Can I Become Emperor by Being This Lazy? - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

You’re right, we mustn’t let the villains discover Sister Mao’s identity.
Zhang Guishang nodded, committing this to heart.

While the commoners cheered Xu Mao’s act of whipping the corpse, certain individuals grew deeply uncomfortable.

Those who had been close to the magistrate now sat on pins and needles, fearing Xu Mao might suddenly take it into her head to pay them a visit. Before she could make her move, the wealthy families gathered to discuss countermeasures.

Xu Mao’s actions aren’t merely venting anger—she’s clearly making an example to warn us to know our place. If we don’t comply with her wishes and she decides to act, will any of us survive? A merchant spoke with grave concern, having secretly witnessed how terrifyingly ruthless Xu Mao could be. She was not someone to be trifled with.

Recalling the scene made the merchant’s hair stand on end. He added, She whipped the corpse continuously from noon till dusk without stopping for food or water. Even the strongest young man couldn’t endure such exertion. The body was lashed beyond recognition—a bloody, formless mess. This proves Xu Mao is vicious and formidable beyond ordinary measure. Perhaps we should just pay to avoid disaster!
His words sent chills down everyone’s spines. Other merchants nodded in agreement. Well said. The imperial troops won’t arrive to suppress the rebellion anytime soon—it’ll likely take one or two months. And who’s to say… they might even fail? If we don’t establish good relations with her now, our future will be difficult indeed.
Zhang Bingchun, born into a prominent Huaining family, couldn’t stand such defeatist talk. He slammed the table to cut off the discussion, glanced contemptuously around the room, and snorted through his nose. So many grown men actually fear a mere slip of a girl!
The others bowed their heads in shame. There was no helping it—they were born cowards who instinctively sought to buy their safety when sensing danger. Their ancestors had always done the same.

Though shameful to admit, at least it preserved their lives.

Seeing their dispirited faces and still-lingering intentions to appease Xu Mao, Zhang Bingchun leaped up in fury, shaking his sleeves. She merely got lucky by exploiting ignorant commoners to seize the initiative. The magistrate was caught off guard, giving her an opening. Moreover, they’re just a disorderly mob—they can be arrogant for a time but not arrogant forever. Let them strut about! The imperial army is strong and well-equipped—they’re no match for imperial forces. Such rebellion will inevitably be crushed.
With your short-sightedness, you’d offer gleaming silver to curry favor with Xu Mao. When the court eventually suppresses the rebellion and investigates, won’t that be ironclad proof of collusion with rebels? Zhang Bingchun laid bare all the drawbacks, frustrated at their lack of resolve.

Hearing the word collusion, everyone shuddered and immediately came to their senses. They hastily bowed toward Zhang Bingchun with clasped hands. Your words are most wise, Lord Zhang. We were mistaken.
After lengthy discussion, each family decided to keep their doors and windows tightly shut during this period, minimize outings, and keep a low profile. If they could just avoid attracting Xu Mao’s attention and provoking trouble, they would thank heaven and earth while quietly awaiting imperial reinforcements.

The merchant slipped away through the back door. On his way home, he grew increasingly uneasy. He prepared chest after chest of calligraphy, paintings, bronze artifacts, and rare treasures—if Xu Mao truly became angered, he could always deliver them later.

Truly, merchants were cunning old foxes. Realizing that whipping the corpse had proven ineffective, Xu Mao conceived another brilliant scheme—kill and burn.

Within the rules permitted by the System, Xu Mao organized the roster and cross-referenced the attributes of individuals, selecting a household that engaged in wicked deeds, harmed the common people, and sheltered criminals—their morality bar displayed in red.

This time, Xu Mao had learned to be smarter. Without drawing attention, she went alone, carrying her blade.

On a moonless, windy night—the perfect time for murder and arson.

Xu Mao knocked on the door of the Zhang residence. After a moment, a drowsy voice came from inside: Who is it?
With a creak, the door opened, and at the same time, a cold blade pressed against the neck of the night watch servant. The servant’s face instantly paled, the lantern fell to the ground, and his legs trembled uncontrollably. He forgot to sound the alarm or call for help, stammering, Spare me, brave one…
Xu Mao said displeased, I’m not even wearing a mask. Can’t you tell I’m a woman, even with the lantern?
The servant immediately corrected himself, Madam, spare me, madam!
Take me to your master.
With the sharp, cold blade resting against his neck, the servant was terrified, sweat beading on his forehead. After taking two steps, he remembered to call for help, but being timid and cowardly by nature, he didn’t dare take the risk. Instead, he hastily redirected the trouble, pointing for Xu Mao: Madam, please don’t kill me. Go straight this way—the master is staying in the study tonight.
Xu Mao released him and headed straight for the study.

The servant fell to the ground, his mouth full of dirt. Only after Xu Mao’s figure disappeared did he spit out the sand, scrambling to his feet and rushing toward the central courtyard, shouting frantically, It’s terrible! An intruder has broken in! Hurry and save the master!
Dim rooms lit up one by one with candlelight as servants hurriedly dressed and rushed out of their quarters.

Zhang Bingchun was still in the midst of a dream when he faintly heard the clamor of voices and was awakened. He frowned in displeasure, What’s going on? Such chaos, no discipline…
The next moment, the response came with a loud crash. The servant attending to Zhang Bingchun was thrown against the door with brute force, smashing it open and tumbling to the side of the bed. Xu Mao followed closely, stepping over the threshold and hauling the half-asleep Zhang Bingchun up by the collar.

Master Zhang, I have long heard of your reputation. I, Xu Mao, have come specially to pay my respects. With that, Xu Mao set Zhang Bingchun down, turned the blade, and aimed it at his vulnerable neck.

Zhang Bingchun jolted awake. Hearing the name Xu Mao, his right eyelid twitched violently. Instantly, his face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat soaked through the back of his robe. Xu Mao? You—what do you want?
In the sixth year of Yongchang, you raped a maidservant while drunk. Afraid of your parents’ reprimand, you strangled her to death and threw her into an abandoned well, publicly claiming she had fled as a runaway slave.
In the tenth year of Yongchang, your aunt refused to let her daughter marry you. Resentful, you lured your cousin out and violated her. But you didn’t expect her fierce spirit—unable to bear the humiliation, she took her own life. Your father pulled strings, bribing officials to rule it an accident. All you had to do was pay silver to console your aunt’s family, and you escaped punishment.
In the twelfth year of Yongchang, you cheated in the imperial exams by swapping your friend’s exam paper. Fearing he would discover the anomaly, you had him killed and staged it as an accidental drowning, evading justice ever since.
…

One by one, those buried past events resurfaced. Zhang Bingchun stared at Xu Mao in terror, his teeth chattering.

How do you know… It’s been so many years. Where did you hear this? Xu Mao, I have no grudge against you. Why are you framing me?
Xu Mao’s voice was indifferent: Yes and no, you know the truth in your heart. Zhang Bingchun, you’ve lived all these years with a clear conscience—have you never once thought of those who died unjustly?
It wasn’t me! The authorities closed the case—it was an accident! If anyone’s to blame, it’s their ill fortune! Zhang Bingchun roared frantically.

Xu Mao curled her lips and nodded: So that’s how it is. Then if you die by my hand today, it must also be your ill fortune.
Zhang Bingchun’s face twitched, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Finally snapping to his senses, he lunged at Xu Mao with a ferocious expression.

A mere woman—no matter how skilled in martial arts—would inevitably be physically disadvantaged against a man in hand-to-hand combat.

But Zhang Bingchun was mistaken. Xu Mao was no delicate woman in his imagination. In the blink of an eye, he was seized like a chick, completely at her mercy.

This time, he witnessed the truth behind the rumors—and regretted it bitterly.

With effortless ease, Xu Mao twisted Zhang Bingchun’s limbs until they snapped. He screamed in agony, collapsing facedown on the ground, sweat drenching him like a downpour.

Panicked, he hurriedly pleaded: What do you want? Silks and satins, pearls and agates—I can give you anything!
Anything?
Seeing her attitude soften, as if there was room for negotiation, Zhang Bingchun nodded repeatedly: Anything!
Xu Mao released him, stepped over his head, and casually sat on a nearby stool. Resting her chin in her hand, she pondered seriously for a moment. …Then I want the indenture contracts of all your servants. Every single one.
Zhang Bingchun hesitated briefly, then with hidden resentment, lowered his eyelids to conceal his hatred and gritted his teeth: Fine. They’re all yours.
Xu Mao didn’t wait long. Soon, all the servant indentures from the Zhang residence were delivered to her.

Excellent. A smile bloomed on Xu Mao’s lips.

Zhang Bingchun breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Just as he forced a smile in response, a sharp pain pierced his neck. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Xu Mao.

I never promised to spare you after getting the contracts. Why stare at me like that? Xu Mao muttered irritably, wiping her blade clean with his clothes. Clutching the box containing the indentures, she lifted one of Zhang Bingchun’s legs and began dragging him outward.

The Zhang household servants were terrified out of their wits. With their master dead, they scattered like headless flies—some fleeing, others crawling weakly into corners to hide, praying for the murderous deity Xu Mao to leave quickly.

But things didn’t go as they hoped. Xu Mao paused in the center of the courtyard, took a fire starter from her sleeve, and ignited Zhang Bingchun’s clothes. Holding the box aloft, she declared:

These are all your indenture contracts. The ones registered with the authorities will be destroyed as well. From today, you are freed from slavery and restored to liberty! Even if questioned in the future, the responsibility lies with me, Xu Mao—none of you bear any blame. Without these documents, the court has no power to force you back into servitude. Remember this clearly! Fearing the servants might not understand—that after her death, officials might intimidate them into renewed slavery—she made sure to emphasize this.

Xu Mao opened the box and set fire to the thin yellow papers inside one by one.

The crowd stood dumbfounded, watching mesmerized as flames danced in their eyes. After a long silence, soft sobs emerged.

I’m not a slave anymore… I won’t be beaten from now on…
Mother… I can go home!
Home. No more living in fear, no more treading on eggshells.

A single fire had burned away the shackles that bound them.

After the killing and arson were completed, Xu Mao resolved the matter of the indenture contract and left with effortless grace.

In a small county town, walls have ears. News of Xu Mao’s nighttime visit to the Zhang residence spread rapidly. Outsiders unaware of Zhang Bingchun’s criminal background saw it as a seemingly inexplicable murder. Adding to the shock, Xu Mao had dismissed all the Zhang household servants—an excessive display of humiliation that sent chills through the community. People’s gazes toward Xu Mao subtly shifted.