Chapter 205: How Deep is the Friendship? (Supplementary Update)  

2023-05-31 

“We’ve met before, haven’t we?” Chang Suining asked.

“Of course.” The woman frowned, her tone unfriendly. “Last time, Miss Chang almost had me buried alive.”

Chang Suining looked at the woman, who had removed her veil and now wore an angry expression. “You’re still angry after all this time?”

The woman, who had been forced to sit on the straw heap, raised her bound hands and retorted, “Why does Miss Chang think I’m angry?”

She had saved the woman out of goodwill, yet the woman invited her here and then had her hands and feet bound!

“Sorry, I was indeed impolite,” Chang Suining apologized. “I wasn’t sure of your intentions and didn’t know if you had companions—whether they were friends or foes couldn’t be determined from just that one arrow. I usually don’t act this way, but with my brother’s life hanging in the balance, I couldn’t afford any risks. Once I’m sure you’re not an enemy, I will make amends.”

Upon hearing the apology, the woman’s expression softened. “It’s good to be cautious and not trust people too easily.”

“I truly came to help,” the woman said, accepting the situation of being bound as she spoke earnestly. “I’ve been in the capital recently, and after hearing about your brother’s trouble, Her Highness, the Princess of Xuan’an, sent a pigeon to the capital, instructing us to assist you in every way possible.”

Her words were somewhat vague, but it was the best she could do.

Even so, Chang Suining seemed puzzled. “Why would Her Highness, the Princess of Xuan’an, help our family?”

“Our princess and General Chang have been old friends for many years,” the woman explained. “However, to avoid suspicion, she hasn’t publicly acknowledged this.”

Chang Suining was skeptical.

She couldn’t help but recall the strange attitude her father had when mentioning her aunt.

“Do you have any proof that my father and the Princess of Xuan’an are close?”

After asking, Chang Suining realized it might be an unreasonable demand, but without evidence, she couldn’t fully trust the woman.

Unexpectedly, the maid immediately responded, “Of course!”

“I’ve been entrusted by Her Highness to frequently deliver letters to General Chang in secret, and I’ve also delivered medicine to relieve his leg pain. The last time I delivered the medicine, I nearly got caught by Miss Chang... I remember you and your brother were offering paper money during the ceremony, Miss Chang—do you remember?”

Chang Suining recalled the incident. “So it was you.”

“That was me!”

Putting together the earlier clues, Chang Suining had already begun to trust her, but seeing the maid’s unusual attitude, she decided to press a little further. “But that only proves you’ve been to my family’s house... Do you have anything else?”

The maid became a little anxious, deciding to give a decisive proof to make Chang Suining fully believe her.

“I also know that your brother has a cloud-shaped birthmark on the left side of his buttocks!” 

Chang Suining: “…?”

The maid continued, “This is something General Chang told Her Highness personally!”

The maid looked at Chang Suining’s reaction, then hesitated before asking, “...Miss Chang didn’t know about this birthmark?”

Of course not! She was a girl and also adopted—she would have avoided any appearance of suspicion. How could she have seen her brother’s backside?

The maid had been careless.

As she considered how to provide another proof, she saw the young woman nod. “I know.”

When Chang Sui'an was still an infant, she had indeed had the chance to see it.

However, it was already strange that Old Chang had told the Princess of Xuan’an about this matter—how could this maid casually mention it? Could it be that the entire Princess's residence knew what her brother’s birthmark looked like?

Chang Suining’s suspicions began to grow bolder.

She gestured for Chang Ren to untie the maid.

“I apologize for the earlier offense.”

“It’s no problem. You can call me Yao Jin.” Having gained Chang Suining’s trust, the maid eagerly began discussing the rescue plan. “What are your plans, Miss Chang? If you have no way to rescue him, I have a suggestion…”

Chang Suining raised an eyebrow. “Another prison break?”

Yao Jin was stunned. “You’re planning the same thing?”

“No, many have suggested it.” Chang Suining responded. “But I think there’s a better way.”

“Could Miss Chang share it?” Yao Jin asked. “Our princess has people in the capital who might be able to help.”

Given the current situation, any "better way" would inevitably involve great risk, so any extra help would be appreciated.

Yao Jin spoke, lifting her hands toward Chang Suining. “If you still don’t trust me and are worried I might leak the plan, feel free to tie me up again.”

She even proposed, “Or, if you gave that poison to the man in black earlier, you can give me a dose of the same as well.”

“...No need, I only brought one.” Chang Suining, with a hint of testing in her tone, directly asked, “I wonder if the Princess of Xuan’an has anyone useful in the Marquis of Ying’s residence?”

She asked this because she understood her aunt’s personality and methods.

Her aunt was not as the rumors suggested—greedy for pleasures and obsessed with men. If the Princess of Xuan’an had placed any spies in the Ming family, they would be extremely useful, and she wouldn’t need to risk meeting Meng Lie at this time.

Furthermore, the Princess of Xuan’an, with her own power in the rich and prosperous Xuanzhou, was different from the courtiers under the holy Emperor’s reign. If she could draw such a force deeply into their plans, even if the plan failed, it would provide an additional escape route and support.

After all, Xuanzhou was quite close to Yangzhou, and the holy Emperor would certainly be more wary of it.

No matter how one weighed the options, this was a very good potential ally.

Moreover, through this, she could further test the Princess of Xuan’an and her subordinates' attitudes toward her brother.

After a moment, the maid, Yao Jin, nodded without hesitation: “There is one.”

Chang Suining immediately asked, “Are we killing or capturing someone?”

“No,” she replied. “That won’t prove your brother’s innocence.”

Yao Jin paused. “...Is your brother truly innocent?”

Chang Suining looked at the maid.

The attitude of the maid was worth pondering. 

So, the Princess of Xuan’an didn’t know that her brother was wronged, but still rushed to help without caring for the truth. Such unreserved and unprincipled support—was it really just because of her old friendship with Old Chang? If so, how deep must that friendship be?

...

After the assassination attempt was discovered, because of the clues Chang Suining had deliberately left behind and the officers having visited the Chang residence to confirm it, the government quickly determined that the person who had been attacked was indeed a Young Miss Chang.

The officers guarding outside the Chang residence were alarmed.

The Young Miss Chang had sneaked out of their sight... and after leaving, something happened to her!

The authorities did not make this public, but with so many eyes on the Chang family’s movements, the news of Chang Suining’s predicament hadn’t spread widely, yet those who needed to know were already aware.

The news reached the palace, where Ming Luo said, “Your Majesty need not worry. Since we didn’t find Miss Chang at the scene, it seems the attackers must have other plans, and for now, her life should not be in danger.”

“I wonder who could be behind this...” the holy Emperor’s expression darkened, filled with many speculations, but he first instructed Ming Luo, “Go to the Ming family and see Chang Shi.” 

Ming Luo nodded in understanding and immediately left.

As he exited Ganlu Hall, Ming Luo raised the corner of her mouth slightly.

Had that madman succeeded?

It seemed so.

Once she saw Chang Shi, she should get the answer.

However, she didn’t see Chang Shi.

Suddenly feeling uncertain, Ming Luo didn’t dare to delay and immediately returned to the palace to report to the holy Emperor, “...The servants say they don’t know when my mother left the house, and she hasn’t returned yet.”

For safety, Chang Shi had been placed under house arrest by the holy Emperor.

the holy Emperor laughed coldly in anger upon hearing this. “She really will stop at nothing to make foolish mistakes... She better hope she hasn’t made a huge one.”

That foolish woman really thought she could deal with a military general’s adopted daughter as she pleased!

Soon, under the holy Emperor’s orders, search efforts were underway both within and outside the capital to locate Chang Shi and Chang Suining.

The news of Chang Suining’s assassination attempt and her disappearance also spread to the Yao family, the Marquis of Zheng’s residence, the Changsun family, and various other parties.

At this moment, there were no fewer than ten young women, including Yao Xia and Wei Miaoqing, who were so worried they couldn’t eat or sleep.

Duan Shi also repeatedly urged her son to inquire and search for her.

Unbeknownst to Duan Shi, Wei Shuyi had already arranged for a search as soon as he heard the news.

That night, many stayed awake.

The sky darkened and then brightened again. The rain had long stopped, but the weather never cleared up. Ministry of Justice’s dungeon had become increasingly damp and cold.

“...I heard that the Young Miss Chang was assassinated and is now missing!”

“Yes, many people died at the scene, and the whole river was stained red!”

“I wonder who did this?”

Chang Sui'an, who had just been dragged off the torture rack, heard the guards talking and suddenly opened his swollen, injured eyes. “What are you saying? What happened to my sister?!”

"Yo, you're speaking pretty loudly now, but as soon as you're tortured, you act dead?"

"...You guys won't even spare my sister!" The young man's eyes suddenly filled with tears of extreme anger and sorrow. "What did our Chang family do wrong? Why? What right do they have?"

He still didn't know who framed him, but he refused to admit guilt because he didn't want to tarnish his father's reputation or let his sister be wronged in the process... But now his sister had gotten into trouble!

Covered in bloodstains from his prison clothes, fresh blood continually oozed from his wounds. His hands and feet were shackled in iron chains, and tears ran down his filthy face, leaving two pale gray streaks.

Since being brought into this dungeon, whether wronged or tortured, the young man had never resisted. But now, he suddenly broke free from the two guards.

He was going to save Ning Ning!

"Stop him!"

"Quick, there's a major criminal trying to escape the prison!"

Soon, a group of guards with knives surrounded him and blocked his way. One of them held a long blade and stabbed it into Chang Sui'an’s already-wounded shoulder.

The young man, covered in injuries, collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from his mouth. Under the immense emotional strain, his already weak body couldn't hold up anymore, and he fainted.

At this moment, the official overseeing the case, Han Shaoqing, arrived.

The young man was thrown back into his cell, lying on a pile of straw, pale and unconscious, his life uncertain.

Han Shaoqing asked, "Still refusing to confess?"

"Reporting to Lord Han, we’ve used all the methods available in the torture chamber, but he still refuses to confess."

Thinking of the deadline given from above, Han Shaoqing frowned. "We cannot delay any longer."

The guards hesitated for a moment but then answered, "Yes, sir."

After a short while, someone entered the cell and pressed the fainted young man’s right hand onto a pre-prepared confession document.

"Lord Han... the prisoner’s condition is critical. Should we send for a Physician to treat his injuries?"

Han Shaoqing, holding the confession document, replied, "The criminal, Chang Sui'an, has confessed. After it is verified by the three offices, we will choose a day for execution."

Seeing Han Shaoqing leave, the two guards exchanged looks and understood immediately—this meant no medical treatment would be provided.

Since he had already "confessed," dying before the execution wouldn't matter.

Having military generals on the outside made executing their sons problematic for various reasons, so if he died in prison, it would make future explanations a bit easier.

As night fell, someone arrived outside the Minister of Justice’s dungeon, claiming to see Chang Sui'an.

This chapter, over three thousand words long, has been updated as promised (following through as always (づ￣3￣)づ╭).

As for the case, it will become clearer tomorrow.

 Chapter 732: A Perfect Counterattack at the Trial (1)

As Mo Yan entered Taihe Hall, more people began to arrive one after another. It wasn't long before the once spacious hall was filled with people. The buzzing sound of conversations filled the air, with discussions not only about the upcoming trial but also about the only woman in the hall, County Princess Hejia.

Mo Yan, attentive and perceptive, clearly heard the murmurs around her. Ignoring the mixed opinions, she quietly observed the scene outside the hall.

Several elderly scholars nearby, noticing Mo Yan's calm and composed demeanor, began to regard her more favorably. Seeing her standing alone, much younger than their granddaughters, softened their attitudes. They started to engage her in conversation.

However, since they were unfamiliar with each other, the topics of conversation were limited, and soon, the discussion naturally turned to the examination fraud case.

"This examination fraud case has far-reaching implications. If responsibility is assigned, the penalties will likely be more severe than ever. It's possible that the entire Ministry of Rites will be implicated," one of the scholars said.

The Ministry of Rites oversees the recruitment of scholars and the examination process. If exam questions and answers were leaked, it must have been due to negligence within the Ministry. In previous cases of fraud, several officials from the Ministry were punished—dismissed from their positions, and in severe cases, their families were implicated or they were sentenced to prison or military service.

"Ah, it serves the Ministry right! It may seem peaceful on the surface, but when problems arise, they become uncontainable. I just hope that no innocent people are dragged into this," another scholar added.

"Currently, only one person involved in the fraud has been apprehended. With concrete evidence and no denial of guilt, and having narrowly escaped a fire last night, it seems unlikely that they will escape punishment this time!" an elderly scholar remarked.

Just as the old scholar finished speaking, he was nudged by a colleague and realized that he was speaking about the daughter of the person in question. His face turned awkward.

Mo Yan, not yet aware of the near-disastrous fire involving her father, felt dizzy upon hearing this. Gripping the old scholar's sleeve, she asked with a pale face, "Sir, you said my father nearly died in a fire last night. What happened exactly?"

The old scholar, already regretting his slip, was surprised to see Mo Yan's reaction. He hadn't realized that she was unaware of the incident.

Seeing Mo Yan's panic, the old scholar quickly reassured her, "Last night, a fire broke out in the Ministry of Justice's prison. Fortunately, it was detected in time and quickly extinguished. Your father was only unconscious but not seriously harmed. Otherwise, today’s trial wouldn’t be taking place. Please don’t worry, County Princess!"

Mo Yan, relieved yet still anxious, felt a chill run through her. She could scarcely imagine the consequences had the fire not been discovered in time.

As she prepared to thank the old scholar, the gate of the hall suddenly echoed with a eunuch’s loud announcement: "The Crown Prince arrives—"

Everyone turned to see Crown Prince Chu Heng, dressed in a bright yellow robe embroidered with five dragons, walking in. Although he was followed by only two attendants, his inherent nobility and authority were evident. Young scholars who had never encountered the Crown Prince’s majesty averted their eyes in deference.

As Xiao Ruiyuan entered the hall, he spotted Mo Yan standing among a group of elderly men. Noting her displeased expression, he assumed she was being mistreated by the old scholars. His previously mild demeanor darkened, and his sharp gaze turned toward the elderly men.

The elderly scholars, startled by the fierce look, trembled and fell to their knees to perform a deep bow. The others, seeing this, also knelt and loudly shouted, "Long live the Crown Prince!"

The solemn kneeling caught Chu Heng off guard. He quickly responded with a warm tone, "There is no need for such formality. Please rise." 

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 731: A Perfect Counterattack at the Trial (4)

As usual, no one paid any attention to the scholars' requests. Just when they thought their efforts would yield no results, a eunuch holding an imperial edict appeared before them.

With a loud announcement of "The edict has arrived," thousands of scholars knelt to hear the decree. Despite the cold, hard stones beneath them causing great discomfort, their hearts were ablaze with anticipation.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees… The fraud case in the imperial examinations is of great importance. I will hold a public trial in the Taihe Hall at the third watch today. All scholars from the capital are allowed to enter the hall to observe, for clarity and justice. So decreed—"

As the final word of the edict was pronounced, the scholars, who had endured days of waiting at the palace gate, were overjoyed. They praised Emperor Huian, expressing their gratitude and declaring him a wise ruler. They were convinced that the Da Chu would prosper for generations to come.

The eunuch who announced the edict heard all the praise for Emperor Huian, smiling as he entered the palace. He relayed the comments to Grand Eunuch Liang, who, after the morning court session, brought them up during breakfast with Emperor Huian.

Emperor Huian listened impassively, seemingly indifferent. However, Grand Eunuch Liang noticed that the Emperor had eaten two more steamed buns and a bowl of white jade red date porridge.

News of the public trial at Taihe Hall at the third watch quickly spread throughout the capital, elevating public interest in the fraud case to its peak.

No one expected Emperor Huian to take such a serious approach, holding the trial in Taihe Hall and allowing hundreds of scholars to observe. It seemed that the Emperor was determined to address the issue thoroughly.

Many common people, hearing that the Crown Prince was Emperor Huian's favorite son, debated whether the Emperor was disillusioned with the Crown Prince's actions or whether he believed the Crown Prince was innocent and sought to clear his name.

The speculation led to a heated debate about the Emperor's true intentions. Some betting houses, seizing the opportunity, set up high-stakes bets on the outcome.

The betting house's gamble, a spontaneous decision by the owner, turned out to be extremely popular. Even those who rarely visited gambling houses came to place their bets. The betting house was packed, with the level of excitement reaching unprecedented heights.

Mo Yan, having received news from Xiao Ruiyuan and secured an observer’s plaque for Taihe Hall, entered the city at the third watch. Learning of the enormous betting excitement, she took out 5,000 taels of silver notes and entered the betting house, placing the largest single bet.

The betting house calculated the odds for this unprecedented gamble—six to one.

With the prospect of winning 25,000 taels, Mo Yan’s previously somber mood lightened somewhat.

When the big red dates arrived at the palace gate and Mo Yan alighted from her carriage, she saw a long line of scholars waiting to be checked for entry into Taihe Hall.

Given that all those waiting were adult men, Mo Yan found it difficult to join the line. Concerned about not entering Taihe Hall before the third watch, she boldly cut in line and walked directly to the gate guards.

The scholars in front, curious about this elegantly dressed young woman cutting in, were initially perplexed. They doubted she would be allowed to observe, but understanding her situation, they chose not to protest.

When the gate guards verified Mo Yan’s identity and allowed her entry, the scholars were astonished. They had not expected the prominent figure, who had been in the spotlight, to appear so openly. They had assumed that a peasant girl becoming a county princess would be like a pheasant with phoenix feathers—elevated in appearance but still a pheasant at heart.

They were taken aback by how Mo Yan’s refined and ethereal demeanor far surpassed that of so-called noble women, befitting her title as a county princess.

Seeing such an outstanding daughter, did her father really resort to exam fraud? The scholars who had previously held strong prejudices against Mo Yan and her father began to question whether they had been mistaken.

Unaware of the scholars' changing views, Mo Yan, guided by the eunuch, made her way into Taihe Hall. Even if she had known, she would have only remarked that appearance and demeanor are always significant.

Taihe Hall, located in the outer court of the palace, is the largest hall, where the morning court sessions are held daily. The square in front of the hall is vast enough to accommodate thousands of worshippers, and the hall itself, spanning over two hundred square zhang, can comfortably fit over a thousand people. (Note: A zhang is an ancient unit of area, equivalent to approximately 11 square meters. Two hundred square zhang equals about 2,200 square meters.)

By the time Mo Yan was led into Taihe Hall by the young eunuch, many people were already present. Besides the officials who had not yet left after the morning court, there were other scholars, aged between twenty and forty, who had gathered outside the palace gates for days.

The hall, previously somewhat noisy, fell silent as Mo Yan entered. The young eunuch, sensing the change in atmosphere, said, "County Princess, please follow me this way."

He led Mo Yan to a spot closer to the dragon throne, where the officials were seated. Although some of the older, more traditional officials might have thought it unusual for a woman to be in such a solemn place, they did not dismiss Mo Yan’s presence given her high rank and the significant nature of the case.

The case involved her father, and if convicted, the entire family would be implicated. Ordinary people would avoid such a situation, but Mo Yan’s presence here made the officials see her as courageous and filial.

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 1590: Distributing Bonuses

Regarding today's successful opening, Shu Yu was quite satisfied. "You all worked hard and have been busy the whole day. I mentioned earlier that if the sales were good, I would give everyone a bonus. Since everyone is here now, let's distribute the money and make everyone happy. If the sales continue to be good until the end of the month, I'll consider increasing it."

Upon hearing about the bonuses, everyone's eyes lit up. Although they were already tired, they suddenly became energetic.

Shu Yu took out a purse and gave each person one tael of silver without much hassle.

Da Niu and Wei Ronghua were relatively calm about it; one already received dividends, and the other had a high salary.

However, for the others, whose income was limited, one tael of silver meant a lot.

"Boss, isn't this too much?" Ren Yiping swallowed his saliva, trying to control his excitement as he asked.

"You think it's too much when you have money?" Shu Yu chuckled. "Take it all. As I said before, as long as everyone works together for the Lu Family's success, I won't mistreat anyone."

"Do I get one too?" Xia Yan asked in surprise, holding a tael of silver, glancing at Ying Xi beside her.

Ying Xi was calmer. Although she was a servant, the young miss often rewarded her, and she had accumulated quite a bit of private money.

Xia Yan smirked, saw Meng Yun Zheng nod, and then took the money with relief.

On the other hand, sitting behind the counter, Meng Yunzheng leaned on his hand and asked Shu Yu, "Don't I get one?"

"Of course, you do." Shu Yu handed him the remaining silver in the purse. "The painting outside was done by you, and your paintings are so valuable that I can't afford them. But since you're mine, we don't need to worry about such things. This silver in the purse is for your daily expenses."

Meng Yunzheng: "..."

Others: "..."

Shu Yu remained calm. Did she say anything wrong?

Meng Yunzheng chuckled, remained silent for a while, then nodded, "You make a good point." He casually put away the purse.

Others: "...feeling like they were just shown up."

Wei Ronghua interrupted, "Alright, alright. It's getting late. Let's all rest. We need to open the shop early tomorrow."

Others chimed in, "Yeah, we're so tired."

Except for Wei Ronghua, everyone went to the backyard.

Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng exchanged glances and smiled.

When everyone left, Shu Yu put away the account book and the silver, and the two of them sat behind the counter, slowly eating the supper Da Niu brought back.

Although Da Niu brought back a simple meal, it was fish, and the food quality was not bad at all.

After eating half of it, Shu Yu felt a bit full. She watched Meng Yun Zheng meticulously removing fish bones and placing the deboned fish meat into her bowl. She hurriedly declined, "You eat. I'm done; if I eat too much, I won't be able to sleep later."

Meng Yun Zheng stopped his hands, concentrated on eating his own portion.

Shu Yu propped her chin with her hand and looked at him. The more she looked, the more handsome he appeared. Apart from his good looks, he was also considerate and talented. Sigh, just thinking about it made her heart flutter.

Shu Yu shook her head abruptly. She was tired today; why was she getting all flustered?

She took a deep breath and thought of what the middle-aged scholar said by the county magistrate's side during the day, couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "What's your plan, exactly?"

 Chapter 1589: All Prizes at Cost Price

Shu Yu handed over the paper with the final figures. Da Niu was the first to see it and immediately widened his eyes, "So many?"

It's not that he lacks experience; nowadays, he also handles large sums of money.

But it was only the first day, and although there were many customers and business was good until late at night, the event was also quite significant. The first and second prizes alone were not cheap, and there was more than one set of them.

Others were equally surprised. Ren Yiping sighed, "I thought our main goal today was to gain reputation. Giving away so many prizes, even making a little profit would have been good enough. I didn't expect this much; it's the profit of a whole day."

Shu Yu smiled and said, "If all the prizes were bought from outside, we would probably only make a small profit. But most of these prizes are at cost price."

The consolation prizes are simple items like corn, oil, and sugar. Although oil and sugar prices aren't cheap nowadays, corn is relatively inexpensive, and they grow it themselves. The popcorn they make is larger than the ones sold outside, and just a little filling in a small paper bag is equivalent to the price of two hundred sunflower seeds at a discount.

Next is the fifth prize of instant noodles. They produce it in their workshop, so even if the prize is three packs of noodles, the cost price won't exceed twenty coins.

The fourth prize of cloth and cloth dolls is sourced from Yiren Pavilion. They get a discount since they buy in bulk from outside, so Shu Yu gets them at a reasonable price.

The cloth dolls are made in-house and can be completed within two or three days.

As for the third prize of rouge, face powder, and scar-removal ointment, no need to mention that. Yiren Pavilion uses a lot of rouge and face powder, so Shu Yu got around ten sets from there, and whatever's left can be returned. The scar-removal ointment is her and Doctor Xu's business.

The second prize of camphorwood boxes is made in his father's carpentry shop, but the inkstones need to be purchased.

The first prize of double-sided embroidery is done by Yiren Pavilion's embroiderer, Tian Qin. When Ruan Shi and Shu You recruited people from the city, she settled down completely at Yiren Pavilion. She was a skilled embroiderer back in the city, especially in double-sided embroidery.

If it weren't for her mother's illness, which was cured by Zhao Xi, she wouldn't have followed them to the county town.

The county town might not be comparable to the city, but Yiren Pavilion pays her based on commissions, so overall, her earnings are not less than what she got in the city's embroidery workshop. Of course, it can't be compared to selling her own double-sided embroidery.

However, Tian Qin doesn't care much about money. Even though she isn't wealthy, she still has some savings and doesn't worry about food and clothing. She only wants her mother to be safe and sound.

For the three double-sided embroideries that Shu Yu asked her to make, Tian Qin quoted a very low price. She was grateful for the Lu family's favor and thanked Zhao Xi for curing her mother; otherwise, she might be alone by now. So when the Lu family needed help, she felt obliged to assist.

Overall, when you calculate it, the places that truly cost a lot of money are the first prize golden hairpin and the second prize inkstone.

But compared to today's sales, these two items don't account for a significant portion.

"Over three hundred taels, more than I imagined, but it's within expectations," Shu Yu looked up and said to everyone, "But we might not have this much tomorrow, so be mentally prepared."

 Chapter 204: The Wisdom of Ants  

2023-05-30  

Is the newcomer friend or foe?  

In the next moment, Chang Suining immediately understood the answer from the direction the cold arrow had flown.

The arrow was aimed directly at the leader of the black-clad men who had been attacking her. The man, sharp and quick, noticed the arrow approaching and immediately raised his sword to deflect it.

"Clang!"

The arrowhead collided with the back of the sword, creating a sound with a lingering tremor, and the black-clad man instinctively stepped back.

At that very moment, Chang Suining threw her long sword, striking its hilt with her palm to send it flying through the misty rain, speeding towards her opponent.

The sharp blade struck the black-clad man's right shoulder, causing him to stumble back in pain. A guard from the Chang family quickly seized the opportunity, capturing him and placing a sword at his throat.

"Alive," Chang Suining ordered.

The reason she had struck him on the shoulder rather than aiming for his life was to disarm him, not kill him.

At this time, the person who had assisted with the arrow had also appeared. She was a young woman, drawing her bow to kill several of the black-clad men.

Chang Suining was puzzled about the identity of this helper, but with her life at stake, defeating the enemy took priority. She glanced at her briefly before looking away, not allowing herself to be distracted.

In the midst of the chaos, she exchanged a look with Chang Ren, who nodded in return.

Continuing the battle wasn't a viable option. The best strategy was to retreat with the captured leader!

Just as Chang Ren and his group were fighting and retreating, the sound of hooves approaching grew louder. A group of riders, about a dozen strong and all dressed in black robes, emerged from the rain.

"How dare you cause such a disturbance in the capital! Capture all those black-clad men!"

The leader, a young man, dismounted and drew his sword, advancing.

These people exuded an extraordinary aura, clearly not ordinary guards. Each one seemed capable of taking on ten opponents, and their strength was remarkable. The commanding tone of the leader, ordering the capture of all the black-clad men, showed he was someone of high authority. With their leader captured and the morale of the black-clad group faltering, they quickly scattered.

"No need to pursue!" Chang Suining sheathed her sword and addressed her group.

The young leader gestured for his subordinates to stop chasing, then quickly approached Chang Suining and asked with some concern, "Miss Chang, are you unharmed?"

Chang Suining, covered in blood, which it was difficult to distinguish whether it was hers or from others, still maintained a composed expression and showed no signs of injury. "I’m fine. But Cui Yuanxiang, why have you returned?"

Cui Yuanxiang lowered his voice and explained, "I was sent by the Grand General to secretly return to the capital and assist Miss Chang!"

Chang Suining didn’t rush to ask further questions. She simply nodded and said, "We’ll talk more after we leave here."

Cui Yuanxiang glanced at the captured black-clad man and asked, "These men were openly attempting assassination. Should we send them to the Minister of Justice?"

"No need," Chang Suining replied. "I have other uses for them."

With the absence of Yao Yi in the Minister of Justice, the authority there had become ambiguous. She no longer trusted them with anything.

Besides, she already had a complete plan, and these sudden black-clad attackers wouldn't force her to alter her course.

Cui Yuanxiang agreed and then asked, "Should we clean up here?"

"No need for that either," Chang Suining answered. "Just clean up a bit, leave the carriage, and leave behind any weapons marked with the Chang family symbol. Create the illusion that I was assassinated and taken away, leaving the authorities to investigate."

In this way, she could disappear for two days under the pretense of being a victim, which would better facilitate the execution of her next plan.

"Understood!"

A wounded guard stepped forward, his voice hoarse. "Two of our men are dead."

Chang Suining looked at the bodies of the two fallen guards and, after a moment, said, "Help them exchange clothes with those black-clad men, then take their bodies back for burial."

"Understood."

"Who gave you the orders?" Chang Suining asked, looking at the black-clad man who had been brought before her.

The man, wounded in the shoulder by her earlier attack, turned his head away, remaining silent. Just as he was about to grit his teeth, Chang Suining suddenly raised her arm and struck him hard in the side of the face with her elbow.

"Thud!"

The blow left him dizzy, and he turned his head to spit out a mouthful of blood, along with a bloodied tooth.

"You..." He glared at the young woman who had suddenly attacked him.

Chang Suining glanced at the tooth he had spit out and said, "Apologies, I thought you had poison in your mouth and were attempting to bite it to commit suicide."

The black-clad man had no time to speak before Chang Suining shoved a pill into his mouth and forcefully pushed his jaw up, making him swallow it.

The man, his arms restrained, tried to cough it out but couldn’t, his face turning bright red. "What did you make me eat?"

"You weren't carrying poison, so I gave you some," Chang Suining said, looking at him. "This poison has no antidote for twelve hours, and it will take your life. So, let me ask again—who gave you the orders?"

The black-clad man’s expression changed several times. "I don’t know who it was! We were just paid to do the job!"

Chang Suining didn’t doubt his words.

Poison was typically used by assassins with a death wish. These people’s behavior and skills seemed more like those of a mercenary group—hired killers who didn’t inquire into their employer’s identity.

She asked, "Where will you meet after the job is done?"

The employer always needed to confirm whether the job was completed, and the assassins had to collect the remaining payment.

"…In the Guandi Temple behind Chongye Alley!"

Chang Suining asked, "How will you meet?"

The black-clad man replied, "Bring the head to them."

Cui Yuanxiang asked, "Whose head?"

Chang Suining: "Clearly, mine."

"You won’t be taking my head." Chang Suining glanced at the black-clad corpses on the ground. "Pick one you like from here and take it."

The black-clad man: "…"

Chang Suining intended to find out who wanted her head so badly.

She turned to the masked woman standing beside her and asked, "Thank you for your help today. Would you like to come with me?"

This wasn’t a place for talking. To prevent the people in the Guandi Temple from receiving news of their failure before her arrival, she needed to move quickly.

The woman hesitated for a moment before nodding.

---

The Guandi Temple in Chongye Alley had been abandoned for a long time, and beggars usually gathered there.

However, due to the influx of refugees coming to the capital to petition the emperor, which had disturbed the peace of the city, the emperor had ordered the removal of beggars, citing that many spies were hiding among them. As a result, the beggars were driven away, and the Guandi Temple was left empty.

"Madam… they’ve arrived!"

A maidservant wearing a hooded veil, who had been watching outside, rushed in to inform the others upon seeing the black-clad group enter.

In the temple, a woman dressed in a similar hooded veil, sitting beneath the statue of Guandi, immediately stood up, asking anxiously, "Did it succeed?"

The maidservant lowered her voice. "It looks like it succeeded…"

The leader of the group was carrying something!

The woman let out a deep, satisfied laugh. "That calamity is finally dead!"

She was eager to see it for herself.

Five or six black-clad men entered, and the leader was one they recognized. He was injured, covered in blood, but the woman didn’t find this unusual. After all, he was going to kill someone—being injured was normal.

One of the black-clad men, carrying a heavy bundle in his left hand, placed it on the altar. "We’ve brought it back. Where’s the remaining payment?"

The maidservant replied, "Of course, the money is yours, but we need to inspect the goods first."

The black-clad man made a loud "thud" as he placed the bundle on the altar. He opened it, revealing a square box. As the box was opened, a bloody human head appeared.

The woman under the veil froze, her expression turning angry.

Though the maidservant was startled by the gruesome sight, she quickly demanded, "You dare take such a large sum and present us with this? Where is the real item we requested?"

"It’s here," came a voice from outside the temple, followed by the entrance of a young man.

As the newcomer crossed the threshold, he threw a dagger into the air, which flew toward the woman, slicing off the veil on her head.

The woman’s face was now revealed—it was Chang Shi, the wife of the Marquis Ying.

Her eyes widened with fury. "Chang Suining…?!"

"Ah, Madam Ming," Chang Suining said. "You hired so many people just to take my head. What a lavish sum you must have spent."

But this also showed that the Ming family and the holy Emperor had already abolished Chang Shi’s influence. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been left with no one to rely on and had to hire external assassins.

Miss Chang’s voice grew sharp. "Kill her!"

Indeed, people rushed forward, but it was Chang Ren, Cui Yuanxiang, and their group who arrived.

They had dealt with all the people that Chang Shi had brought, quickly subduing her and her maidservant.

"...So many people couldn't kill you. You truly are a natural disaster!" Chang Shi, pinned to the ground, continued to struggle. "Why haven’t you died yet?"

Chang Suining approached, crouched down, and examined Chang Shi's emaciated, hate-filled face, and said with understanding, "It seems you're about to go mad... I remember your mother died from madness and harming others. It seems this illness runs in your family. No wonder Ming Jin is growing worse as he gets older."

Once a setback or frustration occurs, the symptoms of this condition inevitably appear.

Chang Shi’s expression shifted. "What are you talking about?!"

How could this lowly person know that her mother died from madness… Her father had kept this secret, not a soul knew, not even the emperor!

Chang Suining stood up without responding to her confusion.

The guards pulled Chang Shi off the ground, restraining her arms.

Chang Shi showed no fear on her face, instead, she sneered, "You think by catching me, you can save your brother? Foolish dream! Even if I die, I will never admit it. Don’t think you can use me to succeed!"

"You’re thinking too simply! You should know who truly wants your brother dead!" 

"No matter what you do, you can't save him... You can only watch him be executed!"

After saying this, Chang Shi seemed more pleased with herself. She was already a dead woman, so there was nothing to fear from falling into this lowly person's hands. She couldn’t kill her, but watching her suffer would be satisfying!

Faced with her vengeful words, Chang Suining looked at her with some curiosity. "Before all this, I had no deep enmity with you. Why do you hate me so much?"

This question suddenly ignited Chang Shi’s fury.

"You injured my son, who is certainly useless, but if not for the enmity beforehand, how would there have been that horse race incident? How could he have been injured so badly?" Chang Shi’s eyes were filled with hatred. "He started taking medicine recklessly because of this… otherwise, how could there have been the disaster in the maple forest behind the mountain?"

"All of this happened because of you!" Chang Shi ground her teeth. "You ruined my son!"

And because of that, you ruined everything for me!

Now you're still saying "no deep enmity"?! 

Chang Suining looked at her. "So this is how you, who consider yourselves noble and unassailable, explain things."

Chang Shi scoffed sarcastically, "There are thousands of ways to explain the world. What does it matter if you’re dissatisfied or resentful? Who cares about the reasoning of people like you? You were born lowly. Who would care about the reasoning of such lowly people?"

Although she was about to die, she still had the reasoning of the emperor on her side. No one could challenge that!

"Let you ants struggle all you want, no one will care, and no one will fear you!" Chang Shi taunted. "Even if you kill me now, I’m not afraid!"

"Do you still need me to kill you?" Chang Suining showed no sign of being provoked. She finally said, "You still have some use, so you can live a few more days. Before you die, you might as well see what the reasoning of us ants is."

After speaking, the young woman turned to leave, and Chang Shi was about to say more but was knocked unconscious by the guards.

Chang Suining and Cui Yuanxiang went to talk alone beneath the eaves of the temple.

"…The Grand General heard of the matter on the way and immediately ordered me to return to the capital to assist Miss Chang."

In fact, the Grand General had initially planned to return with them, but after riding several dozen miles, he stopped again.

Cui Yuanxiang explained this, "It’s not that the Grand General didn’t want to come back to the capital. It’s just that matters in Bingzhou can’t be delayed. And also, the Grand General said… you probably don’t want him to return."

Chang Suining fell into a moment of thought before nodding.

"Yes, my brother has me, and Bingzhou needs him more."

Rather than a blind, reckless attempt to help regardless of the situation, the wise and cautious Cui Jing made things easier for her and earned her respect.

If Cui Jing had returned to the capital and neglected Bingzhou, that kind of help would only have added pressure on her.

Cui Jing had clearly considered this and, knowing that he had helped her with many useless tasks in the past, chose to stay calm and only sent Cui Yuanxiang back.

"You didn’t need to rush back." Chang Suining said to Cui Yuanxiang. "I already have the Grand General’s bronze token in my hand, that’s enough."

"But the Grand General said you probably didn’t want him involved and wouldn’t use it…" Cui Yuanxiang said quietly. "When you were in danger earlier, you didn’t have many people with you, so you clearly didn’t use it."

"So, the Grand General ordered me to return and follow Miss Chang's instructions." Cui Yuanxiang continued, "The Grand General said that although he is away and doesn't know all the details, if Miss Chang's brother is in real danger, he would even go so far as to act as a prison break. The priority is to ensure Young Master Chang’s safety."

Hearing the words "prison break," Chang Suining couldn’t help but ask, "Is your Xuanzhe Manor really so lawless now?"

Cui Yuanxiang answered seriously, "Our Xuanzhe Manor is loyal to the Da Sheng Empire, loyal to justice and the rule of law. Young Master Chang, as a merit official and a member of the Xuanzhe Army, is wrongfully imprisoned. Xuanzhe Manor has the responsibility to rescue him!"

After a moment, Chang Suining nodded slightly.

This Xuanzhe Manor was indeed a good one.

"But the Grand General repeatedly emphasized that everything should be based on Miss Chang’s arrangement. Whatever you say, we will follow."

Chang Suining: "Good, after this matter is settled, please help me thank your Grand General."

After that, Chang Suining went to see the young, masked woman.

She tried her best to speed things up. Let's not fight yet o(╥﹏╥)o. There will be more updates later.

 Chapter 203: No Retreat, No Escape  

2023-05-30

Once everything was ready, just as Chang Suining was about to leave, she suddenly heard from her servant that Lord Yu had arrived.  

Though there were guards outside the Chang residence, they had no authority to interfere with or block visitors. Furthermore, the guest was the Chief Eunuch of the Imperial Palace.  

Chang Suining had already left her courtyard when she heard the news and went directly to the side hall to meet Yu Zeng.  

Upon seeing her attire, Yu Zeng motioned for the others to leave.  

"You're going out?" Yu Zeng frowned and asked, "What are you planning to do?"  

He was usually not kind toward others, but now, in such a critical situation, his narrow eyes seemed even colder and more oppressive.  

Chang Suining did not sit down but briefly replied, "I have some matters to attend to."  

"What danger are you planning to face again?" Yu Zeng’s eyes were filled with disapproval as he scolded, "Do you still not understand the current situation? Do you have to risk your own safety before you give up?"  

Chang Suining understood that his harsh words came from the concern of an elder, or at least most of them did.  

So, she didn’t argue but didn’t answer his question either. Instead, she asked, "Lord Yu, you entered through the main door today and didn’t try to hide your presence, so you must be here on the holy Emperor's orders?"  

Looking at the sharp and clear-eyed girl, Yu Zeng paused for a moment before responding, "Half of it is true."  

Recently, he had tested the holy Emperor's attitude, trying to secure a chance for Sui'an through the holy Emperor's influence. However, the holy Emperor had made it clear that there was no room for negotiation, and he knew that some paths were simply impossible to walk.  

That was why he came today to see this stubborn girl in person.  

It seemed the holy Emperor had expected him to make this visit and had even given him a message to convey:  

"That day, outside the Minister of Justice, you said you had found the true culprit. The Emperor has sent me to ask you: Do you know who the true culprit is? Do you have any evidence? If you do, you can accompany me to the palace and present it before the holy Emperor today." Yu Zeng delivered the message word for word.  

But he didn’t understand the holy Emperor’s intentions.  

Both sides already knew who the true culprit was. Since the holy Emperor’s decision had been made, why still need to hear it from this child’s mouth? Or perhaps there was something about this child that the holy Emperor cared about or feared?  

The sound of rain echoed outside the hall as Chang Suining lowered her gaze for a moment, hiding the emotions in her eyes.  

Was this her chance to prove her brother’s innocence?  

Both sides knew the truth, but how was she supposed to "prove" it? What kind of sincerity did she need to "move" the holy Emperor? For example, admitting that she was Li Shang?  

But even if she showed this "sincerity" and knelt to beg, what could she gain? Could she clear her brother’s name?  

Of course not.  

The best she could hope for from the holy Emperor was that they might show mercy and secretly grant her brother a way out, though his crime would still stand. He would die in front of everyone, but at least he might live on under another identity—  

And after that, the holy Emperor could use this small favor to control the people and things she cared about, as well as the natural constraints of their mother-daughter relationship, and gradually regain control over everything in her life.  

When Chang Suining raised her eyes again, she said to Yu Zeng, "I won’t go."  

If she had to choose, she would rather go to Li Lu; at least there would be no need to kneel and beg, wouldn’t there?  

Though it was still like walking into a trap, compared to the holy Emperor, Li Lu offered a better chance of escape.  

Yu Zeng looked at her.  

Chang Suining said, "Please tell the holy Emperor that I have no real evidence to present. What I said outside the Minister of Justice was just a lie to deceive people."  

Yu Zeng asked, "Is the Feng family woman still in your custody?"  

"Whether she is or not, it no longer matters," Chang Suining replied. "In any case, I won’t go to the palace. I fear I would either be detained or silenced."  

Hearing such direct words, Yu Zeng fell silent for a moment before saying, "Though I don’t understand the holy Emperor’s intentions, it’s probably best you don’t go."  

"What is the other half of your visit, then?" Chang Suining asked.  

"I went to the Minister of Justice before I came here," Yu Zeng's voice lowered. "After adding another 'witness,' Sui'an has been subjected to severe punishment in prison."  

Chang Suining clenched her fingers.  

Previously, the case had only involved "physical evidence," and since the case was being judged by Yao Yi, there hadn’t been any torture or forced confessions. But now...  

They were going to use severe torture to force her brother to confess.  

"Has my brother confessed?"  

Yu Zeng shook his head.  

Thinking of the young man’s bloodstained prison clothes, Yu Zeng said, "Sui'an’s nature is too straightforward... But if this continues, it will only cause him more suffering, and in the end, the crime will still fall on him."  

He looked at the young girl who had been standing there all along. "Sui Ning, the only person who might be able to persuade him now is you."

"So, Lord Yu wants me to convince my brother to confess?" she asked.

"This is a temporary measure," Yu Zeng lowered his voice even more. "Afterward, I will do everything I can to try to save Sui'an—"

"Is this one of those fake-death escape plans?" Chang Suining asked. "But the holy Emperor must have already taken precautions; this plan is most likely futile."

Besides the holy Emperor, there was also Li Lu, who could not be allowed to escape if they couldn’t control him.

She didn’t even know how much power Li Lu had in the capital, or where it was all hidden. In such a case, how could there be any chance of escaping?

It was a bigger net beyond the net.

"Yes, there’s no guarantee this plan will succeed," Yu Zeng did not try to deceive her, but rather told her plainly, "But this is the only way for Sui'an to survive."

The only way to survive was to retreat first, then escape?

Chang Suining remained silent for a moment.

"Whether it’s the battlefield or the court, wherever there’s a struggle for power, wherever the holy Emperor’s will points, those involved can only try to survive amidst the blades," Yu Zeng said. "Sui'an is so innocent. I know you feel unwilling, but before life and death, everything else is useless. When something must be sacrificed, it must be done in time, in order to preserve a chance of survival."

The girl’s face didn’t show if she was convinced or not. Instead, she asked, "Has Lord Yu ever sacrificed such ‘useless’ things?"

"I’ve sacrificed many things," Yu Zeng looked out through the hall’s window, his gaze slightly distant. "And it’s not just ‘useless’ things."

Chang Suining silently gripped the short sword scabbard hidden beneath her cloak, and after a moment, calmly let go.

The noise of the rain made the hall unusually quiet.

After a while, Chang Suining spoke, agreeing to Yu Zeng’s suggestion. "Alright, I’ll go."

Yu Zeng looked at her, as if trying to confirm the truth of her words.

Their eyes met, and the girl said, "I want my brother to live."

...

Not long after Yu Zeng left, Chang Suining, along with Chang Ren and the others, exited through the secret passage of the Chang residence.

This secret passage had been there for many years but had been abandoned for a long time. It was only recently that Chang Suining had had it reopened, in case the Chang residence was being monitored and they needed to act without being noticed.

Once they exited Xingning Alley, the rain started to lessen.

Listening to the patter of rain outside the carriage, Chang Suining’s mind suddenly flashed back to that rainy night when Chang Sui'an was practicing with a spear under the corridor.

At that time, Ah Dian had been by his side, and he had been preparing to join the Xuanzhe Army's elite unit.

Back then, she hadn’t felt particularly moved by the scene. 

Sometimes, when something happens or an image appears, people can’t immediately assess its significance. It’s only later, when it reappears as a memory, that its true value becomes clear—

At this moment, Chang Suining realized how precious that scene had been. What made it precious was the young man’s fervor, his hopes, his vibrant spirit, his determination, and his courage.

Now, all the injustices and wrongs were consuming and corrupting everything. One hand after another was trying to drag that young man, who had been prepared to fight on the battlefield, protect the people, and build a great cause, into the abyss.

...

"Two days have passed; it’s already been two days," Li Lu stood by the window, sighed softly, and muttered to himself. "It seems she has chosen another person to cooperate with..."

Could it be the Chang family?

It was rumored that the guards had failed to find the Feng family woman at the Chang residence… Had she been sent to the Changsun family?

Li Lu sighed again.

The Changsun family, who valued their own interests above all and regarded others as insignificant, was certainly not a group of kind-hearted and soft-hearted people.

They likely preferred to see Chang Sui'an wrongfully killed, so they could later use it to accuse the holy Emperor. If they could pass up on this opportunity for future gains just to save someone unrelated, they surely wouldn’t do it.

If the Changsun family had chosen them and discarded him, then the Chang lady was truly confused.

At least he truly wanted to save someone.

Li Lu gazed out at the misty rain, the scene of Chang Suining’s visit the other day flashing before his eyes. He couldn't help but feel that a woman like her wouldn't be so naïve or foolish.

Could it be that the cooperation with the Changsun family was a lie, a ploy to mislead him and confuse his attention?

But what exactly was she trying to do?

Thinking about the young woman’s consistently bold ways of acting, Li Lu couldn't help but wonder—was she planning a jailbreak?  

This idea had crossed Chang Suining’s mind before.

She had come up with many different plans, but the idea of a jailbreak was the first one to be rejected.

Such an action, akin to admitting guilt in advance, was the most reckless and desperate of strategies.

"Miss." As the carriage reached an intersection, Chang Ren, who was driving, spoke through the curtain, his tone questioning. "Are we going to the Minister of Justice?"

"No," Chang Suining replied.

Her brother hadn’t yet agreed, so she couldn’t persuade him to yield or act in his stead.

Everyone thought that at this moment, she and her brother should surrender, retreat, and escape—but perhaps, this was actually the perfect time to strike back.

Who said that, when faced with the holy Emperor's manipulation, one could only accept it, retreating with all their efforts, and not retaliate?

She and her brother were indeed at a disadvantage, and even with all available support, they lacked the strength to confront the holy Emperor head-on. However, where strength failed, strategy could prevail—by avoiding his strength, attacking his weaknesses, and catching him off guard.

Therefore, she would not retreat, nor escape. She would fight, she would strike.

Chang Suining opened her hand and looked at the half token in her palm. "Take me to Dengtai Tower."

She intended to use this token to strike a deal with Meng Lie.

Years ago, she had set up the precursor to Dengtai Tower in secret, as a means to transmit information covertly. This "information" wasn’t just for internal communication; it also involved investigating the private matters of the powerful families and officials in the capital.

In any power struggle, having sharp ears and eyes was essential to gaining an advantage.

Dengtai Tower had secret agents spread throughout the capital, with the importance of each agent classified. Though the Ming family wasn’t of the highest priority, in the spirit of fairness, two people had been placed there.

Without a doubt, Meng Lie had continued running his network, so the Ming family likely still had useful agents.

Now, she needed to borrow one of them.

To be cautious, she didn’t plan to meet Meng Lie directly; instead, she would show him the token and arrange for him to assist after the matter was settled. She would explain everything to him afterward—how things would go depended on the situation.

Meng Lie's intelligence network was independent of the Xuanzhe Mansion. To protect its secrecy, she had explicitly forbidden any identity exposure without her permission, and no one was allowed to intervene in any disputes.

Over the years, Meng Lie seemed to have adhered to this.

However, times had changed, and she had to be prepared for the possibility that Meng Lie’s loyalty had shifted. If he didn’t recognize the token, she would have a knife as a backup.

In any case, today she had to make use of the Ming family’s agents.

Only then could she smoothly carry out her plans.

As the carriage passed through a long street, Chang Ren’s alert voice came through to Chang Suining. "Miss, it seems someone is following us!"

Without lifting the curtain to look, she immediately ordered, "Change direction, head west."

She couldn’t afford to expose the Dengtai Tower or Meng Lie.

The carriage rumbled on, heading west. As they left the crowded residential area, a wide river appeared before them.

Chang Ren drove the carriage up the bridge when suddenly, two shadowy figures appeared—one on the left and one on the right. In the blink of an eye, they threw a horse entangling rope and secured it tightly at both ends of the bridge.

Chang Ren immediately reined in the horse, and it neighed as its front hooves reared up. The wet stone surface of the bridge was too slippery, and the carriage, uncontrollably, tilted backward.

At the same time, the young woman, with her dark hair pulled up, leapt out of the carriage, her short sword unsheathed. She landed on the bridge and swung the blade behind her, striking the black-clad man who had attempted to ambush her.

The razor-sharp blade pierced the man’s chest as easily as piercing paper. As Chang Suining pulled the sword back, warm blood spurted out.

Soon, more black-clad figures appeared.

Chang Suining hadn’t brought just Chang Ren with her; the guards who had been following them in secret also revealed themselves, and a battle broke out.

Chang Ren and the others were top-notch fighters, but there were only a dozen of them. On the other side, there were nearly a hundred men, skilled in combat, using deadly moves, clearly intending to kill Chang Suining.

"Protect the Miss!"

Chang Ren kicked a wounded black-clad man into the river, but immediately more men surrounded him, preventing his escape. He could only shout, "Hurry, escort the Miss away from here!"

Their deaths and injuries didn’t matter, but the Miss couldn’t be harmed!

Though Chang Suining was skilled in martial arts, she lacked the experience needed to deal with such ruthless opponents. A single misstep could lead to disaster!

Chang Suining was covered in blood. She didn’t seem to hear Chang Ren’s words and never retreated behind her guards.

When a black-clad man wielding a knife came at her, she didn’t step back. Instead, she kicked the weapon from his hand and tackled him to the ground. With her knee pinning him, she simultaneously slashed his throat with her short sword.

With blood staining her face, she raised her gaze and looked toward the leader of the black-clad men.

She had been observing for a while and knew that this man was their leader. Outnumbered and at a disadvantage, she needed to capture him.

The black-clad man quickly sensed her gaze. Their eyes met, and in an instant, he lunged at her.

Chang Suining grabbed a long knife from the ground, wielding both a short and long blade.

As they closed in on each other, a hidden arrow suddenly shot through the air from the side!

Chang Suining’s heart instantly became alert—was there a third party involved? 

Thanks to everyone for the votes and comments (づ￣3￣)づ Good night!

 Chapter 730: A Perfect Counterattack at the Trial (3)

As the distant crowing of roosters signaled the arrival of dawn, Xiao Ruiyuan, having made up his mind, clenched his fists. His eyes sparkled with an unusual intensity.

Everything was arranged. All that remained was to crush Prince Heng and the Lin family's conspiracy after dawn. Once the fraud case was resolved and both Prince Heng and the Lin family—two significant threats—were eliminated, he could propose to the Mo family without any worries. Even if people tried to oppose him, he would proudly declare that the lovely lady was the one he, Xiao Ruiyuan, admired!

……

In stark contrast to the harmonious atmosphere at the Wei Yuan Marquis' residence, the Prince Heng's manor was shrouded in a layer of ominous clouds.

Having stayed up all night, Prince Heng, with bloodshot eyes, glared intensely at the trembling Lin Dalao. His voice was as cold and menacing as a ghost emerging from hell. "Say it again!"

Lin Dalao, who was slightly plump, trembled even more, unsure whether he was frightened by Prince Heng's rage or by the impending disaster.

Despite the menacing presence of Prince Heng, Lin Dalao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and stuttered out his earlier statement. "Your Highness, your humble servant's man sent to set the fire did not, did not return."

"Bang!"

Prince Heng slammed his hand on the table, breaking the corner with a loud crack. His eyes, bloodshot with anger, fixed on Lin Dalao with contempt, completely disregarding that this was his maternal grandfather. He harshly berated him. "Useless fool, you can't even handle this simple task. I should never have entrusted it to you, a worthless person."

Lin Dalao, insulted by his grandson, felt deeply humiliated but dared not show any dissatisfaction. He hurriedly argued, "Your humble servant has investigated. The Ministry of Justice did not catch the arsonist, and he was a skilled assassin trained by me. Even if captured, he wouldn't confess to being sent by us. The situation may not be as dire as we feared."

"Hmph, at this point, you're still making excuses for your stupidity!" Prince Heng said coldly, showing no sympathy for Lin Dalao's optimism. "I don't want to argue with you. Send someone immediately to find him, especially in the Crown Prince’s residence. If found, kill him at once. He must not be allowed to testify against me."

If the man trained for years did not return after the arson, it meant he had been captured. Regardless, he could not be allowed to live.

"Your humble servant will carry out the order," Lin Dalao said, shivering all over and nodding submissively.

While Lin Dalao was bowing his head, Prince Heng vanished from the study like a gust of wind. Lin Dalao waited for a while, and finding Prince Heng absent, he was shocked and hurried outside to search for him, but found no trace. He wanted to ask someone, but there was no one available. The servants of the manor had mostly gone to rest, and no one knew where Prince Heng had gone.

As he thought about possible locations where Prince Heng might have gone, Lin Dalao's eyes lit up, and he rushed towards the Lin family estate...

At dawn, the scholars gathered again at the palace gate, having learned about the fire in the Ministry of Justice’s prison last night. The main suspect in the fraud case had nearly perished in the blaze.

These scholars were not fools and quickly deduced that the fire was deliberately set to kill and silence someone. The anger among them was palpable. Whether they had passed or failed the exams, they all knelt at the palace gate, demanding an immediate trial to punish the perpetrators and restore the integrity of the examination process.

Many who had previously believed in the Crown Prince Chu Heng's innocence began to doubt him after this incident. After all, the primary suspect in the fraud case was Chu Heng. If he wasn’t guilty, why would he send someone to infiltrate the prison and eliminate witnesses?

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 729: A Perfect Counterattack at the Trial (2)

"Thank you for sparing me the punishment!" An Jiu, who had narrowly avoided a penalty, quickly kowtowed in gratitude. He then looked up, puzzled, and asked Xiao Ruiyuan, "Master, since the arsonist is a secret assassin trained by the Lin family, and since the attack was aimed at Master Mo, why didn’t he just eliminate Master Mo directly and then set the fire to destroy the evidence? Instead, he made a lot of noise after starting the fire, which allowed people to notice. Why was that?"

Seeing his subordinate ask such a foolish question, Xiao Ruiyuan's face darkened. He turned to Xiao Shiyi, who had been smirking, and said, "You explain it to him! If he remains so foolish in the future, it's on you to deal with him!"

Xiao Shiyi's face stiffened, and he reluctantly accepted the task. He looked at An Jiu, who was kneeling with a gleam of mischief in his eyes, and gritted his teeth in annoyance, taking An Jiu away for a "reeducation."

With two people gone, the already quiet study became even more serene.

Xiao Ruiyuan, feeling somewhat weary, rubbed his forehead and went to the window. He opened it, letting in the soft moonlight that illuminated his nearly perfect profile.

Under the eaves opposite, Xiao Shiyi was instructing An Jiu in a somewhat exaggerated manner, "The fire set by Prince Heng was meant to create a false impression of murder and cover-up, framing the Crown Prince as the mastermind behind the fraud case. This would make people believe even more strongly that the Crown Prince is responsible for the scandal. It doesn’t matter whether Master Mo is tried or not. Even a child could understand this. How come you didn’t get it? Really, your thick head is frustrating!"

Annoyed by the "thick head" remark, An Jiu retorted, "Just because you’re so smart! If you were really that capable, who was it that sent the weakest brothers to protect Miss Mo and got their buttocks beaten by the master? Why didn’t you see the master’s intentions back then? You were always by the master’s side!"

The memory of being punished for his mistakes was a dark history for Xiao Shiyi, and being reminded of it by An Jiu made him furious. His eyes darkened with rage, and he nearly lunged at An Jiu.

An Jiu, feeling vindicated, took great pleasure in the situation and continued, "Back then, I immediately saw that the master had a special interest in Miss Mo. Yet, you chose the weakest brothers for her protection. Wasn’t that doubting the master’s feelings for her? The punishment you received was meant to teach you a lesson not to think with your backside. Looks like it worked, huh!"

Seeing An Jiu becoming more insistent, Xiao Shiyi couldn’t take it anymore and punched An Jiu in the stomach. "You’re so mouthy, you think you’re so clever. You let your brother’s butt get beaten and act like you don’t care about our years of shared hardship..."

Unprepared for the punch, An Jiu was hit squarely, and his anger flared up. He started fighting with Xiao Shiyi.

As they fought and argued, their conversation revolved around who truly had the "thick head," and inevitably, they began discussing their master and Miss Mo’s past.

They recounted almost every detail from their acquaintance until now, occasionally interspersing their conversation with sentimental phrases like "destined by fate" and "a match made in heaven."

Xiao Ruiyuan stood quietly by the bed, bathed in moonlight. His face, softened by the gentle light, reflected on the experiences he had shared with Yan’er.

He earnestly recalled their past together, a faint smile unconsciously forming at the corners of his mouth.

Since their relationship was "destined by fate," wouldn’t it be better to let Uncle Mo know sooner? He really couldn’t wait any longer!

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 728: A Perfect Counterattack at the Trial (1)

At midnight on November 14th, a sudden fire broke out in the depths of the Ministry of Justice's prison, destroying three old rooms. Fortunately, the deepest part only held one suspect related to the examination fraud case, and the fire was detected in time by patrolling prison guards. They quickly extinguished the flames and rescued the suspect, who had been overcome by smoke.

The head jailer, not daring to be negligent, immediately reported the fire. The Ministry of Justice officials conducted an overnight investigation and discovered fire-starting tools left by the arsonist. Other prisoners confirmed hearing noises outside the prison, mistakenly thinking it was a routine patrol, and thus did not pay much attention until the fire started.

The Ministry of Justice officials interrogated thirty prison guards overnight. The guards all claimed they had not entered the prison at midnight and had evidence proving their absence from the scene, leading to an initial conclusion that the fire was arson related to the high-profile examination fraud case.

Since the case involved examination fraud, it was beyond the scope of a mere Ministry of Justice official to handle. The official did not wait until dawn but went directly to the residence of the Ministry of Justice Deputy Minister to report the full details.

Upon hearing the report, the Deputy Minister immediately washed and dressed, and hurriedly reported the incident to the Minister of Justice. Sensing the unusual nature of the situation, the Minister of Justice, before the morning court session, rushed to the palace to meet with Emperor Huian.

After hearing the details, Emperor Huian was enraged and ordered the Ministry of Justice to assist the Jingzhao Prefecture in thoroughly investigating the arson case, capturing the true culprit, and meting out severe punishment.

Compared to the turmoil caused by the fire at the Ministry of Justice, the Wei Yuan Marquis’ residence appeared exceptionally serene under the moonlight, exuding an indescribable sense of beauty.

Since the second son, Xiao Ruiqing, was expelled from the capital and sent back to his ancestral home, Wei Yuan Marquis Xiao Xiong had severed ties with his eldest son, Xiao Ruiyuan. Although they had not completely cut off father-son relations, they had become estranged.

Three days after the expulsion of his beloved son, Xiao Xiong and his wife, Wei Shi, moved to a villa on the outskirts of the capital and had not responded to any correspondence for months. They subtly implied that the eldest son was unfilial and had driven out his half-brother while forcing his father and stepmother to live away from the mansion.

The high society of the capital was well aware of the conflicts within the Wei Yuan Marquis' family. Compared to the ineffective and disgraced Xiao Xiong, they were more inclined to associate with the promising and flourishing Xiao Ruiyuan. Who cared about his alleged unfilial behavior? Especially after Chu Heng's poison was cured, numerous people sought to befriend Xiao Ruiyuan.

Many families with eligible daughters viewed Xiao Ruiyuan as an ideal match and attempted to arrange marriages, but found it difficult to even enter the Wei Yuan Marquis’ residence. Those who managed to enter were told that Xiao Ruiyuan was away, having been recently dispatched by Emperor Huian to protect the Crown Prince at the Jing Mountain villa and rarely returning to the residence.

Although Xiao Ruiyuan was aware of the matchmaking attempts, he was indifferent. In his heart, only the woman he loved could be the future mistress of the marquis' house.

At this time, Xiao Ruiyuan had not slept and was in his study, listening to the report from An Jiu about the prison fire. When he heard that Mo Qingze had been overcome by smoke, his expression darkened, and he looked at An Jiu with a hint of displeasure.

Realizing his master’s dissatisfaction, An Jiu hastily knelt and apologized, "I failed to protect Master Mo. It is my negligence. Please punish me as you see fit!"

No one had expected Prince Heng and others to resort to such a tactic. Although An Jiu had discovered and captured the arsonist in time, the fact that Mo Qingze was affected by the smoke was undeniable. He felt he had let down his master and deserved punishment.

Xiao Ruiyuan coldly regarded An Jiu and said, "Given that you captured the arsonist and made up for your failure, I will let this pass this time. But do not let it happen again!"

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 1588: Profits or Losses in the End

When Luji was about an hour away from closing, there was another small peak in customers. Many workers on their way home rushed over.

Among them was the person who had been talking to Shu Yu about the banners in the morning. He had said he would come back in the evening, and he actually did.

Coincidentally, he was the one who won the last first prize.

Shu Yu thought he would choose the golden hairpin, but to her surprise, he picked the double-sided embroidery.

After the first prize was gone, some people were disappointed for a while, but they regained their spirits and continued the lucky draw. After all, there were still second, third, and fourth prizes.

By the time the last third prize was drawn, it was already dark outside.

The number of guests outside decreased, and Shu Yu told them the truth – only consolation prizes were left.

Upon hearing this, some guests left, but others stayed and continued.

There were still some popcorn left, so Shu Yu decided to give everyone a large portion.

Finally, when the last guest left, everyone let out a long sigh of relief.

"Finally, we're done." Da Niu slumped on a chair at the back, closing his eyes to rest for a while.

He had been through hardships, but the tension of the whole day was really exhausting.

Shu Yu was tired too, but her mood was still good. She leaned on the counter and looked at Meng Yunzheng, who was calculating, and said, "Take a break, we can settle the accounts later."

Meng Yunzheng smiled and replied, "I'm not tired, we'll know today's profits soon."

"Okay, then you continue." She turned to Wei Ronghua and said, " shopkeeper Wei, take everyone to the restaurant across the street and order some late-night snacks. Everyone has worked hard all day and needs a good rest after eating. Bring back two portions for us when you come back."

Apart from Wei Ronghua, the others would all find a place to rest in the backyard.

Wei Fangfang was young, so Shu Yu had asked her to leave early. Helping out occasionally was fine, but after a whole day's work, it wasn't fair to exploit child labor.

Wei Ronghua nodded and called the others, "Let's go, let's go eat something across the street."

Everyone hurriedly left the shop.

The spacious Luji store was now almost empty. Not only were the goods almost gone, but the number of people also reduced to only two – Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng. It suddenly became quite deserted.

Shu Yu went to the back of the counter and sat next to Meng Yunzheng.

Both of them remained silent, one calculating and the other observing, giving the scene a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

Meng Yunzheng was meticulous in his work. After calculating once, he double-checked everything.

Once he was sure, he wrote down the results and pushed the paper in front of Shi Yuyu with a smile, "It seems like this event went well."

Shi Yuyu looked at the final figures on the paper and raised an eyebrow, "This much?"

Three hundred fifty-seven taels, three maces, and six candareens??

This was the pure profit, excluding labor costs and the cost of the lottery prizes.

"Ah Yu, how did we do?" People started to trickle in from outside.

Shi Yuyu raised her head, "You guys are too quick. Didn't I tell you to go and have a good meal?"

Wei Ronghua helplessly said, "We all want to know whether we made a profit or a loss today."

After all, those prizes weren't cheap, and most of the people who bought sunflower seeds directly went for the lottery once they got two hundred coins.

Shi Yuyu didn't keep them guessing and smiled, "Naturally, we made a profit."

Everyone's eyes lit up, "How much?"