For days, the Crown Prince and his team worked without rest, sifting through piles of ledgers, seals, and dispatch slips—determined to prove that Minister of Finance Yan Bingyun was innocent.
Every night, the lamplight in the Crown Prince's study burned until dawn.
That evening, the final crucial evidence arrived.
Shadow Guards and Treasury auditors knelt as they presented a stamped ledgers with forged signatures, barrel staves bearing the merchant's disguised mark and a witness testimony of late-night deliveries at the south depot.
The truth was no longer a rumor—it was a wall of evidence.
Crown Prince Murong Yunqing rose to his feet.
"Move," he commanded.
Embroidery Uniform Guards with under the leadership of Deputy General Wei Shensu, stormed out of the palace.
By midnight, several of Xue Qiwu's lower clerks were arrested.
Lu Pingping, the Minister of Rites, and his cronies were seized next—dragged out from their residences as neighbours watched in horror.
One by one, the crimes unfolded, the Illegal sale of 'Imperial Treasury goods, The Fake disaster relief claims, Bribing court officials and lastly Stolen army rations during war.'
Every trail pointed to Xue Qiwu and Lu Pingping as the core operators.
Merchant records exposed private shipments of steel and rare materials being sent to hidden stables.
A forwarder confessed to receiving gold 'from a noble-born intermediary,' transporting the stolen goods to secret buyers.
The Emperor ordered all recovered merchant goods transferred publicly to the imperial Treasury warehouse, so the common people could see justice being done.
But justice always demanded a price.
Rumors tore through noble households like wildfire. Some families woke up stripped of patronage, others found themselves suddenly without allies.
The emperor's decree was cold and fierce, "Let this be a warning. The Empire will not permit corruption to devour the lives of its people."
Yet one truth remained—
Prince Murong Yuntai, Lord Xie Wenzhao, Liu Fanjian and Zhao Jinming didn't directly tied to the crimes.
They slipped through the cracks, bloodless but desperate.
The Conspirators, Cornered
In a hidden courtyard, Prince Murong Yuntai slammed his cup against the table.
"Our income streams are gone. Yet we still have dues to pay."
His voice trembled with rage.
Lord Xie Wenzhao snarled, "If Zhao Yunxiang had married Bai Rouyuan, we wouldn't be panicking now. That useless brat lost us our solution!"
Zhao Jinming clenched his fists but stayed silent.
Murong Yuntai leaned back slowly, "Bai Rouyuan is no longer engaged, correct? Then perhaps I should marry her myself."
"But Your Highness!" Zhao Jinming protested. "You were supposed to marry my daughter—"
"If I become Emperor, I'll make Zhao Shaoqin the Empress. You will have your glory. Stop whining."
Lord Xie Wenzhao and Liu Fanjian nodded stiffly.
"Tomorrow I will request Father Emperor's approval," Murong Yuntai declared.
The Proposal Request
The next morning, Prince Murong Yuntai hurried to the throne room.
"Royal Father, I request permission to marry Bai Rouyuan."
The emperor was taken aback but said calmly, "I will discuss this with Marquis Bai first."
Marquis Bai, upon hearing this, requested time.
Yexuan heard the news and froze.
Just when hope had begun to warm his chest—his chance seemed to vanish again.
The Summoning of Rouyuan & Doudou
The emperor summoned Bai Rouyuan and Yan Doudou into the audience hall.
Their extraordinary contribution to the Dongming epidemic case had reached every ear in the court.
Rouyuan was awarded the honorary title,
'Imperial Golden Physician' —a title rarely granted, marking her as the Empire's treasured healer.
The emperor asked gently, "Miss Bai Rouyuan, do you desire anything else as reward?"
He paused.
"If you desire land, titles, or gold, say it now."
Rouyuan stepped forward and bowed.
"This subject is honored by Your Majesty's trust," she said softly.
"I do not wish for titles or riches. I only ask for one thing."
The Emperor raised a brow.
"Oh? Speak."
Rouyuan took a breath, "I ask that Your Majesty allow this subject… to decide her own marriage."
A ripple went through the court.
Murong Yuntai's eyes went wide with rage.
Zhao Jinming's face turned grey.
"Is that all?" the Emperor asked.
Rouyuan nodded.
"I wish to continue my work in medicine. To spend my time healing and teaching. If I am to marry, I wish it to be by my own will, not as part of a political bargain. I beg Your Majesty's permission."
The Emperor studied her for a moment.
Then, for the first time that day, he smiled.
"Granted," he said.
"The Bai Marquisate and Bai Rouyuan's hand in marriage shall not be used as a pawn in political trade. Without your consent, no betrothal shall be established. This is my imperial decree."
Rouyuan bowed low, relief filling her chest.
Murong Yuntai shook with fury.
Behind him, Murong Yexuan closed his eyes briefly.
When he opened them again, they were filled with quiet light.
Yexuan's heart surged with joy.
He could not hide the smile that spread across his face.
Across the hall, Prince Murong Yuntai's expression darkened—storm-black, murderous.
After the ceremony, he bowed, lips tight, and left the hall.
Once back in his chamber, he overturned several tables in a fit of rage.
Every plan he set had shattered.