Jianqi hesitated for a moment and asked with some hesitation, "Could this possibly alert the enemy?"
Bai Ruozhu sneered, "This is exactly what it means to catch them off guard, to fiercely stab back in retaliation."
Still puzzled, Jianqi wondered, could dealing with a mere manager really hurt Prince Duan? Such a manager was nothing more than an ant in the eyes of Prince Duan. Even if Bai Ruozhu were to kill his entire family, it wouldn’t affect Prince Duan in the slightest.
"Send someone to summon Yang Xingyun to see me," Bai Ruozhu instructed.
Jianqi immediately had someone see to it, and before long, Yang Xingyun was called over. Meanwhile, Kuai Wen had been captured and was currently detained in the yard next door.
Seeing that Kuai Wen, his subordinates, and family had all been arrested, Yang Xingyun felt extremely uneasy, wondering if he had done anything wrong.
"Yang Xingyun, I am assigning you to take over the Toothpaste Workshop. Are you willing?" Bai Ruozhu asked with a stern face, angered by what had happened with Kuai Wen, wondering if she had been too lenient and if her subordinates thought she was easy to fool.
Immediately, Yang Xingyun’s face lit up with joy, but his eyelids twitched. Could this be his master testing him?
After a few seconds of conflict, Yang Xingyun made up his mind, gritted his teeth, and said, "Your subordinate is willing."
"Good, you’ll manage the Toothpaste Workshop, but if any problem arises, you’ll end up like Kuai Wen!" Bai Ruozhu said sharply.
Frightened, Yang Xingyun shuddered. He wanted to ask what Kuai Wen had done, but he knew better than to ask too much. He understood that whatever Kuai Wen was in trouble for would inevitably come to light sooner or later.
However, Yang Xingyun was mistaken. The matter of Kuai Wen wasn’t something that got leaked; after today, the entire Beiyu City would know, and the news would quickly reach the Capital.
"Yes, your subordinate dares not hesitate," Yang Xingyun quickly replied.
Furthermore, Bai Ruozhu gave another order, "Also, head to the workshop to thoroughly inventory the goods and see exactly how much is missing, then rush to produce a batch of goods. Pay the workers double their wages this month; do not treat them poorly!"
"Yes, your subordinate will see to it right away." Yang Xingyun bowed to Bai Ruozhu and hurriedly retreated.
Bai Ruozhu stood up and said to Jianqi, "Alright, have all of Kuai Wen’s people tied up and escorted to the Government Office to be handed over to Officer Kuai. I will also go to apologize to Officer Kuai myself. In addition, send someone to notify Lord Meng of the City that I am ready to accept punishment and have gifts to present to the Imperial Court."
Jianqi jumped in fright, his mouth agape as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he promptly turned around and began to carry out Bai Ruozhu’s arrangements.
The master was playing a risky game, but it was a matter of survival from a desperate position, and it truly was a stab at Prince Duan.
Bai Ruozhu sneered as she stood up to leave. Whether there was evidence of Prince Duan’s treason, she did not know, but today, Prince Duan would be accused of an additional crime: secret collusion with the Turkic Country and framing the Imperial Court’s loyal and good officials.
Yet Bai Ruozhu wondered if these actions might disrupt the plans laid out by Jiang Yichun. She wanted to consult with Jiang Yichun but couldn’t find him, and even if she sent a confidential letter, she worried it might be intercepted, and besides, there was not enough time for back-and-forth communication.
If her actions indeed affected Jiang Yichun’s arrangements, she could only apologize, for at this point, it was too late to stop what had been set in motion.
Prince Duan had played a clever move, framing her for sending toothpaste to the Turkic Country, and whether that batch of toothpaste contained other items—like secret letters or intelligence—she did not know. And Prince Duan must have already set a date to expose her, possibly in the next day or two, or maybe in ten days or half a month. But she couldn’t afford to gamble; she couldn’t take the slightest risk.
Because if she was to be convicted of colluding with the enemy and treason, the entire family would suffer the consequences, and it wasn’t just that. Her husband, Jiang Yichun, could very well be identified as the mastermind behind the scenes. Even the Meng Family, her sworn kin, would not be able to clear their names.
Therefore, she said that the move by Prince Duan was too ruthless.
Before leaving the house, Bai Ruozhu gave a few instructions to Cui Fan, telling him to find some people to go to the Government Office. Only then did she board the horse carriage and head for the Government Office.
Trailing behind her carriage was a string of bound individuals that included Kuai Wen, his servants, and intimates, but she did not bring along Kuai Wen’s family. Bai Ruozhu was only worried they might send a warning, thus she had them detained in the adjacent yard under surveillance.
The horse carriage did not travel fast, an act of mercy from Bai Ruozhu who didn’t want to drag them along the street, where many people, attracted by the entire scene, were pointing at Kuai Wen and his company, whispering amongst themselves.
"These must be servants who’ve done something wrong, to be taken to the Government Office by their master. Looks like they’ve been dishonest."
"I think that one manages the household, doesn’t he? Maybe he embezzled his master’s silver?"
...
Pointed at and whispered about, Kuai Wen began to cry and shout from behind, "Master, what did I do wrong that you must bring me to the officials like this? If you want me dead, at least give me a reason."
He hoped to prod a reaction, banking on Bai Ruozhu’s reluctance to clarify the accusations; then, even if he was brought before the court, he would staunchly deny everything, as he only followed Bai Ruozhu’s orders for deliveries, ignorant of the rest—only by fulfilling the commands of that noble could his family’s lives be saved.
Unfortunately for Kuai Wen, he was wrong, misjudging someone even Prince Duan couldn’t outwit—how could he?
Bai Ruozhu ordered the carriage to stop, dismounted gracefully in full view of the public, and looked toward Kuai Wen to loudly declare, "Aren’t you aware of your own deeds? You abused your position as a steward, deceiving those above and below, stealing my goods to smuggle to the Turkic Country. Isn’t the crime of colluding with the enemy and treason enough to take you to the Government Office?"
The crowd erupted in shock; colluding with the enemy and treason were capital crimes that could lead to the execution of one’s entire family. This steward must have had the audacity of a tiger, swallowing ambition whole.
Kuai Wen never expected Bai Ruozhu to air the accusations publicly; he was utterly stunned for a moment and, regaining his senses, forgot to refute Bai Ruozhu’s claims but instead said, "I didn’t! Mistress, do not believe the slander of others!"
Bai Ruozhu sneered, "The evidence is conclusive. Did you and those who bribed you really think you could deceive heaven and escape detection? If you wish to protest your innocence, do so at the Government Office."
Having said this, Bai Ruozhu boarded the carriage again, ordering it to continue moving forward.
Some individuals in the crowd wore grim expressions; they needed to report back to the prince immediately. They hadn’t expected that young Mistress Bai would be so fierce. Was she not afraid of being implicated?
Just as one of them prepared to leave, a hidden weapon was suddenly shot from somewhere towards Kuai Wen and his group.
The one lying in ambush was taken aback; had the prince already sensed something was amiss and sent someone to silence them? With this thought, he couldn’t help admiring the prince in his mind—truly, the prince was exceptionally astute.
Unfortunately, the hidden weapon didn’t hit Kuai Wen, as it got blocked by Jianqi and the others. Hearing the clanging of the weapon against swords, Kuai Wen’s face turned white with fear. He knew that Master Lin had provided Bai Ruozhu with a team of dark guards, and he had feared that if he betrayed Bai Ruozhu, these guards would behead him. And now, wasn’t it ironic that these same dark guards had just saved his life?
For a moment, Kuai Wen’s face was drained of all color; he had indeed made a wrong move.
Inside the carriage, the corners of Bai Ruozhu’s lips curled up slightly, yet she used an angry voice to shout to Jianqi outside, "Make sure they are well guarded, don’t let them find an opportunity to silence witnesses! Speed up the carriage, lest more dangers arise!"