Chapter Seventy-Two: The Demise of the Bai Family

Lin Fei stepped out slowly from behind the screen.

But Second Young Master Bai had never seen the Inspector before. He had no idea where this person had come from, and felt that his behavior was somewhat improper.

“Miss Zhilian, you certainly don’t look like you’re here to reconcile with us,” Second Young Master Bai said coldly.

He was certain he held the agreement in his hand, and these people wouldn’t dare make a move!

“You must be joking. I have never agreed to any so-called reconciliation. After committing such heinous crimes, do you really think you can shirk all responsibility?” Zhilian replied, refusing to back down.

It was a trap from the start, and she wanted them to fall into it willingly.

“I almost forgot to introduce him—this is Lin Fei, Inspector from the capital.”

Second Young Master Bai’s expression changed instantly.

Now it was truly over. He had just said everything he should and shouldn’t have.

“So these are the documents regarding the Chen case?” Lin Fei asked, taking the agreements directly from his hand.

The black-and-white words were clearly written, matching the witness’s testimony almost exactly.

Now the Bai family could not escape prison.

“Take Second Young Master Bai away!”

Without delay, they were escorted straight to the Court of Judicial Review.

When Old Master Bai learned of this, he panicked. He had only received those agreements yesterday—how had his nephew been arrested by nightfall? Had he fallen into a trap?

He could hardly believe it.

But soon, Lin Fei came to visit him directly, calmly recounting what had happened the previous night and stating that a number of the Bai family’s servants would be taken to the Court of Judicial Review for questioning.

“Have we committed some crime?” Old Master Bai was incredulous.

He felt the situation did not warrant such severity; after all, they had not directly engaged in the criminal activities. So what if the officials were from the capital? There was nothing they could do.

“It seems you don’t know whose hands those agreements have fallen into?”

The agreements?

At the mention of that word, Old Master Bai sobered instantly and offered no more defense.

He could only blame himself for his own foolishness, having fallen into their trap.

As for the Song family bank, it seemed it, too, was doomed.

After sending a few people to investigate, it was discovered that the Song family bank had collaborated with the Bai family many times in recent years, persecuting countless competitors and even becoming entangled in several murder cases. The entire operation was uprooted.

Lin Fei spent several days here hearing cases, finally connecting more than a dozen incidents from beginning to end.

“There are even more secrets in Beijun City than we imagined!” he exclaimed, truly unable to fathom how the common people survived under such overwhelming power. Why had no one dared to report these injustices?

“Brother Han, why is it that none of the local people report these wrongful cases to the court?” he asked.

“Lord Lin, it’s not that they haven’t tried, but that they can’t.”

Those few words told him much.

He realized he had truly done something good for the people here.

“Brother Han, with your talent, it would be a waste to remain in this small city. Why not return to the capital with me? I’ll recommend you to the emperor,” he said earnestly.

Having worked with Han Qing to open the mosquito incense shop, he knew the man’s abilities should not be confined to a small town, but put to greater use elsewhere.

But Han Qing only shook his head, seemingly uninterested, and remained calm.

“Thank you, Lord Lin, but I plan to take the imperial examinations and enter the capital through the proper channels,” he replied, unwilling to accept such a favor, especially knowing that he might one day need to repay it in other ways.

After a few attempts at persuasion, Lin Fei understood Han Qing’s principles and did not bring up the matter again. Instead, he recommended Wen Qi, the Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, to temporarily oversee Beijun City. In a few days, higher authorities would send a suitable official to take over.

In just a few days, the city was transformed.

The people of Beijun City were abuzz with discussion.

They had never imagined the all-powerful Bai family could fall overnight.

“I heard from my second brother at the constabulary that it was Han Qing who found the evidence for these crimes.”

“No way. I’ve heard rumors that Han Qing has become quite sharp lately, but to bring down the Bai family—could anyone really manage that?”

“Rumors are just rumors. Who knows if they’re true?”

No one offered clarification.

But when Han Qing’s mother heard the news, her feelings were mixed with both joy and anxiety.

“Tell me honestly, were you involved in this? And you used to frequent the Drunken Flower Pavilion—how could you not know Zhilian?”

“Mother, the matter is over. There’s no point discussing it further,” Han Qing said, refusing to answer. Saying more would only increase his mother’s worries.

Though Old Master Bai was now imprisoned, the other branches of the family still managed the family business. Han Qing could not help but worry that they might seek revenge in the future.

“You may be hiding things from me, but you shouldn’t hide them from Xiuxiu. She worries about you day and night—don’t you care at all?”

Han Qing’s expression shifted slightly. He had indeed forgotten.

Fortunately, his mother reminded him in time; otherwise, more trouble might have ensued.

He hurried home to apologize to Jiang Xiuxiu.

“Xiuxiu, it was my carelessness that made you worry so much. I should have told you about all this,” he said sincerely.

But the young woman before him showed no anger, only nodded gently.

“Husband, I am not blaming you. It’s only natural for me to worry,” she replied.

Han Qing was at a loss. In these times, women placed their husbands above all else and never meddled in outside affairs. Yet Han Qing respected her, encouraging her to learn to read and broaden her horizons, refusing to let her be confined to the small courtyard.

For a moment, the two were silent.

Han Qing picked her up in his arms. That night, their feelings for each other deepened.

But peace lasted only a few days.

Suddenly, trouble arose again. A second mosquito incense shop opened in Beijun City, with prices half as low as theirs.

Were they not deliberately disrupting the market?

Han Qing sent someone to investigate and discovered it was opened by Old Master Zhao.