Here, Zheng Fang resolutely left the Zheng family, while Zhao Yao and Zhao Ge were still being whipped.
Shen Qingping seemed intent on tormenting the father and son, even switching to a barbed whip for the occasion.
He had endured a lash from such a whip before—the pain was...
Tsk.
Shen Qingping’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
With the first strike, Zhao Yao and Zhao Ge could no longer bear it.
"Brother, please save me and Ge’er! Ge’er is your own nephew!" Zhao Yao roared in agony, his eyes nearly bulging from the pain as he pleaded toward Zhao Zhi.
By now, Zhao Zhi had fully regained his composure. His expression was complicated as he looked at Zhao Yao. Having sat in the magistrate’s seat for decades, he had pieced things together after some reflection.
After careful consideration, he realized the situation was far too suspicious—he had trusted his second brother’s family too much.
But blood was blood, and Zhao Zhi was about to plead for leniency when Shen Qingping’s sharp gaze silenced him.
"If you’d like to be strung up and whipped next, go ahead and speak."
"Enjoy this brief peace while you can—before I have the time to settle accounts with you."
Zhao Zhi immediately shut his mouth.
Another lash fell, and Zhao Yao finally broke. The pain blurred his vision, and he howled:
"I was involved too! My wife and I conspired to frame Zheng Fang! My son had nothing to do with it!"
The surrounding crowd was stunned by the relentless twists of the case.
This high-ranking official from the capital had done nothing but whip the truth out of them?
"I confess! Just... just stop whipping my son!"
"Father!" Zhao Ge wept dramatically, playing the filial son.
"Take Zhao Yao away for interrogation."
Shen Qingping repeated his tactic. "As for Zhao Ge—keep whipping."
The guards ignored Zhao Ge’s screams and delivered five more lashes, leaving him barely conscious. Yet, he still gasped out:
"I’ve done nothing wrong! Even if you beat me to death, I, Zhao Ge, am an honorable scholar!"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you."
A faint smile touched Shen Qingping’s eyes. "Out of you, your father, and your mother—you, Zhao Ge, are the only one I have direct evidence against."
A wave of terror seized Zhao Ge.
"The anonymous letter Zheng Fang received was written in a shaky hand—likely because you used your left hand to disguise it. But the ink was high-grade tribute ink, something only a scholar like you in all of Qingshui County could afford." Shen Qingping shook his head. "So, from the start, I was only trying to trick your parents into confessing."
"As for you? I could beat you to death without a second thought."
Scholars couldn’t be directly punished without solid evidence. If not for that, would Shen Qingping have risked causing trouble for the prince and the princess?
"Nian’an, report to the education commissioner. Strip Zhao Ge of his scholarly rank. Once I’ve fully investigated this matter, he’ll be handed over to the emperor for judgment."
At Shen Qingping’s words, Zhao Ge’s face turned ashen.
Impossible...
He was the Zhao family’s only scholar...
"Uncle..."
Zhao Ge looked to Zhao Zhi, but Zhao Zhi had already turned away, unwilling to spare him another glance.
......
When Zheng Shi and Zhao Yao’s confessions were compared, the truth matched Shen Qingping’s deductions perfectly.
In the room, Song Shihuan reviewed the testimonies.
"Did you uncover the tribute ink lead from the start?"
"I just couldn’t stand the Zhao family’s bullying," Shen Qingping said, biting into a peach. "Zhao Ge should take a good look in the mirror—even if Zheng Fang didn’t take the imperial exams, there’s no guarantee he’d pass."
"People always compare themselves to their peers. All they wanted was to drag Zheng Fang into the abyss."
Song Shihuan’s gaze flickered. "With witnesses and evidence, this case is closed."
She glanced at Shen Qingping. When handling court affairs for her father, his methods weren’t as obvious. But outside the capital, his ruthlessness was unmistakable.
In just five days in Qingshui County, he had unraveled the entire case.
"I’ve lived up to your expectations, Princess."
Shen Qingping took another loud bite of the peach.
Little did he know, he had just ruined his own reputation.
"Why choose Wang Dazhu and his wife?"
"Zhao Yao picked them. He said there was no reason." Shen Qingping smirked. "To them, commoners are just lambs for slaughter—pointing a finger is all it takes."
Breathe. Deep breaths.
Song Shihuan was furious.
"Guards! Until the official verdict is issued, hang these three at the city gates every day and whip them—fifty lashes each."
"Make it eighty for Zhao Yao."
Let’s see if he dares to act so high and mighty then.
......
After drafting the case report and sending it to the capital, Shen Qingping finally had time to appreciate Qingshui County.
Green mountains, clear waters—this place nurtured good people.
Changing into casual attire, he set out to explore—only to realize something was off.
Wherever he went, the townsfolk scattered in fear. Some even ran barefoot, abandoning their shoes in their haste to escape.
Shen Qingping stubbornly walked further.
Children burst into tears at the sight of him.
"Nian’an, am I ugly?"
Nian’an stiffened. "Third Master, you’re dashing and refined—a renowned handsome gentleman in the capital!"
Shen Qingping touched his face. "Then why do they flee? Why do children cry?"
"Perhaps... your public whipping of the Zhao family frightened them. But fear is natural when facing a high-ranking court official."
Though unsatisfied, Shen Qingping let it go.
His enthusiasm for sightseeing vanished, and he returned to his quarters in low spirits.
"Baoxia, are people afraid of the princess?" he asked casually.
"Not at all! The people adore her. Some children even call her a fairy!"
A crack formed in Shen Qingping’s handsome facade.
That evening, he tossed and turned, unable to understand why Qingshui County treated him differently.
"Nian’an."
"Your servant is here."
Nian’an hurried in. "What are your orders, Third Master?"
"The princess also commanded the Zhao family to be whipped daily. Why aren’t the people afraid of her?"
"Well..." Nian’an hesitated.
"Spit it out," Shen Qingping snapped.
"The townsfolk believe... the order was your idea, and the princess merely agreed." Nian’an peeked at him nervously, silently adding:
So they see her as a heavenly fairy—and you as a devil from the underworld.
Shen Qingping was speechless.
