“A life for a life?” When these words from the palace eunuch reached his ears, the Emperor clicked his tongue and laughed. “That principle might not work in Great Wei.”

In Great Wei, everyone admired the heroic spirit. Even scholars carried swords when they traveled. Everyone had passionate hearts, and this was the prevailing attitude throughout society, from top to bottom.

Even knowing that killers must pay with their lives, gallant heroes still killed without hesitation and were revered by all under heaven. What that young man at Princess Danyang’s residence had done might have caused some trouble for himself, but it perfectly aligned with the qualities that society admired.

Under such circumstances, the possibility of paying with his life was low.

The Emperor spoke leisurely: “Would you believe that even if the Ministry of Justice arrested him, they wouldn’t dare treat him as a criminal? They’d have to politely invite him into prison and keep him well-fed and comfortable.”

“This matter is rather thorny. On one side is the law code, on the other is the will of the people. That young man who dared to kill in public certainly has courage, but I wonder if the Ministry of Justice has the resolve to withstand the pressure and decide whether to execute or release him.”

The eunuch thought for a moment and said, “The Ministry of Justice is under Prince Qin’s jurisdiction. Whether that person pays with his life or not will surely give Prince Qin a headache.”

The Emperor sighed: “That’s why I say it shows great spirit.”

“By killing just one person, he has dragged everyone hidden behind the scenes into trouble. Now that the matter has been brought into the open, under public scrutiny, those pulling the strings behind the scenes can’t maneuver as easily.”

“He even killed the head of the Zheng family directly. When he brings the Zheng family head’s head to apologize to Prince Jin, how can Prince Jin not accept the apology? And with the Zheng family head dead, even if someone had planned some scheme around this incident, this move of pulling the carpet out from under them has cut off their path, making it impossible for any hidden plot to continue.”

“Moreover, it was the Princess’s own man who killed her own man… Princess Danyang’s spirit will command the respect of all under heaven. Without a sound, even Yaoyao’s reputation will get a boost.”

“Everyone disapproves of the powerful families, everyone knows they exploit the common people. But these powerful families align themselves with noble houses, their influence is strong after all… To be able to make such a decisive move at the moment, this kind of spirit and breadth of vision isn’t something ordinary people can match.”

“It’s better that such a person isn’t yet an official. As long as he survives this imprisonment, once he enters court service, he’ll surely have widespread support. His start in court will be far better than what others achieve after struggling for half a lifetime.”

The more the Emperor analyzed, the more moved he became, and he simply sat up straight.

There was no shortage of clever people and few fools among the court officials. But being clever was one thing – everyone knew such actions would bring a good reputation… but having the courage to do it was another matter entirely.

After all, no one could guarantee that a killer wouldn’t have to pay with his life. No one could control public opinion or the judgment of the central government.

Since it couldn’t be controlled, having the courage to act couldn’t help but command admiration.

In all these years since the Emperor had handed over court affairs and largely stopped managing them, this was the first time someone had sparked his interest.

The Emperor asked: “Who is this person? How did he become Yaoyao’s advisor? Why hasn’t anyone recruited him to serve in court? How is the Crown Prince governing if the court leaves such talent unused?”

The eunuch quickly bowed with a placating smile: “Your Majesty, his name is Yan Shang, just eighteen this year, courtesy name Suchen.”

The Emperor frowned: “Yan Shang? The name sounds somewhat familiar.”

The eunuch gave a dry laugh and reminded him: “He was this year’s third-place graduate in the imperial examinations. Your Majesty had previously thought to arrange his marriage with Princess Danyang, but the Princess refused the marriage.”

The Emperor: “…”

His expression suddenly became rather strange.

The eunuch also found it peculiar.

The eunuch said dryly: “Perhaps it was because Your Majesty’s marriage arrangement failed that it created a connection between him and Princess Danyang? He went to become Princess Danyang’s advisor?”

The Emperor’s expression grew increasingly strange, as if he had many things he wanted to say but forcefully held them back.

After a while, the Emperor finally said: “So this Yan Suchen is now just serving as Yaoyao’s advisor?”

The eunuch had naturally already investigated this person: “For this year’s Advanced Scholar examination in October, both Yan Suchen and the first-place graduate Wei Qilang have registered. If this Young Master Yan can survive this imprisonment, he will surely place well in this year’s examination. No one would dare block this young gentleman’s path at this point.”

The Emperor said: “If he can pass, his initial official position won’t be low.”

The Emperor suddenly asked: “Does Yan Suchen have no connections in Chang’an? Is there no one behind the scenes guiding his actions?”

The eunuch answered: “He merely has many friends, but all were met after coming to Chang’an. As for connections in Chang’an… he only has one teacher, Master Dou, who is an Imperial Academy professor. I’m afraid besides teaching knowledge, he has no connections to offer this young gentleman.”

The Emperor pondered: “Then the noble houses will surely be watching such a figure, competing to employ him.”

The noble houses that could remain in Chang’an, even if they had some small schemes, none of them were fools.

The eunuch observed the Emperor’s expression, seeing him lower his eyes with an unpredictable expression, and suggested: “If Your Majesty doesn’t want this young gentleman to be snatched up by the noble houses, why not take action directly? Personally summon this young gentleman and employ him in Your Majesty’s service.”

The Emperor thought for a moment but still shook his head.

The Emperor lay back down and said leisurely: “No need. It’s just that he dared to kill someone in public… I want to see how this play unfolds next.”

In the rural areas under Zheng family control in Wannian County, the fields were emerald green, and clouds rolled across the wind-swept sky.

Lord Zheng had been killed in public, lying on the ground.

Everyone looked up to see Yan Shang still holding the crossbow that had killed him, aimed at the Zheng family members.

Everyone was stunned.

The Zheng family guards following behind Lord Zheng were blank-minded, anxiously thinking how their family head had been killed right before their eyes… It was over, everything was over.

In their impulse, they wanted to rush forward to capture this murderer and take him to the Zheng family’s ancestral hall to give the Zheng family an explanation. But when these guards looked up and met Yan Shang’s calm gaze, then saw the iron crossbow resting on his arm… and saw the Princess’s guards behind Young Master Yan draw their swords.

Yan Shang still had his crossbow aimed at them and spoke slowly: “Lord Zheng was someone I had to kill, otherwise I couldn’t explain. If you resist, I’ve already killed one person and won’t hesitate to kill a few more.”

The Zheng family guards became even more anxious.

One of them ground his teeth, eyes bulging, and shouted shakily in anger: “You dare kill Lord Zheng! The Zheng family is powerful locally, they won’t let you get away with this!”

Yan Shang smiled: “I look forward to seeing the might of the powerful!”

He turned his head to look at the guards following behind him and commanded softly: “Cut off Lord Zheng’s head, wrap it up for me to take away.”

He looked back at those Zheng family guards and said: “Today I will take Lord Zheng’s head to seek forgiveness from Prince Jin. If you want to kill me today, then come and kill me.”

With that, he turned and left.

The common people watching in the surrounding fields looked on with admiration in their eyes, constantly asking who that person was, and why he was so imposing that he even dared to kill Lord Zheng.

The Zheng family had operated in Wannian County for so many years, relying on the Li family and royal family above them, and no commoner dared to resist. Those who dared resist all fled Wannian County, becoming either bandits or refugees. At least the Zheng family didn’t leave people without a way to live, so the common people all endured… but this young gentleman had spoken just a few words before killing someone!

Yan Shang turned and left, showing no intention of going to the Zheng family residence. From his bearing, he was preparing to take Lord Zheng’s head directly to visit Prince Jin.

The advisors trembled in their hearts as they cleverly followed behind him. They saw this young gentleman’s face was still handsome, not a drop of blood had splashed onto his jade-like countenance, and his gaze was still bright and clear… but Yan Shang had just killed someone!

They were shocked, their hearts both admiring the young man’s passionate spirit and fearing Yan Shang’s decisive action.

They chased after Yan Shang: “The Zheng family won’t let you go, they don’t dare move against the Princess, but they may well make things difficult for you.”

Yan Shang remained silent.

The advisors trembled again: “Second Young Master, acting like this… you’ll be imprisoned! Even the Princess can’t protect you!”

Yan Shang glanced at them and nodded slightly: “I know.”

Looking back at the commoners gathering together in the fields they had left behind, and the Zheng family guards hurriedly turning to run and report to the Zheng family, Yan Shang’s gaze grew somewhat deep.

He said: “That’s why we must hurry to complete the tasks Her Highness assigned.”

In the Zheng family residence, a group of Zheng family members was anxiously waiting for the Princess’s people to come to settle accounts with them.

In their thinking, they were the Princess’s people, so even if the Princess was furious, she would at most kill a few people… they had already decided to hand over the few Zheng family members who had seized Chunhua’s brother’s fields and the one who had shot and wounded Prince Jin. Even if these people were killed, they would endure and accept it.

They were hiding in the ancestral hall discussing how to beg the Princess for mercy.

Then a guard with a pale face rushed in, trembling as he knelt: “Lord Zheng… Lord Zheng… was killed by that Second Young Master Yan sent by the Princess!”

In the Zheng family ancestral hall, for a moment they thought the guard was joking. A family head being killed… how could that be possible?

How could Her Highness do this to them?

The guard was nearly crying: “That Second Young Master Yan stood six zhang away, asked about the Zheng family’s actions, and after learning the guide was the family head, he directly raised his crossbow and killed him. Those commoners were even cheering on the side, now they’ve already mounted their horses and are probably leaving…”

“What?!” The Zheng family members were suddenly enraged.

Trembling with anger: “Just a mere advisor, how dare he be so bold! Don’t the government officials care? Is there no law in this world? Heaven’s principles are clear, he openly defies the law… our Zheng family will never forgive him!”

Several hot-blooded young people, hearing that Lord Zheng was dead, immediately wanted to rush out with swords to take revenge but were stopped by some elders who said to go request government officials to handle this properly.

A prince who kills is subject to the same punishment as a commoner!

How could there be such arbitrary killing in the world?

In Prince Jin’s residence, Prince Jin was recuperating from his wounds, face pale as he received Yan Shang and his group into the room.

In the opened package, fresh blood flowed, and Lord Zheng’s unseeing copper-bell eyes stared at Prince Jin.

Prince Jin hadn’t been scared to death by the earlier arrow wound, but this head nearly frightened him to death.

Prince Jin’s face turned green: “What is Second Young Master Yan’s meaning with this?”

Yan Shang spoke gently: “This is Her Highness the Princess’s explanation to Your Highness. Lord Zheng was the Zheng family head, and the head has been brought to justice. If Your Highness has any other requirements, please let us know. Our Princess has deep sibling affection for Your Highness and absolutely no intention of harming you. I hope Your Highness will consider this deeply.”

After a long while, Prince Jin finally managed a forced smile: “I accept Yaoyao’s sentiments… I never meant to blame Yaoyao… this was all, all caused by the servants…”

Prince Jin put on such a meek appearance, but after watching Yan Shang and his group leave, he was extremely angry and had people throw their head out. But when he closed his eyes, he seemed to still see Lord Zheng staring at him… Prince Jin was terrified, trembling.

With Muwan apologizing like this, what else could he say?

Even cutting off his arm… if Prince Jin still didn’t accept the apology, it would make Prince Jin seem heartless.

When Yan Shang left Prince Jin’s residence, people from the Ministry of Justice were already standing outside Prince Jin’s gate waiting for them.

The Princess’s manor guards following Yan Shang kept their hands on their sword hilts, watching the other side warily. The advisors behind Yan Shang looked at each other, and sighed deeply, knowing what had to come was coming.

A high official from the Ministry of Justice stood imposingly in the carriage outside Prince Jin’s residence, his face stern as he observed the murals painted on the walls with his hands behind his back.

Yan Shang came out, his robes flying.

That high official from the Ministry turned around and looked him up and down: “Are you Second Young Master Yan? Are you the one who killed someone in public?”

Someone following beside him, probably a Zheng family member, jumped up and down excitedly pointing at Yan Shang: “My Lord, it’s him! It’s him who killed our family head!”

That high official showed a look of disgust.

Although he had some connection with the Zheng family and had been asked by them to handle this case, after hearing the full story on the way, he knew he had been set up by the Zheng family… how could this kind of case be easy to handle?

This official completely ignored the noisy Zheng family member beside him, his tiger-like eyes fixed intently on the slender young gentleman who had come out of Prince Jin’s residence.

Yan Shang bowed with cupped hands, his wide sleeves flying, and spoke gently: “That would be me.”

The Ministry official’s eyes showed admiration, impressed that the other party could maintain such composure when facing them. His expression became less stern, and he only said: “Second Young Master Yan, we are investigating a case. Having heard that you killed someone in public, we must ask for your cooperation in coming with us to the Ministry of Justice.”

As if afraid the other party might refuse, he added: “If you are innocent, Young Master, we will naturally release you after investigating.”

Yan Shang said: “That is as it should be, I wouldn’t dare obstruct the officials’ investigation.”

Seeing the other party was so agreeable, the high official from the Ministry let out a sigh of relief and quickly signaled with his eyes for the officials behind him to take the person into custody.

But on the way back to the Ministry of Justice, Chang’an’s outspoken and gossip-loving citizens had heard the news spreading back, and they gathered to watch on the streets. The Ministry didn’t dare bind Yan Shang, only letting him follow on horseback, yet even so, the citizens angrily criticized:

“Shouldn’t that Zheng family be killed? Second Young Master Yan is a hero, yet you want a killer to pay with his life – what kind of officials are you?”

“Are you in league with the Zheng family?”

“How mighty these powerful families are! Even the noble houses wouldn’t dare act like this!”

The boldness of Chang’an’s citizens, the courage of an imperial capital’s people, was far beyond comparison with other places… The Ministry people had come to arrest someone according to normal procedure, but now returning to the Ministry they all had ashen faces, as if they were the villains, filled with indignation.

The Zheng family members hiding in the crowd, seeing the public sentiment like this, also panicked and hurriedly ran to inform their family members.

The high official from the Ministry darkened his face and irritably told his people to hurry along, not letting people gather to watch anymore.

Meanwhile, some noble house young masters sitting on the upper floor of a wine shop watched from above as the Ministry officials below were blocked by citizens, unable to help to snicker.

They said: “The Ministry has a difficult task this time.”

But some were also apprehensive: “Who knew the common people hated the powerful families so much? It seems the Zheng family’s reputation over the years wasn’t good enough.”

“The Zheng family is finished this time.”

Everyone fell silent.

Someone else asked: “Are any noble houses planning to help the Zheng family out of this?”

Several people looked at each other and couldn’t help sneering: “Isn’t the Zheng family Princess Danyang’s people? What noble house would want to help?”

“Moreover, even if we’re reluctant to let go of powerful families… We noble houses establish ourselves not to be enemies of the people. Seeing the commoners so angry, we know the Zheng family must have gone too far. We don’t want the common people to suffer such hardship either.”

Everyone fell silent, and after hurriedly drinking two cups of wine, they each returned home to report to their family heads.

In the Eastern Palace.

When the Ministry people took Second Young Master Yan away to the Ministry of Justice, the Crown Prince only then learned about Yan Shang killing someone in public.

Yang Si had originally been drowsy and bored listening to the Crown Prince discussing affairs of state with those ministers again, but hearing the full story about Yan Shang, Yang Si couldn’t help cheering out loud, startling the contemplative crowd.

The Crown Prince looked at Yang Si with displeasure: “…Has Third Young Master just woken up?”

He was mocking how Yang Third Young Master had been sleeping through others discussing state affairs, only now suddenly waking up when hearing about Yan Shang’s matter.

Having been friends with the Crown Prince for many years, Yang Third Young Master’s face had grown extremely thick and he didn’t care at all about the Crown Prince’s mild sarcasm.

Yang Si got up, wearing only white socks, and paced in the council hall.

He had a free-spirited nature and most admired this kind of heroic spirit. Usually, Yan’s Second Young Master’s actions always gave him a feeling of schemes and tricks, which he disliked. Only this kind of youthful heroism earned his admiration.

Yang Si clapped and cheered: “That Zheng family head deserved to die! Making the common people suffer so, seizing people’s fields and homes, showing no remorse, and still wanting the Princess to cover for them… For such people, killing them is most satisfying! Yan Suchen’s action is truly what a real man would do!”

The Crown Prince looked at him: “You seem to have forgotten that the reason the Zheng family seized people’s fields was to collect rent and money. And the reason for collecting rent and money was to hand it over to the Ministry of Revenue, to fill the Ministry’s financial holes. You speak so well of Second Young Master Yan, aren’t you saying I was wrong?”

Yang Si said: “Your Highness was unable to distinguish when using people, causing this kind of trouble – that was wrong from the start!”

Those present all drew in sharp breaths.

Marveling at Yang Third Young Master’s great courage, daring to speak like this in front of the Crown Prince.

Yang Si pushed open the door to leave: “Those Ministry people might make things difficult for Second Young Master Yan, and his imprisonment probably can’t be avoided. This won’t do, I must go to the Ministry to take a look. If they dare make things difficult for Yan Suchen, I’ll have to teach them a good lesson.”

No one in the hall could stop him, and they watched as Yang Third Young Master strode away.

They looked at each other, then turned back to look at the Crown Prince, thinking Yang Si’s behavior represented the Crown Prince. Yang Si going to make trouble at the Ministry, didn’t that mean it was ordered by the Crown Prince?

They looked at the Crown Prince and saw him lost in thought, not sending anyone to bring Yang Third Young Master back.

Everyone said: “Your Highness, this matter might bring trouble to the Eastern Palace…”

But the Crown Prince said: “Not necessarily. This matter… let’s see if anyone else joins in.”

Naturally, others did join in.

In the summer villa at Fan Valley, when Mu Wanyao heard that Yan Shang had killed the Zheng family head, her vision immediately went black and she collapsed to the ground.

She was so angry she nearly coughed blood.

She hated how Yan Shang had completely twisted her intentions!

She had told him to suppress the matter… and he had amplified it instead.

Amplifying it was bad enough, but he had also sent himself to prison!

Mu Wanyao was furious: “Yan Shang, Yan Shang… you bastard!”

Even as she ground her teeth in anger, she still admired that person’s courage. Knowing what she meant, he still went against her… Could he be taking revenge for her ignoring him?

Mu Wanyao was so angry her head hurt. If possible, she really wanted to rush out and scold him harshly. However, Mu Wanyao clutched her heart, persuading herself not to get angry, don’t get angry… At this point, to maximize benefits, she couldn’t get angry, couldn’t act on impulse.

Yan Shang had set up such a situation for her… even if she hated it, even if she was reluctant, she had to cut off her own arm to show all under heaven!

Mu Wanyao paced for a long time, desperately thinking about how to turn the situation to her greatest advantage.

After a very long time, she gritted her teeth, arranged her clothes, and prepared to see His Majesty.

However, the palace eunuch stopped her, saying His Majesty would not see anyone.

Mu Wanyao’s expression changed back and forth. After this path to the Emperor was blocked, she simply returned to her quarters, went back to her writing desk, and began writing a letter to the Eastern Palace:

“Willing to cut off my arm, punish the Zheng family, draw a clear line with the Zheng family, and never use this family again from now on.”

“Willing to use the Zheng family’s disaster as a warning to powerful families across the land! Do not treat the people as slaves, do not treat the people as meat…”

“Begging the Eastern Palace to rectify the powerful families across the land, requesting noble houses to examine the trend of powerful families. The powerful families have been a disaster for all under heaven, not just the actions of one day. We should take this opportunity to investigate the accounts of powerful families across the land over these years…”

Late at night.

The lights in the Eastern Palace still burned bright through the night.

A group of ministers sat on both sides as the Crown Prince took Princess Danyang’s letter, read it, and passed it to the ministers.

The ministers were greatly pleased: “The Princess’s goodness and magnanimity should be an example for all under heaven!”

The Crown Prince nodded.

He showed a slight smile, for all day he had been waiting to see if Mu Wanyao would take action.

Mu Wanyao had acted.

Her political awareness… had finally risen a level, finally understanding what was best.

The Crown Prince said: “Tomorrow at court, pass the Princess’s petition to all the ministers. The trend of powerful families indeed needs to be rectified.”

With such rectification, the wealth accumulated by powerful families over the years would be confiscated, and the Ministry of Revenue would no longer lack money…

The Crown Prince said: “Since we are rectifying powerful families, but bad practices under heaven, how could it only be powerful families?”

The ministers pondered the Crown Prince’s meaning, and one person thought of something, saying: “Princess Imperial Luling has kept beautiful young men for many years, seized good fields from the people, allowed her people to bully and cause trouble for the common people… The Princess Imperial has angered the public for many years, Your Highness must investigate.”

The Crown Prince had been waiting for these words.

Since they were taking action.

Yan Shang wanted a reputation.

Mu Wanyao wanted a reputation.

Wouldn’t the Eastern Palace want the same?

The Crown Prince said: “I hope Aunt has such cooperative awareness.”

When Princess Imperial Luling’s residence was surrounded by government officials, Princess Imperial nearly went mad, realizing the Crown Prince was going to move against her.

Originally it was just a matter of powerful families, and she had been watching from the sidelines, but now it seemed the Crown Prince was actually going to link her together with those powerful families for punishment.

Only now did Princess Imperial Luling realize that from the beginning, she had wrongly trusted Yan Shang.

Yan Shang said the Crown Prince would protect her.

She had believed it too.

But the Crown Prince time and again… this time directly coming to punish her crimes, wanting to arrest criminals from her residence, wanting to investigate the Princess Imperial’s cases over many years!

Princess Imperial Luling raged: “I want to see His Majesty! I want to complain to Imperial Brother! Mu Lang! You’re a bastard! You’re heartless… not even sparing your aunt!”

Mu Lang was the given name of the current Crown Prince.

No one dared call it.

You can see how angry the Princess Imperial was.

The people who came to search the Princess’s residence dared move against others but didn’t dare stop the Princess Imperial. The Princess Imperial was so angry she drove the carriage herself, intending to personally go to Fan Valley to see the Emperor and complain.

She had driven half a li when the carriage was blocked.

Thinking it was those people searching the Princess Imperial’s residence not even sparing herself, the Princess Imperial angrily took out her whip. She jumped down from the carriage and lashed out with the whip, striking the person blocking the carriage.

It was a handsome young gentleman – struck by her whip, his long hair slightly scattered on his cheeks, with a bright red mark.

Feng Xianyu looked at her in shock.

The Princess Imperial saw it was him and was first surprised, then angry: “What, you’re also going to stop me? Get out of the way!”

Feng Xianyu grabbed Princess Imperial’s hand and forced her back into the carriage, away from the surrounding citizens’ watching eyes. In the carriage, he lifted his robes and knelt before the Princess Imperial, looking up earnestly: “Your Highness, this is a rare chance for you to build a good reputation, how can you let it pass? This is the most important part of your cooperation with His Highness the Crown Prince, how can you abandon it halfway?”

Princess Imperial Luling sneered: “Cooperation? At this point, I can see that no one wants to cooperate with me. They were all deceiving me, using me…”

As she spoke, her face turned pale and her whole body trembled.

She felt that if the Emperor died, she would truly die along with him…

Feng Xianyu said urgently: “Your Highness must not think this way! I can go see the Crown Prince for Your Highness, speak with him privately, and ask the Crown Prince to make his intentions clear. If the Crown Prince truly won’t leave Your Highness a way to live, then Your Highness can still complain to His Majesty. Right now under heaven, the Zheng family is despised by all – how can Your Highness put yourself on the same level as the Zheng family and lose the people’s hearts?”

Princess Imperial Luling looked at him blankly.

After a long while, she finally nodded hesitantly: “Young Master Feng, I’ll trust you this once. The Crown Prince doesn’t treat me as his aunt… in the end, I have to rely on my lover to save myself.”

She gave a bitter laugh, leaning her head against the carriage wall, her usually bright and enchanting face now extremely gloomy.

Feng Xianyu lowered his head and said softly: “Your Highness need not be so desperate. Things haven’t reached that point… The Crown Prince must recognize you as his aunt, the Crown Prince moving against you is just about not avoiding suspicion. Only by cooperating well will you have a way to live in the future.”

Princess Imperial Luling looked down at him and said quietly: “Then you go do it. I’ve kept so many male favorites, yet not one is useful. When the people searching the Princess’s residence arrived at the gate, they all scattered in fear. Yet you still dare come find me, not afraid of being implicated… Young Master Feng, thank you.”

Feng Xianyu’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

He turned his head slightly, keeping his face rigid, not letting himself look at this woman’s desolate expression.

He acted this way also because he didn’t want her to fall. He had relied on her to become an official, and in the future would still need to rely on her to continue advancing… but her desolation also made his heart dim, thinking about the situation under heaven, fortune, and disaster from dawn to dusk, truly hard to say.

Thus, everyone had sprung into action.

At night, the palace eunuch once again reported the latest developments to the Emperor.

Told how Second Young Master Yan had entered prison, how the people pleaded for him;

Told how Mu Wanyao had resolutely cut off her arm, pleaded for the people, requested investigation of powerful families across the land;

Told how the Crown Prince had affirmed Princess Danyang’s petition in court, and how the Crown Prince had then moved against Princess Imperial Luling…

The Emperor sighed in appreciation: “Brilliant.”

“Not one person left behind, not one person dragging their feet. The situation’s changes are so interesting, pulling one hair moves the whole body. What started as an issue of a maid’s pregnancy, small squabbles reaching this level – I’m becoming… more and more interested in them.”