Chapter 31 She helped him build momentum, and Prince Heng became famous overnight.

Lin Yu knew that Jiang Fenghua had high aspirations and extraordinary abilities since childhood.

Six months ago, the imperial decree of marriage was issued, and Jiang Fenghua gladly accepted it and was very happy. She assumed that the person Jiang Fenghua liked was Prince Heng, Xie Shang.

However, she told her that she didn't like him and never would.

Lin Yu was dumbfounded.

Lin Yu and Jiang Fenghua have known each other for almost ten years. Since then, they have been more than just mistress and servant; they are allies and best friends.

Later, Jiang Fenghua invested in and ran the restaurant, and Lin Yu became the owner at a young age. Of course, all decisions were made by Jiang Fenghua behind the scenes.

They first met at a dance studio, which was ostensibly a dance studio but was actually a brothel.

However, their situations were completely different. Lin Yu was sold into a dance troupe, and her fate was destined to be tragic, worse than death. Her life was destined to be spent pleasing and serving men. She had already given up hope after entering the brothel.

However, it seemed that God had gathered all the luck she had in her entire life on that one day.

On that day, six-year-old Jiang Fenghua disguised herself as a boy and took the initiative to enter the dance studio. Her purpose was to learn all kinds of knowledge that could be learned in the studio. These were her exact words at the time.

At that moment, not only was the dancer Lin Shuangniangzi dumbfounded, but she was dumbfounded too.

At that time, Jiang Fenghua paid for Lin Yu. Strictly speaking, their relationship was that of master and servant. However, she referred to herself as a friend. No one knew her background. As long as the money was available, Madam Lin Shuang would not care why a child of a few years old was behaving abnormally.

“Look,” Jiang Fenghua suddenly said.

Su Tingwan also squeezed into Baihua Lake. Dressed in a red outfit and leading a horse, she stood out in the crowd.

Xie Shang spotted Su Tingwan waving at him from afar. The scene was too chaotic, so Xie Shang ordered Yang Zheng, Lin Feng, and others to continue collecting the petitions from the people.

He strode toward Su Tingwan.

Upon seeing him, Su Tingwan pretended not to recognize him and led her horse to continue walking in the other direction.

Xie Shang grabbed her arm. "Wanwan, what brings you here?"

Su Tingwan pursed her lips. "Young master, do we know each other?"

Xie Shang was stunned, and called out to her, "Su Tingwan."

Su Tingwan stopped and spun around in front of him a few times. "A Shang, why aren't you cooperating at all? Can't you see what's going on?"

Xie Shang frowned deeply. He really hadn't noticed anything. He said in a deep voice, "Why are you leading your horse into the street? There are so many people here today..."

Inside Xiangya Garden, Jiang Fenghua curled her lips into a faint smile, "So that's what Su Tingwan was planning. How naive."

Lin Yu said, "From so far away, do you know what they said?"

Jiang Fenghua could guess with her toes, "Su Tingwan and I came out of the Prince's mansion together, and she just rode her horse and followed the carriage... The further we went, the less she could keep up. Yunfang probably thought I was still in the carriage, so she kept sending people to follow the carriage. Do you want to know what she wants to do to me?"

Lin Yu immediately became agitated, "Who wants to get back at you? I'll sell her into the Yichun Brothel."

“You can’t touch this person; she has powerful backers,” Jiang Fenghua said softly. “Besides, now is not the time to deal with her. She will be a very important pawn for me.”

Lin Yu didn't ask any more questions. Jiang Fenghua had been strategizing all along, and she wouldn't suffer any losses.

She worried, "Won't Wanqing's making such a big fuss expose her?"

"Do you really think that today's whole thing was orchestrated by Tan Wanqing?" Jiang Fenghua's eyes brightened slightly, sparkling. "Even if Tan Wanqing hadn't scattered those drawings, Xie Shang wouldn't have sat idly by. The 'Book of Ten Thousand People' wasn't prepared by Tan Wanqing."

"You mean the petition to the people was prepared by His Highness Prince Heng long ago?" Lin Yu asked, somewhat surprised. "Isn't he afraid of angering the Emperor by doing this?"

“The law doesn’t punish everyone,” Jiang Fenghua said. “He’s petitioning for justice on behalf of the people. If the matter gets so big and the Emperor punishes Prince Heng, how will he explain it to the people?” Anyway, Xie Shang has never been favored by the Emperor, so he probably doesn’t care and that’s why he did this!

After Xie Shang comforted Su Tingwan, the imperial edict arrived from the palace. However, the person delivering the edict was none other than the Second Prince, Xie Yu.

Seeing Su Tingwan beside Xie Shang, Xie Yu sneered, "Even when the Prefect of Jingzhao is on a case, he doesn't forget to bring his concubine along. You two are really quite affectionate!"

Su Tingwan sensed Xie Yu's sarcasm and explained, "Your Highness has misunderstood. I met Your Highness by chance and did not know that Your Highness was handling a case here."

It was Xie Shang who explained the situation to her, and she then learned that Xie Shang was handling a case. She was originally upset that Xie Shang was not cooperating with her, but now she felt relieved and said, "Today is the flower appreciation festival. Your Highness should deal with official business first. I will go find the Princess Consort first. I just got separated from the Princess Consort."

Xie Shang nodded, thinking to himself: Did Jiang Fenghua also come to the flower viewing party?

Was that her from behind just now?

After Su Tingwan left, Xie Shang knew he would face the Emperor's wrath. He composed himself and said to Xie Yu, "Prince Yu's information network is quite impressive. He got the imperial decree from the palace so quickly."

He lowered his voice, "Prince Yu is watching me all the time, is there something wrong with him?"

"What's wrong with you? What do you mean?" Xie Yu's expression suddenly changed.

Xie Shang curled his thin lips into a cold laugh, "It's naturally a physical ailment. Even the imperial physicians, whom Prince Yu has summoned, can't cure it. Perhaps I can find you a folk remedy that can cure your ailment and prevent the wives of the princes from harboring too much resentment..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yu's face turned deathly pale. He stared coldly at Xie Shang, his hands clenched into fists, wishing he could smash Xie Shang's head with one punch.

Xie Shang received the imperial edict and, still somewhat in high spirits, addressed the people present, saying, "I will go to the palace to request further instructions. Please wait patiently for good news."

He mounted his horse with a graceful and unrestrained air, the sound of hooves echoing. His eyes were cold and stern, exuding unquestionable authority and composure.

When Xie Shang left the palace, he infuriated the emperor, who threw the imperial edict ordering the confiscation of the Yang family's property at him and roared, "You two are really something, inciting the people and leading the riots. You're only satisfied when you've completely disgraced the royal family, aren't you? You two will go and reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors. Go to the ancestral hall and kneel for three days straight without being allowed to eat."

Xie Shang was initially angry, but he was completely bewildered, letting the emperor berate him mercilessly. Finally, after reading the petition from the people, he saw Jiang Fenghua's name on the other end.

A strange feeling suddenly rose in his heart, sweet and less lonely. Finally, he focused his attention on her handwriting. The handwriting was beautiful! It had a lot of character, no wonder she was the daughter of the Junior Tutor.

The imperial edict ordering the confiscation of the Yang family's property quickly spread, sparking much discussion. "Even a high-ranking official like the Minister of Justice has been investigated by the Prefect of the Capital. His Highness Prince Heng is indeed a good official who truly cares for the people."

Xie Shang's praise spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys.

This was the first case Xie Shang handled since becoming the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture. It had a significant impact and made a name for himself, earning him a place in the hearts of the people.

By the time Xie Shang finished the case, it was already dark, and he hadn't eaten a single bite of food since morning.

At the same time, Lin Feng also brought good news: "Your Highness, we have found the source of these paintings: Lingyun Manor."