In a chaotic and famine-stricken era, I picked up an empress to be my wife.

"Today is the sixth day of the month, so I have to go back on the fifteenth. There are still nine days left," Feng Zihuan replied after doing some calculations.

"Inspector Feng, do you mean you'll be going back every nine days?" Shen An asked.

Feng Zihuan nodded, his face showing reluctance: "Yes, the military governor told me to go back to report every nine days. Although this place is not far from the prefecture, it still takes a whole day to ride a horse to get there, which is a bit of a hassle."

Shen An did not give up. He suggested, "Hey, then you won't have to go so frequently. You can have someone write a letter to the military governor! That way, you won't have to go back for a month, or even two or three months."

"County Commandant Shen, you don't understand. Our military governor is extremely cautious in everything he does. If I don't return on time, he'll probably think you've killed me." Feng Zihuan smoothed his hair and said, "So, I really have to go back every nine days, otherwise, you'll be in big trouble!"

Shen An, Liu Wenyuan, and the others felt a chill run down their spines.

If Feng Zihuan has to go back every nine days, they really have no choice but to kill him now.

But if we don't kill him, what will we do with the women Feng Zihuan planted among them to monitor them?!

Kill them? They'll definitely continue to send people to monitor them.

If we don't kill them, and they keep following us, they'll be restricted in what they do.

It seems the only option left is coercion and bribery.

Shen An snapped out of his thoughts and laughed, saying, "Then you'd better go back in time, or we'll be in big trouble."

"Haha, don't worry, as long as you do your best to raise funds for the governor, I will definitely return on time!" Feng Zihuan threatened.

"Don't worry, we will do everything we can."

"Haha, I've arranged beauties for you all too. Take them back and enjoy yourselves. We can start raising money tomorrow!" Feng Zihuan stretched lazily after his meal. "Alright, that's enough. Arrange accommodations for me. This inspector needs to rest!"

"yes!"

Liu Wenyuan immediately went to make arrangements. Liao Bing wanted to say something, but Shen An shook his head, signaling him to leave first.

Shen An then took a look at the woman Feng Zihuan had placed next to him.

The woman had fair skin and a beautiful face, with a foxy charm. She swayed her waist and hips, which was very alluring.

"What's your name?"

"County Commandant Shen, her name is Xiao Yan'er."

"The name is not bad, and your figure is a rare gem!" Shen An laughed.

"Oh my, County Magistrate Shen, you really know how to flatter! Have you taken a fancy to me? Do you want me to serve you?" Xiao Yan'er reached out and stroked Shen An's chin.

"Of course you've got your eye on it, but don't you want to know what kind of divine artifact you are?"

"This humble servant truly has no idea; please enlighten me, sir."

"I like to hit women. With your figure, it's more fun to hit you. You're a magical weapon!" As Shen An spoke, he reached out and hit her hard.

The slap was forceful, and it hurt. She thought Shen An enjoyed playing pranks, so she deliberately pouted and cried out, "County Commandant Shen, so you like playing these kinds of games!"

"So? Do you like it?"

"I like it, I like it, of course I like it!"

"Then play with me!" Shen An directly slapped him in the face this time.

With a loud "smack," Xiao Yan'er was nearly knocked unconscious: "How could you do this?!"

"Don't you like it?"

"I like the kind of guy who actually hits people, not someone like you!"

"What's the difference? I think they're the same! Since the Inspectorate has given you to me, you have to accept it!" Shen An said, becoming even more savage. He dragged her into the sedan chair and took her back to give her a good beating.

Although Xiao Yan'er used to be a woman from a brothel, she couldn't withstand Shen An's brutal beating.

He quickly began to beg for mercy.

Seeing that he began to beg for mercy, Shen An said, "I know what your purpose is. I don't like being followed. Tell me, what will I give you to stop bothering me? I also need to remind you that if you are stubborn, I will beat you to death."

Feng Zihuan needs me to keep him in check. Liu Wenyuan, even if I kill you, he'll just replace you with someone else. As for you, it'll be like you died for nothing!

Xiao Yan'er could sense an overwhelming killing intent emanating from Shen An; she could tell that the man before her must have killed many people.

But she sighed and said, "County Commandant Shen, even if you beat me to death, I will still follow you."

"You really think I wouldn't dare kill you?"

"It's not that I think you wouldn't dare to kill me, I think you definitely would, but I have my own reasons for doing it. If you want to kill me, then kill me." Xiao Yan'er closed her eyes.

Shen An was greatly shocked.

He had thought Xiao Yan'er was just a courtesan, but he never expected her to be someone who was not afraid of death.

Shen An stroked his chin and commanded, "Tell me your story."

"It's no use saying anything. If you want to do something, then do it." Xiao Yan'er closed her eyes again.

Shen An noticed that she was not composed at all; her whole body was trembling.

She feared death, yet she dared to face it head-on.

Shen An was somewhat impressed by her.

He even thought she was someone worth winning over, someone who could be used to seduce other enemies in the future, who knows, it might have a surprising effect.

"So you were forced into this? What leverage does Feng Zihuan have over you?" Shen An asked.

"No need to ask any more questions."

"Perhaps I can help you solve a problem you think is impossible?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan'er slowly opened her foxy eyes: "County Commandant Shen, you are nothing more than tools for Feng Zihuan and Li Huaiyi to amass wealth. If you are not capable of helping me, then stop asking! If you want to take action, then do it now."

"You won't talk? Then I'll kill you first, and then tell Feng Zihuan that you've offended me and I'm going to kill your whole family. I believe Feng Zihuan needs me to keep him in check and to make money, so he'll agree to my demands!" Shen An threatened.

These words struck a chord with Xiao Yan'er.

She immediately panicked: "County Commandant Shen, no, please don't do this, I'll tell you!"

Xiao Yan'er cried twice, wiped away her tears, and said, "My husband has been taken hostage by Feng Zihuan. He said that if I don't cooperate, he will kill my husband."

To save my husband's life, I had no choice but to follow her orders and come here.

"You are indeed a woman of deep affection and loyalty! But have you ever thought that even if you do this, after they have used you, they will still kill your husband?" Shen An asked rhetorically.

"But if I don't do it, they'll kill me even more. If I do it, at least I'll have a chance to survive!" Xiao Yan'er explained.

Seeing through her so clearly, Shen An felt even more that Xiao Yan'er was worth winning over.

"Alright, I can help you rescue your husband, but the price is that from now on you will be at my beck and call!"

"Sigh... County Commandant Shen, you're thinking too simply. Feng Zihuan would never let me follow you. Even if I obey your orders now, they'll still let me go once they've used you up. I can't follow you forever."

"No one can predict the future."

"But what you're doing is useless. If you save my husband, they'll just send someone else to keep watching you."

"Are you stupid? Can't I wait to save your husband? I can't do this for nothing. While you're by my side, you must follow my instructions completely. Whatever I tell you to report to Feng Zihuan, you report it!"

"But how can I be sure you'll save my husband in the future?"

"If you don't save me in the future, you can simply tell Feng Zihuan that I was coercing and enticing you, and that I actually had ulterior motives. Wouldn't that be enough?"

Shen An approached Xiao Yan'er, his voice turning deep: "However, you must remember, once you agree to my request, if you still disobey me and report the truth to Feng Zihuan, I will definitely kill you."

Even if Feng Zihuan attacks me immediately, my men will not let you go. They will kill your entire family! They will find your husband and tear him to pieces!

After hearing these words, Xiao Yan'er felt that Shen An was even more ruthless than Feng Zihuan and the others.

She immediately regretted telling Shen An the truth.

Now Shen An had a handle on him.

"Make a choice: are you willing to follow me, or continue to be stubborn?" Shen An asked, picking up the whip in his hand.