After they left, one of the stewards from He’s mansion stood behind him and softly asked, “Young Master, do you want to follow and see?”

Fu Yubai said in a low voice, “Of course, I have to go.”

He delayed for a while before leaving.

After exiting the mansion, he found no trace of Wen Yuesheng.

He vaguely remembered that she had ordered the soldiers to take He Qian to the governor’s yamen before riding there herself.

By the time he arrived, the area outside the yamen was already crowded with people.

The common folk had heard that Wen Yue Sheng was going to publicly try He Qian, the wealthiest man in Fuzhou, and had come to watch the spectacle.

Fu Yubai stood in the crowd, his expression unreadable.

He had just stopped when Wen Yuesheng, whom he had briefly met at He’s mansion, appeared.

She had changed into a light golden robe and was sitting behind the official desk in the yamen.

After the officials in Fuzhou were purged, all the yamen staff had been replaced by Wen Yue Sheng’s people.

The atmosphere was solemn.

He Qian was pressed to the ground, and beside him, another rich merchant, Lu Ping, was kneeling.

There were only a few well-known rich merchants in Fuzhou, and among them, He’s mansion and Lu’s mansion were the wealthiest, so the common folk knew them well.

He Qian had already witnessed Wen Yuesheng’s methods in He’s mansion and dared not speak up.

Lu Ping, on the other hand, immediately shouted in grievance after kneeling.

“Princess, I’m just a small merchant. I don’t know what crime I’ve committed to be treated this way.” Lu Ping cried out loudly, “I’m innocent!”

“Slap!” Yan Wei, sitting below Wen Yuesheng, threw a ledger directly in front of him.

“This was found in your mansion. It’s the ledger of bribes to Fuzhou officials you’ve been paying for years.”

Lu Ping’s expression turned ugly. “Please, Princess, how could this be found in my house? I don’t know anything about it!”

“I’ve been in business, but I’ve never done such a thing! Someone must be framing me!”

“Evidence and witnesses are both here. You still dare to deny it!” Yan Wei shouted angrily.

The officials Wen Yuesheng had captured had confessed to many things under interrogation, and Wen Yuesheng had entrusted Yan Wei with the thorough investigation.

With the evidence in his hands, Yan Wei could have sentenced these men to death.

For people like them—rascals—Yan Wei would normally handle them.

The reason Wen Yue Sheng personally handled today’s trial was not for the bribery cases.

Lu Ping continued to cry in grievance.

The common folk of Fuzhou were not completely unaware of the deeds they had committed, and now seeing the solid evidence, they still cried injustice, which made the crowd despise them.

Wen Yuesheng said, “Since you deny it, drag him down and give him forty strokes of the heavy punishment. Stop when he admits it.”

The entire courtroom fell silent.

Lu Ping froze. He had little understanding of Wen Yuesheng but had seen her as just a beautiful young woman, so he didn’t take her seriously.

He didn’t expect her to act so ruthlessly.

Her subordinates were all military officers, and with forty strokes, Lu Ping might lose his life.

But it was too late for him to change his tune.

Lu Ping was dragged away, and outside, the sound of the wooden board hitting his body echoed with loud thwacks—each strike was painful, causing He Qian to tremble in fear.

Before he could react, a soldier reported, “Report to the Princess, the person has died.”

Slap.

He Qian’s whole body went limp, nearly collapsing to his knees.

He had been running his business in Fuzhou for many years and had never seen an official like this.

One strike, and the person was beaten to death.

He was drenched in cold sweat, trembling all over, too afraid to turn back to look at Lu Ping.

Just when He Qian was about to break down, Wen Yuesheng spoke up, “He Qian, you conspired with Han Ke and others to frame the former Fuzhou Assistant Magistrate Fu Yuan and former Qiongshan Pass General Zhou Hai.”

“You accused them of embezzling and accepting bribes, seized the Fu family’s assets, and caused the death of Fu Yuan. Do you admit it or not?”

The entire area outside the yamen was in an uproar.

Fu Yubai, who was standing among the crowd, heard people around him talking:

“That Assistant Magistrate, was he really framed?”

“…I knew something was wrong. I met that magistrate before. He was clearly a kind and good man.”

“If the Princess hadn’t come, wouldn’t Fu Daren have been unjustly wronged?”

Not just wronged.

Fu Yubai lowered his head, clenching and relaxing his hand at his side repeatedly.

His father had always been an upright official, known for his integrity.

After being transferred to Fuzhou, he had been diligent, never slackening for even a day.

But because he refused to associate with Han Ke, Han Ke conspired with He Qian, bribed the servants in his house, and hid stolen silver.

His mother was strict in managing the household, so the stolen silver they hid wasn’t much.

When He Qian reported Fu Yuan for embezzling, Han Ke ordered a house search, and they found only a few hundred taels of stolen silver.

Yet they used this small amount of silver to take his father’s life!

His father was killed, his mother passed away, and he and his young sister were left as disgraced relatives of a criminal.

He was subjected to all kinds of humiliation, and his sister was sent to the brothel.

Han Ke, not caring about what he did, even used his sister to blackmail him, forcing him to become his male concubine.

He endured humiliation for his sister and entered Han Ke’s mansion, but on the first day, he drugged Han Ke, rendering him impotent.

He then secretly investigated for a long time and eventually found evidence that Han Ke had framed his father.

He kept the evidence, and after much effort, found someone to help him present the evidence to the capital.

Unexpectedly, the evidence fell into the hands of the imperial censor, Kong Rui.

Kong Rui was already colluding with Han Ke, and when his actions were exposed, Han Ke nearly beat him to death in his rage.

It was one of He Qian’s servants who had saved him.

The servant persuaded He Qian to get him out of Han Ke’s hands, and he barely survived in He’s mansion.

But the longer he stayed, seeing the wealth and luxury in He’s mansion, the more he couldn’t bear to see how his father had died with a bad reputation, unable to rest in peace. Eventually, he couldn’t endure any longer.

Before the feast at He Qian’s mansion today, he had already made up his mind.

If the court and the emperor could not clear his father’s name, he would do it himself.

With Han Ke dead, no matter what, he had to make He Qian atone for his father’s death.

But sadly, the evidence he held had been completely destroyed by Kong Rui, and in his lifetime, it would be hard to clear his father’s name.

As for his own life or death, he didn’t care.

He was prepared for death, but he didn’t expect He Qian to suddenly ask him to host a guest, nor did he expect that the Princess, whom he had thought was like the corrupt officials and Kong Rui, would bring He Qian to justice before he had even acted.

Fu Yubai stood there, staring at the thin figure, his vision blurred.

Inside the yamen, He Qian, hearing Wen Yuesheng’s words, trembled and said, “I… I didn’t know…”

“Didn’t know?” Wen Yue Sheng looked down at him, her eyes cold. “Li Qingyuan.”

The soldier in armor rushed in, and He Qian, frightened out of his wits, quickly shouted, “Yes, yes!”

“It was me! I did it!” He was so terrified that tears and snot mixed, and he kept bowing deeply to Wen Yuesheng, “It was all Han Ke’s threat. He forced me to plant the stolen silver in the Fu mansion and hide the gold and silver in General Zhou Hai’s residence.”

“Because they refused to join Han Ke, he wanted to kill them! I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong!”

He Qian racked his brain, only wanting to save his life, and even confessed every card he had held onto.

“The commoner still has the petition he wrote at the time of the report, ordered by Han Ke, as well as the confiscated calligraphy and paintings of Fu Yuan, along with his handwriting. I humbly ask the princess for mercy, and spare my life!”

He Qin tremblingly handed over the evidence he always kept hidden inside his clothes.

Yan Wei took it and nodded to Wen Yue Sheng.

With the testimony and evidence in hand, the matter of Fu Yuan and Zhou Hai could finally be cleared of its injustice.

Seeing this, He Qin breathed a long sigh of relief, thinking that his actions had saved his life.

But the next moment, Wen Yuesheng spoke coldly, “The charges are established. Drag him out and execute him immediately.”

He Qin froze in place.

The soldiers next to him immediately dragged him away.

Fu Yubai raised his head, and after the heavy snow, he noticed that the gloomy sky had cleared up for the first time that day.

As the sunlight appeared, the citizens around cheered in joy.

Among the crowd, he saw the executioner raise his knife and bring it down.

Crack.

The nightmare that had tormented him for many years finally ended at that moment.

As he watched, a tear rolled down his cheek, crystal clear and burning hot.

With the weather clearing up, Wen Yuesheng executed two leading wealthy merchants.

After He Qin and Lu Ping’s deaths, the grain prices in Fuzhou almost immediately returned to normal.

The snow-covered roads were also cleared.

Wen Yuesheng had cleaned up all the corrupt officials in Fuzhou and was about to return to the capital.

Upon hearing that she was leaving Fuzhou, the entire city’s people were reluctant to part with her.

Early in the morning, groups of citizens began delivering gifts to the Governor’s mansion.

Though the officials were all despicable, the people were simple-hearted. Their way of showing gratitude was often by sending a few chickens or a basket of eggs.

Some small merchants, who had been troubled by the corrupt businessmen like He Qin and Lu Ping, also offered their best items.

They were all sincerely thankful.

Because everyone knew that if it weren’t for Wen Yue Sheng’s intervention, they might not have had a good New Year.

From that day forward, the people of Fuzhou spoke highly of Princess Si Ning.

However, Wen Yuesheng didn’t accept any of the gifts from the citizens.

Before leaving, she had a final meeting with Fu Yubai.

As the evening approached, the army had already formed ranks, and the carriages were waiting on the side.

Wen Yuesheng came out from the Governor’s mansion and saw Fu Yubai holding an eight- or nine-year-old girl by the hand, carrying two bundles of luggage.

She paused and asked, “What are you doing?”

Fu Yubai blushed slightly, “I… I am going back to the capital with the princess.”

Zhou Manniang, who was beside Wen Yue Sheng, was stunned at first, then nearly burst out laughing.

He truly thought that He Qin had sent him to Wen Yue Sheng!

The little girl next to Fu Yubai, with bright eyes, looked up at Wen Yue Sheng.

Before leaving, she had heard her brother mention that the most beautiful woman in the crowd was their benefactor.

Fu Yuan’s blood feud was avenged, and Fu Yubai didn’t know how to repay Wen Yue Sheng’s kindness. After thinking about it, he decided to leave with her.

Whether as a servant or something else, he was willing.

To his surprise, Wen Yuesheng replied, “Go back and study.”

Fu Yubai was stunned.

He remembered that before Fu Yuan’s downfall, he had already obtained the title of scholar.

Yes.

And he had been the top scorer in his first attempt.

But after the fall of the Fu family, he became the son of a traitor and had no chance to take the imperial exams again.

For Fu Yubai, passing the imperial exams seemed like something from a past life.

“At seventeen, you should indeed focus on studying,” Zhou Manniang added with a smile.

Wen Yuesheng’s expression remained cold: “The Fu family’s old house has been unsealed, and there are compensations, enough for you and your sister to live on.”

“Go home,” she said, then entered the carriage.

Fu Yubai stood dazed for a moment, instinctively wanting to follow.

But Zhou Manniang blocked his way with a smile.

“Young Master Fu, the princess does not keep idle people by her side,” she said, looking at the young man’s dazed face and chuckling softly, “You’re young, famous, and well-versed in poetry. Now that the Fu family’s name has been cleared, if you truly wish to thank the princess, why not focus on your studies and take the exams?”

She glanced at the carriage and spoke softly, but clearly enough for Fu Yubai to hear, “In the future, in the capital, we will meet again.”

Fu Yubai still wanted to speak to Wen Yuesheng, but when he looked up, he saw a cold, dignified man with a remarkable appearance climbing into the princess’s carriage.

He froze in his tracks and heard the soldiers and Zhou Manniang call the man “Master Yan.”

That slow step he took caused him to miss the chance to meet Wen Yue Sheng.

He watched as the carriage and the army quickly departed, disappearing from sight.

His sister, puzzled, looked at him and asked in a soft voice, “Brother, did our benefactor not want us?”

Fu Yubai snapped out of his daze and saw his sister’s thin, delicate face.

His eyes were momentarily unfocused, but he soon regained clarity, squeezed her soft hand, and said seriously, “No.”

It’s just that he could not keep up with her steps.

“Ruirui, let’s go home.” He promised himself that he would study well for the next three years and then go to the capital, to her side.

Meanwhile, the carriage had been on its way for a while, and Gu Yu kept looking at Yan Ling beside her.

Yan Ling was still silent, his expression cold.

Gu Yu shrank her shoulders, not daring to ask him what was wrong.

But once they left the city gates, Yan Ling spoke up.

“We’ve been traveling for many days, and I’m not feeling well.”

“May I travel with the princess?” he asked.

Wen Yuesheng glanced at him. “You’re already here, and now you ask me?”

Gu Yu couldn’t help but smile at the normally aloof Yan Ling, who had just flashed a rare smile.

This man… was like the fox spirits in the stories, charming yet mischievous!

As the New Year approached, the army didn’t stop much, heading straight for the capital.

But when they reached the Eastern Pass, it was eerily quiet.

The mountain gate was closed, and no soldiers were seen on the city walls.

The loyal and brave Marquis thought it was due to the approaching New Year and that the soldiers had become lax. He sent someone to knock on the gate and ordered the army to stop and rest.

The vast army waited for nearly half an hour.

After a long time, the soldier returned with a cold face.

“Princess, we don’t know why, but the Eastern Pass gate remains closed, and no one is responding.”

The Marquis frowned. “Why is the gate closed? There’s no war, and it’s the New Year. This is strange. Why is there no one guarding it?”

The surrounding officers were also puzzled.

Because the snow had blocked the roads, they were unaware of what was happening at the Eastern Pass.

But with so many people, they couldn’t just wait idly.

Wen Yue Sheng, hearing the news, came out of the carriage.

Zhou Manniang draped a fur cloak over her as they stepped outside.

She looked up to see a general coming from the city walls.

He was startled to see the massive army.

After a brief pause, he spoke.

“Who are you?”

The Marquis sneered. “Don’t you recognize the banner of the imperial army?”

The general looked at the banner, realizing who they were.

But after a moment of silence, he suddenly shouted loudly, “The emperor has ordered the Eastern Pass gate closed. No one is allowed to pass. Please take another route.”

The soldiers were shocked.

The Marquis demanded, “Why close the gate? We received no such orders before leaving the capital.”

The general on the walls responded, “I do not know the reason for the order, but His Majesty’s command must be followed. I beg the Marquis’s forgiveness.”

Wen Yuesheng remained impassive, her gaze cold as she observed the situation.

Finally, she gave the order. “Open the gate by force. If anyone tries to stop us—”

She looked coldly at the general. “Kill them on the spot!”