Chapter Thirty-Eight: Death Is the Only Fitting End for Them

As Qin Xuan’s voice faded, the entire scene fell into a deathly silence.

The name "Qin Xuan" was one that commanded awe and reverence not just in Beining City, but throughout the entire Great Qi Kingdom. The people of Beining, in particular, had witnessed with their own eyes how this young Prince of Chu had bathed in blood to slaughter the enemy and crush the Tulan army. Such a figure, even glimpsed from afar, was enough to strike fear into the hearts of men.

Yet, before them stood a young man who did not look particularly robust, nor did he possess the solemn, imposing air depicted in theatrical plays. In fact, the fair-skinned young scholar beside him seemed even more intimidating.

"You are the Prince of Chu, Qin Xuan?" Wu Qiwen cursed himself inwardly for being so easily rattled; he had actually been genuinely intimidated for a moment. He stared coldly at Qin Xuan, his expression vicious. "If you are the Prince of Chu, then I am the Emperor of Great Qi."

"Come! This man dares to impersonate the noble Prince of Chu; he must be a spy sent by the Jurchen State. Seize him at once!"

Although Wu Qiwen was a corrupt official, his mind remained sharp. He calculated that even if Qin Xuan were truly the Prince of Chu, he could later claim ignorance and escape with a minor reprimand.

But was Qin Xuan so easily dealt with?

Qin Xuan’s eyes turned cold. In the next instant, his body moved like a phantom, appearing directly before Wu Qiwen. Wu Qiwen was startled, stuttering, "You... you... what do you think you’re doing?"

"Thump!"

Before Wu Qiwen could finish his sentence, Qin Xuan grabbed him and hurled him fiercely into the nearby field. It was the dead of winter, and though there was no snow, the muddy water in the field was enough to make the magistrate shriek in the freezing cold.

"You dare to assault an official of the imperial court! You’ve forfeited your life!" The legal advisor yelled in terror, and the bailiffs behind him rushed forward, brandishing their wooden staves.

But before they could take more than a few steps, Zhao Luoying surged forward. She moved like a wolf among sheep, striking out with both hands, and in the blink of an eye, she had knocked the spineless lot to the ground.

Qin Xuan knew that Zhao Luoying was venting, so he allowed her to continue the thrashing. However, to his surprise, these men were truly fearless; despite being bested, they drew the swords from their waists.

"Hack him to death!" the lead bailiff, blood streaming from his nose after Zhao Luoying’s strike, roared.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, an arrow whistled through the air. The bystanders felt a blur before their eyes, and the arrogant bailiff leader fell stone-dead, an arrow pierced through the center of his forehead.

This sudden turn of events instantly caused everyone present to hold their breath. Even the bailiffs who were about to draw their blades froze like statues.

"Whinny..."

The sound of horse neighs, accompanied by the dull thud of hooves, approached rapidly from the distance. A general of the Divine Strategy Army dismounted, knelt on one knee before Qin Xuan and Zhao Luoying, and saluted, "This subordinate is late. I beg the Prince and Princess for forgiveness."

*The Prince?! The Princess?!*

Hearing these titles, the previously arrogant advisor, the registrar, the wealthy merchant, and Wu Qiwen, who was still in the field, were completely stunned. They felt as if a heavy hammer had struck them; half their souls had been scared away.

"He... he really is the Prince of Chu..." Wu Qiwen muttered, collapsing into the mud of the field, his back drenched in cold sweat.

"Prince of Chu? Are you truly the Prince of Chu?" The advisor swallowed hard, but quickly forced himself to remain calm. Taking a deep breath, he said, "It is well known that your Highness loves the people as your own children. We were ignorant of your identity and have offended you deeply; I pray for your mercy."

Hearing this, a flicker of surprise appeared in Qin Xuan's eyes. He looked at the advisor with a half-smile and remarked, "You are a clever man—composed in the face of danger. You have some courage, at least."

The advisor’s words were a trap; he was placing Qin Xuan on a pedestal he could not easily step down from. It was common knowledge that Qin Xuan had been able to take control of Beining City after the coup precisely because he was beloved by the people. If he punished them now for their ignorance, would that not imply he was as cold and indifferent to the commoners as other powerful elites? Others could easily twist the narrative to smear Qin Xuan as a hypocrite seeking fame. For someone who valued public sentiment, this would be a heavy price to pay.

"The Prince is too kind; I simply do not wish to die," the advisor replied cautiously, choosing honesty. He knew he had already offended Qin Xuan beyond repair, but as long as he survived today, he could flee elsewhere and save his life.

"Whether you live or die is not for me to decide, but for the people whose fields you forcibly seized," Qin Xuan said with a faint smile, his gaze shifting toward the rear of the Divine Strategy Army.

The advisor and the others instinctively followed his gaze and saw, to their horror, a large crowd of impoverished villagers trailing behind the army. Among them, the advisor recognized many as the original owners of the fertile land.

At that moment, the advisor’s face turned deathly pale. He dropped to his knees and begged loudly, "Your Highness, I was wrong! I beg you to spare my life!"

"It’s over! It’s all over!" Wu Qiwen, who had just managed to stand, felt his heart turn to ice at the sight of the vast crowd.

Only the wealthy merchant, Wan Youcai, showed a flash of malice. He suddenly snatched a sword from a bailiff and prepared to lunge at Qin Xuan. But he had forgotten Qin Xuan’s background, and he had forgotten that beside Qin Xuan stood not only Zhao Luoying but the Divine Strategy Army.

Almost the moment he moved, a blade flashed. In the next second, his right arm, still clutching the sword, fell neatly to the ground.

"Ahhh!" Wan Youcai let out a shrill scream, rolling on the ground in agony.

Qin Xuan remained composed, not even sparing him a glance. He walked toward the villagers with a look of slight remorse and declared in a loud voice, "The day I arrived in Beining, I promised the people that I would ensure you all lead a good life. But alas, I underestimated the depths of depravity among the corrupt officials in this city."

"That is why I have come to Lanshan County in person to uphold justice for you all!"

"Now, tell me—do these people deserve to die?"

The villagers were stunned for a moment, but in an instant, someone roared with fury, "Kill them!"

That single cry of "Kill!" was like lightning striking tinder, and the rest of the villagers erupted:

"Kill them!"
"Death to these dogs of officials!"
"They deserve to be torn to pieces!"

The roar was like a rising tide, suffocating in its intensity. Qin Xuan turned coldly to the group of corrupt officials and commanded, "Where is the Divine Strategy Army?"

"We are here!" the soldiers shouted like thunder.

"Execute everyone present!" Qin Xuan ordered. "Furthermore, the Magistrate of Lanshan County, the registrar, the advisor, and the merchant Wan Youcai are to have their nine clans implicated!"

No one had expected that Qin Xuan would not even give them the chance to be thrown into a dungeon. Suddenly, the group led by the magistrate began to scream in succession, their pleas for mercy sounding shrill and desperate.

But facing the blades of the Divine Strategy Army, their fate was sealed. Death was the only outcome they deserved.