Gu Huan had thought that although the Xi Qingyue sisters were formidable, opposing the authorities would still bring them endless trouble.
Especially with their identities as Commandery Princesses—Gu Huan herself found it difficult to believe, let alone the county magistrate of Lü City. Whether their titles were genuine or not, the magistrate would surely assume they were impostors. The matter would only grow worse, which would be very disadvantageous for them.
Her uncle was the Marquis of Loyalty in the capital. They had never wanted to act arrogantly by relying on that connection, but this was hardly bullying anyone. They were merely helping with a small matter.
Just as Gu Wu was about to announce his identity, Xi Qingyue somehow produced a Gatling gun in her hands and handed another one to Xi Weilan.
The sisters each aimed their guns toward Kong Mi and his men, frightening Gu Wu and the others into retreating a considerable distance.
Kong Mi merely sneered. “Putting on an act, are you? Trying to frighten this official? Do you take me for a coward?”
Xi Qingyue smiled brightly at him, but her voice was as cold as frost. “As an official of the imperial court, you did nothing to eliminate the water bandits threatening the people. We killed them, yet you refused to acknowledge it. A man like you is unworthy of office. And since you have offended a Commandery Princess, your crimes are even more serious. You may die now.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she raised the Gatling gun in her hands and aimed it at Kong Mi. Xi Weilan’s gun was pointed at the other constables.
Kong Mi still wore an arrogant expression, his nostrils turned skyward. He snorted. “Commandery Princess? What a load of nonsense. If you’re a Commandery Princess, then I’m a prince! Have you ever seen such a shabby Commandery Princess? You don’t even have a maidservant!”
The instant he finished speaking, his entire body seemed to explode.
It all happened in a flash. The constables only heard a strange sound before their county magistrate was torn to pieces.
“My lord...!”
The constables’ horrified cries rang out. Everyone near the docks heard them, and those nearby had long since been scared senseless.
Gu Wu, Gu Huan, and the others were also dumbfounded.
She really killed him!
The owner of the wonton stall was so frightened that she collapsed onto the ground. Oh, heavens! Were these truly the well-behaved children who had just eaten wontons at her stall?
The constables Kong Mi had brought with him glared furiously at Xi Qingyue and drew the broadswords from their waists.
Before they could reach Xi Qingyue, Xi Weilan moved her fingers.
In the next instant, the constables who had charged forward fell one after another. They did not even have the chance to utter a threat.
The remaining constables, who had stayed behind, trembled in terror. They stood rooted to the spot with their broadswords in hand, too frightened even to run.
The people near the docks were all shocked by what they saw. Someone could not help swallowing hard. Even bandits were not this terrifying.
The merchants who had stopped nearby were equally stunned. The county magistrate, who constantly bullied them and deliberately caused trouble every time they passed through, had actually been killed by two little girls?
This was truly... wonderful!
They were ecstatic inside, but did not dare show it on their faces. Instead, they hid in the shadows and secretly watched the spectacle.
Xi Qingyue pointed her gun at the dozen or so remaining constables and began issuing orders. “If you don’t want to die, go unload the bodies from the ship and use a cart to take them back to the county office. I’ll come with you to collect the reward money.”
If she personally went to claim the reward, it certainly would not be just ten thousand taels. It would be better to take compensation from the county office’s treasury.
Her little sister’s young heart had been traumatized. They ought to receive some compensation for emotional distress.
From a distance, Gu Huan was utterly astonished when she heard that Xi Qingyue still intended to collect the reward money. After all this, she still wanted the reward? The county magistrate was already dead—who would pay it?
Gu Wu secretly felt fortunate. Luckily, he had been sensible enough to repay his benefactor promptly. His little benefactor really did like silver.
The other people at the docks also wore strange expressions. Where exactly had these two children come from?
The constables being held at gunpoint by Xi Qingyue hurriedly sheathed their broadswords and ran toward the ship. Every one of them moved with astonishing speed, as though there were mountains of gold and silver waiting for them aboard.
Satisfied, Xi Qingyue lowered her gun. She even reached out and stopped Xi Weilan, who was about to go touch the silver. “Don’t. It’s too dirty. Your big sister will take you to get something better later.”
Xi Weilan’s eyes lit up at once, and she nodded repeatedly.
In less than half an hour, all the bodies aboard the ship had been carried down.
When the people at the docks saw what the corpses looked like, their first thought was that County Magistrate Kong Mi must have been an idiot. The bodies clearly resembled Kong Mi’s corpse and were obviously killed by the same group of people.
Unfortunately, the county magistrate would never get the chance to see it.
Xi Qingyue watched as the constables loaded the bodies onto a cart, then followed them toward the county office. As for Kong Mi and the others, their bodies were not loaded onto the cart. The constables were so terrified that, without explicit orders, they did not dare touch them.
Gu Wu and the others had long since been rendered speechless with shock. They only came back to their senses after Xi Qingyue’s figure disappeared from sight.
“My heavens! What kind of children have we encountered? Their uncle is the Marquis of Loyalty, yet even he doesn’t dare act this brazenly in the capital. These two children killed a county magistrate and so many constables without the slightest fear! Aren’t they worried that the authorities will place a bounty on them and hunt them down everywhere?”
Gu Huan slowly shook her head. “You’ve seen what they can do with your own eyes. Do you really think they’re afraid? Just keep an eye on their ship. Otherwise, if some fool climbs aboard while they’re gone, they may have to kill another group when they return.”
Gu Wu shuddered at the thought. That was true. These two children were far too bloodthirsty. If they returned and found someone had boarded their ship, they might blame him for failing to guard it properly. Wouldn’t that put all of them in danger?
He hurriedly led several of his brothers toward Xi Qingyue’s yacht. The men formed a human wall and stood straight at the very front.
Inside the county office, Xi Qingyue watched as the constables carried the bodies into the yamen before nodding with satisfaction.
Then she once again ordered the constables, “Bring us our reward money.”
The constables looked at one another. Where were they supposed to get the money? Still, they did not dare disobey. After agreeing, they hurried off to find the county magistrate’s son.
In the rear courtyard of the county office, the county magistrate’s son, Kong Wenzhou, was drinking while holding two beautiful women in his arms. He still had no idea that his father was dead.
“Master, something terrible has happened!”
A group of constables rushed toward his courtyard, shouting as they ran.
Kong Wenzhou angrily scolded them, “What are you shouting about? If something happened, go find my father! Why have you come here?”
“Young master, the county magistrate is dead! He was killed!”
Kong Wenzhou’s expression changed dramatically. The wine cup in his hand fell to the ground.
He shoved the two beauties away and sprang to his feet. Grabbing the collar of the constable who had spoken, he demanded furiously, “What happened? You know what I’m capable of. If you dare lie to me, I’ll make you wish you were dead.”
The constable was nearly strangled and could barely breathe. The others hurriedly spoke up. “Young master, we’re not lying! The murderer is at the county office. She came back with us.”
Kong Wenzhou released the constable and roared, “What are you waiting for? Lead the way!”
The constable who had been thrown to the ground watched as the group departed. He immediately slipped out through a side entrance of the county office. He did not dare show his face again.
Yet the murderer they spoke of was not waiting in place to collect the reward money. By then, she and Xi Weilan had already reached the county office’s treasury.
