Chapter 25: How Could My Lord Be Wrong

"I've finished eating, you take your time." After dismissing the person sent by County Magistrate Wang to deliver a message, Pei Shaoqing greeted Xie Qingwu, set down his bowl and chopsticks, and looked at Ye Hanshuang, saying, "Summon the five Small Flags to Hongbin Lou to discuss matters."

"Yes, Eldest Brother." Upon hearing this, Ye Hanshuang immediately set down her bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and strode out with long, swift steps.

She was partial to white and especially loved wearing white clothes, but for the sake of convenience in battle, all her dresses were tight-fitting martial outfits that cinched her waist very thin; yet, because she was tall, every step she took caused her firm, rounded buttocks to sway gently, and from behind, one could vaguely see two full, bountiful mounds trembling slightly.

Even Xie Qingwu was momentarily dazed watching her; although she herself had a curvaceous figure, it depended on who she was being compared to. She withdrew her envious gaze and looked at Pei Shaoqing, "Going to harm someone again?"

Her feet and heart had ached last night, which made her find everything about Pei Shaoqing unpleasant this morning, and her tone carried some emotion.

The foot pain was due to overuse, and the heart pain was because she had been forced to discard a pair of priceless Ice Silkworm Silk stockings.

The rarity of Ice Silkworm Silk was such that even someone of her background felt it was expensive, yet this bastard Pei Shaoqing treated it as a disposable item; how could it withstand such consumption?

"It is to save people," Pei Shaoqing corrected.

Getting rid of Zheng Xuancheng was saving himself.

Afterwards, without explaining anything to Xie Qingwu, he turned and left, calling for Gongsun Yi to go to Hongbin Lou together.

He arrived a step early, and the five Small Flags, including Sun Youliang, arrived almost simultaneously, "Greetings, My Lord!"

"Close the door and sit," Pei Shaoqing said.

"Yes, My Lord!"

After closing the door, the five sat around the table, acting as if they didn't see Ye Hanshuang and Gongsun Yi behind Pei Shaoqing, their gazes fixed solely on him.

Pei Shaoqing did not rush to speak; instead, his gaze slowly swept over the five of them until they subconsciously puffed out their chests, and then he said in a deep voice, "I have received reliable information that Hundred-Household Zheng is a traitor of the Xuanhuang Sect."

"What!" All five were shocked.

Li Jun, the youngest, the most hot-tempered, and the least able to keep his composure, blurted out, "How could the Hundred-Household be a traitor of the Xuan Sect? Has My Lord made a mistake?"

"How could My Lord possibly be wrong!" After a brief moment of shock, Sun Youliang had calmed down; supporting Pei Shaoqing unconditionally, he argued eloquently, "Since My Lord says so, he must have his reasons."

"Indeed, how could My Lord be the type to speak without evidence? If he says Hundred-Household Zheng is a traitor of the Xuan Sect, then he certainly is! Who would question this—could they be an accomplice of Hundred-Household Zheng?" Song Youcai followed up immediately in agreement.

Li Jun's face turned pale, realizing he had spoken wrongly, and he stammered, "I... I am of course not questioning My Lord, I was just afraid there might be a misunderstanding."

Shen Zhen and Ye Guoyun remained silent.

"No need to argue, Small Flag Li's reaction is understandable," Pei Shaoqing said with a gentle demeanor and a calm tone, "It can only be said that Zheng Xuancheng disguised himself too well and too deeply in his daily life, numbing everyone."

"Yes, yes, yes, that is exactly it." Li Jun breathed a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice.

Ye Guoyun, the eldest, finally spoke for the first time, offering a safe and steady suggestion, "My Lord, there are no small matters involving the Xuan Sect, and this matter is of great importance; I suggest reporting it to the Thousand-Household Office immediately."

"If we report everything, when will we ever earn merit?" Pei Shaoqing asked nonchalantly.

Shen Zhen said respectfully, "My Lord wishes to lead us to earn merit, and this subordinate is deeply grateful, but Zheng Xuancheng is a Condensing Qi Realm Martial Artist, and there may be other Xuan Sect traitors in the city helping him; I fear we alone cannot handle him."

After finishing, he hurriedly added, "Of course, this lowly one is not afraid of death; we have cheap lives and would have no regrets dying for the country, but I am afraid that the man surnamed Zheng might hold a grudge against you and harm your golden body!"

On Song Youcai's chubby face, his small eyes narrowed into a line; why hadn't he noticed before that Shen Zhen was so good at talking? If this continued, his own status would be in jeopardy!

"Presumptuous!" Sun Youliang scolded, glaring at Shen Zhen, "Since My Lord has proposed to personally deal with this traitor who disregards the imperial grace, he naturally has a foolproof plan; why do we need to say more?"

He knew Gongsun Yi's strength; beating a mere Zheng Xuancheng was like a father beating his son.

"Exactly! We just need to follow My Lord's orders; we don't need our own opinions or suggestions," Song Youcai hurriedly agreed.

Shen Zhen immediately lowered his head, "This subordinate knows his crime!"

"Enough, Small Flag Shen was also considering my safety; how can there be any talk of crime?" Pei Shaoqing forgave him magnanimously and pointed to Gongsun Yi behind him, "This is Sect Leader Gongsun of the Bazhou Iron Sword Sect, a Roaming Dragon Realm expert, who is willing to assist."

Gongsun Yi stepped forward and cupped his hands to the group.

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhen and the others had no more worries and said in unison, "Please give your orders, My Lord."

Pei Shaoqing was a dignified son of a noble house and had just arrived here with no conflicts of interest with anyone; they did not think he needed to frame Zheng Xuancheng, and since he spoke with such certainty, there must be solid evidence.

Even if they took a step back, Pei Shaoqing had the background and the strength; even if he were truly framing Zheng Xuancheng, he could certainly make it seamless, so of course they should follow his instructions.

Otherwise, were they going to be buried with Zheng Xuancheng?

"Good! You all go back, gather your men, prepare your weapons, and tonight at the Hour of the Rat, we shall purge the traitors for the country!" Pei Shaoqing stood up abruptly, raised his wine cup, and looked around the room.

The five stood up in unison and raised their cups, "As you command!"

…………………………

"Dong! Dong-dong!"

"The third watch, all is peaceful!"

The night was as black as ink, and the world was silent, save for the night watchman walking the streets and alleys, beating his drum to announce the time, which triggered bursts of dog barking.

The night watchman yawned, suddenly felt a coolness on his nose, subconsciously looked up at the sky, felt more raindrops falling on his face, and hurried home.

About two quarter-hours later, the rain grew heavier, turning from beads into lines, and soon evolved into a torrential downpour, carried by howling winds as it washed over the world without restraint.

"Da-da-da-da-da-da-da!"

Black boots stepped through the water-logged ground, splashing water; in the dark night, dozens of people moved like ghosts through the rain, some sprinting on the streets, others leaping across rooftops, surrounding the Zheng Mansion completely.

"Boom!"

The tightly closed gates of the Zheng Mansion suddenly exploded; the startled gatekeeper, Old Man Qin, rolled off his bed and scrambled out to check the situation, only to be scared out of his wits.

In the torrential rain, behind the collapsed gate, a group of Jing'an Guards wearing straw rain capes, black robes, and white masks stood silently like evil ghosts; the howling wind blew their hems, embroidered with red cloud patterns, causing them to flutter and snap loudly.

"What's going on? What happened?"

"Jing'an Guard? You have a lot of nerve!"

"Do you know whose mansion this is? A bunch of blind maggots! Someone, go notify the Master!"

More servants rushed over, and upon seeing the Jing'an Guards who had broken in, they felt not fear, but anger.

Zheng Xuancheng soon arrived upon hearing the news; he walked in front, with a maid holding an umbrella behind him.

"Master."

A group of servants bowed one after another, then stood behind him, heads held high, looking at the Jing'an Guards outside the gate.

"Presumptuous! What is the meaning of this!"

Zheng Xuancheng, wearing only a white undergarment, swept a cold gaze over the people outside the gate and questioned them sternly with a gloomy face.

Though he felt uneasy inside, he dared not show it.

"It is I who should be asking what you intend to do!"

A louder voice rang out from outside the door.

The Jing'an Guard at the entrance parted to both sides in unison.

"Boom—!"

A startling peal of thunder exploded, and lightning streaked across the sky.

Pei Shaoqing, in a black robe and with an upright posture, stepped slowly onto the threshold through the standing water, while Ye Hanshuang followed closely behind him, holding an oil-paper umbrella over his head.

"Pei Shaoqing?" Zheng Xuancheng's eyes widened.

Standing at the entrance with his hands behind his back, Pei Shaoqing looked toward Zheng Xuancheng in the courtyard from afar and said coldly: "Zheng Xuancheng has received deep imperial favor, yet instead of thinking of repayment, he has colluded with the Xuanhuang Sect with the intent to rebel; his crime warrants execution. Kill him!"

"Let's see who dares!" Hearing Pei Shaoqing's slanderous words, Zheng Xuancheng was both shocked and furious, and he let out a great roar.

Pei Shaoqing could not be bothered with verbal sparring, nor did he give him any chance to argue, simply waving his hand: "Fire!"

More than twenty Jing'an Guard members holding powerful crossbows on the surrounding walls and rooftops immediately pulled their triggers, and the cold-glinting crossbow bolts arrived through the air; at the same time, the Jing'an Guard behind Pei Shaoqing all drew their blades and charged forward.

Following Lord Pei to kill the rebels and earn merit starts today!

(End of chapter)