"By the way, you just got back and you might not know, but Jiang Zhaorong committed suicide in prison out of fear of punishment."

"Suicide out of fear of punishment?" Xu Youran repeated in surprise.

After all, they had lived together for so many years, so she had some understanding of him. He didn't look like the kind of person who would commit suicide out of fear of punishment.

After Xu Youran explained the Sixth Prince's rebellion and how Consort Jiang was his accomplice, she nodded repeatedly, "That's not surprising."

With such a serious crime punishable by the death of nine generations of her family, Jiang Zhaorong could never think of turning things around.

No wonder he committed suicide out of fear of punishment.

This was good news. After the meal, they gathered together and talked for a while.

…

After using all kinds of torture, Elder Nan Gu and Yougu Youli did not utter a word. Only then did Xiao Mingye believe that they did not know about witchcraft.

The Great Elder of Nan Gu is stronger than them. He said that witchcraft was once prosperous in Nan Gu, but later on, it declined.

Xiao Mingye personally passed the news back, and Jiang Kangan was also in the imperial study.

After hearing his words, the emperor nodded slightly, and when Xiao Mingye turned to leave, he stopped him and said, "Since you are here too, go to the city gate to pick up Hu Renli on my behalf."

Xiao Mingye and Jiang Kang'an walked out of the hall side by side.

A lot of people had gathered at the city gate. Hu Renli was at the front, and Hu Yue was a little behind him.

Everyone was cheering, but there were also people staring at Hu Yue with malice and whispering.

"Having a general as a father is great. What does it have to do with her to capture Nan Gu? She'll still get military merits. I'm afraid she'll follow his example and become an official in the court."

"Yeah, I'm not as lucky as her. I can't envy her. Hey, you see, this military camp is full of men. Where is she, a woman, supposed to live?"

A burst of ambiguous laughter.

Hu Renli's ears moved slightly, and he turned to look at Hu Yue, then his gaze fell on the group of people gathered together with a cold look.

Hu Yue's expression remained unchanged, her hands already on her waist. However, at this moment, a clear voice rang out: "Capturing Nan Gu is a great achievement. Miss Hu is a meritorious official appointed by the Emperor, someone who has actually fought on the battlefield. You are here to speak behind her back. Do you have any evidence?!"

Hu Yue loosened her hands and looked at the person who was speaking. She looked like she was not yet of marriageable age, and her face flushed red, as if she had used up all her courage to say these words. Hu Yue's eyes couldn't help but soften.

Seeing everyone around him looking at him, and then seeing that the person who spoke was just a yellow-haired girl, the man said disdainfully: "What evidence do you need? She's a woman, and it's doubtful that she has ever been on the battlefield. I'm afraid she was scared to death by the sight of blood. Besides, I didn't say anything. It's a fact that there are only men in the barracks. I just asked where I lived. I'm afraid she has something to hide, so she subconsciously made an association."

As he said this, he was carefully glancing at Hu Renli's face. After he finished speaking, he clasped his hands together and smiled at him in a flattering manner.

This self-righteous behavior immediately made people around laugh.

"Is that the tone you're using to ask? You're the one spouting filth first, saying someone else has something to hide."

"Exactly. What's wrong with the military camp being full of men? In ancient times, Hua Mulan joined the army to replace her father. Why can't there be Miss Hu today?"

"I see this young man is already thirty years old, how can he still say such things? I'm afraid he hasn't read much or taken any exams to get a good degree."

"Even a country bumpkin wouldn't be this bad. I'm afraid his body was drained by the drunken moon cage. Actually, I passed by the censor's clinic a while ago and saw him inside."

Everyone was talking at once, and the man was immediately furious. "Nonsense! Nonsense! When have I ever been to a place like that?"

"You...you are slandering someone's innocence with empty words!"

No one paid any attention to him. The man explained with a red face, but everyone continued talking to themselves.

The air was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Jiang Kangan and Xiao Mingye, who were sitting on their horses, couldn't help but smile at each other.

The guards behind them separated the crowd. Xiao Mingye and Jiang Kang'an rode up to Hu Renli and dismounted at the same time, bowing: "On behalf of my father, I have come to greet General Hu and congratulate him on his great victory!"

Hu Renli also bowed in return: "Congratulations, same."

The city gate was not a place to talk, so after exchanging greetings, they mounted their horses.

Xiao Mingye also didn't forget to punish the man. He gave him a cold look and said, "You have slandered a meritorious official. You can escape the death penalty, but you can't escape punishment for living. Throw you into the Dali Temple Prison and reflect on your actions for a few days."

The man begged for mercy, but Hu Yue suddenly said, "Wait a minute."

Everyone looked over, and there was even a hint of hope in the man's eyes.

Hu Yue drew the long whip from his waist and said, "Countless souls have died under my whip. You have slandered my innocence. I can't just lock you up for a few days. So, I will let you off with a whip and then lock you up for a few days. I will then forgive you."

The man's face suddenly turned pale. As he saw the whip swinging, his legs went weak and he sat on the ground.

The whip didn't hit him, but just barely brushed past his body.

"My legs would be weak even without seeing blood."

Her voice was full of sarcasm, and laughter broke out again around them.

The man was picked up by the guards and taken away with his head down.

Hu Yue took out her purse and threw it to the little girl who spoke first: "Thank you, heroine, for speaking up for justice."

The little girl took the purse, her eyes sparkling, she was flattered and a little excited at the same time.

She is a heroine!

Hu Yue smiled, looking away, and said loudly, "Everyone present today who spoke up for me just now, go to the Hu Mansion and receive one tael of silver each! But you must watch carefully, and those who slandered me just now are not allowed to claim it without authorization."

There was a burst of thanks all around.

…

In the Imperial Study, Hu Renli finished his report to the Emperor and then said with shame, "Actually, it was all Zhiyu and Wen Jing's credit. The credit for capturing Nan Gu really shouldn't be attributed to me."

"My dear minister, there's no need to refuse. It was you who stabilized Nan Gu after they left, and you're well-equipped to take on the responsibility." The emperor personally went down to help Hu Renli to his feet, then looked at Hu Yue and praised him, "It's true that a tiger father has a dog daughter. Zhiyu has already told me that killing Aimes on the city wall, boosting the army's morale, and attacking fiercely all the way, every single thing is exactly like your father's!"

"Your Majesty, thank you for your compliment," Hu Yue smiled brightly.

The emperor laughed a few times and asked: "What reward do you want?"

"As a citizen of Tianqi, it is my duty to serve Tianqi. How dare I ask for any reward? I just ask Your Majesty to give me this opportunity in the future."

Hu Yue lowered her eyelashes slightly and looked at the emperor cautiously.

Hu Renli couldn't help but hold his breath.

"Okay, very good. I will give you this opportunity when we attack Mobei in the future!"

Hu Yue's face lit up with smiles: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

…

At the Xu Mansion, Xu Youran dismissed everyone and came to Jiang Zhiyu's courtyard.

Even if everyone acted perfectly normal, the fact that she didn't see the baby fish for a day and a night after she came back was suspicious enough.

Xu Youran looked at the yard with deep eyes.