Knock, knock, knock.
Su Chen was already used to Tao Wenxuan's official airs, so as soon as he entered, Su Chen simply showed him Wei Jie's head.
"Ah!"
The head rolled to the ground with a dull thud. Wei Jie's fish-eyed face came into view, and a strange odor—a mixture of blood and rot—filled the air.
The maid nearby let out an instinctive scream at the sight and covered her nose and mouth, her face stricken with fear.
The adviser, who had been sitting and chatting with Su Chen, sprang to his feet the instant he saw Wei Jie's head. His expression shifted again and again, before finally tightening.
Tao Wenxuan was in slightly better shape. He stared at Wei Jie's head for a long while before looking at Su Chen and chuckling. "Yang Zhuangshi, you truly are formidable. Even a man like Wei Jie met his end at your hands. This is a great blessing for our County Office!"
"Someone, come here!"
After praising him, Tao Wenxuan summoned a servant to bring out the prepared three hundred taels of silver. This time, however, it wasn't silver coins but banknotes.
After checking them over, Su Chen tucked the banknotes into his robe and said his farewells to Tao Wenxuan. "County Magistrate Tao, I have other important matters to attend to, so I won't impose on you any longer. If you have another job like this in the future, County Magistrate Tao, feel free to come to me, so long as the price is right."
Three hundred taels for one job—that price was honestly tempting to Su Chen. So, against his better judgment, he said those words to Tao Wenxuan. A smile spread across Tao Wenxuan's face. "Certainly, certainly. Adviser, go see Yang Zhuangshi out!"
"Yes!" The adviser nodded.
Su Chen