The matter has been settled. The masterminds, including Hongshi, the Eighth Prince, and the Duke of Yingguo, have been punished. The Prefect of the Capital submitted a memorial to the Fourth Prince asking how to deal with Ruan Dafeng and his sister, as well as Tiezhu.
Fourth Master did not want to make things difficult for them, so he ordered them to return to their hometowns and to comfort them.
Upon receiving the order, the Prefect of the Capital ordered the release of the people. He instructed his maids and servants to give Ruan Dafeng and his sister, as well as Tiezhu, a proper bath and grooming, and then arranged for them to return to their hometown by carriage.
After washing up, Ruan Meiying and her brother came to the front hall to bid farewell to the Prefect of the Capital. After their release, they discussed returning to their hometown. Tie Zhu also went with them. He had long harbored feelings for Ruan Meiying and planned to propose marriage to her after returning home. He had already hinted at it to Ruan Meiying several times, but because of her past as a prostitute, Ruan Meiying assumed Tie Zhu would look down on her like other men, so she never gave him a formal reply.
The Prefect of the Capital gave each of them one hundred taels of silver as travel expenses for their return journey.
Ruan Dafeng and his sister, along with Tiezhu, knelt down before the Prefect of Jingzhao, saying, "Thank you, Your Excellency."
The Prefect of the Capital said, "You don't need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank the Emperor. It was the Emperor who ordered your release and asked me to comfort you properly." The three nodded after hearing this.
"What are your plans for this trip?" asked the Prefect of the Capital.
Ruan Dafeng replied, "We plan to return to our hometown. My father has already passed away. This time, I will take good care of my mother and not let her suffer any more."
The Prefect of Jingzhao looked at Ruan Dafeng with approval and said, "Good, good, good. Of all virtues, filial piety is the most important. Remember the saying, 'The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease; the child may wish to care for his parents, but they may no longer be there.' You have such awareness, that's truly commendable. However..." The Prefect of Jingzhao looked at Ruan Meiying.
"I remember you said that your family is very wary of your identity, so have you thought this through before you go back this time?"
The words of the Prefect of the Capital struck a chord with Ruan Meiying. Her family had previously refused to mention her because she was a prostitute, and it would likely be the same if she went back now. But she had no choice. If she, a weak woman, didn't go home, where else could she go? She might even have to become a prostitute again.
Thinking of this, Ruan Meiying couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Ruan Dafeng noticed her worry and spoke first, "Please rest assured, sir. My sister saved our entire village. I will explain things to them properly when I get back. It was our family's fault before, and I will never let Meiying go back to her previous life." After saying this, he looked at Ruan Meiying firmly. Seeing Ruan Dafeng's help, Ruan Meiying's eyes reddened.
Tie Zhu, standing to the side, chimed in, "Yes! Yes! It was Mei Ying who saved us. When I get back, I'll tell my dad not to let anyone bully Mei Ying. My dad's the village chief, so people will definitely listen to him."
Ruan Dafeng was puzzled as to when Tiezhu started calling her "Meiying" directly.
The Prefect of the Capital said, "Since you have all made up your minds, then I will not keep you any longer. You should return to your hometowns as soon as possible."
The Ruan siblings and Tie Zhu took their leave. The Prefect of the Capital watched them go, thinking to himself that these three commoners had actually stirred up such a storm in the capital. "Are kings and nobles born with special privileges?" he wondered. He also wondered if they would have a safe journey, and whether those they had offended would let them off the hook.
Hongshi was demoted to a commoner, and he lost his salary. His household began to lay off staff, and in the end, he didn't even have a decent servant left.
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