Chapter 67: Do You Want to Rebel?

  Standing at the gate of the Second Hall, the official said: "Young Master Li, wait for a moment, let me go in and report."

  Li Wenjun nodded and the bailiff entered the second hall, reporting: "Sir, your humble servant has brought Young Master Li."

  "Please." Wu Qilang said loudly as he sat upright behind his desk.

  The servant walked back in front of Li Wenjun, bowed and said: "Young Master Li, the old master is inviting you."

  Li Wenjun lifted his leg, just about to enter the second hall, when a bailiff raised his hand to stop him, saying: "Young Master Li, sorry, this is a solemn place, no sharp objects are allowed in without permission. Please hand over your dagger to me, I'll keep it safe for you, don't worry, I'll return it to you when you leave."

  "I'll take care of it myself." Li Wenjun smiled and walked into the second hall.

  The bailiff saw that Li Wenjun was unwilling to cooperate, so he stretched out his hand and grabbed at Li's waist, trying to pull down the dragon-headed goose feather knife.

  Li Wenjun let out a cold snort, grabbed the yamen runner's arm and flung him aside, shouting: "Get lost!"

  The bailiff felt as if he had been hit by something, and his feet were unstable. He stumbled backwards, stumbling, and then fell to the ground.

  He was also a quick-witted person, and with a sudden movement, he fell to the ground, pretending to have fainted. From then on, no matter what happened in the second hall, it had nothing to do with him. Let the floodwaters rise to the sky, he just pretended to be unconscious.

  Li Wenjun stepped into the second hall and bowed his hands towards Wu Qi, saying: "Lord Wu, I've come to collect my reward."

  Wu Qi seemed not to have seen Li Wenjun's slight movement just now, his face hidden in the dim light of the candles, expressionless, said: "Xianqi, you're here."

  "Yes, I'm here. Lord Wu, it's already midnight, and even you can't be made of iron, so you must need some rest too. Why don't you quickly hand over the reward silver to me? And also have someone write a notice, announcing to the world that I was the one who killed Wang Yonggui. Once these two things are done, everyone can go home and sleep." Li Wenjun said calmly.

  "Xian Qi, don't be in a hurry. There's been a slight mistake here, and some details still need to be verified by you. Someone, please invite Li Gongzi down here." Wu Qi instructed.

  Two bailiffs from the yamen stepped forward and said: "Young Master Li, please come with us."

  Li Wenjun didn't move, he looked at Wu Qi and said: "Sir, is there anything else you don't understand? We can clarify it here. You ask your questions quickly, we can all go back to sleep early."

  Wu Qi didn't make a sound, but those two bailiffs wouldn't let it go. They stretched out their hands to grab Li Wenjun's arm.

  Li Wenjun saw clearly that these two bailiffs were strong and powerful men, and the hands grasping his arms were full of strength. If they caught him, ordinary people would not be able to break free.

  Li Wenjun didn't dodge and after the two bailiffs grabbed his arms, he said: "Take away your paws."

  "Kid, once you enter the yamen, you won't be able to get away. If you're willing to cooperate nicely, you might suffer a bit less; otherwise, you'll have to endure even more suffering." A bailiff sneered.

  His words had barely fallen when he suddenly let out a mournful cry, and Li Wenjun's elbow violently struck the chest of him and another yamen runner. Li Wenjun could shatter bluestone with his palm; the force of his elbow would only be greater and more intense.

  The two bailiffs, in pain, loosened their grip on Li Wenjun's arm.

  Li Wenjun easily broke free from the two men's grip, turned his hand over and grabbed the two bailiffs, using force to slam them into his chest, the two bailiffs' heads instantly collided with a loud thud.

  The two bailiffs suddenly turned black in front of their eyes and fainted.

  Li Wenjun showed mercy and did not strike a fatal blow, otherwise the two would have died with their brains splattered. It was not that Li Wenjun was soft-hearted, but he didn't want the brains and blood of the two constables to splash onto his body.

  The yamen runner fell to the ground, and Li Wenjun clapped his hands and said, "Sir, can we have a good talk now?"

  "Wu Qi said sternly: 'Xian Qi, this county just wants to verify the details with you properly, and there is no other meaning. What are you doing? Are you showing off to this county?'"

  Li Wenjun smiled faintly and said, "Lord Wu, if you think I'm showing off to you, then so be it. I ask you, where is the silver? Where is the notice? Lord Wu, I'm telling you clearly, what belongs to me, no one else can take away. If either of these two things is missing, I won't let you off."

  Wu Qi could no longer hold back his anger, a small grass citizen dared to speak to him, an official of the imperial court, in such a manner. It was truly outrageous and lawless. He slammed his hand on the desk and rebuked: "Li Wenjun, don't think you're so great just because you have some connections. How dare you speak to me like that? It seems you need to calm down. Guards, take Li Wenjun away and keep a close eye on him."

  "Yes." The bailiffs responded in unison, then simultaneously drew out their steel knives.

  "Brothers, let's go up together." a yamen runner shouted.

  The bailiffs all shouted in unison and rushed towards Li Wenjun.

  Now that things have come to this point, what doesn't Li Wenjun understand? Wu Qi really didn't think of doing him harm and hadn't even thought about giving the silver to him.

  "Wu Qi, you corrupt official, for a mere thousand or so taels of silver, you'd rather harm people for wealth. I really misjudged you." Li Wenjun never thought that someone had taken notice of his achievement in beheading Wang Yonggui, and instead assumed Wu Qi was after his silver.

  In fact, strictly speaking, Li Wenjun thought this way, and it's not wrong. Even if there was no San Gongzi intervening, Li Wenjun would have been able to take the reward money smoothly, but then Wu Qi would have found a way to get the silver back, leaving Li Wenjun with at most 180 taels, which would be quite good already.

  "Li Wenjun, you are speaking wildly and slandering the imperial court's officials. This is a serious crime. It seems that if we don't discipline you properly, it won't be enough. Guards, take Li Wenjun away, lock him up in prison and keep a close eye on him." Wu Qi ordered.

  The bailiffs were like wolves and tigers, pouncing on Li Wenjun one after another. They advanced and retreated in an orderly manner, with a certain degree of ceremony. If it was someone with experience, they would be able to tell that these were not real bailiffs, but rather well-trained soldiers, and still the elite among them.

  These men are not the old soldiers of Sanshan County's hundred households who have never seen blood, but private soldiers raised by Broken Army Marquis, specially dispatched to accompany Third Young Master to enter the capital. Each and every one of them can take on ten men alone, each and every one has killed people and seen blood.

  Li Wenjun didn't know their identities, but he wouldn't be caught easily either. He smoothly drew out the dragon-headed goose feather knife, tapped his toes on the ground, and leaped out of the encirclement formed by the constables. With a backhand stroke, he knocked one of the constables to the ground.

  "Li Wenjun, you have a big nerve, to actually attack the official in front of everyone in this county. Are you trying to rebel?" Wu Qi's face turned beet red with rage, he had not expected Li Wenjun to dare to kill the yamen runner right there in the court.

  This is really outrageous!