Chapter 22: One Stone, Many Birds

  The guards outside the station heard the order and rushed in to drag out Zhong Er and Zhong San. Zhong Er was already drunk and didn't know what was happening. Zhong San wasn't completely confused yet, he quickly knelt down on the ground and started kowtowing like a madman, while speaking Chinese and Japanese words all mixed up, begging for mercy.

  I gave Si Xiwu a cold glance, and saw that he was covered in sweat from head to toe, his lips trembling as he stood there watching the fierce-looking guards drag the two men out like dead dogs. He didn't even dare to come over and plead for mercy. In my heart, I sneered: "Old man, you're scared, aren't you? You're not next in line yet, after these two are done with, it'll be your turn."

  I put on a furious expression and stormed around the house, looking for some worthless trinkets to smash while walking, occasionally jumping up and down and cursing. Outside, Zhong Er and Zhong San were also making a commotion, with Zhong Er's voice sounding like a chicken having its throat cut, and Zhong San wailing like a pig being slaughtered.

  After a while, they stopped making noise. I walked out of the house and saw these two people lying on the ground motionless. The guards were still beating them desperately. Suddenly, Si Xie ran over, knelt down, knocked his head on the ground and said: "Your Highness, please calm your anger. These two don't understand the etiquette of our great Tang Dynasty, they deserve to be taught a lesson. But if we continue to beat them, they will lose their lives. Considering they are guests from afar, let's spare their lives."

  I'm also having some doubts in my heart now, judging from the current moral character of these two people, they don't seem to be martial artists. Could it be that they are actually Japanese ninjas? If they were really just two merchants, why would I have gone so far as to ruin their lives?

  After hearing his words, I waved my hand to the soldiers who were using corporal punishment and walked over to the two piles of foul-smelling flesh that had almost been beaten to a pulp. I flipped their bodies over with my hands and saw that it was time to stop. If they continued to be beaten, these two people would be beyond salvation. I spat heavily on Zhong San's face and said: "Take away these two things that are not as good as beasts! When they wake up, tell them to roll back to Fusang immediately and never set foot in our Great Tang again for the rest of their lives!"

  He turned his face coldly and looked at Si Ximeng, saying: "Governor Gui is really good at handling things, actually inviting a Japanese to humiliate me, today this matter big brother came also can't protect you. Since ancient times, the lord worries about the minister's shame, the lord is ashamed, the minister dies, you this minister has done it right, actually inviting barbarians to our great Tang to openly ask for the woman by my side, and saying that this is the custom of his Japan, when did Yangzhou city want to follow the customs of Japan? This place doesn't belong to Japan yet, does it...?"

  The words were not yet out of Si Ximeng's mouth when he was frightened out of his wits, kneeling on the ground and shaking all over like a sieve, his round head knocking against the ground with a loud thud, while in his mouth he begged tearfully: "Your Highness, please calm your anger, this old slave really did not know that these two Japanese would do such a thing, even if I had the courage of a giant I would not dare to do such a thing; today's affair is one for which this old slave cannot avoid blame, but this old slave absolutely did not intentionally mean to humiliate Your Highness, I hope that Your Highness will discern the truth."

  I walked up to him, circled around him a few times, and then helped him up with a sigh, saying: "I know today's matter is not your fault, your character Big Brother has told me about it before. I believe in you. But today's matter is really embarrassing, think about it, as the King of Qin of the Tang Dynasty, I was actually forced by a small dwarf from Japan to follow their rules on my own territory, if this matter is not handled properly, how can I explain it to my father, and how will the people of the world look at me Li Shimin? Wouldn't I become a laughing stock for the whole world? Ah... you say I'm in a difficult situation, those two Japanese people I taught a lesson, today your responsibility as the person in charge I want to pursue, if I handle it heavily I won't be able to bear it, and Big Brother will also not be able to explain it. If I handle it lightly, it won't be able to shut the mouths of the people of the world, Ah... you say what should I do with this matter?

  Si Xie Wanzi was thoroughly stunned by my words and knelt down with a bitter face, wailing and crying: "Your Highness is indeed a benevolent ruler, this old slave knows his fault, whatever Your Highness decides will be followed."

  I'm about to burst out laughing, but on the surface I still look solemn and say: "Today, I have to pretend to be strict with you and give you some punishment. If the Emperor finds out, he'll issue an order that will cost you your life. Here's what we'll do: you'll follow me back to Chang'an and serve as a slave in my mansion for three months. In the meantime, I'll find someone to take over your duties here. After three months, you can return and resume your position as Governor. Your family doesn't need to come with you; they can just wait for you here. How does that sound?

  Si Xiu heard this and was taken aback, knocking her head: "Is this really a punishment? Being able to go to the Chifeng Temple is a blessing for an old slave like me. But isn't this treatment too lenient? What if the Emperor blames us?"

  I burst out laughing and said: "You're really stupid! This matter can be big or small, depending on how you look at it. If I punish you severely, it will only make me appear merciless. In that case, Father Emperor would have to take your life in order to appease me. And even if Big Brother wanted to speak up for you, he wouldn't be able to. By then, disaster would strike and your entire family would be doomed. By doing this, I am showing that you have a loyal heart, indicating that I'm not angry about this matter, and by voluntarily coming to the capital to await punishment under my roof, it shows your sincerity in repenting. If Big Brother and I put in a few good words for you in front of Father Emperor, and considering how well you've governed Yangzhou, wouldn't this whole thing be easily resolved?"

  Si Xi Wan Zi stopped crying and said with joy: "Thank you, Your Honor, for your kindness. It's truly touching that you would consider an old slave like me. I'll go to the yamen now to hand over my duties, and after finishing, I will immediately come to serve Your Honor."

  In my heart I secretly said: "You just go ahead". But in my mouth I said: "No need to go to the government office, bring all officials here and I will personally arrange it for you". After finishing speaking, I walked to the door and loudly shouted outside: "Come on, send all officials above fifth rank in Yangzhou city to come here immediately, and also invite all my attendants to come over".

  These people were quick to act and within half an hour, everyone had arrived. I added some details to what happened earlier and told the story again, and as expected, these people all became anxious. The hall was in an uproar at that moment, with everyone saying they wanted to go find those two brothers immediately and chop them up into dog food. I just smiled slightly and then explained how to deal with the Four Joy Pills. Those Four Joy Pills were followed by a large number of kind and righteous words. After all this was finished, I announced the person who would act as the proxy for the governor, namely Qin Qiong. Then I ordered Qin Qiong to lead 1,000 soldiers, with Xu Yuechun leading the way, to attack the old nest of that Fu Sang ninja, no matter whether they were dead or alive, not one could escape.

  Si Xi Wan Zi was stunned after hearing this. I walked up to him and whispered in his ear: "The fruit that grows on the pear tree where a living person is buried will be sweet."

  As I gazed at Si Ximeng's shocked face, I grinned mischievously and flashed my teeth at him, ordering the two senior masters to take him away to the back hall for detention. Then, I continued to comfort the officials with some words, made a few promises to them, and soon the atmosphere in the main hall was lively again, with everyone enthusiastically blowing their conch shells. It really got to the point where I felt a bit dizzy. After arranging a few more trivial matters, I waved my hand and chased all these people away, leaving behind 500 guards to keep watch here. With a happy smile, I thought of finding a place to take a nap. But just as I stood up, I discovered two extra people behind me - the two Japanese beauties.

  I looked at the two of them with a frown and asked: "Why are you still here? Hurry back!" The two Japanese women bowed deeply to me in unison and said in not-so-standard Mandarin: "Just now our master gave us both to Your Highness, so we can't go back anymore."

  Another one said: "Please, Your Highness, don't let us go, going back is a dead end for us."

  I asked: "A dead end? What's going on?"

  Those two Japanese women said: "After we were sent out, we couldn't go back. If we went back, our former masters would be looked down upon by others. Only by killing us could they save face."

  I gazed at these two beautiful foreign gifts and secretly felt a shock, thinking to myself: "It seems that these two women are the real killers". But my mouth said: "Since it's like this, why would I still send you back to die? You both stay here, after things are settled here, you two will follow me back to Chang'an".

  After pinching both of them with a dazed expression, he said: "Now let's go back and wait for the letter first."