After Transmigration, Her Whole Family Are Villains

Chapter 244

That night, Jiangzhou City was bustling with activity.

Governor Lu returned home at midnight after an amorous encounter with his favorite courtesan, only to find two people drinking tea in his back courtyard. He thought he must have sleepwalked to the wrong place.

The lanterns outside still hung quietly.

Upon closer inspection, he saw his courtyard was filled with people.

But the two drinking tea stood out in particular.

The household servants had all been roused, tied up, and gagged.

Commander Jiang yawned and said, "Governor Lu, I've always had a habit of sleepwalking. Whenever I'm unhappy, I tend to sleepwalk. My family worries about me, so they follow me at night, concerned I might accidentally harm someone."

Governor Lu, still reeking of perfume and powder, was half-drunk and unsteady on his feet. He leaned softly against the servant behind him, mustering what little strength he had left to say:

"You... you... you wouldn't dare kill an imperial official, would you? Killing an imperial official is punishable by death."

"Governor Lu, don't you know I was originally a rebel? I built my reputation on killing imperial officials!"

"Lord Gong, Lord Gong, please talk some sense into him. My godfather is Eunuch Liu, don't bring ruin upon yourselves." Governor Lu hadn't expected this Jiang fellow to be so reckless, nor had he imagined his many guards would be so useless, allowing intruders to sneak in and capture everyone without a sound.

Gong Qichi shook his head and said, "I'm just following along with the sleepwalking."

Jiang Changtian took his sword and traced it across the governor's neck.

"Swish!"

A lock of hair fell to the ground.

Governor Lu nearly thought his throat had been slit. His body went hot, and he wet himself.

Gong Qichi simply sat there drinking tea, holding his cup but not drinking much, just wetting his throat. He was worried that drinking too much tea at night would make him need to urinate frequently.

He watched the scene unfold with an air of nonchalance.

How refreshing this was.

Still as invigorating as ever.

Serving as an official in court, one had to endure daily indignities.

Smiling at everyone, bowing to all, until eventually, one forgets even their own name.

Jiang Changtian said, "I hear you're quite skilled at amassing wealth. Under your governance, over sixty families have been ruined. That's not a good habit. I too enjoy accumulating wealth, but I always ensure people give willingly. Like right now – Governor Lu, are you willing to give me two-thirds of your family fortune? Are you willing?"

"I'm willing, I'm willing." Governor Lu nodded frantically.

With a sword at his eyes, how could he not be willing?

With swords pointed at the heads of his entire family, how could he not be willing?

Jiang Changtian had people go to the storerooms to move things.

They were skilled workers who knew to choose valuable, precious, lightweight, and easily transportable items.

Before leaving, Jiang Changtian directly stabbed his sword through Governor Lu's palm.

"I don't usually sleepwalk, but you told me you wanted my family's horses. Those horses were a birthday gift for my daughter. I didn't want her to have to part with them. I don't mind giving away my own possessions, but those belong to my little girl. I really couldn't agree to it. I couldn't sleep, so I came personally to explain to Governor Lu. Surely you can understand a father's concern."

"I understand, I understand."

Governor Lu was in tears from the pain, thinking that if he could survive until tomorrow, he would have these country bumpkins killed.

Jiang Changtian shook his head: "You still don't understand. Your expression isn't right; it's not sincere enough."

Jiang Changtian pulled out his sword and gestured towards the governor's heart.

Governor Lu's eyes filled with terror, his whole body trembling.

"I truly understand now. I don't want any horses, not even one."

"That's better. You see, I came to have a heart-to-heart talk with you in the middle of the night, and we've reached an understanding. If we couldn't come to an agreement, we'd have to open our hearts and have a good discussion until we did, right, Governor Lu?" Jiang Changtian placed his sword on the governor's chest, making his point quite clearly.

"Yes, yes, yes, everything you say is correct." Governor Lu was drenched in sweat, his body shaking. 'Opening one's heart' was just a figure of speech, not an invitation to use a sword...

Governor Lu's hand wouldn't stop bleeding.

He watched as Jiang Changtian stood up, apparently ready to leave. He took deep breaths, feeling he had escaped death.

But just as Jiang Changtian had taken two steps, he came back.

He kicked the governor hard in the chest twice, causing him to curl up like a cooked shrimp.

"I forgot to mention one thing. I wonder if Governor Lu genuinely likes horses, or if someone told you I had good horses. Do you know, once someone spoke ill of my daughter, and I killed over six hundred people from that family in one night? I burned down their home, and the fire raged for days. The blade I used for killing became dull, and I had to change it three times. Do you understand what I'm saying? That person wasn't encouraging you to ask for horses; they were encouraging you to seek death. Do you understand now?"

Governor Lu wept bitterly. He understood, he truly understood now.

Whoever had whispered in his ear about Commander Jiang's horses was sending him to his death.

Jiang Changtian, seeing that he still didn't seem too bright, kicked him twice more.

Under the lantern light, in the night, Commander Jiang said with a hint of anger: "I despise how you people always bring up your connections to the eunuch faction. Is this how an imperial official should behave? You're disgracing the position!"

"Yes, yes, yes. I'll never mention it again. I'm sworn enemies with the eunuch faction." Governor Lu swore with tears in his eyes, raising his hand.

Then he was kicked again.

"It's scoundrels like you who ruin the reputation of the eunuch faction. They work tirelessly in the imperial palace, barely able to leave once a year. What wrong have they done? They're simply devoted to serving the emperor. Yet you vermin tarnish their name. You dare call yourself an imperial official? Bah!"

Governor Lu was thoroughly confused by the kicking.

Wait, whose side are you on?!

"I have a half-brother, surnamed Yan, skilled in music. He's in the palace, struggling and trying to survive, yet his reputation is ruined by miscreants like you. What eunuch faction? That's my good brother, and I won't allow you to slander him like this. From now on, if I, Jiang Changtian, encounter anyone causing trouble in the name of the eunuch faction, I'll kill them on sight."

The lanterns swayed.

Commander Jiang finally left.

Governor Lu finally passed out.

...

There was no curfew in Jiangzhou.

The night breeze was cool.

Commander Jiang led his men, slowly walking towards the courier station. Fortunately, it wasn't far from the government office or the officials' mansions. If it had been too far, he might not have bothered coming.

Gong Qichi followed along leisurely, taking a stroll.

As they walked, he fell half a step behind.

Jiang Changtian stopped to wait for him.

Gong Qichi caught up again.

"Brother Jiang, your murderous aura is much stronger than before."

"It's just for show. With a weak wife and children, one must appear fierce when out and about."

"In the future, we should establish a curfew. The security in Jiangzhou is poor. Look at how Governor Lu's entire family was nearly wiped out, and no one intervened."

"Indeed, it's not good. Not as good as Jingzhou. You managed it much better, Brother Gong."

"Yes, before becoming an official, I didn't care much. Now that I'm in office, when I see things that aren't right, I want to fix them."

...