Chapter 360: Reason

Chapter 360: Judgment

Sun Yan handed the case file over to Emperor Xingyuan for his perusal.

Emperor Xingyuan read through the list word by word, and in his anger, he laughed: "There are quite a few names here."

The list included a minister, two vice-ministers, a cabinet member, several retired senior officials, and many lower-ranking officials.

Of course, these were only the individuals named by Chief Minister Zhang and his nephew in their confessions. Whether these people would ultimately be convicted still awaited further interrogation.

Emperor Xingyuan threw the roster onto the imperial desk and coldly said, "Leave no stone unturned in their interrogation, no matter their rank."

"Your humble servant will carry out Your Majesty's decree," He Qingxiao was about to take his leave.

Just then, Xin You interjected, "Your Majesty, I should also leave the palace, and it would be convenient to leave with Lord He."

Emperor Xingyuan's first reaction was to oppose, but faced with the girl's clear and innocent gaze, he had to pretend to be indifferent: "Very well."

Ayou's openness made him feel like he was being overly cautious.

So, Xin You and He Qingxiao walked out of the palace gates together, in plain sight.

"Lord He, did you inquire about the meaning behind the 'Jun' character mark with Zhang Youming and his nephew?"

"I did, and both of them consistently said it was meant to signify 'A gentleman is not a mere instrument; thus, the state is well-governed.'"

"They're quite adept at self-aggrandizement, aren't they? Believing their actions are for the noble cause of ruling the nation and securing peace?" Xin You murmured, then laughed coldly.

In truth, they're nothing but a band of avaricious exploiters, draining the lifeblood of the populace without a trace.

"It's possible they genuinely hold such beliefs."

Xin You paused, slightly raising her head to look at He Qingxiao.

She was of average height for a man, likely from a privileged upbringing and martial training, yet still stood more than half a head shorter than He Qingxiao.

He Qingxiao found her direct gaze unsettling, his eyes flickering away as he tried to quell the sudden warmth flooding his chest and face.

His tone, however, was much calmer than he intended: "Those who flaunt their status often cloak their vile deeds in a veneer of nobility."

Xin You nodded in agreement: "Exactly, they want their cake and to eat it too."

As they strolled, drawing occasional looks from passersby, He Qingxiao lowered his voice, confident they wouldn't be overheard: "Is His Majesty inclined to enact the late Empress's proposed reforms?"

Being Xin You's closest ally, he was well-versed in the details of her reforms.

The reforms were nothing short of brilliant.

This was also why, apart from personal feelings, he was willing to fully support her.

"I brought it up the other day; His Majesty seems favorable towards the reforms."

Xin You's words left some room.

The Emperor's will is fickle; daily affairs could sway his decisions.

"Lately, I've been reflecting on this. Beyond the vested interests of officials, gentry, and the wealthy, there's also the court's and public's sentiment to consider," He Qingxiao spoke with genuine concern.

Xin You whispered, almost to herself, "Public opinion."

"Exactly, it's all about public opinion. The new policies are good for the country and its people, but I often travel and interact with many people. Most ordinary folks can't read and don't understand policies; what they hear comes from scholars and the propaganda spread by local gentry and rich families. And those spreading these messages are mostly against the new policies."

He Qingxiao isn't exactly a scholar, but you don't need to be a scholar to understand this—it's something you grasp through experience and common sense.

"I get what Lord He's saying. Even though the new policies help the people, they don't get it. What folks hear are the bad things said by those against the new policies. Those against the new policies aren't just the rich folks who'd lose out but even some regular folks who'd actually gain from them."

He Qingxiao nodded slightly.

He isn't scared of the challenges in pushing through the new policies, but he worries that the people who should benefit might turn on her with cruel words, dampening her passion and breaking her kind heart.

The thought hurts him.

Watching her push ahead with such determination, showing unmatched bravery and strength, while still having the gentlest heart, his respect and feelings for her keep growing, and he can't keep lying to himself about it.

"In the capital, and even more so in remote areas, folks are swayed by what the rich and powerful say, even bold enough to badmouth His Majesty."

The saying 'out of sight, out of mind' isn't just a saying—it's the truth. Many country folks might not even know what dynasty we're in. All they care about is putting food on the table and dealing with the local big shots.

"I know how powerful public opinion can be," Xin You said with a smile. "But if His Majesty backs the new policies and the officials follow through, I've got ways to manage public opinion."

Her mother had taught her how to stir up public opinion, and running a bookstore, posting notices, and publishing new books gave her practical experience.

"That's good," He Qingxiao didn't ask for specifics on her strategies, instead shifting the topic back to Chief Minister Zhang's case. "This time, many people are involved. Lady Xin, don't let your guard down when it comes to your safety."

"Lord He, rest assured, I now always bring Qianfeng and Ping'an with me when I go out. Lord He, you'll likely be very busy soon, so take care to rest as well."

They spoke in measured tones, but their emotions were far from calm.

Just as He Qingxiao couldn't keep lying to himself about his feelings for Xin You, Xin You also clearly realized that even when speaking the most mundane words, she was willing to listen to him for a long time.

She quickly glanced at him, only to meet his gaze filled with hidden affection.

He tried to conceal it, but she knew it well.

Xin You's heart raced a few times, like an uncontrollable deer about to burst through her chest.

She had to quicken her pace to break the delicate and enchanting atmosphere.

It turned out she had overestimated her self-control.

After parting, Xin You regained her composure and thought: It's all because Lord He is too handsome. People's self-control always weakens when faced with exceptionally good-looking individuals, not just her.

Xin You thought of Empress Xin again.

Although her mother would curse a few times when mentioning her father, it wasn't a taboo subject. Once, out of curiosity, she asked her mother why she fell for that father, and her mother jokingly said, "All because of his face. If he were even slightly less handsome, I wouldn't have repaid his life-saving kindness with my hand in marriage."

See, even her knowledgeable mother was swayed by good looks.

Xin You found a reason for her slight confusion and immediately felt at ease.

He Qingxiao returned to the Northern Pacification Office and sat alone in his office for a while.

For a moment, he even thought of throwing caution to the wind, grabbing her hand, and confessing his feelings.

Fortunately, reason prevailed.

He Qingxiao quickly walked towards the imperial prison, knowing that reality would make his wavering reason firm again.

Soon, the imperial prison was filled with newly detained individuals, and news came from the south that Zhang Yuchen's son, who had stayed in their hometown, was missing, while other members of the Zhang clan were already on their way to the capital.

After Chief Minister Zhang's case broke out, the action to arrest members of the Zhang clan in their hometown was swift, but there was still a fish that slipped through the net.