Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Upon hearing Lady Wang’s words, the expressions of everyone present darkened.

They truly had not expected Wang Hu to be so indiscriminately murderous and inhumanly depraved within his own home.

Wang Hu’s eyes turned bloodshot. “You stinking bitch, how dare you slander me! I’ll kill you!”

He drew the sword at his waist, intending to strike down the woman in the room.

However, Tang Qingsong kicked him aside and drew his own sword, pointing it at him.

“Wang, we entrusted Beizhen City to you, but it wasn’t so you could abuse your authority and turn your blade against innocent women and the people of our Great Liang. Back when we were on the battlefield killing enemies, you were a coward, and now you’ve turned into a domestic tyrant!”

The others also looked at Wang Hu with ill intent.

Naturally, Wang Hu refused to admit it. “I didn’t do any of this. These sluts were clearly arranged by someone to set me up.”

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Ji Yan’an, his eyes filled with a murderous hatred that suggested he wanted to devour him whole.

Ji Yan’an coughed a few times. “Commander Wang, surely you aren’t suggesting that I arranged all of this?”

He gave a light chuckle. “Then you overestimate me. How long has this Young Master been here in Mobei? Among those women, the one you snatched away the longest ago has been here for several years, hasn’t she?”

“My Lords.”

Lady Wang suddenly led the other women in a deep kowtow toward them. Their foreheads struck the ground heavily, drawing blood, but they did not care.

“This humble woman also wishes to accuse Wang Hu of murdering my entire family and seizing my family’s property. Afterward, he imprisoned me in a dark room. These wounds on my body were all inflicted by him.”

She stripped off her outer garment right in front of everyone.

From her arms to her legs, her body was covered in wounds of all sizes, and there were even brand marks.

Those were methods usually reserved for treating criminals.

The other women also removed their outer garments.

Then, they all began to weep softly.

“Wang Hu is a pervert. Those others were all tortured to death by him.”

“I almost died too. He’s a beast. When my family came looking for me, he had his men break my father’s legs, and my mother died of grief.”

“And my grandfather-he was beaten to death directly.”

“I originally had a fiancé; we were just about to discuss marriage. I only went out to buy some vegetables when this beast took a liking to me. My whole life was ruined, sob…”

Wang Hu roared, “Shut the hell up!”

He looked at the women with disdain. “You are my concubines now. Even if you die, so what? You’re nothing more than playthings for me to enjoy.”

“These are my private family matters. Surely you lords won’t meddle in other people’s business?”

“Heh, I report directly to the Capital.”

Since he had been exposed, Wang Hu simply stopped pretending.

He wasn’t afraid of these people. So what if their ranks were higher than his? They had no authority to punish him.

Everyone glared at Wang Hu with fury.

“I may not be able to kill you, but…”

The man had just started to speak in anger when Ji Yan’an pressed him down.

“General Meng.”

Ji Yan’an said softly, “Regarding these matters, we truly cannot do anything to him.”

Hearing this, everyone fell into silence.

In truth, if Wang Hu’s crimes were brought into the light, he would be sentenced to exile at the very least.

But that depended on who was presiding over justice.

Their current Emperor… Hmph.

Wang Hu grew even more arrogant. He stood up and pointed his sword at the women.

“A pack of shameless sluts, thinking you could bring me down. Pure delusion! Since none of you want to live, I’ll fulfill your wish!”

Just as he made a move, Ji Yan’an gave a hand signal. Several hidden guards emerged and pinned him down instantly.
During the struggle, he even managed to land a few subtle blows.

“Ji Yan’an, what do you think you’re doing!”

Ji Yan’an replied unhurriedly, “They might not be able to do anything, but… what if Commander Wang embezzled and stole the army’s pay?”

As soon as he said this, everyone was shocked.

Wang Hu’s eyes widened even further.

“You… you’re full of shit, Ji Yan’an! You’re damn well using a public office to settle a private grudge! On what grounds do you claim I stole the army’s pay?”

Ji Yan’an felt the gold bar hidden in his sleeve.

He had originally prepared other charges for Wang Hu, though they would have been much more troublesome to prove.

Besides, what crime could be greater than robbing the army’s pay?

Indeed, while everyone’s attention had been focused on Wang Hu and those women, Jiang Yunsui had quietly slipped to his side, told him about the secret room, and handed him that gold bar.

With just one glance, Ji Yan’an recognized the style of the gold bar and the markings on it. It was part of the army’s pay issued by the imperial court three years ago.

However, that batch of funds had been intercepted by mountain bandits just as it was about to enter Mobei.

With such a massive amount of gold and silver involved, the court had certainly investigated.

But in the end, the matter had simply fizzled out.

This little girl had truly delivered a timely rain.

“Young Master Ji, is what you’re saying true?”

“Did Wang Hu really steal the army’s pay?”

The army’s pay concerned the entire Mobei military, so naturally, everyone cared deeply.

Wang Hu struggled to maintain his composure, constantly reassuring himself that it was impossible for Ji Yan’an to have found anything.

“Ji Yan’an, you have no evidence!”

Without evidence, he could simply refuse to confess until his dying breath.

The corners of Ji Yan’an’s mouth curled upward. “If you all want evidence, then follow me.”

He led the way, holding Jiang Yunsui’s small hand.

There was no other way; Jiang Yunsui couldn’t describe the specific route with words alone.

Since she was the only one who knew the way, she had to lead them.

It was only then that everyone noticed someone was following Ji Yan’an-and a girl of such a young age at that.

Was this child with him when he arrived?

“This way.”

Jiang Yunsui’s short legs pitter-pattered along. A bit socially anxious, the Little Mushroom who usually only liked to secretly hide away and eat melons where no one knew was currently too afraid to even look at the others.

She only pressed closer to Ji Yan’an.

*Ji Yan’an, you have to protect me, okay?*

As Jiang Yunsui led Ji Yan’an through the winding path, seeing that they were getting closer and closer to the secret room, Wang Hu suddenly let out a loud shout. He broke free from the men restraining him, drew a guard’s sword at random, and lunged toward Ji Yan’an.

Ji Yan’an instinctively pulled Jiang Yunsui behind him to shield her.

Fortunately, the people present were veterans of the battlefield with quick reflexes.

One man immediately drew his sword to parry the blow, while Tang Qingsong and the others simultaneously kicked out at Wang Hu, sending him flying quite a distance.

“Damn it, this dog has a guilty conscience. There really is something fishy going on.”

“Wang! You’d better hope we don’t actually find that stolen pay, or I won’t let you off!”

Wang Hu’s features twisted in pain. “Bah! Ji Yan’an is definitely framing me.”

If looks could kill, Ji Yan’an would currently be riddled with countless blades.

“Keep a close eye on him. Bind his hands and keep moving.”

Jiang Yunsui had been badly frightened just now, and her already dirty little face had turned several shades paler.

Ji Yan’an squeezed her small hand and comforted her in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid.”

Jiang Yunsui looked up at him.

He had shielded her behind him at the first sign of danger.

The Little Mushroom was moved.

Ji Yan’an was a good boss!