Your Majesty, Please Stop!

Chapter 65: One Person Overturns a City

The young masters and misses of the four major families, along with a group of experts, were captured by the bandit king Xin Zhuo, with only one person managing to escape.

This news, after being confirmed repeatedly by professionals, caused a sensation like a thunderbolt striking the ground, or like pouring a spoonful of cold water into a boiling hot oil pan.

The entire city erupted in an instant!

This was no longer a matter of bandits being difficult to catch, but rather that half of the city's population was on the verge of bankruptcy!

Soon after, a chain reaction occurred, with the economy declining and unemployment rates skyrocketing. People on the streets looked dispirited.

The stark contrast and the dual psychological and mental pressure caused half of the city's population to "fall ill" within just an hour.

And more people chose to end their lives.

"Oh no, Hu Yuanwai from Qixiang Lane jumped off a building!"

"Zhang San from Xiaodong Lane threw himself into the river!"

"Li Er's wife bet all their assets on the Murong family and is now holding a kitchen knife to her throat!"

"The most tragic is Song, the leader of the Beicheng Axe Gang. He used the entire gang's assets for gambling and is now being chased by his subordinates!"

"The shopkeepers of Li's Silk Shop and Jiang's Pawnshop made a pact to drink rat poison. It is said that a few days ago, they were arguing about whether the Murong family or the Yuan family would win!"

"Make way! Make way! The yamen is on official business!"

Yuan Mo'er hurriedly led a group of constables to rush to the highest building in the city, Wangjiang Tower, to prevent gamblers from doing something foolish.

Although it was a matter of life and death, a faint trace of satisfaction appeared on Yuan Mo'er's face.

"Boss, did you make a profit?" a female constable keenly noticed the joy on Yuan Mo'er's face.

Yuan Mo'er coughed lightly. "Don't talk nonsense! I just remembered something funny that happened last year."

By this time, they had arrived at the foot of Wangjiang Tower. The constables looked up and saw Fatty standing on the rooftop, wearing only gray underwear, howling to the sky, "It's all gone, everything is gone!"

"Hu Yuanwai!"

Yuan Mo'er tried to soften his voice as much as possible. "It's just losing some money. People still have to live on. Why give up? Don't you still have a liquor store and a jade shop?"

Hu Yuanwai lowered his head, his eyes turning red, and roared, "I lost it all!"

"What about your wife and children? Don't you have to consider their feelings?"

"Lost them too! I used them as collateral!"

"What about... your parents? Don't you have to repay them for raising you?"

"My father passed away early. I gave my mother and a few maidservants to the laundry to be washed, exchanged for fifty taels, and used them as collateral too."

"You still have a chance to make a comeback and save them from danger, don't you?"

"It's all gone. I borrowed 1,800 taels from the moneylender!"

"Then go die, you useless waste!"

"... " The constables looked at their own leader in confusion.

Yuan Mo'er realized his slip of the tongue and quickly shouted, "No, it was just a joke!"

"I'll never gamble again in my next life! Xin Zhuo, you dog thief, I won't let you off even in death!"

Hu Yuanwai howled to the sky and fell down.

Yuan Mo'er acted quickly, kicking a nearby cart of grain and narrowly catching Hu Yuanwai.

Hu Yuanwai's suicide was not an isolated incident. People all over the city were jumping into rivers, leaping off buildings, and drinking poison.

Fortunately, due to the ongoing battle outside the city and the prevention of spies infiltrating, there were many constables who were able to put out fires everywhere, so the casualty rate was not too high.

In the backyard of the magistrate's residence.

The news was slightly delayed. The magistrate's wife preferred tranquility, so news from the common people would often reach here much later.

At this moment, the magistrate's wife was enjoying the plum blossoms with her two children and Su Miaojin. The table was filled with beautifully colored and delicious "Su Miao Zhai" pastries.

"The two poems he wrote are just average. We have plenty of talented men and women like him in the Autumn Palace Pavilion," the magistrate's wife said.

Su Zefeng took a bite of peach pastry and said, "Poetry and literature are just for leisure. They can't compare to the satisfaction of killing thieves. Mother, sister, you don't know, Chen Guiyan and Murong Lei are truly skilled. Without my sister as a bargaining chip, it would be difficult for that villain Xin Zhuo to escape even if he had eight hands."

"That's good, that's good!" the magistrate's wife said, gently patting Su Miaojin's delicate hand with affection. "Miaojin has suffered so much injustice. When we flay that villain Xin Zhuo alive, it will finally relieve the anger in my heart. And once your father and the generals win the battle outside the city, peace will finally return."

Su Miaojin, dressed in white, smiled faintly. However, her mind was filled with thoughts. She was curious about what happened to the experts from the four major families and Xin Zhuo. It had been several days already, so the results should be out soon, right?

"Mother, sister, don't worry. Nothing unexpected will happen!" Su Zefeng said, sticking another piece of peach pastry to her mouth.

"Something has happened," at that moment, Dong Ling, a maid, rushed in from outside, her face filled with fear. "Madam, Miss, Master, something terrible has happened..."

"What's all this commotion?" The magistrate's wife, who was used to managing the household, couldn't help but reprimand.

Dong Ling bowed and trembled as she spoke, "The experts from the four major families have all been captured by Xin Zhuo, except for one who managed to escape!"

"Snap!" The peach pastry in Su Zefeng's hand fell to the ground. Her eyes widened. She had been waiting for news these past few days, and she was even confident enough to bet five thousand taels against the Murong family...

Even the magistrate's wife trembled slightly.

Su Miaojin was momentarily stunned, then lowered her head and smiled. She tried to maintain a serious expression, but couldn't help but smile.

Little thief, you really surprised me. I made so much money from you.

As the lanterns were lit, the streets were filled with wailing and sighs. Negative emotions were everywhere. However, Shangguan Fanqing was in a good mood. He even took the time to tie a stylish hairstyle and applied a moderate amount of powder on his face. He exuded an elegant and refined aura as he squinted his eyes, fanning himself with a folding fan, heading straight for the Golden Hook Gambling House.

Maid Haitang followed closely behind, blinking her big eyes. "Young Master, that little thief is really amazing. He actually won."

"Isn't it because your Young Master is amazing? This is called using three taels of gold to move a thousand taels, creating a harmonious atmosphere of song and dance. We're all one big happy family! Come, let's go get the silver. It's a thirty-nine to one payout. I need to calculate how much I've won. Haha..."

The Golden Hook Gambling House was just ahead. It was no longer as lively as before, with barely any customers. A few withered leaves rolled along the door. The steward and the servants sat side by side at the entrance, their faces ashen.

Something didn't seem right!

Shangguan Fanqing raised his fan in confusion. "What's wrong with you, steward? I've come to exchange my silver!"

The steward glanced at him and pointed behind him. "The boss is inside. Go find the boss."

Shangguan Fanqing entered the room in surprise and saw a burly man in brocade stepping on a stool, with a three-foot white silk hanging from the ceiling, half of his head stuck in it.

"Wait a moment, sir!" Shangguan Fanqing quickly waved his hand to stop him.

But it was too late. With a start, the man stuck his head in further, kicked the stool away, and his neck instantly tightened, his eyes rolling back.

"Damn it, has he lost his mind after winning the silver? Exchange the silver first, then die!" Shangguan Fanqing was furious. He lightly waved his fan, and a gust of wind from the fan cut the white silk.

The man fell to the ground with a loud thud, coughing violently a few times before catching his breath. Then he slapped his legs and burst into tears.

Shangguan Fanqing took a closer look at the man's appearance and couldn't help but exclaim, "Hey, aren't you Sun Dalu, the King of Blades? We once strolled through the red-light district together!"

You must continue reading. The next chapter has been updated with tens of thousands of words.

(End of this chapter)