The beggar, upon receiving the silver, revealed everything he knew without reservation.
It turned out some big shot had arrived from who-knew-where and thrown the City Lord Ying and his entire entourage into prison. Now, the entire sealed city was being managed by Vice City Lord… oh no, City Lord Wang.
Young City Lord Wang Zhilan, now unchecked, had completely let loose, roaming the city and apprehending any handsome young men she fancied, causing widespread panic.
Upon hearing this, Nian Jiaojiao immediately mounted her horse and sped home.
Handsome young men…
Her entire household was full of them!
When Nian Jiaojiao returned to the Nian residence and saw everyone safe and sound, the stone in her heart finally settled.
"Phew—it's good you're all okay. The city is in complete chaos now!"
Nian Jiaojiao gasped for breath, relieved.
"We know!" Hu Rui replied immediately.
She then praised Nian Jiaojiao:
"Your husband is truly remarkable. He had Xuan Yi buy a batch of long-lasting food in advance. As soon as something felt amiss, everyone stayed indoors."
Nan Qing, receiving the praise, remained as calm and composed as ever.
Adhering to the principle of "good deeds deserve praise," Nian Jiaojiao clapped Nan Qing on the shoulder like a close friend:
"Well done!"
Then, she met his deep, dark eyes.
But this time, Nian Jiaojiao didn't back down. "You look at me? I'm looking at you too!"
They stared at each other for a while, Nian Jiaojiao not even blinking. Finally, Nan Qing broke eye contact.
Even though it might have been because he found it boring that he looked away, Nian Jiaojiao still felt a sense of triumphant pride.
She no longer felt the same apprehension towards this "big shot" as before.
Firstly, her current strength was "astonishing."
Secondly, after spending so much time together, she had come to realize that the big shot was quite good to those he cared about.
As expected, Nan Qing wasn't angry. He simply turned around expressionlessly and returned to his room.
However, what Nian Jiaojiao didn't know was that the moment Nan Qing turned around, the corner of his lips curved into a slight smile.
When she saw Yu Chuan's expectant gaze, Nian Jiaojiao's lips moved. She truly didn't know how to begin.
She couldn't be certain if the person she saw in the teahouse earlier was indeed Father Xu.
If so, why hadn't he shown himself?
Didn't he know Yu Chuan would worry?
Therefore, after much thought, Nian Jiaojiao said to Yu Chuan:
"I went to the county office. Most people there can no longer be identified. However, judging by the number of… victims, several people must have escaped. Perhaps your father-in-law is among them."
Upon hearing Nian Jiaojiao's words, hope reignited in Yu Chuan's eyes, and a hint of color returned to his face.
...
The Dungeon.
"Yo, Magistrate Tan, why aren't you arrogant anymore?"
Seeing Tan Tang, battered and bruised in her cell, Wang Zhilan felt a surge of pleasure.
Tan Tang glanced at her, then turned her head away.
Displeased by her defiance, Wang Zhilan picked up her whip, preparing to approach her.
The captain of the guard stepped forward to intervene:
"Young City Lord, the City Lord said to keep Magistrate Tan alive."
Tan Tang had experience in the imperial court, and Qing Ruo, who had come from Qingzhou, also did not wish to take lives.
Wang Zhilan was unhappy. Then, she seemed to remember something:
"Oh, right. There's one more person I haven't settled the score with! Her name is Nian Jiaojiao, right…"
Tan Tang finally reacted, but before she could stop her, Wang Zhilan excitedly went out to find her.
Tan Tang's heart raced. If Nian Tong Shou were to be harmed, their hope of turning things around would be gone.
...
The main gate of the Nian residence was forcibly broken open.
Nian Jiaojiao, having heard the commotion outside in advance, hid everyone. Xing Yun, grabbing Nian Jiaojiao's arm, refused to let go. Nian Jiaojiao patted his small hand reassuringly and whispered softly:
"It's alright, I'll be right back."
She then gave Hu Rui a look, asking her to protect everyone. Receiving her affirmation, Nian Jiaojiao went to the front room.
"Wang Zhilan."
Seeing the visitor, Nian Jiaojiao narrowed her eyes.
When Wang Zhilan saw Nian Jiaojiao, she immediately ordered her men to pounce on her.
However, with Nian Jiaojiao's skills, these men were naturally no match for her.
At this moment, Wang Zhilan respectfully addressed the person beside her:
"Please, sir."
This person was a servant who had accompanied Qing Ruo to Fengcheng.
The servant was clearly no ordinary individual. In just a few exchanges, he subdued Nian Jiaojiao.
To prevent Wang Zhilan from suspecting anyone was inside, Nian Jiaojiao deliberately provoked her.
As expected, the narrow-minded Wang Zhilan, without a second thought, said, "Take her away," and immediately had her taken back to the City Lord's mansion.
...
"Is this Fengcheng?"
An old woman, dressed in scholarly robes, looked around with confusion. She then said to the young woman beside her:
"Go and ask what the situation is."
After the young woman returned and explained the situation she had inquired about in detail, the old woman was furious:
"Absurd! Are these people acting so arbitrarily just because of their status? Let's go! To the City Lord's mansion. I want to see how formidable they are!"
Wang Residence.
When the old woman arrived at the mansion, she was stopped by a servant. However, this old woman suddenly took flight and entered the residence directly.
A voice like a booming bell echoed in the ears of everyone in the Wang residence:
"Wang Man, where are you? Come out at once!"
Before City Lord Wang could even emerge, Qing Ruo was the first to arrive. Seeing the old woman, she was greatly surprised:
"Elder Qiu! Why have you come here personally?"
Elder Qiu surveyed her, "So it's the Qing family's girl. Where are your elders?"
Qing Ruo was somewhat reserved at this moment and said, "My family elders have not come to Fengcheng. Elder Qiu, may I ask why you are here…"
"Ying Fengxian and Tan Tang, bring them out quickly!"
Qing Ruo's expression changed. She hadn't expected the other party to have connections with Elder Qiu. Disregarding the bewildered City Lord Wang who had walked out, she immediately ordered her men to bring the two out.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Tan Tang quickly said:
"Elder Qiu, quickly save them! That Tong Shou is about to be lost!"
Hearing this, Elder Qiu glared at Qing Ruo and said:
"There's someone else too!"
Qing Ruo was confused. At this moment, the captain of the guard said to City Lord Wang:
"It was the Young City Lord who took her…"
City Lord Wang's expression changed. He quickly invited Nian Jiaojiao out.
Before Nian Jiaojiao could be interrogated, she was brought out, utterly bewildered, and Wang Zhilan also followed.
Wang Zhilan didn't understand the situation unfolding. Before she could speak, City Lord Wang slapped her, leaving her reeling.
"Rebellious daughter, all you do is cause trouble!"
At this moment, Elder Qiu, ignoring their pretense, looked at Nian Jiaojiao with increasingly bright eyes. However, considering the presence of the Qing family, she picked Nian Jiaojiao up and left without looking back.
Ying Residence.
Study.
Elder Qiu praised repeatedly, "Excellent, excellent, excellent. I never imagined such talented individuals could appear in such a small place."
Before Nian Jiaojiao could ask, Elder Qiu inquired:
"Have you composed poetry or created any books?"
Nian Jiaojiao was stunned, then nodded. After she recited the poem, Elder Qiu finally unveiled the mystery of the Great Yue Dynasty to her.
In this world, the status of scholars was preposterously high, even surpassing certain scholars and overshadowing imperial power. This was because scholars possessed the power to protect their territories.
Studying was akin to a form of cultivation, but to achieve true cultivation, one had to become a Jinshi!
This was why most scholars were unable to cultivate and did not know what cultivation was.
The method of cultivation was to create enough exquisite essays or poems.
The way to determine if someone had thoroughly entered the path of cultivation was to see if they had undergone bone marrow cleansing!
For Nian Jiaojiao to have achieved this at the Tong Shou stage, Elder Qiu saw her as a rare treasure!