Chapter 118: Making Things Difficult
“County Magistrate Wang, where is Sixth Sister Pei?”
In the county office public hall, a fair-skinned plump middle-aged man sat at the head, glancing sideways as he spoke, with a smirk playing on his lips.
County Magistrate Wang humbly smiled obsequiously: “Please wait a moment, Lord Shao. This official has already sent someone to invite Sixth Sister.”
“This time, it was all thanks to Sixth Sister’s righteous intervention, desperately holding off the Xiongnu barbarians and defending Changping County Town. Otherwise, Changping County would have likely suffered the same fate as Anle County.”
This Lord Shao was Prefect Tang’s confidant staff officer, a juren scholar by background, and he was not intimidated by the rumored Sixth Sister Pei. He even sneered: “County Magistrate Wang is an imperial court official, drawing a salary from the imperial court. Sixth Sister Pei is merely the daughter of a traitor. For County Magistrate Wang to praise her so lavishly, could it be that you even want to petition the imperial court for merit on her behalf!”
“I advise County Magistrate Wang a few words: don’t let your head get muddled for a moment. If the imperial court charges you with colluding with bandits, not only will County Magistrate Wang lose your official hat, but I’m afraid this fine head of yours won’t be preserved either.”
County Magistrate Wang thought to himself, I’ll live one day at a time.
If he couldn’t hold Changping County, he as county magistrate would bear the blame for losing territory and would have to die immediately. Now that Changping County was safe and sound, he could at least cling to life a bit longer.
Whether colluding with bandits or not, he had to survive first.
County Magistrate Wang naturally wouldn’t voice these calculations. He wheedled and fawned subserviently.
Staff Officer Shao’s arrogance grew even more rampant as Zhang Kou spouted wildly: “County Magistrate Wang, send someone again to pass the word. Have Pei Qinghe come to the county office immediately. If she dares to delay, don’t blame me for being impolite…”
A scoff rang out: “What toad is this from, with such a big mouth!”
A black and sturdy girl like an iron pagoda strode forward with fierce eyes.
Staff Officer Shao felt his scalp crawl under her stare and blustered bravely while inwardly fearful: “You are Pei Qinghe?”
The black and sturdy girl sneered and drew her knife: “What thing are you to dare call my cousin sister by name! I’ll cleave you with one knife!”
Staff Officer Shao’s breathing hitched.
Several bailiffs swiftly stepped forward and drew their knives in response. Staff Officer Shao felt slightly relieved at heart and finally exhaled.
Pei Qinghe leisurely entered the inner hall: “Pei Yan, don’t be rude.”
Pei Yan glared viciously at Staff Officer Shao and sheathed her long saber: “Listen to me. If you dare disrespect my cousin sister again, I’ll Pei Yan chop off your dog head and take your dog life.”
Staff Officer Shao usually followed Prefect Tang throwing his weight around, with all the county magistrates and magnates flattering and currying favor with him. When had he ever been humiliated and cursed like this? His fair face flushed red with anger. He pointed at Pei Yan and raged: “You crude wild woman…”
Saber light flashed.
One finger flew out accompanied by blood.
Pei Qinghe held the knife in her hand, her expression cold and ruthless.
Staff Officer Shao was utterly shocked, his pupils suddenly dilating. Only after a moment did he begin to wail in agony.
Several accompanying bailiffs drew their knives and pounced. Pei Qinghe slashed with a few swift strokes, her saber momentum fierce, forcing the group of bailiffs to struggle for breath.
Pei Yan unhesitatingly drew her knife and charged forward, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with Pei Qinghe.
Mao Hongling, Feng Chang, Gu Lian, and others all drew their knives together, surrounding the bailiffs.
In the public hall, saber light and sword shadows flashed, flesh and blood flew, and agonized cries rose endlessly.
County Magistrate Wang had long hidden under the desk. Secretary Li trembled alongside him in the corner: “My lord, this, what are we to do! If Prefectural Governor pursues, how are we to explain.”
County Magistrate Wang was quite calm: “Staff Officer Shao spoke rudely and provoked Sixth Sister, so Sixth Sister taught him a lesson. If Prefectural Governor wants to pursue it to the end, Sixth Sister will surely make Prefectural Governor understand reason.”
What reason?
Whoever’s fist is bigger, their voice is louder. This is an unshakeable truth from ancient times to now.
The prefectural governor’s mansion has at most over a hundred bailiffs, but Sixth Sister Pei has over a thousand elite soldiers. Even the ferocious Xiongnu barbarians were beaten off. For Prefectural Governor Tang not to bow his head and seek good relations, but instead send such a fool to provoke. It shows Prefectural Governor’s good days are nearing their end.
Secretary Li thought it made sense, stopped trembling, and his mind became active: “County magistrate my lord speaks reasonably. However, for Sixth Sister to teach them a lesson or two is fine. It’s not good to cause deaths.”
County Magistrate Wang lifted his chin, signaling Secretary Li to look outside. Secretary Li poked his head out and happened to see a bailiff heavily kicked to the ground, clutching his stomach and rolling in agony.
Ferocious! Too ferocious!
Secretary Li drew in a cold breath and clutched his own stomach with both hands.
With everyone making moves, in less than a stick of incense, all the bailiffs were down.
However, everyone knew restraint. No deaths were caused, nor were any bailiffs left missing limbs or broken legs. They were just all in too much pain to get up.
Staff Officer Shao, with his severed finger, was the most seriously injured. The blood still hadn’t stopped, and he wailed shrilly without end.
Pei Qinghe found him noisy and kicked out, sending Staff Officer Shao flying several feet.
Staff Officer Shao’s head hit the wall and he fainted.
Finally quiet.
Pei Qinghe swept her gaze around and pointed at a bailiff with the lightest injury: “You, go back to the prefectural governor’s mansion and deliver a message to Prefect Tang. Tell him Prefectural Governor may report to the imperial court to send troops to suppress. I’ll Pei Qinghe be waiting in Changping County Office.”
The bailiff, beaten black and blue, nodded frantically, deliberately crawled a few steps farther, struggled to his feet, and ran out like the wind.
Pei Yan jeered at the bailiff’s retreating back: “Coward!”
Then she turned her head happily and grinned at Pei Qinghe: “Cousin sister, that knife of yours was really fast.”
Being protected by Cousin Sister Qinghe was truly wonderful.
Pei Qinghe smiled and instructed: “Tie up these ones on the ground and send them to the county office prison.”
The bailiffs were beaten without any power to resist and didn’t dare rebel at all, fearing the female demon might change her mind and take their lives next. They obediently extended their hands to be bound.
The public hall soon returned to quiet.
County Magistrate Wang crawled out from under the desk, dusted himself off, and composedly said: “The prefectural governor’s mansion has over a hundred bailiffs. Yan Prefecture also has nearly two hundred gate guards. Moreover, there are several magnates in Yan Prefecture who keep many retainers and guards. These magnates all have close ties with Prefectural Governor.”
“Sixth Sister’s martial arts are unmatched, and she has soldiers and grain, so of course she’s unafraid. Still, it’s best to guard against them early.”
The imperial court won’t attend to here for the time being. Changping County has already fallen into Pei Qinghe’s hands. The surviving common people of Anle County have all gone to Pei Family Village.
Who will control the skies over this area of Yan Prefecture, Prefect Tang or Sixth Sister Pei, depends on who has more capability and more methods.
Pei Qinghe tugged at the corner of her mouth: “If I am no match for Prefect Tang, then County Magistrate my lord, accused of being a bandit, will have no way to escape.”
County Magistrate Wang seriously replied: “Having survived from the Xiongnu barbarians’ hands, this lifetime’s greatest calamity has passed. Following Sixth Sister, how could I have no way to survive.”
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly: “County Magistrate my lord, when not greedy for drink and not drunk, has an exceptionally calm and clear head.”
At the mention of wine, County Magistrate Wang couldn’t help swallowing saliva. While sighing, he went to the study room to write a letter to the county magistrates of the other counties.
Everyone is a colleague; pulling one ashore counts as one.
