Chapter Ninety-Six: The Madwoman

I thought you looked quite spry, hardly like someone who had been locked up for two days, Qi Jun teased with a smile when he saw Sun Jiu.

Hey, you don’t know the half of it. It was damn stifling, Sun Jiu cursed as he glanced at the county constables tied up on the ground and lifted a leg to kick one of them.

No mistreating prisoners, Qi Jun said, giving him a sidelong look. Then, frowning, he asked, Wasn’t I supposed to have you guard the Meng estate and keep an eye on Meng Wanhe and the others? What happened?

It was a miserable business... After our first squad arrived, I’d just finished assigning them their tasks when Zhao Gui came with the men from the third squad, saying you’d sent them to take over for us.

Recalling that afternoon, Sun Jiu said bitterly, I didn’t even catch on at first. I was still wondering why you’d make such an arrangement. Then the third squad took us by surprise, rushed us, stripped us of our weapons, tied us up, and threw us into the county constables’ barracks to be locked away.

The more Sun Jiu spoke, the angrier he became. Seeing that the ones tied up here were all from the third squad, he turned and dragged their captain, Zhao Gui, out from among them.

Captain Sun... Captain Sun! It was all that bastard He who made me do it. Let’s talk this out, please, talk it out... Zhao Gui trembled as he stared at Sun Jiu’s fists, now charged with rage, and begged for mercy with a trembling voice.

Talk it out? Talk your damn nonsense! Sun Jiu unleashed two savage punches in succession, instantly turning Zhao Gui into a battered wreck.

Ahem! Sun Jiu, that’s enough, Qi Jun coughed twice. He had not stopped Sun Jiu earlier because he knew the man was bottling up a fierce resentment.

Given Sun Jiu’s temperament, if he were not allowed to vent that anger now, he might end up choking on it so badly at night that his lungs would burst. Those two blows were heavy enough; if he did not stop him now, Zhao Gui might be beaten into something serious.

Sir, this Zhao really hit below the belt. He even aimed his kicks straight at my crotch! How could I possibly go easy on him? Sun Jiu spat at Zhao Gui in anger, then kicked him back into the line of constables.

Pfft... Qi Jun nearly laughed out loud. Zhao Gui truly was a vile sort; if he had crippled Sun Jiu, then even killing him now would be a mercy.

Enough. The important thing is the business at hand. Take them all back to the constables’ barracks and lock them up first. Then lead men to capture Meng Wanhe and the rest. Don’t let those wealthy gentry get away!

Under the night sky, Qi Jun and Sun Jiu led several dozen county constables at a brisk run through the silent streets.

To the constables, having their weapons seized by their own men and then being locked in the cells of the constables’ barracks was an intolerable humiliation.

With He Wenxing dead, Zhao Gui’s third squad had likewise been confined in the barracks and made to endure the same treatment. Apart from the second squad, which was responsible for guarding the city and patrolling, had not yet been dealt with. At present, only Meng Wanhe and the others remained at large.

When they reached the Meng estate, the constables split into two groups. One surrounded the manor and sealed off every exit, while the other, led by Qi Jun and Sun Jiu, smashed open the gate and rushed in to search and arrest.

Yet after searching every room and corner of the Meng residence, they found only a few trembling household servants.

Where is the Meng surname? Where are the others? Sun Jiu angrily seized one of the servants by the collar and hauled him off the ground.

Officials... honored officials, we’re just here to keep watch over the place. Master Meng packed up and left early this morning... The servant had clearly never seen such a scene before and stammered through his answer, his body shaking.

Left? Where to?!

The servant was so frightened by Sun Jiu’s glare that he looked ready to cry. I... I don’t know either...

Damn it, that Meng bastard got away, Sun Jiu said angrily, tossing the servant aside. With a wave of his hand, he ordered, Take them all back and interrogate them carefully. If anyone is found to have colluded with bandits, kill them without mercy.

Honored officials, we are innocent! We truly knew nothing of what the master was doing... The servants cried out as several constables bound them and took them away.

Sir, it seems we were too late, Sun Jiu said as he entered the disordered main hall and kicked over a tea stool in irritation. Glancing around, he saw that all the valuables in the room had already been moved away.

He Wenxing was going to seek refuge with the Qiang. Naturally, Meng Wanhe would not stay here waiting for us to come arrest him. There was nothing to be done about that, Qi Jun said as he picked up a vase, looked it over, and set it back down.

Then... should we still send someone to check the estates of Zheng Laowu and the others?

Since Meng Wanhe has already fled, the others are even less likely to have stayed behind. Send people to seal up their estates and inventory their remaining property. We’ll wait and see what the higher-ups decide. Qi Jun sat down in the master chair. Though somewhat disappointed, he could accept this outcome.

The farmland, houses, and businesses of these wealthy merchants were almost all here in Anyang. Fleeing in such haste with their valuables meant they would have to start over somewhere else from scratch. If an arrest warrant were issued above, then they would be forced to change their names and live out their days playing cat and mouse with the authorities.

Sir, in the cellar in the back courtyard, we found a madwoman... A constable hurried in to report.

A madwoman? Qi Jun paused slightly and could not help thinking of something.

Even in later generations, some wealthy people had unspeakable perversions, and in an age like this, a rich man like Meng Wanhe was likely no different.

Qi Jun assumed the woman was merely another poor soul imprisoned by Meng Wanhe to satisfy his lust.

Sir... we can’t do anything with that madwoman... the constable said with a troubled expression. Sir, please come take a look!

Shameful! A whole bunch of grown men can’t even handle one woman? If word gets out, don’t ever say you were on my first squad! Sun Jiu frowned and cursed, feeling that his men’s incompetence made him lose face before Qi Jun.

Come on, let’s go see, Qi Jun said, taking an interest in the madwoman and heading for the door.

Sun Jiu did not think much of it. He simply assumed the men had been locked up for two days and were too weak from hunger. Shooting the constable an annoyed glare, he followed Qi Jun to the back courtyard.

By the time they arrived, they could already see a crowd of constables holding torches gathered around someone in the distance. When Qi Jun and Sun Jiu appeared, the constables quickly stepped aside to let them through.

There they saw a woman viciously strangling a constable by the neck, using his own saber to threaten the people surrounding her.

Qi Jun was slightly surprised, and now understood why the constable had said they could do nothing with her.

To seize a blade barehanded and take a constable hostage, and to remain calm and unshaken in the face of so many encircling men—this woman clearly had real skill.

Sir, when we were searching the courtyard, we heard noises from the cellar. After opening it, we found this madwoman tied up inside. The brothers meant well and rescued her, but she... one constable quickly explained the situation to Qi Jun, his tone full of confusion and grievance.

I don’t care who you are. I’ll count to three. If you still haven’t put down the blade, don’t blame me for being rude, Sun Jiu cursed, pointing at the woman in warning.

The woman merely shot him a disdainful glance, giving no thought at all to his threat.

Miss, we came here precisely to save you. Why are you doing this? Qi Jun tried to keep his expression calm. He guessed that her behavior was likely a stress response after being confined for too long.

Sir, why waste words on this madwoman? Sun Jiu, provoked by her contemptuous gaze, pointed at her and shouted, One... two...

At the sound of his voice, the woman shifted her gaze from Qi Jun to Sun Jiu. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a fierce killing intent flared within them. Sun Jiu felt a chill run through him under that look, and he faltered, unable to force out the word three.

Miss, why make things difficult for a mere constable? I’m the one in charge here. How about you trade him for me instead? Qi Jun took a step forward, deciding to test the woman’s skills and see what lay beneath her surface.