This night appeared as tranquil as any other, yet within Fuking, countless forces were poised to strike.
In the following days, Qiao Shi and Jiang Qiaonian remained quietly within their own courtyards without taking a single step outside, which actually saved them from much trouble.
However, the incident where Qiao Shi had injured Wang Xingyun, the legitimate youngest son of Duke Anguo, in his vital parts spread like wildfire, sparking intense curiosity among the people of Fuking about the twists and turns behind the matter.
Because of this, the court was in an uproar.
Duke Anguo arranged for others to impeach the Old Marquis for lax household management and to accuse Jiang Yucheng of condoning his wife’s violent actions. Contrary to his usual demeanor, the Old Marquis did not argue back but instead played the victim, emphasizing the hardships faced by the women of his family and the difficulties of the Marquis Manor. This made the Anguo Duke Residence appear overly aggressive.
As a result, for several consecutive days, the Emperor left the court sessions with a grim expression.
Due to this matter, not only did Eldest Aunt Jiang Yurong return to her maiden home again, but Qiao Shi’s sister-in-law from her own family also hurried over for a visit.
Seeing Qiao Shi cheerfully basking in the sun and admiring the flowers with Jiang Xianian, Sister-in-law Wen finally breathed a sigh of relief. As soon as she entered, she said, “You really gave your parents and brothers quite a fright.”
Delighted to see Wen Shi, Qiao Shi immediately ordered tea, pastries, and fruits to be served. “Sister-in-law, what brings you here?”
Wen Shi gave her a reproachful look, pulled her aside for a careful inspection, and then said, “You still ask me why I’m here? The rumors outside are spreading like wildfire, and you didn’t even send a message home. You’ve worried the entire family! Quickly, tell me what exactly happened at the White Horse Temple.”
Qiao Shi felt somewhat proud of her accomplishment and had been regretting having no one to share it with. Now, her sister-in-law had come to visit.
So, Qiao Shi recounted the incident once more, which left Wen Shi both angry and concerned. She vehemently cursed Wang Xingyun and the Anguo Duke Residence before finally calming down a little.
Upon hearing that Jiang Yucheng not only did not disapprove of Qiao Shi’s actions but instead comforted her, praising her as a remarkable mother, and that the Old Marquis had not reprimanded her either, Wen Shi finally relaxed completely.
As the two chatted, Wen Shi picked up Jiang Xianian, weighing her in her arms and saying, “Little Niannian has gained some weight since her full moon celebration.”
Jiang Xianian opened her eyes, looked at her eldest aunt, and smacked her lips: Eldest Aunt is a good person, and so is Eldest Uncle. Grandmother’s family usually accumulates virtue and does good deeds, but unfortunately, their luck isn’t very good. Sigh… How can I tell Eldest Aunt that her mischievous little cousin will climb a tree and break his arm next month? Even though it will heal later, the injury to his tendons, bones, and muscles will prevent him from drawing a bow, riding, shooting, or wielding swords and spears. He clearly has the makings of a great general.
Qiao Shi’s smile froze instantly, and her heart tightened. She recalled Wen Shi and her elder brother’s five-year-old son, who was indeed a lively and mischievous child, always climbing and exploring like a little monkey. It was highly likely that what Niannian said about him breaking his arm would come true.
How could she warn her sister-in-law about this?
Wen Shi, unable to hear Jiang Xianian’s thoughts, noticed her smacking her lips and making soft noises and assumed she was playing with her aunt. Smiling, she continued to play with Jiang Xianian.
Jiang Xianian had struggled for a long time, but Wen Shi hadn’t picked up on any of her hints, leaving her feeling utterly defeated: If only Little Twelve were here, he could help relay the message to Aunt Wen. Cousin’s matter isn’t as urgent, but Uncle’s affair is truly life-threatening.
Qiao Shi’s heart instantly leaped into her throat: What matter?! Just say it, my dear daughter!
The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching. The dragon boat supervised by Uncle’s Ministry of Works caused an accident during the dragon boat race. The ministry officials all shifted blame, and in the end, poor Uncle became the scapegoat. He was beaten and punished, alas… My poor uncle, no longer young and somewhat proud, had his trousers publicly removed and was caned. The physical and psychological trauma left him deeply depressed, and he passed away within a few years!
Witnessing her uncle’s misfortune, Jiang Xianian strongly suspected that fate truly existed. Otherwise, why did misfortune always strike either the Jiang or Qiao families? Meanwhile, households like the Anguo Duke Residence—outwardly glamorous but inwardly rotten—prospered until Xing Country’s downfall.
Upon hearing this, Qiao Shi could no longer sit still. She desperately wanted to warn Wen Shi to prevent her young nephew from climbing trees and to remind her elder brother to carefully supervise the dragon boat construction. Yet she couldn’t explain how she knew. If Wen Shi and the Qiao family dismissed her concerns, the tragedy would remain unavoidable.
Qiao Shi cautiously hinted at the matters repeatedly, but Wen Shi merely interpreted it as concern for her maternal family and responded half-heartedly.
Even as she bid Wen Shi farewell, Qiao Shi felt her warnings had gone unheeded.
Qiao Shi longed to return to her maiden home and personally advise her nephew and brother. Unfortunately, confined to her courtyard, she couldn’t leave.
Frustrated and anxious, Qiao Shi returned to her room and wrote several letters to be delivered to Qiao Manor, yet still felt uneasy.
Three days later during the morning court session, just as Duke Anguo’s faction prepared to launch their usual impeachment against Marquis Weiyuan and Jiang Yucheng, the Crown Prince suddenly stepped forward and presented a memorial: “Your Majesty, I have a report! Wang Xingyun, Duke Anguo’s youngest legitimate son, has forcibly purchased commoners, torturing and humiliating them for amusement, recklessly ending over a dozen lives. The details are documented in this memorial for Your Majesty’s review.”
As the Crown Prince’s words echoed through the hall, the officials stood dumbfounded: Wh-what? The Crown Prince was accusing Duke Anguo’s youngest son of being a murderer—a deranged killer who took pleasure in his crimes?
Wait, why would the Crown Prince step forward? How had he uncovered these matters?
Duke Anguo’s brow twitched, his heart sinking. The Crown Prince had secretly investigated the Anguo Duke Residence?! How had he detected no signs of this?!
The Emperor paused momentarily before ordering a eunuch to retrieve the memorial.
As he read it, the Emperor’s frown deepened.
The Crown Prince’s memorial meticulously documented each instance of Wang Xingyun’s murders, including the timing, victims, and locations of witnesses and evidence.
Though the Crown Prince used official terms like “flogging,” “punching,” “kicking,” “tooth extraction,” and “nose removal,” the Emperor still felt nauseated and enraged after reading it.
The Crown Prince also noted in his report that these were only the homicide cases with solid evidence. There were other deaths—some too distant in time to verify, others lacking witnesses or evidence—that could not be confirmed. However, the number of people tortured to death by Wang Xingyun was certainly as high as several dozen.
After reading the memorial, the Emperor slammed it violently onto the imperial desk. The civil and military officials immediately bent their waists even lower.
“By Our decree, the Crown Prince shall lead two hundred Imperial Guards to arrest Wang Xingyun immediately and throw him into the Xing Bu prison!”
Upon hearing the Emperor’s decree, everyone felt their hearts sink.
Cases occurring in Fuking were generally first handled by the Mayor of the Capital. When the Mayor found the matter too involved, it would be transferred to the Dali Temple, while the Xing Bu served as the final reviewing body for major cases handled by the Dali Temple.
Now the Emperor was directly sending Wang Xingyun to the Xing Bu prison—was he bypassing the Dali Temple entirely?
After a moment’s thought, the Old Marquis and Jiang Yucheng began to understand.
Zheng Shoufu, the father-in-law of Duke Anguo, had built his career starting from the Dali Temple. Sending his grandson there would likely be sending him for a comfortable stay.
Duke Anguo fell to his knees with a thud, pleading mournfully, “Your Majesty, my son is still young and ignorant! Moreover, he is severely injured and cannot withstand further torment. I beg Your Majesty for mercy!”
Having said this, Duke Anguo truly began to weep.
Soon, a group of officials joined in pleading for leniency. For a moment, the court echoed with weeping, as if Wang Xingyun were their own ancestor.
Listening to the ministers’ tearful appeals, the Emperor’s expression darkened noticeably. Hearing them argue that Wang Xingyun was young and ignorant, that Duke Anguo had served the country loyally, that Zheng Shoufu had once turned his hair white overnight for the nation, and even subtle reminders that Zheng Shoufu had once brought down three princes through the Dali Temple, enabling the then-disadvantaged Emperor to ascend the Imperial Throne—the Emperor felt his resolve softening slightly.
The Emperor sighed silently and was about to speak when an exceptionally grating wail suddenly rose above the others.
Everyone looked over in surprise to find that the source of the particularly unpleasant crying was none other than the Weiyuan Marquis Estate.
Considering that Marquis Weiyuan had always been at odds with Duke Anguo, the Emperor was astonished that he would weep and plead for Duke Anguo’s son. He promptly summoned the Old Marquis and asked, “Why do you weep so bitterly, Minister?”
Tears streaked the Old Marquis’s aged face as he replied in a trembling voice, “This old servant recalls that among those killed by Wang Xingyun were many young children who never even reached the ‘ignorant’ age he claims, nor did they have powerful fathers like Duke Anguo to seek justice for their tragic deaths. The thought fills me with profound grief!”