Mo'er didn't know at first that the Red Lotus Pavilion had been bought by Rong Ning. It was only after Rong Ning returned from her victory in the north and came directly to her door to tell her the whole story that Mo'er found out.

By this time, Mo'er had already been cultivated into the building's star attraction.

Rong Ning originally did not intend to disturb Mo'er's life, but after returning from the North, she was eager to establish her own intelligence network, so she found Mo'er.

The people in the brothels and theaters were a diverse group, ranging from imperial nobles and officials to commoners and wandering swordsmen.

A melting pot of all sorts of people, it's the perfect place to gather information.

Rong Ning's meaning is very clear.

Mo'er was grateful to Rong Ning. From the day she met her, her life seemed to have taken a different turn.

So whatever she said, Mo'er accepted it all.

Recalling the past stirred up ripples in Mo'er's heart.

From the day Rong Ning rescued her until now, only a few years have passed, but it feels like half a lifetime has gone by.

So much happened in between.

Mo'er composed herself, poured Rong Ning a cup of tea, and said, "You must have come back from the North this time with something important in mind, but judging from your tone, you've encountered some difficulties?"

“Mo’er understands me best…” Rong Ning smiled in a rather unserious manner, leaning softly closer. “My elder brother and I escorted the prefect back to Nanyang City from the north for trial in order to stir up trouble in the court and catch a big fish. So the charge against him is that he colluded with the Great Jing, smuggled military equipment, and was suspected of treason.”

This is a grave charge, and the evidence I brought back is enough to pin this charge on the prefect.

This is a heinous crime that could lead to the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Originally, I thought that if I sent him back to Nanyang City for trial, the powerful figures who supported him would find a way to protect him, and the prefect himself would try to recant his testimony, saying that I had falsely accused a loyal official.

But none of them...

He not only confessed to the crime, but he confessed thoroughly.

He took all the blame, clearly intending to shoulder the responsibility alone and let everything end with him.

But this isn't what I wanted.

What she wanted was to use this opportunity to bring down a group of people, pave the way for her elder brother and father's reforms, and then let her take control of the military power in the north.

But right now... it seems like we've hit a dead end.

Thinking of this, Rong Ning felt irritated, sighed heavily, and continued, "From childhood to adulthood, I've always been used to being straightforward. This kind of scheming and manipulative approach really doesn't suit me."

To put it bluntly, he's stupid.

I never thought much of it before, but now I feel an unbearable, agonizing pain. Why couldn't I have been given a mind as sharp as a mirror?

What's stupid?

What doesn't have a clever and insightful mind?

Mo'er was amused by her words. Did she really think she was naive?

They really have absolutely no sense of self-awareness.

Mo'er smiled and walked to her side, letting Rong Ning lean on her lap. Her slender fingers gently massaged Rong Ning's temples as she spoke slowly and deliberately, "I've heard about the prefect's matter. Logically speaking, anyone would take the risk for such a heinous crime that would implicate nine generations of a family if there were even the slightest chance of leniency."

But he recognized it so readily, which is unusual!

Unless... he has a way out!

Or rather, the promises made to him by the person behind him were more secure than any effort to recant his testimony.

Once the charge of treason is established, the Zhu family behind the prefect will have no chance of recovery, and all of Zhu's descendants will be wiped out.

Even if the prefect had the strongest will, he certainly wouldn't want to see the entire Zhu family perish.