CHAPTER 446: CHAPTER 440: RESIGNING FROM OFFICE

"I ordered the reduction of commercial taxes in each county and state to encourage merchants to come to the Yu State, bringing supplies to help heal the displaced people due to the war. I ordered you to provide relief to reassure the people, hoping for a revival next year." Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze was deep, "But you, as a Prefectural Governor, neither heed the orders nor take any beneficial initiatives, just like Gao Cheng, wielding power yet failing to act."

"To be capable but unwilling to act is a great evil. Your two aides, unable to advise you on an official’s responsibilities and only thinking of evading superiors, deserve death!" Zhao Hanzhang directly stated, "You all deserve death!"

Pei He: "So the Governor is here to take my life?"

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "No, before I came, I wanted to meet with you to discuss the major matters of Yu State together, but after arriving, I realized you are not someone with whom plans can be made."

"But in order to kill you, I am still hesitating." Zhao Hanzhang stared at him, "Killing you is easy, but after killing you, how will I deal with your family, the Pei Family, and many other officials like you who are negligent and inactive?"

Zhao Hanzhang raised her head to the sky and sighed, "Must I, Zhao Hanzhang, become an infamous tyrannical official?"

Pei He’s face underwent several changes, he was not a fool and understood Zhao Hanzhang’s meaning.

She did not wish to become a tyrannical official who executes subordinates, and he did not wish to be killed, but as long as he stayed in this position, she was bound to kill him!

Pei He stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Governor, I am old and in poor health, inevitably lacking in energy, and no longer able to fulfill the duties of Prefectural Governor of Nanyang Country, so I hereby formally resign."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and said, "Very well, I will write to Your Majesty to appoint someone else to take over Nanyang Country."

She stood up, grabbed his hand in salutation, and with bright eyes, stared at him, saying, "Governor Pei has been in Nanyang Country for many years, it can be considered your second home. Please ponder more on the people of Nanyang before you leave, leaving a sentiment of gratitude. In the future, the people of Nanyang will surely remember the goodness of the Pei Family."

She said, "The common people are most sentimental, remembering each morsel they receive. They are the least likely to regret an investment by the powerful."

Although Pei He did not agree with this statement, at this moment, his and his family’s lives were in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands, so he naturally would not contradict at this time, thus he nodded in agreement, indicating that he would do his best to fulfill his duties before leaving.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang release him, smiled, and said, "It is late, I will not disturb Governor Pei anymore."

Qiu Wu pushed open the window, Zhao Hanzhang ignored the blood on her soles, stepped onto the couch, and leapt out. The guards followed one by one, and soon only Pei He and two boxes remained inside the room, along with the obvious bloody footprints on the couch.

Only then did Pei He, trembling, extend his hand to support the couch, slowly sitting on the footstool, hoarsely calling out, "Come, someone..."

The follower, who had brought hot water long ago but stopped because he heard conversation inside, assuming aides had returned, hurriedly pushed open the door, asking, "Master, are you ready to wash up? Mr. Chen and the others..."

As he turned past the screen, he saw only the master in the inner room, with the window wide open letting in the cold wind, and no one else speaking with the master.

He was puzzled but didn’t dare to ask, so he stepped forward, hands folded, awaiting orders.

At this moment, Pei He only hated that the follower was too honest and lacked any cleverness.

He raised his arm slightly, and only then did the other step forward to support him, seeing his arms trembling and body cold, he was shocked, "Master, you’re catching a chill, this is terrible."

Only after lifting him did he see the opened box on the ground and smelled the blood, though he did not think more of it, and quickly went to clean up, only for Pei He to stop him with a shout, "Don’t..."

The abrupt voice startled the follower, causing him to shiver, and the box dropped to the ground, a bloodied human head rolling out of the black cloth with eyes wide open, staring at them.

The follower screamed, eyes rolling back, and fell to the ground with a thud.

Pei He: ...

He trembled his lips, closed his eyes, then supported himself on the wooden couch to sit down again, raising his voice to call out, "Someone, someone—"

The voice carried far, but for a long time, there was no response.

It was too cold, and it was already deep at night, so not even the servants could stand in the cold outside indefinitely. Everyone huddled inside, through doors and windows and thick felt, not realizing the master was calling for someone until much later.

They quickly followed the voice to receive orders, and before long, the entire Governor Mansion became lively, first with the study lighting up the courtyard, then the main courtyard, then screams came from the guest courtyard, and the entire Governor Mansion was bustling.

The bodies of the two aides were found in their room, not far from the door, clearly ambushed from behind. As soon as they entered, they were murdered.

Madam Pei was also terribly frightened, now weak and clutching her chest, gasped several breaths before asking, "Master, who is so ruthless, so ferocious, that they even sent a human head to you?"

Pei He remained silent.

Madam Pei ground her teeth in hatred, "Where is Meng Ze, quickly call him, let him investigate, this vile person must be caught."

Did he know who it was, but did he dare, or could he capture them?

Pei He finally caught his breath and said to Madam Pei, "Pack up, we are leaving Lu Yang tomorrow."

Madam Pei slightly stunned, asked, "Where are we going?"

"Going back to our hometown," he replied, "I’m not doing this official job anymore."

Madam Pei widened her eyes, this was too sudden, she didn’t react for a moment, somewhat dazedly, "Why?"

Pei He glanced at her and said, "To stay alive, if we want to live, we must leave."

Madam Pei was both angry and shocked, "Who is so bold as to threaten you like this!"

She both hated him for his lack of backbone, "He threatens you, and you obey? You are a Prefectural Governor of a state, with such cowardice, are you not afraid of being ridiculed by the world?"

Pei He: "The blade is already at my neck; if I don’t agree, not only I, but you and the children will all die!"

"Are our family’s guards just for show? Are the soldiers of Nanyang Country all cowards?"

Pei He wiped his face of spittle, detecting his wife’s sarcasm, he sighed deeply, "The person stealthily entered my study, not only eavesdropped on my planning with the aides but without alerting anyone, severed two heads and delivered them to me, what use are the guards?"

"Even if the guards could detect it, would the Xiping Iron Cavalry in her hand fear the few people in my mansion? It would just mean a few more lives lost," Pei He said, "As for the soldiers of Nanyang Country, don’t mention it, her current prestige in the Nanyang Country’s military might even surpass mine, and both the Inspector and the Prefectural Governor, everyone knows to listen to the Inspector."

Madam Pei was taken aback, then suddenly understood, grabbing him and asking, "You said who?"

Pei He forcefully pulled back his sleeve, murmured, "Who else, but Zhao Hanzhang, whom you praised and envied a lot recently?"