Chapter 54: Infinite Mercy

Chapter 54

Infinite Mercy

Ding Tao’s face was filled with shock. Though he didn’t fully grasp the identity of the man before him, it was clear this figure held significant power. No wonder Master He was acting differently today! Ding Tao wracked his brain, trying to connect the dots but struggled to make sense of it all. The only official he had dealt with previously was Master Wen, Minister of Finance, who had handled the tea orders.

He thought back, and then it struck him—this man had mentioned the northern border.

The northern border! Could this be...General Song?!

Ding Tao collapsed to his knees, trembling as sweat poured down his back. The legendary Jade-Faced Reaper wasn’t just someone of high rank; he was a close friend of Kang Wang and had visited Huangjing City many times, though Ding Tao had never seen him in person.

“G...General Song...”

Ding Tao’s voice was faint and weak. Hearing the name, the crowd outside the courthouse began murmuring in shock. The handsome and imposing man standing before them was none other than General Song, and he was the husband of the Lady Boss? So, all along, she had kept her status hidden to avoid causing a stir while supporting her husband’s work. Soon, the rumors spread like wildfire across the city.

"You’ve slandered my wife, refusing to admit fault despite the fact that she never once used her status as the Young Furen of the Yong An Hou Manor to threaten you. Yet here you are, questioning my identity. Do you take the people from Yong An Hou Manor for a powerless entity?”

Ding Tao banged his head against the floor repeatedly, his voice cracking as he begged for mercy. Master He could only sighed silently. If only Ding Tao had agreed to the initial fine of three thousand taels, this matter would’ve been settled. But now he was courting death by insulting General Song—he really didn’t know how to save Ding Tao.

The General didn’t spare Ding Tao a glance as he continued, his voice icy and menacing.

“I sent my wife here alone because I believed Huangjing was a peaceful city, and there would be no danger. I never imagined that someone would dare to slander her, accusing her of adultery. If I hadn’t come to visit her myself, wouldn’t she have been forced to throw herself into the river to prove her innocence? Tell me, Ding Tao, how do you think I should repay you?”

“I was wrong, General. Please, show mercy. Spare me this once.”

Master He could only pity the man. Had Ding Tao offended Kang Wang, he might have had a chance of survival, as Kang Wang was known to be a virtuous man who wouldn’t press too hard. But to cross General Song, the capital’s renowned Jade-Faced Reaper, who didn’t care about anything and even dared to challenge the Emperor himself? General Song’s father, Yong An Hou, had his great-grandfather who was the grandfather of the Emperor. Not to mention that Ding Tao had attacked his beloved wife, the Lady Boss. There was no way he’d let this go.

Tears streamed down Ding Tao’s face as he realized the gravity of his situation. It was over. Even all the wealth in the world couldn’t save him now. He had insulted someone untouchable.

“I’ll accept any punishment. Whatever the Young Furen demands, I’ll compensate her for it.”

“Then tell me, what do you think my wife’s life is worth? Three thousand taels? The small sum she originally asked for, which you refused to pay?”

Though his tone was calm, the words sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

"Y...Yes, I will gladly pay more than three thousand taels!"

Song Qilin feigned a sigh.

"My wife is soft-hearted, asking for a mere three thousand taels in compensation. But the damage done to her reputation? The Yong An Hou Manor will never accept such disgrace. Money? We lack for nothing in the Yong An Hou Manor. It would be better for you to cut out the tongue that uttered such slander. That way, perhaps the honor of the Yong An Hou Manor might be restored."

Ding Tao turned pale, blood draining from his face, his eyes widening as fear gripped him. The Jade-Faced Reaper was no joke. To speak of cutting out someone’s tongue as casually as this—it made him feel faint with terror.

"And what about the matter of supplying substandard goods to the government? Three months have passed, and the exchange of horses for tea should have been completed long ago. Yet, to this day, the northern border still hasn’t received a single warhorse. If our troops were to suffer losses because of this, what do you think the Emperor would sentence you?"

A nightmare! This had to be a nightmare... He, Ding Tao, had led the Ding family to success since he became the patriarch. What was this talk of ruining the reputation of the Young Furen of the Yong An Hou Manor? What punishment for failing to deliver warhorses? All he had done was try to outmaneuver a simple tea house’s Lady Boss. How had it come to this!? If it were before, no matter how Ding Tao thought about it, he wouldn’t fathom how he had reached this point.

He collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

Seeing Ding Tao’s pitiful state, crumpled on the floor and weeping without dignity, Nie Shuang couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity. She couldn’t help but speak up,

"Ding Tao, now you know what it feels like to be afraid. But when you crushed others, did you ever show mercy? When you slandered me, did you think to leave me any way out? If I had been a weak woman, I might have already hanged myself in despair. You schemed so cruelly against me. What wrong did I ever do to you? After arriving in Huangjing, I simply opened a teahouse. I am just a woman. My business isn’t even in competition with yours, yet your jealousy led you to try to destroy me. Ding Tao, do you feel any shame at all?"

Ding Tao couldn’t respond. It wasn’t just him—anyone who faced Nie Shuang’s sharp words was left speechless...

"Go home and reflect on your actions. Not just what you did to me, but to all those others you’ve crushed underfoot. Whether they are still alive or death, how will you repay them? And if I find your efforts unsatisfactory, you won’t be spared from the punishment of cutting off your tongue and execution."

Ding Tao prostrated himself on the floor, banging his head in gratitude.

"Thank you! Thank you, Young Furen, for your mercy! I will see to it that everything is resolved, that you will not be displeased even in the slightest. Please, accept my humble obeisance."

To Ding Tao, Nie Shuang was like a last lifeline thrown to save him from the abyss. She seemed like a merciful goddess compared to that terrifying Jade-Faced Reaper. Every time General Song opened his mouth, Ding Tao could only imagine bloodshed. Talk of cutting off tongues, executions, and he might even dump the guilt of failing the war effort all on his head. Would he and his entire family be executed if this went on? Ding Tao decided that material wealth could be acquired again. At this moment, he had to please the Young Furen and save his life first.Even if he had to sell every last piece of property to give them to the Young Furen, he still felt deeply grateful for her infinite mercy.