Chapter 167 – Ruthless and Merciless
Yan Xiaosi tightened her grip slightly on the man’s neck, her voice as sharp as breaking ice.
“If you don’t speak, believe it or not, I’ll break your neck.”
The man shivered under her icy expression and tone.
“Hero, please don’t kill me, I’ll speak.”
Yan Xiaosi loosened her grip, but her expression remained cold.
The man stammered, “The five of us are small-time thugs from Xize County city. We usually just collect protection money to get by. It was Steward Yan from the county court who found us and told us to wait here to give you and your sisters a harsh lesson. Once done, Steward Yan promised us ten silver taels.”
With the man confessing Yan Bozhang’s involvement, Yan Xiaosi understood everything.
The previous night, in her anger, she had spoken harshly to Yan Bozhang. He must have harbored a grudge and hired these thugs to intimidate her, partly to scare her and partly, she guessed, in hopes that she would be frightened into submission to the Yan family.
“Hmph!”
Yan Xiaosi scoffed.
The Yan family had greatly underestimated her. Thinking a few thugs could scare her into submission was laughable.
Having learned the truth, Long Yu glanced at Yan Xiaosi and asked with interest, “What do you plan to do with these five thugs?”
Yan Xiaosi replied crisply, “These five are just small fry. What’s the point in dealing with them?”
“Exactly, dealing with us is pointless. You should take it up with Steward Yan; he’s the real mastermind behind this,” the man who had confessed said, his spirits lifting as he looked at Yan Xiaosi.
Annoyed by the man’s noise, Long Yu casually sealed his vocal point.
Then he asked Yan Xiaosi, “How do you plan to deal with Yan Bozhang? Behind him is County Magistrate Yao Jin. Even if you take these five to the county court to file a complaint, Yan Bozhang will seek Yao Jin’s protection, and you won’t be able to touch him.”
Yan Xiaosi, of course, understood the concept of officials protecting each other.
To stop Yao Jin from protecting Yan Bozhang, only Long Yu’s intervention as a general could help.
After thinking for a moment, Yan Xiaosi bravely said, “Magistrate Yao Jin’s three-year term is almost up. Over these years, Yan Bozhang has done many favors for Yao Jin. Once Yao Jin is transferred, the next likely candidate for Xize County magistrate is Yan Bozhang. Allowing a man like Yan Bozhang to become the magistrate will only bring suffering to the people of Xize County. General Zhan, you surely can’t stand by and watch the people suffer.”
“Of course, I won’t stand by idly,” Long Yu replied, then realized he might have fallen into a trap set by someone.
Yan Xiaosi smiled and said, “In that case, why not prevent Yan Bozhang from becoming the magistrate of Xize County before Yao Jin is transferred?”
Hearing this, both Long Yu and Murong Qinjian slightly smiled.
Indeed, a ruthless and cunning youngster.
Yan Bozhang, having served as Steward in the county court for years, enduring humiliation and bowing to Yao Jin, had done so in hopes of becoming the county magistrate once Yao Jin was promoted. Now, this youngster intended to deny Yan Bozhang that position, a fate worse than death.
Long Yu’s lips curled slightly, asking with interest, “And how do you propose to do that?”
Allowing someone like Yan Bozhang to become the magistrate was indeed harmful, and he was willing to assist the youngster.
Yan Xiaosi glanced at Long Yu and analyzed, “According to the laws of Great Chu, if a scholar has a record of criminal misconduct, can he still hold an official position in Great Chu?”
A flicker of admiration crossed Long Yu’s eyes.
He hadn’t expected the youngster to remember the laws of Great Chu so clearly.
“That’s correct.”
Yan Xiaosi’s eyes shifted, glancing over the five disheveled men, and continued, “These five, by waylaying and injuring people, have committed criminal misconduct, violating the laws of Great Chu.”
“Okay.”
“These five men were instructed by Yan Bozhang. As long as it is confirmed that they were acting under Yan Bozhang’s orders, wouldn’t his crime be more severe than theirs?”
“Naturally.”
Yan Xiaosi shifted her gaze away from the five men.
“What I need to do now is to confirm that these five were indeed instructed by Yan Bozhang.”
“Did Yan Bozhang give you any silver?”
Yan Xiaosi stared down the five men with an intense gaze.
The men shook their heads in unison, and the one who appeared the most composed replied, “Steward Yan wouldn’t be so foolish to give us the silver before we completed the task.”
Yan Xiaosi thought the same; it was unlikely for Yan Bozhang to be so careless.
She walked up to one of the men, looked down at him from above, and then squatted down.
The man recoiled in fear from her actions.
“Don’t kill me, I’ve already told you everything I know.”
Long Yu and Murong Qinjian watched her curiously, wondering what she was planning to do.
Yan Xiaosi examined the man; she had injured his right knee with a stone.
She grabbed his right leg with her left hand and tapped a few times on his knee with her right hand, saying coldly, “Try it, see if you can stand up now.”
The man’s knee, which had been excruciatingly painful, felt significantly less pain after her tapping. Overjoyed, he slowly stood up as she instructed.
“I… I can stand now.”
Seeing that he could stand, Yan Xiaosi moved to another man and began treating him after a brief examination.
After she treated all five men, they still looked disheveled but were much more spirited and could move freely.
Murong Qinjian watched Yan Xiaosi in amazement.
This youngster was truly impressive. With just a few taps and knocks, he made these five men stand up.
No wonder Long Yu held him in high regard; even he was beginning to appreciate this youngster.
Yan Xiaosi clapped her hands and said to the five, “You five go back to Xize County town immediately and tell Yan Bozhang that you have succeeded.”
The five ruffians, faced with this formidable young man, wished they could grow wings and fly away. Hearing Yan Xiaosi’s words, they all started to run.
As they were about to leave, Yan Xiaosi coolly reminded them, “When you start running, do you feel a slight stabbing pain in your lower abdomen?”
The five men stopped in their tracks.
Yan Xiaosi continued in a chilling tone, “Don’t be afraid, I just made some small adjustments to each of you. As long as you obediently follow my orders and complete the task, I assure you nothing will happen. But if you dare to play tricks or betray me, you’ll bear the consequences.”
The expressions on the men’s faces tightened.
“Young brother, we wouldn’t dare betray you.”
Yan Xiaosi sneered, “That’s for the best.”
