Chapter 152: The Agonized Screams

Under Li Wei’s terrified gaze, the dagger in Tie Wula’s hand danced across his body. In the blink of an eye, save for a small cloth covering his privates, he was left almost completely naked. Tie Wula repeated the process with the others. Within moments, the young dandies were standing shivering on the wooden bridge, exposed to the elements. They had no idea what Tie Wula intended, but standing there in front of the gathered crowd, Li Wei wished he could simply vanish into the floorboards.

The onlookers burst into laughter, pointing at Li Wei and his companions. Had cameras existed, they likely would have swarmed in to take souvenir photos. Tie Wula said in a low, steady voice, "This is the price for offending Flowing Water Pavilion. I hope none of you will be foolish enough to cross us again."

With that, he tossed Li Wei off the bridge. A loud splash echoed as he hit the water, sending spray flying high. While the water beneath the bridge was not deep enough to drown anyone, the suffering was unavoidable.

After joining his "partners in misery" for a soak in the water, Tie Wula tied a rope to the bridge railing and clapped his hands twice. Several guards from the pavilion emerged, carrying wooden barrels. The crowd craned their necks to see what was inside.

Hearing the slithering sounds of snakes coming from the barrels, Tie Wula felt goosebumps crawl across his skin. He never would have guessed that this idea belonged to Liu Ling’er. He waved at his men, "Dump them all in."

Li Wei, who had somehow managed to spit out the cloth gag, saw the water snakes descending from above. His scalp tingled, and he nearly fainted. "Help! Please, let me go! I’ll never do it again!"

Liu Ling’er curled her lip in disdain. "I don’t believe you. A dog can’t stop eating filth; scoundrels like you never learn. If I don't give you a lesson you'll never forget today, you’ll be back to your old tricks as soon as your wounds heal."

She shouted to Tie Wula, "Fish that loud one out first." Li Wei’s face lit up with hope, thinking he had been spared, but Liu Ling’er’s next words cast him back into the abyss: "Once he’s out, gag him again. His wailing is disturbing my customers’ meals!"

Damn it! How could she be so ruthless? The young Master Li wept, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Help! Someone save me! It's murder!"

Despite Li Wei’s pathetic pleas, no one in the crowd felt any sympathy. Given the trouble he had caused in the past, he deserved this. The onlookers felt that the owner of Flowing Water Pavilion had truly acted on behalf of the people.

Thrown back into the water, the six men struggled frantically against the dozens of water snakes. Their movements only enraged the creatures; having been cooped up in a barrel, the snakes were already irritable, and being sat upon only made them strike back.

Manager Hua smiled at the customers waiting in line. "The troublemakers have been dealt with. Please continue, everyone; don't let them ruin your mood."

It was the first day of business for Flowing Water Pavilion. In addition to regular patrons, many competitors and friends of Baili Xian had come to offer their congratulations. The competitors, in particular, were delighted to see the six dandies in the water. As the saying goes, competitors are enemies, but they found Flowing Water Pavilion to be a blessing for the capital.

About an hour later, Tie Wula reported to Liu Ling’er, "Your Highness, Li Danqing has arrived, accompanied by Grand Marshal Bai, Censor Huang, and several other ministers."

Liu Ling’er narrowed her eyes, watching the approaching sedan chairs, and covered her mouth to hide a smile. "Tie Wula, what do they look like to you?"

Tie Wula was baffled. "I am dull-witted, Your Highness. I don't know what you mean."

"You’re so dense. Don't they look like fatted lambs ready for slaughter? Bags of cold, hard cash!" Seeing Tie Wula’s stunned expression, Liu Ling’er laughed even more gleefully. "Come on! Let’s go collect the money!"

As soon as Li Danqing stepped out of his sedan chair and saw his good-for-nothing nephew thrashing in the water alongside snakes, he was overcome with rage and anxiety. Grand Marshal Bai, upon seeing his own son’s wretched state, was equally furious, and the faces of the others grew dark as well.

Accompanied by Tie Wula, Liu Ling’er walked over and smiled at Li Danqing. "Prime Minister Li, your presence remains as dignified as ever after all these days! What wind blew you here today? I apologize for not greeting you sooner."

"Your Highness, you are too kind. We are unworthy of such praise," Li Danqing replied with a flattering smile. "We had no idea the mysterious owner of Flowing Water Pavilion was the Princess Consort herself. Truly, you are a remarkable woman."

The others followed suit with pleasantries. Given their status, they shouldn't have had to grovel before Liu Ling’er, but with their own useless kin struggling in the water, they had little choice but to lower their heads.

Liu Ling’er knew exactly what they were up to. She played along, dancing around the subject and refusing to mention the people in the water. She wasn't in a hurry.

She might not have been in a hurry, but Li Danqing and the others were desperate. Yet, they couldn't afford to show their impatience, even as the longer they waited, the more their relatives suffered.

Finally, Li Danqing couldn't take it anymore. If this continued, they wouldn't have anything settled by sunset. He forced a smile and pleaded, "Your Highness, surely the punishment is enough. Could you please overlook my nephew's behavior this once? Give an old man some face, and I..."

*Hmph*, she thought. *Couldn't hold back, could you?* She had been waiting for them to bring it up. Whoever speaks first loses the leverage. Liu Ling’er’s expression darkened. "Face? What is that? How much does it cost per pound? Bring me ten pounds of it, and let me have a look!"

A roar of laughter erupted from the crowd at her mockery. Li Danqing’s face turned a deep, bruised purple. He had never been so humiliated. *How could the Princess Consort be so dismissive? How am I supposed to save face now?*

But he couldn't afford to lose his temper. He continued to beg, "Your Highness, you have a generous heart. If you let them go today, I..."

"What! I’m no 'great person'! I’m just a small woman with no such magnanimity. Unlike an old Prime Minister like you, whose belly is big enough to hold a ship, I am very petty. If you don't believe me, feel free to ask the Prince!" Liu Ling’er feigned ignorance, determined to infuriate Li Danqing and make his life miserable.

Twice insulted, Li Danqing grumbled to himself, *She was perfectly fine a moment ago; why is she acting like a firecracker now, refusing to give me any room to maneuver? Just what kind of heaven-defying atrocity did my nephew commit?*