Chapter 217 What good is wealth that rivals a nation if it's all just illusion?

Wherever his body passed, blood stained the board, each scene heart-wrenching, making even the surrounding crowd unable to bear watching. Lou Cangyu's cheeks twitched, and he felt a sense of control over everything. Those who called him "Little Stone" were either imprisoned or dead. The Little Stone they looked down on had already broken through the stone and become a gem, shining brightly.

Feng Shisan, lying on the nail board, suddenly roared, gritted his teeth, and mustered his last strength to roll off the board. The immense inertia caused him to fall a great distance, leaving a bloody trail beneath him, as if all the blood had been drained away.

Mu Chenbi and Guan Ye rushed out to help Feng Shisan up. "Young Master Shisan, Young Master Shisan!" Guan Ye called out several times but Feng Shisan did not respond. Trembling, she reached out to touch his breath. Before she could touch him, she heard Feng Shisan's faint breath, "I'm not dead yet. I'm still breathing. The fourth level, the fifth level, I can... make it to the end."

Mu Chenbi turned him over and saw that his body was covered in bloody holes. Guan Ye opened her palms and looked at the blood on her hands, tears streaming down her face.

Lou Cangyu found it hard to believe that Feng Shisan could still hold on. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Wushuang's gaze and seemed to understand. He then sullenly dared not say anything more.

He already understood that Wushuang had only put on an act with Guan Ye. The so-called Qingyan Stone was nothing more than... Lou Cangyu opened his palm again, revealing the Kunwu Stone that had allowed him to break the Lingbo Terrace with his sword. Iron that had been polished by the Kunwu Stone would become less sharp, and the nail plate made of fine steel was no exception. The painting Wushuang had drawn with Kunwu powder had polished the steel nails, making them appear even shinier and sharper to the untrained eye. In reality, the nails could no longer support the weight of an adult man. The reason Feng Shisan was able to survive was because the steel nails only pierced his flesh and did not injure his vital organs.

Lou Cangyu, oh Lou Cangyu, why have you been deceived time and time again? This time, you deserve it too.

"Your Excellency," Mu Chenbi said, "Now that the three checkpoints have been passed, can the Rongdu Prefectural Government take over Feng Jian's wrongful case?"

"We have to accept it!" someone shouted, raising their arms. "They've passed all three trials and the person isn't dead. It would be outrageous not to accept it."

"Catch, catch, catch!"

The surrounding crowd chanted rhythmically, and the prefect, his face flushed, dared not give a quick answer. He looked to Mu Lexiu for help, "Second Prince, what do you think... what should this humble servant do?"

Mu Lexiu shrugged. "The people's will is what they want, and that's what they demand. If you don't know what to do, you might as well quit being an official. What do you think?"

The magistrate's Adam's apple bobbed. Things had come to this point, and there was only one option left… “The prefectural government… will accept Feng Jian's case!”

"Great! Great!" The cheers from the crowd soared into the sky, shaking the Rongdu government office three times.

The magistrate glanced at the dying Feng Shisan and said, "Judging from your appearance, we won't be able to get anything out of you today. In two days... come to the prefectural government office for a public trial."

"Wait a minute."

A sinister voice drifted from behind them. Everyone turned around and saw the one-eyed Cui Jin arrive like a ghost. No one knew how long he had been standing there, or whether he had been lurking somewhere from the beginning, silently watching everyone.

"—National Preceptor Cui?"

"A public trial?" Cui Jin's single eye gleamed with a sinister light. "This case is far beyond the control of the government. How can a mere public trial quell it?"

"What does the Imperial Advisor mean?"

Cui Jin glanced at Guan Ye and the others with his single eye, then fixed his gaze on Mu Chenbi, whose black hair covered his eyebrows. Mu Chenbi's phoenix-feather eyelashes rose arrogantly, facing off against Cui Jin's single eye without giving an inch. Cui Jin seemed to realize something, and the ink on his face twitched slightly.

"Two days later, the Emperor will personally try the case of Feng Jian and Guan Ye."

"The Emperor himself is conducting the trial?" gasps of surprise rippled through the audience.

Cui Jin turned around with a flick of his sleeve and spread his arms, saying, "His Majesty is wise, as everyone in the world knows. Feng Jian dared to pass through three passes and survive. His Majesty and the court will surely give everyone an explanation. After His Majesty personally investigates, he will explain the truth in detail and post it under the Vermilion Bird Gate."

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"May I ask the Imperial Preceptor?"

A weak yet resolute voice came from the crowd. Guan Ye followed the sound and saw Mei Shiyu's pale and thin face raised in the corner. His deep-set eyes shone with a sharp light that shone brighter than the brightest star in the darkest night.

"Young Master Mei?" "The young master of the Mei family."

Cui Jin recognized that the person who spoke was Mei Shiyu, and a look of dissatisfaction flashed in his one eye. However, the Mei family was quite prestigious in Rongdu and even Dajin. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he could only listen to what Mei Shiyu had to say.

Mei Shiyu dragged his weary steps forward, clasped his hands and bowed deeply to Mu Lexiu. Mu Lexiu had long admired the Mei family's reputation, so he nodded slightly in greeting. Mei Shiyu steadied his breath and said loudly, "His Majesty is personally presiding over the trial. Are all the common people present allowed to enter the palace to listen in and serve as witnesses?"

Cui Jin sneered, "Young Master Mei has been to the palace, but not everyone can enter the inner palace. I'm afraid that's inappropriate."

Mei Shiyu remained unfazed and continued, "Since I have been to the palace before, I wonder if Grand Preceptor Cui could ask His Majesty if I, Mei Shiyu, could represent the people who are watching today to enter the palace to listen in and serve as a witness?"

These words immediately sparked a murmur of whispers from the audience. Mu Lexiu chuckled, "Young Master Mei, you have quite the nerve. You think you can speak for everyone today? What makes you think you can?"

Mei Shiyu smiled confidently, “The late emperor once said that Gongcheng Bank is the treasure trove of the Great Jin Dynasty. As the head of the family, how can I not represent all the people present?”

Mu Lexiu pondered for a moment and felt that what Mei Shiyu said made sense, so he stopped talking.

Cui Jin surveyed Mei Shiyu's frail body, swaying precariously in the wind. His words seemed to have drained most of his strength; Mei Shiyu's complexion grew increasingly pale. Cui Jin, too weary to speak further, continued, "There are still two days until the Emperor's personal trial. In these two days… Guan Ye and Feng Jian will be imprisoned in…"

Mei Shiyu interrupted, "They were just appealing for justice, not apprehended criminals. How can you say they need to be detained? They can stay at my Mei family's house for the next couple of days..."

"Mei Shiyu!" Cui Jin's anger surged.

Mei Shiyu seemed oblivious to Cui Jin, and went straight to Mu Lexiu, bowing and clasping his hands in greeting. "Today in the government office, only Your Highness can make decisions. May I ask Your Highness, is the head of Gongcheng Money House qualified to be the guarantor for Guan Ye and Feng Jian?"

Mei Shiyu's words made Mu Lexiu feel comfortable, but under Cui Jin's pressure, Mu Lexiu still dared not agree casually. He glanced at Wushuang and said indifferently, "Gongcheng Money House has wealth enough to support the world, and Young Master Mei is a hero who values ​​integrity. Of course, he is qualified."

"Good!" Mu Lexiu clapped his hands and said, "Young Master Mei has guaranteed with his family wealth and reputation, what else do I not trust you for? Take the person away, and two days later, you will enter the palace with the other two. I trust you, and the people of the world trust you too."

"Mei Shiyu has received the Second Prince's order and will do his utmost to live up to his trust."

Mei Family of Gongcheng Money Shop

Staring at the blood-stained gauze on the ground, Mei Shiyu's face remained expressionless. After confirming that Feng Shisan was not in mortal danger, Mei Shiyu waved away the servants who wanted to help him and slowly walked towards the main room.

Guan Ye and Mu Chenbi followed silently behind him. Guan Ye knew that Mei Shiyu already knew.

Inside the main room, Mei Junhe's landscape painting had been torn down. Mei Shiyu knelt before the portraits of Ma Yi and Ma Yanyu. He was too weak to clench his fists, but he still had one life left to fight for, to fight for the truth for Ma Lin and the Ma family.

“Xiao Jing…” Mei Shiyu choked up, “She doesn’t know yet, does she? If she knew… she would never leave, even if it meant death.”

Guan Ye nodded, "Ji Fang will take her to a safe place and will protect her at all costs."

After kneeling for a long time, Mei Shiyu struggled to his feet. He stumbled and was supported by Mu Chenbi. Mei Shiyu sighed as he looked at the still unhealed wound on Mu Chenbi's brow bone. Seeing that even a golden branch and jade leaf had been caught up in this undercurrent, he felt a pang of sorrow.

“Cui Jin is cunning,” Mei Shiyu gasped. “Both cases are inextricably linked to the Emperor. What truth can be uncovered if the Emperor personally interrogates them? Can he admit that he committed the crossbow murders and the counterfeit copper coin case? More than a hundred people from Tianhufang died unjustly, and the Ma family was ruined—all of this is being brought against him? Guan Ye… he is the Emperor. What do you expect him to do to atone for this? Commend himself to appease the world? Or post a self-criticism edict at the Vermilion Bird Gate to proclaim his guilt to the world?”

"Otherwise what?" Guan Ye retorted.

This question left Mei Shiyu speechless for a moment. “Young Master Mei asked Xiao Ma to leave, but Xiao Ma left and then came back. The ship that left is at the dock. Xiao Ma has already made all the arrangements. He also wanted Miss Mei to leave first. He had already made plans to stay in Rongdu with us, and he will not back down even if it means death.”

"And then... he died." Mei Shiyu sighed as he touched the thick wall. Inside the wall were the Ma family's 100,000 taels of gold and silver. Little Ma could have used them to start a new life, but Little Ma died, and these taels of gold and silver would be sealed in the bricks and tiles forever, for ten years, a hundred years, never to see the light of day again.

Guan Ye looked up at the Ma family father and son, "We've been on the run, but they've never really intended to let us go. Since we're all going to die anyway, let's die to the extreme." Guan Ye then looked at Mei Shiyu, "Young Master Mei, you say you regret it, but you're also determined to help us. Otherwise, why would you volunteer to go to the palace to be a witness? Those who witness the truth... I'm afraid their fate will be the same as ours."

“Me?” Mei Shiyu shook his head sadly. “I’m just a sick person. Every day I live is a bonus. You are living such good times. You shouldn’t compare yourselves to me.”

"What about the Mei family's business?" Guan Ye asked again.

Mei Shiyu flicked his sleeves. "A fortune of ten thousand taels of silver can't save the Ma family, nor can it save Ma Lin. What good is the Mei family's wealth, even if it rivals a country? It can't prolong my father's life, nor give me good health, nor fulfill my sister's wishes. It's all just an illusion. I might as well support you all, that would be..."

Mei Shiyu recalled his first meeting with Xiao Ma. It was dusk, and the boy in black had deep thoughts in his eyes. He slightly raised his eyelashes. He probably just wanted to glance at him, but when their eyes met, his eyes seemed to be fixed on Mei Shiyu's face. It was an indescribable emotion, as if he had finally found his direction, or as if it was a dream that was out of reach. In the blink of an eye, the dream was over.

"This is also... the last time I'll help Xiao Ma."