CH 166

April 28, 2023Merchie

A piercing scream rang out. Those who heard it felt a stab of pain in their own eyes.

Cheng Feng stood in front of Qi Changyi, preventing him from witnessing this bloody scene.

The other officials all stood up and looked toward the sound of the disturbance in utter shock.

The moment Li Wu saw the porcelain shard slice into Master Sun’s eyeball, he closed his eyes in horror.

Pei Zheng withdrew his hand and threw the porcelain shard to the floor, before leisurely wiping his fingers.

Master Sun had only screamed a few times before he fainted from the pain. Then, he was taken away by a few servants.

“W-w-w-what is the meaning of this?! How can you harm someone for no reason?! Does the law still exist?!”

Someone in the next seat spoke up, instantly gaining the support of the other dignitaries. A few bolder individuals even shouted for Li Wu to hurry up and call the guards inside in order to guarantee their safety.

Before that man could finish speaking, a gust of palm wind shattered the wine cup on the table, and had even managed to cut that man’s cheek.

“If you continue to scream, no one will be able to guarantee your safety.”

Everybody immediately shut up, but their eyes were still pinned on Li Wu. Their gazes were crying out for help, hoping that Li Wu would be able to vent on their behalf, and refuse to allow an outsider to be so brazen.

Li Wu gritted his teeth, and ordered the servant beside him, “Call them in here, hurry!”

Unfortunately, the guards who had been surrounding the building had already been dispatched by Cheng Feng.

Once Li Wu realized this, his expression became unusually ugly.

Pei Zheng had already walked back to his seat and sat down, and was holding a wine cup, focused on talking to Qi Changyi, who was beside him. He completely anyone else around him.

“Lord Li, ” Pei Zheng suddenly spoke up, “The city fee Master Sun mentioned earlier should be returned as soon as possible. Also, order the guards to open the city gates, and allow the refugees to enter the city tonight.”

Li Wu said, “I’m afraid that you don’t understand, Lord Pei. The space in Anli that can be used to accommodate refugees has already been occupied. If we let a crowd of people in here again, there won’t be anywhere for them to stay. Moreover, I hope that Lord Pei can reconsider the matter of the city entrance fee-“

Everyone else echoed this sentiment.

“That’s right. If you say we can’t receive any payment, then anyone can just squeeze their way into our city. Where are we supposed to go?”

As he listened to the discussion around him, Qi Changyi reached over and gripped Pei Zheng’s hand.

Pei Zheng’s creased brow relaxed slightly. He said nothing, and merely glanced toward Cheng Feng beside him.

Cheng Feng nodded, before he swiftly darted up to Li Wu’s side. A cold blade was unsheathed, and ruthlessly pinned against Li Wu’s neck.

Li Wu’s eyes immediately widened in terror. He stood, shuddering, in the center of the hall, and ordered everyone else not to say a word.

The hall instantly quieted down.

Pei Zheng was still sitting there with a very relaxed posture. Except that underneath the table, his long fingers had already squeezed that little hand, gently pinching, kneading and caressing it.

“All right, now it’s all up to you, Lord Li. If you cannot execute the conditions that were proposed earlier, then-“

Cheng Feng’s blade shifted forward slightly, slicing into Li Wu’s neck, and a stream of blood flowed out.

He was unable to reason with this crowd, but that was fine. It just so happened that Pei Zheng was not accustomed to reasoning with people in the first place.

Li Wu was already frightened by the situation; just now, he had seen Pei Zheng blind Master Sun with his own eyes. Now, even if Pei Zheng were to slit his throat, it would happen in a mere blink of an eye.

“I-I’ll agree to it, L-Lord Pei, please make him move his sword away first! We can come to an agreement, if you have any other conditions, just say them, in Anli, my word is law!”

“Since Lord Li mentioned this, please have everyone here present a written statement, so that it can serve as evidence.”

Li Wu shouted, “Write it down! Write it down! Hurry up, everyone, write it down now!”

The other junior officials and dignitaries glanced over at Li Wu with some hesitation, before they reluctantly took out brushes and paper, and jotted down their statements: not only would the city entrance fee be refunded, the city gates would be opened immediately as well. All of the refugees would be allowed to enter the city and would be well taken care of.

After they finished writing, Pei Zheng added on nonchalantly, “Every person must cut their palm, and stamp a handprint in blood.”

So everyone present had no choice but to cut open their palms and stamp a bloody handprint onto their papers.

The papers were all collected and carefully presented to Pei Zheng. Pei Zheng raised his chin toward Qi Changyi beside him, “Take them.”

Qi Changyi wiped his hands, before he received the evidence notes with both hands, folding them twice and hugging them against his chest.

Beads of cold sweat rolled down Li Wu’s back. His body was nearly stiff with fear as he asked, “Lord Pei, this is fine, isn’t it? You can let me go now, right?”

Someone seemed eager to take advantage of the situation and charge over to save Li Wu. It was a pity that he was too slow and clumsy, and he was kicked away by Cheng Feng. The blade shook a few times with his movements, forming another bloody cut on Li Wu’s neck.

Li Wu shrieked in pain, “Don’t come over here! No one is allowed to come over here! You must listen to Lord Pei’s every order!”

Only then were the others too scared to act recklessly again.

Pei Zheng stood up, before he reached over and pulled Qi Changyi to his feet.

“Let’s go, we’re opening the city gates.”

No one expected that Pei Zheng would personally go to watch the city gates being opened.

Everyone followed them to the city entrance. Li Wu had already been tied up by Cheng Feng; the entire way there, he was dragged along with a blade pinned against his neck.

After they arrived at the city gates, Pei Zheng led Qi Changyi up onto the towering city walls. As they gazed outward, they could see the refugees who were sleeping on the ground outside the gates.

After the gates were opened, no one dared to enter at first. It was only until a few brave souls ventured inside, only to realize that not only was there no fee to pay, but they were also taken to different streets or buildings to rest. They were even given cotton blankets and food; all of this was much better than staying outside in the freezing cold, and it was also much safer.

A wave of people began to flood through the city gates. After they entered the city, they hugged each other in relief and joy; they finally had a “home” again.

Some people spotted the pair standing atop the tall city walls. Once they found out that it was these two who had ordered the city gates to be opened, they all kowtowed to them, before they stood up and walked into the city.

Droves of refugees had safely entered the city. In truth, Anli could house a few thousand more refugees.

The wind at the top of the wall was a bit strong. Qi Changyi’s nose reddened from the cold.

“Great! Now, everyone’s inside, so they’re safe now, right? Nothing else will happen to them, right?”

Qi Changyi looked at Pei Zheng, his eyes flashing with a touch of starlight, bright and shiny.

Pei Zheng wanted to tell him that that would not happen. These towering city walls could resist the ravages of war for a time, but it would not always be safe.

But he was afraid that those words would be another blow to the little prince, so he said nothing, and merely rubbed his cheek.

“Your skin is freezing, are you cold? Let’s go back down.”

As he spoke, Pei Zheng led Qi Changyi off of the city wall. Qi Changyi obediently allowed him to hold his hand as they walked, but he was unsatisfied with Pei Zheng dodging his question.

“Is it yes or no? You ignored me, why did you ignore me?”

Pei Zheng suddenly halted in his footsteps and turned around. Then, he scooped the small man into his embrace.

“Because I told you before that I wouldn’t lie to you. But I don’t want you to feel sad anymore either.”

Pei Zheng’s arms tightened, and he felt the small man’s feet lift off the ground in his embrace.

“Cough cough-”

Two coughs sounded from the shadows; it was not Cheng Feng, but Li Wu, who was still tied up.

Li Wu had accidentally witnessed the two embracing figures. He had no idea where to place his embarrassed eyes; he could only fake-cough a few times, and hope that the two of them could restrain themselves a little.

Qi Changyi was quite startled by this. He shuddered, returning to his senses. He promptly tried to struggle out of Pei Zheng’s arms.

After Pei Zheng noticed this, he cast a cold glare at Li Wu. Li Wu almost thought that he was telling Cheng Feng to kill him in order to dispose of the witness.

In the end, the small man managed to struggle out of his arms. Pei Zheng’s expression turned a bit unsightly, but he still clasped Qi Changyi’s hand, and did not say anything more.

Once they had stepped off of the city wall, there was a horde of people waiting for them below, as well as a few guards brandishing weapons, ready to charge forward and save Li Wu.

Cheng Feng dragged Li Wu along and walked to the front, “Make them retreat. Otherwise, I’ll cut you a few more times.”

Li Wu hurriedly had all the guards retreat; no one was allowed to stop them.

The guards of Anli were just a few weaklings without any bloodlust, so they really did retreat obediently.

So, Cheng Feng used Li Wu as a shield while Pei Zheng and Qi Changyi followed behind at a leisurely pace. The group returned to their quarters without a single interruption.

After Cheng Feng tossed Li Wu into a room, he circled the area to check on the situation.

Pei Zheng and Qi Changyi entered the room right after. Meanwhile, Li Wu’s hands and feet were tightly bound, and he was huddled in a corner.

The moment they returned, Pei Zheng sat at the table, poured a cup of tea, placed it aside, and did not say a word.

Qi Changyi could tell that there was something off about him, but he did not know what. So he “hmph”d, before he walked to the side of the bed, and flopped dramatically onto the mattress.

For a moment, the room was extremely quiet, and in the corner, Li Wu secretly sighed in relief. Fortunately, another scene that would give him secondhand embarrassment had not occurred.

But in the next instant, this thought was tossed out the window. Because at some point, the man sitting at the table had gotten onto the bed as well.

Qi Changyi’s eyes were closed. At this moment, they flashed opened, and there was someone in front of him. He was startled, and yelped quietly in shock.

But all Pei Zheng heard was the surprised mewl of a kitten; a cute, soft sound, vibrating through the depths of his heart.

“I’m angry, aren’t you going to comfort me?”

Pei Zheng’s voice was deep and low, and it was a bit hoarse. His gaze flitted over the little prince beneath him: his face, his neck, his collarbone, his waist, everything.

Qi Changyi asked stupidly, “Were you angry earlier? Why are you angry? Who provoked you?”

Pei zheng grabbed his wrist and squeezed it. It’s so thin. Then, he pressed it against his ear.

“My sweetheart did.”

Notes

ABSOLUTELY BASED

PEI ZHENG ASSERTING HIS DOMINANCE WHAT AN ABSOLUTE CHAD

I really couldn’t believe that Li Wu was in the same room as them, that is so funny to me for no reason at all

Thanks for reading~