The pufferfish was truly delicious. While devouring it greedily, Liang Jianping answered his brother-in-law: “That place is heavily guarded. The only two mountain paths are sealed off. Rest assured, not even a chicken could fly out of there.”
Hearing this, Wang Weiqi’s expression finally eased a little. He snorted and frowned at Liang Jianping: “And the one I told you to stop, was he stopped?”
Liang Jianping immediately caught his meaning and replied without hesitation: “You mean Lord Gao, right?”
The moment he said that, Wang Weiqi’s expression darkened. He raised a hand in a gesture as if to strike.
Liang Jianping hurriedly smacked his own mouth and lowered his voice: “Yes, we stopped him. But, brother-in-law, are you really going to help Eunuch Xu with this?”
Though Eunuch Xu was the Chief Steward of Qi Wang’s household, Gao Qing was one of the prince’s closest confidants.
And word had it that Gao had been sent out on a highly important errand for the prince.
But now Eunuch Xu had lured Gao’s group to a plague-ridden village, and even informed the guards that Gao must be stopped at all costs, even killed if necessary.
What exactly was he up to?
Liang Jianping, while loose-tongued, wasn’t completely brainless. He couldn’t help advising his brother-in-law: “Brother-in-law, you should tread carefully. If those two turn on each other, don’t end up like a pond fish caught in a gate fire.”
Siding with Eunuch Xu meant making an enemy of Gao Qing.
Unless… his brother-in-law really planned to kill Gao on Xu’s behalf.
But why take such a huge risk… for a eunuch?
Wang Weiqi let out a cold laugh: “What do you know? Eunuch Xu holds evidence of me aiding mountain bandits. You think I can say no to him?”
Otherwise, he’d be the one Eunuch Xu would purge first.
Sure, Gao Qing was close to Qi Wang, but so what if he couldn’t climb high enough?
Same goes for the Imperial Grandson. His threshold was far too high for people like them to reach.
And if they couldn’t enter the Imperial Grandson’s gate, then let the Imperial Grandson go to h*ll himself.
He had a beautiful wife, concubines, children, living like an immortal. Why should he die like those officials in Xunyang?
That’s how things work in the real world. Drive a dog into a corner, and someone’s going to pay for it.
Seeing Liang Jianping suck in a sharp breath, Wang Weiqi calmly continued: “Now do you get it? Eunuch Xu chose me precisely because we were already planning to seal off and burn the village. This isn’t even a matter of choice anymore.”
Liang Jianping pushed away his bowl and chopsticks and stood up at once: “Brother-in-law, I’m done eating. I’ll go back and pick out more men, we have to kill Gao Qing!”
Just as they were speaking, a yamen runner rushed in, flustered: “My Lord, someone’s beating the drum at the front gate! They say they have relatives in Gaojia Town and want to bring charges against the village lockdown!”
Courting death!
Wang Weiqi sneered, calmly wiping his fingers with a cloth: “Is something like this worth bothering me? Invite him in, tell him to speak properly.”
Once they were inside the yamen… “speaking properly” wouldn’t be so simple anymore.
Liang Jianping also sneered: “Let them have a taste of the prison torture tools. These peasants have had it too easy. If this were in a rural village, they wouldn’t even have the strength left to beat a drum to complain, they’d already be dead!”
The yamen runner hesitated and spoke up: “But, My Lord, many people in the city have relatives in Gaojia Town. Are we really going to seal it off and burn it?”
Wang Weiqi put down his tea cup and chuckled coldly: “Do you want to be the magistrate now?”
The runner fell to his knees immediately, banging his head on the floor.
Wang Weiqi waved dismissively: “Go. Invite him in properly. And once he’s in, don’t let him out. Understood?”
The runner acted like he’d been granted amnesty. His back was drenched in cold sweat. He quickly shouted, “Yes, My Lord!” then scrambled to his feet and fled.
Wang Weiqi turned to Liang Jianping: “You go too. Make sure it’s all handled cleanly. I’m heading to the back to see your sister.”
Liang Jianping agreed with a laugh: “Such a cursed business. I was the one who ordered the fire at the village, and the burnt stench could be smelled miles away. Now it’s Gaojia Town’s turn.”
Though he said it was “cursed,” his expression didn’t show a shred of remorse. He left right away.
Wang Weiqi opened the door and walked into the back courtyard.
There, Madam Wang was fuming, eyebrows raised in fury, and smashing furnishings across the room.
The moment he walked in and saw the scene, he clicked his tongue, then frowned: “Madam, what are you doing?”
His wife had a fierce temper, but she had every right to it. She came from a powerful local clan, and her elder sister was married to Huang Hongzhong, the Prefectural Magistrate.
In other words, Wang Weiqi was the prefect’s brother-in-law.
So even if she was difficult, he had to tolerate her a little more than most.
Unfortunately, Madam Wang clearly wasn’t in the mood for patience. She suddenly stood up and sneered: “What am I doing?! Wang Weiqi, aren’t you something now? You used to at least ask me before bringing women into this house, but now you don’t even bother asking, is that it?!”
Bringing in a woman?
What was she even talking about?
Wang Weiqi frowned: “What nonsense are you spouting? I haven’t done anything lately!”
He wasn’t lying. Ever since the Imperial Grandson arrived, Xunyang had become a river of blood. Officials had been dying left and right.
He didn’t have the mood to mess with women.
Madam Wang grabbed a tea cup and threw it at him: “Such a righteous speech! Then why is there a woman at our door right now? If you don’t give me an explanation today, I’ll make you regret it!”
Now he was really getting annoyed. He scowled: “What woman?! Where is she? Show me! Have you lost your mind?!”
Madam Wang grew even angrier seeing him put on such an innocent act. She shouted at the servant women: “Go! Bring that little tramp in here! Let’s see how long he can play dumb!”
The servant women were terrified. Hearing the order, they immediately rushed out.
So… someone really did come?
Wang Weiqi frowned deeper. He hadn’t messed with anyone recently… or maybe it was someone from before?
Either way, this was going to be trouble.
His wife didn’t have many talents, but her jealousy was legendary.
All of his concubines had been whipped into absolute submission, those who weren’t obedient were… gone.
His expression darkened slightly, but he could only maintain a front.
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