With Zhao Yan's imposing presence, Yuan Yun's powerful aura, and Zhao Cheng's sinister gaze behind his back, Qi Bainian's personal guards exchanged bewildered glances, their fighting spirit instantly suppressed.
Especially after seeing Heng Wenhao arrive with the Jiangcheng garrison, they began to have second thoughts.
While they might not turn against Qi Bainian, if they were to actually fight, whether they could win or not would be another matter, but first of all, their position would be illegitimate.
rebel?
Then it's not just one person who dies; the whole family will suffer the consequences.
Qi Bainian knew very well that he couldn't stir up any trouble, but he had already achieved his goal, and his final tough stance still prevented him from pleading guilty.
"Your Highness is too kind. If Your Highness wishes to intervene in this matter, I will certainly do my utmost to cooperate."
Qi Bainian glanced around and sighed, "It's truly heartbreaking that the completion ceremony was destroyed."
Yuan Yun said, "Compared to judging whether a prefect is good or bad, delaying the completion ceremony for a few days is nothing."
"Then this humble subject will return to the residence and await Your Highness's investigation results!"
Qi Bainian disembarked with a stern face and walked towards the prefectural governor's mansion under the escort of his personal guards.
When Qi Bainian left, none of the gathered people, whether they still believed in him or saw through him, made a sound; everyone silently watched his figure.
Today is a very big day for Jiangcheng.
For the people of Jiangcheng, it was even more deeply moving.
Yuan Yun walked to the bow of the boat and said to the people, "Everyone, go back now. I am the Princess of Dajing. I will not frame a good official, nor will I let a bad official go unpunished. Go home and rest well. Don't overthink things. The final result will be based on my investigation!"
The crowd gradually dispersed, and Miao Shaohua, who had been holding her breath, relaxed. She looked at Yuan Yun with gratitude and said, "Thank you for saving me, Your Highness. The evidence I have and what I said are all true. If you were to investigate, Qi Bainian would not be able to withstand the scrutiny."
"Of course I know he can't stand up for you, otherwise why would I stand up for you?"
"Your Highness is truly a heroine among women!"
Miao Shaohua's eyes lit up, then she looked at Zhao Cheng and nodded, saying, "Young Prime Minister."
Zhao Cheng observed Miao Shaohua's expression and asked, "You seem to have something to say to me?"
Miao Shaohua thought for a moment and said, "My father knows you came to Jiangcheng to do business, and he wants to cooperate with you."
Zhao Cheng smiled and said, "There's no rush. Let's talk about it after Qi Bainian's matter is settled."
As he spoke, Zhao Cheng glanced in the direction of the Miao family head, who quickly bowed to him.
Zhao Cheng returned the greeting with a slight smile.
Miao Shaohua said, "With His Highness taking action, Qi Bainian is definitely finished, that goes without saying. But the investigation will take time. Qi Bainian's connections in Jiangcheng are very deep-rooted, especially since he has some experts under his command. Gan Lang used to be very powerful, and now he has another ruthless person by his side who doesn't seem to be weaker than Gan Lang."
Zhao Cheng asked, "What does that ruthless person look like?"
"He looked like someone you didn't want to mess with!" Miao Shaohua recalled, then continued, "He had a scar on his face, and he would draw his knife at the slightest provocation, easily taking down ten or so people."
"I see..."
"I'm worried he'll fight you to the death, so you and His Highness should be careful."
"I've taken your reminder to heart."
As he spoke, Zhao Cheng glanced down at the boat and called out, "Zhao Wu, have you bought what I asked you to buy?"
"I bought it!" Zhao Wu flew aboard the boat, handed a large chicken leg to Miao Shaohua, and said, "Here you go!"
Miao Shaohua looked at the chicken leg, then at Zhao Wu's face, then back at the chicken leg, then back at Zhao Wu's face, and finally couldn't help but scream out loud.
"ah!!!"
Zhao Wu stuffed the chicken leg directly into Miao Shaohua's mouth.
"This was a gift from my master, eat it!"
Startled, Miao Shaohua tore off a piece of chicken leg meat and stared at Zhao Wu in shock.
Zhao Cheng said, "Zhao Wu, people say you look like someone you don't want to mess with. Should you consider wearing makeup when you go out in the future?"
Zhao Wu, with his hands clasped around his sword, said arrogantly, "I'm not someone to be trifled with."
Miao Shaohua looked at Zhao Wu, then at Zhao Cheng, and realized what was happening. She said, "You, you..."
Zhao Cheng smiled and said, "My plan did hurt you, but the ultimate goal was to rescue you from Qi Bainian. Otherwise, would you have dragged the Miao family along with Qi Bainian to oppose me?"
"Absolutely not... Absolutely not!" The Miao family head immediately dragged his old body and ran over.
As Miao Shaohua and Zhao Cheng began their conversation, the Miao family head had been listening intently. Hearing this, he couldn't hold back any longer and, fearing Miao Shaohua might say something wrong, quickly stepped forward and said, "I, Miao Sui, have long harbored the idea of breaking with Qi Bainian and cooperating with the young prime minister. This brother overheard my daughter and me talking that day; he should know that what I say is true!"
"Miao Sui? He fell asleep instantly??" Zhao Cheng laughed, "The old man is still quite healthy!"
"Huh?" Miao Sui was confused, not yet familiar with Zhao Cheng's way of thinking and speaking, which involved beating around the bush.
"Haha, it's alright. As I just said, we'll discuss this matter after Qi Bainian's matter is settled."
Yuan Yun stared at Miao Shaohua and asked, "And you, what are your thoughts after learning the truth?"
Miao Shaohua remained silent.
Miao Sui quickly said, "My daughter, she..."
“Qi Bainian is, after all, her husband, and the two have shared joys and sorrows for many years. In the current situation, she is the one who has pushed Qi Bainian into the abyss. If I want to know her true thoughts, I will let her speak for herself.” Yuan Yun raised her hand to interrupt Miao Sui.
"Miao Shaohua, if you feel uncomfortable, you can speak frankly. I will not blame you for it."
Miao Shaohua thought for a moment, then closed her eyes and knelt down abruptly, saying, "Shaohua's marital relationship with Qi Bainian is over. Now she is merely a daughter of the Miao family. From this day forward, Shaohua will obey Your Highness's orders and the orders of the Junior Prime Minister!"
Miao breathed a sigh of relief and smiled with satisfaction.
"Get up." Yuan Yun nodded without asking any more questions.
"The chicken leg is a gift for you, eat it without worry." Zhao Cheng smiled slightly at Miao Shaohua, then looked at Zhao Wu and asked, "Has there been any response from outside?"
Zhao Wu said, "Upon receiving the young mistress's order, the garrisons of the cities surrounding Jiangcheng have all been dispatched. Judging from the distance, they will arrive as early as tonight, and at the latest by tomorrow morning."
Zhao Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Tell them not to enter Jiangcheng after they arrive. Instead, they should gather outside the city and surround Jiangcheng first."
"yes."
“Even if Qi Bainian wants to retaliate, he will need to organize his forces. In that case, let’s give him time and then wipe him out in one fell swoop.”
Miao Shaohua, who was listening from the side, was shocked and couldn't help but say, "So the Eldest Princess and the Young Prime Minister were prepared all along. I was just being presumptuous when I reminded you earlier."
Zhao Cheng said, "It's enough that you have the intention. Otherwise, where do you think this chicken leg came from?"
Zhao Wu winked furtively, wondering if the reason Master gave her extra chicken legs was because of this.
While they were talking, Zhu Shan walked over to the Miao family's location, took Xia Qi's hand, and said, "Qi Bainian is definitely finished this time, sister, when are we going to Qinhuang?"
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