Chapter 57: The Man Who Called Himself Xiao Zhi

"You can make arrangements in advance and ensure the key criminal doesn't escape."

The key criminal Xiao Zhi referred to was naturally the dashing Young Master Shi. As Shi Weizhi's only son, he was immensely spoiled.

If Shi Tianlu were to slip away, how lonely his old father Shi Weizhi would feel on the road to the Yellow Springs, and how many tears he would shed on the Terrace for Looking Home.

After arranging everything, Mu Weihu asked, "My lord, Qiantang told me that a storyteller in Jinan Prefecture is smearing your reputation. Should we..."

Xiao Zhi waved his hand. "Who is not gossiped about behind their backs? It's fine. My reputation isn't good to begin with, and besides, I don't care."

"My lord, could it be that you really... mother and daughter... turned into sisters..." Mu Weihu asked with great difficulty.

Xiao Zhi's face slowly darkened. "You are getting bolder by the day."

Mu Weihu chuckled, and the several thousand-household commanders nearby almost burst from holding in their laughter.

Tended to by Heqing, Xiao Zhi changed his clothes. On his thumb was an imperial green jade ring, and hanging from his waist was a mutton-fat white jade pendant.

At first glance, it was as opulent as could be, though the opulence bordered on vulgarity.

The highlight was the folding fan in his hand.

When opened, one side read "Those who submit to me shall prosper," and when flipped over, the other side read "Those who oppose me shall perish."

Twirling this fan and accompanied by only Heqing, Xiao Zhi headed straight for the Jinan Prefectural Office.

Prefect Shi Weizhi had not slept well the previous night; an owl had hooted outside his window for half the night.

At this moment, he was absent-minded while handling official business. His head felt as heavy as a thousand jun, and his eyelids felt glued together, refusing to open.

A yamen soldier came to report, "My lord, someone outside requests an audience."

"Oh, who is it?"

"This person claims to be Xiao Zhi, belonging to the Imperial City Guard."

If the yamen soldier hadn't heard of Xiao Zhi's formidable reputation and knew about the Imperial City Guard, he would have chased him out long ago.

"Who?" Shi Weizhi shrieked in shock, instantly wide awake.

Yesterday, after listening to Shi Tianlu recount the whole story from beginning to end, he had broken out in a cold sweat.

Xiao Zhi was clearly picking a fight. This murderous brute wanted to confiscate Shi Weizhi's entire estate.

Immediately, he had issued strict orders: Shi Tianlu was not allowed to go anywhere for the time being and must honestly stay at home to study. If that brat were to wander the streets again and run into Xiao Zhi, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Uh... Xiao Zhi. This subordinate asked, and he said it's the 'Zhi' (reach/utmost) of 'fight to the bitter end'." Seeing his superior acting so jittery, the yamen soldier could only repeat it.

"How many men did he bring?"

The yamen soldier hurriedly replied, "He only brought a maidservant."

Hearing this, Shi Weizhi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Xiao Zhi was not here to raid his home.

It seemed there was still room to mend relations.

"What else did he say?" Seeing the yamen soldier hesitate, Shi Weizhi knew nothing pleasant would come out of Xiao Zhi's mouth. "It doesn't matter, repeat his exact words to me. His words must be quite harsh."

Only then did the yamen soldier dare to speak: "This person said he greatly admires Your Excellency, and asks Your Excellency to come out and greet him on your knees, earnestly hoping... earnestly hoping..."

"Earnestly hoping what?"

"Earnestly hoping Your Excellency will not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

Without another word, Shi Weizhi straightened his official robe denoting the fourth rank and trotted all the way to welcome Xiao Zhi.

Xiao Zhi was standing outside the yamen, tilting his head back to look at the giant drum.

"Heqing, could you beat that?"

Heqing replied, "What's stopping me?"

"Go ahead, beat it, and accuse Lord Shi Weizhi of impropriety toward you."

"Ah? My lord..." A woman's reputation was greater than the heavens. Although Heqing was a maidservant, she still cared about her face.

Moreover, a commoner accusing an official had to take floggings first.

Xiao Zhi smiled. When she crawled into this lord's bed, she hadn't looked the least bit shy.

As the two were chatting, Shi Weizhi had already emerged, bowing from afar to Xiao Zhi. "Oh, Lord Xiao, long, long overdue."

Xiao Zhi glanced at Shi Weizhi's knees, seemingly displeased that he hadn't come out on them.

That was fine, too; no matter how stubborn a spine was, the Imperial City Guard knew how to soften it.

"Long, long overdue." Xiao Zhi merely raised his hand slightly.

"Please!"

With a snap, Xiao Zhi opened his folding fan and strode inside with an air of absolute entitlement.

Looking at the words "Those who submit to me shall prosper," Shi Weizhi felt his heart skip a couple of beats.

"Does Lord Xiao's visit to Jinan Prefecture stem from an imperial decree, or are you just sightseeing?"

Xiao Zhi said, "His Majesty sent me to garrison the frontier, and just as I received His Majesty's decree, he ordered me back to the capital. I'm just passing by, haha... just passing by."

From the frontier to the capital, and you happened to pass through Jinan Prefecture? Lord Xiao, you've gone rather far out of your way.

"A place like Jinan Prefecture is full of barren mountains and treacherous waters, truly with nothing to see."

"Spring City Jinan has nothing worth seeing?" Xiao Zhi feigned incomprehension.

Actually, the springs of Jinan were just so-so. Weren't all springs in the world the same, bubbling up water? Anyway, according to Xiao Zhi's senses, there was nothing particularly worth looking at, nor was the color of the water any different.

Shi Weizhi shook his head vigorously; he just wanted Xiao Zhi to scram as quickly as possible.

Entering the inner hall, Shi Weizhi's attitude became even more respectful. He personally took the tea served by the yamen soldier and placed it before Xiao Zhi.

Xiao Zhi merely waved his hand, then flipped his folding fan to show Shi Weizhi the other side.

Standing behind Xiao Zhi and seeing Shi Weizhi's face looking as if he had just lost his mother, Heqing almost laughed out loud.

This was a dignified prefect, yet he was acting so fawningly before her young master, making her swell with pride and a sense of shared glory.

"Lord Xiao, you've arrived unexpectedly. May I ask what business brings you to this subordinate?"

Xiao Zhi said, "Nothing much, I just suddenly wanted to find someone to chat with. Is Lord Shi not welcoming me?"

Shi Weizhi hurriedly said, "Welcoming you indeed! Lord Xiao is a distinguished guest who couldn't be invited even if one tried, how could I not welcome you? Just yesterday, my older brother sent me a family letter in which he mentioned Lord Xiao."

"Oh?" Xiao Zhi smiled. "How is he scolding me?"

Shi Weizhi shook his head with a smile. "What is Lord Xiao saying? My older brother holds the utmost reverence for you. He said you are Great Chu's foremost pillar of state, possessed of both wisdom and courage, and calling you the cornerstone of the nation is no exaggeration at all."

Since Xiao Zhi had come just to exchange pleasantries, whatever flattery Shi Weizhi dared to dish out, Xiao Zhi dared to believe, his face beaming with arrogant pride.

After finishing a cup of tea, Xiao Zhi estimated the time and asked, "Lord Shi, what is your view on the officialdom of Great Chu?"

This question could be large or small, and Shi Weizhi had no idea what Xiao Zhi wanted to hear.

Pondering carefully, Shi Weizhi said, "His Majesty is in the prime of his life and possesses the ambition to revitalize the country. With capable ministers like Lord Xiao assisting in the court, in due time our Great Chu will surely flourish."

These were entirely empty pleasantries, amounting to nothing more than a fart—and at least a fart had a smell.

Xiao Zhi nodded. "No matter how great a golden age is, there are always corrupt officials and parasites. His Majesty has tasked me with commanding the Imperial City Guard to oversee the realm. How does Lord Shi think I should purge these corrupt officials and parasites?"

Shi Weizhi's expression shifted multiple times, his entire body freezing in place.

As an official of the fourth rank, how could Shi Weizhi not know that everyone in officialdom lined their pockets?

Those above wanted favors, and those below had to provide them. If you didn't give, you couldn't even function in your job, let alone get promoted.

If you didn't hoard wealth, what would you use to honor your superiors?

If you didn't honor your superiors, how could you advance?

It was a vicious cycle.

"Lord Shi? Could it be that you are also a corrupt official and don't know how to answer this question?" Xiao Zhi raised his voice, exerting immense pressure.

"Lord Xiao jests. Ever since entering official service, this official has acted dutifully and remained loyal to the country. If Lord Xiao possesses evidence of any corrupt official's crimes, this official believes that all those connected to them should be implicated, their estates confiscated, and their clans executed to serve as a warning to others."