His Face Turned Green
"No, please! Spare me, Your Majesty!" The Nineteenth Concubine shrieked as she was dragged away by two soldiers in black armor. Her beautiful face was drained of color, two fingernails snapped in her struggle, her hair ornaments scattered all over the floor, and she was hauled off with her hair in wild disarray.
Justin Zhao watched the fate of the Nineteenth Concubine and gulped nervously several times.
To soak in the cesspit for seven days and nights—she was basically being sentenced to die in there.
With Alexander Hayes’s ruthless decisiveness, Justin Zhao was so scared he nearly wet his pants.
"Governor Zhao." After dealing with the Nineteenth Concubine, Alexander Hayes turned his gaze to Justin Zhao.
Justin Zhao wasn’t stupid. He immediately switched sides, throwing himself at Alexander Hayes’s feet, sobbing and pledging loyalty. "Your Majesty, from now on I’ll obey your every command! Please, spare this official’s life! You’ve just arrived in Anchester and aren’t familiar with anything here. You need someone who knows the city to assist you. I’ve been governor here for more than ten years—no one knows Anchester better than I do! Your Majesty, you still have use for this humble servant’s life, so please, let me live!"
"Hmph. People familiar with Anchester are as common as cattle—why should I need you specifically to assist me?" Alexander Hayes’s eyes were icy as he looked at Justin Zhao.
Justin Zhao hurriedly replied, "Because our House of Zhao is the largest family in Anchester. Every industry here has Zhao family members involved. We control every vital aspect of the city, and those people—they only listen to me! Your Majesty can kill me, but if I die, they’ll think you want to purge Anchester and wipe out the Zhao family. That would unsettle everyone and cause chaos. You’ve just arrived and surely want stability above all. If you spare me, the powerful clans and families will feel reassured!"
After Justin Zhao finished speaking, Alexander Hayes’s aide, Cloud Hayes, whispered in his ear, "Your Majesty, I’ve investigated and it’s true—the Zhao family has controlled Anchester for over a decade. If you kill Justin Zhao now, it will definitely cause panic. We haven’t established ourselves here yet, and if we clash with the local nobility, things will spiral out of control. Even if we suppress a riot by force, the entire civil system would collapse, and we’d be left with a ruined city to manage."
Alexander Hayes considered Cloud Hayes’s words, weighed his options, then sheathed his sword and said to Justin Zhao, "I’ll spare your life for now. You’ll have to redeem yourself with good service. If you defy orders or plot anything, my sword will take your head!"
"Yes, yes, thank you, Your Majesty!" Justin Zhao, relieved his head was still attached, finally breathed easy. Only then did he realize his clothes were soaked through. Eager to please, he asked, "Your Majesty, would you care to rest tonight in the governor’s residence?"
Alexander Hayes glanced at Justin Zhao and said, "This governor’s residence is now requisitioned as a temporary Palace of Qin."
Justin Zhao’s face turned green!
He’d spent years and a fortune building this governor’s residence, with scenery rivaling the mansions of the capital’s nobility. But Alexander Hayes just claimed it, no discussion at all. Justin Zhao was frustrated and heartbroken, but didn’t dare say a word—he could only force a smile and ask, "Your Majesty, then… where should my family stay?"
Alexander Hayes looked at Justin Zhao. "My queen and prince were sent to live on a boat by you. Surely your family can manage to stay elsewhere, can’t they?"