Pei Ying stood behind the desk, observing Huo Tingshan, who seemed to have no intention of stepping forward. He then rose and approached her.
As the tall figure drew near, Pei Ying remained slightly dazed, the flattering words Wu Tonghai had spoken about him still echoing in her mind.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a radiant halo around him as he strode forward, his robes shimmering with an almost divine elegance. Truly, he embodied the noble and awe-inspiring image of a war god, just as others had described.
Until—
The distance closed, and he stood before her. His narrow eyes lowered slightly, brimming with a lazy amusement as he murmured, "Well, my lady, are you satisfied?"
In an instant, reality snapped back into place.
This was the man she knew—domineering, unreasonable, and often downright tyrannical. The illusion woven by lofty praise vanished without a trace.
"General, do you really think that Wu Tonghai can handle this matter?" Pei Ying couldn't help but doubt the capabilities of a silver-tongued official.
Huo Tingshan replied flatly, "No, he can't."
Pei Ying's eyes widened slightly.
If he was so certain, then why had he entrusted the task to Wu Tonghai in the first place?
"Wu Tonghai is all talk and no action..." Huo Tingshan had barely finished speaking when he noticed the beautiful woman before him nodding in earnest agreement, as if she wholeheartedly endorsed his assessment.
Seeing him pause, Pei Ying pressed, "And then?"
Huo Tingshan studied her in silence for a long moment, his gaze so intense it sent a shiver down her neck. Finally, he continued, "In Yuanshan Commandery, he has neither connections nor military authority. Add to that his cowardly nature—there’s no way he’ll resolve this cleanly. My guess? He’ll downplay the whole affair."
The desk stood to the side, obscuring Wu Tonghai’s face from Pei Ying’s view, but his tone alone told her enough. She murmured, "This Wu Tonghai has no choice."
As an envoy from the imperial court, Wu Tonghai had no choice but to rely on Huo Tingshan in Yuanshan Commandery.
Deep down, he knew this was a hot potato—no, a branding iron—but since Huo Tingshan had handed it to him, he had no choice but to take it.
Offend Huo Tingshan, and he’d vanish immediately. Offend the local gentry, and he’d vanish a little later.
Between the two, Wu Tonghai would choose the latter.
To cling to his life, he would inevitably resort to muddling through—exactly as Huo Tingshan had predicted.
A sudden realization struck Pei Ying. "You don’t think this matter has caused enough of a stir yet, do you? You want it to escalate—to become the talk of the town, known to everyone."
Seeing his faint smile, devoid of mockery, she knew she’d guessed right.
He was roasting the Xiao Family over an open flame. The commoner kneeling before the governor’s mansion was the first spark. Wu Tonghai’s half-hearted mediation was the second. And the third?
The third might well be the reputation for justice that official bulletins had bestowed upon him.
The people knew him as wise and capable. When Wu Tonghai inevitably failed to resolve the matter, they would turn to this "righteous lord" for help. And thus, Huo Tingshan would step in—seemingly against his will, as a last resort.
To the powerful families of Yuanshan Commandery, Huo Tingshan would appear forced into action.
Moreover, he would only target the Xiao Family. Though the other gentry were connected to them by marriage, in the face of a new administration, they would likely stay their hand.
After all, this wouldn’t shake the Xiao Family’s foundations. They could endure a little hardship.
Huo Tingshan watched as understanding dawned on Pei Ying’s face. "It seems my lady has grasped the situation."
Pei Ying curved her lips into a smile. "May all your wishes come true, General."
"I’ll take that blessing," he replied.
From the moment he accepted this assignment, Wu Tonghai had known it wouldn’t be easy. But he hadn’t expected it to be this difficult.
When the commoner who had been kneeling in protest saw that an official had taken up his case, tears of gratitude welled in his eyes. The surrounding crowd cheered.
Wu Tonghai’s smile stiffened—especially when he noticed a few particularly observant figures mixed in the throng, craning their necks as if gathering information. His composure nearly cracked.
Still, he escorted the man to the magistrate’s office, far removed from the governor’s mansion. Once inside, as the commoner listed grievance after grievance, Wu Tonghai felt his breath catch.
This… none of these were minor offenses.
Xiao Family Residence.
Servants rushed in one after another, delivering increasingly troubling reports that furrowed the brows of the Xiao Family members.
"Third Young Master’s mess had just been smoothed over, and now this? Who dares accuse us of such things? Defiling young girls—is there any truth to it, or is this pure slander?" Third Master Xiao paced the hall in agitation.
A cold laugh came from the head of the room.
The murmurs and restless movements ceased instantly.
Xiao Xiong glared at his third son. "Slander? You don’t actually believe that precious nephew of yours is some meek, virtuous boy, do you?"
Third Master Xiao knew Xiao Shang’s true nature all too well and didn’t dare respond.
Second Master Xiao leaned toward his father and said quietly, "Father, Shang’s hand and ribs are broken. I’ve confined him to prevent further trouble."
Xiao Xiong didn’t even glance at his disappointing second son. Instead, he turned to his eldest, who had remained silent. "Well, Eldest? What do you think?"
Eldest Master Xiao was the heir, and in recent years, Xiao Xiong had gradually entrusted him with family affairs.
At his father’s prompting, Eldest Master Xiao stopped turning the ring on his finger. "Father, I find this situation rather suspicious."
Xiao Xiong waited for him to continue.
His brothers exchanged startled looks.
"Suspicious?"
"What do you mean, Eldest Brother?"
Eldest Master Xiao explained, "The timing is too convenient. Just as Third Brother’s incident was settled, another arises—also tied to him. It’s as if someone is targeting him specifically. And both incidents involve the governor’s office."
Second Master Xiao gasped. "Could this be a trap set by Huo Tingshan?"
Third Master Xiao couldn’t resist interjecting, "But Shang did commit those acts. And with the recent bulletins praising Huo Tingshan, many commoners now admire him. They might genuinely believe he’s different from the last governor. Besides, didn’t he delegate this matter to Wu Tonghai? That man is notorious for his silver tongue but has no real skill. If Huo Tingshan sent him, it’s likely just to placate the rabble."
Eldest Master Xiao remained unconvinced. "Third Brother, we must prepare for the worst. If Wu Tonghai bungles this, Huo Tingshan may step in personally. And if he does, punishment is inevitable—light if it’s just Shang’s life, heavy if he decides to investigate the land seizures."
Second Master Xiao paled. "No! Shang is my only son. Taking his life is no different from cutting off my lineage!"
Yet no one paid him any heed.
Eldest Master Xiao continued, "Investigating the origins of the farmland will inevitably involve tenant farmers and a series of related matters. Father, as long as Huo Tingshan steps forward to take charge of this later, it will be nothing short of a blatant scheme."
Xiao Xiong's deeply lined face flickered with contemplation. "Eldest, have our men keep a close watch on the government office. If Huo, the Governor of Youzhou, truly takes over, immediately send word to the Hua and Qi Families."
...
Since the establishment of public gazette reading spots across the city, the daily lives of the common folk had begun to change.
No longer solely focused on their own affairs, crowds would gather at the gazette stations every day at the appointed time, eagerly awaiting the latest news.
They listened to updates on the progress of terraced fields in Jizhou, the number of households in Yuanshan County purchasing wheat seeds from the government, and the reconstruction efforts in neighboring Changping County after the disaster.
Teahouses, eateries, and marketplaces saw a noticeable increase in foot traffic, inadvertently stimulating the local economy.
Yet, at some point, the people's attention gradually shifted. Whispers began circulating about the recent incident outside the Governor's mansion.
"Hey, have you heard? Li Erzhu has submitted a pile of evidence—physical proof, no less. And as for witnesses, there are over a dozen, all relatives of women who suffered under that Xiao Shang over the years. And they say this isn't even all of them! I knew that Third Master Xiao had a habit of bullying men and harassing women, but I never imagined he'd be so brazen, harming so many and still walking free."
"Who hasn't heard about this? The whole city's talking about it. They say Xiao Shang has finally met his match—good riddance!"
"I’m not so sure. The one presiding over the case isn’t the General, but some official from Chang’an. The trial’s dragged on for days, with evidence and testimonies being rehashed over and over. It’s an open-and-shut case, yet this Wu fellow still can’t deliver a verdict."
"You think that official from Chang’an is like the previous magistrate, taking bribes from the Xiao Family?"
"So this case will just be swept under the rug again?"
"Even with the General here, nothing’s changed? I really thought Yuanshan County was in for better days."
Disappointment and resentment grew among the crowd until a voice suddenly spoke up.
"This case is being handled by that Wu official. If the General himself took over, things would surely be different. Why don’t we all go and plead with him? Someone already sought justice before, and now the trial’s underway. Maybe this’ll work too."
Many had an epiphany. Some turned to see who had offered such a suggestion, but the speaker had already vanished into the crowd.
The scandal surrounding Xiao Shang grew hotter by the day, and what terrified the Xiao Family most was the sight of commoners gathering once more outside the Governor’s mansion.
These weren’t the same people every time—just whoever had a free moment to stop by.
The guards at the gate didn’t even shoo them away, let alone scold them. Surely that meant it was allowed.
Two days later, news exploded like thunder—
Huo Tingshan, responding to the people’s pleas, had personally taken over Xiao Shang’s case.
Xiao Family estate.
Crash!
Another exquisite vase shattered on the floor. Xiao Xiong had smashed three before his rage subsided slightly.
"That damned Huo Tingshan! He’s been toying with us all this time. When we sent gifts and sought meetings with that battalion commander, he just took the bribes and kept us waiting—like a bottomless pit. This must’ve been Huo’s doing all along." Third Master Xiao fumed. "Watching us grovel, humiliating ourselves over and over—they must’ve been laughing behind our backs. Disgusting!"
"Father, we must contact our uncles immediately, or they’ll take Shang away!" Second Master Xiao urged.
But before he could finish, a servant rushed in. "Master! A squad of soldiers is at the gate. They say they’re here for Third Young Master."
Xiao Shang had been taken before, but he’d always been returned shortly after. Wu Tonghai didn’t dare push too hard—over the course of the trial, Xiao Shang had only been summoned twice.
Second Master Xiao’s vision darkened. "We can’t let them take him!"
Qin Yang swaggered in at the head of a squad of guards. Their boots trampled over the pristine white jade tiles of the Xiao Family’s front courtyard, cutting through like a blade.
The Xiao servants didn’t dare interfere.
By the time Qin Yang reached the main hall, Eldest Master Xiao emerged to meet him.
Compared to Xiong Mao’s ferocity and Chen Yuan’s sternness, Qin Yang appeared relatively amiable, with peach-blossom eyes that always seemed to smile.
After exchanging pleasantries like old friends, Qin Yang grinned. "Circumstances leave us no choice. The General has no other option—please cooperate."
Eldest Master Xiao locked eyes with him for a long moment before finally calling a servant. "Take Battalion Commander Qin to Third Brother’s quarters."
"Eldest Brother!" Second Master Xiao, who had followed close behind, nearly burst a blood vessel in fury.
Qin Yang clasped his hands in salute. "Your nobility is commendable."
With that, he led the soldiers away, following the servant.
"Eldest Brother, how could you hand Shang over? He won’t survive this!" Second Master Xiao’s voice trembled with hatred.
Eldest Master Xiao remained expressionless. "Don’t blame me—blame yourself. A father’s failure to discipline his son is his own fault. If I were you, I’d be checking his courtyard for any pregnant concubines right now. As for that son of yours… consider him already dead."
Second Master Xiao slumped in defeat.
Eldest Master Xiao turned to his personal servant. "Go to my study and fetch the two letters on the left side of the desk. Deliver one to the Hua Family and the other to the Qi Family."
"As you command."
When Qin Yang escorted Xiao Shang out of the Xiao estate, the spectacle was impossible to miss.
Guards with halberds flanked Xiao Shang on both sides as they marched toward the government office. If not for the wooden cangue around his neck and the shackles on his wrists, it might’ve looked like an honor guard.
The onlookers buzzed with excitement.
"They actually arrested him?"
"Don’t get too excited. Last time they took him too, but he was back home within an hour."
"This is different. I saw it last time—he wasn’t wearing the cangue then."
"Come on, let’s follow and see!"
The crowd swelled with every step, and by the time they reached the government office, it was a massive throng.
Xiao Shang, already weakened by years of debauchery and further injured from a recent beating that broke his arm and ribs, was now exhausted from the march in restraints. His face was deathly pale, drenched in cold sweat, and he swayed unsteadily.
When he finally looked up and met the piercing gaze of the black-robed man seated high above—those fathomless phoenix eyes—it felt like blades flashing before him. His mind went blank, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed straight backward.
He had fainted.
The hall erupted in uproar.
Huo Tingshan’s eyes flashed with disdain. "What a spineless wretch the Xiao Family has raised. If my son turned out like this, I’d strangle him myself rather than let others do it—no point wasting grain on such trash."
Pei Ying arrived as well, dressed in men’s attire, taking a seat at the clerk’s desk.
Watching Xiao Shang faint at the slightest pressure, she couldn’t help but think him a coward through and through.
Huo Tingshan shot Xiong Mao a glance, and the latter understood immediately. Striding forward, he grabbed Xiao Shang by the collar and hauled him up, then swung a massive palm like a bear’s paw.
SMACK!
The sound rang out crisply.
The commoners gathered outside flinched as one.
Xiao Shang was jolted awake from his feigned unconsciousness.
The trial followed four stages: accusation and defense, interrogation, deliberation, and sentencing.
In simpler terms, it was a court investigation where all involved parties were assembled. The presiding judge observed their demeanor, sought contradictions between evidence and testimony, and then delivered the final verdict.
Notably, much like in the Han Dynasty, torture could be used to extract confessions in this era.
With half his face swollen, Xiao Shang was forced to kneel in the courtroom as Huo Tingshan began the proceedings.
Witnesses and all involved parties were summoned—a step that had been repeated many times before under Wu Tonghai’s previous hearings. By now, many witnesses were weary of the process.
But today, they arrived with renewed vigor.
The accuser spoke first, followed by the witnesses. Once all testimonies were given, it was the suspect’s turn to speak.
Xiao Shang, still trembling from Huo Tingshan’s earlier intimidation, dared not meet his gaze. Instead, his eyes wandered—and landed on a beauty seated nearby.
A seasoned womanizer, Xiao Shang instantly recognized Pei Ying despite her male disguise. His eyes widened, and he gaped openly.
BANG!
The gavel struck the desk with a deafening crack.
Not just Xiao Shang, but the entire crowd outside jumped in fright. The bustling spectators, who should have been murmuring among themselves, fell dead silent, holding their breaths.
Huo Tingshan leisurely withdrew his hand. "The accused, Xiao Shang, refuses to cooperate. Guards, ten strokes of the rod."
Xiao Shang’s face paled. "General, I—I didn’t refuse—"
Before he could finish, Xiong Mao flipped him onto the punishment bench with one hand, then turned to fetch the rod.
Terror seized Xiao Shang. The earlier slap had left his face swollen and his ear ringing. If this brute wielded the rod with full force, ten strikes might cripple him for life.
In panic, he twisted—and tumbled off the narrow bench.
As he hit the ground, a voice drifted down from above.
"The accused attempted to evade punishment. Add another ten strokes."
After a stunned pause, someone in the crowd cheered, and soon the entire mob erupted in approval.
Pei Ying glanced sideways at Huo Tingshan, who remained stern and solemn, the very picture of impartial justice.
Yet everyone could see—these twenty strokes were anything but fair. They were pure retaliation.
THWACK! THWACK!
Xiong Mao started with full force, but after two strikes, Xiao Shang coughed up a mouthful of blood. Realizing the man might not survive eighteen more at this rate, Xiong Mao reluctantly held back.
By the twentieth stroke, Xiao Shang’s backside was pulp. Blood dripped from his trousers, staining the floor red.
Pei Ying averted her gaze.
Huo Tingshan frowned. "Cover him with sackcloth. No need to dirty the court further."
Xiong Mao thought, Would that really help? The blood’s already on the tiles. But he draped the cloth over Xiao Shang anyway.
Next came the defense—though with overwhelming evidence, there was little to argue.
"The accused, Xiao Shang, is guilty of inciting riots, assaulting women, and seventeen counts of murder. He is sentenced to public execution at noon tomorrow." Huo Tingshan’s voice boomed.
Silence followed, then the crowd outside erupted in cheers.
"Public execution" meant death before a jeering mob.
The trial, from summons to sentencing, had taken barely an hour. Wu Tonghai’s previous hearing had lasted just as long—but the outcomes were worlds apart.
News of Third Master Xiao’s impending execution spread like wildfire. Teahouses, taverns, and streets buzzed with chatter.
While the public reveled, the Xiao Family withdrew overnight. Their once-arrogant servants vanished behind closed gates.
Pei Ying paid them little mind. This case tied into broader land reforms, and she trusted Huo Tingshan to handle it.
Her focus shifted to her daughter.
Meng Ling'er had another day off. Usually, she’d sleep till noon, but this time, she left early.
Pei Ying only learned of it at midday.
Assuming the girl would laze in bed, she’d sent Xin Jin to wake her near noon—only to find the room empty. The maids revealed Meng Ling'er had slipped out at dawn.
"Children grow beyond their parents’ grasp. Why fret, my lady?" Huo Tingshan lounged on Pei Ying’s favorite divan, basking in sunlight.
Pei Ying, already guessing her daughter’s whereabouts, felt a prickle of irritation. His half-hearted "comfort" only stoked it.
She turned and saw him sprawled on her couch, utterly at ease. The sight made her temper flare.
Striding over, she loomed above him. Though physically lower, Huo Tingshan lounged with the ease of a resting dragon, meeting her gaze with a smirk.
"Why stare so, my lady?" he teased.
Pei Ying narrowed her eyes. "Did you do what you promised?"
"Not yet." He watched, amused, as her eyes blazed hotter—from embers to a proper flame.
"Why not? When will you?" Her brows knitted.
Huo Tingshan shrugged. "The time isn’t ripe. Patience."
"And when will it be ripe?" Suspicion crept into her voice. "Huo Tingshan, are you toying with me?"
He beckoned. "Come closer, my lady."
Pei Ying stood firm.
How could she? He was practically horizontal.
"General, speak plainly. Xin Jin has always been by my side—she is trustworthy," Pei Ying said.
Xin Jin, who had been waiting by the door, quickly retreated to the courtyard upon hearing this.
Yet Huo Tingshan replied with exaggerated gravity, "No. Walls have ears."
Pei Ying thought it a miracle he hadn’t been beaten to death in his youth for that mouth of his. Unable to resist, she retorted, "This governor’s estate is filled with your own Youzhou men, and there are no ghosts or demons in this world. How could there be 'walls with ears'?"
The moment the words left her lips, Pei Ying realized her mistake.
She had previously spoken to him multiple times about immortals sending her dreams, yet now she claimed there were no supernatural beings—wasn’t that contradictory?
But immortals and ghosts… surely they couldn’t be equated?
At first, she felt only slight unease, but then she noticed Huo Tingshan staring at her without speaking. His narrow eyes held a swirling darkness, like a vortex that could swallow a person whole, making her increasingly unsettled.
Pei Ying’s breath tightened.
Suddenly, Huo Tingshan smiled, the intensity in his gaze fading back into his usual nonchalance. "My lady is right. There are no ghosts or demons in this world."
Pei Ying immediately pressed, "Then speak plainly, General."
Without warning, Huo Tingshan reached out and grasped her wrist, pulling her toward him in one swift motion. A gasp escaped her as she stumbled against him.
One arm encircled her waist while the other slid behind her neck, his palm resting lightly against her pulse. He could feel the rapid flutter beneath his fingers as he murmured, "When I said the timing wasn’t right before, it wasn’t to dismiss you. Your daughter is merely experiencing her first infatuation—not yet deeply in love. Even if we were to eliminate Second Master Hua today, who’s to say another wouldn’t appear tomorrow? Treating the symptom won’t cure the disease. It’s better to wait for the right moment to make her understand that her status is no longer what it once was."
