Chapter 111 Chapter 111 The Storm is Coming (Eight)...
"We are in Kuaiji County, not Jiankang, Mr. Ji, why are you bothering yourself?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Li felt that Yu Yi had been a local tyrant for too long and couldn't distinguish between the great and the small. She scoffed inwardly, "I wonder what Master Yu has to say?"
Yu Yi waved his hand, and a figure behind him bowed and stepped forward. "Neishi Ji, the land division strategy requires verification of the population register, land deeds, and lease documents. These have all been forged. I also left five copies of the Yin-Yang Book with you earlier."
The county magistrate, who accidentally lost the Yin-Yang Book, almost buried his head in the ground.
"The refugees have been properly dealt with. Those who refused to leave are now cultivating unreported lands, and the rest have been driven to neighboring counties. Even if Lord Xie had omnipotent powers, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to collect all this evidence."
Yu Yi said indifferently, "As for Lord Xie, he just wants to make a show of it. We should be approachable and even offer him a generous gift. If he's not, then we'll have no choice but to ask Lord Xie to stay in Kuaiji County permanently."
When Ji Li heard this, her eyes widened like bells and she exclaimed in horror, "You're actually going to kill Master Xie?!"
"Why not?"
Yu Yi remained calm. "Kuaiji is a mountainous region. If Lord Xie got lost while inspecting the ridges, that's not uncommon."
Ji Li's throat was dry: "How to kill?"
"Before Internal Affairs Secretary Ji arrived, we had already discussed everything. We'll host a banquet for Lady Xie tomorrow night, and the invitation should have been delivered to her inn by now. If she cooperates, we'll be safe. If she doesn't, she'll be executed on the spot."
Ji Li really couldn't sit still this time!
Seeing this group of people sitting around discussing the number of people in the ambush and the assassination code, they spoke in a very detailed and convincing manner, just like a group of crows cacophoning and planning. They are truly a mob.
Ji Li was so angry that she almost laughed speechlessly.
Grandma Tian, these idiots not only want to kill the inspector, but they also want to kill the Marquis of Wu'an who just pacified Pengcheng! They really got kicked in the head by a donkey!
Thinking that these people were personally sending her to the west, Ji Li couldn't help but interrupt, "Although this Lord Xie didn't lead the troops south, he did bring some personal guards with him. How can you guarantee that you can kill her on the spot?"
A little girl from the Yu clan immediately spoke up, "She only brought a handful of people with her, while we have hundreds of Yu Garden guards! With numbers defeating the few, how can we not win?"
The little girl who was speaking was named Yu Nian, the daughter of Yu Yi. She had been domineering and arrogant since she was young, skipping school every day. She had not read many books and had no knowledge at all.
Yu Yi just nodded with a smile, lowered her eyes to look at Yu Nian, reached out to rub her nipples, and was very satisfied.
Seeing this, Ji Li found an excuse and slipped out of Yu Garden. She had originally wanted to discuss countermeasures with this group of people, but who knew they were so foolish as to decide on an auspicious day to exterminate all nine clans, like a mad local emperor.
The County Magistrate followed cautiously behind him and asked in a low voice, "Secretary, I...are we really going to participate in this murder?"
"Kill your father!"
Ji Li raised his hand and slapped the County Magistrate in the face again, cursing harshly, "It's better not to be in this position! But as the Internal History, I have to consider the face of the Yu family before I can act. Killing people? Can you kill the Marquis of Wu'an? Don't you think you are worth it!"
The county magistrate sensed a hint of retreat in her words and asked tentatively, "Then...are we going to abandon our posts and flee?"
"Still thinking about this crappy official position? You idiot, what's more important, your life or your official position? Hurry back and pack up, and run away overnight!"
Ji Li returned to the government office in a hurry, not even bothering to turn on the lights. He groped his way to the innermost of several heavy bookcases, squatted down, peeled off a few wooden floors, took out a box, and reached inside, but found nothing.
She was just wondering when the lights in the house suddenly came on and two shadows appeared on the wall.
One person sat alone on the couch, one hand supporting his chin while the other casually flipped through two books. Another person stood with his arms folded, leaning to one side, his eyes raised, glancing at her with a half-smile.
Ji Lixian bumped into the pair of slanted eyes, and her heart suddenly tightened, her throat pounding. Then she looked at the person on the couch. Although the person's eyes were smiling, they clearly hid a sharp edge, making her feel even more frightened than before.
"Ji Nei Shi, I didn't expect that a small Nei Shi like you is living such a comfortable life, with so much money as tribute from your subordinates."
As Xie Tingyu spoke, he reached out to fiddle with the copper coins scattered beside the couch, then gently shook the book in his hand, his eyes indifferent. "It's just strange that you kept such detailed records of these stolen goods."
A few clicks.
The wooden board Ji Li was holding slipped and hit the ground with a crisp sound. Her hand trembled, and she took a few steps back and fell to the ground. Her throat was dry, and she said, "Thank you, thank you, sir..."
Ji Li subconsciously turned her head to see the two guards outside the window still standing straight, like two blind and deaf wooden figures. How on earth did these two people get in without being watched by the guards?
Her heart tightened and cold sweat broke out instantly.
Although she had never met him, she instinctively knew that the person in front of her was definitely Xie Tingyu who came all the way from Jiankang.
Anyone who could sneak into the Nei Shi Yamen at night and avoid the guards outside is definitely not an ordinary person.
Besides, who would dare to go to the Neishi Yamen in the middle of the night when no one was around and openly look through the account books? The current situation made people feel nervous.
Xie Tingyu helped Ji Li up and asked, "I wonder if Ji Nei Shi has found a way to fool Tu Duan during his visit to Yu Garden this time?"
"No, no, thank you, sir, you are joking."
Ji Li was very ashamed and hurriedly withdrew her hand and put it into her sleeve.
The Nei Shi, who used to act domineeringly in front of his subordinates, now cowered like a quail in front of the Inspector.
"The five hermaphrodite registers that Ji Neishi originally hid are now in my possession."
Ji Li's legs were shaking and shivering.
"I have been ordered to go south to promote the local rule. If you are willing to do so, I will give you some leeway. However, your involvement with the Yu family is too deep, so dismissal from office is inevitable."
Xie Tingyu said calmly, "Confess and you will be punished leniently. If you reveal all the secrets that Yu has concealed, perhaps you can get a lighter punishment."
Ji Li looked up at her and poured out everything Yu Yuan had said, leaving no room for her to talk.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Wangshu raised his eyebrows and said, "What kind of peasant family are you? You actually want to kill you. Don't you think twice before you kill me?"
Xie Tingyu nodded slightly, "In that case, I must go to the banquet tomorrow night."
"Since you're going to this Hongmen Banquet, I'll go with you. Let's see what those people dare to do at the banquet." She raised her foot and kicked Ji Li, who was cowering on the ground. "Since this Nei Shi is in cahoots with the thieves, we'll go together tomorrow night. If you dare to be absent, don't blame me for searching Kuaiji to find you!"
Ji Li trembled and said yes.
The next night, a carriage stopped steadily at the gate of Yu Garden.
The car door opened, and the first person stepped out. This person, dressed in a high-waisted, narrow-sleeved, crabapple-red skirt, smiled, appearing gentle and approachable. Yuan Wangshu followed closely behind, wearing a dark blue martial arts robe with narrow, neat sleeves and a sword slung at his waist.
Yu Yi had already been waiting, his eyes first falling on Xie Tingyu and Yuan Wangshu, then looking behind them.
Xie Tingyu was accompanied by no more than five personal guards, yet the fine armor they wore and the ring-handled swords dangling from their waists were all razor-sharp. Their expressions were solemn and their steps were resolute. One glance revealed that they were all warriors, seasoned warriors, seasoned warriors, wielding true swords and spears, who had fought in the bloody battlefields.
Yu Nian, who was standing next to Yu Yi, wanted to take advantage of her young age to step forward and make some mocking jokes to Xie Tingyu, but before she could open her mouth, Yuan Wangshu gave her a cold look that nailed her in the spot. She was so scared that she fell silent instantly, shrank her shoulders and hid behind Yu Yi, not daring to stick her head out again.
Yu Yi bowed and personally led Xie Tingyu inside.
All the way to the banquet hall, Yu's troops were lined up on both sides. However, in the eyes of veterans like Xie's personal guards, they were just a bunch of small soldiers and crab generals. They looked grand and impressive, but in reality, they were standing in a shaky manner.
After entering the banquet hall, Yu Yi sat in the main seat, and Xie Tingyu sat to his right. Yuan Wangshu, disguised as Xie Tingyu's personal bodyguard, stood behind her, knife in hand.
She stood with her arms folded, and glanced around the hall. She saw curtains hanging low on both sides, and figures looming behind them, obviously hiding an ambush.
She leaned over and whispered in Xie Tingyu's ear, "You really cherish your life. There are a lot of people outside, and there are also a lot of people hiding inside."
Xie Tingyu remained expressionless. Seeing Yu Yi raise his glass to toast, he lifted up his wine cup and lightly clinked it with his.
She placed the lamp on the table. "Although I'm being invited to a banquet tonight, I think the atmosphere is just right. Why not handle private matters in public? May I ask, Master Yu, do you still have the white population register of the refugees who fled south in your Yu family garden? Why not fetch it now and let me take a look?"
"book?"
Yu Yi laughed heartily several times, and with a wave of his hand, several servants came over carrying carved trays. These trays were covered with red silk cloth, and there seemed to be something piled inside.
The servant knelt before Xie Tingyu's table and pulled back the silk cloth on the tray. On it were all kinds of jewels and money.
"I wonder if you, Master Xie, like this booklet? If you think it's not enough, we will get you another one."
Xie Tingyu chuckled a few times, picked up the wine cup again, and walked slowly to Yu Yi's desk.
Holding a wine cup, she faced the crowd and said loudly, "The Yu family has treated me so well tonight, and I cannot refuse their kindness. I wonder what other gifts you have prepared?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the Yu family showed joy on their faces. Thinking that this plan was feasible, they gave orders one after another and brought up the prepared generous gifts one by one.
The most eye-catching of these was a giant coral jade tree, its blood-red jade branches adorned with jewels and dangling with golden chains, gleaming brilliantly.
Xie Tingyu gave Yuan Wangshu a look and he walked to the coral tree.
"I've heard that this coral jade tree originates from Hepu and is very valuable. Even if it were to accidentally break on the ground, the shattering sound would be as crisp as pearls falling on a jade plate. I'd really like to verify it."
Before he finished speaking, Yuan Wangshu suddenly drew the sword from his waist and swung it fiercely. With a loud bang, the coral tree shattered instantly, large pieces of jade scattering like giant pearls, and small fragments as small as gravel covered the ground.
Everyone suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
"Thank you, sir. What are you trying to do this time?"
Yu Yi's eyes were filled with anger. Just as she was about to stand up, she felt a bone-chilling chill on her neck, forcing her to return to her seat in an instant.
"Mother!"
When Yu Nian saw Xie Tingyu holding a dagger against Yu Yi's neck, she couldn't help but scream. Immediately, someone from the Yu family covered her mouth and forcibly took her away.
Yu Yi was so shocked and terrified that she didn't even have time to take in the situation. By the time she came to her senses, the dagger was already pressed against her throat.
"Master Yu, I didn't come south to collect money. If I openly accept this generous gift, wouldn't that mean I'm turning a blind eye to the suffering of the refugees in Kuaiji?"
Xie Tingyu's voice was as cold as ice. "This is not my true heart, so I can only cut this coral to show my determination."
Yu Yi clutched the tassels beneath his seat tightly, his pupils constricted as he stared in horror at the blade at his neck. "Thank you, sir, if you have something to say, we can talk it over. Why do you have to do this?"
"OK."
Xie Tingyu lightly sheathed his sword and said, "Then send the books over quickly. Don't make me wait too long."
After saying this, Xie Tingyu actually turned around and sat down. He raised his cup to offer a false toast to the dazed Yu Yi, raised his head and drank the whole thing. "Come, continue the music. I'll be waiting here."
-----------------------
The author has something to say: There are only two words in my mind right now, "The End."
I don't want to stop updating, I don't want to stop for even a single day, I want to write it all in one go until it's finished.
I want to finish it! I want to finish this book!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
