Chapter 47: Be Prepared to Pay with Your Life
Chapter 47: Be Prepared to Pay with Your Life
Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Be Prepared to Pay with Your Life
On the twentieth floor of the City Lord Mansion, the servants on the Little City Lord’s floor were also having a meal when a group of club-wielding guards suddenly rushed in. Without another word, they dragged all the servants to the dungeons for interrogation.
As a group of sub-females who had never endured torture, they confessed everything before any beatings were even necessary.
Bribing the Steward, spying on their master’s movements, deliberately buying takeout food to tempt him, and framing another sub-female.
Hiding in the dark corners of the City Lord Mansion, Bai Dan and Bai Qi were ultimately unable to escape. They were thrown into a dark, stinking dungeon, left with nothing but despair and bitter resentment.
Everything the two had done, down to the smallest detail, was confessed and delivered to the Lady of the City.
Meanwhile, Feng Si was planning to make a stew of pickled cabbage and large bones.
Despite the turmoil they had experienced on the road, the Lady of the City and the others hadn’t forgotten about eating. They all waited together in the kitchen.
Feng Si lacked the strength for the task, so Niu Ding volunteered to chop the large bones. With a cleaver, he struck the meaty, thigh-thick bones, which broke apart easily with a loud "CRACK!"
She leaned against the food preparation counter and listened as the head maid recounted what had happened. Before Feng Si could say a word, the Lady of the City spoke. "Kill them all. We can’t spare those who come to the City Lord Mansion to make trouble."
Feng Si lowered her gaze.
She didn’t say anything to stop it. ’Even though I come from a society governed by laws, I really can’t feel sorry for the sub-females who tried to frame me.’
’It all started because those two wanted to steal my business. When they failed to learn my skills and lost money, they grew jealous of me instead. That’s why the Little City Lord suddenly took notice of my stall.’
’In short, Bai Dan and Bai Qi were not the magnanimous type.’
’If I spare them this time, am I just giving them a chance to harm me again later?’
She instructed Niu Ding to wash the chopped bones with hot water, then found a large, deep iron pot. She had him place the bones inside, add water, and let it stew for two hours.
Of course, Feng Si didn’t intend to wait in the kitchen for the entire two hours.
The method for her pickled cabbage and bone stew was similar to the simple meat-stewing techniques commonly used here. There was no special skill involved; the only difference was the addition of her jar of pickled cabbage.
Feng Si told Niu Ding to watch over the pot himself. After two hours, he was to add the pickled cabbage and salt and let it stew for another half hour, at which point it would be ready to eat.
Having directed the whole process without getting her hands wet, Feng Si figured the time was about right and had Mao Xianing lead her back to the meeting hall.
The spacious meeting hall was located in a square-shaped treehouse in the forest. It featured a high ceiling and a long wooden table with green plants arranged down the center.
Niu Ding sat in the seat of honor, his face beaming. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
’Here I am, just sitting at home, and a fortune falls right out of the sky!’
’I’ve run into a sub-female who’s a true gold mine! My head is spinning. I can’t wait to show off at the next annual tribute gathering of City Lords.’
That’s right. The New Beast King’s coronation had been scheduled on too short a notice for them to attend. As a result, the New Beast King had postponed the congratulatory audience for all City Lords to the last day of the rainy season.
’So, in addition to all the other treasures, I can add the pickled cabbage to my tribute for the New Beast King!’
Seeing Feng Si enter behind the Lady of the City, Niu Ding said with a chuckle, "I’ve written up the contract just as you said and even put my inked thumbprint on it. See if there are any issues."
Feng Si walked to the side of the table and looked down at a long, brown sheepskin scroll. Written upon it in black ink were the terms of the partnership she had laid out.
In addition to their profit split, it stipulated that if the City Lord’s side were to violate the pact, he would forfeit all assets gained thus far and compensate her for any losses. The terms were almost entirely skewed in her favor.
Niu Ding saw her as just one little sub-female—someone easy to manipulate.
The only reason he agreed was because, in his view, a contract was just something to humor people with. ’Without power, a contract is just a worthless piece of sheepskin.’
While the City Lord was being surprisingly agreeable, Feng Si extended her hand, dipped the pad of her thumb in black ink, and swiftly pressed her thumbprint next to her name on both sheepskin scrolls.
The contract for the "Si" food brand, which would one day become a worldwide sensation that people would scramble to get, was thus finalized.
After the ink dried, Feng Si rolled up her scroll and put it away safely. As she was about to leave, she asked, "I’m worried that people will continue to cause trouble for me in the future. I’d like to request a token from the City Lord, something that proves I am under your jurisdiction."
"Of course," Niu Ding said, cheerfully putting away the contract from the table. He was already looking forward to raking in the large coins.
He generously drew a palm-sized token from his waist. It was made of a material that was not quite iron and was engraved with a lifelike green ox.
"This is for you," Niu Ding said, handing it to Feng Si. "I’d like to see who dares to bother you now. Feel free to use my name."
Feng Si took it and smiled, bidding farewell to the City Lord and the Lady of the City. "Then I won’t disturb you two any longer. I look forward to our pleasant cooperation in the future." Carrying the wooden box she’d brought with her, Feng Si also didn’t forget Mao Yang, the one who had brought her to the City Lord Mansion. She needed to say goodbye to her before she left.
Because of the confidential nature of the profitable deal between Feng Si and the City Lord, Mao Yang had been asked to wait outside in a separate lounge.
She was sick with worry. ’Knowing the City Lord and the Lady of the City, Feng Si won’t be able to protect her recipe. To monopolize it, they might not even let her leave here alive.’
’Six hundred coins for a single jar of pickled cabbage... it’s just too profitable! Ahhh!’
But then, before it even got dark, Mao Yang—who had already resigned herself to Feng Si’s tragic fate—saw the sub-female herself approaching, completely unscathed, to bid her farewell.
Feng Si wore a sincere smile. "I’ll have the food I promised you ready by tomorrow. Just send someone to my stall to pick it up. I’m heading back now."
’So easily... she just... made a deal with the City Lord?’
Mao Yang stared at Feng Si’s retreating back, her entire worldview shattered.
...
Inside the majestic grand hall of the Southern Wilderness Beast Emperor Palace.
"Hah... It seems we overestimated Chi Jie. I thought that with the former King’s final decree, many people would still stand by him. I never imagined they wouldn’t dare make a peep." Leaning against a bronze lamp post on the dais of the imperial throne, the very symbol of power, Chi Jun clapped his hands and chuckled.
The New Beast King’s coronation ceremony had already been completed at sunrise on the sacrificial altar, presided over by the Chief Officiant and the Great Sacrificial Rite.
As of this moment, Chi Shou was now the new Beast King of the South Desolate Empire.
After three days of anxious, thorough preparations, they were all surprised that the ceremony had concluded without any of the anticipated disruptions.
Now that the matter was settled, it wouldn’t matter how great Chi Jie’s martial might was. He no longer had the power to reverse the outcome.
Chi Shou, clad in a black, jewel-encrusted imperial robe, stood on the high platform looking down on the hall below, his eyes filled with the confidence that came from holding absolute power. "A Young Master who failed to seize the throne and still harbors dissent... how should he be dealt with?"
Chi Jun replied, "Naturally, the only fate for him is execution."
Malicious and arrogant laughter echoed throughout the great hall.
"Losers have no right to live. I will tear Chi Jie to shreds and show the world that I am now the master of the Southern Wilderness," Chi Shou proclaimed, his voice low and sinister with unparalleled dominance.