CMWKSD -Chapter 207 A Proper Conan Constitution

Because they needed to deal with the bodies and take time to rest, everyone stayed in front of Sifeng Pass for a full day and night.

Another day’s journey ahead would bring them to Pingtai County.

This place was already very close to the capital.

To be honest, there were so many bandits—heads and ears had filled several baskets.

Yet everyone wore smiles on their faces.

It wasn’t just because of the silver that came with the bandits’ heads.

Previously, the civil officials had already earned two merits from disaster relief and exposing the embezzlement of relief funds.

Military officials were always at a disadvantage in comparison, since they merely followed orders.

Although they, too, technically had two achievements—disaster relief and uncovering corruption—their contributions simply didn’t carry the same weight as those of the civil officials.

Wasn’t there a saying like this?

Young soldiers dreamed of military merit even in their sleep.

Now that the nation was at peace, unless one fought on the frontier, it was extremely hard for military officials to make a name for themselves.

But this time—

Bandit suppression!

And bandits so close to the capital!

They had already killed around two hundred people.

Captured dozens more.

According to the captured bandits, there were no more than two hundred left.

A bandit stronghold that once had nearly five hundred people was now reduced to fewer than two hundred.

Jiu Yue’s broadsword was already thirsting for blood.

The military officers and soldiers were so excited they could hardly contain themselves.

What bandits?

These were stepping stones to heaven!!!

Just following Jiu Yue, even drinking a bit of soup would be more than enough.

When year-end evaluations came around, a promotion of half a rank would be perfectly normal.

Unlike Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian—

Since entering office, their accumulated achievements alone would be enough to raise them at least two full ranks.

The closer they got to Pingtai County, the more the expressions of several older officials at the front grew grave as they exchanged glances.

Pingtai County was only two days’ travel from the capital.

The county itself looked prosperous.

But the villages along the way—especially those far from the official road—

The scouts’ reports had all been bad.

The bandits they were suppressing were known as Black Tiger Stronghold.

And these bandits were not far from Pingtai County.

Yet over the years, Black Tiger Stronghold had only grown larger, with ever-increasing numbers.

The county magistrate had repeatedly requested bandit suppression.

But there had never been any real results.

Still, every year, under the pretext of “bandit trouble,” he demanded men and silver…

Just five hundred people.

Asking for silver might make sense.

But asking for manpower—why?

Jiu Yue snorted coldly. “Right under the lamp, yet in total darkness.”

Everyone rested in an open area outside the county city, not entering directly.

Everything they had encountered along the way made it hard to enter the city lightly.

Jiu Yue spoke with startling bluntness.

Looking at the worried officials, she deliberately lowered her voice, her tone eerie.

“Do you think Black Tiger Stronghold really has only two hundred people left?”

“And take another guess—were all the people we killed truly bandits?”

The leading military officer from the Ministry of War froze, then shot a sharp glance toward the prisoners.

One had to know—this place was extremely close to the capital’s suburban military camp.

Just one day’s march away.

A mere five hundred-man Black Wind Stronghold—

To put it bluntly, if everyone from the suburban camp came over and spat once, they could drown them.

Yet the Ministry of Revenue officials said the Pingtai County magistrate had been asking for men and silver for three years.

And still there had been no large-scale suppression.

Someone higher up had stopped it?

Why?

Everyone fell silent.

Off to the side, Shao Qing rapidly organized all the information he knew about Pingtai County in his mind.

The sky gradually darkened.

Enter the city, or not?

Everyone waited for Jiu Yue to decide.

Jiu Yue was that kind of person.

She knew perfectly well there was danger ahead.

So what to do?

Of course—avoid it.

She wasn’t the type to know there was a tiger on the mountain and still head straight for it.

Her head wasn’t made of iron.

“Set up camp here. We leave early tomorrow morning and return directly to the capital.”

The soldiers looked somewhat disappointed.

After all, the reward money for bandits usually fell under the jurisdiction of the local county.

It looked like they wouldn’t be getting this silver.

Jiu Yue glanced at them.

She knew how painful it was—when the silver was clearly yours, right in front of you, yet in the end you couldn’t get even a single copper coin.

“Don’t worry. This matter won’t just end like this.”

“Aren’t there officials from the Ministry of Revenue? Have them tally things up for you.”

The soldiers froze—then every one of them broke into huge grins, teeth showing.

“Your Highness is generous!”

One after another, they were so happy it felt like New Year had arrived.

Jiu Yue shook her head helplessly and laughed.

But seeing their smiles, the corners of her own lips lifted unconsciously.

Shao Qing walked over to Jiu Yue, his expression grave.

Jiu Yue clicked her tongue—just looking at his face told her something was up.

“What is it?”

Shao Qing opened his mouth. “How about… we…”

Jiu Yue shot him a glance.

Fine—judging by his expression, this was definitely something he thought couldn’t be explained clearly with just her present.

“Call them over. Call them.”

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian quickly came over.

The Ji family often gathered together like this, so no one said anything.

Shao Qing deliberately chose a spot far from the crowd.

“Boss, I thought carefully about Pingtai County.”

“I only thought of one thing—but I don’t know if it’s useful.”

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian exchanged a look.

Shao Qing continued, “Back when the Second Prince, Chu Yao, was alive, there were four servants in his residence. The broker who handled their purchases was from Pingtai County.”

Jiu Yue’s forehead instantly filled with black lines.

Wasn’t this stretching things a bit too far?

Surely it wasn’t possible that just because a broker came from Pingtai County, it had something to do with the Second Prince?

Jiu Yue voiced her doubts.

But neither Ji Yiqing nor Ji Chaomian echoed her thoughts.

Jiu Yue suddenly felt like she was a walking magnet for incidents.

No—she wasn’t an accident-prone constitution.

She was a human-shaped danger-avoidance talisman for the imperial family.

“Isn’t that a bit much?”

Yiqing shook his head. “Better to kill by mistake than to let one slip. The Rong family definitely has someone backing them. But how far His Majesty’s investigation has gone, we don’t yet know.”

“If Pingtai County and Black Tiger Stronghold really are connected to Chu Yao, it wouldn’t be impossible. Better safe than sorry—it’s worth investigating thoroughly.”

Jiu Yue lowered her eyes and said nothing.

Ji Yiqing gently nudged her shoulder. “What’s wrong? If you think it’s too troublesome, we won’t investigate. It wasn’t our responsibility in the first place. Don’t mind it.”

Jiu Yue blankly let out an “Ah?” then looked up.

“No, I was just thinking—if this really is connected to the people behind Chu Yao, and such a huge case ends up with my contribution in it again, what else is His Majesty supposed to reward me with? He’s already given me everything there is to give.”

“Tsk tsk tsk. People really shouldn’t be too outstanding. Leaves no path for others at all.”

Ji Chaomian: ……

Ji Yiqing: That makes sense. After all, outstanding.

Ji Chaomian: You love-brained idiot, don’t go this far!!!

Jiu Yue stood up and gave orders calmly.

“Send out the people from Dark Moon Pavilion. No need to meddle in anything else—just collect more ‘tongues.’”

“Collecting tongues” was their daily routine.

It meant infiltrating the common folk to gather information—not literally picking up tongues!

“Right now, we’re still transporting so much silver and bringing along so many civil officials. It’s not suitable to expose this matter yet.”

After all, Jiu Yue cherished her life.

She also didn’t want to drag a whole string of burdens along while going on a killing spree.

Otherwise, it would be like the other day—

She’d gotten carried away killing at the front, her horse charging far ahead.

Behind her, a string of terrified civil officials chased after her, afraid of being left behind, waving their sleeves wildly.

“Don’t forget us!”

Just imagining that scene was terrifying enough.