The Palace.

The Imperial Study.

Qi Xingyun leaned against the comfortable fur-lined seat, holding a scroll in one hand.

Before him, Wang Yun stood with his hands clasped.

On the other side, the Minister of Dali Temple stood there, not daring to breathe.

"The results came out so quickly?" Qi Xingyun said slowly.

"Your Majesty, the investigation revealed that Ning Yi's death is related to a guard of the Marquis of Xinguo."

The Minister of Dali Temple hurriedly bowed and reported.

“Xin Guogong’s son, Ning Yi, is always fighting and bullying people. He extorts money from merchants by setting up toll booths on the canal...He acts arrogantly and thinks he can get away with anything because of his status. His misdeeds are countless…”

"The guard had a wife who was designed by Ning Yi to be taken into the mansion a year ago. Unable to bear the humiliation, she hanged herself."

This is a placeholder for a paragraph of text.

“The guard had been enduring for over a year, and only half a month ago, he finally became a guard at the Xinguo Duke's Mansion. Shortly after Lady Luo left, he arrived by Ning Yi’s side, first using his skill to knock him unconscious, then secretly striking from the outside in, shattering Ning Yi's heart meridian…”

Qixing Yundao: "To shatter the heart meridian, what guardian possesses such skill?"

Wang Yun nodded and said, "Your Majesty, the guards practiced an internal martial art called Destroying Heart Palm. It can penetrate the skin and injure internal organs. Ning Yi was completely unprepared and was easily harmed."

Qi Xingyun looked at the report in her hand, her brows furrowed: "Setting up private checkpoints, seizing fertile land, forcing good women into prostitution, and robbing young girls... one after another, it's simply outrageous. What have you all been doing in the Dali Temple? Why didn't you report this?"

The Minister of Dali Temple felt a pang of helplessness in his heart. How could he dare to speak directly? This Ning Yi was the legitimate son of Duke Xin, destined to inherit Duke Xin's position in the future. How could he, a mere Minister of Dali Temple, possibly interfere with someone of such stature?

But he had no choice, the Emperor questioned him, so he could only endure it.

He hastily knelt down and said, "Your servant deserves death." Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

"Death penalty, death penalty, humph, you say this is why? Speak plainly, don't mince words." Qi Xingyun’s face showed a hint of anger.

“Your Majesty, the son of Duke Xin, Wei Shi, is extremely powerful. Everyone respects and fears him like a tiger. How dare they report to you? They all endure in silence and dare not speak out... The government follows the principle of 'if officials don't take action, people won't complain,' and we are powerless to do anything about it.”

Qi Xingyun sneered, but said no more on the subject.

He was well aware of the corruption within the government. If it were a prosperous era, he would have been able to gradually correct it. However, with the current chaos in the world, if he were to make drastic changes to the officials, the entire country would be thrown into disarray.

"So, this case of a sudden death was actually orchestrated by the guard, framing Madam Luo? Is there any connection between her and Madam Luo?" asked Qi Xingyun.

"Yes, Your Majesty, that is correct."

"Thus, you shall escort the guard to the dungeon and keep watch over him closely. See that he does not harm himself or be harmed by others. Should anything happen, I will hold you accountable for your negligence."

Let me know if you have other text you'd like me to translate! ?

“Your humble servant will surely give it his all and not disappoint your expectations.”

The Minister of Dali Temple bowed and left.

"Wang Yun, convey My imperial edict and summon Madame Luo to come to the study." Qixingyun said.

>

Also, have someone watch over Duke Xinguo. Give him some water to drink and a chair to sit on. At his age, he's still making a fuss outside the palace, it's embarrassing.

"As you wish," Wang Yun bowed.

Outside the palace, a rosewood coffin lay on an open space.

The Duke of Xin, dressed in his imperial robes, had tears streaming down his white beard. He cried and beat the ground with his hands as he sat on the floor.

The old man is truly heartbroken. As a late bloomer, he had his first son at almost forty-five. Now he's over sixty, reaching the age of flower and standing in prime life.

This is white hair sending black hair!

"My lord, you died a horrible death. Your Majesty must avenge your old servant!"

"Lao Ning, your son was killed by the guards. It's already been investigated and confirmed."

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

The Minister of Justice, Li Fei, standing beside him, advised, “If we anger the Emperor, I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate.”

"What guards, they're all fake! I believe in the Duke's son, how could a mere guard possibly have killed him?"

Xun Guo Gong opened his eyes wide and angrily shouted, "It must have been that demoness, the wife of Zhong Yong Bo! She sent someone to do this. I'd heard that she was a jealous shrew, but I never expected her to be so vicious, it's simply outrageous!"

"The evil deeds of the demon woman are too numerous to list, heaven is blind! She has killed my son."

“Get out of the way, old man! I don't need a chair, and I don't want any water!”

"All of you, get out of my way! This old man can hold on!"

"Oh, the esteemed Duke of Xinxiao behaving like a common hooligan! Your insults are quite impressive. Carry on, I'm listening here."

Yang Ruoqing held an oiled paper umbrella, strolling gracefully from afar. A smile played on her beautiful face.

As soon as she received the imperial decree, she immediately rushed to the Imperial City with Wan Qingshun.

"Wang Gonggong, bring over the old geezer's discarded chair. This slave will listen right now."

Yang Ruqing sat down on the chair, took out a bag of melon seeds, and started cracking them.

Wan Qingchun also handed her a glass of juice in real time.

It's so pleasant to have a sip of juice and eat a few melon seeds.

"You, you...you viper!" Xinguogong clutched at his chest, stammering.

Just now he was cursing furiously, but now, he suddenly has nothing to say. This is from being angry.

"If you are sick, you must seek treatment!"

"Old man, your heart is faulty. If you keep whining and being pathetic, you'll be joining your dead son in hell soon." Yang Ruqing said slowly.

“Old man... Old man... Old man, I'll kill you, you demon woman!”

Xun Guo Gong raised his cane and was about to charge towards Yang Ruoqing.

But the nearby Minister of Punishment, Li Fei, quickly grabbed Xinguogong's arm.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated!

"Old Ning, you can't beat her. Mrs. Luo is renowned for her exceptional martial arts skills."

Xin Guo Gong felt like his heart was really about to burst. He couldn't win in a fight, nor could he win in an argument.

>

"Demon woman, today this old man swears, I will not coexist with you, one day I will make you pay the price."

"I'm sorry, but when will that day come? In terms of age, you old geezer are practically ancient, while I'm still young and beautiful in my prime. How can you possibly outlast me?"

"This little woman guarantees you'll die first. When the time comes, this little woman will have someone burn some paper money for you, alright?"

Yang Ruqing spat out a few more sunflower seeds, these were the salted sunflower seeds from her shop. They were delicious.

"This old man will fight you to the death."

Xin Guogong, whose eyes went black with rage, instantly lost his reason. He leaped up, but before he could even reach Yang Ruqing, he tripped and fell to the ground.

With a roll of her eyes, she fainted directly.

"Hurry, hurry and save him/her."

"Water, bring me some water."

"Pinch the center of the person, pinch the center of the person."

In a flurry of commotion, more and more officials gathered around, and as the time for court approached, many elderly ministers who had originally stayed at home came out to watch the spectacle.

>

Those ministers who were at odds with Duke Xining, their sideways glances and subtle communication, it's not easy to witness such a spectacle.

"Quickly send the letter back to Duke Xinguo, it's not proper for him to have done this."

The Chief Minister, Zhang, frowned. This farce was damaging to the court's dignity. If word got out, what would people think?

Several guards immediately lifted Marquis Xin, while another group carried the coffin that had been placed on the open ground away.

After watching this much excitement, I can't let things continue like this.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!