"Hmph—"
Lady Han sneered, "Then why didn't you leave it for our son, but instead for that bitch and her son?"
Lord Han's gaze faltered, but he couldn't help but avoid Lady Han's eyes. "I... I didn't mean that. I don't know where you heard this. Of course, I've left all the best for our son. But that child is also my flesh and blood, I can't just abandon him, can I?"
"Han Zhong!"
Lady Han, as if she could no longer contain herself, roared at Lord Han, "Then tell me, where did the things from my dowry chest go?! You actually gave my things to that bitch and her son! Do you think I'll let you off easily? Han Zhong, you just wait! You and that bitch and her son, none of you will have an easy time!"
It seemed that only now did Lord Han begin to feel fear.
His hands tightly gripped the prison bars, his eyes fixed on Lady Han. "What do you want to do?! I'm telling you, don't do anything foolish that would make loved ones grieve and enemies rejoice! We are all family, can't we talk things through properly?"
"Bah!"
Hearing Han Zhong's words, Lady Han became even more enraged. "I am family with them?! Don't lump me together with that bitch and her son, I'm telling you! Han Zhong, if you can do such a thing, then our marital bond is over."
With that, as if she had finally made up her mind, she turned to Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu. "I am willing to tell you everything I know about the Han family. Since this Han Zhong has been heartless and unrighteous towards me, I will not be polite! Ask me whatever you want to ask, tell me whatever you want to know, and I will tell you!"
She had made up her mind, and Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity.
They exchanged a smile and, taking Lady Han with them, left the prison.
However, as they turned away, Song Chaoyu heard Lord Han shouting behind them, "You can't do this to me, you can't do this to the Han family! You can't tell them, you can't do this!"
Song Chaoyu shook her head, thinking that if Lord Han hadn't tried to take Lady Han's dowry and give it to his concubine, Lady Han might have continued to endure.
It was just that often, people caught up in the moment couldn't understand many truths and didn't know how to cherish what they had.
—
Since Lady Han had made up her mind, she didn't even need Song Chaoyu and Ping Jiang to ask many questions. She readily revealed all the things Lord Han had done.
She also knew that the disaster relief funds Lord Han had taken were not as much as a hundred thousand taels. However, since Lord Han became the prefect of Yuezhou City, the things he had extorted in Yuezhou were far more than a hundred thousand taels.
As expected—
Ping Jiang, in just two days, had unearthed all the things the Han family had hidden in their estate.
From gold bars and silver bars to rare treasures and jewels, they had everything.
According to estimations, all the items found there, when added together, amounted to about two hundred thousand taels!
For a mere prefect of Yuezhou City to have amassed two hundred thousand taels of ill-gotten gains in just a few years, wasn't that shocking?
Naturally, the whereabouts of the hundred thousand taels of "disaster relief silver" became even clearer.
Mu Changxi immediately sent an urgent memorial to the Emperor in the capital. It was said that upon learning of this matter, the Emperor, in his rage, smashed several teacups.
However, he also praised Mu Changxi for his swift action and the clarity of his memorial.
Meanwhile, the second wave of disaster relief funds from the imperial court was also allocated by the Emperor.
Song Chaoyu realized that the Emperor might have already known about Lord Han's affairs but had never found an opportunity.
This was a test for Mu Changxi, perhaps also a trial.
He wanted to see if Mu Changxi dared and had the ability to deal with Lord Han.
If Mu Changxi had not handled this well, it was likely that the second wave of disaster relief funds would not have been released.
Song Chaoyu felt a chill in her heart.
The Emperor was also using the lives of the disaster victims and the common people to train and test a son he did not fully trust.
If Mu Changxi did not perform well, what would happen to these people?
As if sensing that Song Chaoyu had been in a bad mood for the past two days, Mu Changxi, after finishing his work, stayed by Song Chaoyu's side.
In fact, the disaster relief efforts had progressed to a point where most of the work was done.
With the Han family exposed, those in Yuezhou City led by Lord Han naturally became like "birds scattering when the tree falls."
Even Mu Hansu, knowing that the Emperor had thrown a great tantrum, dared not intercede for Lord Han this time.
Therefore, the handling of Lord Han's case proceeded very smoothly.
The Emperor had also dispatched new officials to Yuezhou City. Once the handover with the new officials was complete, they could leave.
Song Chaoyu carefully calculated with Mu Changxi, "When we arrived here, three prefectures were affected by the disaster. Now that the Emperor has promoted Xuyuan and Qiao Feipeng, Hai Prefecture is no longer a concern. The Han family has also fallen, and Yuezhou City is no longer a worry for you. There is still Yizhou Prefecture left, do you still plan to deal with it?"
Mu Changxi had nothing to hide from Song Chaoyu.
He shook his head, "We cannot touch Yizhou Prefecture anymore. Now that Yizhou Prefecture is situated between Yuezhou and Haizhou, at least for this disaster relief effort, they wouldn't dare to act rashly. Moreover, Prince Ning only has these three prefectures here. If I were to deal with all of them, I fear he might resort to desperate measures. Therefore, we will set aside the matter of Yizhou Prefecture for now. Once everything here is completely concluded, we should return to the capital!"
Return to the capital?
These two words, however, brought a sense of loss and unhappiness to Song Chaoyu's heart.
Following Mu Changxi out these days, although life was slightly harder than in the capital, it was at least free and relaxed.
It felt as if by Mu Changxi's side, she could do whatever she wanted.
However, upon returning to the capital, such freedom would cease to exist.
But Song Chaoyu did not show this to Mu Changxi. She knew that Mu Changxi was also very tired.
Upon returning to the capital, they would have to pretend to be different people in front of countless others.
And at this very moment, the capital was not entirely peaceful.
Mu Hansu, having lost Yuezhou City and Hai Prefecture consecutively, flew into a rage at his consort, Song Yanjiao, who was Song Chaoyu's elder sister, in his manor. "Didn't you say your fourth sister was a good-for-nothing?! Now look, she's with Mu Changxi and has helped him a lot! If it weren't for this Song Chaoyu, that jinx of the Han family wouldn't have confessed so easily. Tell me, what should we do now?!"