Chapter 151: Extorting the People's Wealth — Execute Immediately

Just then, several constables walked out of Weimei Zhai, carrying a luggage bag in their hands: "My lord, we found this in their room."

Inside were some inexpensive jewelry and some silver.

The lead constable looked at the contents of the bundle, a flash of satisfaction crossing his eyes: "So they're habitual thieves. Take them away."

"My lord, please see clearly! My lord, please see clearly! These are things this lowly one bought to take back and filially present to my mother, my lord!"

They searched many shops in succession but did not find the person they were looking for. Instead, they collected a pile of gold and silver, and even rice, flour, grain, and oil.

Finally, only Hao's Restaurant remained.

Through the window, Chi Nan Yi saw a familiar figure — Yun Shan and Yun Shui were driving a carriage toward the shop.

Recalling what she had said to Mo Junyan, Chi Nan Yi couldn't help but laugh.

She had only wanted to give him some fresh vegetables taken out from her space, yet Mo Junyan actually had someone drive the carriage over — could it be he wanted to fill the carriage?

Chi Nan Yi was just about to head out when suddenly, there was some movement behind her, and a thick scent of blood drifted to her nose.

She frowned slightly, a Silver Needle already prepared in her hand.

Sensing a breath drawing near, Chi Nan Yi's heart sank. The Silver Needle flew from her hand, and a muffled groan sounded behind her as the man fell to the ground.

Chi Nan Yi turned around and looked at the man who had completely passed out. Just then, the door was knocked from outside. Without time to think further, Chi Nan Yi swept her arm and stored the man in her space.

"Open the door! Open the door!"

"My lords." Manager Hao stepped forward and said with a smile, "This is our boss's room. She's probably still not awake yet!"

"Not awake? She still has to get up." The constable pounded heavily on the door and said loudly, "If you don't open the door, don't blame us for kicking it down."

Just as his words fell, the door opened. Chi Nan Yi, dressed in men's clothing, walked out of the room.

"You're up but didn't come out sooner, making us knock for so long — I reckon you did that on purpose!" One constable sized her up, noticed that the fabric of her clothing was all of expensive quality, and a hint of greed rose in his eyes.

"This official doesn't think you look like any kind of decent person. Come back to the yamen with us!"

Saying that, he grabbed at Chi Nan Yi's arm. Seeing this, Chi Nan Yi's eyes turned cold and she nimbly dodged to the side.

"You actually want to run? Obstructing the authorities' investigation of a case is a serious crime!"

"Is that so?" Chi Nan Yi gave a cold laugh. "Since when did the authorities start solving cases by guessing? You think I don't look like a good person, and I think you're no good thing either. You're just relying on that uniform you're wearing — do you really think you're somebody?"

Hearing her say this, the constable's face darkened: "Don't refuse the easy way and choose the hard way."

Just then, Manager Hao walked over holding a money pouch and respectfully placed it in the constables' hands.

"My lords, please be accommodating. Our boss is young — we ask you to show mercy."

The lead constable weighed the money pouch in his hand, and his aggressive demeanor subsided somewhat: "Never mind. At least there's someone sensible in this shop. Consider yourselves lucky today. If there's a next time, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

Manager Hao kept smiling apologetically, single-mindedly wanting to send these important figures on their way.

Those constables wandered around downstairs for a few rounds and casually carried out the vegetables that Chi Nan Yi had prepared in advance.

Last night she had sprinkled Spirit Spring Water on the vegetables. After an entire night, those vegetables still looked as though they had just been freshly picked.

In this season, it was simply impossible to find vegetables this fresh.

They would surely fetch a high price.

Chi Nan Yi stood on the steps, watching them carry the vegetables with faces full of delight, a somewhat mocking smile on her lips.

Carry away! The more they carried, the better.

Just as they brought all the baskets outside, a carriage came to a stop, and the constables who had been standing outside dropped to their knees.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a cold, sharp gaze fell upon them.

Prince... Prince Li...

It was actually His Highness Prince Li.

That group dropped to their knees with a thud.

"Greetings, Prince."

Seeing the person who had come, Chi Nan Yi couldn't help but startle — Mo Junyan had actually come in person?

"Under whose orders are you searching and confiscating an entire street?" Mo Junyan's voice was light, but to their ears it was like a death-summoning curse.

"This lowly one is... is..."

Just then, several colonels received the news and hurried forward: "Subordinates greet the Prince."

Mo Junyan turned the ring on his finger a few times: "They were acting under your orders?"

"Reporting to the Prince, subordinates are pursuing thieves."

"Thieves." Mo Junyan gave a cold laugh. "Are you trying to tell This Prince that thieves were hiding in the vegetable baskets, or in the rice sacks? Or perhaps in the money pouches."

"No, no, it's not like that, Prince..."

Those colonels were each as quiet as winter cicadas. They had never imagined that today their campaign would go so badly, encountering His Highness Prince Li here.

"In broad daylight, extorting the people's wealth — your audacity is truly not small. Does This Prince need to tell you what the crime for such actions is?"

"One hundred military strokes."

Mo Junyan nodded and said unhurriedly, "Changed. Extorting the people's wealth — execute immediately."

"What? Prince! Prince, spare my life! Prince, spare my life! This official will never dare again! Never dare again!"

"Yun Shan."

"Yes!"

Yun Shan and Yun Shui raised their blades and struck, and the deputy general who had been so imposing just moments ago was already dead.

Those constables were so frightened that two and a half of their three souls fled, and they kowtowed and begged for mercy one after another.

"My lord! It was Lord Li — Lord Li Mingli of the Ministry of Revenue ordered us to do this! We beg the Prince for mercy!"

Just then, a soft sedan chair passed through the crowd and stopped not far from the carriage. Li Mingli, wearing his official robes, walked up to Mo Junyan's carriage with head bowed and eyes lowered: "Greetings, Prince."

"Lord Li, it seems you've had quite a fruitful harvest today."

"This official is dull-witted and does not understand the Prince's meaning."

You've looted so much—where does Sir Li intend to take it?

Li Mingli watched as the several Colonels who had already been executed still had fresh blood oozing from their throats, even flowing to his feet; his legs went weak and he almost collapsed to the ground.

Prince, I, your humble servant, have just received the news and truly don't know what just happened; I beg the Prince to investigate clearly.

With just one sentence, he wants to wipe himself clean.

Does Sir Li mean that you know nothing at all about today's events?

Yes, I don't know; it's these subordinates of mine, ignorant of right and wrong, who dared to come here to loot, offending the Prince; I beg the Prince's forgiveness.

Since Sir Li doesn't know, This Prince won't make things difficult. He said lightly: "Sir Li, since you can't even manage your own subordinates, you should step aside and let a worthier person take your place! Yun Shui, have someone go to the palace and announce that Sir Li voluntarily resigns and returns to his hometown."

Yes!

Hearing this, Li Mingli turned pale with shock: "Prince, I..."

What, Sir Li still has some nonsense to say?

The coldness in his eyes was like a millennium-old iceberg; just one glance frightened Li Mingli into silence.

All other participants shall be punished with two hundred strokes of the military cane.

Two hundred strokes of the military cane?

Might as well just say beat him to death outright.