Ma Liang fell unconscious and was imprisoned by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The indictment from the court swiftly spread to every corner of Yong'an County. Combined with the vast amounts of wealth the Embroidered Uniform Guard seized from the locations Mrs. Wei had mentioned, those who had once spoken in Ma Liang’s defense fell silent.
Teahouse.
"Let me tell you about this corrupt magistrate—he used a 'magic brush' to paint an illusion of prosperity over the county, but a painting is just a painting, nothing more than a facade," the storyteller passionately spun Ma Liang’s tale into the role of a villainous magistrate, while the audience listened with rapt attention.
"The pigments on this painting were unnaturally vibrant—turns out they were made from human blood!"
As the descriptions grew more vivid, Song Yu and Song Shihuan quietly slipped away.
"Father, Liuxi has checked the accounts. The silver we’ve recovered amounts to less than thirty percent of what Ma Liang embezzled," Song Shihuan recalled Ma Liang’s expression and asserted, "The rest must have been smuggled out of Yong'an County. There’s undoubtedly a bigger secret behind Ma Liang."
Song Yu’s eyes narrowed. "Is the recovered silver enough to compensate the villagers for their unpaid wages over the years?"
Song Shihuan, having anticipated his concern, smiled faintly. "Father, the calculations are already underway."
"If it’s not enough, the Qin Prince’s Mansion will cover the difference."
"Father, just focus on your studies. When the time comes, you can personally distribute the wages to the villagers. Leave everything else to me." Song Shihuan patted her chest confidently. Song Yu chuckled and playfully tapped her nose before returning to the mansion to resume his studies.
The moment Song Yu left, Song Shihuan’s expression turned cold.
This Ma Liang had gone too far.
"Your Highness, where shall we go now?" Baoxia, sensing her mood, lowered her voice.
"To see Mrs. Wei."
Mrs. Wei was skilled at accounting, though her temples were now streaked with gray. When Song Shihuan arrived, Mrs. Wei was overseeing the distribution of silver.
"How is it? Will it be enough to compensate the villagers?"
Recognizing Song Shihuan, Mrs. Wei immediately set down her abacus. "We’re still short."
"Take the deficit from Liuxi and charge it to the Qin Prince’s Mansion’s accounts." Song Shihuan sat down, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.
Mrs. Wei looked at her gratefully, but then Song Shihuan spoke again:
"With both witnesses and evidence in place, Ma Liang is as good as dead. But a large sum of silver remains unaccounted for. Aside from Ma Liang, Concubine Feng is the most likely to know the truth. If you can help us extract information from her, the Qin Prince’s Mansion will owe you another favor."
"Your Highness flatters this humble woman."
Mrs. Wei knelt formally before Song Shihuan. "I failed Empress Yuan. Now that Your Highness is giving me a chance to atone, I could ask for nothing more."
Just then, commotion erupted outside.
An Embroidered Uniform Guard appeared in the room. "Your Highness, Ma Liang has regained consciousness."
Instantly, Mrs. Wei’s emotions flared. "Your Highness, I must go and demand the whereabouts of my child!"
The moment Song Shihuan nodded, Mrs. Wei dashed to the prison like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Standing before the now dull-eyed Ma Liang, she grabbed him by the collar.
"Tell me, where did you hide my child?"
Ma Liang only laughed foolishly. "You found the silver, didn’t you? What about my cousin and the others?"
"They’re in this prison too, waiting to join you in the afterlife," Mrs. Wei spat venomously. "My child is the only living heir you have left. Tell me where they are!"
Ma Liang laughed even louder, tears streaming from his eyes.
"Mrs. Wei, as you wish, I, Ma Liang, will die without an heir."
Mrs. Wei’s pupils constricted, her hands releasing his collar in shock.
Could her child be...
"Your child died on the third day after birth. You were useless, which is why I never had a legitimate heir all these years."
"And you, burdened by Empress Yuan’s favor, made it impossible for me to elevate my cousin as my official wife. Mrs. Wei, I’ve despised you for decades."
"So all these years, you’ve been threatening me with a child who was already dead?" Mrs. Wei could barely process the truth. "No, you must have hidden them somewhere!"
"If you don’t believe me, ask my cousin. We watched the child take their last breath together."
Mrs. Wei could no longer hear his words.
Her ears rang, sharp pains stabbing intermittently, her vision darkening.
Her child was dead. Had been dead since the third day of life.
And she had been deceived, manipulated for years under this lie.
......
Rows of tables and chairs were set up outside the former county office. Boxes of silver were carried in, though no one understood the purpose, all eyes remained fixed on the proceedings.
"Make way—the notice is going up!"
Liuxi pushed through the crowd and posted the prepared notice on the wall before clapping his hands:
"By order of His Highness the Prince and Her Highness the Princess, all those whose wages were embezzled by that corrupt official Ma Liang may come to the county office within the next three days to claim their dues. However, both husband and wife must appear together to receive payment."
"Will everyone who was cheated be compensated?" someone in the crowd asked uncertainly.
Liuxi nodded. "Everyone."
"Though the recovered silver isn’t enough, His Highness and Her Highness have declared that the Qin Prince’s Mansion will cover the rest. The Great Qi imperial family will not wrong a single citizen."
The crowd erupted in excitement.
While the town’s reaction was subdued, word spread like wildfire through the villages. By midday, families began arriving to collect their wages.
Song Yu and Song Shihuan personally distributed the silver.
Song Yu handed out the pouches, while Song Shihuan took charge of—
"Your wife raised your children on scraps these past years. You’d better treat her well from now on."
"Look at you, all muscle, while your child is skin and bones. Buy some meat and nourish them properly."
With just her words, Song Shihuan shamed the men into blushing, while the women looked on with tearful gratitude.
For three straight days, Song Shihuan’s voice grew hoarse until she could barely speak.
Song Yu, heartbroken, brought her a bowl of honeyed water, helping her sip it slowly to soothe her throat.
Suddenly, Liuxi rushed in, panting. "Your Highness, Princess—urgent news!"
"What’s got you so flustered?"
"The people have surrounded our mansion!" Liuxi gasped, struggling to catch his breath.
"Surrounded again? Why does this happen wherever I go? What are they accusing me of this time?" Song Yu growled through gritted teeth.
"No—"
"The people want to inscribe Your Highness and the Princess into the Yong'an County Annals."
