Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 116 - 115: Heroine
"Leave now."
Qin Yao picked up the blood-stained bundle from the ground and pointed to the mountain path to the east, ready to part ways with Yin Le.
Yin Le hurriedly asked, "I still don’t know my benefactor’s name!"
"There’s nothing worth knowing." Qin Yao didn’t look back; she hesitated, then stopped. "Also, I’m not your benefactor. You gave me information, I took you out, and now we’re even."
"By the way, you’ve never been up Yuhua Mountain, and I haven’t seen you here either. Those bandits are all doomed; no one will know in the future."
Leaving this, Qin Yao took her spoils and went down the mountain.
She had to confirm with one of the bandits before the government killed them all to ensure that the four heads were indeed the real target, lest she miss out on the bounty.
Yin Le was stunned for a moment, knelt in the direction she left, bowed, then stood up, forcing herself to calm down, and headed towards the east mountain path.
No one had seen her at Yuhua Mountain, so she hadn’t been there, and naturally hadn’t entered the bandit’s lair.
When the time came, she could make up any excuse to return home, without needing to prove any chastity by jumping into a pond.
Moreover, Yin Le had no intention of dying. She had painstakingly killed the bandits and escaped with her life; her innocence was intact. Why seek death?
Even if the world didn’t believe her, she believed in herself!
As Yin Le walked, she pondered strategies and reasons, quickening her pace homeward as she watched the morning sun slowly rise in the sky.
At the foot of Yuhua Mountain, when Qin Yao arrived, there were surprisingly more than a dozen privately armed people among the ranks of the officials.
Not only were there more people, but the leader had changed from the County Magistrate to a young man in his thirties.
This man wore a blue official robe, sat on a horse, and had an imposing demeanor.
Taking a look, Qin Yao guessed that this must be the Lord County Magistrate whom she hadn’t seen before.
But that didn’t matter. She didn’t care how the government office delegated the credit as long as she got her bounty.
Qin Yao threw down the blood-stained bundle she held and stood firm, clasped her fist towards the man on the horse:
"Qin Yao from Liu Family Village greets Lord County Magistrate!"
The County Magistrate turned his horse, facing her, nodded, and looked at the bundle on the ground. "Did you obtain Xiang Wang’s head?"
Qin Yao nodded, saying she didn’t mean to scare anyone but wanted to confirm the deceased’s identity while the bandits’ underlings were still around.
The County Magistrate’s gaze darkened slightly, scrutinized her for a long while, then waved his hand to bring up the captured bandit underlings for on-site verification.
Seeing that the County Magistrate didn’t say something like waiting to confirm at the county government later and acted quite straightforwardly, Qin Yao felt relieved.
Before the bundle was opened, Qin Yao kindly reminded, "Should the Lord avert his gaze? The four heads are in the bundle, and the sight might be unsettling."
The County Magistrate showed a bit of disdain but, seeing the County Magistrate didn’t flinch, gritted his teeth and said no.
Thus, Qin Yao said nothing more, used a knife to open the bundle, and personally arranged the four heads, now crooked in all directions, to face the County Magistrate and his entourage.
Then...
"Ugh—!"
The County Magistrate fell from his horse, turned around, and vomited violently.
The surrounding officials all furrowed their brows, turned their faces away, and some couldn’t hold back and joined the County Magistrate in retching.
Qin Yao: "..."
Fortunately, the bandit underling responsible for verification completed the confirmation in a few seconds, and Qin Yao covered the bundle again, maintaining her composure.
"Lord, you may look back now; the bundle is covered," the Steward whispered, trying hard to suppress his discomfort.
After a long moment, the County Magistrate turned back, glanced at Qin Yao, and seeing her unmoved, as if she were looking at a few winter melons, he couldn’t help but suck in a breath—this woman must be a fierce one!
Seeing the orderly troops about to leave, Qin Yao tentatively asked, "What about my reward silver?"
"Rest assured, you won’t be shortchanged!" the County Magistrate said, "First, we will detain these vicious bandits back to the county government, then you’ll get your reward silver."
"Alright then." Qin Yao smiled slightly, mounted her horse that she had brought along, and followed the large group back.
Government officers had already entered the city ahead, beating gongs and drums to announce. By the time Qin Yao and her team entered through the city gates, the citizens lined the roads in a lively welcome.
The officials held the four bandit leaders’ heads, clearing the way at the front, followed by the Lord County Magistrate and the County Magistrate.
Behind them were the officials escorting the bandits, and makeshift stretchers lined with bandit corpses made of tree branches.
At the end of the procession were Qin Yao and the Steward.
The citizens looked at the bandit corpses with satisfaction.
Though the heads were frightening, they still widened their eyes for a glimpse, then spat in contempt.
Several major city merchants, upon hearing the news, brought out newly made banners to greet them, inscribed with "Lord, eliminate harm for the people, boundless merit."
The phrases might have been somewhat clichéd, but the sentiment of gratitude was evident, and the officials appreciated it.
The Steward kept watching Qin Yao, seeing her remain composed and not taking undue credit, nodded in satisfaction, acknowledging her as someone who knows how to behave.
As the large group passed the academy, the students were in class, and regardless of the teacher’s reproach, they rushed to the gate upon hearing the sound of gongs and drums, shouting "The bandit leader is here, the bandits are vanquished!"
They all ran towards the entrance for a bit of excitement.
Mainly to see if the government really captured Xiang Wang’s head.
The government had been proclaiming this bandit suppression for seven months without much visible success; today, without a sound, they had suddenly eliminated the bandit nest; they dared not believe it.
Liu Ji mingled among the scholars, craning his neck forward.
With good food at home, he looked increasingly handsome and, standing next to a group of sixteen- or seventeen-year-old lads, didn’t seem old at all, he might have been mistaken for seventeen or eighteen.
"Brother Liu, did you see Xiang Wang’s head?!"
Behind him, classmates unable to elbow their way through asked excitedly.
Liu Ji had already reached the front of the procession; it was still early, and the officials hadn’t arrived, but they were close.
Two minutes later, the procession appeared in view, and the citizens immediately became excited. Liu Ji held back a pressing bladder, almost squeezed by them.
"Stop squeezing, stop squeezing!" Liu Ji angrily yelled.
Classmates behind him heard his voice, loudly asked, "Did you see them?"
"I saw them, I saw them..." Liu Ji replied before lifting his eyes for a look. Oh my, they were real heads!
Frightened, he immediately raised his hands to cover his eyes, leaving a sliver open, wanting to see yet afraid to look.
His classmates asked excitedly, "Who killed them? Who did it?"
Nearby, a citizen said, "Yesterday morning, someone went to the government office to reveal their identity, it should be that warrior who did it. See, the one on horseback at the end should be them..."
Everyone looked in unison and collectively let out a "Huh?" The warrior turned out to be a woman!
But seeing the Steward following beside her, it must be the person who revealed their identity.
The students finally squeezed to the front to join Liu Ji, seeing him staring dazedly at the woman on horseback, teasingly said:
"Brother Liu, did you fall for this lady hero?"
You don’t say, truly, her appearance on horseback was rather gallant, and she didn’t seem very old.
