Chapter 241: The Protagonist’s Script

Chapter 241: The Protagonist's Script

After handling matters here, it was time for the other prefectures.

Bei Jingchu wouldn’t personally visit every location; she entrusted trusted individuals to follow the same method.

However, with the example of the bloodbath in the Capital City, fewer officials in the prefectures dared to resist stubbornly.

As long as they paid, they could save their lives, so they chose to pool their money.

If people weren’t pushed to the brink, they wouldn’t be forced to rise up in rebellion.

Only those who had embezzled excessively and couldn’t gather the money had no choice but to plead guilty, not daring to rebel.

The Deputy Magistrate of Zhuangzhou was a man of integrity.

But precisely because he was too upright, he couldn’t get along with others.

He couldn’t curry favor with his superiors, nor could he win over his subordinates.

He couldn’t form alliances.

Thus, despite his talents, he struggled to get promoted.

By the time his temples turned gray, he had only managed to reach the position of Deputy Magistrate, still lower than the young Governor, who engaged in factionalism and corruption.

And this new superior, because the gifts he offered weren’t valuable enough, singled him out for exclusion.

That was bad enough.

But what they took was the money meant for the people; they embezzled the land taxes paid by the common folk.

A matter that could have been easily resolved turned into a tangled mess because the money was embezzled.

With so many such incidents, he didn’t even know whom to report.

Should he make enemies of the entire officialdom?

He was deeply frustrated, even considering resigning and returning to his hometown.

Dayue! It is in peril!

Such a country has no future.

But today, they received an official document brought by the Imperial Censor.

Princess Tianwu had executed a group of corrupt officials in the Capital City.

The next step was to extend the hand of anti-corruption to Zhuangzhou.

Hearing that this was the last chance to return the embezzled funds, those people quickly coughed up their ill-gotten gains.

Some, thinking themselves clever, tried to bribe the Imperial Censor, seeing that she was just a young girl.

As a result, this young girl surnamed Lei executed them on the spot.

In the end, the Governor, who couldn’t repay the embezzled funds, was imprisoned, and the Deputy Magistrate, who had always been honest and solitary but constantly marginalized, took over his superior's position.

He knelt in the direction of the Capital City and shouted, "Long live Her Highness!"

"Dayue is saved!"

Similar events were unfolding across the land.

By the time this matter concluded, Bei Jingchu was already ten years old.

The name of Princess Tianwu resounded like thunder throughout Dynasty Yue.

When officials thought of her again, she was no longer just the emperor's most beloved eldest daughter, but a princess who inherited her father's legacy, equally ruthless.

Thus, Bei Jingchu's reputation among the common folk was far from favorable.

When she heard the rumors about herself, Bei Jingchu felt no disturbance in her heart, even wanting to laugh.

It was inevitable that her reputation would suffer when she interfered with the interests of the aristocracy.

After all, they were masters at using the pen to destroy reputations.

"Haoyue, I feel like I've stepped into the male lead's role."

Haoyue: ?

"You know, like those evil kings or tyrants."

"Everyone fears him because of his cruel and ruthless reputation."

"But after the female lead marries him and then falls in love, she discovers he's actually a good man, and his reputation isn't as bad as it seems?"

Haoyue didn't understand and asked in confusion, "Is Your Highness considering taking a consort?"

The ten-year-old Bei Jingchu: "...... What are you thinking? I'm still a child!"

Haoyue knew this, which was why she was confused.

Distracted by this, Bei Jingchu snapped out of her mood, feeling like she had stepped into the male lead's role.

She didn't try to stop her reputation from worsening, instead letting it spiral out of control.

In Wanyuan, Zhou Huanjiu overheard the servants whispering: "Have you heard the latest?"

"The princess who eats raw flesh and drinks blood, and captures children to make elixirs, as told by the storytellers, is actually Princess Tianwu."

The voices gradually trailed off.

Zhou Huanjiu: ???

Bei Jingchu was at Princess Xianning's residence, playing chess with her so-called 'dog strategist.'

The black piece was placed, and Bei Jingchu seized the moment to place her white piece.

The next moment, the dog strategist took back his move: "No, no, that doesn't count."

As he spoke, he reached out and put the two pieces back into the chess basket.

Bei Jingchu: ......

"This is already the tenth time you've said 'that doesn't count.'"

Beiqin reasoned, "Cousin, don't be so stingy, chess is supposed to be fun~"

Bei Jingchu said with an expressionless face, "But I'm not happy..."

She was criticizing the shameless behavior of the shameless advisor, emphasizing the need to respect elders and care for the young, to look after her cousin, and to honor the princess.

At that moment, someone announced that Lord Zhou requested to see her.

Zhou Huanjiu came in with red eyes, "Jingchu, I’ve been searching high and low for you. I sent a request to the palace, only to find out you came to Xianning Princess's residence."

"You really don’t seem to care, do you? Do you know how bad your reputation has become?"

"It's almost as if you're no different from a man-eating monster."

In response to her concern, Bei Jingchu just smiled mysteriously.

"This is basically free publicity."

Zhou Huanjiu didn't understand. Bei Jingchu, while sneakily pocketing two chess pieces from the board, explained, "When a bad person does a good deed, everyone thinks he has laid down his weapon and turned over a new leaf."

"When a good person does a bad deed, others think his past kindness was just an act."

"So, if my reputation is at its worst, then, if I manage to turn it around a bit, it will be twice as effective."

Beiqin added from the side, "Moreover, before getting involved in the Capital City’s core interests, not many people care about who the Tianwu Princess is."

"If someone starts by telling you that the Tianwu Princess is a good person, you’d just be confused, like, who even is this Tianwu Princess?"

The Tianwu Princess, who was also present: "...I feel a little insulted by his words."

"But if a bunch of people around you say that the Tianwu Princess is a bad person, you'll know there's such a person."

"Then, when you're told that the Tianwu Princess is actually a good person, you’ll suddenly realize, oh, so she’s actually a good person."

"Since someone is helping us spread the name of the princess, why not take advantage of it?"