Madam Fang’s face turned pale.

Under the oppressive presence of Cheng Changyan, her legs grew weak and she quickly grabbed the table beside her for support.

He wasn’t even twenty yet—how could he exude such an overwhelming aura?

Taking a deep breath, she said, “I-I didn’t commit any crime. If Lord Cheng uses torture on me, then that’s an abuse of private punishment. Our Bai family can report you…”

She was trembling as she spoke, nearly collapsing.

Cheng Changyan smiled faintly. “I have some friendship with the Marquis of Xiangyang, and so, I was willing to handle this matter privately with the Bai family. Yet in your words, I’ve become someone who abuses power.”

Bai Yonghua knew his wife’s nature well—just one look and he could tell she had done something wrong.

He shouted angrily, “It’s a great honor that Lord Cheng is willing to give the Bai family face. Fang shi, what have you done? Speak clearly at once!”

Li Suiwen said coldly, “Lord Cheng is an upright official with keen judgment. Sister-in-law, if you insist on confessing only once you’re in court, then the Marquis of Xiangyang’s ties won’t help us anymore.”

“I-I didn’t do anything!” Madam Fang lifted her head. “The people on that list are all merchants. I only sat and had tea with their wives—what’s wrong with that?”

“And besides tea?” Cheng Changyan said, with rare patience. “Did you not receive anything you shouldn’t have?”

Madam Fang’s fingers tightened.

She had been extremely discreet about accepting gifts—how had the Court of Judicial Review found out?

Her heart pounded wildly, but she still lifted her chin. “So what if I received a few things? I became close friends with those ladies. It’s normal for women to exchange gifts. Lord Cheng, are you really making trouble for the Bai family over such trivial matters?”

“Outrageous!”

Old Master Bai Youtang was no ordinary man.

Though his official rank wasn’t high, he had decades of experience in court. Upon hearing those words, he immediately understood the situation.

His beard trembled with fury. “What a disgrace! What a disgrace! Our Bai family has been ruined by a woman!”

Madam Fang widened her eyes. “How am I ruining the Bai family? I only accepted some jewelry—how could it be that serious?”

Smack!

Bai Yonghua had also figured it out.

He raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.

Madam Fang fell to the ground, her face full of fury. “What exactly did I do wrong to make all of you look at me like this? The Bai family has been in government for decades, and there’s never been more than a thousand taels of silver in our accounts. I’ve endured hardships all these years without a word! But now our child is about to get married, there’s no betrothal gift, no dowry. If someone offers money, why wouldn’t I accept it?!”

Old Master Bai clutched his chest in pain and spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Grandfather!”

Li Zhiyue quickly rushed over to pat his back.

Her grandfather had always been ill.

Seeing the blood made her chest ache with worry.

“If aunt doesn’t understand what she did wrong, then let me, her junior, explain it clearly,” Li Zhiyue said firmly, each word clear and powerful. “My grandfather currently holds the fifth-rank position of Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Works. He’s about to be assigned to Jizhou and Yuzhou to manage water conservancy. If I’m not mistaken, the merchants on that list all deal in materials like stone and mortar for such projects. They gave gifts to my aunt to curry favor—so my grandfather would choose their goods.”

“If they deliver substandard materials and cut corners, and then a natural disaster strikes, it would endanger the lives of countless people. Even if our entire family were executed, it wouldn’t be enough to atone for such a crime!”

Madam Fang shook her head. “No… they’re big merchants. Why would they use inferior materials? It can’t be that serious…”

“Though Lord Bai’s position isn’t high, it’s a lucrative post, and many eyes are on it,” Cheng Changyan said slowly. “What Madam Fang has done was discovered by certain parties, who’ve already submitted evidence to the Censorate. Tomorrow at court, someone will report it.”

Madam Fang shi froze.

The Bai family felt like they were facing a catastrophe.

“I’ll take the blame,” said Bai Youtang, closing his eyes. “The Bai family accepted bribes—ultimately, it’s my failure in household discipline. I will take full responsibility. Lord Cheng, do what you must.”

Cheng Changyan stepped forward to support him. “This matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Censorate. Lord Bai, gather your things and come with me.”

As he finished speaking, he looked over at Li Zhiyue.

She had many things to say, but that glance from him settled her heart.

She believed that with him involved, her grandfather would be safe.

Perhaps this was for the best—let her grandfather retire honorably.

Living well was more important than anything.

Cheng Changyan led Bai Youtang away.

The rest of the Bai family stood frozen with fear.

Bai Ruzhu swallowed hard. “Marquis, why are you still standing there? Go after them—maybe you can help somehow, even if just running errands!”

Li Suiwen nodded quickly and mounted his horse.

Old Madam Bai burst into sobs. “What a tragedy! A lifetime of integrity, and now this disgrace at the end. Our Bai family is doomed!”

Bai Yonghua paced back and forth in fury.

No one else in the Bai family dared to breathe.

Madam Fang collapsed to the floor, her eyes vacant.

No one knew how much time passed.

From midday to dusk, the gatekeeper finally announced someone had returned.

The Bai family rushed out to greet them.

They saw Li Suiwen helping Bai Youtang down from the carriage.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

If he came back, that meant the matter wasn’t too serious.

“Don’t worry,” Bai Youtang said hoarsely. “With Lord Cheng’s mediation, disaster turned into blessing. This is great fortune for the Bai family. Remember—Lord Cheng is our family’s benefactor!”

Bai Yonghua quickly asked, “What do you mean, disaster turned to blessing?”

“Hahaha!” Li Suiwen laughed. “Lord Cheng told the Censorate that the Bai family deliberately accepted bribes to uncover which merchants collude with officials. It’s pulling up the weeds with the roots. Now the Censorate will investigate bribery in court. Father-in-law didn’t take bribes—he made a contribution!”

The whole family rejoiced.

Especially Madam Fang—she felt as if she had narrowly escaped death.

She quickly stood up. “Now that Father has made a contribution, does this mean he’ll get promoted? Thank the ancestors!”

Whether Bai Youtang would be promoted remained uncertain, but one thing was clear—he could no longer be assigned to water conservancy in Jizhou.

Because of his actions, he had offended half the stone merchants.

If he continued in that post, he’d likely face retaliation—not just against the Bai family, but potentially putting an entire region at risk from inferior materials.

Bai Youtang said softly, “Fang shi, do you now understand your mistake?”