Chapter 47 Execution

No one dared to utter a single word as they could feel the wrath coming from Zhao Tong.

Chen Peizhu was ashen as he knew that his life could possibly be over now for offending the emperor.

"Hmph, Chen Peizhu, given the fact that your merits to the Northern Continent weren't small, I decided to give you a chance." Zhao Tong snorted as he signaled the imperial guards.

The imperial guards nodded their heads and grabbed Chen Peizhu over.

"Apologize for your slander and beg for forgiveness from Jiang Ming." Zhao Tong then commanded.

Chen Peizhu nodded his head as he crawled over to Jiang Ming. "J-Jiang Ming, please forgive this old man for being a muddlehead and slander you."

Jiang Ming smiled and released his hand on Yang Liqin.

He walked forward and within everyone's gaze, Jiang Ming grinned as he decapitated Chen Peizhu in front of everyone.

The scene was bloody and everyone was in disbelief that Jiang Ming had just openly killed someone in public.

Chen Peizhu's head dropped to the ground and his expression didn't even change as he thought he was still alive.

"M-Monster." One of the crowd stuttered as he commented on Jiang Ming's barbaric action.

"Monster? No, I'm just cleaning up some filth in the Central District." Jiang Ming then glanced at the person who commented as he kicked Chen Peizhu's corpse away from the Moon Bazaar.

"J-Jiang Ming, did you know what you did?" Zhao Tong held a solemn expression as he asked him.

Yang Liqin was panicking as she quickly held Jiang Ming's hand. "Emperor Zhao Tong, please be at ease as there must be a reason for Jiang Ming's action."

Zhao Tong wanted to detain Jiang Ming for this bold display of him.

He had spared Chen Peizhu and ordered him to apologize to Jiang Ming yet Jiang Ming didn't appreciate it at all. Instead, he decapitated Chen Peizhu.

This was a slap into his face and a challenge of his authority in public.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ming smirked as he retrieved some papers from his storage ring and threw them toward the crowd.

"Those papers listed Chen Peizhu's crime and the reason why I executed him without giving him another chance." Jiang Ming shouted loudly as he patted Yang Liqin's hand to calm her down.

The crowd started picking up the papers as they held a gawking expression at the crimes being listed.

"I-Impossible, there's no way Chen Peizhu is related to slave and sex trafficking."

"B-But the crime stated clearly and he had also embezzled the funds of the Northern Continent to provide the bandit with resources."

The crowd was in disbelief when Chen Peizhu had committed so many atrocities that included sexual harassment of multiple young women through blackmail.

However, when they realized some of the women listed in the paper belonged to their wives or daughters. Their sympathy for Chen Peizhu was gone and rage-filled their eyes.

They began rushing toward Chen Peizhu's corpse as they tore it apart and vowed to destroy Chen Peizhu's entire business.

"A-Are those crimes real?" Zhao Tong held the paper as he asked Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming shook his head in response. "A little bit of truth and lies. The crowd is just a bunch of clowns that believe whatever you throw at them."

Zhao Tong twitched his mouth and Bing Tong started giggling at Jiang Ming's ruthless method.

"You really don't spare anyone that crosses you." Bing Tong said.

"You're wrong, Bing Tong. I never cross them unless they cross me first. I had given Chen Peizhu a chance to live yet he refused my generosity and sought his own death." Jiang Ming shrugged his shoulders.

Sometime later, once Chen Peizhu's corpse became unrecognizable, the crowd started to calm down as they realized the papers contained no evidence.

However, it was too late already as they didn't dare to demand an explanation from the emperor.

After all, Zhao Tong didn't detain nor cripple Jiang Ming for his audacity in ignoring his authority.

"Guards, burn Chen Peizhu's corpse as we shall complete the ceremony." Zhao Tong waved his hand as he echoed a servant to bring out the token of recognition.

As the ceremony officially began, the incident of Chen Peizhu was soon forgotten and everyone was celebrating Jiang Ming and his future success in the Central District.

The ceremony lasted for almost the entire day with many wanting to collaborate with the Moon Bazaar and Jiang Ming simply threw these tasks for Hong Ling and Yang Liqin to deal with.

He wasn't a good businessman and his aunt was much better at handling business.

Jiang Ming held a glass of wine as he glanced outside the window from the top floor of Moon Bazaar.

"You did a good job in investigating Chen Peizhu, Chen Zhiqiang." Jiang Ming suddenly said when he heard footsteps approaching him.

Chen Zhiqiang bowed slightly as he smiled. "This is the least I can do, sir."

Chen Zhiqiang was originally a lowly guard in the Central District but thanks to his swift thinking, Jiang Ming had decided to make use of him.

Chen Zhiqiang was now an informant for Jiang Ming who would gather information about specific people and relay them back to Jiang Ming.

"Heh, make sure your identity remains hidden and help me continue to investigate those people I asked for." Jiang Ming sips some of his wine.

"Yes, I understand sir. I shall take my leave now in case some people become suspicious." Chen Zhiqiang nodded his head as he prepared to leave.

However, Jiang Ming threw an item toward Chen Zhiqiang who caught it swiftly.

"Use that item to communicate with me from now on."

Chen Zhiqiang didn't say anything else as he stored the item in his storage ring.

Sometime later, Jiang Ming sighed inwardly as he sat down and stretched his neck.

"Is there something troubling you, Jiang Ming?" Yang Liqin came from downstairs as she asked in concern.

"Mhmm, apparently there is some mysterious master behind Shaoxing Ming." Jiang Ming said as he grabbed Yang Liqin and placed her in his lap.