In the afternoon, Peng, the registrar whom we hadn't seen in a long time, swaggered over to the Cheng family's shop with two yamen runners. In front of a large group of onlookers, he read out the government's commendation certificate for Cheng Ruyi's heroic rescue and presented her with a reward of one hundred taels of silver.
The neighbors had never seen anything like it. Only close acquaintances knew that the Cheng family had lost a child on the night of the Lantern Festival, but the child was eventually found. However, almost no one knew the specifics of what had happened, let alone that Cheng Ruyi had helped the government rescue the child. It was simply unimaginable!
Of course, what shocked everyone the most was the reward of one hundred taels of silver! Many people looked on with envy, while others immediately had wicked thoughts.
Peng, the registrar, was a clever man. After presenting the certificate of commendation and the reward, he deliberately said loudly, "Madam Cheng, I heard that this certificate of commendation was personally drafted by the governor of Chongzhou. You are now a well-known figure in the governor's court. The magistrate of Dongming County also asked our magistrate to express his gratitude to you!"
Even the governor and the county magistrate know who he knows, so who would dare to be presumptuous?
"Thank you, Governor, thank you, Magistrate, and thank you, Registrar Peng!" Cheng Ruyi obediently bowed to them before saying, "I have only fulfilled the duties of a citizen of Great Yue. I am truly unworthy of these rewards!"
"Madam Cheng, you are too kind. I witnessed you being severely injured by vicious thugs while trying to save these children, and then dragging your wounded body to help us find the thugs' lair. In the end, you even jumped off a cliff to protect important evidence! Madam Cheng is both wise and brave, truly a heroine among women. I admire you greatly!"
The crowd gasped in amazement as Peng, the registrar, delivered his impassioned speech, creating a truly spectacular effect!
Cheng Ruyi couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "Registrar Peng really knows how to get along with people; he has a bright future!"
For people with social anxiety, this scene is really embarrassing, but now is not the time to be coy. This is a rare opportunity to make a name for yourself!
So she gritted her teeth and took a step forward, raised her left hand, which was still bandaged, and put on an acting performance she had never given before, saying in an increasingly impassioned tone, "I am also a mother, and I know that every child is the apple of their parents' eye. How can I bear to watch thieves hurt them?"
Cheng Ruyi wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes. "Actually, this matter was entirely due to the decisive and insightful actions of the magistrate and his wife, as well as the tireless efforts of Registrar Peng and all the officials and constables of the county government. In fact, you are the real saviors of those children!"
After the two continued to flatter each other, Peng, the registrar, left with a smile on his face.
In fact, Cheng Ruyi chose to work hard to complete the main quest for two reasons: first, for the system rewards, and second, to gain some fame.
She's already stepped into this mess, and even if she chooses to keep quiet, she can't escape the hidden dangers. It would be better for her to step into the public eye and let everyone know that she was involved and even saved someone. That way, the other party might be hesitant to act rashly.
Moreover, having a reputation will naturally benefit their family's future business development and help her earn a lot of money.
She wants to save lives, and she also wants fame and fortune!
This was originally a mutually beneficial thing, and besides, she needed money, the capital to survive in the chaos of the world; she wanted to live.
She also knows that she has never been a truly kind or selfless person. As long as she can abide by the law and not intentionally harm others, she has a clear conscience.
After seeing off Registrar Peng, she left the surrounding neighbors to the rest of the Cheng family to deal with, while she herself went to Zhiwei Restaurant to keep her appointment.
"What exactly is going on with this Fang family?"
Upon entering the private room, Cheng Ruyi hadn't even sat down before she eagerly asked a question.
"Hehe, calm down, please sit down. I heard they have some new dishes here, shall we try them?" Guo Qinglan teased Ruyi as she poured tea. "Did you come from home, Sister Cheng? Did you run into Registrar Peng?"
"Yes, I ran into them, and they even gave me a big surprise!"
"Haha, I'm glad it's a surprise! I was worried you might not like it because it's too flashy and high-profile!"
Cheng Ruyi picked up her teacup and took a small sip of tea. "I'm just an ordinary person, how could I not like it?"
The three of them then ordered a table full of dishes. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Guo Qinglan slowly began to speak.
The Fang, Ning, and Gu families were originally the three major families in the prefecture. Although the former two were not as deeply rooted as the Gu family, they were not far behind. Moreover, the two families had always been closely connected, which formed a situation of mutual checks and balances with the Gu family.
Until twenty years ago, a golden phoenix suddenly flew out of the Gu family. Not only did she enter the palace and give birth to a prince, but she also became an incomparably noble imperial concubine. With one person's success, even their chickens and dogs rose to heaven, and the Gu family suddenly became an object that they could not touch.
This immediately disrupted the layout of the prefectural city.
The Ning family, assessing the situation, immediately chose to curry favor with the Gu family and married their eldest daughter to a collateral son of the Gu family who remained in the prefectural city. The speed of their change of heart caught the Fang family off guard.
In order to save themselves, the Fang family ultimately chose to join the Crown Prince's camp.
"The Crown Prince? How did this get involved with the Crown Prince?" Cheng Ruyi felt her head was spinning. The Imperial Preceptor wasn't enough, and now the Crown Prince was involved too. How could she possibly survive?
"That's a long story. Let me first give you a brief overview of the current situation in the imperial court!"
Upon hearing Guo Qinglan's words, Ruyi was stunned. "You actually know so much about the current state of the court? Where did you get this information? Could it be that your Changfeng Escort Agency...?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Guo Qinglan immediately covered Cheng Ruyi's mouth with one hand. "I went to the county government office on a whim and begged Luo Xian for a long time before he would tell me. He spent a lot of manpower and resources to get this information so that he could be promoted smoothly next year. How are you going to thank me?"
"My dear sister, you can do whatever you want, please stop keeping me in suspense and just tell me~~"
The current emperor of the Great Yue Kingdom, Yuwen Longyi, is already in his fifties. In his youth, he was ambitious. Despite being an insignificant ninth prince, he eventually succeeded in ascending the throne, proving that he possessed both intelligence and strategic acumen.
For ten years after his ascension to the throne, Da Yue did indeed develop peacefully. Unfortunately, he suddenly began to wage wars everywhere, emptying the national treasury. In the last ten years, he has been obsessed with Taoist cultivation and alchemy, neglecting state affairs, which has made Da Yue increasingly turbulent.
The emperor has now essentially retired to a semi-secluded life, leaving the affairs of the court to the crown prince. The crown prince's father-in-law is the prime minister, so it seems that the Great Yue is currently all-powerful.
Among so many princes, only the fifth prince, born to Consort Gu, could rival him. Therefore, the court was basically divided into the Crown Prince faction, the fifth prince faction, and the neutral faction.
This incident is a very typical case of factional strife. Because it also involves the White Lotus Sect, to which the Imperial Preceptor belongs, it has even alarmed the Emperor.
In the power struggle between the two sides, the Fifth Prince's faction narrowly won this time, and the Fang family, who belonged to the Crown Prince's faction, was naturally pushed forward to take the blame for all the crimes.
The victor is king, the loser is villain; this has been the case since ancient times.
"So who is the real mastermind behind this incident? Was it really someone sent by the Crown Prince? Was it to deliberately frame the Gu family and take the opportunity to bring down the Fifth Prince?"
Seeing that Guo Qinglan had talked for so long but still hadn't gotten to the question she most wanted to know, Cheng Ruyi asked directly, "Also, was a final tally made of how many children were captured and how many were killed? Besides the Fang family, what about those bandits? What faction were they? Were they all eventually captured?"
Guo Qinglan paused for a moment, then took Ruyi's hand and said earnestly, "The mastermind behind this is the Fang family. This is the final verdict. You can't say anything else, understand?"
"Hmm...I understand."
Whether this incident was orchestrated by the Crown Prince's faction, orchestrated by the Fifth Prince's faction, or for some other reason, it no longer matters. If the court says it's the Fang family, then it can only be the Fang family.
"As for the detailed files of this case, they have long been sealed and sent to the palace for safekeeping. Even Luo Xian is unaware of them and has been ordered not to disclose the situation in Huaishan County to others."
Seeing that Cheng Ruyi was somewhat dejected after hearing this, Guo Qinglan couldn't help but comfort her, "My father often said that the most important thing in life is to do your best and have a clear conscience. As for the rest, fate will take care of everything, and it's not up to you. Don't think about it too much!"
Yes, she understands these principles, but when you're in the situation, it's not so easy to let go of them.
These children are living, breathing human lives, yet they were so easily wiped out without even causing a huge uproar. How can this not chill one's heart?
But that's how the world is now. Ordinary people's lives are no longer considered real. Living in chaos, they are like duckweed adrift.
"Alright, stop being so gloomy. Let's talk about something happy!" Guo Qinglan changed the subject and suddenly became inexplicably excited: "Do you know? The reason you received the commendation from the governor and the reward from the government this time is actually because of one person."
"Oh? Who is it? It can't be your county magistrate, can it?"
"Hmph, what kind of status does he have? Even the governor probably doesn't remember what he looks like~~" Guo Qinglan made no attempt to hide her disdain and contempt, but then she immediately put her hands on her chin, her eyes shining with excitement, and said, "It's Gu Pinting! My God~~ That aloof, arrogant, and conceited iceberg actually took the initiative to help you, it's unbelievable!"
Guo Qinglan recalled the first time she met Gu Pinting. It was the first time in her life she had seen such a beautiful person. She felt nothing but envy, not a trace of jealousy. It was purely out of love and longing for beautiful things that she naturally wanted to get close to her. However, Gu Pinting was arrogant and cold, which instantly extinguished the little flame of friendship in her heart.
"Gu Pinting? Is that... Mrs. Wen's name?"
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