Time flies, and two and a half years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The new emperor gradually consolidated his position, signed friendly exchanges with other countries, and eliminated the remaining factions of the princes in the court. Now, only the last remaining cancer remains.

Recently, a scout reported that they have discovered the whereabouts of those people.

The Emperor summoned the Su brothers and important officials to the court overnight to discuss how to capture them all without leaving any future troubles.

Su Yi looked at the map with the key points marked. The place was located deep in the mountains of Nanchang County.

Nanchang County... He thought of the little girl he had met once before.

"Su Qing, Su Qing, what are your thoughts?"

Su Cheng nudged Su Yi, who was lost in thought, "Brother, the Emperor is asking for your opinion."

Su Yi came to his senses: "Your Majesty, I believe that as long as the safety of the people is ensured, we should take the method of attacking the mountain to wipe them out in one fell swoop and eliminate future troubles."

The Prime Minister said, "I second that opinion!"

The Emperor changed the subject, asking, "Then, my esteemed ministers, who do you think is most suitable to handle this matter?"

Everyone looked at each other, and finally said, "Please let Your Majesty decide."

The Emperor said, "In my opinion, it is most appropriate for General Zhenguo to go. However, the general's large entourage will surely alert the enemy, and I'm afraid they will act rashly."

The Prime Minister asked, "What does His Majesty mean?"

The Emperor kept everyone in suspense, saying, "My idea is that Su Qing is the most suitable candidate, but we need to put on a show."

The ministers present were all the emperor's most trusted people, and they instantly understood the emperor's meaning.

The next morning at court.

Several ministers were arguing fiercely about the reform of the imperial examination system. "Su Yi, don't think that just because the emperor favors you you can do whatever you want and make such an excessive request."

Su Yi's expression was indifferent: "What I say is true. Why are you ministers in such a hurry?"

One of the historians was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged. "You are simply hopeless!"

The chief eunuch in front of the Golden Palace shouted, "Attend court!" and everyone stopped arguing.

The courtiers shouted, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The chief eunuch said, "If you have something to report, speak up; otherwise, the court may adjourn!"

Su Yi stepped to the front and said, "I have something to report."

"explain"

Su Yi announced his intention to impeach someone, which enraged all the court officials. "Since the founding emperor of our dynasty, there has never been a female official. Lord Su must be so eager for promotion that he has lost his mind."

"That's right. According to Lord Su's idea, wouldn't we also have to do laundry and cook, and be confined to the backyard of the mansion?"

Su Yi replied arrogantly, "Why not?"

The minister was so angry that he glared and puffed out his beard. "Who is Lord Su asking for this for? It's not for your deceased wife, is it? What, does Lord Su want to ask for an official position for a dead woman?"

These words successfully angered Su Yi, who stepped forward and started fighting with the official. The fight broke into two groups, creating a chaotic scene. As things escalated, the chief eunuch quickly ordered people to separate the people.

The Emperor was so angry that he stood up abruptly, shouting, "How dare you!"

The crowd knelt on the ground, pleading, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

"What do you take this place for? Men, drag all these people out and behead them!"

Everyone in the hall was so frightened that they began to beg for mercy.

The Prime Minister said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. They did not do it unintentionally. Please forgive them."

"That's right, Your Majesty. It was Lord Su who started it. He took advantage of Your Majesty's favor to make wild remarks. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I fought with him. Please investigate, Your Majesty."

The Emperor's anger was directed at Su Yi, "Su Yi, do you even have any respect for me as the Emperor?!"

Su Yi, with a stiff neck, said, "Your Majesty, every word I have said comes from the bottom of my heart..."

"Enough! Guards, take Su Yi away!"

The emperor was so angry that he left the court session immediately. After the ministers left, they were all talking about it, saying, "This Su Yi is too arrogant. Let's see how he can turn things around this time."

"Exactly, even if they can't be dismissed from their posts, it would be best if they were demoted to remote places, places that would be an eyesore."

As expected, the punishment for Su Yi came down the next day. The magistrate of Nanchang County in Hongdu Prefecture was transferred because of his meritorious service in disaster relief that year, and there was a shortage of people. The emperor directly put Su Yi there.

The officials gasped in shock. The emperor had been demoted from a fifth-rank official in the capital to a seventh-rank county magistrate in one fell swoop. This was a huge leap, showing how angry the emperor was.

Qi Yuechan, unaware of the reason for this, put down her son and went to find Su Cheng. "Brother Cheng, Second Brother, what's going on? Should I go to Father and beg the Emperor, or go to my cousin, the Imperial Concubine, for help?"

Su Cheng knew that this matter could not be known to more people, so he said dejectedly, "Don't go. If we anger the Emperor again, it might not be as simple as just being a county magistrate."

Upon hearing how serious it was, Qi Yuechan dared not say anything more.

The Emperor seemed to loathe Su Yi intensely, ordering him to depart within five days or never go again.

It was truly a case of some rejoicing while others grieved, especially after learning that Su Yi had been demoted for speaking out about women serving as officials, there was no one left to plead for him.

They even avoided it like the plague; the Su family had once again witnessed the coldness of human nature.

After hearing this, Changbai greeted Su Yi and went to a place called Wang's house in Wushan Village.

Wang Damao was writing in the yard when he saw him coming. He put down his pen and went to greet him, "Brother Changbai, what brings you here?"

Changbai explained, "My husband is going to take up a post in a local area and won't be back for the next year or two, so I came to see you."

Da Mao looked a little disappointed. "Is my sister going too?"

Changbai's Adam's apple bobbed up and down. "Yes, your sister is going too. She asked me to bring her some things."

Just then, Madam Feng returned and saw it, waving her hands repeatedly, "No need, benefactor, you can tell Qiuqiu to take it herself. There are more places to spend money when you're away from home than at home."

Changbai smiled and said, "It's alright. She doesn't need to spend any money by staying with Madam. We've taken care of everything. It's just that she can't come back easily, so she asked me to tell you that she'll come to see you when Master returns to the capital after his term is over."

Ms. Feng was moved to tears, saying, "This child has always been so filial. Just let her take good care of herself. I will take good care of the children at home."

Changbai left after saying only a few words. Da Mao and Madam Feng said, "Mother, let's go and bring Sister back when Lord Su returns from out of town."

Madam Feng wiped away her tears: "Alright, you two study hard and become your sister's support in the future."

Because it was a demotion, no one except members of the Su family came to see him off. Su Yi called Su Cheng aside and hesitated several times before saying, "If... if you hear any news about her, write to me. I don't expect to see her; I just want to know that she's safe and sound."

Su Cheng nodded, "Don't worry, Second Brother, I will."

Su Cheng knew that his brother had had a hard time all these years. Although he didn't know what had happened to him back then, he couldn't help but feel sad for him when he saw him like this. As the saying goes, life is unpredictable.

Su Yi wasn't too sad. He had hurt her so deeply, how could he ask for her forgiveness? He only wished that she could live a peaceful life as a wife and mother in a place where he couldn't see her. That was all he wanted in his life.