Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 57
Chapter 57
"A life for a life?" Upon hearing the eunuch’s words, the Emperor clicked his tongue and let out a laugh. "That logic, I'm afraid, doesn't carry much weight in Great Wei."
In Great Wei, people worship a spirit of heroism. Even scholars travel with swords strapped to their waists. Everyone possesses a burning, heroic passion, and from the top of society to the bottom, this is the prevailing ethos.
Even knowing the law demands a life for a life, there is a constant stream of wandering swordsmen and heroes who kill in the blink of an eye, earning the veneration of the world. The actions of that young man from the Danyang Princess's mansion might bring some trouble upon himself, but they perfectly align with the character that this entire society prizes.
Given this context, the likelihood of him paying with his life is slim.
The Emperor spoke leisurely: "Do you believe me? Even if the Ministry of Justice goes to arrest him and bring him to prison, they wouldn't dare treat him like a common criminal. They would have to treat him with respect, providing him with the best food and drink inside that cell."
"This matter is rather tricky. On one hand, there is the legal code; on the other, there is the will of the people. That young man who dared to kill in public certainly has guts. I just don't know if the Ministry of Justice has the backbone to withstand the pressure—the backbone to either execute him or set him free."
The eunuch pondered for a moment and said, "The Ministry of Justice falls under the command of the Prince of Qin. Now, whether that man must pay with his life or not, I fear the Prince of Qin is going to have a splitting headache."
The Emperor sighed. "That is why I say it is a magnificent display of spirit."
"By killing just one man, he has dragged everyone hidden beneath the surface of this game into the middle of the trouble. Now that the situation has escalated and been brought into the light, under the eyes of the public, the hands pushing from behind are finding it difficult to operate."
"He even killed the head of the Zheng family directly. If he takes the head of the Zheng family's patriarch to offer an apology to the Prince of Jin, what reason does the Prince of Jin have to refuse? Since the patriarch is dead, if there truly was some conspiracy targeting this affair, this move to 'drain the water to catch the fish' has effectively cut off the path, leaving the conspiracy behind the scenes with nowhere left to go."
"And then, for the Princess's own person to kill her own people... The courage of the Princess of Danyang is enough to make the people of the world bow in respect. Without a sound, even Yaoyao's reputation has been given a massive boost."
"Everyone detests these powerful local tyrants; everyone knows they treat the common people like livestock. But these tyrants cling to the great aristocratic clans, and after all, they have influence... To be able to make such a decisive decision in an instant—this breadth of spirit is something rarely seen in ordinary people."
"Such a person, if he does not serve as an official, that is one thing. But as long as he survives this prison disaster, once he enters the imperial court as an official, he will surely be the object of everyone's expectations. His start in the court is so brilliant—it is far better than what others struggle and fight for over half a lifetime."
The more the Emperor analyzed it, the more he felt moved, and he simply sat upright.
There are many clever people, and there are few fools among the ministers in the court. But being clever is one thing, and knowing that doing such a thing will bring a good reputation is another... whether one has the courage to actually do it is an entirely different matter.
After all, no one can guarantee that the killer will not have to pay with his life. No one can control public opinion or the final judgment of the central government.
Since it cannot be controlled, the act of daring to do it earns true admiration.
For these many years, the Emperor has let go of state affairs and paid little attention to them. This is the first time he has taken an interest in someone.
The Emperor asked: "Who is this person? How did he become Yaoyao's aide? Why has no one recruited him to be an official? The imperial court leaves such talent unused—how is the Crown Prince managing the state?"
The eunuch hurriedly bowed and smiled obsequiously. "Your Majesty, his name is Yan Shang. He is only eighteen this year, and his courtesy name is Suchen."
The Emperor was puzzled. "Yan Shang? The name sounds somewhat familiar."
The eunuch gave a dry laugh and reminded him: "He is this year's Tanhualang (the third-place scholar in the imperial examination). Your Majesty previously wished to arrange a marriage between him and the Princess of Danyang, but the Princess rejected it."
The Emperor: "..."
His expression instantly turned peculiar.
The eunuch also felt it was strange.
The eunuch said sheepishly: "Perhaps it was precisely because Your Majesty's arranged marriage didn't go through that a connection was formed between him and the Princess of Danyang? Did he run off to become an aide for the Princess?"
The Emperor's expression became even stranger, as if he had much to say but was forcibly suppressing it.
After a long while, the Emperor said, "So this Yan Suchen is now just working as an aide for Yaoyao?"
The eunuch had naturally already investigated this person: "For the Boxue Hongci (extensive learning and magnificent rhetoric) examination this October, Yan Suchen and the top-ranking scholar, Wei Qilang, have both registered. If this Yan-lang can survive this prison disaster, he will surely rank highly in this year's examination. No one will be able to block him there."
The Emperor said, "If he can make it to shore, his starting official rank will not be too low."
The Emperor suddenly asked, "Does Yan Suchen have no connections in Chang'an? Is there no one behind him guiding him on how to act?"
The eunuch answered: "He only has many friends, but they are all people he met after arriving in Chang'an. As for connections in Chang'an... he only has one teacher, Dou Jun, who is a Taixue (Imperial Academy) professor. I fear that besides teaching him knowledge, there are no connections for this young master to use."
The Emperor was thoughtful. "Then the aristocratic clans must be eyeing a person like this, rushing to use him."
If the noble clans who can remain in Chang'an have a few hidden agendas, that is fine, but none of them are fools.
The eunuch observed the Emperor's complexion. Seeing the Emperor lowering his eyes with an indecisive expression, he suggested: "If Your Majesty does not want this young master to be snatched up by the aristocratic clans, why not act directly? Summon this young master personally so he can be used by Your Majesty."
The Emperor pondered for a moment but shook his head.
He laid back down and spoke leisurely: "No need. It is merely having the courage to kill in public... As for how the rest of this play is sung, I still want to see."
In the countryside managed by the Zheng family in Wannian County, the fields were lush green, with the wind stirring the clouds.
Master Zheng was killed in public, lying on the ground.
The crowd looked over. Yan Shang was still holding the crossbow he had used to kill, aiming it at the members of the Zheng clan.
Everyone was stunned.
The Zheng family guards following behind Master Zheng were blank-minded, fearfully thinking that their family head had been killed right before their eyes... It was over; everything was over.
In their impulse, they wanted to rush up and capture this murderer, bind him, and take him to the Zheng family ancestral hall to give the Zheng family an answer. But these guards looked up, meeting Yan Shang’s calm gaze, then saw the iron crossbow resting on his arm... and then saw the Princess’s guards behind Yan Erlang one after another draw their blades.
The crossbow in Yan Shang’s hand was still aimed at them. He said slowly: "Master Zheng is a man I had to kill; otherwise, I could not give an account. If you resist, I have already killed one person, and I will not hesitate to kill a few more."
The Zheng family guards were even more bewildered.
One of them gritted his teeth, eyes bloodshot, and roared while trembling: "You dare kill Master Zheng! The Zheng family is a powerful local force; we will not let you go!"
Yan Shang smiled: "I am waiting to see the majesty of these 'powerful locals'!"
He turned his head to look at the guards following him and ordered calmly: "Cut off Master Zheng’s head, wrap it up well, and take it with me."
He looked back at the Zheng family guards and said, "I am here today, ready to take Master Zheng’s head to apologize to the Prince of Jin. If you want to kill me today, come and kill me."
Having said this, he turned and walked away.
The common people in the surrounding fields looked on with admiration, constantly asking who that person was and why he had such grand bearing that he dared to even kill Master Zheng.
The Zheng family had operated in Wannian County for so many years, relying on the Li clan and the Imperial family above, and not a single villager dared to resist. Those who dared to resist had all fled Wannian County, drifting away to become mountain bandits or refugees. In any case, the Zheng clan didn't leave people without a way to live, so the villagers simply endured... yet this young master had spoken only a few words before killing someone!
Yan Shang turned and walked away, with no intention of going to the Zheng family mansion. Looking at his posture, he was prepared to take Master Zheng's head and go directly to visit the Prince of Jin.
The aides’ hearts were trembling as they wisely followed behind him. They looked at this young man whose face remained delicate and refined; not a single drop of blood had splashed onto his jade-like face, and his gaze remained bright and clear... yet Yan Shang had just killed someone!
They were horrified, filled with both admiration for the youth’s hot-bloodedness and fear of Yan Shang’s decisive action.
They chased after Yan Shang: "The Zheng family will not let you go, sir. They wouldn't dare move against the Princess, but they might make things difficult for you."
Yan Shang did not speak.
The aides trembled again: "Erlang, you acted like this... you are going to be thrown in jail! Even the Princess cannot protect you!"
Yan Shang glanced at them and nodded slightly: "I know."
He looked back at the villagers gathered in the fields left behind and the Zheng family guards who were rushing off to report the news, his gaze growing profound.
He said: "Therefore, we must hurry to finish what Her Highness has tasked us with."
In the Zheng family mansion, a group of Zheng family members was anxiously waiting for the people sent by the Princess to settle accounts with them.
In their minds, they were the Princess's people. Even if the Princess were furious, she would kill a few people at most... They had already planned to hand over the Zheng family youths who had occupied the field and house of Chunhua’s brother, as well as the one who had shot the Prince of Jin. Even if these people were killed, they would grit their teeth and accept it.
They were hiding in the ancestral hall, discussing how to beg for mercy from the Princess.
Then a guard broke in, face deathly pale, and knelt down while trembling: "Master Zheng... Master Zheng has been killed by that Yan Erlang sent by the Princess!"
In the Zheng family ancestral hall, for a moment, they thought the guard was joking. A family head killed... how could that be possible?
How could Her Highness treat them like this?
The guard was about to cry: "That Yan Erlang stood six zhang away, asked clearly about what the Zheng family had done, and upon learning that the one leading the way was our family head, he directly raised his crossbow and killed him. Those villagers were even cheering on the side. Now they have already mounted their horses and are likely leaving..."
"What?!" The Zheng family members were instantly enraged.
Shaking with fury: "Just a small aide, yet so bold! Do the officials not care? Is there no law in this world? With justice shining bright, he openly defies the law... Our Zheng family will never spare him!"
Several hot-blooded young men, upon hearing Master Zheng was dead, immediately wanted to rush out and draw their swords for revenge, but they were stopped by the elders, who told them to ask the officials to intervene and preside over the matter.
A prince who kills is guilty of the same crime as a commoner!
How can there be such a logic of killing as one pleases in this world!
In the Prince of Jin's mansion, the Prince of Jin was recuperating from his injuries, his face pale as he welcomed Yan Shang and the others into his room.
In the unwrapped package, fresh blood flowed, and Master Zheng’s eyes, fixed in death, stared at the Prince of Jin.
The Prince of Jin was not scared to death by the arrow wound earlier, but he was nearly frightened to death by this head.
The Prince of Jin's face turned blue. "What is the meaning of this, Yan Erlang?"
Yan Shang said warmly: "This is the answer Her Highness has given you, Your Highness. Master Zheng was the head of the Zheng family; the head has now paid the price for his crimes. If Your Highness has any other requests, please inform us. Her Highness the Princess and you share a deep sibling bond; there was absolutely no intent to harm you. I hope you will reflect on this."
It was a long while before the Prince of Jin could manage a forced smile. "I accept Yaoyao’s sentiments... I never blamed Yaoyao in the first place... This was all, all caused by the servants..."
The Prince of Jin put on a submissive appearance. After watching Yan Shang and the others leave, he was extremely annoyed and ordered someone to throw the head out. But every time he closed his eyes, it seemed he could still see Master Zheng staring at him... The Prince of Jin was terrified, shivering.
With Mu Wanyao apologizing like this, what else could he say?
She had even cut off her own arm... If the Prince of Jin refused to accept the apology, it would only make him appear heartless.
After Yan Shang left the Prince of Jin's mansion, officials from the Ministry of Justice were already standing at the entrance, waiting for them.
The guards from the Princess's mansion who followed Yan Shang kept their hands on the hilts of their swords, watching the other side vigilantly. The aides behind Yan Shang looked at each other and let out a long sigh, knowing that what was to come had arrived.
A senior official of the Ministry of Justice with a majestic and imposing face stood with his hands behind his back in a pavilion outside the Prince of Jin’s mansion, watching the murals painted on the wall.
Yan Shang emerged, his robes fluttering.
The senior official turned around and sized him up from head to toe. "You are Yan Erlang? The one who killed someone in public?"
A person who followed him—likely a member of the Zheng family—was jumping up and down, pointing at Yan Shang with extreme agitation. "Sir, it's him! He's the one who killed our family head!"
The senior official of the Ministry of Justice showed disgust.
Although he had some ties with the Zheng family and had been invited by them to handle this case, after hearing the full story on the way, he knew he had been set up by the Zheng family... A case like this, how could it be handled easily?
The senior official completely ignored the noisy Zheng family member and fixed his tiger-like eyes on the thin, refined young man who had just emerged from the Prince of Jin's mansion.
Yan Shang bowed and cupped his hands, his wide sleeves flapping. He said warmly: "It is indeed me."
The Ministry of Justice official’s eyes showed admiration, lamenting that the young man could face him and his subordinates without changing his expression. His expression softened, and he only said: "Yan Erlang, as we handle this case, I have heard that you killed someone in public. I must ask for your cooperation and have you accompany us to the Ministry of Justice for a visit."
As if afraid the other party would refuse, he added: "If you are innocent, once we finish our investigation, we will naturally release you."
Yan Shang said: "That is how it should be; I would not dare hinder your investigation."
Seeing the other party was so easy to talk to, the senior official relaxed and hurriedly gestured for the officers behind him to take the man.
But as they returned to the Ministry of Justice, the bold and gossip-loving people of Chang'an had clearly heard the news and crowded the streets to watch. The Ministry of Justice officials didn't dare bind Yan Shang, only letting him follow on horseback. Even so, the crowd was still indignant and accused them:
"Shouldn't that Zheng family have been killed? Yan Erlang is a hero, but you want a life for a life—how are you even officials?
"Are you colluding with the Zheng family?
"Such a display of arrogance from these local tyrants! Even the aristocratic clans wouldn't dare act like this!"
The toughness of the people of Chang'an, the boldness of the citizens of a capital city, is far beyond any other place... The Ministry of Justice officials had originally come to make an arrest according to conventional standards, but now, returning to the Ministry of Justice, they all looked deathly pale, as if they were the villains, filled with indignation.
Zheng family members hid in the crowd. Seeing the public indignation, they also panicked and hurriedly ran to inform their own people.
The Ministry of Justice official darkened his face and impatiently ordered his men to hurry, not letting anyone watch anymore.
Meanwhile, some meddling aristocratic youths sat in a wine shop upstairs, watching the awkward situation of the Ministry of Justice officials being blocked by the crowd, and couldn't help but sneer.
One said: "This is going to be difficult for the Ministry of Justice."
Another, who still had lingering fears, said: "I didn't expect the common people to detest these tyrants so much. It seems that the Zheng family’s reputation has been truly awful for years.
"The Zheng family is finished."
Everyone was silent.
Someone asked: "Are there any aristocratic clans looking to salvage the Zheng family?"
A few looked at each other and couldn't help but sneer: "Isn't the Zheng family a group under the Princess of Danyang? What aristocratic clan would want to salvage them?
"And even if we are reluctant to lose these powerful local forces... our clans established ourselves in this world not to be enemies with the people. Seeing the people so indignant, we know that the Zheng family must have gone too far. We wouldn't want the people to suffer so bitterly either."
Everyone fell silent. After drinking two cups of wine in a hurry, they each returned home to report to their respective clan heads.
Inside the Eastern Palace
It was only when the Ministry of Justice officials took Yan Erlang away that the Crown Prince learned of Yan Erlang killing someone in public.
Yang Si was originally drowsy, bored, and listening to the Crown Prince discuss state affairs with his ministers. Upon hearing the details of Yan Shang's affair, Yang Si could not help but cry out in approval, startling everyone who was deep in thought.
The Crown Prince looked at Yang Si with displeasure. "...Sanlang, did you just wake up?"
He was mocking Yang Sanlang for sleeping straight through while others were discussing state affairs, only waking up now when he heard about Yan Shang.
Having associated with the Crown Prince for many years, Yang Sanlang had long since developed a thick skin and didn't care about the Crown Prince's mild sarcasm.
Yang Si stood up, wearing only white socks, and paced around the meeting hall.
He was of a bold nature and loved this spirit of heroism more than anything in his life. In the past, Yan Erlang’s actions always gave him the feeling of hidden schemes and plots, which he disliked. Only this kind of youthful, heroic spirit could win his admiration.
Yang Si clapped and cheered: "That Zheng family head deserved to die! To drag the common people to this point, to occupy their fields and houses, to have no intention of repentance, and even to delusionally expect the Princess to cover for them... A person like this deserves to die! Yan Suchen’s action is what a real man should do!"
The Crown Prince looked at him: "You seem to have forgotten that the reason the Zheng family occupied fields and houses was to collect rent and money. And the reason for collecting rent and money was to hand it over to the Ministry of Revenue to fill the budget holes. You are cheering for Yan Erlang like this—does that not mean you are saying I was wrong?"
Yang Si said: "If Your Highness cannot distinguish talent before using it and causes this kind of trouble, then you were wrong in the first place!"
The people in the hall gasped.
They marveled at Yang Sanlang’s immense boldness, daring to speak to the Crown Prince like this.
Yang Si pushed open the door, ready to leave: "Those Ministry of Justice people will probably make things difficult for Yan Erlang; his prison disaster probably cannot be avoided. No, I must go to the Ministry of Justice to have a look. If they dare to make things difficult for Yan Suchen, I will teach them a good lesson."
No one in the hall could stop him as they watched Yang Sanlang swagger off.
They looked at each other and then back at the Crown Prince, thinking that Yang Si's behavior represented the Crown Prince. If Yang Si went to the Ministry of Justice to make a scene, wouldn't that mean it was authorized by the Crown Prince?
They looked at the Crown Prince, seeing that he was thoughtful and did not send anyone to chase Yang Sanlang back.
The crowd said: "Your Highness, I fear the Eastern Palace will bring trouble upon itself with this..."
The Crown Prince, however, said: "Not necessarily. This matter... let’s see if anyone else enters the game."
Naturally, others entered the game.
At the summer resort in Fanchuan, Mu Wanyao heard that Yan Shang had killed the head of the Zheng family, and her world went black as she slumped to the floor.
She was so angry she nearly vomited blood.
She hated how Yan Shang had completely twisted her intentions!
She had told him to suppress the matter... yet he had blown it out of proportion.
Even blowing it out of proportion was one thing, but he had also sent himself to prison!
Mu Wanyao was furious. "Yan Shang, Yan Shang... you bastard!"
As she gnashed her teeth, she couldn't help but admire the man's guts. Knowing exactly what she had meant, he still went against her... Was he perhaps taking revenge for her giving him the cold shoulder?
Mu Wanyao was so angry it gave her a headache. If possible, she really wanted to rush out and give him a fierce scolding. However, Mu Wanyao clutched her heart, convincing herself not to be angry, not to be angry... Things had reached this point; she needed to maximize her benefits. She couldn't be angry; she couldn't act on impulse.
Yan Shang had set such a trap for her... no matter how much she hated it, no matter how reluctant she was, she had to cut off her own arm to show the world!
Mu Wanyao paced for a long time, desperately thinking about how to turn the situation to her maximum advantage.
After a long, long time, she gritted her teeth, adjusted her appearance, and went to see the Emperor.
However, the eunuch stopped her, saying the Emperor was not seeing anyone.
Mu Wanyao's expression shifted. After that path failed, she simply returned to her room, went to her desk, and began writing a letter to the Eastern Palace:
"Willing to cut off my own arm, punish the Zheng family, draw a clear line with them, and never use this clan again.
"Willing to use the disaster of the Zheng family as a warning to the powerful tyrants of the world! Do not treat the people as slaves; do not treat the people as meat...
"Begging the Eastern Palace to regulate the powerful tyrants of the world and requesting the aristocratic clans to self-investigate the culture of tyranny. The harm caused by powerful tyrants has not been a one-day affair. I hope to take this opportunity to clear the accounts of the world’s powerful tyrants over these past few years..."
In the dead of night.
The lights in the Eastern Palace remained lit throughout the night.
With a group of ministers sitting on both sides, the Crown Prince took the Princess of Danyang's letter, read it, and passed it to the ministers.
The ministers were overjoyed: "The kindness and bearing of the Princess should be a model for the world!"
The Crown Prince nodded.
He revealed a faint smile because he had been waiting all day to see if Mu Wanyao would take action.
Mu Wanyao had taken action.
Her political awareness... finally reached a higher level; she finally knew what was best.
The Crown Prince said: "At the morning court tomorrow, pass the Princess of Danyang's petition to the ministers. The culture of tyranny truly needs to be regulated."
Once regulated, the wealth confiscated from the powerful tyrants’ years of exploitation would fill the coffers, and the Ministry of Revenue would no longer face shortages...
The Crown Prince said: "Since we are going to regulate powerful tyrants, however, is the prevalence of bad conduct in this world limited only to them?"
The ministers guessed the Crown Prince's heart, and one of them thought of something and said: "The Princess of Luling has for years kept beautiful young men, occupied commoners' good fields, and allowed her people to bully the people... The Princess has incited public anger for years. Your Highness cannot afford not to investigate."
The Crown Prince was waiting for just those words.
Since he was going to make a move.
Yan Shang wanted fame.
Mu Wanyao wanted fame.
Didn't the Eastern Palace want it too?
The Crown Prince said: "I hope my aunt has the awareness to cooperate."
When the residence of the Princess of Luling was surrounded by officials, the Princess was nearly driven mad, realizing that the Crown Prince was going to use her as a sacrificial lamb.
Originally, it was a matter of powerful tyrants, and she had sat on the sidelines watching. But now, it seemed the Crown Prince was fundamentally going to treat her and those tyrants together?
Only then did the Princess of Luling realize that from the very beginning, she had wrongly trusted Yan Shang.
Yan Shang had said the Crown Prince would protect her.
She had believed it.
But the Crown Prince, time and time again... this time he was directly coming to punish her crimes, seizing the people who had caused trouble from her mansion, and wanting to examine the Princess's cases from over the years!
The Princess of Luling was furious: "I want to see the Emperor! I want to lodge a complaint to my Imperial Brother! Mu Lang! You really are a bastard! You are truly heartless... you don't even let go of your own aunt!"
Mu Lang was the Crown Prince's real name.
No one dared to call it.
It was clear just how mad the Princess of Luling was.
The people who came to search the Princess’s mansion dared to move against others, but they dared not stop the Princess. The Princess, in her anger, drove her own carriage, wanting to personally go to Fanchuan to see the Emperor and lodge a complaint.
She had already driven half a mile when the carriage was intercepted.
Thinking it was that group of people searching her mansion who wouldn't even let her go, the Princess, in her rage, drew her whip. She jumped off the carriage and lashed out with the whip, striking the person who had blocked the carriage.
It was the handsome young man, Feng Xianyu. He was struck by her whip, his long hair slightly scattered on his cheek, with a bright red welt.
Feng Xianyu looked at her in astonishment.
When the Princess saw it was him, she was first startled, then furious: "What, even you want to block me? Get lost!"
Feng Xianyu grabbed the Princess’s hand and forced her back into the carriage to avoid the surrounding onlookers. Inside the carriage, he knelt on his robes before the Princess and pleaded earnestly: "Your Highness, this is a rare opportunity for you to boost your good reputation; how can you let it go? This is the most important part of your cooperation with the Crown Prince; how can you abandon it halfway?"
The Princess of Luling sneered: "Cooperation? At this point, I finally realize that no one wanted to cooperate with me at all. They were all lying to me, using me..."
As she spoke, her face turned deathly pale, and she shivered all over.
She only felt that if the Emperor died, she would truly die along with him...
Feng Xianyu said urgently: "Your Highness cannot be like this! I can go see the Crown Prince for you, talk to him privately, and ask for clarification. If the Crown Prince truly refuses to leave you a way out, it won't be too late to go complain to the Emperor. In today's world, the Zheng family is despised; how can you place yourself on the same level as them and lose the support of the people?"
The Princess of Luling looked at him blankly.
After a long while, she nodded hesitantly: "Feng-lang, I will trust you once. The Crown Prince doesn't treat me like an aunt... in the end, I actually have to rely on my own lover to save me."
She gave a miserable laugh, her head resting against the carriage wall. Her usually bright and enchanting face was now filled with deep desolation.
Feng Xianyu lowered his head and said softly: "Your Highness, there is no need for such despair. Things have not reached that stage... The Crown Prince must acknowledge you as his aunt; him making a move against you is just to show he is not avoiding suspicion. You only need to cooperate well, and then you will have a future."
The Princess of Luling looked down at him and said quietly: "Then go and do it. I have raised so many male favorites, but not one of them was useful. The people searching the Princess’s mansion arrived, and they all ran away in terror. Yet only you dared to find me, and were not afraid of being implicated by me... Feng-lang, thank you."
Feng Xianyu's eyelashes trembled slightly.
He turned his head slightly and kept his face taut, not allowing himself to look at the desolate expression on this woman's face.
He acted this way because he did not want her to fall. He had relied on her to become an official, and he would have to rely on her to continue climbing the ranks... It was just that her desolation also made his heart heavy, thinking that the world's situation and the unpredictability of fortune were truly hard to speak of—
And so, everyone began to act.
Late at night, the eunuch once again reported the latest developments to the Emperor.
Reporting on how Yan Erlang had gone to prison and how the people had petitioned for him;
Reporting on how Mu Wanyao had been resolute, cutting off her own arm and pleading for the people, requesting an investigation into the world’s powerful tyrants;
Reporting on how the Crown Prince had affirmed the Princess of Danyang's petition in court and how the Crown Prince had made his move against the Princess of Luling...
The Emperor sighed: "Splendid."
"Not a single person was left behind, and not a single person dragged their feet. The situation has changed so interestingly, like pulling one hair to affect the whole body. It began with a maid’s pregnancy, small bickering that has reached this extent; I am becoming... increasingly interested in them.”