The Teng Family Are Robbers
Feng Yu Heng put her tranquilizer gun back inside her space and looked at Ban Zou a little bit provocatively, and the corners of his lips twitched, but he did not say anything. Feng Yu Heng’s hidden weapon was something that he had been thinking about the entire time. Every time that Ban Zou saw her pull it out, he felt that he had truly wasted his years training his martial arts. But after thinking a bit, she was his master. No matter how it was, a master should be a bit stronger than the subordinate, thus he felt a bit relieved.
The four drifted down from the roof and swaggered into the room. The personal troops that were standing guard outside must have thought that such a thing could not possibly happen in Ji An Prefecture. This residence was so small that they would immediately notice if an extra chicken appeared, thus they did not pay too much attention; however, who knew that there would be four highly-skilled people that would sneak inside. Without making a single sound, it was as though they were ghosts, as they rendered the person that they were protecting unconscious.
Ban Zou pointed at the two people on the bed and asked Feng Yu Heng how they should be dealt with. Feng Yu Heng pondered for a bit but did not reply directly. Instead, she walked up and removed the tranquilizer needles from their bodies and threw them back inside her space. Then, in front of her two maidservants and hidden guard, she went up to the man in brocade and… removed his pants.
Wang Chuan and Huang Quan were ashamed. Young Miss, what are you doing? Ban Zou, however, watched intently, as Feng Yu Heng pulled out a needle and stabbed it at the nephew of the prefecture guard’s crown jewels a few times. She then threw the needle back inside her sleeve. Turning back around, she quietly said: “Put his pants back on then pick him up. We’re going to head to the prefecture guard’s manor.”
The four left just like that, completely ignoring the brainless troops standing outside. It was only when they reached another road that Huang Quan said: “Those troops weren’t just there for show, right? Why are they all just standing there foolishly? They’re able to protect their master and the fief like this?”
Feng Yu Heng shrugged: “The troops that could be assembled in a small place, what hopes can be placed in them? They’re just a bit larger and have a bit more strength. They can’t be compared to the soldiers in the army. But this is also good. If there really was a fight, doesn’t this save us some effort?”
“What did you do with him?” Ban Zou did not care too much about the personal troops. Comparatively, he was more concerned about Feng Yu Heng having stabbed the nephew’s crown jewels and what sort of effect it would have.
Feng Yu Heng smirked: “Nothing much. He still has his life, but his crown jewels can no longer be used.”
Wang Chuan and Huang Quan let out a laugh. If they were not in the middle of a stealth operation at night, they really would have begun clapping. But Ban Zou had a different opinion from them, as he said: “For this sort of thing, a single cut would suffice. Next time, don’t use such a direct method.” What was it, a grown girl taking off a man’s pants and seeing that sort of thing, no matter how he thought about it, he felt disgusted.
“Using a blade would leave too much blood. Also, the target would be too large. For example, you’re currently carrying him. If a blade was used, your body would be covered in blood.”
Ban Zou trembled, “Stop speaking, the more you say, the more disgusted I feel. Even without a blade, I can use my hand to twist it. Either way, there’s no need for you to personally do it. If such a thing happens again in the future, just speak. I won’t trouble master with handling it yourself.”
Feng Yu Heng nodded and felt that this hidden guard was quite reliable.
The residence just now could be considered the area for commoners in Ji An Prefecture. There was a bit of distance from the prefecture guard’s manor. The group carefully walked in the streets. Approaching the wealthier residences, more and more patrolling soldiers could be seen, but hiding and avoiding them was not a problem.
Along the way, they saw a large number of residences for the troops. These troops had already become a large portion of the people in Ji An Prefecture. Surrounding the prefecture guard’s manor, they accounted for nearly one-third of the area in the prefecture. As for the shops that had been attracted by the Teng family, they were mainly located on the street that they had passed. There were also some people that had been attracted to build residences in the prefecture, and they were not far from the center. Their location was quite good, and they were not as remote as the one occupied by the young woman and her family.
Feng Yu Heng thought that the poorer people inside the prefecture should be those that were living in the prefecture originally. They lived far away, and there would be nobody managing them. As for the newer residents, although the land was provided by the prefecture for free, since they had the ability to build their own residences, and some of them built larger residences, it was clear that they had some financial foundation. In addition to being attracted by the prefecture guard, the locations that were given would naturally be much better.
She could not endure the curiosity that she felt. Just as they were 50 steps away, when the entrance could already be seen, she suddenly took an interest in a larger residence, thus she arranged for them to go inside and take a look.
Wang Chuan and Huang Quan did not have any objections; however, this was a bit of a burden for Ban Zou. He was still carrying one on his shoulders, but carrying another would not be particularly difficult. Coming to Ji An Prefecture on this night was for the sake of scoping out the situation in the prefecture. They had already gone into the home of a normal commoner, and they had taken a look at the shops from the outside. Now, passing by all of these wealthy residences, going inside to take a look was something that they ought to do.
The group agreed and soared into the yard with Feng Yu Heng at the front.
The yard was quiet, and there was not even a servant standing guard overnight. From the outside, the residence looked rather magnificent, but after taking a look inside, they found that there was not much else to it. Who knew if it was a result of the residence being built in a hurry or if the owner liked this sort of minimalistic style, but in this large yard, aside from the ground being paved with bricks, there was nothing else. They could not even be bothered to plant a few trees. It was just empty and made it look like a deserted residence.
The group felt their way into the second division and finally found a living person inside a room. It was a middle-aged couple. They were leaning back in bed while chatting. The woman was chubby but had a gentle appearance; however, there was a bit of distress in her forehead. At this time, she was complaining to her man: “Back when Prefect Guard Teng was selling us on coming to this side, he said that the land would be gifted to us and that we could build our own residence. He also said that Ji An Prefecture was a paradise, and that our lives would be great if we came here. But husband, do you think we’ve been scammed? Coming to Ji An Prefecture, we can no longer go out. I wanted to visit Yu Zhou during the day, as it was time to collect from the shops, but the soldiers from the prefect guards did not let me go out. They said that if there was anything that I wanted to buy, I can buy from inside the prefecture. Everything that Yu Zhou has, Ji An Prefecture also has. Even to collect money from the shops, I need to ask the prefect guard for permission. Only after receiving permission could I leave the prefecture. Just getting permission would be fine, but buying things in the prefecture is too expensive. Our family originally had some foundation, but it now seems like it’s about to be emptied out. How will we live in the future?”
“Hah!” The man also let out a long sigh with a dejected expression.
The woman was a bit anxious, “What’s the point of just sighing. Think of something! It’s all your fault. Back then, you just wanted to enjoy this cheap benefit and promised Prefect Guard Teng that you would move to this side. Now, our family has effectively been placed under house arrest. Even if we wanted to leave, we couldn’t. What should we do?”
The man smacked the side of the bed and finally told his wife: “How could it be for the sake of a small benefit? In the past, I was afraid to scare you, thus I did not tell you. In truth, it was clearly just the Teng family that had set their sights on our businesses and forcefully wanted to take them away. I refused them a few times, but Ji An Prefecture has their own army. How could we be their opponents? The businesses were stolen away, and Prefecture Guard Teng said that they were not taken away for nothing. This piece of land was used in exchange. He also demanded that the residence be built as a two-division residence to revitalize Ji An Prefecture.”
“What?” The woman was extremely shocked, “The Teng family stole our businesses? Then what money am I going to collect? What money is there to collect? Is this not just robbery?”
The man quickly covered her mouth in fear, “Keep your voice down. Do you think that this place is Yu Zhou? The walls have ears. If this was heard by the Teng family, not to mention our businesses, but even our lives could not be saved!”
The woman covered her face and began to cry. She felt as helpless as it was possible to feel.
“Hah!” The man sighed once more and said: “Don’t cry. It’s not just us. Which family has not gone through the same? All of the people that moved here from Yu Zhou to build their homes had their businesses collected by the Teng family. Otherwise, even if they were not given for nothing, who would want to move to this side? Also, what do they mean by given for nothing? There is no deed. Right now, we’ve built up the residence, but if they ever decide to take it back, it will be taken back. Even if we want to speak reason, there’s no place to speak it.”
The woman felt even more dejected from hearing this. Thinking a bit, she said through some tears: “Wasn’t it said that Ji An Prefecture has already been conferred? And it was given to Imperial Daughter Ji An, but why has that imperial daughter still not come? If she comes, will the situation here improve? At the very least, it won’t be like with the Teng family, right?”
The man nodded and said: “It should not be as domineering as with the Teng family. Although we are far from the capital, we can still hear a bit about Imperial Daughter Ji An. I heard that her medical abilities are famed, and she built a Hundred Herb Hall. She also helped a number of poor people. It’s possible that Imperial Daughter Ji An has been too busy with her medicine and wars and could not concern herself with this place. Hah.”
The two let out long sighs over the uncertainty of how their lives would continue. As for Feng Yu Heng’s group that was hiding in the shadows, they finally understood. It turned out that the citizens living here had been forced to come. Not only had been they forcefully locked in Ji An Prefecture, but they had been forced to build these residences to produce for the fief.
She rubbed her nose. No matter what was said, the fief being managed by the Teng family in this way had saved her a great deal of worry from a construction point of view. She had been worrying that this side would be like a wasteland, and she would need to find people to begin planning for the prefecture. She would need to find people to build buildings, but now, she had been spared this problem. Of course, she would need to make reparations in the future, but this would depend on what degree the people were willing to cooperate.
Feng Yu Heng gained an understanding, and the group continued on their way to the prefect guard’s manor.
The defense of the prefect guard’s manor was relatively tight. Who knew if it was like this usually, but Ban Zou told them after some observation: “At the front entrance, there are no fewer than ten hidden guards, and this does not include those that are inside.”
Huang Quan was a bit worried: “How about you guys go in. I am worried I’ll hold you back.”
Ban Zou looked at her then nodded very cooperatively: “I feel that this is a very good idea.”
Huang Quan glared at him fiercely but had nothing to say. Her qinggong was the worst in the group. Even Feng Yu Heng, who had only trained in it for a few years, was better than her; however, compared to Wang Chuan, Huang Quan’s skills with a sword were better. This was a case of each having their own strengths!
The four made for a target that was much too large. Feng Yu Heng frankly decided to also leave Wang Chuan outside, with only her and Ban Zou going inside. The two maidservants did not say anything. First, this was not the place to argue. Second, they had an understanding of their young miss’ abilities. There was no need for them to worry about a lowly prefect guard’s manor.
The two maidservants were left outside as reinforcements, as Ban Zou glanced at Feng Yu Heng and asked: “Split up or go in together?”
Feng Yu Heng put on a wicked smile, “Of course, split up. You first.”
Ban Zou nodded. His body became a blur, as he disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Feng Yu Heng said to the two servants with a smile: “You two, turn around.” When Wang Chuan and Huang Quan turned around, she did not delay for a single instant, as she dove straight into her space…
