To timely stop the other side and investigate their conspiracy, she and Murong Yi had split into two routes. Murong Yi rushed ahead to protect the people in the prison, while she took a step later to first control the people in the Capital Prefecture, then hurried over.

Murong Yi looked at Tie Ci, thinking about Gu Xiaoxiao’s words he’d heard earlier on the rooftop, and truly wished he could kick all these bastards to death.

He had heard she was treated as a puppet and noticed that initially people didn’t show her much respect.

But he’d thought that with her noble status and being the dynasty’s only heir, people would still kowtow before her face, and at least in the imperial palace she’d have fine clothes and food with no one giving her grief.

He was wrong. Even the Liaodong royal palace was so dark—why had he assumed the Great Qian imperial palace would be a good place to stay?

His magnanimous and generous Eighteen had also grown up under grinding oppression.

It truly pained his heart beyond measure.

Now he only wanted to kiss, hug, and lift high that little cutie, hold her in his arms and comfort her properly.

He wanted to kick away all these messy troubles and stay far away from her forever.

His nose wasn’t a nose, his eyes weren’t eyes. He kicked down someone rushing at him, his boot slowly grinding, producing bone-cracking sounds and continuous screams, until Tie Ci glanced at him sideways. Only then did he snort coldly and withdraw his foot.

The leading Capital Prefecture judge didn’t recognize Tie Ci, but he recognized the Blood Cavalry and Crown Princess’s Nine Guards, immediately breaking into a cold sweat across his forehead.

Seeing that Shen Mi and the others were unharmed, Tie Ci relaxed slightly and signaled the Nine Guards to bring them out.

Xia Houchun personally went forward to collect the medicines from the boxes the two “doctors” carried, along with the powder on the ground.

Only then did Tie Ci turn to stare at the Capital Prefecture judge.

The judge also knew that begging for mercy was useless at this moment—it was a matter of life and death. Gritting his teeth, he said: “Your Highness… these people are serious criminals… Even though you are the Crown Prince, you cannot arbitrarily take people from the Capital Prefecture… prison.”

Tie Ci said: “I heard you said Young Master Gu was using chicken feathers as command arrows? What, is my handwritten order a chicken feather?”

The judge said: “No… no! He was falsely claiming imperial orders! Your subject… your subject saw no handwritten order from him! Your subject is innocent! We should pursue Young Master Gu’s crime of forging the Crown Prince’s handwritten order!”

Ignoring a handwritten order was the crime of great disrespect to the imperial family, punishable by dismissal or even beheading. He would never admit to it no matter what—after all, the order had already been crushed by him!

Tie Ci looked at him, then suddenly smiled slowly.

The smile chilled his heart.

Then he saw Tie Ci walk to the pile of fragments and place her hand over them.

The judge’s eyes widened.

He witnessed an incredible scene he would never forget in his lifetime.

When Tie Ci lifted her hand away.

The handwritten order he had crushed appeared on the ground, dirty but completely intact.

Tie Ci picked up the paper, glanced at the private seal, then glanced at Murong Yi.

Murong Yi smiled innocently at her.

Tie Ci held up the paper and waved it at the judge: “No handwritten order? No trampling? The big footprint is still on it—shall we compare it with your boot?”

The judge stared blankly, obviously still not recovered from the enormous shock and blow.

Tie Ci didn’t even look at him, waving her hand: “Take them all away.”

The large group marched out in formation, escorting prisoners. The judge and others struggled in shock: “Your Highness! Your Highness! Where are you taking us! This is the Capital Prefecture, we are government officials, you cannot set up private courts to deal with us!”

The several steward-like people also shouted: “Help! Help! We are innocent citizens! We did nothing! Someone is abusing their power to harm… mmph…”

Tie Ci waved her hand, and they were simply and roughly gagged.

A group of people escorted the Capital Prefecture officials outside. Deputy Governor and others had just received word and rushed over in panic. Not bothering to pay respects to Tie Ci, they stood before the corridor, arms spread to block everyone: “Your Highness! You cannot act so perversely! You have no authority to arbitrarily detain and arrest court officials! The Censorate will impeach you! Where are you taking them!”

Tie Ci stopped and looked calmly at the now-disheveled Capital Prefecture Deputy Governor.

“Where am I going? I’m going to beat the Dengwen drum.”

The Deputy Governor was thunderstruck, his mouth gaping.

“Then going to the Court of Judicial Review to cry injustice.”

Deputy Governor: “…”

Tie Ci didn’t pause, walking around him to continue forward.

“I am the Crown Prince, but I am also human. Since some people feel wronged and want to beat the Dengwen drum, then when I’m wronged I naturally also want to beat the drum. As for whom I’m accusing,” she turned to smile at the dumbfounded Deputy Governor, “you, all the bastards in your prefecture who participated in today’s affairs, all the bastards scheming behind the scenes—you’re all on the list. Don’t worry, go wash your face and change clothes, obediently wait for people to summon you for questioning. Best say goodbye to your wife and children, preparing coffins wouldn’t hurt either… you’ll need them sooner or later anyway!”

…

Day had already broken.

Dawn was pale blue, spreading from the palace roof beasts all the way to the eaves of ordinary citizens’ homes.

Many of the capital’s residents had already risen—those going to work, making their living, setting up stalls, delivering water and vegetables, buying breakfast. The streets rang with clear bells as dawn light mingled with the pale white scent of cooking fires in the crisscrossing alleys.

Suddenly orderly footsteps echoed through the streets.

People looked back to see a large procession emerging from the Capital Prefecture, which always drew attention. One group in red clothes and red armor, one group in blue clothes and blue armor, with golden totems on the armor.

These people were escorting a group of disheveled prisoners. Some still wore official robes.

The two people in front were like bright pearls and jade trees, brilliant and handsome in appearance, making people instinctively follow them with their gaze.

After following for a while, someone reacted: “Aren’t those the Blood Cavalry and Crown Princess’s Nine Guards!”

The Blood Cavalry and Crown Princess’s Nine Guards had returned to the capital from Yong Ping not long ago. Most of the capital’s residents had lined the streets to welcome them that day, still remembering the grand occasion and the particularly vibrant and fierce-looking Blood Cavalry.

The capital’s residents also knew clearly that the three hundred Blood Cavalry now remaining in the capital belonged to the Crown Princess.

Then those at the front now…

And that group wearing official robes and jailer uniforms—some people recognized them. Weren’t those the lords from the Capital Prefecture who usually had their eyes on top of their heads?

What had happened?

The Crown Princess had tied up people from the Capital Prefecture?!

The citizens erupted in excitement, immediately dropping vegetables, throwing down bowls, abandoning carts, and hurriedly closing stalls.

The capital’s residents, living at the emperor’s feet, had seen great events and knew great events didn’t wait. Missing a good show would be lifelong regret, and they especially knew this Crown Princess had a legendary constitution—wherever she appeared, explosive incidents were guaranteed.

Following was definitely right!

Before they’d run far, someone at the end of the long street shouted: “Examination candidates are rioting! Three thousand people have gathered at the Tribute Academy, saying the Crown Princess instructed the chief and deputy examiners to cheat in the imperial examinations, leaking test questions to Yue Li Academy students. They demand severe punishment of all involved and have already surrounded the Tribute Academy!”

The crowd erupted.

A major examination fraud case!

The central figure of this major event was right in front of them!

The direction the Crown Princess was leading people was exactly toward the Tribute Academy!

This was going to be a major incident!

The capital’s residents trembled with excitement.

Wherever the procession passed, countless people smashed bowls, trampled vegetables, abandoned stalls, joining the flow. The crowd grew larger and larger, filling an entire street. Capital Prefecture soldiers who chased out were completely blocked and couldn’t advance a step.

The entire capital was alarmed.

Many officials hadn’t slept well tonight.

Except for those of low rank insufficient to be involved in this struggle, the rest—whether worried, expectant, or uneasy—had been tossing and turning most of the night. Though dawn was still dark, they hastily rose to rush to the palace.

Before they could leave, they’d already heard all the news they should hear.

Someone had climbed the Dengwen Academy wall at midnight to beat the drum, exposing the major examination fraud case.

The Cabinet and Palace Ceremonial Supervisor had jointly issued imperial edicts overnight in the Empress Dowager’s name to arrest criminals and place the chief and deputy examiners under house arrest. Censorate officials worked overtime through the night writing memorials to impeach the Crown Princess.

Scholar Rong had broken into the palace gate at night, blasting through the palace gate.

The Crown Princess had left the palace at midnight, even arresting the Vermillion Bird Camp deputy commander on charges of treason.

Chong Ming Palace was startled three times in one night, with the new female worshipper smashing through a wall.

The latest news was that the Crown Princess had gone to the Capital Prefecture, with follow-up reports yet to come.

Every single incident was major.

Every single incident made hearts race with alarm.

The Crown Princess, most passive in this affair, had reactions that completely exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Officials trembled while rushing to line up at the square before Cheng Qian Hall, passing through the palace gate and seeing the large hole not yet repaired, all faces deathly pale.

But they didn’t see the Scorpion Camp guards, only quail-like Vermillion Bird Guards standing dejectedly on both sides of the gate opening.

In the duty room sat a class of officials fourth rank and above.

Though many were present, no one spoke.

At the head sat Rong Luchuan and Xiao Liheng. Sensitive people noticed that these two bosses who rarely sat together were today seated left and right at the head.

Every gesture of these court bigwigs was a signal. Except for Xiao and Rong faction officials who already knew the inside story, other neutral officials were privately weighing matters in their hearts.

Xiao Liheng slowly drank tea, smiling at Rong Luchuan: “Has the Chief Minister heard that last night a scholar climbed over the Dengwen Academy to report this year’s examination fraud?”

Rong Luchuan half-closed his eyes, sighing after a long while: “Examination fraud has always been a case where blood flows like rivers.”

Xiao Liheng said: “State law is merciless, yet some still strive eagerly, unafraid of fresh blood on blade edges, rushing forward, treating the great talent selection ceremony as their own back garden. Then don’t blame a common man’s rage causing blood to flow three feet deep.”

Rong Luchuan drank tea without speaking.

This was acquiescence.

Everyone understood.

Xiao Liheng smiled at everyone: “Young people, greedy for power and rash advancement, should receive some teaching, shouldn’t they?”

Everyone nodded obsequiously, some remained silent.

Xiao Liheng looked around, expression satisfied.

His gaze swept past an old man dozing behind the crowd—the Court of Judicial Review Minister, advanced in years, spending half his court time napping and half in meditation, eyes always crusted with sleep. Though one of the Three Legal Departments’ chief officials and someone he needed to win over, the old man basically didn’t handle affairs, with all business done by the Deputy Minister, so Xiao Liheng had focused on winning over the Deputy Minister.

Seeing the old man still drowsy, Xiao Liheng curled his lip and looked away.

Outside, people walked back and forth, seemingly some minister’s attendant. Xiao Liheng saw the Personnel Minister go out.

After a while, several more Investigating Censors went out.

Later two War Ministry Vice Ministers went out.

Then two Censorate censors, the Court of Imperial Entertainment Minister and Temple of Imperial Ancestry Deputy Minister also went out successively.

All were called out by attendants. When they returned, their expressions were somewhat strange. With more people going out, everyone looked at each other with even stranger expressions.

Xiao Liheng noticed this and sent someone to follow and look. He saw a War Ministry Vice Minister’s household guard apparently hand over something. The Vice Minister looked quite surprised, hurriedly tucking the item into his sleeve before lowering his head to return.

Xiao Liheng leaned over: “Old Ding, what’s wrong? Something at home?”

The Vice Minister glanced at him, chuckled, and said: “Yes, a small matter, nothing serious.”

Xiao Liheng knew he couldn’t get anything out of him and felt somewhat uneasy. Too many people were coming and going today—did every household have affairs?

But looking at the numbers, though not all were his people, they certainly weren’t imperial faction people either. They couldn’t all have switched sides simultaneously in this short half hour.

Xiao Liheng thought about this first joint effort between the Xiao family, Rong family, and Palace Ceremonial Supervisor—truly an unprecedented iron alliance of ministers. That puppet emperor and that unfledged brat had now lost even the formerly favorable hearts of scholars. What could they use to contend with him?

He smiled slightly, his tea cup gently placed on the lacquered tray with a soft clink.

If Tie Ci had such ability, his Xiao family would bow in submission from now on!

…

The Emperor’s sedan chair’s escort procession moved majestically along the paved path.

Tie Yan had been awakened at midnight, then suffered two assassination attempts, both blocked by Pingzong. Angry and shocked, he tossed and turned sleeplessly, rising early to go directly to court.

When heading to the front court, he encountered the Empress Dowager’s phoenix carriage.

The Empress Dowager, who had remained deep in the palace for many days without emerging, had actually left Ciren Palace today.

When both sedan chairs met, Tie Yan should have dismounted to pay respects to the Empress Dowager according to protocol.

Tie Yan looked through the curtains at the shadowy figure in the opposite curtains, bit his teeth, and said: “Let’s go!”

The Emperor’s sedan chair passed by the Empress Dowager’s sedan chair, taking a detour.

The Empress Dowager’s sedan chair curtain lifted slightly, revealing half of her exquisitely made-up face, coldly watching ahead.

Li Gui bowed, softly saying: “Empress Dowager…”

“Wings have hardened, have they?” Empress Dowager Xiao laughed coldly.

She heavily dropped the curtain: “Let’s go!”

…

Before Cheng Qian Hall, hundreds of officials performed mountain-calling ritual worship, with the Empress Dowager seated behind curtains.

The Cabinet that should have protested acted as if they saw nothing.

Before Tie Yan could say a word, censors from the Censorate standing to impeach filled the hall floor.

Impeachment memorials brought by the Cabinet were a full two feet thick. Xiao Liheng, Li Shen and others personally led the charge.

A full half or more of the ministers were stating their case, grieving, kowtowing, roaring.

The imperial examination was the nation’s great talent selection ceremony.

It concerned court scholar selection, Great Qian’s ten thousand years, scholars’ futures, long-term peace and stability.

The imperial examination was a great matter. Those who cheated extinguished their consciences, arousing both human and divine anger.

They requested the execution of He Zi and Duan Yande, and the execution of the bribe-taking students.

The Crown Princess had instructed from behind in this matter, using the imperial examination to gather her faction. Moreover, she had broken into the palace at midnight, using explosives before the main hall, acting wildly and perversely. They requested the Crown Princess be deposed!

…

Most of Great Qian’s important government offices were concentrated in one area.

The Tribute Academy, Court of Judicial Review, and Dengwen Academy were located at triangular positions on one main street.

At this moment, thousands of people gathered before the Tribute Academy, rolling up sleeves and waving arms, their voices like a tide.

“Examination fraud—where does this place our ten years of cold window study!”

“Execute the chief and deputy examiners! Corrupt officials!”

“Execute the bribe-paying scholars!”

“The Crown Princess should apologize before us all!”

…

Among them, some were righteously indignant, some had shifting gazes, some led the shouting, some frowned in thought, some tried to voice opposing opinions.

But once group emotions exploded, they became an unstoppable torrent that would sweep up and drown everyone, making any dissenting voice impossible to voice.

Soldiers from the three major camps stationed in the inner city maintained order but didn’t disperse the crowd. Instead, more and more people gathered.

Inner city affairs should have involved troops from the Five Military Commands Office, but because Qi Ling was also impeached, the Empress Dowager ordered the three major camps to take over inner city defense. All Five Military Commands Office troops were forbidden to move without authorization, violators to be treated as treasonous.

Swift riders continuously carried news to the palace like lightning. The more violently the Tribute Academy situation erupted, the louder those censors’ voices became in the hall.

Who knows how the three major camps maintained order, but soon the candidates’ emotions became even more agitated, constantly pushing and shoving. Several people nearly got injured, and several others wanted to ram the Tribute Academy pillars.

Until the Blood Cavalry, following Tie Ci’s orders, arrived. The Blood Cavalry’s gazes were like lightning, quickly dividing the crowd, pulling aside several candidates making the most trouble, stopping several candidates trying to storm the Tribute Academy, and explaining that someone would come to give an account later. Only then did they suppress the boiling crowd.

The three major camps’ soldiers were usually arrogant but didn’t dare face the Blood Cavalry directly. After all, the opposition was iron cavalry that used killing as daily training, with renowned威名 throughout the realm. Therefore they restrained themselves considerably.

But people continued flowing in, emotions gradually being stirred up again. The Blood Cavalry sent earlier were about to be unable to hold back the crowd.

Until suddenly a large group surged into the long street.

The students looked back to see cold-faced red and blue clothed cavalry, like blood lines pressing into the street’s arteries.

Sharp-eyed people also saw Shen Mi and others protected in the center by Blood Cavalry and Nine Guards.

They were all examination candidates, some having seen them before. Immediately someone shouted: “Those cheating students!”

“Weren’t they detained at the Capital Prefecture for questioning!”

“The Blood Cavalry rescued them from prison!”

“Look, that’s the Capital Prefecture judge!”

“The Blood Cavalry and Crown Princess’s Nine Guards rescued people and even tied up the presiding court official?”

“Heavens, such lawlessness, just because the Crown Princess backs them!”

“The Crown Princess actually acts so perversely, disregarding scholars’ grievances and public opinion!”

Then the red and blue cavalry parted, and they saw Tie Ci and Murong Yi at the front of the crowd.

The crowd suddenly fell quiet.

Moments later, even greater clamor erupted.

“The Crown Princess!”

“That must be the Crown Princess!”

“We thought the Crown Princess was enlightened and benevolent, but it was all a façade!”

“Is it because of years as a puppet that once gaining power, she became especially greedy, urgently grasping for authority!”

This last soul-piercing question immediately pushed the already reactive scholars’ emotions to their peak. People’s fear of imperial power was suppressed as angry shouts and denunciations became chaotic. More scholars tore open their clothes, baring their chests in the spring cold as they rushed forward, wanting to: “With my blood I question imperial power!”

But all these suicidal, cursing, accusing people were blocked by cold-faced Blood Cavalry. Red cavalry crisscrossed through the long street, forming a line, blocking all the boiling clamor and secretly ill-intentioned instigation.

From beginning to end, facing the tide of anger and violence, Tie Ci said not a word.

She only looked at the scholars with contempt, then turned her horse’s head.

The crowd instinctively quieted, and citizens followed her running.

The scholars naturally also followed, wanting to see what trick she would play.