Chapter Fifteen: She Is a Good Person!
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Xue Yuan had known for quite some time that Li Yuanwang had framed the daughter of the wealthiest man in Ningzhou and seized her family’s fortune. He also knew that the scoundrel intended to collude with Prince Yu to drive up the price of Jiangnan silk and profit from it. The only problem was that Xue Yuan had been unable to find a way to bring him down.
But now, the opportunity had presented itself!
For the sake of caution, Xue Yuan first skipped over that outrageously beautiful face and studied the girl, checking her profile.
[Utterly unskilled|Business prodigy|Daughter of the richest man|Fierce-tempered|Will never rest until her father’s name is cleared|I cannot die—my father, mother, and eldest brother are all waiting for me to save them|Corrupt official Li Yuanwang|Can the Kirin prodigy save me?|The emperor is a foolish ruler|The prince is an idiot]
As usual, Xue Yuan first ignored... No, wait. He greatly appreciated the final entry.
“Girls are so adorable. She didn’t even call me a stupid dog.”
Xue Yuan was now certain that this girl was the daughter of Ningzhou’s wealthiest man. She must know a great deal about the case.
But even more remarkable was the fact that she was a business prodigy.
For Xue Yuan, who was desperately short of capable people, those four words made his heart pound at once.
“In the prosperous lands of Jiangnan, if I had someone to manage my enterprises, I’d never have to worry about money again!”
“First, I need money. Then power, people, and soldiers. Step by step, step by step, I’ll climb to the very top. I’ll...”
Ahem. Never mind. He should rein in his emotions and act like a calm idiot for now.
With that thought, Xue Yuan immediately stepped forward and took the girl by both arms.
“Miss, get up quickly. If you kneel on the ground too long, you’ll scrape your knees. Then your legs won’t look pretty anymore.”
The girl raised her head and saw a tall figure before her, along with a handsome face.
Unfortunately, that handsome face wore a silly grin, so she no longer cared about the faintly lecherous implications of his words.
“He’s only an idiot.”
“Wait... Could he be...?”
One of the guards immediately confirmed her guess.
“This is our prince. Show him proper respect.”
The guards of the prince’s residence had always been shameless flatterers. Since they could not win a fight, they had become even more obsequious.
Xue Yuan waved his large hand.
“No need, no need. Miss, get up. What’s your name? My name is Xue Yuan. They call me the prince!”
Yet the girl remained on her knees, refusing to rise.
She merely clasped Xue Yuan’s hand, her bright eyes shimmering as she said, “Your Highness, this humble woman is Su Ruowei. My entire family has been harmed by villains. I have come especially to beg Your Highness and Steward Qian to uphold justice. I humbly ask Your Highness to show mercy and take Steward Qian and me to meet one another!”
Su Ruowei was nineteen that year. As the daughter of the richest man in the region, she had taken part in managing the family business since the age of fifteen. Before long, she had become completely adept at it. In terms of knowledge and experience, the vast majority of men could not compare with her.
She knew that the Prince of Ning’s residence oversaw all military and civil affairs in Ningzhou. In terms of rank, the Prince of Ning stood far above the prefect or magistrate and even possessed the authority to overturn their judgments.
But she also knew that the Prince of Ning was merely an idiot, a figurehead. The person who truly held power within the prince’s residence was the Kirin prodigy, Qian Zhongxian.
Even so, she refused to say outright that she had come specifically to seek Qian Zhongxian. In doing so, she was still preserving the dignity of the foolish prince. That was one of the lessons in human relations she had learned over the years.
Xue Yuan, however, heard the implication immediately.
Damn it. All she ever mentions is Qian Zhongxian. Has everyone in Ningzhou come to know only Qian Zhongxian and not me, the Prince of Ning?
Still, he could not really blame Su Ruowei. After all, who would believe that an idiot could overturn a wrongful verdict?
After thinking it over, he gave a silly chuckle.
“Of course, of course. You want to see Steward Qian? I’ll take you to him right now!”
A flash of light passed through Su Ruowei’s eyes, and she asked joyfully, “Your Highness, do you truly mean it?”
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She had come here because she had reached the end of her tether and intended to stake her life on one final gamble.
She knew that the people involved in this case included more than Magistrate Li. The prefect might be involved as well, and she could not even leave Ningzhou at present.
Just then, a group of constables came running toward them.
“She’s here! Seize her!”
“Damn it, don’t let her escape again this time!”
The leader was Zhao San, chief constable of Ning’an City. Xue Yuan had seen him before, when he had gone to raid Li Changheng’s residence. At the time, Zhao San had been the one trying to arrest all the commoners who had taken things from the estate.
At his command, several constables immediately pounced on Su Ruowei.
Having come here, Su Ruowei had naturally anticipated such a possibility. She swiftly drew a dagger and pressed it against her throat.
“Do not come any closer! None of the businesses operated by the Su family’s seven silk shops will be recognized outside the province without my personal signature. Even if your masters seize them, they will not be able to conduct any business!”
The dagger was pressed tightly against her neck. Tear marks still lingered on her exquisite face, yet her expression was as resolute as that of a martyr. The imposing force of her presence made all the guards of the prince’s residence stiffen.
Xue Yuan was even more startled inwardly.
What a truly fierce-tempered woman!
Zhao San, however, paid no attention. With a smile on his face, he approached Su Ruowei as though strolling through a garden. Then, when he was still several yards away, he suddenly leapt forward. In the blink of an eye, he seized her wrist and snatched away the dagger.
Zhao San knew martial arts, and judging by that display, he was no weakling.
“Heh. You think that little trick is enough to frighten people? Come along. We have plenty of ways to make you confess and submit to the law...”
Grinning roguishly, Zhao San was about to order his men to drag Su Ruowei away.
Su Ruowei struggled desperately, but how could she possibly match these constables?
More and more onlookers gathered, yet not one of them dared to step forward—not even to ask what had happened.
The light in Su Ruowei’s eyes gradually faded.
Though she was a woman, she had been raised from childhood on the teachings of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust. For a time, she had believed in them wholeheartedly. But now she knew that they were all lies.
She had also heard, while living in her family quarters, tales of righteous heroes throughout the realm—men who executed tyrants, slew corrupt officials, and drew their swords to aid those who suffered injustice.
Yet in these past few months, she had not encountered a single one.
Those stories had been lies too.
The truth was that all under heaven rushed about for profit, and all under heaven busied themselves in pursuit of gain.
But at that moment, she suddenly saw a staggering yet exceptionally tall figure charging toward them.
“Stop! I—I won’t let you take her away! She’s a good person!”
Su Ruowei’s gaze shifted and came to rest on his back. She recognized him as the foolish prince.
Who would have thought that, in the end, the only person willing to speak up for her would be an idiot? What a pity... He was merely a prince in name, and it was said that he could not even command his own guards.
When Zhao San saw Xue Yuan, his first reaction was to check whether the blindfolded expert was beside him.
Only after confirming that the man was absent did Zhao San finally relax.
“Your Highness, this woman is a major criminal who aided in murder. Please do not make things difficult for this humble officer!”
Xue Yuan replied, “She’s been framed. Look, she’s even holding a petition of grievance! The plays always say that anyone holding a petition and crying out against injustice must be a good person!”
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As always, he would begin by drawing upon the halo of foolishness.
Zhao San laughed.
“Your Highness, if every criminal could become a good person simply by holding up a petition, how would we ever do our jobs?”
The people in the street began snickering as well. This prince was truly an idiot beyond compare.
Still, at least he had the desire to stand up for the people. It was just a shame that he was an idiot.
What? You think he is only doing this because the girl is beautiful?
Tsk. What a filthy mind. Could an idiot even think of something like that?
Meanwhile, the argument continued.
“I don’t care! Since she came to me, I’m going to help clear her name!”
“My apologies, Your Highness, but I am bound by duty. I cannot obey!”
“No, no! I’m going to save her!”
As he spoke, Xue Yuan lunged forward, seized Zhao San by the hair, and gave it a vicious yank.
Zhao San cried out in pain. As a martial artist, his reflexes were exceptionally quick, and he instinctively drove an elbow into Xue Yuan’s chest.
But then he remembered that Xue Yuan was, at the very least, a prince. He hurriedly restrained his strength, barely grazing Xue Yuan.
But who was Xue Yuan? How could he possibly swallow such a silent injustice?
He immediately stuck out his rear, kicked his legs, and flung himself onto the ground.
Young man, you’ve gotten yourself into serious trouble!
“Ow! He hit me! You villain, you hit me!” Xue Yuan wailed at the top of his lungs.
The surrounding crowd erupted in shocked cries.
“Good heavens! A mere chief constable actually dared to strike the prince?”
“In Ningzhou City, do they really no longer take the prince seriously?”
The guards of the prince’s residence realized at once that matters had become serious.
The day before, Sword Seven had reprimanded them and ordered them to protect the prince properly. Otherwise, he would break every one of their arms and legs.
Besides, as guards of the prince’s residence, how could they stand by and watch their prince get beaten without daring to utter a word? If word got out, where would their dignity be?
At once, they surged forward in a great rush.
“Zhao San, you assaulted the prince in broad daylight! Prepare to have your entire clan executed!” one of the guard captains shouted, pointing at him.
Zhao San’s mind went blank, and all the color drained from his face.
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