"The Wu family embezzled the profits from your wife's dowry shops. We only learned this when drinking with Wu Li."
"Right, Wu Li also mentioned that after your wife found out, she stormed back to the Wu household and made a scene. But for some reason, she never exposed the matter publicly. Wu Li said your family was wealthy enough to overlook such a trivial sum."
"I’ve known about the shops for a long time." Hearing them harp on the same issue and recalling Liu Xi’s report, Song Yu’s expression darkened with fury. "Do you take me for a fool? My wife wouldn’t hang herself over mere gold and silver."
"Since you lack sincerity, this conversation is over."
Seeing that Song Yu wasn’t buying their story, the men panicked.
"All we know is that the Wu family schemed to seize your family’s wealth. The specifics... Wu Li never shared the details with us."
One of them broke down, his voice trembling. For days, they had endured torture at the hands of Prince Qin and the Princess’s men, clinging to the hope that their families would rescue them.
But Guo Feng had just revealed... their families were under investigation too.
Their last shred of hope was gone.
"They must have targeted your wife. You... you should investigate further."
Their voices quivered with fear.
Plotting against a son-in-law’s family fortune—such treachery was unheard of in the entire Great Qi dynasty.
"Once, I called you brothers. Yet you knew of the Wu family’s schemes and never warned me. Today, I sever all ties with you. From now on, we are strangers."
With that, Song Yu strode out of the prison cell without a backward glance.
The men stared blankly at his retreating figure, lost in their own thoughts.
......
Only a day had passed since Wu Li exposed the matter at the yamen.
Inside the yamen, Ye Shijie and other officials of Ji'an Prefecture were grading examination papers.
Nearly a thousand papers from the prefectural exams lay before them, each name concealed. The questions were challenging, and after a full day’s work, only one or two papers earned unanimous praise.
"Lord Ye, this candidate’s answers are quite exceptional," one official remarked.
Ye Shijie’s gaze froze.
The handwriting was unmistakably Guo Feng’s.
"The responses are fluid, and the approach to the questions is unconventional... almost as if he grasps the bigger picture."
Such high praise was rare, and the other officials crowded around to examine the paper.
One after another, they nodded in approval.
"Only the structure lacks polish—likely a young examinee," commented a silver-haired official. "In all my years grading prefectural exams, I’ve never seen such potential. This one will go far."
"Then include it in the passing list. The exact ranking can be decided after reviewing all papers."
Ye Shijie maintained a calm facade, but his hands trembled beneath his sleeves.
While others were unaware of Guo Feng’s performance in the county exams, he knew the truth.
To make such strides in less than two months—this was nothing short of genius!
That night, Ye Shijie personally inquired about Madam Guo’s case and issued strict orders:
"The yamen must assist Guo Feng in the investigation. We cannot let this affair disrupt his imperial examinations."
"Yes, my lord." The attendant hesitated before adding, "The Princess sent word—the families of those who incited Wu Li have all been found guilty of corruption."
"Arrest them all. Punish them severely."
The usually composed Ye Shijie rarely showed such anger.
Did they think his position as prefect was merely for show? How dare they target his student!
......
Meanwhile, Song Yu and Song Shihuan rushed back to Yong'an County overnight.
"Guo Feng, I need to examine your late wife’s belongings." It had been some time since their last meeting, and Guo Feng looked worse—barely clinging to life with the help of ginseng.
"After my wife’s death, I moved out of our old quarters. Everything remains untouched. Your Highness... please investigate freely."
He had kept the courtyard exactly as it was, as if she were still there.
"How much do you know about the Wu family?" The moment Song Yu asked, the light in Guo Feng’s eyes dimmed.
"The Wu family raised my wife. For that, I’m grateful." Guo Feng closed his eyes. "But they clung to us like leeches, constantly demanding money. For my wife’s sake, I indulged them."
"Until I learned... Wu Li had a gambling addiction. After that, I refused to give them another coin."
Though no saint himself, he knew gamblers had only one end—utter ruin.
Exhausted, Guo Feng slipped into unconsciousness.
Outside, Old Master Guo wept silently. After all their family’s charity, why had fate dealt them such a cruel hand?
Song Shihuan’s eyes darkened at the sight.
Song Yu and Song Shihuan entered the courtyard where Guo Feng and his wife had lived. True to his word, everything remained untouched.
"Baoxia, summon the imperial physician. Every inch of this courtyard must be inspected," Song Shihuan ordered, her voice heavy. "Especially anything she wore."
The Guo family’s main lineage consisted solely of Old Master Guo’s branch—his two younger brothers were born of concubines, and the inheritance had been settled when the old patriarch passed.
With Guo Feng as the only heir, the Wu family’s scheme became clear.
If they wanted the Guo family’s wealth... targeting Madam Wu was the easiest path. The realization sent a chill down Song Shihuan’s spine—especially considering Madam Wu’s years of infertility.
The imperial physician meticulously examined every item in the courtyard while others searched for clues.
The night passed without rest.
At dawn, a cry rang out from the chamber:
"Your Highness! Princess! This red coral bracelet... it’s laced with a potent drug meant to render women barren!"
Song Shihuan stared at the delicate bracelet lying in its wooden box. Behind its beauty, she saw only a woman’s despair.
......
"Do you recognize this red coral bracelet?"
Guo Feng struggled to open his eyes and nodded weakly. "Her mother gave it to her. Said it was blessed at the temple to help her conceive. She adored it... wore it every day. But then, for some reason, she stored it away."
"Was it... was it the bracelet?"
Faced with his anguish, Song Yu faltered, struggling for words.
Finally, he muttered stiffly, "Rest assured. I will make the Wu family pay for this."
The moment Song Yu stepped outside, a heart-wrenching scream tore through the room.
His expression turned razor-sharp.
"Dispatch the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Surround the Wu residence at once."
"Such vile deeds cannot go unpunished. Today, I act in Heaven’s name!"
