Chapter 78: There is a traitor among us, kill without mercy! (Seeking monthly votes)

In the afternoon, the sun was at its peak.

Inside the office, Pei Shaoqing was lazily enjoying a head massage from Ye Hanshuang, pondering how to ferret out the mole in the Hundred-Household Office who had been bought off by County Magistrate Wang.

But he didn't know if it was Ye Hanshuang's soft conscience pressing against the back of his head that made his thinking sluggish.

He couldn't come up with a good plan for a long time.

He suddenly felt a bit nostalgic for a tablet computer.

"Big Brother, can you let me try?"

Ye Hanshuang's voice suddenly rang out by his ear.

Pei Shaoqing asked in confusion, "Try what?"

"The thing Miss Zhao did last time, it hasn't been my turn yet." Ye Hanshuang said with a serious face; she saw that her older brother was in a bad mood and wanted to let him be happy.

Pei Shaoqing drew a sharp breath; looking at his foster sister's sincere eyes, he truly couldn't bear to refuse.

After all, he had always been one to help others find joy.

Even while kneeling, Ye Hanshuang was still a bit taller than Pei Shaoqing, who was sitting.

Pei Shaoqing looked along her broad back; it was plump and as large as a millstone, its contours stretching her loose dress until it was bulging.

Such an exaggerated physique.

If he wanted to counterattack from behind, he would have to use a stool.

……

Ye Hanshuang stood up nimbly, looking expectant: "Big Brother, how was it?"

"Mm." Pei Shaoqing's gaze was full of tenderness, and he said with a smile: "Sister Shuang, you did great."

The experience was better for him than Zhao Zhilan.

Because thanks to her physical gifts, even though she felt like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat, she could still continue to gobble it down.

Ye Hanshuang was suddenly somewhat happy and proud, just like a primary school student who had been praised for getting a high score.

The vacant-minded Pei Shaoqing was already too lazy to think about how to catch the mole; let the people below him have the headache.

He decided to find two trusted aides to discuss this matter together.

"Sister Shuang, go call Sun Youliang and Song Youcai over for a moment." Pei Shaoqing said in a gentle tone.

Ye Hanshuang responded and left.

Soon, Sun Youliang and Song Youcai arrived together.

"Greetings, my lord!" X2

Pei Shaoqing said: "No need for formalities, sit."

"Thank you, my lord."

After the two stood up, they each found a seat and sat down.

Pei Shaoqing's sharp gaze swept slowly over the two, making them subconsciously puff out their chests.

"There is a traitor among us."

He said in a cold tone.

Song Youcai and Sun Youliang exchanged a glance, and Sun Youliang asked: "Does my lord mean within the Hundred-Household Office?"

"Mm." Pei Shaoqing nodded; having sat for a long time, he stood up from his chair and paced back and forth in the room while saying: "This traitor is colluding with the rebels of the Xuan Sect."

"May I ask, my lord, how do you know they are colluding with the Xuan Sect rebels?" Song Youcai asked.

Pei Shaoqing glanced at him and replied: "Because this official is acquainted with the Helmsman of the Tongzhou Branch of the Xuan Sect."

Song Youcai and Sun Youliang were stunned on the spot.

How does it sound like you are also a traitor?

"That traitor told the Xuan Sect rebels that this official had captured a female assassin." Pei Shaoqing said again.

Song Youcai immediately said: "That day, my lord issued a gag order; no one dared to wag their tongues. Only those who were present at the time know the news, so that damned traitor must be among those people."

"My lord, this subordinate can roughly recall the people who were present at the time." Sun Youliang said immediately.

One can only say that he is worthy of being a man who passed the Cultivated Talent exam.

His memory is indeed good.

Song Youcai glanced at him, his little brain spinning wildly: "Although this subordinate cannot remember who was present at the time, I remember there were about thirty people. My lord can issue a fake order targeting the Xuan Sect rebels, and then place these people under surveillance."

"This subordinate seconds that." Sun Youliang chimed in.

Pei Shaoqing nodded: "Mm, you two think much like I do, so let's do it that way."

With a plan, they acted immediately.

Of course, he still had to communicate with Chen Zhongyi.

He was an old hand at the Hundred-Household Office and had many reliable brothers under his command; he needed to have him select the people to be monitored in advance.

That evening, Pei Shaoqing urgently recalled all the Jing'an Guards who had already gone off duty to assemble at the Hundred-Household Office.

On the martial arts field, over a hundred people stood as neatly as a forest.

Pei Shaoqing said with resonant force: "According to reliable intelligence, although Zheng Xuancheng is dead, there are still remnants of the Xuan Sect active in Tongzhou. This official has already learned of their stronghold, and tonight we must wipe them out completely.

The action time is set for the third watch, when they are at their least vigilant. Now, brothers, go down and prepare well, get some good rest, and assemble promptly at the second watch."

"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.

Pei Shaoqing waved his hand: "Dismissed."

Watching the crowd disperse, his eyes narrowed into a line, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly into a cold sneer.

I'm just waiting for you to jump out on your own.

An honest and simple-looking middle-aged man followed the crowd out; after exiting the Hundred-Household Office, he leaned alone against the stone mythical beast at the entrance, frowning and staring blankly.

"Smack!" Suddenly, someone patted him on the shoulder.

The distracted middle-aged man was startled and subconsciously drew his blade, only letting out a sigh of relief after seeing who it was, saying irritably, "You didn't make a sound, you scared me to death."

"Who didn't make a sound? You were the one standing there not knowing what you were thinking about, you didn't hear me." The middle-aged man who patted his shoulder said, "Let's go, Zhao, let's find a place to get something to eat together; don't go into battle on an empty stomach."

"Forget it, Lao Li, I still have to rush home to grab some gear." Zhao shook his head and refused.

The middle-aged man turned and walked away, "Alright then."

Watching his friend leave, Zhao pursed his dry lips and also turned to leave, first rushing home to take off his uniform and change into casual clothes, then heading out again.

With something on his mind, his pace was hurried.

He didn't notice at all that among the coming and going pedestrians, a disguised colleague had been following him the whole time.

He entered Juyuan Inn with practiced ease.

"Welcome, guest, we have everything you might want to eat." The waiter greeted him very enthusiastically.

Zhao said in a low voice, "Beef noodles."

"Unfortunately, we really don't have that dish here." The waiter pointed to the hanging menu board and smiled apologetically.

Zhao continued, "I just have a craving for it, it's not hard to make; I'll pay extra, please have the chef cook a bowl."

"Alright then, a guest is a guest; do you have any dietary restrictions, sir?" The waiter stared at him and asked.

Zhao said, "I don't eat beef."

The few code words matched; he was one of their own, so the waiter immediately whispered, "Follow me."

He then turned and walked in front.

Zhao followed with his head lowered.

The person monitoring him didn't dare to follow, but didn't rush to leave either; instead, they waited until the food was served and they had eaten a few bites before leaving.

Manager Ma of Juyuan Inn met with Zhao, then hurriedly went to report the matter to Wang Xianling.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xianling's expression changed, "Bad!"

"What's wrong?" Manager Ma asked, puzzled.

Wang Xianling's face was as gloomy as water; he was certain that this must be a trap set by Pei Shaoqing to lure out Zhao.

Because, let alone the fact that Pei Shaoqing couldn't possibly know the location of their branch, even if he did, given their mutually beneficial cooperative relationship, he wouldn't possibly go to exterminate them.

Zhao had most likely already been captured by Pei Shaoqing.

He sighed and said, "Follow the previously established emergency plan and have the brothers at the inn relocate immediately."

At the very least, Juyuan Inn had certainly been exposed along with Zhao's exposure; they had to change to a new stronghold.

As for Zhao.

The other party was not a member of the Holy Sect at all.

He was merely bought off and tempted by them with heavy rewards.

Since the matter has come to light, then he must fend for himself.

…………………………

"My Lord! My Lord, spare my life! My Lord!"

In the backyard of the Hundred-Household Office, Zhao, who had been captured just after leaving the inn and returning home, knelt before Pei Shaoqing, begging bitterly for mercy, tears and snot streaming down his face, constantly kowtowing to the ground.

The bluestone slabs on the ground were stained red with blood.

"Oh? What did you do wrong? That you need me to spare your life?" Pei Shaoqing asked nonchalantly.

"I..." Zhao raised his head, looking at Pei Shaoqing, but was momentarily speechless, stuttering and unable to speak.

Pei Shaoqing smiled without warmth, "Speak."

"I... I was blinded by greed; I was tempted by the Xuan Sect rebels with beauty and heavy rewards, and I passed information to them many times. My Lord, I truly know I was wrong."

Zhao wailed as he confessed honestly, lunging forward to hug Pei Shaoqing's leg, saying, "My Lord, I beg you to spare my life; I am still useful, still useful! I am willing to send fake information for you to deceive the Xuan Sect rebels."

"Traitors only have a dead end." Pei Shaoqing kicked him away and ordered, "Have everyone assemble."

"Yes!" Chen Zhongyi immediately went to pass the order.

"My Lord! My Lord!" Zhao scrambled up in a sorry state, still wanting to hug Pei Shaoqing's leg, but was struck on the back by Sun Youliang, who had stepped forward, with a scabbard, knocking him to the ground.

Then, two more Jing'an Guards stepped forward, grabbing him by the left and right and dragging him toward the drill ground in the front yard.

About two quarter-hours later, the people were assembled again.

Pei Shaoqing stood on the steps, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as sharp as a blade, and said in a low voice, "There was no mission to exterminate rebels tonight; that was merely a hook I used to lure out a traitor among us."

Boom! The crowd instantly erupted.

"There are Xuan Sect rebel people in the Hundred-Household Office?"

"Who is it? Damn it! How many of our brothers have died at the hands of the Xuan Sect rebels? Which bastard is it?"

"To be a thief instead of a proper official, it simply shames our Jing'an Guard. My Lord, kill him!"

Everyone was filled with righteous indignation, except for Zhao's friend Lao Li, whose expression was complex, because in the past, Zhao would always stand with him whenever they assembled, but this time he was not there.

Connecting this to the way Zhao had been dazed at the entrance of the Hundred-Household Office earlier, he already had a premonition in his heart.

Oh Zhao, oh Zhao, how could you be so foolish!

Pei Shaoqing raised his hand, and the previously noisy drill ground gradually quieted down, soon returning to calm.

"Bring him up." He said loudly.

Soon, under the eyes of everyone, Zhao, whose dantian had been sealed and who looked like a dead dog, was dragged out.

Seeing this, Lao Li closed his eyes in pain.

"What? It's actually Zhao!"

"I really couldn't tell, this thick-browed and big-eyed guy was actually colluding with the Xuan Sect rebels behind our backs."

"Bastard! You damn traitor!"

Everyone was shocked, surprised, and angry.

"I was also blinded by greed, I already know I was wrong, my lord! My lord! I beg you, for the sake of my elderly parents and young children, please let me go!"

Zhao wailed and begged Pei Shaoqing for mercy.

His guts were green with regret.

Although the women and silver of the Xuan Sect were good.

He had never thought about trading his life for them.

Pei Shaoqing remained unmoved, looked around at everyone, and said with a resonant voice: "Everyone here is a brother who has braved life and death together; we can die at the hands of the enemy, but we must never die at the hands of our own people! As for traitors, no matter who they are, this official will never tolerate them. Bring the blade!"

Chen Zhongyi immediately drew his saber and presented it with both hands.

"My lord! My lord!" Zhao trembled like a sieve, howling with snot and tears running down his face.

Pei Shaoqing was expressionless as his hand rose and the blade fell.

Puchi—

Scalding fresh blood gushed out, and many blood droplets splashed directly onto his robes and face; Zhao's desperate face froze as his head rolled down the steps.

Blood dripped and flowed all over the ground.

The crowd that had just been clamoring to kill Zhao was now completely silent, so quiet that the fall of a needle could be heard.

Pei Shaoqing tossed the saber to Chen Zhongyi, wiped the blood from his face, and said: "Confiscate all of Zhao's family assets as a warning to others. Disperse."

As his voice fell, he turned and walked toward the inner hall.

"Respectfully send off the lord!" everyone shouted in unison.

Not until Pei Shaoqing's back was no longer visible did everyone disperse in twos and threes; looking at the decapitated Zhao, some felt hatred, while others sighed for him.

Lao Li sighed and stepped forward to collect the body.

Ye Hanshuang walked to his side with a cold face and said indifferently: "The lord wants you to go in for a moment."

After speaking, she turned and walked inside on her own.

Lao Li was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly followed.

(End of chapter)