Chapter 345: The Demon Princess's Slacking Daily Life Chapter 345: Sending a Letter

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

However, Yan Wang had zero interest in Cheng Liming's defense; expressionless, he cut in: "Enough! I don't want to hear any more of your pointless sophistry."

Then his voice suddenly turned severe: "I can spare your life, but from today on, Yifeng City will no longer have a City Lord. As for the valuables in your mansion..."

Yan Wang hadn't finished speaking when he waved a broad hand and shouted at the attendants behind him: "Men! Take away everything of value in this mansion!"

Hearing this, Cheng Liming's face went deathly pale in an instant; with a thud he dropped to his knees, begging desperately: "Lord Yan, spare me! These valuables are the fruit of my many years' toil."

Yan Wang remained unmoved, watching him coldly. He spoke up: "Is this really your years of toil? Didn't you and Yale agree to scrape it all together from Dachang Village?" After hearing Yan Wang's words, Cheng Liming's face turned even whiter; he knew nothing more he said would help, and he stopped rebutting.

On receiving the order, the attendants charged into the mansion like wolves and tigers, ransacking every corner for valuables. For a moment the mansion was in utter chaos, chickens flying and dogs jumping. Cheng Liming watched helplessly as his treasures and antiques were carried off piece by piece, his heart full of despair.

The corner of Tang Qi's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a mocking smile. He looked at the ashen-faced man before him and couldn't help feeling a surge of satisfaction.

Yet he didn't stop there; instead he continued in cold, sarcastic tones: "Don't put on that half-dead act either. Wang will distribute the silver seized from the City Lord's mansion to those who truly need it. This isn't just helping you accumulate merit—it's redeeming your sins!"

Cheng Liming cursed inwardly nonstop, but on the surface he didn't dare show the slightest hint. He muttered secretly: "This is clearly my silver, yet it's being used for good deeds; others will only praise Yan Wang—who would ever think this is my achievement? And he calls it helping me accumulate merit—what a joke!"

Nevertheless, despite his indignation, Cheng Liming didn't dare talk back in the slightest; he could only nod obediently: "Yes, yes, I understand."

Seeing this, Yan Wang nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Tang Qi and instructed: "You watch him write a letter, hand it to their superior, and tell them Yifeng City has already been occupied by our Great Chang Army."

Tang Qi immediately replied: "Right away!" He turned and shouted at the little maid standing to one side: "Hurry up and bring paper and brush!"

The little maid was quick on her feet; she swiftly fetched paper and brush and presented them respectfully to Cheng Liming.

Cheng Liming took the brush, but his hand trembled uncontrollably like a sieve; the characters he wrote were crooked and twisted. Tang Qi watched his wretched appearance and couldn't help furrowing his brows, but said nothing more.

With great difficulty Cheng Liming finally finished the letter; he set down the brush with a sense of immense relief and handed the letter to Tang Qi. Tang Qi took it, read it through carefully, confirmed there were no problems, then passed it to Yan Wang.

Yan Wang read the letter carefully, then nodded with satisfaction: "Good, that'll do. Send someone to deliver this letter at once."

Cheng Liming thought secretly: this is a perfect chance to call for help! His eyes rolled, a plan formed, and he hurriedly suggested: "My lord, in this humble one's view, why not send my trusted confidant to deliver the letter? After all, whenever I've passed messages before, he's been the one responsible; that way credibility will be higher."

Yan Wang listened, pondered briefly, felt Cheng Liming's words weren't without reason, and nodded: "Fine, then let your steward make the trip."

This steward was about thirty-something, in his prime, of medium build and ordinary looks. Standing beside Cheng Liming, he gave a strikingly similar impression—not only the same bearing, but both had the same sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked look.

Cheng Liming quickly slipped the letter into an envelope, then handed it to the steward himself, and while no one was watching, secretly shot him a meaningful glance. The steward understood perfectly, immediately returning a reassuring glance that said he had grasped the meaning.

Just then, Yan Wang suddenly interjected: "Tang Qi, send four Anqi to accompany the steward; on the way, bring his wife and children over as well and treat them well."

He paused, then continued unhurriedly: "If the steward doesn't know what to say and what not to say during the delivery, whether he'll ever see his family again after he returns... that's hard to say..."

Tang Qi hurriedly replied: "Yes, Wang, rest assured. I've already found out—the steward's wife is the head housekeeper of the rear kitchen." As he spoke he gestured toward the doorway; two soldiers escorted in a heavyset woman.

The woman was clearly terrified; the moment she saw the steward she acted as if she'd seen a savior, screaming at the top of her lungs: "Husband, save me!" While shouting she stumbled toward the steward, running so fast the flab on her body quivered as if it might fall off.

Tang Qi watched the woman and couldn't help sighing inwardly: with that figure, she must have skimmed plenty of oil and water in the rear kitchen day to day.

Seeing the woman's wretched state, the steward's face was full of disdain; he impatiently shoved her away and said: "Rest easy—I'm just going out to deliver a letter and I'll be back. You stay here honestly; nothing will happen."

Tang Qi took all this in; he naturally also noticed the disgust in the steward's eyes.

So he quickly chimed in: "Wang, I also learned one more thing—the steward has a son who was studying at the Xuetang. But when we attacked, everyone panicked, and no one knows where the boy hid. What's certain is he's still in the city. In a moment I'll send extra men to grab him."

Yan Wang gave an expressionless "Mm," his voice low and cold. Hearing that response, the steward shuddered all over, as if struck by lightning, and immediately dropped to both knees, forehead pressed to the ground.

In terror he said: "This lowly one will go deliver the letter at once; I beg you, my lord, show mercy and spare my son! This lowly one has only this one son; the child is innocent! Please, my lord!"

As he spoke he kept kowtowing nonstop; his forehead striking the ground made "bang bang" sounds, as if he would smash his own head open.

Yan Wang watched him coldly, not saying a word, until the steward's head was broken and bleeding; only then did he slowly speak: "Enough, stop kowtowing. As long as you deliver the letter safely, I guarantee not a single hair on his head will be harmed."

The steward felt pardoned; he hurriedly kowtowed once more and said in a trembling voice: "This lowly one thanks you, my lord! This lowly one will go at once!" Finished, he didn't even bother to wipe the blood from his forehead, scrambled to his feet, clutched the letter, and turned away, footsteps staggering as if he might collapse at any moment.