Upon hearing all that Yang Ruoqing had said, Old Man Yang wore a look of confusion on his face.

"Qing'er, ah, does this method of yours truly work?" he asked.

Yang Ruqing said, "This is the only thing we can do now."

>

Old Yang then asked, "How long will it take to see results? Once we hand over the family property, we'll be hanging by a thread!"

The old man's concerns, Yang Ruqing could understand.

"Grandpa, rest assured. Although I am the daughter-in-law of the Luo family, I am also the granddaughter of the Yang family,"

"This matter concerns the interests of my own restaurant, and also the income from my parents' farmland. How could I possibly let Yang Wenxuan and them get their way!"

"Grandpa, Dad, don't worry, don't get angry, just leave this to me."

“Once you guys turn in what’s due tomorrow, all of you head back to Changping Village together. Out of sight, out of mind. Leave the rest to me.” she said.

That night, Lao Yangtou and Yang Huazhong went to see the old grandfather.

When they came back, Lao Yangtou's face was very grim, and Yang Huazhong was the same.

Yang Ruqing didn't ask any further questions; she could already guess.

The divided deed was in Yang Wenxuan's hands, with five fields of land and property all registered.

Now, Yang Wenxuan feels confident and his attitude towards Old Yang will surely change drastically.

"Grandpa, Father, rest early. I'll send you off tomorrow morning." Yang Ruqing said.

"Qing'er, are you going to stay here alone?" Yang Hua asked.

Yang Ruqing said, "Well, I'll go back after I finish my business. Just wait for my good news then!"

>

The next morning, Lao Yangtou and Yang Huazhong and Yang Huamei left. Yang Huazhong hurried in a carriage, while Yang Huamei held Xiao Hei in the carriage.

Yang Ruqing rode her horse beside the carriage, watching Lao Yangtou skillfully climb aboard and sit beside Yang Huazhong. Her gaze, however, was fixed on the gate of Yang's mansion.

He is waiting for someone.

Waiting for whom?

The answer is unknown.

>

"Dad, let's go. That heartless fourth brother of ours won't come to see us off!" Yang Huamei poked her head out of the carriage and said with annoyance.

"We've been neglected at home these past few days. All the maids have been withdrawn, and Third Brother has been going out to buy our food and drink himself."

“Fourth brother hasn't even shown his face, just following Yang Wenxuan's behind like a servant. Our Yang family doesn't want such servants, get out! Get out!” Yang Huamei said again.

Old Yang sighed, retracted his gaze, and said to Yang Huazhong, "Third brother, let's go!"

Yang Huazhong nodded, waved his whip, and the carriage slowly set off.

Yang Ruqing rode a horse beside him, heading out of the city.

Upon reaching the outskirts of the city, Yang Ruocheng escorted Lao Yangtou and his companions onto the official road leading to Wanghai County. Only then did Yang Ruocheng urge her horse forward and return to Yun City.

First, I went to find the county magistrate of Yun City and handed over the letter from the magistrate of Zou County. I had a chat with the county magistrate.

>

I wonder how the County Magistrate of Zou introduced her in his letter and how he explained his relationship with her to the Prefect.

Let me know if you'd like me to translate anything else!

In short, after reading the letter, the county magistrate's attitude towards Yang Ruqing immediately became more amicable.

A hint of deference and politeness lingered in Qin He's expression. This made Yang Ruqing unable to help but speculate, could it be that County Magistrate Zou had told the county magistrate about her relationship with the second prince, and also about Luofeng Tang being a general?

Well, never mind all that. After all, the County Magistrate of Zou wouldn't harm me, would he? There's no conflict of interest.

The friendship we've built over the years is undeniable, and moreover, she was the one who cured Zou Liner's illness. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated! ?

“Miss Yang, rest assured, as soon as there are any clues on your side, I will cooperate with you at any time,” said the County Magistrate.

Yang Ruqing nodded, "My Lord County Magistrate, with your words, I feel at ease."

After communicating with the county magistrate once again, Yang Ruqing got up and said her farewell.

The county magistrate said, "Where are you staying? Do you need me to help arrange lodging for you?"

Yang Ruqing smiled and shook her head.

"I will be staying at the inn. Thank you for your kindness, sir. Farewell."

From this day on, Yang Ruqing temporarily stayed at a certain inn in Yun City.

During the day, he would disguise himself and frequent various places in Yun City such as teahouses, restaurants, theaters, gambling dens, and brothels, gathering information about the Yang family from all angles.

It's a pity, the Yang family of Yun City, just as the county magistrate said, was a well-known prominent family in Yun City thirty years ago.

But times change. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Today's Yun Cheng has a new generation of prominent families, just like the Fang family.

As for the Yang family, their prestige had plummeted long ago. They were merely clinging to survival.

So, this sounds a bit difficult, but Yang Ruoqing's most abundant quality is patience.

I used to be a spy, going on missions and staying undercover for as long as it took. I never missed a single clue.

Well, I actually met a few young men from the Yang family's main branch gambling in the casino. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

These young fellows, I saw them at Old Master Yang's birthday banquet. You wouldn't forget them once you've seen them.

Track, eavesdrop, and deduce from their chat conversations.

Over the past few days, she really managed to find out some things.

With these clues, she followed the lead and actually dug up a bunch of stuff...

It's just like pulling up peanuts from the ground. You pull, and out comes a peanut with a bunch of dirt still attached to it.

For example, Yang Wenxuan's shop falsified accounts and evaded taxes.

Yang Wenxuan had several concubines whose origins were questionable, and some of them were women who had been lured away from other husbands.

Other people's innocent daughters, were oppressed by high-interest loans, forcing them to sell their children.

There was also someone who was previously engaged, but Yang Wenxuan took an interest in her.

After a transaction of power and sex, the woman caved. As a result, her fiancé was enraged and couldn't swallow his anger, so he came looking for trouble.

Both parties engaged in a physical altercation. In the ensuing melee, Yang Wenxuan struck the fiancé's head with an oar.

He chopped a hole in the person's head right there, and the person fell straight down dead.

>

Over there was also a wealthy household, and the one who died was their only son.

This matter was reported to the local government at the time, and it was the previous county magistrate who handled this case.

On the Yang family's side, they found a servant to take the blame and compensated the other party with some silver. That settled the matter.

Now it's said that the concubine has long since fallen out of favor. Yang Wenxuan has taken many new favorites. The servant who took the blame was beheaded, and the one who was killed by a pole, his grave is now as tall as a man's waist.

While Yang Wenxuan lived a carefree and affluent life, he even targeted the old Yang family in Changping Village for his money-making schemes.

Just those tax evasion matters wouldn't be able to inflict any substantial damage on Yang Wen-hsuan.

Well, let's use this case as a breakthrough.

>

He could even kill for a concubine, and the rest was no different.

Continue to lurk, continue to follow the clues, continue to investigate and gather evidence, using all the methods of a former spy...