Chapter 153 Gaining the Prefect's Trust and Successfully Entering the Hot Spring Residence
These words aroused suspicion in Lord You.
Upon closer examination, one can indeed find the irrationality in this.
Lord You suppressed his smile, staring intently at Duan Wu and Xiao Qidi, waiting to see how they would respond.
"Of course, it's to eliminate future troubles," Xiao Qidi said calmly. "If we don't take advantage of these opportunities to kill your whole family, what if you keep harping on us later? Besides, who knows if your family has any more hidden wealth? If we kill your whole family and then confiscate their property in a legitimate way, we might get even more."
“I…you…you all…” The magistrate of Hewan County kicked his legs, a surge of heat rose in his throat, and with a splatter, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
A look of surprise flashed across Lord You's face, and he sneered, "You guys are really ruthless."
It sounded like a reprimand, but there was a hint of appreciation in the tone.
Xiao Qidi continued, "Of course, now that we know that the magistrate and Lord You have a close relationship, we will not do that. We will return the magistrate's property at that time. As for the torture and fright the magistrate suffered just now, we apologize."
The magistrate of Hewan County turned pale. "If I hadn't sent someone to inform Lord You beforehand, I'd probably be dead by now! Is an apology enough for you?"
"Then what else do you want?" Duan Wu roared. "I'm only doing this to give Lord You face! Don't push your luck, you old fool!"
The magistrate of Hewan County was so frightened that he almost fell off the long bench he was lying on.
"Hahaha!" Lord You's face broke into a smile again. "Magistrate, you've only suffered minor injuries and been a little frightened. Don't hold it against General Duan. For my sake, let this matter pass, shall we?"
The magistrate of Hewan County looked aggrieved, but since the prefect had already put it that way, he had no choice but to agree.
Having dispelled this doubt, Duan Wu deliberately said, "As for the human trafficking gang, only three of those guys are dead. Even if the remaining three are cured, they will be crippled. Anyway, it's too late to save them, so please, Magistrate, don't pursue this any further."
Before Lord You could even speak, the magistrate of Hewan County blurted out, "You wish! Even if I don't pursue the matter, Lord You won't let you off the hook!"
Lord You's face immediately darkened, and he glared at the county magistrate.
The magistrate then realized that he had let something slip, but it was too late.
When Xiao Qidi and Duan Wu realized they had gotten information out of him, they both looked at Lord You.
Duan Wu deliberately feigned shock, "My lord, those human traffickers are your men? This... this humble general has truly caused a great disaster."
Xiao Qidi continued to cooperate, clasping his hands and saying, "If I had known they were related to you, I wouldn't have dared to offend you even if you gave me ten lives. I only acted too harshly because I was looking for something to do with the magistrate. Please forgive me, sir."
Lord You remained silent for a long time, casually playing with the jade pendant and hair tie at his waist, his eyes fixed on Duan Wu and Xiao Qidi with a sinister look.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the courtroom was extremely oppressive and cold.
Duan Wu was filled with anxiety, unsure whether he would ultimately gain the prefect's trust.
If he fails, all the acting he just put on while suppressing his extreme disgust and revulsion will be for nothing. But what if he fails to save that child named An'an...
He had never been afraid of fighting countless battles and being in danger, but now he was so nervous that his palms were sweating and he unconsciously lowered his head, not daring to meet the prefect's gaze.
Xiao Qidi remained as steady as a mountain, his face unchanged, his posture upright, and his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.
Lord You finally fixed his gaze on Xiao Qidi, paused for a while, and then suddenly laughed: "Hahaha, I originally thought those guys were already very powerful. Not only were they skilled, but they were also bold, meticulous, and ruthless. I never expected that you, a young man, could take them all down. I think you are only eighteen or nineteen years old. You are truly remarkable."
"Is Your Excellency praising me or mocking me?" Xiao Qidi asked calmly.
Lord You stood up, walked to Xiao Qidi's side, pinched his arm and patted his shoulder, then took two steps back and looked up at him, "Your physique is quite remarkable, and you are so tall, strong and handsome. It is no exaggeration to say that you are a dragon among men. How could I laugh at you? I am just appreciating you!"
Duan Wu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and then said, "It is an honor for him to be appreciated by the Prefect. If you do not mind, I am willing to serve you alongside Su Mu."
"Excellent, excellent!" Lord You nodded. "I've been waiting for your opinion, Su Mu. Your general has said so, what do you think?"
Xiao Qidi asked, "What does Your Excellency need me to do?"
Lord You smiled and said, "You have a strong personality. It seems I need to understand the situation before deciding whether to use you. But I must warn you, once I tell you, you will have no choice."
“I just wanted to see if you truly trust me,” Xiao Qidi said calmly. “It is precisely because I have General Duan’s deep trust that I am willing to do anything for him.”
Lord You was growing increasingly fond of this exceptionally capable young man and increasingly eager to recruit him. He was being led by the nose without even realizing it. He quickly grabbed Xiao Qidi's hand and said with a smile, "I am a man who cherishes talent. As the saying goes, 'If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them.' That's why my men are so loyal to me. Otherwise, how could they remain silent even in the face of your torture and even murder? Besides, General Duan is now inclined to submit to me. Since you are loyal to him, shouldn't you also serve me?"
Xiao Qidi lowered his head slightly at the right moment, clasped his hands in a gesture of submission, and said, “What you say makes sense, my lord. I am willing to do my part for you.”
"Excellent! Very good!" Lord You beamed with joy, his eyes shining. He then took Duan Wu's hand and said, "Today, I am truly fortunate to have General Duan and Brother Su Mu, two talents among the best! I would like to invite you both to my hot spring residence for a drink and a good time!"
The magistrate of Hewan County, standing to the side, felt extremely disappointed, his old face filled with the expression of a disfavored young wife.
His house was burglarized last night, and he was then severely beaten, even breaking a tooth in his mouth. Looking at the scene now, he felt increasingly aggrieved, and tears streamed down his face. He couldn't help but say, "Lord You... your hot spring residence was specially built for you by me. Over the years, you... you have never invited me. Now that you have just met them, you want to bring people over. Am I... am I really that worthless?"
Lord You laughed heartily, “What are you saying? Of the dozen or so county magistrates under my command, you are the most diligent in serving me. Otherwise, why would I turn a blind eye to your schemes to extort money from the people of Hewan County? You have been able to amass wealth so freely without being detected by the court. Do you think it's not because I'm covering for you?”
The magistrate of Hewan County almost blurted out that he had been giving most of the money he had plundered to Lord You every year, but he held back and could only force a smile, saying, "This humble official is naturally aware of this, which is why I have always been grateful and loyal to you, my lord..."
Lord You nodded. "You should focus on recovering from your injuries. Once you've healed, I will extend another invitation. How about that?"
The magistrate of Hewan County said excitedly, "Yes, thank you for your honor, sir!"
Afterwards, Xiao Qidi and Duan Wu left the county government office together with Lord You.
When Lord You saw that Duan Wu's fifty or so soldiers wanted to follow, he smiled and said, "General Duan, my place is too small to accommodate so many people."
Duan Wu naturally understood his unspoken meaning, so he ordered all the soldiers to stay at the county office and wait.
Lord You then got into the carriage.
Xiao Qidi and Duan Wu also mounted their horses and followed behind.
As they walked, the surroundings became increasingly remote.
Duan Wu couldn't help but become vigilant, constantly keeping an eye on his surroundings.
As they entered a mountain forest, Duan Wu's expression became increasingly solemn.
Seeing that the prefect's carriage was still moving in, Duan Wu slowed down and quietly approached Xiao Qidi side by side, whispering, "This place is not only sparsely populated, but its terrain is also very special. If troops were to surround us from the side, we only need to guard a few passes to hold off a hundred men. The more I look at this place, the more I feel that it is not simple..."
Xiao Qidi said calmly, "The governor of Daxuan County is essentially a local warlord, and they are all talented in both civil and military affairs. They have to govern the county and command the local troops, so they naturally know a lot about warfare. Obviously, this place was carefully selected by that Lord You. Moreover, we have just passed several hidden sentry posts. It would not be an exaggeration to describe this place as an impregnable fortress."
At this moment, the carriage in front stopped.
A follower approached and said, “General Duan, Mr. Su, the road ahead is narrow and rugged, making it inconvenient for carriages and horses to proceed. Please dismount and walk.”
Xiao Qidi and Duan Wu dismounted, and their attendants took the reins from them and turned to leave.
"Gentlemen, please follow me." Lord You beckoned.
The two continued to follow Lord You, winding their way through a dense forest until they finally saw a large mansion built against the mountain and beside the water.
The sky was bright and sunny, and the house was surrounded by a misty haze.
Duan Wu took a few breaths and asked in confusion, "What is this smell? It's so strange."
"Hehehe..." Lord You said with a smile, "There is a natural hot spring here, and this special smell comes from the hot spring underground. You may not be used to it at first, but you will like it after a while. It was precisely because I liked this excellent environment that I ordered the magistrate of Hewan County to build a house for me here. Whenever I have time, I will come to live here. I am not afraid to laugh at you, but I spend more time here than at the prefect's mansion."
"You really know how to manage your money," Duan Wu casually remarked, a smile on his face, but inwardly cursing.
This corrupt official's evil deeds were even worse than those of the magistrate of Hewan County.
That house alone was built with the blood and sweat of countless ordinary people.
"Life is short, so of course we should enjoy ourselves as much as possible," Lord You said with a knowing look on his face. "Otherwise, wouldn't I be doing this for nothing as a prefect?"
Xiao Qidi casually asked, "Excuse my bluntness, sir, aren't you afraid of being discovered by the court officials in the capital?"
"Hahahaha!" Lord You laughed until his whole body trembled. "Young man, haven't I discovered what you and General Duan have been up to? Are you two scared?"
Xiao Qidi said, "You mean..."
Lord You did not answer. Now that the group had arrived at the gate of the residence, Lord You said to his attendants, "Take them to change into more comfortable clothes. Especially General Duan, how can he accompany me to drink and soak in the hot springs while wearing a full suit of armor?"
"Yes, sir."
The attendant bowed and extended his hand, "Please, gentlemen."
Xiao Qidi and Duan Wu both knew that Lord You had found a reason to remove their equipment.
Even knowing this, the two had no choice but to cooperate.
Led by the attendants, they arrived at a room and spent about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to wash up and change into loose robes provided by the attendants.
"I must say, these clothes are really comfortable to wear, but there's no way to hide anything," Duan Wu said, opening his arms and looking down at the clothes.
Xiao Qidi gripped the fabric of the clothes, a cold glint in his eyes. "This kind of material is extremely luxurious, requiring a lot of manpower, financial resources and materials to make. It was originally specially supplied to the royal family and nobles, but considering that we cannot waste the people's money and resources, it was abolished. But I did not expect to see it everywhere in this place."
"Have you two changed your clothes?" a servant asked from outside the door.
"It's changed," Duan Wu replied.
Several attendants immediately entered, one of them with a beaming smile, "The master has prepared a banquet and is waiting for you two. Please come in."
As they were talking, the other attendants quickly took away Duan Wu's armor and weapons.
Xiao Qidi and Duan Wu exchanged a glance and walked towards the door. Immediately, two attendants led the way, and four others followed beside them, giving the two no chance to move around freely.
In a hall of the mansion, Lord You stood by the hot spring pool, listening to a report from a servant.
"My lord, as you instructed, five thousand elite soldiers have been dispatched and will be here soon to take their positions."
"Yes, remember, do not act rashly without my order. This is just in case. If those two do not have any problems, but they realize that I am on guard, it will only make them resentful."
"Yes, sir."
A short while later, Duan Wu and Xiao Qidi arrived at the hall.
Lord You greeted us with a smile, “Come, come, fine wine and delicacies are here. Today you must drink with me until we’re completely drunk!”
The two strode in and sat down at a table next to the hot spring pool.
Then maids knelt down on either side of them, ready to serve them.
When Duan Wu saw that these maids were not only quite young, at most twelve or thirteen years old, but also only wearing a thin veil, he immediately felt a little embarrassed.
Xiao Qidi simply lowered his eyes, focusing on his inner thoughts.
"Pour wine for my two distinguished guests!" Lord You ordered.
The maidservant responsible for serving Duan Wu looked to be the youngest, probably only about ten years old. Her movements while pouring wine were rather clumsy, and she accidentally bumped her arm into Duan Wu's arm.
Duan Wu quickly stepped aside, saying, "I'll do it myself!"
He then reached for the wine jug in her hand.
"No, you are a distinguished guest," the maid said timidly, insisting on pouring the wine.
Duan Wu got impatient and used a little more force.
With a loud clang.
The wine jug fell to the ground.
"Hmm?" Lord You's face darkened, and he looked over coldly.
"My lord, spare me..." The little maid hurriedly lay down on the ground, her thin shoulders trembling.
Lord You angrily said, "You've been here for many years, how can you still be so reckless!"
Duan Wu hurriedly said, "Sir, it was my fault for accidentally knocking over the wine pot. Please don't blame the child."
"Go down and receive your punishment!" Lord You roared.
The maid's face was filled with terror, and her body trembled even more violently; for a moment, she had no strength to move.
“My lord,” Duan Wu said again, “it wasn’t her fault, so why punish her?”
Lord You glanced at Duan Wu and said coldly, "It's not your place to interfere when I'm disciplining my servants, is it?"
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