

"Get up." Pei Shaoqing waved his hand.

The two shouted in unison again, "Thank you, my lord!"

Pei Shaoqing sat calmly at the head, his gaze slowly sweeping over his five subordinates as he said in a deep voice, "At the hour of dawn, the entire Mo Fu household was murdered. This case is now under my charge. I suspect this was the work of the Xuanhuang Sect rebels. You are all to immediately search the entire city for suspicious individuals; even if you have to turn Tongzhou upside down, you must catch the culprits!"

"Yes, my lord!" the five replied in unison.

"Go." Pei Shaoqing nodded, then added, "Small Flag Sun, Small Flag Song, you two take some men and accompany me to the scene to see if there are any findings."

"Yes!" Sun and Song stepped out and replied.

Pei Shaoqing took the lead and walked out.

In the courtyard, fifty people stood as straight as a forest, saluting in unison, "Greetings, my lord!"

Pei Shaoqing's expression remained indifferent; he did not respond, but with one hand on his blade, he walked through the crowd with a calm and composed air.

"Follow me."

Sun Youliang and Song Youcai picked their men and followed.

The surgery has been postponed, possibly to this afternoon or evening. After being discharged in a couple of days, I'll have to have a urinary catheter for a few days. My first reaction was fear of the pain, but my second reaction was actually that with a catheter, I won't have to go to the bathroom and will have more time to write... Damn! Requesting monthly tickets! Requesting continued reading; the new book chart dropped several spots yesterday, crying!

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(End of this chapter)