"Greetings, Hundred Households Commander."
"Standard-Bearer Pei, you've arrived. Please, have a seat." Zheng Xuancheng put down the book in his hands. "Someone, bring tea."
"My Lord, you summoned me regarding last night's massacre at the Mo Mansion, I presume," Pei Shaoqing asked, already knowing the answer.
"It seems Standard-Bearer Pei is already aware." Zheng Xuancheng sighed and slapped his palm on the table, his voice low. "The culprit has no regard for the law. Their methods are cruel and appalling. As long as this criminal remains at large, I cannot rest easy. My men are all useless fools. They failed to catch the Profound Sect traitors who murdered those officials two years ago, and I have no hope for them this time either. Standard-Bearer Pei, are you willing to take on this task?"
"Of course." Pei Shaoqing agreed with a look of pride, then added, "I already have some thoughts on this case. In my view, it's highly likely the work of those Profound Sect traitors again. After all, who else would dare to be so audacious? The fact that the official-killers from two years ago were never caught has only emboldened them."
The Profound Sect was a convenient scapegoat for everything.
The key was that he also planned to use the Profound Yellow Sect to frame Zheng Xuancheng, but those people were too hard to find. He couldn't just rely on Song Youcai and Sun Youliang. This case was a good opportunity to try and force the sect to reveal some clue.
'They wouldn't willingly take the fall for this, would they?'
"Standard-Bearer Pei speaks with great reason." Zheng Xuancheng felt there was some sense in this. He hated the Profound Yellow Sect—the ones who had ruined his career prospects—down to the bone. "In that case, I'll have to trouble Standard-Bearer Pei to drag out these skulking rats. If you need any assistance, don't hesitate to come to me."
The Profound Yellow Sect was not to be trifled with. If Pei Shaoqing really did find a clue, Zheng Xuancheng would share in the credit. If he found nothing, their superiors couldn't hold it against him. And if Pei Shaoqing died at the hands of the Profound Sect traitors, he would have an explanation for the Consort.
No matter the outcome, he was guaranteed to win.
"Rest assured, my Lord. They are nothing but a pack of stinking rats in a gutter. Watch me bring them in with ease." Pei Shaoqing stood, clasped his fist, and spoke with his head held high and a disdainful expression.
'What an arrogant and ignorant little brat.' Zheng Xuancheng sneered inwardly, but said aloud, "Truly, a hero emerges from the young. I shall toast with tea in place of wine and wish Standard-Bearer Pei another great success. We can drink heartily once the case is solved."
"I'll take you up on that good omen, my Lord." Pei Shaoqing picked up the freshly served tea, took a sip, and set it down. "This subordinate takes his leave."
"I won't see you out," Zheng Xuancheng said with a nod.
Outside the Zheng Mansion, Sun Youliang, who was waiting with the horses, saw Pei Shaoqing emerge and immediately went up to him. "My Lord."
"Relay my order. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, have the five squad leaders and their men report to the Hundred Households and await orders."
Sun Youliang immediately replied, "Yes, sir!"
He then handed the horse to Pei Shaoqing and ran off.
Pei Shaoqing, in turn, mounted his horse and rode for the Hundred Households.
"Morning, Standard-Bearer Pei."
"Good day, Standard-Bearer Pei."
Arriving at the Hundred Households, the officials coming and going all stopped to greet him with pleasant expressions.
Pei Shaoqing went straight to his office.
A few of his subordinate squad leaders arrived one after another.
"Your subordinate, Shen Zhen, greets you, my Lord."
"Your subordinate, Ye Guoyun, pays his respects, my Lord."
"This subordinate, Li Jun, greets the Standard-Bearer."
At the head of the room, behind his desk, Pei Shaoqing was flipping through a book he had casually picked up from the table. He seemed not to have noticed the three men enter, nor to have heard their words.
And so, the three of them remained frozen in place, holding their posture with backs bent and fists clasped.
During this time, Jing'an Guards continuously arrived and assembled in the courtyard outside the office. Soon, all fifty men under Pei Shaoqing's command were present and awaiting orders.
After nearly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Pei Shaoqing finally put down his book and said calmly, "You may rise."
"Thank you, my Lord!" The three men, who had been on edge, finally breathed a sigh of relief. They straightened up and retreated to one side to await their orders.
Pei Shaoqing then asked, "Who else hasn't arrived?"
"Reporting to my Lord, Squad Leaders Gao Yunliang and Zhou Yong have not yet arrived," answered Ye Guoyun, the oldest of them—appearing to be in his thirties—as he stepped forward ahead of the others.
The moment his voice faded, a noise came from outside.
"We're here! We're here, we're here! We've arrived!"
Then, two disheveled men stumbled into the room, bowing together with clasped fists.
"Gao Yunliang and Zhou Yong, at the Standard-Bearer's service!" they blurted out in unison.
Pei Shaoqing stared at the two men without a word.
The two, who had just rushed over from a brothel, knew they were late. Sweat dripped down their backs as they kept their heads lowered, not daring to make a sound.
"My tea has gone cold," Pei Shaoqing said.
The two men dropped to their knees on the spot. "Please forgive us, my Lord!"
CRASH!
Pei Shaoqing grabbed his teacup and smashed it on the ground before them. Flying shards left several small cuts on their faces, but neither man dared to even whimper.
"Forgive you? The Jing'an Guard is the Emperor's Personal Guard! To disrespect a military order and delay a military matter is punishable by beheading!" Pei Shaoqing's reprimand was severe, but then his tone suddenly softened slightly. "However, I am a merciful official. I will spare your worthless lives. But you are no longer worthy of the name 'Jing'an.' Men! Strip them of their official uniforms!"
"Yes, sir!" Sun Youliang and Song Youcai immediately rushed in with several men and pinned the two kneeling figures to the ground.
Off to the side, Shen Zhen and the other two exchanged a look. They all knew that Zhou Yong and Gao Yunliang were simply unlucky; they had walked right into Pei Shaoqing's line of fire and were being used to establish his authority—killing the chicken to scare the monkey.
But Sun Youliang knew the two weren't just unlucky. After learning they had spent the previous night drinking at a brothel, he had intentionally delayed delivering their summons.
'After all, if no one makes a mistake, how can Lord Pei, our acting Standard-Bearer, establish his authority? And if there are no empty positions, how can Lord Pei promote a trusted subordinate like me?'
'A subordinate must always be thinking of how to solve the superior's problems!'
And, incidentally, seek benefits for himself.
"My Lord, forgive us! We beg you, my Lord, forgive us!"
Zhou Yong and Gao Yunliang struggled and shouted.
"Drag them out!" Pei Shaoqing ordered with a wave of his hand.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Zhou Yong's face flushed red as he resisted, cursing in a fit of rage, "Pei Shaoqing, who are you pretending to be, some loyal servant of the Emperor? If it weren't for your family's connections, what right would you have to be ranked above us..."
The moment he said this, everyone's expression changed dramatically.
The next moment, a figure flashed like a phantom. Ye Hanshuang, who had been standing behind Pei Shaoqing, appeared beside Zhou Yong. Her sword was a streak of cold light cleaving the air. In an instant, head was separated from body. Blood gushed from the stump of his neck as Ye Hanshuang held the severed head up by the hair, blood dripping from it.
Everyone in the courtyard cried out in alarm.
But inside the room, there was only dead silence.
Gao Yunliang, who stood beside him and was splattered with blood, felt his bones turn to jelly. Sweat poured down like rain as he panicked and repeatedly shouted, "I accept my punishment! I accept it! I accept it!"
Pei Shaoqing waved his hand, his expression impassive.
Two Jing'an Guards immediately dragged Gao Yunliang away.
"This beast Zhou Yong defied a superior's order and even attempted to assassinate me. His death was justified! Someone, clean up this scene," Pei Shaoqing said, officially defining the nature of Zhou Yong's death.
And no one was blind enough to step forward and cry injustice for him.
Ye Hanshuang casually tossed the head aside, sheathed her longsword with a cold expression, and resumed her position behind Pei Shaoqing.
Pei Shaoqing continued, "The vacant squad leader positions will be temporarily filled by Song Youcai and Sun Youliang. Once I report to the Hundred Households Commander, I will secure official appointments for you both."
"Thank you for the promotion, my Lord!" Sun Youliang and Song Youcai were ecstatic, immediately dropping to one knee, clasping their fists, and expressing their gratitude.
"Rise." Pei Shaoqing waved his hand.
The two shouted in unison again, "Thank you, my Lord!"
Seated at the head of the room, Pei Shaoqing's gaze slowly swept over his five subordinates as he said in a low voice, "In the early hours of the morning, the entire Mo Mansion was annihilated. I am now in charge of this case. I suspect this is the work of the Profound Yellow Sect rebels. You are to immediately begin a city-wide search for any suspicious individuals. I don't care if you have to tear Tongzhou upside down, you will find the culprits!"
"Yes, my Lord!" the five answered in unison.
"Go." Pei Shaoqing nodded, then added, "Squad Leader Sun, Squad Leader Song, you two bring some men and accompany me to the crime scene. Let's see if we can find anything."
"Yes, sir!" Sun and Song stepped forward and replied.
Pei Shaoqing took the lead and walked out.
In the courtyard, the fifty men stood as straight and orderly as a forest of trees. They saluted in unison, "Greetings, my Lord!"
Pei Shaoqing's expression was calm. He did not respond, but simply placed one hand on the hilt of his blade and walked through the crowd with an air of composure.
"You men, come with me."
Sun Youliang and Song Youcai picked out their men and followed.