Chapter 279.1: Calculating Altogether

“What are you troubling yourself with these people for? And it’s just you that’s good-tempered. However, the other party simply won’t feel grateful.” Li Hong Yuan appear to be criticizing, but the tone was very gentle. “Since the interest is gone, then naturally it’s returning. In any case…….” He meaningfully paused, “This Kaiming Fu, aside from those annoying things, the rest is still not bad, so staying for ten days to half a month longer isn’t that big of a deal either. Otherwise, prior to returning to the capital, just continuously stay in Kaiming Fu the whole time. The other matters, just let the others take care of. This prince believes, many people will be very happy.”

Jiangnan had four prefectures, twenty-eight fu, and the officials were further too numerous to count. Each and every one were all scared and on edge. Ever since learning that you will be the imperial envoy, they haven’t had a single good night sleep. If you stay in Kaiming Fu, for those people, to say they will be happy, that was definitely not enough to describe. Perhaps they’ll just start singing and dancing, dust off their official cap in celebration.

Just, for these officials of Kaiming Fu, they’ll probably just want to vomit blood. Originally, it had nothing do with them, and Kaiming Fu was also merely a place they were passing through, yet now, required them to face this living Enma alone. If easy to serve, no, no need to be easy, just need to be able to serve was enough, then they will also do their best to have this period of time grinded away. But the problem was for this one, there was simply just no way of serving. No matter what you do, he’s all unsatisfied, unhappy, and even nitpicks, frequently pulling a long face. How can one live like this?

Even Jing Wan, who’s become increasingly clear of Li Hong Yuan’s temper, all lit thirty-two candles for these people, observing a moment of silence. Speaking of which, for those that have long casted themselves under him, exactly how did they manage to survive under him? Needless to say, those were all true warriors that have been tempered into steel.

However, one thing can be for certain, as long as it’s someone that has been nicely ‘trained’ by Li Hong Yuan, their work efficiency certainly will all be extraordinarily high.

After all, if their assignment is handled well, they will be able to obtain salvation. If not handled well, then one will be endlessly tortured and tormented by him. And as time passes, anyone will just end up broken mentally, losing the will to live. The only way was to just have everything taken care of the first time, so as to face him as little as possible.

All their motivation wasn’t for the sake of obtaining praises or rewards, but rather to avoid ‘torment’. This was probably also considered a great oddity throughout all of history.

Alright, when the living Enma was generous, he was still quite generous, otherwise, it’s not like they were masochists, who would follow him?

Jing Wan still haven’t realized that she was actually the number one warrior, not the kind striving to survive under the living Enma, but rather the kind that was able to tie up the living Enma and climb on his head.

Since they said they would leave, then naturally won’t stay anymore. A crowd of young masters got pitifully herded behind the horse carriage. As they were leaving, they cried for their father and shouted for their mother, begging their elders to save them. For anyone that falls behind, or doesn’t listen, those guards weren’t polite in the slightest, the seized weapons swiftly whacking over. Although not striking the head, it was still very painful. As the father or the grandfather, they all took it in, the heart aching, but could only look on helplessly, unable to do anything.

Especially the Governor-General’s son that was ‘specially’ looked after. If others just suffer once, then he will need to suffer twice. Moreover, having been used to being a tyrant, after getting hit, he would just subconsciously curse back, thus naturally just suffering even more. Practically just a vicious cycle. The Governor-General tightly clenched his two fists, gritting his teeth. Did he hate? Of course he hated. Just, don’t know whether this hatred was just directed towards Li Hong Yuan, or mixed with something else. After all, for something like this to happen, in a sense, it was still because one’s own family didn’t have the child raised right. Otherwise, Jin Qinwang’s behavior would be able to have footing, no?

What he needed to consider now was whether or not to save this unfilial son. Two million five hundred thousand taels, it’s not that he’s unable to bring out, and moreover, after bringing out, it won’t even seriously damage the family, but after bringing this out, he will have to consider the consequences. He wasn’t from an illustrious noble clan, and just as Li Hong Yuan said, building that villa already exceeded his net worth. However, that can still be somewhat justified. But don’t forget why his Majesty was sending an imperial envoy, effortlessly bringing out two million five hundred thousand taels, at such a time, will end up getting the home searched and the entire family executed. Moreover, according to his worth, it wasn’t enough to be ‘favored’ by his ‘master’ above, and plus, his ‘master’ was already being eyed by his Majesty, so the possibility that he would save him was truly to too low.

But to just abandon this son like this, betting that Jin Qinwang won’t really kill the person? One hundred thousand taels for a sixth rank official similarly exceeded their worth, so the ones that would bring out this sum of money afraid weren’t many.

But the letter clearly stated, Jin Qinwang’s temperament was unreasonable, indefinitely moody, daring and wanton, not giving anyone face, and even his brothers that held actual power, he would all act out against, not holding back in the slightest, so how can they be sure that he would just give up because it was several human lives?

“Governor-General, right now, what should we do?” The others were somewhat out of their wits, hoping that the Governor-General can think of a way. After all, his son was the main offender. The rest were all just caught in the net of disaster. If this matter can’t be resolved perfectly, they won’t just be bearing a grudge against Jin Qinwang, but also him. Then, in the future, in Kaiming Fu, he will have many troubles.

“Go back and tell your family’s madams to go request an audience with Jin Wangfei. No matter what, need to meet with her. Jin Qinwang no matter what…………still wouldn’t go as far as to do anything to the womenfolk.”

Although can’t say that women will absolutely be more soft than men, but under most circumstances, this was indeed the case. Moreover, Jin Wangfei didn’t seem to be the malicious kind. The letter also stated, need to attach importance to Jin Wangfei. Looks like they still, because she was a woman, just looked down on this bit. Now, she perhaps was the most crucial, or even only breakthrough point.

Right, right, right, quickly go back. They were originally just preparing to let their own madam go visit the ‘unwell’ Jin Wangfei, just an unforeseen incident occurred, and now further had to go.

It was rushing back without stopping the horse again, naturally not forgetting to send people to follow behind Jin Qinwang’s horse carriage to ‘keep an eye on’ the young masters.

Only the Governor-General stayed behind till the very end. He looked to that poor scholar, not saying a single word. However, that scholar just felt as if he’d gotten targeted by a viper, subconsciously wanting to back away. However, he suddenly recalled Jing Wan’s words, thus lifting his head and sticking out his chest, “This commoner greets the Governor-General.”

The Governor-General probably never thought that he would react as such, “You, very good, very very good.” Turning his head, he looked towards that girl, “Since you’ve followed my son, then naturally just someone of my Governor-General Manor. Someone come, have her taken back.” With that said, he brushed his sleeves and left.

Never mind the onlookers, even that girl herself all sensed the Governor-General’s malice. One can well imagine, going like this, afraid it was more misfortune than good fortune. Facing the two servants of the Governor-General Manor, she struggled with all her might, wanting to escape, wailing out ‘don’t want to’, ‘not going’, and even crying for help towards the poor scholar. Never mind that the poor scholar didn’t have the ability to save her, even if he did, towards such a woman that abandoned him, and humiliated him, he still wouldn’t help. “For you to do this much, wasn’t it precisely for the sake of entering the Governor-General Manor? Now that your wish has come true, you should be happy. Don’t worry, later, I will go to your family and have the engagement withdrawn, definitely won’t hold up your future prospects.”

The girl first blanked, probably never expecting that the other party would be this heartless, shouting that she was wrong, begging him to save her. Unfortunately, everything no longer could be redeemed.

The crowd of young masters getting ‘paraded through the streets’, this was big news. Don’t know how many pairs of eyes were drawn over, to the extent that the news spread more and more, gathering even more people over.

These people on normal days were mighty on all sides, and getting avoided like the plague made them immeasurably pleased, but now, they just hated that they can’t squeeze into a crack. Of course, the ones with this thought were all those that still haven’t thoroughly corrupt. The majority however viciously glared at them, the threat obvious without stating. Just, what they got in exchange was the pain of the scabbard striking their body again.

That grimace in pain, and incomparably miserable look, practically made one clap in delight, and couldn’t help but ask around in succession, exactly which capable person was able to have this bunch of evil tyrants pressed under control.

Thus, in a short period of time, the people of Kaiming just learned, a qinwang of the current imperial court has arrived. The evil tyrants of Kaiming Fu, aside from the ones that didn’t come out today, or didn’t get along with the Governor-General’s son and thus didn’t hang out together, the rest all fell into this wangye’s hands, getting roasted in one pot.

Although a portion of them witnessed that indescribable bloody scene, the majority of the people, especially the ones that have been oppressed before, were further willing to have this bit overlooked, just crying out: ‘Well done!’

That’s why, no matter how much of a tyrant, when encountering the ‘wrong person’, no matter how ruthless, one would still get easily crushed.

T/N: I feel like some subtle details may have gone over people’s heads, especially regarding the money, don’t forget what initially triggered this whole matter, Li Hong Yuan wanting to deal with Rui Qinwang’s wallet, and how the other princes all have connections with this matter too. It’s not just these officials hoarding money on their own. A lot of these officials all have their respective masters they serve.