Chapter 226 Chemical Castration
Wang Zhi was so scared that snot and tears streamed down his face, his eyes full of pleading.
"Lord Shen, spare my life..."
Shen Yulou crouched down, patted his face, which was swollen like a pig's head, and showed a smile of concern for the mentally challenged.
"It's not impossible to stay alive."
Shen Yulou extended his hand, pinching his pinky finger as he spoke.
"But, to ensure your unwavering loyalty to me, I have to employ a little... technique."
"You don't mind, do you?"
Wang Zhi just wanted to cry.
Damn it, you're quite polite!
Does it matter if I mind?
No sooner had he spoken than Madam Li took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom and poured out two pitch-black pills.
"These are quite scarce; I only managed to get two."
"Enough."
Shen Yulou took the pills, pinching them between two fingers, and placed them in front of Wang Zhi and Yang Dali.
"These two are called 'Dragon Severing Pills'."
"After taking them, you must take an antidote once a month. Otherwise, you will experience the pain of ten thousand ants gnawing at your heart, unable to live or die."
"Oh, and by the way,"
The smile on Shen Yulou's face grew even brighter.
"There's also a small side effect.
Taking this pill is equivalent to... being castrated. You'll be an eunuch from now on."
Chemical castration!
One step to completion!
Yang Dali's face turned green upon hearing this, and he cursed Shen Yulou's ancestors eighteen generations back in his heart.
But then he thought, compared to his life, being an eunuch... didn't seem entirely unacceptable?
At least he could still live to see Professor Shen show off.
Finally, under Madam Li's icy gaze, Wang Zhi and Yang Dali each took a Dragon Severing Pill, swallowing it tremblingly.
The pill melted instantly upon entering their mouths, and a chilling coldness rushed down their throats.
The next second!
"Aoo—!!!"
The two of them simultaneously let out a bloodcurdling scream, clutching their crotches and rolling on the ground in agony, curled up like cooked shrimp.
An indescribable sharp pain came from their most precious place, as if thousands of steel needles were frantically stirring inside!
Watching the two writhing in unbearable pain on the ground, Shen Yulou nodded in satisfaction.
Hmm, the medicine's effect was indeed immediate.
The excruciating pain came quickly and left just as quickly.
When Wang Zhi and Yang Dali recovered from the intense pain, they collapsed on the ground, their clothes soaked with sweat, as if they had just been pulled out of water, barely able to breathe.
Their eyes were hollow, their lives devoid of meaning.
Perhaps even a real, brutal castration in the Office of Attendants wouldn't be much worse than this?
From then on, there were two more dead eunuchs in this world.
Looking at these two utterly subdued wretches, Shen Yulou nodded in satisfaction.
"Alright, the case is now clear."
Shen Yulou cleared his throat, walked with his hands behind his back, full of official authority.
His voice was strong and clear as he announced the final verdict.
"Anyuan County Magistrate Liu Wenxuan harbored ill intentions, amassed troops, colluded with foreign enemies, and attempted rebellion!
Fortunately, Advisor Yang Dali discovered this in time, righteously eradicated his kin, and, in conjunction with Commander Wang Zhi, executed him on the spot!
This is a great merit, and This Official will report it truthfully to His Majesty upon returning to the capital!"
Wang Zhi on the ground almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.
His mouth twitched violently.
Yang Dali? Righteously eradicating his kin?
Damn it! I was the one who killed him!
I was the one who took the blame!
Now even the credit is someone else's?!
Why am I so miserable!
Ten thousand grass-mud horses galloped through Wang Zhi's mind, and he dug up Yang Dali's ancestral grave three times, but he dared not show the slightest expression on his face.
When a man is under another's roof, and everything is cut off, how can he not bow his head?
He was now a puppet, and if Shen Yulou said he was square, he dared not be round.
And Yang Dali just smiled awkwardly; what good was this credit?
"Effective immediately,"
Shen Yulou waved his hand, making the final decision.
"Yang Dali will temporarily serve as the Anyuan County Magistrate!
Wang Zhi, you will continue to be your commander, assisting Lord Yang in governing Anyuan County, do you understand?"
"Un... understood..." Wang Zhi said with a mournful face, squeezing out three words through gritted teeth.
Alright, at least he didn't lose his commander position.
"Come, now, take This Official to see how luxurious this County Magistrate Liu's treasury truly is."
...Led by Yang Dali, the group passed through several secret doors and arrived at a hidden underground chamber in the deepest part of Liu Wenxuan's mansion.
The moment the heavy stone door was pushed open, a hum filled the air!
The entire world seemed to be left with only one color.
Gold!
The dazzling golden light almost blinded their titanium alloy dog eyes!
Inside the secret chamber, mountains of gold and silver treasures glittered under the candlelight, making it hard to keep one's eyes open.
Gold bars were stacked like brick walls, silver ingots piled up like small mountains, and various jewels, jade articles, antiques, and calligraphy were strewn everywhere, like rotten cabbages in a market.
"..."
Even Shen Yulou, who had seen much of the world, couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed at this moment.
Holy cow!
A minor official, a massive corruptor!
He had always thought that Zhao Dehan's wall-to-wall cash in "In the Name of the People" was shocking enough, but compared to this scene, it was almost on par.
Moreover, these gold and silver treasures had an even greater visual impact than banknotes.
"Just a seventh-rank petty official, did he dig up Great Hun's dragon pulse? How could he have embezzled so much?"
Shen Yulou couldn't help but complain.
Yang Dali weakly replied, "Lord Shen, his money isn't just from embezzlement; it's mainly from selling..."
"Selling out the country?" Shen Yulou raised an eyebrow.
"Yes!"
Yang Dali nodded quickly.
"In recent years, behind the court's back, he secretly leased several fertile lands along the border to the generals of Yan State.
The money he got in return all went into his own pocket.
This time, exchanging the iron ore from Wolong Mountain for warhorses and weapons was also part of his plan to betray the country."
Shen Yulou nodded, feeling a bit troubled.
With so much gold and silver treasure, it was almost impossible to pack it all up and take it away at once.
He certainly didn't want to parade through the streets with several carts of gold; that would be disastrous.
Fortunately, there were many banknotes in the boxes.
Shen Yulou casually picked up a stack and found that they were all issued by Sihaitong Money Exchange, the largest in the capital, and could be exchanged nationwide, which made things easier.
He unceremoniously stuffed all the banknotes into his bosom.
There were at least two or three hundred thousand taels; having this much money on him was already sufficient.
As for the remaining mountains of gold and silver, Shen Yulou pointed at Su Qing and said, "These will temporarily be kept by Madam Su Qing.
Wang Zhi, Yang Dali, you two remember, if you dare to disobey or have any crooked thoughts, you'll have to ask the King of Hell for next month's antidote."
"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare!"
The two were so scared that cold sweat drenched their heads, shaking them like rattles.
Su Qing was instantly moved to tears, her eyes reddening.
Great Hero Yan trusts me so much!
Entrusting such a vast fortune to me!
She gazed foolishly at Shen Yulou and softly said, "My Lord, I have no interest in money. I only wish to be with you forever, nothing else."
"..."
Yang Dali and Wang Zhi, listening nearby, twitched at the corners of their mouths.
Sister, you're a typical case of late-stage love-struck brain. I suggest direct cremation, mix your ashes with rice, and feed them to Lord Shen. That would be a passionate love story indeed.