Rong Ning's voice was calm and authoritative, carrying an undeniable power.

The magistrate abruptly lowered his head, his face instantly turning ashen, the last trace of sleepiness vanishing in an instant. "Your Highness...this humble subject...this humble subject does not know..."

His voice trembled, clearly indicating that he had lost his composure.

"Don't know? Ha... then you're truly useless as a county magistrate!"

Rong Ning pressed on relentlessly, presenting the evidence she had gathered to the magistrate one by one. "Smuggling weapons and persecuting the people—your crimes are too numerous to count!"

"Your Highness..." the magistrate trembled like a leaf. "Your Highness... this humble subject... this humble subject is just following orders. This humble subject is just a small magistrate with no say. I just do whatever the higher-ups say."

Your Highness…

These are all none of my business!

"Irrelevant?"

Rong Ning sneered, "So many people in Yanhe County were conscripted to work in the villages, and you say it's unrelated?"

What has anything to do with you?

"Is it related to you that you're colluding with those in power?"

Seeing this, the magistrate knew he was powerless to change the situation and could only kneel down and beg for forgiveness.

Rong Ning was too lazy to waste words with him, so she kicked the magistrate in the chest, sending him flying.

Rong Ning knew that forgiveness was not the solution; only justice and truth could restore peace and order to Yanhe County.

She ordered the county magistrate to be arrested and announced that she would thoroughly investigate the case and bring all those involved to justice.

The news quickly spread throughout Yanhe County, and the people cheered with joy, as if they had seen the dawn of a new life.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Rong Ning did not stop there; she knew this was only the beginning.

Rong Ning immediately set about organizing a team to thoroughly search the magistrate's residence, determined to find all evidence related to smuggling weapons and persecuting the people.

As the search deepened, one shocking item after another was unearthed.

The ledgers were filled with records of illegal transactions, and the warehouse was piled high with countless gold and silver treasures.

Rong Ning confiscated all of these items.

Yanhe County is currently in a state of chaos, with no one in charge of the overall situation.

Rong Ning sent a message to General Yang, instructing them to take the people and soldiers back to the county town for resettlement, and then the government troops quickly took over the county town.

As for what happens next, we'll deal with the prefect once she returns to Kangye City.

From the very beginning of the operation to the town of Yanhe, Rong Ning maintained a complete blockade of information. Moreover, Yanhe County was remote, so it was impossible for the prefect to receive the news so quickly.

But nothing stays hidden forever; the news was bound to leak out sooner or later and reach the ears of the prefect of Kangye City.

Before Rong Ning came to Yanhe County, she had already sent people to keep an eye on the prefect and instructed them to detain him immediately if he made any unusual moves.

However, Kangye City is ultimately the territory of the prefect, and she has few people left in the city. If the prefect really gets the news, he will definitely run away at all costs.

She needs to get back before then.

It was already dark. Rong Ning hadn't closed her eyes since last night, and had been running around non-stop.

But she couldn't rest yet; she had to return to Kangye City overnight.

She was calculating how to get back to Kangye City in the shortest possible time while ensuring that nothing went wrong.

Rong Ning decided to take a secret path that few people knew about. Although this path was rugged and difficult to travel, it would greatly shorten the journey.

She summoned her most trusted attendant, gave him a few brief instructions, and quietly set off.

Rong Ning didn't want to reveal her whereabouts, not because she was afraid the prefect would do anything to her.

She was a princess, highly respected in the north, and protected by close followers. It would be very difficult to kill her silently.

Therefore, the prefect would not take this risk.

Rong Ning was in such a hurry to return to Kangye City mainly because she was afraid that the prefect would run away.

For someone like him, knowing that his crimes have been completely exposed and that he cannot get rid of the person holding the evidence, the only option is to run away.

If the prefect escapes, not only will her efforts be in vain, but it could also trigger a series of chain reactions.

The night was as dark as ink, and the moonlight was thin. Rong Ning and her group made their way along the rugged mountain path by the faint starlight.

The occasional cries of night birds echoed through the mountains and forests, adding to the sense of loneliness and urgency. Yet, her heart remained exceptionally resolute, and each step she took was remarkably steady.

Although the journey was long and treacherous, Rong Ning knew that this was not only a race against time, but also a battle between justice and evil.

She has to win, and she has to be quick.

After a night of trekking, the sky finally began to lighten with the first hint of dawn. Rong Ning stood atop the mountain, gazing at the faint outline of Kangye City in the distance, a surge of indescribable excitement and determination welling up within her.

As the group quickly descended the mountain, various countermeasures flashed through Rong Ning's mind.

Then they overturned everything and went straight to the prefect's residence.

Time was of the essence, so Rong Ning quickened her pace and arrived at the prefectural governor's mansion. A Ying whispered in her ear, "Your Highness, we said that he has been acting strangely these past few days, so he probably hasn't received the news."

Hmm...that's good...

At this moment, the gates of the prefectural governor's mansion were wide open to welcome guests from all directions. Rong Ning smiled, straightened her clothes, and stepped into the vermilion gate.

Strangely, the prefect did not come out to greet them.

The hall was quiet, with only a few servants walking back and forth, making it seem empty and desolate.

This is not what the prefectural governor's mansion used to look like.

The prefectural governor's mansion used to be very lively.

Rong Ning frowned slightly, but did not slow her pace as she walked straight into the inner room, followed closely by her attendants, the atmosphere heavy.

"Where is the Prefect?"

Rong Ning's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority and echoed in the hall.

However, all that answered her was an empty echo and the occasional whisper from afar.

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