“Zhen Niang, don’t be anxious. Take your time.” Seeing that Jing Niang, lying in Zhen Niang’s arms, was beginning to furrow her brows with signs of waking up, Qiao Zhao quickly consoled her.

It had not been easy waiting for Zhen Niang to finally speak up; they couldn’t let Jing Niang’s disturbance send them back to square one.

“My father was originally the Censorate Inspector of Fuxi, with the authority to examine and impeach officials in the prefectures, states, and counties under his jurisdiction. At the end of last year, he was transferred to serve as Censorate Inspector of Fudong, but unexpectedly discovered that the officials of Fudong were thoroughly corrupt, even colluding with Japanese pirates to harm the common people. Father was filled with grief and fury, but then discovered that even the Jinlin Guards stationed in Fudong had been bought off by Fudong’s General Xing Wuyang, working hand in glove with them, cutting off father’s direct path to the imperial ear…”

As Zhen Niang recalled the past events, her entire body trembled like fallen leaves in autumn wind.

Qiao Zhao listened quietly, not daring to make any sound that might disturb her.

“Father had no choice but to secretly collect evidence of corruption and misconduct by Xing Wuyang and other officials. Finally, he got an opportunity to have someone deliver two account books documenting Xing Wuyang and other officials’ embezzlement of military funds and collusion with Japanese pirates to his father’s superior, Lord Qiao…” As Zhen Niang spoke, she suddenly noticed that the girl who had been quietly listening to her account had reddened eyes.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Qiao Zhao quickly smiled to cover up: “It’s nothing. I was moved hearing how your honored father, despite being in such difficult circumstances, still didn’t forget to expose these parasites of the nation.”

So the two account books father had obtained were provided by Zhen Niang’s father.

Things in this world went round and round, yet there was divine will in the darkness.

Father, as Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, mourning in Jia Feng, was undoubtedly the best choice for Zhen Niang’s father to entrust the account books to.

“What happened after that?” Qiao Zhao suppressed the waves in her heart.

Later, the father’s actions were discovered by those people. They placed father under house arrest and threatened father not to commit suicide by using our lives.” Zhen Niang frowned as she spoke, murmuring, “Actually, I can’t understand why, since they were so bold and reckless, they still spared father’s life…”

Qiao Zhao said calmly, “They need a living Fudong Censorate Inspector. If I’m not mistaken, there must be someone among them skilled at imitating handwriting, regularly forging your honored father’s letters to send to the capital to fulfill duties. Although Xing Wuyang can cover the sky with one hand in Fudong, there are no walls that don’t let wind through. If your honored father died and never appeared at many necessary occasions, someone would eventually notice something amiss. Once news of his death reached the court, the capital would send a new Censorate Inspector.”

“I understand now. A new Censorate Inspector would come with a completely unknown family background and connections, making them much harder to deal with than my father, undoubtedly causing those people considerable trouble. So they simply spared my father’s life to maintain the status quo.”

Qiao Zhao nodded: “Exactly so.”

Zhen Niang closed her eyes and shed two lines of clear tears: “This is actually good too—at least father kept his life because of this.”

Qiao Zhao’s lips moved. She wanted to ask why the Zhen Niang sisters had fallen into Japanese pirates’ hands, but feared stimulating Zhen Niang and causing the hard-won situation to become passive again, so she could only wait patiently.

“Later—” Zhen Niang slowly opened her eyes, her hands trembling slightly, as if using all her strength to speak the following words, “A popular uprising occurred in Fudong—”

Qiao Zhao’s eyes suddenly widened. If not for her usually good composure, she would have nearly cried out in shock.

A popular uprising had occurred in Fudong!

Qiao Zhao’s heart began beating violently.

Emperor Mingkang disliked Great Liang having unstable situations, so even when evidence was presented before him, he still chose to throw her brother into prison while protecting Xing Wuyang.

On this southern journey, they had obtained another account book in Jia Feng, but still weren’t confident it would make the Son of Heaven take action. But now it was different.

A popular uprising had occurred in Fudong. Looking through history, dynastic changes throughout the ages all had shadows of “popular uprisings” or “military rebellions”—this was something no emperor of any dynasty could tolerate, let alone when such an event occurred and was kept completely secret by Xing Wuyang.

Now she could be certain that as long as Emperor Mingkang knew about this matter and had sufficient evidence to make him believe it, even if he had already “achieved enlightenment and ascended to heaven,” he couldn’t possibly continue pretending to be confused.

“This popular uprising was quite significant. Later, it still reached my father’s ears. Father immediately tried to dash his head against the wall, but was saved by those people. Then… then those people sold my sister and me to Japanese pirates as a warning!” Zhen Niang’s eyes were bloodshot as she grabbed Qiao Zhao’s hand. “Since you are people from beside the Son of Heaven, you can save my father, right?”

Qiao Zhao reached out her other hand to press on Zhen Niang’s hands, her expression firm: “Yes.”

She wanted to save not only Zhen Niang’s father, but also to avenge their Qiao family and seek justice for the countless officials and common people harmed by those beasts!

“Thank you, thank you!” Zhen Niang knelt on the bed and kowtowed to Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao stopped her: “Don’t do this—you’ll wake Jing Niang.”

Hearing Qiao Zhao mention Jing Niang, Zhen Niang’s whole body shuddered, tears streaming down her face: “I failed to protect my sister well. I promised my mother I would take good care of my sister…”

Qiao Zhao embraced Zhen Niang, saying gently, “Sister Zhen Niang, you’ve already done very well.”

How many women who fell into Japanese pirates’ hands couldn’t bear the humiliation and sought early death, yet the Zhen Niang sisters tenaciously survived. Given the upbringing they had received since childhood, without a strong will to survive, it would have been impossible to endure until now.

Zhen Niang looked at Qiao Zhao: “Don’t you think we’re very shameless—clearly having been defiled by Japanese pirates, yet still shamelessly living on?”

Zhen Niang’s pale lips trembled as she wept: “We should have hanged ourselves with a rope long ago, so as not to bring shame to father, brothers, and family. But I’m unwilling—I’m afraid that if I die, I’ll never see father rescued again, never see those beasts receive their deserved retribution!”

Qiao Zhao knew Zhen Niang harbored thoughts of death. The day her father was rescued might be when she ended her own life.

“Sister Zhen Niang, I find your words somewhat confusing.”

Zhen Niang was startled.

The thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl still carried childish innocence, asking with an innocent expression: “The ones who committed countless evil deeds are corrupt officials and evil clerks like Xing Wuyang; the ones who are inhumane are those Japanese pirates. They’re still living shamelessly—why do you feel you have no face to live?”

Qiao Zhao’s words undoubtedly lightened much of Zhen Niang’s psychological burden.

As the daughter of a Censorate Inspector, having fallen into Japanese pirates’ hands yet enduring humiliation to survive, she was very afraid the girl before her would look down on her and bring shame to her father.

However, this relief was only slight. Zhen Niang sighed: “Miss, you’re still young and don’t understand.”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “Sister Zhen Niang’s father is a Censorate Inspector, and my father is a Hanlin Academician. What Sister Zhen Niang understands, I also understand. Precisely because I understand, I feel Sister Zhen Niang should live well. Sister Zhen Niang is strong and intelligent—you should understand my meaning.”

Zhen Niang remained silent for a long time before softly saying: “Thank you.”

Considering that Zhen Niang had just opened her heart, Qiao Zhao didn’t dare use the matter of Jing Niang’s pregnancy to stimulate her. After chatting briefly, she got up to take her leave and headed straight to Shao Mingyuan’s location.