Villain Lady

"Please officer, just investigate this a bit more."

"Please…."

"Officer, we only have him as our…."

The sight could easily cause heartache. There were so many officials were involved today and got sentenced. These family members could only find out through some connection that they made. But even then, the piece of news that they got only send them to further despair.

Many of those officials were the backbone of their family.

Without them, the condition of their houses would deteriorate. There was high possibility that they wouldn't be able to live well anymore. Not only that, they might be thrown to the street once the death's sentence was done and the status of their family was revoked.

At that time, their living condition might be worse than servants. Some women might be able to return back home but those who were 'sold' by their parents would have nowhere to go.

Manager Xin was stupefied. He turned his head to look at Wei Liuying, but what he saw stunned him. She was looked at the crowd with her calm gaze. Her black eyes looked unperturbed despite having to see such a scene in front of her. 

He couldn't guess what was inside her mind.

"Please leave here, Young Master. As you can see, the situation is a big crowded," a high ranked servant said to Wei Liuying with an apologetic smile.

Wei Liuying pointed to the crowd and put on curious expression. "This… do you know what happened?"

"Well… Have you heard what happened yesterday? These are the family members of the officials who has been sentenced to death sentence," the servant explained. It wouldn't be a secret again tomorrow, so there was no need for him to hide it.

Wei Liuying had a thoughtful expression. She furrowed her brows. "May I know the case that they got themselves into."

"Sigh… it's actually quite simple. They were all tasked to manage the salt trade in the East area. Who would expect that a lot of salt mysteriously disappear and many of these people have money more than their salary. Because of that, they were caught."

Salt trade…

Salt has long been known to be a precious commodity. Even Wei Liuying understood that it was a desirable job because of the money that they could receive easily. However, there was high chance for them to get bribed because of the large amount of money that they received.

"Is it not possible to reinvestigate the matter again?" Wei Liuying asked curiously.

The servant looked at Wei Liuying and sighed. "Even if we want to, it's not possible at all, Young Master. The Emperor had decreed that all offender have to be executed tomorrow."

Emperor had decreed.

This one sentence crushed any hope that Wei Liuying had inside her heart. She thought that it was simply the order of some officials under the Emperor, but it turned out that the order came from the Emperor himself.

It meant that there was no other way out.

Wei Liuying closed her eyes, trying to calm herself and cupped her hand. "The Emperor must be very angry to make such decree so hastily. In that case, I won't disturb you any longer."

"Many thanks for your consideration, Young Master."

With that, Wei Liuying walked out of the area with Manager following behind her. He also had thoughtful expression on his face when he looked in Wei Liuying's direction.

"Young Mi… Master, what do you plan to do now?"

"Let's return back."

The two of them made their way back to the bookstore using the back alley. This would prevent anyone from following them and possibly knew where they planned to go. Upon arriving in the bookstore, Wei Liuying looked at Manager Xin. "I have to use another method."

Manager Xin was silent for a moment. "Are you sure about this? Once you choose to do this, you'll be the same as betraying the entire kingdom?"

"Is it?" Wei Liuying asked back.

"They're all already criminals and if you don't follow the law, it means that you're going against the law. It can be said that you're betraying the kingdom," Manager Xin said in a slow tone.

But then again, he could never convince Wei Liuying to not do it. Many people could place the safety of the entire nation above their family. But Wei Liuying was not included in that list. Why should she sacrifice her only family member who care for her because of some meaningless dispute for the throne?

That was impossible.

Besides, she had nothing to lose.

As a concubine daughter whose fate was already sealed because of her bad reputation and her father who deemed her as nothing more than a trash, she didn't really have anything that she cared for in this kingdom.

What's the difference between running away from her family and running away from the entire kingdom if that was the case?

"There's no other plans that I can think within my capabilities, Manager Xin," Wei Liuying replied after a while. Her action was always monitored, making it difficult for her to meet with other people. The only time she could be alone would be at night time, but she also needed to study a lot, so resting was also important.

As the result, the only place she could ever visit was only this bookstore.

Her mother allowed her to come here because she thought that Wei Liuying was only here to read other books. Even then, Wei Liuying rarely came here and often holed herself back in the residence. There was clearly no chance for her to make more connections.

"How about asking His Highness the Third Prince for help?"

"He had to clear the suspicion in his ends too, when will he had the time to help me?" Wei Liuying refused immediately. "There's no need to worry about it, Manager Xin. I only wish that Shi Yan will be able to relay the message properly so that they will be able to make the chaos without getting captured."

"There's no need to worry. Shi Yan is clearly the best."

Wei Liuying nodded. She was silent for a moment as she thought about many other things related to her plan. The way out of the capital city was already prepared ever since a long time ago. She had already thought about this in the past in case she wanted to get out of the capital city.

The way was not that good, but it was the best option.

"I need a horse."

"I'll prepare it. Where do you want it to be placed?" Manager Xin asked.

Wei Liuying frowned. "Is there any map here?"

"Yes."

Manager Xin took out a map and unfurled it in front of Wei Liuying. The skin was coarse, but the painting on top of it was fairly clear. It was depicting the overall situation of the capital city.

"Here." Wei Liuying pointed to the west area, outside the gate.

"But that's…"

"Outside, I know. Prepare one horse."

"One?" Manager Xin felt sweat covered his back when he heard what Wei Liuying asked. "If there's only one, wouldn't it mean that there will be only one people who will go?"

"I'll stay in the capital city," Wei Liuying replied. "Regardless it's succeed or not, I'll not leave the capital city."

"Why?"

"Because I have some matters that I need to settle here," Wei Liuying replied. 

"You…" Manager Xin wanted to persuade Wei Liuying to just leave this den of danger. Rather than staying here where there were so many people who wanted her dead, wouldn't it be better if she left?

He couldn't understand what was inside her mind.

Wei Liuying dropped her eyelids. "I don't know if the money I have gathered before is enough or not, but I wish to purchase a store here after everything is finished."

"A store?"

"Yes."

Manager Xin was thoroughly confused. "What kind of store, Miss?"

"Restaurant or something like that," Wei Liuying replied. "But of course, I'll also need the former employee to stay there as I don't know how to manage a store properly."

"I see…" Manager Xin knew some stores that was not doing too well lately. If they were handed to Wei Liuying, there might be some changes, but he was not entirely sure. Besides, she did say that she wouldn't want to get involved directly.

Aiya, why is it so difficult?

"For now, can you help me find men clothing, along with bow and arrow?"

"Sure, how about sword?"

"I already have one."

Manager Xin's eyes widened at Wei Liuying's statement. When he saw her procured a short sword from her outer robe, he laughed bitterly. If only Wei Liuying had used that sword before, he was sure that it would have been a blood bath in Wei Family Residence.

Fortunately, Wei Liuying was not that stupid to attack those people in the residence.

Well, he wondered which one was luckier, though. The guards who didn't get killed or Wei Liuying who didn't have to fight until the very end.