Chapter 353: A Group of Old Men (Part 2)

Han Lei stood in the morning light, gazing at the winding procession, and murmured softly to herself, “In chaotic times, heavy measures are needed, but punishment is not the goal; transformation is the foundation.”

Her consciousness opened the system interface, where the words [Social Governance Module Activated] were displayed.

Da Si led the horse over: “Miss, everything is ready.”

“Let’s go.” Han Lei boarded the carriage, “There is still a long journey ahead.”

The vast procession of refugees left Mianning City, the wheels of the carriage rolling over the dusty official road, leaving a deep track. Just like the changes happening in this era—slow but irreversible…

And it was still early in the day when in front of the Prince Xiaoyao Mansion in the Capital City, a woman with her hair in a married woman’s style stood dazedly at the mansion gate, holding a floral bundle in her hands.

Her figure in the sunlight appeared so frail and forlorn.

This woman was none other than Zhao Qiao’er, wife of Lin Yuanshan, the owner of Lin’s Cloth Store.

Zhao Qiao’er was accused of poisoning and harming lives, and after discussions among the Lin Family clan, for the sake of the family’s reputation and the legitimacy of its descendants, Lin Yuanshan ultimately chose to divorce her.

Swept out of the house with nowhere to go, Zhao Qiao’er had no choice but to return to her family—Prince Xiaoyao Mansion.

She stood at the mansion’s gate for a long while, her white teeth biting hard on her lower lip.

Zhao Zun was now the King of Cangzhou, but Emperor Jing had withdrawn his military power, and never again sent people from the Ministry of Industry to replace the mansion’s plaque.

Zhao Qiao’er looked up at the once-gilded and sparkling plaque, the four characters “Prince Xiaoyao Mansion” were now covered in thick dust, with cobwebs even forming at the corners, gently trembling in the breeze.

“It’s only been a few months…” Zhao Qiao’er murmured, her voice hoarse as if she had not spoken for a long time.

She remembered when she left at the New Year, this mansion’s gate was still freshly painted, with majestic stone lions on both sides, even the gatehouse’s attendants were dressed in fine clothes.

Now the eyes of the stone lions were smeared with mud, the row of red lanterns under the porch had faded to a dreary pink, some of which had even torn holes, swaying powerlessly in the air.

She took a deep breath and reached out to push open the side door nearby.

The door hinges screeched harshly, yet no one was guarding it.

Zhao Qiao’er stepped over the threshold, rounding the screen wall, only to find that the weeds in the courtyard had grown knee-high.

A few precious peony plants were squeezed askew by the overgrown wild grass, their petals scattered and turning to mud. Clearly, it hadn’t been tended to in a long time.

In the distance came the sound of servants talking and laughing recklessly, mixed with coarse colloquialisms.

“…that girl in Wanhua Building has a waist as soft as willow branches…”

“Hahaha, Li, have you sneaked out to drink and whore again?”

“What are you afraid of? There’s no one to control us anyway!”

Zhao Qiao’er’s heart sank to the bottom.

She stepped on the weeds towards the main courtyard and saw several servants lounging under the veranda with their eyes closed, not even bothering to look up as she passed by.

One daring servant even spat near her feet, causing his companions to burst out laughing.

The scene in the main courtyard was even worse.

Ms Qin stood on the steps, wearing a half-old lotus root colored overcoat, her hair haphazardly pinned with a slanted wooden hairpin.

Her complexion was dull, with deep eye sockets, and she pointed at a few women cracking melon seeds in the courtyard, cursing like a marketplace shrew.

“…good-for-nothings! Eating for free and still dare to be lazy! When the Prince returns, he’ll sell every one of you filthy wretches to the brothels!”

The head cook Ms Zhang, a stout woman, not only didn’t fear the words but instead laughed with her hands on her hips.

“Oh dear, my good Madam, are you still dreaming? The Prince has long since become the King of Cangzhou! Want to sell us? Fine, but clear the over three months’ unpaid wages first!” She spat on the ground, “What kind of master are you pretending to be without money?”

Ms Qin was trembling with anger, about to curse again when she caught glimpse of Zhao Qiao’er standing at the courtyard gate out of the corner of her eye.

She abruptly turned her head, her once coquettish eyes widened: “Qiao’er? Why…why have you come back?”

The courtyard suddenly fell silent, all the servants’ gazes converging on Zhao Qiao’er.

Zhao Qiao’er felt those stares cutting through her bundle, her haggard face, and her plain clothes like knives.

The plump Ms Zhang exclaimed exaggeratedly.

“Oh yes! Isn’t that our young lady? What, were you sent back by the Lin family?”

A burst of suppressed laughter spread among the crowd. Zhao Qiao’er’s face burned red, her fingers digging tightly into the fabric of her bundle.

Ms Zhang’s teasing words left Ms Qin momentarily stunned.

Then, she looked Zhao Qiao’er up and down, whose appearance differed drastically from her usual attire, as if she believed Ms Zhang’s words to be true.