After the incident, Liu Dali reported both individuals to the county authorities.

Originally, the evidence for this crime was conclusive and indisputable. However, the coroner who examined the body and the neighbors who heard the commotion all subsequently changed their statements. The lawyer hired by the Zhang family argued that Liu Dali’s brother had died accidentally from a fall.

Astonishingly, Magistrate Zhou of Yuping County accepted this absurd explanation and ultimately issued a judgment declaring the adulterer innocent.

Liu Dali was naturally dissatisfied and repeatedly went back to appeal, only to be thrown out of the county office. Then someone ransacked his home and dumped feces inside, clearly attempting to intimidate him.

When Liu Dali planned to appeal to the prefecture, he had merely mentioned his intentions to someone the day before, and the next day he was ambushed, put in a sack, and had his legs broken.

It took half a year for his injuries to heal.

After this incident, he came to a realization: filing complaints locally was useless as the county magistrate had almost certainly been bribed by the Zhang family. To get justice for his brother, he needed to find someone with authority over the county magistrate!

Logically, he could have appealed to the provincial level, but after being beaten several times, Liu Dali’s spirit had been awakened. He decided to enter Taiping City and submit an imperial appeal!

The King of Yan was the supreme authority in this country—appealing directly to him would surely be effective!

When villagers learned he was going to the capital, about ten more households approached him, asking for help submitting their grievances. Only then did he realize how many people had suffered injustice under Magistrate Zhou.

Liu Dali was just a poor farmer who had spent nearly half a year walking from Yuping County to the capital. Another villager had started the journey with him, but shortly after they entered Taiping City, that person was poisoned to death. Liu Dali had gone to relieve himself and hadn’t eaten the noodles at the restaurant, which was how he luckily survived.

Later, he tried to take a ferry to the north bank, planning to beat the grievance drum for an imperial appeal, but the boat sank, nearly taking dozens of lives with him.

Though stubborn, he wasn’t stupid. He knelt before Zhao Yun again and said, “It must be Magistrate Zhou who sent people to silence me. Please, Nineteenth Prince, grant us justice.”

Zhao Yun’s face remained expressionless. “How could a mere county magistrate extend his reach into Taiping City?” This was no ordinary place—Magistrate Zhou didn’t even qualify to set foot in the northern part of the city, let alone orchestrate a murder.

Liu Dali was stunned. “He—he is very powerful. Originally thirteen families wanted to file complaints with me, but after he approached them, only four remained.”

Whether he used bribes or threats was unclear. “Black Brother who came with me to Taiping City—his father died from fake medicine from a pharmacy. The pharmacy was also protected by Magistrate Zhou, who tampered with the evidence. The pharmacy offered him ten silver taels to withdraw the case, but he refused, insisting on justice for his father. So he came to the city with me, but then…”

Feng Miaojun couldn’t help saying, “This Magistrate Zhou is far too blatant.”

Liu Dali said bitterly, “I heard that after taking office, he privately established new rules allowing wealthy people to pay ‘redemption silver’ to clear their crimes.”

What novel method was this? Even Zhao Yun turned his attention to this.

“Various offenses were priced. For example, adultery cost eight hundred taels of silver. For capital crimes, it was much more—four thousand taels of silver, after which the criminal could safely return home. Supposedly, this was boasted by his brother-in-law while drunk.”

Zhao Yun remarked, “Yuping County is a major grain-producing county, and its people are relatively affluent.”

Liu Dali nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, there are many wealthy people, so Magistrate Zhou can earn a lot of money.”

Zhao Yun waved his hand, ordering someone to take him away to rest, but Liu Dali untied an oilcloth package from his bundle and opened it layer by layer. “These are the evidence of crimes we’ve collected. Please review them, Prince!”

Then he followed the guards away.

After Liu Dali left, Zhao Yun apologetically said to Feng Miaojun and Fu Lingchuan, “I invited you both out for enjoyment today, yet we encountered such an inauspicious matter.”

“It’s fine,” Feng Miaojun wasn’t concerned. “What do you plan to do?”

Zhao Yun pondered, “When my father left the capital, he instructed me to govern in his stead. Yuping County has supplied sufficient funds and grain for three consecutive years. Magistrate Zhou has achieved remarkable results, and the Qingdian Prefecture Governor even submitted a commendation for him. We cannot judge based solely on a villager’s one-sided account.”

The reason Yuping County was so diligent in delivering taxes and grain…

Noticing Feng Miaojun’s gaze falling on the oil paper package, Zhao Yun moved it to a side table. “Bring the dishes. Princess Changle should enjoy the delicacies here—once back in New Xia, you won’t be able to taste them.”

Was this a reminder that she would soon leave Taiping City and shouldn’t create additional complications?

The crispy fried soft-shell crabs arrived, truly delightful in appearance and aroma, making one’s mouth water. Yet Feng Miaojun didn’t pick up her chopsticks, just looking at Zhao Yun with a silent smile.

With his guest refusing to eat, Zhao Yun had no choice but to put down his ivory chopsticks as well. “Why should Princess Changle concern herself with this trivial matter?”

“Doesn’t the Nineteenth Prince want to determine the truth?” Thoroughly investigating a minor county magistrate would be effortless for Zhao Yun—why was he so reluctant?

What background did Magistrate Zhou have that made even the Nineteenth Prince so cautious?

“I could hand over the person and evidence to the Minister of Justice, but he would enter vertically and leave horizontally the next day.”

She showed surprise: “Even you cannot protect him?”

Zhao Yun cleared his throat, answering obliquely: “Great General Gao Zhixing’s army has been stationed in Qingdian Prefecture—that’s his territory.”

She responded quickly: “The Qingdian Prefecture Governor is also on Gao’s side?”

“Yes.”

She understood.

“This is complicated—an internal matter of my Yan Kingdom. Princess Changle should not inquire further,” Zhao Yun said seriously. “I’m not helping him for the sake of his life.”

With him speaking so frankly, Feng Miaojun couldn’t press further. She picked up the soft-shell crab to eat, while Fu Lingchuan shared some light and interesting anecdotes, quickly restoring the pleasant atmosphere on the boat.

If one didn’t count the thirty-plus civilians in the cabin, and Liu Dali sitting with his knees drawn up, lost in thought.

When the boat reached the shore, the rescued civilians expressed profound gratitude to the Nineteenth Prince before disembarking.

When it was Liu Dali’s turn, he looked expectantly at Zhao Yun, who said, “I have only one solution for you.” With a wave of his hand, an attendant handed Liu Dali a bottle of medicinal pills.

Liu Dali took it, not understanding its purpose.

“I’ve considered it, and your best way to reach the imperial ear is still to beat the grievance drum and submit an imperial appeal,” Zhao Yun’s expression became impassive again. “To file an imperial appeal, you must roll on a nail board. These pills will help reduce your pain so you won’t faint while rolling on the nails. Remember to avoid vital areas—someone died last time when an artery was punctured.”

Hearing this, Liu Dali’s hand trembled, but then he gritted his teeth: “If I roll on the nail board and submit an imperial appeal, can I see the King?”

“Of course not,” Zhao Yun shook his head. “After successfully submitting an imperial appeal, you may present your case to the Imperial Secretary. If the Secretary determines that your grievance warrants royal attention, only then will it be passed to the King for personal review.”

Liu Dali drew in a sharp breath: “If this… secretary doesn’t think my case is important, would I have rolled on the nail board for nothing?”

Zhao Yun said coolly, “In the vast Yan Kingdom, how many people appeal for justice daily? If everyone believed their matters warranted an imperial appeal, would the King have any time left to govern?”