After the noble lady was reborn, the whole mansion begged her for forgiveness

The next morning, the dawn began to break in the sky, and the soft sunlight shone through the sparse clouds, sprinkling on the bluestone path of the Yongyi Marquis Mansion.

Qi Qiyuan Fang woke up slowly from his dream and suddenly heard the sound of brisk footsteps and whispers, as if there were guests visiting.

He gently lifted the quilt, stood up, put on his morning gown, and walked out of the study. He saw a young man in a purple robe in the yard. He had an upright figure and a spring-like look in his eyes. He was leaning leisurely under an ancient tree with a faint smile on his lips. His eyes were fixed on him gently yet sharply.

This person is none other than Shen Ling, the second son of the Shen family, a prestigious family in the capital.

Although Shen Ling is only a young man, he has already been appointed as the Deputy Director of the Dali Temple, a fifth-rank official. His outstanding demeanor attracts attention.

He was responsible for reviewing cases in various states and inspecting the execution of cases. Although he had no military power, he held the important instruments of the court's judiciary and was deeply trusted by the emperor.

This time, he took the trouble to come here, traveling all the way here, because he actually responded to the invitation in Qi Qiyuan's letter several months ago.

"Hey!"

Seeing this, Shen Ling chuckled, breaking the tranquility of the early morning.

Qi Qi and Yuan Xun looked in the direction where the two men's eyes met. There was no need for words, the tacit understanding and friendship between them were self-evident.

"How is the progress of the matter I entrusted to you last time?"

Qi Qiyuan's voice was steady, and his eyes revealed an unquestionable firmness.

He knew Shen Ling's abilities very well and trusted him as a person, so he asked directly without any politeness.

Shen Ling pretended to be displeased when he heard this. His smile gradually faded, and a playful arc appeared at the corner of his mouth: "Brother Qi, I just came back from a thousand miles away. I haven't even had a sip of hot tea yet, and you are so impatient to ask about my job. Isn't that too direct?"

Having said that, there was no trace of blame in his eyes, but instead a sense of intimacy and helplessness.

Qi Qiyuan remained unmoved. He narrowed his eyes and looked directly at Shen Ling. There was both expectation and pressure in his eyes, as if he could see through people's hearts.

Shen Ling finally gave in and said with a smile: "Okay, okay, you are so cruel, I admit defeat."

Although he complained about "Qi Pi Pi", he immediately said seriously: "Behind the Baiwan Building, there is indeed the secret support of the Yangzhou prefect, but after a thorough investigation, we found that the real mastermind behind it is Fang Cheng."

Gu Wu, who was standing aside, was as still as a pine tree with a stern face. Upon hearing this, his brows furrowed and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes.

At this moment, a smart servant came with a tea tray in his hand. Gu Wu personally took the teacup and placed it steadily on the stone table. His movements revealed his extraordinary upbringing and cultivation. He pondered for a moment and finally couldn't help but say: "No wonder the Baiwan Building is so domineering and no one dares to touch it. It turns out that it is protected by the big umbrella of Fangcheng that covers the sky and the sun."

Fang Cheng, the governor of Hangzhou, is a third-rank official who holds a high position of power and is in charge of the finances and civil affairs of a province. Although he is not a local overlord, his influence and skills are enough to make people in Hangzhou tremble in fear.

Gu Wu was a straightforward person, and was particularly indignant towards those who took advantage of their power to bully others. He could hardly conceal his anger in his words.

"As the lord of Hangzhou, Fang Cheng should have benefited the people, but he indulged his subordinates to do evil and forcibly robbed women. This is intolerable! I think that the million-dollar building is just a tool for him to win over the powerful and consolidate his position. This man is really hateful!"

Gu Wu became more and more excited as he spoke, his voice unconsciously rising a few degrees, until the servant beside him gently pulled his sleeve, and he came to his senses.

He saw Qi Qiyuan's face becoming increasingly gloomy, and was startled. He quickly slapped his mouth and whispered, "My subordinate said something wrong, please forgive me, sir."

Shen Ling observed silently from the side and sighed inwardly.

He knew Qi Qiyuan's pain very well. That unknown past haunted him like a nightmare, making him unable to sleep at night and restless during the day.

In the past, the two of them slept on the same bed. In the middle of the night, he witnessed with his own eyes Qi Qiyuan trapped in a nightmare, sweating profusely, and suddenly waking up. The pain and struggle are still unforgettable to him.

Since then, Shen Ling understood more clearly that what Qi Qiyuan was pursuing was not only justice and fairness, but also a redemption and liberation from the past.

There was no need to worry too much. Shen Ling's words were like a ray of warm sunshine in spring, gently brushing across Qi Qiyuan's frown. The letter he wrote by hand, with the ink not yet dry, already carried heavy hope and determination. It was carefully sealed, ready to gallop across thousands of mountains and rivers, straight to Hangzhou.

He patted Qi Qiyuan's shoulder gently, his gesture full of brotherly comfort and encouragement: "When the emperor speaks out and the Dali Temple takes over the case, the heavy burden on your shoulders can be slowly removed. In return, you can relax and enjoy the peace and beauty of this world."

Qi Qiyuan heard this, his eyes were deep, as if he was weighing the waves in his heart. After a moment of silence, he spoke resolutely, with an unquestionable firmness in his voice: "I have made up my mind. I want to go to Yangzhou in person to find out the truth and comfort the people."

Shen Ling frowned slightly when he heard this, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes. He knew that Qi Qiyuan's move was no small matter, so he asked, "You want to personally intervene in this muddy water, but do you have a foolproof plan?"

Qi Qiyuan did not respond directly, but slowly moved to a stone bench beside him, with a calm attitude, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with him.

He sipped the fragrant tea. His eyes were as calm as water, but he seemed to be able to see through everything in the world. He slowly turned to Shen Ling, and his tone was calm and firm: "Who is behind the house city and is secretly manipulating it? I need to uncover this mystery myself."

Shen Ling was shocked but not confused by this question. As a direct descendant of the Shen family, he could see the situation in the court like a finger. How could he not know the intricate relationship between Fang Cheng and the third prince? Fang Cheng, as an important official under the third prince, was taught by Zheng Qingquan, the chief minister of the court. This powerful old man was the grandfather of the third prince. The interests between the three were entangled and complicated. If they were not careful, they would be doomed.

Thinking of this, Shen Ling's mind suddenly became clear, and he had a deeper understanding of Qi Qiyuan's determination.

He knew very well that if this matter was not handled properly, it would not only affect his personal honor and disgrace, but might also shake the foundation of the government.

The Palace Museum and the Cabinet are the emperor's right-hand men and women. Any disturbance must be strictly examined by these two places before it can be heard by the emperor.

If the news leaks out at this time and Fangcheng is on guard, all previous efforts will be in vain.

"Well, since you have made up your mind, how can I just sit there and watch?"

A playful smile appeared on Shen Ling's lips, but there was a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

Although he had expectations in his heart, hoping to take this opportunity to eliminate Fang Cheng, a capable general in the Third Prince's camp, he was more of a calm assessment of the unknown challenges.

Hangzhou City has prosperous commerce and shipping. If Fangcheng falls, the Third Prince's foundation here will be shaken. This is both an opportunity and a challenge for the Shen family.

However, Shen Ling did not show his heavy heart. Instead, he smiled and said in a relaxed tone: "You are really relieved to let him return to Beijing alone. I thought you would escort him personally. Haha, it seems that I worried too much."

There was a hint of sarcasm in his words, but it could not conceal his trust and respect for Qi Qiyuan.

He knew that although Qi Qiyuan was indifferent and disliked disputes, once he made a decision, it would always be based on deep meaning and consideration.