Magistrate Cao’s mouth wasn’t an eternal turtle shell after all; it was finally pried open, and he spilled everything about his dealings with Wei Changhai.
The amount of money extorted from Yuzhou was too large to be transferred as actual silver, and they didn’t dare register it directly at money houses. Instead, it went through many twists and turns, passing through several intermediaries before finally reaching Wei Changhai’s hands as properties and bank notes.
Shen Ziqin raised his hand, signaling someone to record this information for later evidence gathering.
Magistrate Cao’s back finally collapsed completely, all spirit gone.
When signing and affixing his seal, he noticed these words on the paper:
[Prince Qin’s consort was kidnapped by Feng Mountain bandits. Yuzhou’s prefect, fearing exposure of his collusion with bandits, delayed reporting to the court.]
Compared to his other crimes, this one seemed insignificant. Whether he admitted to it or not wouldn’t change his capital offense.
Magistrate Cao knew that Shen Ziqin and the others had come prepared specifically for him. Adding this charge was just to complete their story and provide an explanation to the emperor.
After all, despite his heinous crimes, he would still be escorted to the capital.
Seeing that he had finished reading, Shen Ziqin said: “Once in the capital, Magistrate Cao surely knows what should and shouldn’t be said.”
Magistrate Cao was silent for a moment. He had already crumbled under Shen Ziqin’s few sentences and now pleaded: “Madam Huang and my sons…”
“She doesn’t know your identity, and even the name you gave her was fake. She must have had terrible luck to be liked by you,” Shen Ziqin said coldly. “She and the children are pitiful. As long as you keep your mouth shut, I naturally won’t trouble innocent people.”
Magistrate Cao sighed in relief.
Shen Ziqin found it increasingly amusing and ironic. Cao’s relationship with Madam Huang had been a lie from beginning to end. He had approached her using a false identity, and those two sons didn’t even have the Cao surname. Even in terms of continuing the family line, they had no connection to the Cao family.
He had harmed countless people with his despicable behavior; he deserved to die alone without family.
After obtaining the confession and leaving the dungeon, that damp, gloomy chill that clung like a persistent disease finally disappeared. Shen Ziqin stood comfortably in the sun for a while, not wanting to trigger his recently recovered cold.
In the past, he wouldn’t have cared, but things were different now.
If he felt even slightly unwell, someone would worry about him.
That wouldn’t do. Compared to Chu Zhao’s frowning face, Shen Ziqin preferred to see him vibrant and spirited.
Chu Zhao had captured the bandit leader who called himself “Knife King” alive on Feng Mountain. The evidence proved this title was undeserved-he was knocked off his horse by Chu Zhao’s sword in their first encounter. Some “Knife King” he was.
Normally, the Knife King should have been taken away to the capital for public execution, but after completing all necessary interrogations and searching for evidence in hidden rooms, under floorboards, and in storehouses, Chu Zhao simply raised his sword and beheaded him on the spot without blinking.
Blood soaked the white blade, and Chu Zhao casually flicked it clean, ordering someone to collect the body.
“Just say he resisted stubbornly during the suppression and was killed in the chaos of battle,” Chu Zhao said, casually wiping his sword on the bandit leader’s chair, leaving a bloodstain. “Understand?”
The personal guards bowed in acknowledgment and dragged the Knife King’s body away.
Shen Ziqin had called Chu Zhao from the capital to Yuzhou, using “bandits from Feng Mountain kidnapped Prince Qin’s consort” as a pretext, but in reality, the bandits had done no such thing.
Shen Ziqin could definitely handle the testimonies from Yuzhou officials, but with the bandits, there were too many variables-the more said, the more mistakes could be made. It was cleaner to just kill him.
The blood trail from the dragged body extended across the ground. Chu Zhao sheathed his sword and stepped out of the hideout gate. The soldiers had already begun removing everything from the bandit lair.
The amount of gold, silver, treasures, food, and weapons was astonishing. Everyone had been huffing and puffing, moving things for a long time, and still hadn’t finished.
General Nan was also shocked, then burned with anger. That a bandit hideout could contain so much grain, while those actually fighting on the frontlines had to argue back and forth with the court for supplies!
If the bandits were this wealthy, how full must the pockets of the Yuzhou officials who colluded with them be?
Chu Zhao gestured at the grain: “Seal the gold and silver in boxes. Take the grain back to the city, set aside a portion, establish some porridge stalls, and distribute food.”
General Nan came to his senses. Not from a humble background, with family members who were officials, he understood some court matters. He moved closer to Chu Zhao and said quietly: “Your Highness, distributing grain is a good deed, but will you be able to explain this to the emperor later?”
Opening granaries required considerable paperwork.
“I’m not opening official granaries,” Chu Zhao said. “Grain prices in Yuzhou are several times higher than in the capital, and people are starving everywhere. This is about maintaining stability in Yuzhou. I’m not afraid of any investigation.”
Chu Zhao was wearing light armor-even with great martial skills, one needed armor in battle. As he removed his armor, with General Nan standing nearby, he asked: “Do I smell of blood?”
Before General Nan could answer, Chu Zhao continued: “Never mind, I’ll take a bath and change clothes before seeing anyone.”
General Nan swallowed his original response. He hadn’t heard of any important officials coming to Yuzhou and asked curiously: “Which official is Your Highness meeting?”
Such formality.
Chu Zhao’s lips curved slightly upward as he tossed his armor to his personal guard: “Lord Shen.”
Shen? General Nan thought for a moment. Chu Zhao’s guard, fearing another opportunity for the general to be blinded by their prince’s behavior, quietly reminded him: “The Marquis Shen.”
Please don’t ask any more questions!
General Nan suddenly understood: That’s the consort!
He hadn’t met Shen Ziqin yet. When border commanders first heard that the emperor was making Chu Zhao marry a man, everyone had been furious, knowing the emperor had ill intentions.
They had expected a miserable couple, but even from afar, they had heard rumors from the capital-like the famous palace gate incident and the widely circulated story of the prince and his consort’s musical harmony at the court ceremony.
They were clearly a divine couple with excellent feelings for each other.
Who would have thought that Emperor Cheng’an’s careless arrangement would actually create such a good match?
Not realizing the guard wanted him to stop talking, General Nan said: “The prince and consort truly have deep affection.”
Chu Zhao, who had just officially established their relationship yesterday, loved hearing this: “Who can blame me when my consort is so wonderful? Kindred spirits are rare in this world, and we happened to find each other.”
Chu Zhao sighed: “It’s a pity I can’t share some of our stories with you, or you’d surely find them fascinating. In any case, just remember that we’re perfectly matched.”
Why mention it if you can’t talk about it? So deliberate! The guards didn’t dare make a sound. Fortunately, General Nan was quite dense and couldn’t grasp the deeper meaning. He was truly the perfect sounding board for the prince.
Wait-that meant they were the only ones suffering.
The guards exchanged glances, feeling a shared pain.
Chu Zhao turned his horse: “Let’s go back to the city.”
The soldiers returned victorious. With the major bandit problem at Feng Mountain eliminated, the remaining small gangs didn’t require Chu Zhao’s personal attention. Even General Nan would be overkill against them. Chu Zhao brought the grain back, and Shen Ziqin and Bai Junxing mobilized people from Yuzhou to set up stalls and distribute porridge.
Nearby refugees came when they heard the news. Shen Ziqin and Dongning personally handed out porridge at the stalls. Soon, word spread throughout the city that Prince Qin’s consort and the princess were charitably distributing food at the city gate.
Both were like divine beings. For the porridge stall visit, Shen Ziqin had chosen his simplest clothes without any accessories. However, since all his current clothes were provided by Prince Qin’s residence, even his most low-key outfit was visibly made of expensive material-he looked like a young master from a wealthy background.
Dongning had also removed his hairpins, wearing simple clothes as he handed bowls of porridge to the refugees one by one.
Looking at these emaciated people thanking him, he felt no comfort, only distress.
When a dynasty rises, the common people suffer; when it falls, the common people suffer.
All they wanted was to eat their fill and stay warm. The capital was filled with high officials and nobles, with silver flowing like water, yet they couldn’t provide these people with even a bowl of porridge.
Dongning’s eyes turned red. He turned his head aside and secretly wiped them.
Shen Ziqin gently rubbed his head: “Would you like to rest a bit on the side?”
Dongning shook his head and turned to continue. He said solemnly to Shen Ziqin: “Royal sister-in-law, thank you for bringing me here. I… understand much more now.”
Shen Ziqin softly acknowledged with a sound.
Actually, on the journey from the capital, he hadn’t thought about these things much either. The condition of Yuzhou’s people had only touched his heart after seeing it with his own eyes.
He and Chu Zhao would have to live in this land in the future. Regardless of whether they were transmigrators before, they were now people of Great Qi, just like these ordinary citizens.
Although Shen Ziqin had initially formulated the Yuzhou plan to eliminate Wei Changhai and his ilk, if they could help everyone and make Great Qi better, wouldn’t he and Chu Zhao also live more comfortably?
Shen Ziqin’s features were as beautiful as a painting, like an immortal descended to earth. As he was doing charitable work, just like when he had given candy to children in the Flying Tiger hideout, another child stared at him blankly and couldn’t help asking: “Are you a fairy who’s come to help us?”
Shen Ziqin laughed: “I’m not a fairy. Here, your porridge. Hold it carefully.”
There were many people coming for porridge, with the line stretching far. Naturally, soldiers were needed to maintain order. Chu Zhao stood beside the soldiers, not approaching, just watching Shen Ziqin from a distance.
Hei Ying stood beside Chu Zhao, puzzled: “Your Highness, aren’t you going over? The emperor has tarnished your reputation. If you also distribute porridge and let the people know that Prince Qin is benevolent, those rumors might change.”
“No need,” Chu Zhao said. “It’s enough for Prince Qin’s consort’s reputation for kindness to spread. If I do too much, the emperor will lose sleep again. Besides, the consort and I are one entity. He’s responsible for creating a good image, and what I need to do is simple.”
Hei Ying was confused and humbly asked for guidance.
Chu Zhao curved his lips: “I’m responsible for treating him well, being affectionate.”
Hei Ying: “…”
After holding back repeatedly, he finally couldn’t resist: “Your Highness… is there any connection between these two statements?”
“Of course there is.” Chu Zhao wore an expression of ‘this child cannot be taught.’ “In their eyes, Ziqin is like an immortal, and if I can be in a loving relationship with such a celestial being, doesn’t that indirectly make people reconsider my character?”
Chu Zhao told him to learn: “This is much more effective than directly shouting ‘Prince Qin is not cruel.'”
It was reasonable and irrefutable, but Hei Ying felt there was much exaggeration. He suspected that in Chu Zhao’s heart, the most important thing was for everyone to know that he and Shen Ziqin were a perfect match. Reputation was just a side benefit.
But Hei Ying could only say: “This servant has learned much.”
Chu Zhao: “Don’t rush, I’m not finished yet.”
Hei Ying was alarmed: There’s more?
“I have another reason for not going over.”
Chu Zhao didn’t care whether Hei Ying was listening or not; he was determined to speak: “Beauty is like a painting-appreciating it from afar and up close offer different pleasures. Standing beside him, I can’t see the whole picture. Occasionally, I should change my perspective to fully appreciate his grace. You might find it hard to understand my feelings.”
Hei Ying: Indeed, very hard to understand!
He suddenly missed the prince who had once righteously claimed to have no interest in love. At least then, he didn’t have to endure Chu Zhao torturing his ears and soul with different methods every day.
Chu Zhao’s gaze was too obvious. Shen Ziqin, sensing something, looked up and saw Chu Zhao, giving him a gentle smile from afar.
When the immortal smiled, it was like autumn waters rippling, like clouds brushing flowers into bloom.
Standing beside Chu Zhao, Hei Ying clearly felt peach blossoms wildly blooming around the prince, so tangible that he desperately wanted to step back.
But he couldn’t-he was a dedicated guard who needed to protect the prince.
This was an identity he took pride in.
Chu Zhao also raised the corners of his mouth, his gaze never leaving Shen Ziqin, though his words were directed at Hei Ying: “He smiles when he sees me. Do you know what that means? It means…”
He’s starting again, he’s starting again.
Hei Ying: This identity doesn’t seem so proud anymore… Marquis, save me!
#
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
