Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 118 Making things difficult
"Magistrate Wang, where is that Miss Pei the Sixth?"

In the county government's courtroom, a fair-skinned, round-faced middle-aged man sat at the head of the table, speaking with a sidelong glance and a half-smile on his lips.

Magistrate Wang smiled humbly and said, "Please wait a moment, Lord Shao. I have already sent someone to invite the Sixth Miss."

"Thanks to the Sixth Sister's righteous intervention, she fought bravely to hold off the Xiongnu barbarians and defend Changping County. Otherwise, Changping County might have followed in Anle County's footsteps."

This Lord Shao, a trusted advisor to Prefect Tang and a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, was not afraid of the rumored Miss Pei Liu. He even sneered, "Magistrate Wang is an official appointed by the court and receives a salary from the court. Miss Pei Liu is merely the daughter of a disgraced official. Does Magistrate Wang intend to use this praise to petition the court for merit on her behalf?"

“I would like to offer a word of advice to Magistrate Wang: do not let your temper cloud your judgment. If the court punishes you for colluding with bandits, not only will you lose your official position, but you may also lose your life.”

Magistrate Wang thought to himself, "I'll just live one day at a time."

If he couldn't save Changping County, he, as the magistrate, would bear the responsibility for the loss of territory and would be executed immediately. Now that Changping County is safe and sound, he can at least prolong his life.

Whether or not they're in league with the bandits, they still have to survive.

Magistrate Wang would not voice his concerns, and instead humbly negotiated with the situation.

Shao's advisor grew increasingly arrogant, spouting wild words: "Magistrate Wang, send someone to tell Pei Qinghe to come to the county office immediately. If he dares to delay, don't blame me for being impolite..."

A sneer rang out: "Where did this toad come from? What a big mouth!"

A burly, dark-skinned girl, as tall as an iron tower, strode in, her gaze fierce.

Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Shao, though outwardly fierce, shouted, "You're Pei Qinghe?"

The burly, dark-skinned girl sneered and drew her sword: "What are you, daring to address my cousin by her name! I'll chop you in half with one stroke!"

Shao's advisor paused, taking a breath.

Several constables rushed forward, drawing their swords. Shao's advisor felt a little relieved and finally let out a sigh of relief.

Pei Qinghe entered the inner hall unhurriedly: "Pei Yan, do not be rude."

Pei Yan glared fiercely at Shao, sheathing her long sword: "Listen to me, if you dare to disrespect my cousin again, I, Pei Yan, will chop off your dog's head and take your dog's life."

Shao, who usually acted arrogantly under Prefect Tang and was fawned over by the county magistrates and wealthy families, had never been so humiliated and insulted. His fair face turned red with anger. Pointing at Pei Yan, he cursed, "You vulgar, uncouth woman..."

The sword flashed.

A finger flew off, accompanied by blood.

Pei Qinghe held a knife in his hand, his expression cold.

Shao's aide was extremely shocked, his pupils widened suddenly, and he began to scream in agony after a moment.

Several accompanying constables drew their swords and rushed forward. Pei Qinghe swiftly slashed with his blade, the constables struggling to breathe under the pressure of his sharp sword.

Without hesitation, Pei Yan drew her sword and rushed forward to fight alongside Pei Qinghe.

Mao Hongling, Feng Chang, Gu Lian, and others drew their swords and surrounded the yamen runners.

In the courtroom, swords clashed, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and screams of agony filled the air.

Magistrate Wang had already hidden under his desk. Li, the clerk, trembled and squeezed into a corner: "Sir, what... what should we do! If the Prefect investigates, how are we supposed to explain ourselves?"

Magistrate Wang remained calm: "Shao's advisor spoke rudely, angering the Sixth Miss, who then disciplined him. If Your Excellency wishes to pursue this matter further, the Sixth Miss will surely make Your Excellency understand the principles of justice."

What's the point?
Might makes right. This is an irrefutable truth from ancient times to the present. The prefectural governor's office has only a little over a hundred yamen runners, while Miss Pei Liu has over a thousand elite soldiers. Even the ferocious Xiongnu barbarians were driven away. Instead of bowing down to show goodwill and making friends, Prefect Tang sends such a blockhead to provoke them. It's clear that the prefect's good days are numbered.

Master Li thought it made sense, and his trembling stopped, his mind clearing up: "The magistrate is right. However, it's fine for the Sixth Miss to teach them a lesson. It's not advisable to cause any deaths."

Magistrate Wang raised his chin, gesturing for Clerk Li to look outside. Clerk Li peeked out and just then, a yamen runner was kicked hard to the ground, clutching his stomach and writhing in agony.

Cruel! So cruel!
Master Li gasped and clutched his stomach with both hands.

With everyone's help, the constables were all on the ground in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

However, everyone acted prudently, preventing any deaths or broken limbs among the constables. They were simply in so much pain they couldn't get up.

Shao, the staff member who lost a finger, was the most seriously injured. He was still bleeding and screaming in agony.

Pei Qinghe found him too noisy, so she kicked Shao, sending him flying several feet.

Shao's assistant hit the back of his head on the wall and passed out.

It's finally quiet.

Pei Qinghe glanced around and pointed to the least injured yamen runner: "Go back to the prefectural governor's office and give Prefect Tang a message. Tell him that the prefectural governor can report to the imperial court to send troops to suppress the rebellion. I, Pei Qinghe, will be waiting for you at the Changping County government office."

The yamen runner, his face bruised and swollen from the beating, nodded haphazardly, deliberately crawled a few steps further away, struggled to his feet, and ran out like the wind.

Pei Yan hissed at the retreating yamen runner, "Coward!"

Then, she turned around happily and grinned at Pei Qinghe, saying, "Cousin, that slash was really fast."

Being protected by my cousin Qinghe is truly wonderful.

Pei Qinghe smiled and ordered, "Tie up these people on the ground and send them to the county jail."

The constables were beaten so badly they dared not fight back, fearing the female demon might change her mind and kill them at any moment. They obediently let themselves be tied up.

The courtroom quickly returned to silence.

Magistrate Wang crawled out from under the table, dusted himself off, and said calmly, "The Prefectural Governor's Office has more than a hundred yamen runners, and Yan County also has nearly two hundred city guards. In addition, there are several wealthy families in Yan County who employ many servants and guards. These wealthy families have close ties with the Prefect."

"Sixth Miss is a peerless martial artist, and with soldiers and provisions, she is naturally not to be feared. However, we must still be on guard as soon as possible."

The imperial court couldn't attend to this matter for the time being. Changping County had already fallen into Pei Qinghe's hands, and the surviving people of Anle County had all gone to Pei Family Village.

Whether the power in Yan County ultimately belongs to Prefect Tang or Miss Pei depends on who has more ability and means.

Pei Qinghe twitched the corner of her mouth: "If I am no match for Prefect Tang, then the bandit magistrate will have nowhere to escape."

Magistrate Wang replied solemnly, "I survived the Xiongnu barbarians, and the greatest calamity of my life is over. With Sixth Miss by my side, how could I not have a way to live?"

Pei Qinghe smiled slightly: "When the magistrate is not drunk, his mind is exceptionally calm and clear."

The mere mention of wine made Magistrate Wang swallow hard. He sighed as he went to his study to write letters to the magistrates of the other counties.

We're all colleagues; we'll help as many people as we can get out of trouble.

(End of this chapter)