FBC – Chapter 278 Imprisoned

After testing Gu Hua’s attitude, Wang Heng finally relaxed. He immediately drafted a memorial and sent it to the capital with an eight-hundred-li urgent dispatch.

Then he went to see Jiang Ruoxi.

“Princess…”

Jiang Ruoxi looked at him with tearful eyes.

Wang Heng was extremely impatient. Being saddled with this task really was the worst luck of eight lifetimes.

If not for the rise of the Langya Wang clan, he would never have agreed to something so humiliating.

“Miss Jiang, the envoy from Dali has conveyed King Dali’s intention: you are not suitable for the marriage alliance. They specifically named Gu Hua. I’m in a difficult position as well, but I must truthfully report this to the imperial court and await His Majesty’s decision.”

Jiang Ruoxi’s mind exploded with a buzz. “What did you say? Gu Hua? That lowly woman already has a child—how is she worthy of being a marriage candidate?!”

“Whether she is or not is for King Duan to decide.”

Wang Heng didn’t want to waste time with her. “I still have pressing matters to handle. Everything will wait until the imperial decree arrives. I’ll take my leave.”

Jiang Ruoxi sat on the bed, blank and stunned. Her old nurse sighed helplessly, and the maids stood aside with reddened eyes, at a complete loss.

She didn’t know what to do—she didn’t even dare step outside the door.

“Nanny… what should I do?”

The nanny hugged her in distress, coaxing softly, “Don’t be afraid, Lord Wang will surely persuade King Duan.”

“But their envoy already came and named that wretched Gu Hua! Wang Heng already sent his memorial back to the capital—he won’t help me.”

Jiang Ruoxi cried bitterly. “Why? That bitch only gained favor by climbing into Mu Junyan’s bed! Now that she’s had a child she’s worth even less—how am I inferior to her? Why are they humiliating me like this?!”

The nanny sighed, not knowing what to say, blaming herself. “It’s all this old servant’s fault. Back then, if only I had—”

Jiang Ruoxi suddenly shoved her away violently and screamed, “Shut up!”

That was her reverse scale—her deepest, most shameful memory.

When she thought back now, she didn’t even understand why she had been so attached to her elder brother, why she had developed feelings she should never have had.

But was her brother without fault?

At the time she was young, ignorant; she’d never met other fine young men. The first outstanding man she saw when her heart awakened was her excellent elder brother.

But why didn’t he reject her?

Why did he pull her down into that abyss with him?

When she finally understood shame and fear, she desperately sought to marry Mu Junyan to escape that sinful entanglement.

But that wretched Gu Hua seized the opportunity first and even set her up, making her the target of everyone’s scorn.

And the parents and Empress Dowager who loved her most sent her alone to this godforsaken place, forcing her to marry the prince of an enemy nation.

They abandoned her without care for her life.

And her brother?

Completely unharmed, hiding at home, avoiding trouble.

Her father was only waiting to absorb the Mu Army and help her brother rise again.

And her?

Who cared about her fate?

The nanny cried along with her, heartbroken. The maids cried as well, though they mourned their own fate—following such a mistress meant their future was bleak and hopeless.

After crying enough, Jiang Ruoxi regained her senses. “You all leave.”

The maids hurriedly withdrew.

The nanny stayed, knowing she had something to say. She sat by the bed and held her gently.  “Whatever you want to do, tell me. I’ll risk my life to help you.”

Jiang Ruoxi nestled in her arms. “I know my parents’ people are all here to watch me. Only you truly care for me. You love me more than they do.”

The nanny held her tightly, her heart aching. “This old servant raised you, Miss. To speak out of turn—you are like my own daughter.”

“Nanny, I must find my own way out. If Wang Heng reports Dali’s request to the emperor, I’ll become a useless burden. I believe the Jiang clan would rather I die.”

A vicious glint flashed in Jiang Ruoxi’s eyes.

The nanny was startled and lowered her voice. “Then… what do you want to do?”

“Nanny, did you bring what I asked you to bring?”

“I did. Who does Miss plan to use it on?”

Jiang Ruoxi’s eyes darkened. “Whoever is most useful right now.”

Wang Heng returned to the prefectural office and immediately began inspecting taxes.

Prince Ping’an had specifically instructed that the territory under Mu Army control contained rich mineral deposits. Wang Heng had to get ahold of the mining accounts and manipulate them to seize control of the mines.

The prince even assigned a trusted aide skilled in accounting. But after the group turned all of Prefect Wu’s records and documents inside-out, even rummaging through drawers and boxes, there wasn’t a single tax ledger—let alone any mining records.

Infuriated, Wang Heng slammed the thin stack of ledgers onto the floor. “Summon Prefect Wu!”

Wu Qiming and the old staff of the yamen were eating and drinking when suddenly summoned.  “We’re all commoners now and haven’t committed any crime. Why call us?”

The imperial guards glared. “Does an imperial inspector need a reason? Come. Now.”

Wu Qiming stood up. “Fine. An imperial inspector does as he pleases.”

“We’ll all go together,” the men laughed.

A group of them swaggered into the hall. Wang Heng sat in the main seat and struck the gavel hard.

“Wu Qiming! You are bold indeed, daring to hide official ledgers!”

Wu Qiming cupped his hands and raised a brow. “Lord Wang, yesterday you waved a memorial accusing me of numerous crimes. What’s this—unable to find evidence, so you’re adding new charges?”

“All your ledgers are here! Yet the tax records of the Mu Army’s territory for two years are blank, and there’s no mining account at all. How do you explain this?”

Wu Qiming smiled. “Lord Wang, border taxes have always been handled by the stationed army. And as for South Frontier—there was no tax collected in the past two years. War left the people destitute. Who exactly was there to tax? As for the mines—ah, that’s where you don’t understand. They have always been under military jurisdiction. The Mu Army guards the mines and sends the ore directly to the capital. If you have questions, ask the Mu Army.”

Wang Heng was livid. To this day, not a single Mu Army commander had shown up. And he couldn’t just storm into their camp to arrest anyone.

He didn’t dare.

Wu Qiming remained calm. Chiyu had told him the imperial decree merely ordered Lu Lei to temporarily take over prefectural duties; it did not remove him from office.

Which was exactly why Wang Heng didn’t dare announce the decree’s full content.

Lu Lei barked, “Wu Qiming, enough arrogance! Do you think having the Mu Army behind you lets you deceive the imperial envoy?!”

“Everything I said is the truth. How is that arrogance?”

“Exactly. And who is the one flaunting authority here? Doesn’t know anything yet slaps on charges the moment he arrives.”

The officials and yamen runners of the prefecture all spoke up indignantly.

Lu Lei grabbed Wang Heng’s gavel and slammed it down furiously.

“Treasonous behavior!”

The gavel’s crash made Wang Heng’s heart leap. He glared at Lu Lei.

Lu Lei, relying on his status as Prince Ping’an’s trusted aide, had never shown him much respect—and now he even stole his authority right in front of him.

Wu Qiming snorted. “That word—‘rebellion’—is taboo in South Frontier. Everyone from the Mu Army to the common people has paid a horrible price to defend the border. If Lord Lu shouts it casually here, fine. But outside the prefecture gates? You’ll be beaten by a mob.”

Lu Lei roared, “Wu Qiming!”

“Why shout so loud? I’m not deaf. If you’re done questioning me and I’m innocent, I can leave, yes?”

“Yes, go. Why waste time with them?”

“Truly. Knows nothing yet acts like a grand strategist. If you’re so capable, go deal with the Mu Army.”

“Exactly. Roaring only in front of us.”

The whole group muttered as they prepared to leave.

Lu Lei couldn’t stand it anymore. Seeing Wang Heng say nothing, he shouted:

“Guards! Lock them all in the dungeon!”

The imperial guards surged forward.

Wu Qiming and the others exchanged a glance, pretended to resist, and were all thrown into prison.