Xi Weilan was rather dissatisfied as she stared at the scene ahead. That battered ship was still blocking her way. She clearly remembered her elder sister blowing an entire mountain apart when teaching her how to use a gun. Could there have been something wrong with the way she had fired just now?
She could not help lowering her head to look at the weapon in her hands, but she could not see anything different about it.
She quickly ran back to the table, set down the Gatling gun she was holding, picked up another one, and hurried back to the front. She decided to try a different gun.
The surviving river bandits were pale with terror. They did not even have time to mourn their companions’ deaths before turning around and fleeing. At that moment, they were incredibly grateful that they had not been aboard the main ship and had escaped instant death. One after another, they desperately turned their boats around and raced away.
Xi Weilan aimed the gun at the battered ship ahead and the fleeing boats. She pulled the trigger and unleashed another sweeping barrage, this time firing until every last bullet was gone.
The people aboard the ships that had been robbed were so frightened that their faces turned white. They feared she might accidentally sweep her aim in the wrong direction. Some hurriedly ordered their ships to move farther away, while others were so terrified that they jumped straight into the water.
When the gunfire stopped, all the bandits’ boats had been reduced to heaps of scattered parts floating on the water. Every bandit was dead as well. Even those who had fallen into the water and survived the first round had now perished, their blood staining the water ahead a vivid red.
Xi Weilan set down the gun and said with solemn seriousness, “Big Sis said that evil must be eradicated completely. You river bandits make a living through robbery and murder, so this Commandery Princess is merely doing a good deed.”
Inside the space, Xi Qingyue sensed everything happening outside. She felt that her little sister was becoming bolder and bolder. She had not even needed to show herself this time—Lan'er had dealt with the trouble on her own.
On the deck, Xi Weilan put down the spent gun and picked up another one. She always remembered that she was small, that her martial arts skills were poor, and that she could not let those people get close to her.
She even muttered to herself, “Big Sis didn’t give me enough. I’m running out.”
When she aimed the Gatling gun at the other ships, the people aboard them were so terrified that they nearly fell to their knees and begged her. What on earth was this child planning to do?
“Commandery Princess, please show mercy! We aren’t river bandits—we’re the ones who were robbed!”
A man in red hurriedly shouted. If she had been an adult, he would not have been so frightened. But the person before him was a child whose thoughts were impossible to fathom and who killed as casually as slaughtering chickens. Someone like that was the most terrifying of all, because there was no reasoning with her.
Xi Weilan stared at him curiously. “I know. I was the one who saved you.”
She had only been guarding against them. She had never intended to kill them.
However, the man in red interpreted her words differently. He could not help guessing, She probably means that since she saved us, we should give her a reward. She wants compensation. That would indeed be appropriate.
He immediately cupped his hands and bowed in Xi Weilan’s direction. “Many thanks to the Commandery Princess for saving our lives. This commoner is willing to offer one thousand taels of silver as a token of gratitude.”
He did not know whether this three-year-old child was truly a Commandery Princess or had simply given herself the title. But he did know that, if he wanted to stay alive, he could not say the wrong thing.
As soon as he finished speaking, several young masters and ladies also thanked Xi Weilan and said they were willing to offer one thousand taels each as a token of gratitude.
Xi Weilan’s face lit up with delight. So there was a reward! She had nearly forgotten about that.
She immediately put on the air of a little adult and nodded. “Mm. This Commandery Princess is compassionate and kindhearted. I also rid the people of a menace just now. But if you insist on thanking me, then this Commandery Princess would feel bad refusing.”
She spoke with a beaming smile. Those who had not offered anything felt their hearts sink. Did that mean each of them had to give one thousand taels? What would they do if they had no money?
Just then, Xi Qingyue found a secluded spot and emerged from the space.
She slowly walked over to Xi Weilan and glanced toward the ships and their occupants in the distance. “Everyone, my little sister’s hair is still wet. To keep her from catching cold, I’ll take her below and help her get cleaned up.”
Her appearance shocked those who saw her all over again. Another child? Were there really no adults here?
The man in red and the others froze for a moment before hurriedly smiling and answering, “Of course, Commandery Princess. Please go ahead.”
When Xi Weilan saw Xi Qingyue emerge, her face filled with happiness. “Big Sis, I just killed a lot of river bandits! They were awful and tried to rob our ship.”
Xi Qingyue smiled and nodded. “Mm. Lan'er did very well. Do the same next time you run into them.”
As she spoke, she touched Xi Weilan’s damp hair. Then she picked her up and carried her toward the leisure area.
Once they were out of everyone’s sight, Xi Qingyue immediately used her ability to dry her hair. She changed her into a fresh outfit, combed her hair until it looked beautiful, and even put on the hair ornament Consort Qin had given her.
In only a short while, the little girl had been dressed up like a delicate porcelain doll. Xi Qingyue smiled in satisfaction. “Now that’s much better. Lan'er is growing prettier and prettier.”
Xi Weilan was delighted by the praise and even said proudly, “Big Sis, I made money just now! They said they’d give me one thousand taels as a thank-you gift.”
Xi Qingyue held her hand as they walked and said, “You saved their lives, so it’s only right that they give you money. Once you accept the money, the matter is settled. But some people may not have any money, so you don’t necessarily have to collect from everyone. Understand?”
“Big Sis, I only accepted it because they offered it willingly. I didn’t rob them.” Xi Weilan felt that she was a good child. She would never become a bandit.
When the two sisters appeared in everyone’s sight again, the other ships were still where they had been. Not a single one had fled.
Even those who had no money did not run. Some were genuinely grateful, while others were afraid of losing their lives. Every one of them remained obediently where they was.
Standing at the very front of the deck, Xi Qingyue looked at the people aboard the other ships and slowly said, “Since you wish to repay my little sister and give her a thank-you gift, then we won’t stand on ceremony. You may thank her however you like. We aren’t river bandits, so we won’t force you to give us anything.”
Hearing this, the man in red hurriedly said, “The Commandery Princess jests. We are offering our thanks of our own free will to repay you for saving our lives. If we had not encountered the Commandery Princess, we would have died at the hands of the river bandits today.”
He took a thousand-tael banknote from inside his robes. He was frightened, but he was also sincerely grateful. Everything he had said just now came from the heart.
Several young masters and ladies beside him were children of wealthy families, and they all carried banknotes with them. One after another, they took them out.
Just as they were wondering how to deliver the banknotes to the two children, the notes in their hands vanished without a trace.
In the next instant, the banknotes appeared in Xi Qingyue’s hand. She waved them slightly. “Thank you all for the gifts.”
Then she stuffed the banknotes into Xi Weilan’s hands. “You can hold on to them for now. I’ll keep them safe for you once you’re done playing. When we get into the city, we’ll put them in your little bag. You can spend them however you like.”
Xi Weilan excitedly counted the banknotes one by one, though it was unclear whether she could actually calculate how much they were worth.
The man in red and the others were left utterly dumbfounded. One young master even dropped onto his ship, muttering, “Good heavens! Children this young are already so capable? Even if she weren’t a Commandery Princess, I’d still have to admire that ability to take things through the air.”
Suddenly, the red-robed young man seemed to realize something. He pointed to the corpse floating in the water and looked at Xi Qingyue. “Commandery Princess, this bandit chief is a wanted criminal with a bounty on his head. We can claim ten thousand taels of silver for his head.”
