C51 Wind Slash

Ding Yuv heard the commotion, and Feng Qing clasped his hands in respect before turning back to his carriage. After returning the gesture, Feng Tiange looked at Feng Qing and said, "Father, I'll go to the court with you."

"Yueya has been waiting outside for quite a while," Feng Tiange understood that Feng Qing wanted her to ride with him, but she preferred not to. She didn't want people to think she had earned today's honor just to gain Feng Qing's approval, nor did she want them to think Feng Qing allowed her to ride with him only because of her achievements today. The former would harm her reputation, and the latter would harm Feng Qing's.

Once Feng Qing's carriage departed, Feng Tiange began walking toward the Imperial Academy, with an unexpected follower trailing behind. "Miss!" Yueya stood shivering beside the carriage, having apparently waited outside in the cold for a long time.

"Why didn't you wait inside?" Feng Tiange asked with concern.

"I was anxious! They said... they said you got first place in both the Literary and Martial Academies. Is it true?" Yueya's wide, clear eyes were filled with excitement, and she couldn't tell if she was shivering from the cold or from joy, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.

"I told you I wouldn't let you wait in vain. Are you satisfied now?"

"Satisfied, satisfied! Miss, you're the best!" Yueya nodded vigorously, and Feng Tiange, feeling sorry for her, helped her into the carriage.

Unexpectedly, someone else followed them in. "Miss Tiange, you wouldn't mind if this prince joined you, would you?"

"I do mind." Feng Tiange lifted her head, looking indifferently at Rong Qi. "Isn't 'Broken Shadow' with Instructor Peng? Didn't he give it to you?"

Rong Qi's eyes widened in surprise. "Do you even know where 'Broken Shadow' ranks on the weapon list?"

"Top ten, fifth," Feng Tiange replied confidently. Back then, her trusty Wind Slash Sword was only sixth.

Rong Qi felt like crying without tears. That sword was something he won from old Gongsun, and now it ended up with Peng Shi, which was no different than returning it to Gongsun Pei! That old man was notorious for being a rascal at the Academy!

Rong Qi silently lamented, "Don't you think 'Broken Shadow' suits you perfectly?"

"Not at all." The only sword that matched her was 'Wind Slash.' One day, she would make Beiming Yuan willingly return 'Wind Slash' to her.

Rong Qi felt defeated by Feng Tiange's unwavering resolve. "Let's go."

"Where to?" Feng Tiange asked, her voice cold as she frowned at Rong Qi.

"The Ministry of Punishments. Does Mrs. Zhao think the Academy is a place anyone can just waltz into?" Rong Qi straightened up with conviction, then lifted the carriage curtain. "To the Ministry!"

The carriage didn't move an inch.

"To the Ministry," Feng Tiange finally commanded, prompting the sound of a whip cracking outside, and the wheels began to roll forward.

In Feng Xueyao's mind, a thousand wild horses seemed to stampede through, reminding her that sometimes you just have to swallow your pride. It’s true that when you're under someone else's roof, you can't always act high and mighty, or you might end up eating your words...

At the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion, in the Mingxiang Pavilion, Sunn Hexiang heard the news of her daughter's return and thought it was too good to be true until she saw Feng Xueyao sitting by the jade table in the room.

"Yao, when did you get back? Why didn’t you stop by Granny Zhong’s place? She’s been eagerly waiting to hear your good news!" Sunn Hexiang greeted her daughter with delight. "You wouldn’t believe it, but she’s already taken out the family heirloom, the sapphire bracelet, saying it’s for you!"

‘Crash—’

The sound of a teacup shattering finally made Sunn Hexiang realize something was off. "Yao, you... didn’t fail, did you?"

"That silly mansion? How could I not get in!" Feng Xueyao's eyes flashed with anger as she growled softly.

Sunn Hexiang let out a quiet sigh of relief. "So, you didn’t get first place? It’s okay, you still got in. Unlike that ugly duckling who applied to both the Literary and Martial Academies. Who does she think she is? She’s probably hiding somewhere, crying her eyes out right now!"

"Can you stop talking for a moment!" Feng Xueyao snapped at Sunn Hexiang just as Ningxiu rushed in from outside. Seeing the broken porcelain scattered on the floor, she hesitated to speak.

"What’s the matter?" Feng Xueyao asked sharply.

"Miss, I just found out that Mrs. Zhao has been taken to the Ministry of Punishments. It seems Feng Tiange accused her of falsely implicating County Princess Chu Yue. The case is already being reviewed, and it's Lord Ding who’s presiding!" Ningxiu reported cautiously, worried about saying the wrong thing and getting scolded.

"Why is it Lord Ding? Shouldn't this kind of case be handled by the Deputy Minister?" Sunn Hexiang stood up in surprise. She knew Feng Yan had a good relationship with the Deputy Minister and had visited his wife about this matter just a couple of days ago.

Feng Xueyao's eyes turned cold. "Mother, you only see Chu Yue as the wife of the South Suppressing Marquis, forgetting she's also a county princess. Anything involving the royal family should indeed be handled by Lord Ding. Anyway, you've already taken care of things, so there's no need to worry about Mrs. Zhao changing her story in court. The bigger the fuss, the better."

"That's true, but Lord Ding is known for being ruthless. Who knows if Mrs. Zhao will hold up in court..." Sunn Hexiang hesitated.

Seeing her mother's uncertainty, Feng Xueyao's gaze turned icy. "Are you not confident, Mother?"

"If it were the Deputy Minister..." Sunn Hexiang began timidly, avoiding her daughter's eyes.

Feng Xueyao stomped her foot in frustration. "Then why are you just standing there? Go get Mrs. Zhao's useless son to watch the trial!"

Sunn Hexiang understood immediately and left the Tea Pavilion with long strides.

Xueyao, still uneasy, took Ningxiu with her and hurried to the Ministry of Punishments' courtroom.

In the palace, at the Happiness Prolonging Hall, Empress Dowager Chu listened to Nanny Sunn's report. She couldn't help but reflect on how approachable she must seem for someone to brazenly accuse her daughter.

Nanny Sunn was furious, wishing she could rush to the courtroom and silence Mrs. Zhao herself.

Empress Dowager Chu, however, remained calm. "Tiange asked me to leave first, which means she must be confident. She probably didn't want me to be upset. Since she has such consideration, I won't go."

Nanny Sunn suppressed her anger and handed a teacup to Empress Dowager Chu. "If I may speak frankly, Miss Tiange seems to have changed completely since returning from Puning Temple..."

Empress Dowager Chu took the teacup, her expression softening. "Change is good. I never thought I'd live to see the day when my granddaughter would achieve first place in both the Imperial Academy and the Martial Academy. I wonder... if Yue would come back upon hearing such news..."

"Nanny..." Nanny Sunn knew better than anyone that County Princess Chu Yue was always the Empress Dowager's deepest concern. She couldn't understand why the princess left without a word, abandoning her young son and newborn daughter.

Twenty years had passed since that fateful day...

In the courtroom of the Ministry of Punishments, Mrs. Zhao was brought forward. Without uttering a single word, she was subjected to thirty harsh blows, leaving her barely clinging to life. According to Ding Yuv, anyone who dared to accuse an official needed an unyielding resolve. He was merely testing Mrs. Zhao's determination.

As the enforcers stepped back, Mrs. Zhao, struggling to speak, coughed up blood while proclaiming her innocence. She was truly wronged. Initially, she had exposed the affair between County Princess Chu Yue and a man named Li, which made her the rightful accuser. Yet, when she regained consciousness, she found herself inexplicably turned into the accused.

"You don't get to speak yet. The plaintiff goes first," said Imperial Tutor Hee from the right side of the courtroom, casting a knowing glance at Feng Tiange.