As night gave way to dawn and everyone slowly roused from their sleep, Qi Yuan had already killed the last of the constables.
She clapped the dust off her hands and, as if it were routine, went straight to find Madam Xie.
Though it had only been a single night, worry for her family had aged Madam Xie by at least ten years.
The moment she saw Qi Yuan, Madam Xie’s eyes flew open and she rushed forward, urgently asking, “Miss, how is Ah Yuan? Is he alright?”
Xie Yuan wasn’t as sharp as the average person, and life had always been harder for him. When protected by his family, he had lived relatively carefree. But without them, someone like him couldn’t survive alone in the world.
That very thought made Madam Xie deeply restless.
Qi Yuan stepped forward and sat beside her, speaking gently, “He’ll be fine. Trust me. All of you will be safe and sound.”
But this wasn’t a matter of trust—Madam Xie let out a deep sigh.
They say a prefect can ruin a household, a magistrate can wipe out a clan.
Zou Xiaopeng clearly had every intention of eradicating the Xie family.
In the face of imperial power and the county office, an individual’s strength was far too insignificant.
She inhaled deeply, feeling even her chest ache with the breath, and gave a bitter smile. “I’m asking too much of you. How can I expect you to guarantee anything under circumstances like these?”
Qi Yuan said no more.
Words often felt powerless. She had no ties to the Xie family—why would they believe her?
That was why she hadn’t warned them earlier.
Most people in this world don’t believe a stranger’s words, especially when it concerns their family’s future or life and death.
If she’d warned the Xie family before anything had happened, they probably would’ve thought she was mad or demonic.
She lowered her eyes and softly said, “This matter really isn’t as complicated as it seems. Madam, please rest assured.”
Elsewhere, Qi Wang had woken up early.
For some reason, ever since getting up, his right eyelid wouldn’t stop twitching, and it was driving him mad.
Irritated, he pressed his hand against his eye and impatiently called for Zhuque: “Has Zou Xiaopeng arrived yet?”
Zou Xiaopeng was moving far too slowly. Another day had passed and still no news.
Useless fool!
In a foul mood, Qi Wang waved his hand irritably. “Go find out!”
If he weren’t restricted from acting openly, if he didn’t have to rely on Zou Xiaopeng to do the dirty work, this would never have become so complicated.
Zhuque returned soon after, face grim. “Your Highness, something has happened.”
Qi Wang’s expression darkened. “What is it?”
Zhuque hesitated before saying, “Zou Xiaopeng is dead. And not just him—last night, Chen Haohui, Chen Wei, all of them died too.”
As soon as he finished, Qi Wang’s face visibly sank.
With a roar, he flipped the table over.
Dead?!
A county magistrate—a father figure to the people—was dead?! Along with all the constables? All in one night?
There was no way this was coincidence.
Qi Yuan!
It had to be her!
She was definitely behind this!
His face contorted with fury as he ground out each word: “Search for her. Search the whole city for suspicious individuals!”
Even if they had to dig three feet into the ground, he would find Qi Yuan this time.
He had been far too lenient with her. That’s why she kept testing his limits, daring to defy him so brazenly.
Zhuque hesitated. “Your Highness, we can’t reveal our identities. If we conduct a city-wide search…”
After all, they were operating in the shadows. Qi Wang was still under house arrest. Raising private troops was a capital offense.
That was why they’d had to use someone like Zou Xiaopeng in the first place.
Now that Zou Xiaopeng was dead, their means of targeting the Xie family had been cut off.
Qi Wang sneered.
He knew what Zhuque was thinking.
Of course—Qi Yuan hadn’t just killed them for revenge. She’d done it to cut off their path forward, to prevent them from harming the Xie family further.
But she thought that by killing those people, the matter would be resolved?
Naive. Pathetic.
He curled his lips coldly. “Listen closely—go to the prison and to the Xie residence. Wipe out the entire Xie clan. Leave no one alive.”
Not a single one.
He had been wrong to try and use the Xie family to force Qi Yuan to yield.
He should’ve done it right in front of her—kill everyone she cared about, leave no trace behind.
She was all rebellion and thorns?
Then he’d crush every bone in her body, turn her into an obedient dog.
That would be fun.
Zhuque still thought it was reckless, but he knew—once Qi Wang was enraged, he wouldn’t listen to reason.
Besides, if they walked away now, he might cause an even bigger disaster later.
So he complied and gathered a full force to carry out the order.
But Qi Wang suddenly changed his mind: “No. I’m coming with you.”
“With us?” Zhuque and Baihu exchanged glances.
“Enough talking!” Qi Wang barked and rose to his feet. “Move!”
The Xie family meant everything to Qi Yuan. She was definitely hiding near them—either at their estate or near Madam Xie, still imprisoned.
If he led the raid himself, he might just catch her in the act.
He very much wanted to see her face when the slaughter began.
It would be quite the show.
Qi Wang led the group straight to the county prison.
Normally, the place was guarded by constables, but with a third of them dead and the magistrate gone, the defenses were practically nonexistent.
Qi Wang stormed in as if into his own backyard.
He saw the Xie family’s old and weak women huddled together, trembling.
Qi Yuan was surely hiding among them—perhaps disguised as a prisoner, perhaps just blending in.
Now was the perfect time to strike—it would force her hand.
He waved a hand, sneering: “Kill them all!”
Zhuque smashed the cell lock first.
Instantly, the prison was filled with the screams and cries of the Xie women.
Qi Yuan, crouched in the corner, quietly tightened her grip on Madam Xie’s wrist.
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