Can I Become Emperor by Being This Lazy? - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Everyone stood on tiptoe, craning their necks to peer into the pot, their gazes fixed intently on the guard’s fingers. As the distance closed, hearts leaped to throats, and the crowd held their breath in tense anticipation.

The murky oil gradually submerged the back of her hand—not as scalding as imagined, but pleasantly warm. Surprise flashed in the guard’s eyes as she tentatively wiggled her fingers. Discovering no danger, her courage surged abruptly, and she began freely swishing both hands through the oil pot.

Witnessing this miraculous scene, the crowd’s eyes widened like copper bells, erupting in astonished murmurs: It’s true—her hands remain completely unharmed…

The guard’s successful demonstration produced immediate results, convincing most spectators on the spot. Many rubbed their hands in excitement, eager to personally experience the phenomenon.

While Xu Mao wiped the guard’s hands with a cloth, she randomly selected several commoners to try the oil pot themselves. One or two unscathed participants might be coincidence, but when nine, then ten people emerged completely unharmed, the evidence became undeniable. Skeptics were challenged to replicate the experiment privately with identical outcomes.

Having exposed the Celestial God Sect’s oil pot hand washing deception, Xu Mao declared solemnly: The Celestial God Sect employs such bewitching tricks to swindle your hard-earned coins and recruit human shields against official troops. You must remain vigilant—do not be fooled by their schemes.

She pivoted sideways, clearing a sightline as she pointed at Shang Fanzhi suspended mid-air. Addressing the assembly, she proclaimed: Behold the Celestial God Sect’s lackey! Colluding with its followers, he feigned advocacy to gain your trust—all while selling you out for personal profit!

The crowd gasped, their attention returning to Shang Fanzhi. Seeing him now, they felt only grim satisfaction: having aided the sect in harming others, his current predicament was poetic justice—evil receiving its due retribution.

Without further ado, Xu Mao clapped her hands, signaling soldiers to lower Shang Fanzhi. The suspended man finally tumbled to the ground, lying listlessly as he exhaled turbid breath, gradually recovering from his ordeal.

Dizzy and vision-blurred, Shang Fanzhi suffered parched thirst and raw throat—his screams from yesterday had reduced his voice to near silence. When he heard Xu Mao distorting facts and falsely accusing him of ties with the Celestial God Sect, he desperately wished to defend himself. But his mouth produced no sound, leaving him to writhe frantically in protest.

Xu Mao denied him any chance to speak, ordering a basin of clean water brought forth. She stirred in pre-prepared medicinal powder until fully dissolved.

Next, she commanded soldiers to seize Shang Fanzhi’s limbs. Working in unison, they swiftly bound him to a thick tree trunk.

Preparations complete, Xu Mao drew her whip, testing its flexibility with several stretches before coiling it twice around her palm. The long lash dipped into the medicated water.

With raised arm, she cracked the whip precisely against Shang Fanzhi’s body, deploying eighty percent of her strength like spinning a top. She nearly leaped with the force of her strikes, demanding harshly between blows: Confess! What schemes did you plot with the Celestial God Sect? Did they send you to swindle everyone into joining?

A pained groan escaped Shang Fanzhi’s swollen throat, intensifying his agony. Tears welled in his eye corners as bean-sized sweat droplets rolled from his temples.

Originally, he harbored resentment and wanted to challenge Xu Mao, but after being hung in the cold wind all night, his body was weak. Now, enduring the searing whip lashes, he suddenly fell into deep fear—was Xu Mao going to beat him to death in public?

As for any secret plots of the Celestial God Sect, he knew nothing at all. Xu Mao had deliberately chosen the moment when his throat was dry and hoarse to interrogate him, cutting off any chance for him to spout nonsense.

To outsiders, he appeared to be a tight-lipped tough guy, steadfastly refusing to reveal secrets, but who would have thought he could barely even speak?

How sinister!

Amid his fury, Shang Fanzhi trembled uncontrollably.

It was both from pain and fear.

A wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him. Just before Xu Mao’s next whip strike, Shang Fanzhi mustered all his strength to endure the pain and managed to gasp out, I… I confess, I confess everything.

So it’s true—the Celestial God Sect is truly wicked!

With Shang Fanzhi’s testimony, the people became utterly convinced of Xu Mao’s words. In their eyes, the Celestial God Sect became nothing but charlatans swindling people out of their wealth—unmistakable villains.

Among the crowd, the managers of the various Mo family shops sensed that things were taking a bad turn. Shang Fanzhi was likely to be skinned alive. Connecting this with Xu Mao’s earlier remarks about Shang Fanzhi seizing the Mo family’s estate, their minds raced, and they quickly made a decision.

The managers squeezed through gaps in the crowd with difficulty, stepping into the open space at the front. Raising their hands, they shouted, Marshal, we humble folk are managers of the Mo family shops. We beg the Marshal to spare a moment and hear us out.

Seeing the familiar faces appear, Shang Fanzhi’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. Deeply moved, his chest warmed with emotion. He thought to himself, Such loyal managers—they still care about my safety! To stand up and plead for me at a time like this… I haven’t wasted all the care I’ve shown them over the years. If I can escape this ordeal today, I will surely host a banquet to properly thank these managers for saving my life.

Just as Shang Fanzhi was moved to tears, the managers approached Xu Mao, bowed respectfully, and flattered him, saying, That scoundrel Shang seized our Mo Gong’s property and mistreated Hui Niangzi. We humble folk have long disliked him, but our lowly status kept us from acting. Who would have thought he’d associate with the Celestial God Sect and engage in such crooked schemes and wicked paths? Fortunately, the Marshal is here to uphold justice.

Whipping such a villain might dirty the Marshal’s hands. If the Marshal doesn’t mind, we humble folk would be willing to take over the task.

The managers proactively offered to help with the whipping, resolutely drawing a clear line between themselves and Shang Fanzhi. They were eager to cut ties to avoid being implicated.

Shang Fanzhi was stunned, his expression freezing instantly. His mouth hung open, and as the cold wind blew into his throat, he choked and coughed violently, his entire chest shaking and his face turning red with strain.

He had thought they were speaking up to help plead for him, but instead, these opportunistic managers immediately threw stones at someone who had already fallen. They groveled before Xu Mao like dogs wagging their tails so hard they blurred.

Fury surged in Shang Fanzhi’s heart, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

In ordinary times, he had never treated them poorly. Whenever there was any benefit, he thought of them first, and during festivals, he rewarded them generously with silver. Who would have thought this was how they would repay him!

Shang Fanzhi’s burning gaze fixed intently on the managers, filled with bitter resentment. Knowing their actions were dishonorable, the managers deliberately turned their heads away, avoiding his eyes.

Xu Mao was also taken aback. Then… I’ll leave it to you?

She handed over the whip, and immediately someone stepped forward, raising both hands above their head, bowing respectfully as they took the whip. Eagerly, they walked to Shang Fanzhi’s side, closed their eyes, and began lashing him relentlessly—crack after crack.

The veins on Shang Fanzhi’s temples bulged, and cold sweat poured down his face.

Whether from shock or unbearable agony, he strained to keep his eyes and mouth wide open. His eyeballs protruded, crisscrossed with a web of red veins, and he emitted hoarse, grating moans—like the mournful whistling of wind through a dilapidated house.

The crowd cheered in unison, cursing, Serves you right for throwing your weight around, profiteering off dishonest gains, and cheating your own neighbors! Return the Mo family estate to Lady Mo!

The other shopkeepers quickly distanced themselves, slapping their thighs and lamenting, We were deceived by Shang Fanzhi—misjudged his character and never realized how vile he was. Had we known what kind of man he was, we would have urged Mo Gong not to entrust the family business to him. Perhaps today’s tragedy could have been avoided. What a pity for Hui Niangzi, married to such a despicable scoundrel!

Everyone agreed they had been fooled by Shang Fanzhi. And when his connection to the Celestial God Sect was brought up, the crowd quickly pieced it together, exclaiming in sudden understanding, No wonder he was so close with the Celestial God Sect—they’re cut from the same cloth! Both love to swindle others to satisfy their own greed.

Seeing that her goal was achieved—successfully tarnishing the Celestial God Sect’s reputation in Baoping and stirring public resentment—Xu Mao knew when to stop. She concluded, We’ve nipped this crisis in the bud and exposed the tricks of those charlatans. That’s enough. From now on, everyone must be wary of the Celestial God Sect. Whenever someone claims to be a celestial descended to save the world or promises ascension to immortality, keep your wits about you—and guard your rice sacks and coin purses!

With that, Xu Mao gathered the oil, vinegar, cauldron, and other items, then led her team away, leaving the shopkeepers to laboriously whip Shang Fanzhi.

Xu Mao had not specified how to deal with Shang Fanzhi, so the shopkeepers were uncertain of her intentions. They feared that striking too hard might kill him—what if he still had some use later? That would be hard to explain. But if they went too easy, they might arouse Xu Mao’s suspicion and displeasure, rendering today’s display of loyalty meaningless.

After much deliberation, they settled on a middle path: carefully moderating the force of their blows while lashing fiercely, and summoning a physician to stuff ginseng slices into Shang Fanzhi’s mouth to keep him breathing—just enough to prevent immediate death.

Each time Shang Fanzhi passed out from the beating, the shopkeepers would halt, anxiously check his breathing, and have the physician examine him and apply acupuncture to revive him. Relieved, they would then resume the flogging.

Shang Fanzhi suffered unbearably, wishing he could dash his head against the ground and end it all.

In his delirium, he seemed to see Mo Gong, his eyes wide with terror, limbs stiff, inwardly screaming: I regret it! Don’t give me the Mo family estate, don’t give it to me… No—it’s Mo Huifu! It’s her! I should have killed her long ago. If she were dead, none of this would be happening!

Hurry, acupuncture! He’s not breathing! came the shopkeepers’ urgent cries.

The physician sighed helplessly, There’s not a patch of unbroken skin left—I can’t apply needles anymore…

Just keep him alive, that’s all that matters. Quickly, do it!

After being publicly whipped for an entire day, Shang Fanzhi’s hatred deepened further. Even if he had only one last breath left, his determination for revenge remained firm. Secretly gathering his strength and silently making plans, he seized the moment when no one was paying attention to suddenly erupt into action, swiftly fleeing until he vanished from sight after just one turn.

The shopkeepers searched fruitlessly, their spines chilling with fear as they tremblingly went to report to Xu Mao and confess their failures.

Upon receiving the news, Xu Mao waved his hand indifferently and said, No need to concern yourselves with him. In the coming days, transfer all the account books and keys to Lady Mo, returning them to their rightful owner.

As for Shang Fanzhi, to prevent him from harboring resentment and secretly returning to seek revenge against Lady Mo, I will assign guards to protect her and ensure her safety. If any of you happen to encounter Shang Fanzhi, you may also inform him that whatever grievances or hatred he holds, he should bring them directly to me. I have left him an opportunity to kill me—it remains to be seen whether he dares to come.