Zhang Wanyun was already terrified, and upon hearing Chen Ziying's words, she immediately fled with her maid.

“There was a girl, judging from her attire, who should be a maid from a wealthy family. She gave my husband and me two hundred taels of silver, saying that as long as we hid in the crowd and stirred up everyone’s opinions, inciting everyone to say bad things about the Ninth Prince’s wife, the two hundred taels of silver would be ours,” the weasel-faced man confessed truthfully.

The slightly plump woman with a blue cloth turban took out a bag of silver from her bosom and poured it on the ground in front of her; it was exactly two hundred taels.

The onlookers immediately erupted in uproar.

"So someone deliberately bribed these people to ruin the Ninth Princess's reputation. What a despicable tactic!"

"Ruining someone's reputation is like taking their life. No wonder the Ninth Prince allowed his wife to beat people in the street. It's a miracle he didn't just kill them!"

"Luckily, she was caught on the spot, otherwise the Ninth Princess's reputation would have been ruined, and she would probably have been drowned in a pig cage!"

These people chattered amongst themselves, as if they weren't among those who had spoken ill of the Ninth Princess.

Ji Fengyao has never paid much attention to the opinions of these onlookers who are swayed by the wind and have no stance whatsoever.

At that moment, Wu Shang, hidden in the shadows, reported to her: "Your Highness, as you instructed, I have taken note that everyone else is present except for Zhang Wanyun, the daughter of Zhang Liangqi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Should we bring her back?"

Zhang Wanyun?

Ji Fengyao recalled several encounters with Zhang Wanyun, all of which occurred when she was beating Chen Ziying.

Given Zhang Wanyun's cowardly nature, she lacks both courage and wealth. To do something like this is nothing more than being Chen Ziying's lackey once again.

"She's worthless, capturing her is useless," Ji Fengyao whispered to Wu Shang, a delighted smile playing on her lips.

The Chen State Duke's mansion was indeed very wealthy.

Looks like we've made money again!

Ji Fengyao beckoned to Xiong Yingxiang beside her with her finger, her eyes crinkling with a bright, star-like smile, and whispered, "Lord Xiong, do you want to get rich?"

"Uh, huh?" Xiong Yingxiang looked completely bewildered.

Why is this case of defamation being tried in the street, and suddenly it's about making money?

Of course he wants to get rich!

Aside from monks who are pure of heart and have few desires, who the hell doesn't want to get rich?

"Then Lord Xiong, you must keep a close eye on these people when you take them back. Make sure they are not poisoned or assassinated. Each one is worth hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. We'll split it 40/60 then," Ji Fengyao winked playfully at Xiong Yingxiang.

Then she stood up and said loudly, "I have asked all the questions I wanted to ask. The rest is up to Lord Xiong to handle officially. However, since someone has repeatedly tried to smear my reputation, I cannot sit idly by. So I will offer a reward of five million taels of silver. As long as Lord Xiong solves this case and finds the real culprit, the five million taels of silver will be yours and your subordinates'."

Five million taels of silver to catch the mastermind behind the rumors and trouble?

That bandit has quite the audacity!

Not only the onlookers, but also Xiong Yingxiang and his subordinates listened with wide eyes.

Even if everyone shares it, five million taels would be enough for them to become rich overnight!

Moreover, when Ji Fengyao got into the car, she added to Xiong Yingxiang, "Do not close this case until you have obtained ten million taels of silver."

Xiong Yingxiang was completely stunned: Ten million taels of silver! My God! He had never seen so much money in his entire life!

How was it like working with bandits for the first time?

It's absolutely amazing and shocking!

Xiong Yingxiang made a decision: from now on, he would resolutely befriend the bandits and stand on the same side!