Chapter 514 In the fifteenth year of the Hongqing reign of the Dayu Dynasty, summer.

The Dayu Dynasty had a fierce battle with the Northern Nomads, defeating the enemy's hundred thousand with one hundred fifty thousand iron cavalry, annihilating them completely without precedent.

In the same year, the rebels Zhu Changyu and Fang Yuan were captured and executed, their corpses mutilated beyond recognition.

When the news reached Fengjing, the weather had already become hot.

The lychees of Jiuzhen Store began to be supplied in large quantities again. The rich bought lychees from Lingnan, the poor bought lychees from Sichuan, and there was an endless stream of lychee-based desserts.

The two shops of Jiuzhen Store in Fengjing had long lines out the door, unable to meet demand.

Even the cautious Zhang Xianglian couldn't help muttering, "I should discuss with Ru Qian about opening a third shop."

Jiang Sheng, who was sneakily eating lychees, looked up, "Him? He went to Suzhou to make money long ago. I'm in charge of the shops in Fengjing, and I'm exhausted every day."

"You're complaining about being tired from counting money?" Wen Zhiyun licked some medicinal herbs, immediately crying from the bitterness. "Didn't you say you wanted to open Jiuzhen Store all over the country? Are you going back on your word now?"

"Of course not," Jiang Sheng ate all the lychee flesh off the pit cleanly. "Like second brother said, how can I only make money off the people of Fengjing? I have to make money off of the entire Dayu Dynasty."

This spirit was admirable.

Xu Mo nodded approvingly, "The Guanjin Line is tattered and torn, the hundred and fifty thousand soldiers are all injured, their armor is damaged, their long blades are blunt. All of this requires money."

"Luckily the battle was won, and won beautifully. It will take three to five years for the Northern Nomads to recover from losing a hundred thousand cavalry. They won't be able to recklessly attack and raid us."

On the flip side, the border troops of the Dayu Dynasty could also rest and recuperate while waiting for the state treasury to fill back up.

"However..." Bringing this up, Xu Mo's smile faded away, "Third brother's letter said too many died, there were dismembered corpses everywhere. He couldn't find Second Prince's or Fang Yuan's bodies."

With such vicious reprisal, even if found, it would be hard to identify who was who. "If they can't find them, then they can't find them," said Crown Prince Chang Yan, dressed in his python robe, his expression unreadable. "Crime and merit cannot offset each other. He took the lives of innocent soldiers, it's only right he be buried alongside the tens of thousands of soldiers."

But occasionally, thinking of Second Prince's tragic life, he couldn't help letting out sighs of lament.

Lamenting the fleeting world, lamenting how things change.

If not for Zhu Changyan, with Zhu Changyu's mind and abilities, perhaps he could have seized the throne, perhaps he could have ruled the land.

With Fang Yuan's intellect and cunning, perhaps he could have become a powerful minister.

But fate makes fools of people, life is uncertain. Why be born as Zhu, and also born as Yu?

"I cannot judge Second Brother's and Fang Yuan's rights and wrongs. Perhaps some of their methods weren't honorable, but among those in power, how many are completely upright?" Chang Yan's fingers brushed over the envelope. "But some disgraceful things, once done, one must bear the infamy of exposure."

Like civil service exam fraud, like usurping the throne and betraying the country.

History will not be merciful. All the black and white will be laid bare: the Imperial Court's weakness and righteousness; Noble Consort Ju's arrogance and flamboyance; the Eldest Prince's uselessness and cowardice; the Second Prince's coldness and sorrow.

"It's regrettable the story didn't unfold as grandfather hoped, with the people of the Zhu family helping each other as siblings."

The sunlight was piercing. Dressed in orange python robes, Crown Prince Chang Yan stepped into the blinding light, embarking on the road back to the palace.

After the rebellion at the palace gates, the Imperial Court's mind had never been clear again. He had handed over practically all government affairs to the Crown Prince, to be shouldered by the staff of the Crown Prince's estate.

Whenever Crown Prince Chang Yan had free time he would gather with his siblings in the small courtyard, but he still spent most of his time in the East Palace drafting and handling all kinds of matters.

From a certain perspective, he was free.

But he was also trapped forever.

Jiang Sheng blankly watched fifth brother's receding figure, not knowing what to say.

Xu Mo ruffled her hair. "Cheer up. The great victory means the general and third brother can come home now."

"Really?" As expected, Jiang Sheng broke into a smile. "When third brother gets back, we'll all be in this city with fifth brother right? He won't be lonely right?"

Xu Mo did not reply.

"Little Jiang Sheng, someone's come to Jiuzhen Store to discuss business." Zhang Xianglian's voice rang out at the right time. Jiang Sheng crisply answered an affirmation before hurrying off to work.

Xu Mo heaved a long sigh of relief.

The summer sun was always so venomous. He opened an oiled paper umbrella and leisurely left the small courtyard, taking a carriage to a small villa outside Fengjing city.

Calling it a villa was inaccurate, because its walls were exceptionally tall, its wooden doors thick and sturdy, with an iron chain as thick as a wrist hanging from the lock.

Xu Mo stopped the carriage, routinely tethered the reins, then took a package out of the carriage. He used a key to open the iron chain and pushed open the door to enter.

If his younger siblings saw this, their eyeballs would probably fall out, thinking he was hiding a lover.

But upon closer look, there really was a young woman inside the yard, beautiful and youthful, but her embroidery motions were stiff and mechanical, as if operated by a machine.

Only when she heard the door open did she turn her head, revealing an overly pale complexion. "You've come."

"Here's some food and water for the next few days." Xu Mo coldly put down the package. "Live well."

The girl laughed as if she'd heard a hilarious joke. "You've imprisoned me here, yet tell me to live well. Do outsiders know that Sir Xu so openly flouts the law and disciplines?"

Xu Mo was unusually taciturn.

In the past, not understanding, he always felt a person should be upright, should have a clear conscience.

It wasn't until Wang Fufeng passed away, while the culprit Wang Yuyao still lived free and unfettered, that his eyes were tainted by bloodlust. He did everything to find her, but had difficulty seizing upon a legal loophole.

Whether it was Fang Yuan's crime of deceiving the ruler, or Zhu Changyu's treason and usurpation, they had both successfully shifted the blame onto Wang Yuyao.

She was a girl without family or friends, taking shelter in her betrothed's home, unaware of anything.

It wasn't until the two rebelled and fled that the Zhu and Cao families instantly turned traitor, and Wang Yuyao merely packed up to return to Anshui Prefecture.

So why should she get away with it?

The lives of those who persecuted Wang Fufeng to death should be counted down.

For the first time, Xu Mo abused his power and forcibly detained Wang Yuyao, imprisoning her in a remote deserted suburb.

As expected, as long as a person has selfish desires, it's hard to remain upright.

Xu Mo took one final look at the towering walls before driving the carriage back to Fengjing.