The crowd of commoners surging in soon surrounded the gate of the Cui residence so tightly that not even water could pass through.

They actually knew nothing of the struggles within the officialdom of Yiling, only that the Governor was the head of a prefecture, a great official; when one had grievances, naturally one should seek the greatest official to appeal to.

So one after another cried, “Let Lord Cui make decisions for the common people,” “Please, Lord Cui, go save Miss Zheng.”

Although Cui Shiyong was born into the Liyang Cui clan, a family of four generations and three grand ministers, his political achievements throughout his life were mediocre. When had he ever been so surrounded and looked upon with such expectation by the people?

“…Everyone, do not be anxious. I shall go at once and will certainly do my utmost.”

Cui Shiyong’s beard was grizzled, his brows and eyes kind; at this moment his eyes were slightly red, his face full of compassion. To a passerby unaware of the truth, he looked precisely like a prefect who loved the people as his own children.

Seeing the commoners crowding around Cui Shiyong as he walked away, Xuan Ying silently shook her head:

“To move because of profit—how is that different from a corrupt official? The corrupt one covets money, he covets reputation. To the people, there is not half a bit of benefit. Truly one who occupies his position and eats his salary in vain.”

Xuan Ying looked toward the princess beside her.

“However, it is also thanks to the prefect of Yiling being such a mediocre and talentless man that the Princess can more easily control Yiling Prefecture.”

Lizhu was warily watching Pei Zhaoye on the roof opposite, afraid he might make the slightest move.

It took her quite a while to react to what Xuan Ying had said.

She said in astonishment, “Why would I want to control Yiling Prefecture?”

Xuan Ying’s smile froze slightly:

“…Could it be that the Princess did not have such an intention, and yet caused such a great commotion, even making use of the Danzhu sisters together?”

“I only wanted Cui Shiyong to agree to open the granaries and release grain to relieve the famine in Yanshan.”

Lizhu looked at her in utmost shock, even with a trace of grievance in her eyes.

“Besides, hasn’t Danzhu always had trouble meeting her elder sister? After such a scene, in the future Danzhu can also openly interact with her sister—Xuan Ying, do I seem such a bad person in your eyes?”

The Princess pressed her lips tightly together, the corners of her mouth drooping, her expression pitiable; seeing it, Xuan Ying did not know whether to laugh or cry.

No wonder she had wondered why the Princess suddenly became so enlightened, loosening her hands and feet to meddle in politics.

So it turned out to be unintentional willows that grew into shade.

Xuan Ying half embraced Lizhu, helping her onto the sedan chair, soothing her a little, and before departing, added another sentence:

“…Even if the Princess wished to bring Yiling into her grasp, and for that made use of others, that still cannot be called bad.”

Lizhu blinked: “That isn’t called bad? If I were a prince, that would be equivalent to seizing a region for myself; the next step, my imperial father would have to suspect that I intend to usurp his throne.”

Xuan Ying walked beside the sedan chair, seemingly speaking casually:

“That still isn’t bad—only called ambitious. The Princess has read the histories thoroughly, does she not know that when the court is overturned, eunuchs hold power, the Son of Heaven’s authority fails to carry, the next step is always the rise of warlords; even ignorant men of the fields dare covet the divine artifact. Princess, think about it—how can that be called bad?”

“Xuan Ying,” Lizhu was silent for a moment, “these words are rather treasonous. They may only be said to me; you must not let others know.”

Xuan Ying smiled and said, “Naturally, I will only say them to the Princess.”

Their conversation was truly terrifying.

Pei Zhaoye spoke of rebellion at every turn, and now even Xuan Ying began to speak of coveting the divine artifact.

Lizhu’s heart for a moment beat extremely fast.

She looked up, watching Cui Shiyong’s back ahead, and thought of that conversation with him just now in the inner room.

——In my life, this minister has been dull and ignorant, never having done even half a deed for the common people. Now I am growing old and frail, and the more I think of it, the deeper my regret. The Princess has granted this minister a fine opportunity; I am moved to tears with gratitude and will certainly exhaust all my strength to assist the Princess.

Something about it did not seem quite right.

Was that what he meant?

But she had only wanted to borrow some grain.

Wait wait wait.

Lizhu could not help but touch the bronze tiger tally in her bosom.

With military authority, with the full support of a prefect of a prefecture, and she was still going around arranging grain.

……This perhaps could not be blamed entirely on Xuan Ying for overthinking.

A great panic enveloped Lizhu’s heart; if she were not seated in the sedan chair, perhaps her legs would have gone so weak she could not stand straight.

Would the people in the palace think so as well? And Father, Father……

Lizhu thought of that face that always looked at her with affection.

That face twisted in her mind, overlapping with the emperors in the history books who feared their sons would rebel, turned against them, and cruelly executed them.

Would Father think of her in the same way?

At the thought of that possibility Lizhu felt like crying.

Amidst the turmoil of her mind, Cui Shiyong had already stepped into the official hall amid the people’s channel of welcome.

Those officials who had been clamoring to resign were now also watching coldly from the crowd.

Did they not know Cui Shiyong’s capabilities?

Who would have thought he would wade into this muddied water, he who valued his official reputation most?

Yet once he opened his mouth and mentioned the years of Yuanjia, that old case of a son killing in revenge for his mother, everyone present changed color.

“……In the years of Yuanjia, at that time there was a man in northern Huai whose mother was robbed and killed; the county government was incompetent and never captured the murderer, until that man personally solved the case and brought the murderer to the office.”

“Unexpectedly, the murderer bribed the officials in charge of punishment and prison, was lightly sentenced and spared the gallows. That man was furious; on the day the murderer was released from prison he personally killed the murderer, avenging his mother.”

Under everyone’s gaze Cui Shiyong recounted slowly:

“On that day’s case the court debated for days; some thought the law must not be broken, the killer must die. If everyone killed and burned for private grudges, then what use is the law?”

“However, law is not without regard for human affairs. Zheng Danzhu and that man who killed were not for themselves, but to avenge their relatives. Zheng Zhuqing once reported to the yamen, but reported to no door, and thus the evil result was brewed. The guilt lies not with the killer, but with the officials who derelicted duty and perverted the law; it was he who forced the good to take the blade to seek justice for themselves and their family!”

At this moment Lin Zhang also rose, and respectfully saluted Cui Shiyong:

“Thanks to the timely reminder of the Prefect, since there is such a precedent, and precedent to follow, then it will be much easier to judge.”

Below the hall Zhao Weizhen listened to these words, listened to the surging cheers at his ear.

Those shouts of approval were like death spells, beating in waves, pushing him step by step toward a dead end.

Zhao Weizhen said, “Cui Shiyong, I am the Assistant Prefect of a thousand-shi rank. You want this little thing in the hall to sentence me to death? Impossible. My life—only the Court can…”

“Of course we must memorialize the Court and state the matter clearly!”

Cui Shiyong’s pair of turbid, bluish-white eyes suddenly turned toward the officials outside the door watching the commotion.

In the past few days he had already heard the rumors that the remonstrance ministers at court had impeached the Princess for meddling in politics.

It was precisely because the Princess had borne the pressure and used her military power to suppress Zhao Weizhen’s faction that today’s case could be fought out so thoroughly.

The Princess of Qinghe must not fall.

Cui Shiyong suddenly said:

“Not only I—together with Lin Zhang, the Judicial Administrator Lin Jue, and the other officials of six-hundred-shi rank and above, we will all jointly memorialize the throne, to return justice to the Zheng sisters, and at the same time dismiss those officials who neglected their duties!”

Meeting the expectant gazes of the surrounding commoners, the officials at once realized something was wrong.

What did this mean?

Didn’t it mean that they must either join in the memorial, or become those jointly memorialized against and dismissed?

They had resigned before only out of deference to the prestige of the Tan clan of Wan Prefecture.

The officialdom’s networks of personal ties were intricate; today they had given face to the Tan clan— even if they resigned, with a casual recommendation from Tan, it would not be hard to rise again, perhaps even to a higher post.

But now, the matter of the Zheng sisters had become so enormous.

If they were again denounced to the Court by Prefect Cui Shiyong in a public memorial, their reputations would be ruined—how could they continue to serve as officials in the future?

“…The Prefect speaks truly—memorialize, we must memorialize.”

“Yes, yes, such a great injustice—if we do not redress the people’s grievances, how could we have the face to hold office? …In a moment I shall return to the office and draft the document myself!”

One man leapt out, and the rest followed one after another.

Now no one spoke of resignation—on the contrary they scrambled forward, eager to rush back to the offices to relieve the people’s troubles.

On the hall, with the Prefect’s backing, Lin Zhang finally dared to let go and render judgment.

The Pei brothers—forcing the good into prostitution, bribing and extorting on behalf of officials, seizing land for noble families, murdering countless people—

All executed.

Zhao Weizhen’s faction of seven—corruption and bribery, forming cliques for private gain, hoarding vast wealth, and many homicide cases in their hands.

Though they could not be executed by him, the dossiers Lin Zhang had compiled over several nights by lamplight with his colleagues could fill an entire cart.

When sent to Luoyang, if they were not sentenced to death, it would be strange.

How could the citizens of the city know the twists within?

They only saw Zheng Danzhu released from her cangue on the spot, and Zhao Weizhen’s faction all imprisoned, and regarded all the officials present as good officials who spoke for the people.

For a time the hearts of the people were stirred, praises unending, shouts ceaseless.

It was as if officials and people were one family, deep as fish and water.

Danzhu looked at the tall man removing her cangue, smiling brightly, and said:

“I just heard your voice shouting outside. Usually you speak softly—this is the first time I’ve heard you speak so loudly… was it for me?”

The young eunuch’s face flushed red. “It was for the Princess.”

“For your Princess, of course—that’s natural. But not even a little bit for me? I don’t believe that.”

Danzhu tilted her head, staring straight at him.

Chang Jun: “…”

Completely unable to withstand her, the young man fled in a panic.

Zheng Zhuqing patted Danzhu’s hand. “How can you be rude to someone by the Princess’s side?”

Danzhu grinned, showing her teeth. “Don’t you think it’s fun? Just as fun as his fragrant Princess. It’s a pity I can’t play with the Princess, so I can only play with him.”

“…Who do you want to play with?”

Still sitting on the ground, Danzhu looked up and met a pair of pitch-black eyes.

“Hehe, Mountain Lord, I told you there was no need to break into the prison. Since the Princess made me squat in the dungeon, she’d definitely get me out. I heard the Princess even wrote a poem for me? That good? I bet the Princess has never written one for you, huh?”

Pei Zhaoye: “…Gu Bing’an, bring the pomelo leaves and lash her.”

Gu Bing’an, already prepared with pomelo leaves, could not help but laugh as he stepped forward.

Danzhu was released from her cangue and prison, and the entire Hongye Stronghold was full of joy and celebration.

And it wasn’t because they had broken her out—it was because she had swaggered straight out through the front gates of the yamen.

The bandits, beaming with delight, stood outside the yamen gate, already discussing holding a grand banquet at Hongye Stronghold tonight.

“Mountain Lord,” someone said softly to Pei Zhaoye, “if we invite the Princess to attend the feast, do you think she’ll give us the honor?”

Pei Zhaoye glanced at him, raised his hand, and patted his face lightly—though not gently—his smile somewhat cold.

“Don’t think I don’t know that you people didn’t have this expression when you were cursing the Princess behind her back.”