Feng Zhiwei’s eyebrows moved almost imperceptibly.

On the river? Which river?

Was it the Li River that flowed directly from the capital to the Jinghuai region, or some tributary of the Li River within the Jianghuai territory?

She was slightly distracted, her mind flashing to that rainy night on the river with its black-canopied boat… Then she returned to her senses, thinking that Qiu Yuluo’s words sounded rather ambiguous. Aid? If it was aid, she should speak properly about it—why that halting, strange tone?

The timing and manner of Qiu Yuluo’s appearance also seemed far too bold. Prince Chu and herself had only just arrived, and the crowd had not yet paid their respects when she, a mere woman, rushed forward ahead of everyone. It seemed that the spoiled eldest daughter habits cultivated during her years at the Five Military Commandery Bureau had not been reined in even after marriage.

She descended from the carriage with a faint smile. By rights, with Qiu Yuluo’s status casually accosting a prince, there was no need for her to reprimand—someone else would naturally stop it.

Unexpectedly, after she descended, the surroundings were completely quiet. She saw Ning Cheng, who was accompanying Ning Yi, open his mouth, glance at her, then suddenly close it and turn his face away.

Looking again, she understood where the silence came from—because Ning Yi had not spoken, nor had he shown any expression of surprise. He merely lowered his head slightly, looking at Qiu Yuluo.

From Feng Zhiwei’s angle, she could not see his expression, only the opposite Qiu Yuluo’s face gradually beginning to change. It was not panic or embarrassment, but gradually growing coy and uneasy, her cheeks flushing with a faint red.

A woman only blushes under a man’s one particular kind of gaze.

Feng Zhiwei watched with a faint smile, her hands clasped behind her back, neither stopping nor speaking. The gentry on all sides grew uneasy, not knowing what play this was. When had this Lady Li of the Li family become acquainted with Prince Chu? From her tone, His Highness had even helped her before?

After a long while, Ning Yi finally spoke, very slowly and simply: “No need for such formality.”

This light phrase revealed nothing about whether he acknowledged or denied it. Then he said nothing more. Qiu Yuluo quickly performed another salute and retreated to the side. Only then did everyone bow down like planted candles: “We pay our respects to Your Highness, we pay our respects to Minister Wei!”

Ning Yi merely raised his hand casually and took the lead in walking forward, displaying the noble bearing of an imperial prince. Everyone respectfully withdrew to both sides in awe. Feng Zhiwei, however, adopted a completely different manner. As she walked, she smiled and said casually: “This must be Master Chen? You returned from the frontier so quickly? The scenery beyond the passes is excellent. I hear this year’s snow season arrived early—I wonder what the grain prices on the grasslands are like now?”

“This must be Master Liu? Hehe, shortly before I left the capital, I drank with your elder brother. He told me that the Personnel Ministry affairs were burdensome and he was thinking of retiring early… If he does retire to his hometown, I think your villa in West Capital would be perfect… “

“This must be the young master of the Dao family? Truly young and accomplished. Where is your concubine from Shannan? Why didn’t you bring her? Shannan abounds in beauties—your concubine must surely be a national beauty. Otherwise, Master Dao wouldn’t have had to decline even my dinner invitation… wouldn’t you say?”

“This must be Young Master Yang? You donated a sixth-rank magistrate position in the fifteenth year of Changxi? You’ve always brought welfare to your native place and bestowed kindness locally. I imagine for national affairs, you would certainly not lag behind others either. I thank you in advance here…”

“This must be Elder Wu…”

“This must be…”

She walked along, casually pointing out each person, chatting and laughing with ease and grace, yet her words made all the gentry break into a sweat. Everyone exchanged glances, revealing expressions of alarm—this young and famous Provincial Administration Commissioner was truly formidable! Though they had clearly never met face to face, she casually identified everyone, and not only that, she knew each person’s status, family background, property holdings, career history, connections in the court, and more—all without a single error. Her words seemed like small talk, like greetings, spoken casually in a soft, gentle stream, yet the sharp edges within stabbed at people’s hearts!

How was that small talk? It was warning, it was admonishment, it was laying everything bare, it was smilingly slapping you in the face while you couldn’t react and had to smile and bear it!

The gentry had already been tormented with anxiety these past two weeks by that news. Now these words finally showed them Minister Wei’s true colors in person—indeed worthy of the legendary smiling tiger reputation.

The smiling tiger walked past with a beaming face, pointing out everyone—except she conspicuously skipped over the Li family, who had been first to decline the Provincial Administration Office’s invitation. Qiu Yuluo was clearly standing in a prominent position at the front, a lone woman standing out, yet she acted as if she didn’t see her.

This action, observed by everyone, sparked another round of meaningful glances—Minister Wei seemed to have quite an issue with the Li family. Someone like her could not possibly overlook anyone unintentionally; it must be deliberate.

Everyone imperceptibly retreated a few steps, and suddenly the area around Qiu Yuluo became like a receding tide, leaving her isolated like an island.

Yet she seemed unconcerned, keeping her eyes firmly fixed on Ning Yi’s back, not even glancing at Feng Zhiwei once.

Everyone now followed the two into the front hall where the banquet was set. Ning Yi took the head seat, Feng Zhiwei sat in the host’s position to accompany him, and each family sat down respectfully according to rank. At this moment, everyone was proper and well-behaved—not even a cough could be heard.

“I have been in Jianghuai for several months now, and today finally have the opportunity to gather with all the local gentry in one hall—truly rare. Come, let us all drink together first, to celebrate His Majesty’s eternal reign and Prince Chu’s thousand autumns of fortune!” After Feng Zhiwei finished these formal words, she raised her cup first.

Below, a forest of arms rose up, with a clamorous chorus of “Celebrate His Majesty’s eternal reign, celebrate Prince Chu’s thousand autumns of fortune.” Yet a woman’s voice rang out, clear and slightly sharp, distinctly audible among all the male voices: “Celebrate His Majesty’s eternal reign, celebrate Prince Chu’s thousand autumns of fortune and smooth sailing in all matters.”

These four extra words came precisely at the tail end of everyone’s words, making them even more conspicuous and jarring. For a moment, everyone held their cups and froze.

The room instantly fell into a vacuum of silence. Ning Yi raised his eyes and glanced at Qiu Yuluo, who had spoken, then smiled and raised his cup toward everyone, saying: “Everyone need not stand on ceremony. Lady Li’s final sentiment was well-spoken. Right now, this prince truly does hope for smooth sailing and success in all matters—for instance, in the river works this prince is currently supervising. The Ling River, a tributary of the Li River, was originally a necessary passage connecting the capital and Huai canal, but due to this winter’s drought and freezing, the river changed course, forming sandbars. Simply reinforcing the riverbank and channeling water here is already a massive project. The river works currently lack silver for wages. In such cold weather, the laborers need at least two taels of burning liquor before they can go into the water. When this prince inspected the river works that day, I saw the laborers’ legs densely covered with bloody cuts from ice shards, yet I had no relief silver to give them. Alas…”

He seemed to be helping Qiu Yuluo out of an awkward situation, but in fact, with a turn of topic, he had skillfully shifted to today’s main theme. Such conversational skill even earned an admiring glance from Feng Zhiwei, who immediately raised her cup with a smile and said: “Your Highness’s concern for the country and people truly commands our heartfelt respect. However, Your Highness need not worry—everyone present are patriotic gentlemen and enlightened gentry who have always stood together with the nation. For such matters that benefit both country and people, they naturally will not stand by idly. Moreover, once the canal is navigable, it will benefit all the merchants present without harm. To speak crudely, this is a family matter—one family shouldn’t speak as two. When the old master is temporarily short of funds, if the children and grandchildren are stingy with their purses, be careful you won’t get any soup when the inheritance is divided, hehe.”

Everyone’s faces turned red and white alternately, and they could only accompany her with awkward laughter: “Hehe!”

Ning Cheng, who had been maintaining a serious expression on the side, suddenly turned to face the wall, desperately suppressing the laughter that wanted to burst out—this woman and His Highness were truly a heaven-made pair of scoundrels, one playing good cop and one playing bad cop, one tactfully appealing to emotion, the other threatening with both carrot and stick. In all the world, one truly couldn’t find a better-coordinated duo than these two!

The entire hall once again fell into a vacuum of silence. People grabbed their cups and looked at each other—no one had expected His Highness and Minister Wei to be so urgent and so ruthless, not even allowing for pleasantries as a transition, but directly pressing the matter to their faces. At this moment, if they drank this cup of wine, it would be equivalent to agreeing to donate. Agreeing to donate was still a small matter—the nation was in troubled times, and the river works were so vast that once they opened their mouths, they would probably have to keep filling a bottomless pit. Moreover, once the donation ledger was presented, what if this smiling tiger filled in a terrifying number—should they agree or not?

At the same time, they felt unwilling—in the past, for such matters, they would casually dispatch a few thousand or tens of thousands of taels, and whichever Provincial Administration Commissioner would not dare say anything. Jianghuai was prosperous; adding a tax here or there was acceptable, but wielding the knife against the gentry was not done. Now this person had come and they had to obediently hand over money—were they truly caught like this?

Everyone’s eyes turned toward the representatives of the Liu and Li families. Qiu Yuluo smiled faintly and stood up, saying: “My uncle is bedridden with illness, and my husband also has a slight ailment. Unable to help it, I, a mere woman, must show my face. Naturally, I have no place to speak in such matters and will follow the lead of all the uncles and elder brothers present.”

Everyone cursed inwardly—now you say you’ll follow our lead! If you truly had no say, why did you come here?

Unexpectedly, Qiu Yuluo’s eyes swept around, circling deliberately or not around Ning Yi seated above, and her words also turned with them: “But my Li family, as subjects under His Majesty’s rule, whenever the nation has need, should naturally exert ourselves to help. With just one word from Your Highness, we naturally dare not fall behind others.”

She didn’t say “one word from Minister Wei,” but specifically said Ning Yi. Although Ning Yi was in charge of the river works and had brought up this matter first, at this moment these words sounded strange no matter how one heard them. After all, the organizer of this affair was the Provincial Administration Office.

That tone, solemn yet seemingly containing a few hints of flirtation, reminded people of those certain situations where certain men and women would playfully banter using that kind of sentence structure—”As long as you… then I will…”

If the earlier four extra words could be understood as Lady Li, being an inexperienced woman, being nervous and flustered at her first encounter with a prince, now this dialogue clearly showed that Lady Li was not inexperienced. The implications became quite interesting.

Flirting in public?

For a moment, everyone even forgot about the tense matter of money demands. Their eyes ambiguously darted back and forth toward those above. Prince Chu’s romantic reputation filled the capital—these people who maintained close ties with the capital, how could they not know? Legend had it this prince enjoyed flower districts and pleasure quarters, was fond of both men and women, and accepted all beauties who came—by this appearance, had he changed his tastes again? Turned toward married women?

Some better-informed individuals had vaguely heard that the Li family’s only son seemed to be… inadequate in that department. Could it be that this Lady Li from a capital noble family had previously had an affair with Prince Chu, and now, lonely in an empty chamber, was rekindling old feelings with His Highness?

Human nature is naturally inclined toward gossip. For a moment, eyebrows and glances engaged in lively exchanges, eyes full of interest flying everywhere.

Feng Zhiwei smiled and lowered her head to drink, not even glancing at Ning Yi. Ning Yi, however, also maintained his composure. Holding his cup, he listened carefully, then smiled and said: “Lady Li has a profound understanding of righteousness and should be a model for Jianghuai gentry.”

This one sentence, like his earlier one, revealed no specific meaning. He caught whatever was thrown at him and then set it aside—no one could discern any definite conclusion from his words. Feng Zhiwei once again admired this—the conversational depth cultivated by the imperial family was actually applied so skillfully even in dealing with women.

Qiu Yuluo, however, seemed very satisfied by Ning Yi’s words. Her spirits soared as she drained her cup, the flush rising to her face as she sat down. However, the head of Jianghuai’s wealthiest family, the greatest salt merchant house of Liu, upon hearing this exchange grew anxious. After some thought, he said: “When Your Highness and Minister Wei speak, how dare we not comply? Yet we are willing but lacking in capability! Your Highness and Minister Wei, don’t listen to those uninformed people gossiping about how wealthy salt merchants are—in truth, our suffering is known only to ourselves. Each year we pay salt tax silver to the Salt Transportation Office and obtain salt permits—that alone is a huge sum. We barely manage to secure the salt quotas with over half our annual profit, yet we cannot withstand private salt smugglers undermining us from behind. Now with war erupting in the south, many refugees have flooded here, swarming under those private salt smugglers to engage in this profitable business. At this rate, no matter how substantial one’s estate, one cannot withstand such drain—Your Highness, see clearly! Minister, see clearly!”

“Indeed,” someone immediately chimed in—it was Master Chen, who claimed to have gone to the grasslands to sell grain. The Chen family monopolized soybeans, tung oil, tea, and rice in Jiangnan, transporting them to Shannan and Shanbei to exchange for salt, iron, wheat, cotton, timber, and tobacco, then reselling to the grasslands and Northwest—his family had branches throughout the nation. At this moment, he furrowed his brow, stroked his goatee, his bean-like triangular eyes gleaming cunningly as he sighed: “Your Highness, Minister, you see us as outwardly prosperous, but we’re actually empty shells! Our trading houses traveling north and south face layer upon layer of tax stations—after a round trip, what truly falls into our hands is only a small amount. With a large household and retainers all consuming and spending, year after year we merely maintain a surface operation. It’s not that we don’t care about court affairs, but we cannot withstand this annual reaching out. Last year during the southern flood, didn’t we donate grain? The year before during the northern snow disaster, we also pledged ten thousand taels. The year before that…” He counted on his fingers one by one, finally smacking his lips and sighing: “Not afraid to speak shamefully—we’ve been drained long ago. My Chen household, old and young, eats meat only once every three days, no more than that. I haven’t eaten meat in two days—if you don’t believe me, cut open my belly and look!” He said this with a chuckle.

Feng Zhiwei glanced at him. This Master Chen, though not ranked highest among Jianghuai’s prominent families, was the most ruthless and miserly person. The Chen family’s bullying and market domination—complaints about them reportedly filled the signing room of the Jianghuai prefectural office, ignored for many years. Recently there was even a petition accusing this person of abducting a commoner woman and causing her death, but the Chen family was large and powerful, reportedly having connections in both legitimate and criminal circles, with a gang of desperate ruffians under them. Their criminal influence spanned all of Jianghuai. As the saying goes, even a powerful dragon fears the local snake. Previous Provincial Administration Commissioners, though not necessarily intimidated by the Chen family itself, feared those desperate thugs who might suddenly approach you with a knife while you were watching a play or going out. Living in such constant fear was too nerve-wracking, so the Chen family had run rampant in Jianghuai for years without anyone daring to touch them.

Once this old fellow opened his mouth, the rest erupted like a beehive, all crying poverty and complaining in unison.

“Your Highness, see clearly—my business isn’t doing well either. Now with war in the south and blocked roads, transportation costs and commodity prices are soaring. We’ve had to close dozens of trading houses… When Third Miss went out to marry, her dowry was only thirty-six carrying poles, and she was ridiculed by sisters-in-law and cousins…”

“Agriculture, mulberry, salt, iron, fishing—every bureau, every office wants a piece… The other day I even pawned my wife’s jewelry… Local taxes are heavy…”

“…Old Chen says meat once every three days—my family, meat once every seven days!”

“…My large household must slaughter sixteen fat pigs daily and it’s not enough to fill the gaps between our teeth! Market prices for soybeans, pork, rice, and flour are soaring… we can’t afford to eat…”

These tycoons, accustomed to crying poverty in daily life, got carried away in their storytelling. The reverence originally born from this occasion was now completely forgotten. One by one they shook their heads, furrowed brows, stroked beards, slapped tables, and shook their heads vigorously. A string of grievances poured out, making one think this was a poverty relief meeting for the destitute.

Master Chen of the Chen family, who had cried poverty first, squinted his triangular eyes, bounced his leg, and picked his teeth. His gaze held a few traces of contempt as he looked at Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei above—just two wet-behind-the-ears youngsters! Since you, Wei Zhi, investigated all our backgrounds so thoroughly, you should know that Old Master’s tiger head cannot be touched!

He calculated that having embarrassed the Provincial Administration Commissioner today, he couldn’t push too far. Afterward he would give some benefits—one or two ten thousand taels? Could not exceed thirty thousand!

Above, Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei were simultaneously drinking tea slowly. Both were a bit strange today—aside from the initial toast where wine was unavoidable, afterward they didn’t touch the wine on the table at all, both switching to tea.

At this moment, Feng Zhiwei seemed focused on drinking her tea, yet her eyes swept toward Ning Yi above. Ning Yi’s gaze on his tea paused for a moment, then he gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Though these two had many complications between them individually, once facing outward, they always had an understanding. Receiving this eye signal, Feng Zhiwei smiled slightly and turned away. Suddenly she felt something strange, as if some gaze was tightly fixed on her back. She turned her head—all around appeared normal. Feng Zhiwei’s expression didn’t change. She lowered her head to drink tea again, quietly tilting the tea water, using the water’s surface at an angle to see that the one watching her was indeed Qiu Yuluo.

Rather than saying she was watching herself, it would be more accurate to say she was observing every move between herself and Ning Yi. Feng Zhiwei stared at that woman’s strange expression in the water’s reflection, a cold smile floating to the corners of her lips—what did she want to discover?

She had no mind to deal with the issues between those two. She had more important matters to handle. Immediately she smiled and set down her teacup.

This setting down had considerable force.

The fine porcelain cup bottom contacting the tray of similar quality produced a clear, crisp sound. That resounding clang immediately shocked the marketplace-like noisy hall into silence.

Everyone blinked, looking at the Provincial Administration Commissioner who had been all smiles but now, with one setting of her teacup, had darkened her expression.

Only Master Chen remained unmoved, spitting out the toothpick from his mouth with a “ptui.”

Feng Zhiwei placed both hands on the table, looking at the merchant tycoons below. Her somber face slowly bloomed into a smile again, but not the earlier warm spring breeze smile—rather a slightly cold, grim one. Her snow-white teeth showed slightly at her lips, reminding one of a wolf in the moonlight baring gleaming fangs at its prey.

Seeing such a smile, everyone slowly recalled their earlier sense of awe and shock. Only then did they remember this young twenty-year-old Provincial Administration Commissioner’s glorious history—this was no carp leaping through the dragon gate to gain favor in one day. This was Tiansheng’s foremost person, Wei Zhi, who had been on battlefields, killed people, toppled officials in the political arena, and brought down high ministers. This was the young demon star who at fifteen soared to the clouds and in just five years toppled countless high officials and nobles, even having a hand in the former Crown Prince’s downfall!

Master Chen’s expression also changed. Without Feng Zhiwei saying a word, the atmosphere immediately became solemn and tense. That aura of someone long in power controlling the entire situation made his heart pound. Slowly he lowered his crossed leg and straightened his posture.

Feng Zhiwei waited until everyone sat properly and looked over before slowly lowering her hands. She smiled slowly, methodically rolling up her sleeves, her eyes glancing at Master Chen as she smiled and said: “Master Chen, why have you never answered the question I asked you earlier?”

“Ah?” Master Chen was stunned, unable to recall what question the Minister had asked earlier. A companion at his side jabbed him in the waist and quietly reminded him: “Grassland grain prices, grain prices…”

“Ah, uh…” Only then did Master Chen remember. He immediately went wide-eyed. He had heard that earlier statement too, but he understood it as a warning. After all, everyone knew the supposed trip to the frontier to transport grain was just an excuse, deliberately used to snub the Provincial Administration Commissioner. How could he need to go personally to transport grain? How could he possibly make a round trip in such a short time? But now the Minister was treating it as a genuine question—clearly deliberately making an example of him.

Understanding it was deliberate, Master Chen wasn’t particularly afraid. After hemming and hawing for a while, seeing Feng Zhiwei staring intently, he simply spread both hands and said with a grin, playing the scoundrel: “You ask about grain prices? I can’t give you an answer. This is originally servants’ work, doesn’t require my personal attention. If you really want to know, should I go ask for you after we finish here?”

“Insolence!”

A low shout like thunder suddenly exploded. One man at the table startled, his hand went soft, and with a “clang” he smashed the wine cup in his hand to pieces.

But no one paid attention to him anymore. Everyone shrank back, staring in alarm at the table where Feng Zhiwei had suddenly changed expression and roared in anger.

“Insolence!” Once Feng Zhiwei erupted, how could she give anyone time to react? She slapped the table with one hand—with a clatter of jumping cups and plates, she raged: “What thing are you? A mere lowly merchant, before His Highness and in my presence, you actually dare to evade and be perfunctory, still addressing us so casually? When did the world’s foremost center of culture and education, Jianghuai, produce such a scoundrel who disrespects teachings, disregards superiors, ignores the law, and scorns propriety? Someone—”

She smiled coldly, pointing at Master Chen who had been shocked into rigidity by her sudden outburst. “I have always been accommodating to others, but I cannot tolerate being deceived to my face! Didn’t he say meat once every three days? Didn’t he say to cut him open and look? Very well—” She gave a sinister smile. “Drag him out and cut him open!”

“!”

The entire hall was shocked into clay and wooden sculptures. In an instant it was so quiet a pin drop could be heard. Everyone’s faces instantly turned deathly pale, like walls brushed with white paint and coated with blue. All stared dazedly with wide eyes at Feng Zhiwei, who had finished erupting and begun smiling again.

That smile made people think she was joking. Everyone’s hearts, which had just flown up, were about to slowly be pulled back down when suddenly came a violent shout.

“Yes!”

Almost immediately following Feng Zhiwei’s words, two soft-armored guards stepped forward, strode to Master Chen’s seat, grabbed and dragged—seizing the already frozen Master Chen like a chicken in their palms, they dragged him away.

Master Chen, being dragged like this, finally came to his senses. In earth-shattering terror, he stretched out a foot and desperately hooked it around the table leg, shouting wildly toward those above: “Your Highness! Minister! I… this commoner was wrong! This commoner will pledge! Don’t joke around! This commoner will pledge!”

“Indeed, don’t joke around.” Ning Yi above gave him today’s first smile, his radiant appearance dazzling everyone’s eyes. Hearts lifted hopefully, about to breathe with relief, when suddenly they heard him say lightly to Feng Zhiwei: “If after cutting him open there’s no meat, what will you say?”

“This subordinate will naturally answer with my life!” Feng Zhiwei responded with resolute tone.

Ning Yi nodded with satisfaction, saying very sincerely to Master Chen: “You heard that. Rest assured, this prince conducts affairs justly. This prince represents the Son of Heaven in inspecting and supervising river works. Lying before this prince is deceiving the sovereign. Minister Wei cutting you open to verify is also reasonable. But as long as there’s no meat in your belly, whoever cut you open will naturally give you an explanation.”

Everyone’s vision went black—this is called conducting affairs justly!

Master Chen looked above. Ning Yi idly drank tea. Feng Zhiwei methodically arranged her sleeves. Both wore casual expressions, as if what they’d just discussed wasn’t a matter of life and death but simply inviting guests to dinner. But precisely because of this, his heart plunged into a dark chill—only those who had truly killed countless people and experienced blood and fire could be so nonchalant in the face of life and death.

These were truly ruthless people.

By this point, regret was insufficient to describe his feelings. The two guards behind him exerted force, dragging him along with the table his feet were hooked to. The entire table of bowls and dishes overturned, dripping vegetable soup pouring down, scalding hot as it drenched his leg. He didn’t even feel the pain, struggling and jumping as he shouted: “You dare kill me—my tens of thousands of followers will trample you to death with one foot each if you dare kill me—”

“You dare touch her.” Ning Yi, who had been drinking tea, suddenly pointed at Master Chen and said coldly: “I will ensure your entire Chen family, old and young, all die without burial places!”

Feng Zhiwei, however, smiled and appeared not to hear. Watching as Master Chen was dragged out still cursing, tied directly to a pillar in the corridor, two guards moved with practiced efficiency, pulling out knives. Cold light flashed as they hooked and pulled.

Amid piercing screams and spraying blood, she finally smiled and answered that earlier statement.

“I dare!”

Those in the hall no longer had anyone to comment on her words. Feng Zhiwei publicly cutting open and killing a person—these merchant tycoons who rarely even witnessed chickens being killed, how could they withstand such stimulation? Half had already fainted.

Two guards strode forward, using cloth to cushion a chaotic mess of things and placing it before everyone’s view. Using long knives to poke at that blood-soaked cloth surface, they announced loudly: “Reporting to Your Highness, reporting to Minister—in the criminal’s belly remain half a glutinous rice chicken and several pieces of fermented bean curd pork!”

Feng Zhiwei glanced at the guard, thinking this fellow was probably from Jianghuai—even in that state he could identify fermented bean curd pork. Only pitiful were the Jianghuai shops selling glutinous rice chicken and fermented bean curd pork—probably from today onward, no one would eat these two dishes.

She nodded slightly and said with a faint smile: “Show everyone clearly, so no one says we officials wrongly accused someone.”

How could the gentlemen below still sit steady? Half fainted when the killing occurred, half vomited and collapsed when that pile of things was brought up. At this moment, only one or two people, faces blue and lips white, leaned against their tables, desperately turning their heads and waving their hands to refuse the thing being handed to them. “…This commoner saw clearly. Master Chen has no grievance! No grievance!”

“That’s good then.” Feng Zhiwei tapped her fingers on the table. Immediately another batch of people came up, swiftly disposing of the corpse, wiping the floor, and arranging things. In an instant, the corpse was dragged away, tables set properly, floor bloodstains wiped clean—everything restored to normal. Everyone stared wide-eyed at such highly efficient actions. While shocked by the Minister’s subordinates’ swift efficiency, they finally understood in a daze.

Minister Wei had been prepared to kill from the start!

What more was there to say at this point? The Chen family tyrant whose influence spanned both legitimate and criminal worlds—she had simply killed him. Some only now remembered that this Minister Wei, legend had it, when wrongly imprisoned years ago, had publicly flogged the presiding judge in court before the Emperor. Would she fear killing a mere wealthy merchant?

Feng Zhiwei had already resumed her spring breeze smile. Unfortunately, this smile, seen in everyone’s eyes now, was no longer amiable. She smiled, and everyone trembled.

Everyone’s expressions greatly satisfied Feng Zhiwei. She waved her hand. Pre-prepared pledge ledgers were brought forward. This time the signing was enthusiastic. The wealthy households wielded their brushes like dragons and snakes, spending money like scattering flowers. One by one, hands trembling, they signed without hesitation. When the ledgers were collected, this time Feng Zhiwei truly smiled—over three million!

Truly a bunch of scoundrels who wouldn’t shed tears until they saw the Yellow River!

She waved her hand. The back hall began serving fresh dishes. Feng Zhiwei personally descended the steps to urge drinks, smiling as she said: “Today is truly a great and beautiful occasion. Everyone, for the great cause of the nation, disregarding personal interests, enthusiastically pledged three million taels—the highest donation in history! I will certainly have it carved on a commemorative stele and report to the court. His Majesty will surely bestow rewards. Come, drink this cup fully, to celebrate His Majesty, to celebrate His Highness! To celebrate all of you!”

Everyone numbly raised their cups… Truly a great occasion, indeed enthusiastic—blade entering the belly, glutinous rice chicken sealing the mouth, pledge ledger filled with numbers. If you don’t pay up—did you eat meat today? Cut open your belly and see?

“Everyone eat, eat…” Feng Zhiwei was finally a warm and hospitable host now, enthusiastically urging dishes. After urging for a long time, she noticed everyone wore bitter expressions and made perfunctory responses, no one using chopsticks. She looked down.

The newly served dishes were pearl glutinous rice chicken and steamed fermented bean curd pork…

The banquet “ended happily,” though of course the happy one was Feng Zhiwei. As for those tycoons—never mind their trauma. Feng Zhiwei only summoned Qian Yan midway through the banquet to give him a few instructions—the Chen family’s criminal forces were not to be underestimated. Reportedly, they had considerable connections with the recently risen number one gang in Jianghuai, the “Dragon Slaying Gang.” Though Feng Zhiwei dared to kill the Chen family head, she wouldn’t be careless with enemies.

After the banquet, following custom, she invited all the merchant tycoons to stroll the gardens. Shuiyue Manor was the Provincial Administration Office’s villa. As the world’s wealthiest, this manor was naturally built magnificently. Ordinary people had no opportunity to tour it—now was such a chance. Unfortunately, today’s disembowelment was too bloody. Though Feng Zhiwei enthusiastically urged them to stay, over half the guests still left.

Feng Zhiwei, seeing guests off at the entrance, was about to rest when her eyes inadvertently swept past and caught sight of that emerald-canopied carriage.

Qiu Yuluo still hadn’t left?

What was she still doing here?

Feng Zhiwei stood at the entrance hesitating. For a moment she didn’t want to go back, but at this time guests hadn’t all departed and Ning Yi hadn’t left either. She couldn’t just leave by herself—at the very least she needed to take leave of Ning Yi.

She didn’t find Ning Yi in the front hall, so she turned toward the back courtyard. Just as she passed through the back courtyard’s hanging flower gate, she heard voices conversing not far away.

A man and a woman, both very familiar.

Ning Yi and Qiu Yuluo.

The one speaking was Ning Yi. Beyond the hanging flower gate was a bamboo grove. The winter bamboo leaves rustled, their dappled shadows obscuring his face. Vaguely his tone seemed to be expressing thanks: “…That day on the river, many thanks for Lady’s care…”

Feng Zhiwei was startled. These words seemed similar to what Qiu Yuluo had said to him earlier. Could the truth not be that he had aided Qiu Yuluo, but that Qiu Yuluo had aided him? Was that why Qiu Yuluo’s tone was so strange?

That day on the river… which day on the river? Ning Yi’s comings and goings were always attended by crowds of retainers. Even when sometimes together with herself, he at minimum had the supremely skilled Ning Cheng as guard. What situation could he have been in that would allow Qiu Yuluo to aid him?

If it was that day on the Li River… although at that time it was a lone boat on the water, the shore wasn’t far. Ning Yi must have arranged for guards. Could he have exceptionally not arranged for anyone that day? Could something else have happened afterward that day that she didn’t know about?

Her mind churned with many thoughts. Without realizing it, she stopped in front of the hanging flower gate. Through the slanting bamboo leaves, she could see Qiu Yuluo’s face. She was using that earlier gaze full of adoration to look at Ning Yi. Hearing this statement, her cheeks slowly flushed with color. Suddenly she lowered her head gently. After hesitating for a long time, she finally said in an almost murmuring low voice:

“…Why does Your Highness say such things… could you have actually forgotten… forgotten the events of that day?”