The court acted swiftly and decisively this time.
Over at the Dog Yard, the cleanup of the remains was ongoing. The government allowed the common people to come and claim the bodies of their lost family members. Those that remained unclaimed were buried at the expense of the court.
For the people who had lost their loved ones, the court specially allocated funds to compensate for their losses.
Of course, Emperor Yongchang knew that silver could never replace human lives.
But for the common folk at the bottom of society, silver brought hope. It was still better than losing both lives and property.
Even though he acknowledged the Empress Dowager’s ability to read the situation, it didn’t stop him from punishing the Tian family.
The entire estate of Duke Chengen was confiscated.
Part of it was used to compensate those who had lost family members.
The rest was used to build a school on the Dog Yard site.
A school for the poor children in the area, so they could finally have access to education.
And the first person Emperor Yongchang thought to teach the first lesson was… Qi Zhen.
Qi Zhen was completely dumbfounded.
He had been busy training soldiers, as Emperor Yongchang’s birthday was approaching. On top of that, envoys from the Oirat Mongols, Japan, Goryeo, and Annam were all sending delegations this year.
Therefore, the cabinet had issued an order for the capital garrison to hold a military parade.
It was to show these smaller nations the grandeur of the Great Zhou.
When Qi Zhen heard that the Emperor wanted to build a school at the Dog Yard, his first reaction was to wave his hands in refusal. “Your Majesty, you know me. I’ve read a bit, yes, but reading and teaching are two completely different things! Please spare me!”
Emperor Yongchang glared at him. “Who said it was you? I meant your daughter!”
——
…What?!
Qi Zhen was even more confused. “Send Qi Yuan?”
Why send Qi Yuan?!
Qi Zhen was so shocked that his face turned pale. “Your Majesty, my Yuan girl can’t do it!”
Lately, Qi Yuan’s reputation had soared too high.
Who didn’t know that Qi Yuan was the one who single-handedly brought down Tian Baoci’s Dog Yard?
Not to mention that Li Changqing had once read her fortune.
Right now, he wished more than anything that people would forget about Qi Yuan.
Otherwise, if Qi Yuan was to become the Crown Prince’s consort, it would be difficult.
Her martial prowess was so overwhelming that those conservative old ministers would probably be terrified she’d lose her temper one day and beat up Xiao Yunting.
He hurriedly waved his hands. “No, no, no, Your Majesty. My Yuan girl is reckless. This time was purely a fluke…”
Emperor Yongchang looked at him with a half-smile. “A fluke?”
Qi Zhen guiltily lowered his head.
Then he heard the Emperor say coldly, “What she said at the restaurant that day was powerful and resounding!”
“Did everyone hear it? Whether you are a military officer who risks life and death to defend the nation, or a scholar who studies bitterly for years for the good of the country, in the end—you are still not as good as the Empress Dowager’s grandnephew’s dog!”
Qi Zhen gasped sharply.
How… how did His Majesty know what Yuan girl said that day?!
Emperor Yongchang snorted. “Just for that vision and backbone alone, she qualifies! Let her go! Let her teach those future officials what integrity is, and what it means to not bow to power!”
Since the Emperor said so, what else could Qi Zhen say?
Shaking all over, he went home.
In front of the Old Marquis Qi and the old Madam Qi, he told Qi Yuan what had happened.
Then he looked at Qi Yuan, worried. “Yuan girl, aren’t you… attracting too much attention? Isn’t that bad?”
After all, even though Li Changqing was dead, for all his annoying behavior, he had accurately read the fates of many people.
Qi Yuan’s best option right now should have been to stay quiet at home, wait for everyone to forget about this matter, and then appear again later.
But now she was being asked to teach at a public school.
Wouldn’t that stir things up even more?
The Old Marquis Qi stroked his beard, looking quite approving. “Yuan girl, you should go! His Majesty’s words show that he appreciates you.”
Honestly, what Qi Yuan said that day at the restaurant was magnificent.
It couldn’t have been better.
Now, whenever the Old Marquis went out, many people would come over to praise him for having such an impressive granddaughter.
Although Emperor Yongchang’s decision was somewhat about pushing Qi Yuan into the spotlight to redirect some of the anger from the Tian family onto her, it was also an opportunity to build her fame.
And what was so bad about fame?
Old Madam Qi, however, frowned and said, “If you’re going, take your second aunt with you.”
But this wasn’t what Qi Yuan was concerned about right now. She asked the Old Marquis, “What about the thirty people left? How did Grandfather handle them?”
“Don’t mention it. There are too many!” The Old Marquis sighed, closing his eyes. “I’ve locked them up in the villa. If I kill them, I don’t even know how to handle the bodies without drawing attention.”
After all, with the Dog Yard’s mass graves being exposed, even dumping bodies in random pits wasn’t an option anymore.
Qi Yuan thought for a moment. “I’ll go to the villa first.”
The Old Marquis immediately asked, “Do you want me to go with you?”
“No need.” Qi Yuan shook her head, went to the stable, grabbed a horse, and galloped out of the city.
Old Zhao and Liujin had been secretly watching her all along. When they saw her leave, they exchanged a glance.
Old Zhao clicked his tongue. “Doesn’t the eldest young lady’s wound hurt?”
With injuries that severe, even raising her shoulder should hurt like hell.
How could she still ride a horse like nothing happened?
But there was no time to ask about that now—they quickly followed after her.
Once she reached the villa, Qi Yuan went straight to the area where the captives were held.
The one guarding them was Shunzi.
Shunzi hadn’t seen Qi Yuan in a long time. The moment he saw her, he jumped up happily. “Miss! You’re here!?”
Qi Yuan couldn’t help but smile back. “Yes.”
She asked where the prisoners were being kept.
Shunzi quickly led her to the grain warehouse in the back, lowering his voice. “There was no good way to separate them, so we just threw them all in the granary. They’re all tied up.”
Qi Yuan nodded. As soon as the warehouse door was pushed open, she stepped inside.
Inside, people were sprawled all over the floor, men and women alike. The moment they saw Qi Yuan, their eyes widened in terror, and they started struggling.
Qi Yuan ignored them. Her cold gaze swept across them, then finally fixed on a man who had been trying desperately to hide behind others ever since she entered.
She strode over in a few steps, crouched down, grabbed his face, and chuckled lightly. “Long time no see… Qilin.”
One of Qi Wang’s top shadow guards.
She hadn’t expected that he had actually left this person behind.
Qi Yuan pinched his chin, yanked the rag out of his mouth.
Qilin glared at her with fury, spat, and sneered coldly, “Don’t think you’re all that! If it weren’t for His Highness being soft-hearted and unwilling to kill you, you would’ve died a hundred times over already! You ungrateful b*tch!”
Shunzi immediately pointed at him, yelling, “Who the hell are you cursing?! Watch your d*mn mouth, or I’ll rip your tongue out!”
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