On her wedding night, she went into exile with her pharmacy arsenal

Chapter 2161 The Whole City Was in an Uproar

As dawn broke and the fog still lingered over the streets of Rongzhou, yamen runners were already climbing ladders and carefully pasting notices covered with writing onto the high walls facing the street.

The first to gather around were the morning market vendors carrying vegetable baskets. They put down their loads and crowded around the notice, squinting as they read it word by word.

Before long, the once deserted street corner gradually became crowded with a large, dark mass of people.

"This...this is true?" A scholar's voice trembled. "Prefect Ding...no, that scoundrel Qian Wu, was actually an imposter? The real Prefect Ding died many years ago?"

His words immediately caused an uproar in the crowd.

A man in a coarse cloth jacket pushed his way forward, pointed at the words on the notice, and said in disbelief, "Look, it says that Qian Wu was a beggar saved by Lord Ding, but he was ungrateful and killed his benefactor, and then changed his identity to take the position of governor! This is simply the act of a beast!"

"He's more than just a beast!" An old scholar next to him stroked his goatee, his beard trembling with anger. "When Lord Ding came to Rongzhou, he opened the granaries to relieve the drought and also rebuilt the dike in the west of the city. So many families survived because of him!"

Later, this fake governor imposed exorbitant taxes and allowed his subordinates to oppress the people. We all thought that Lord Ding had changed his mind, but it turns out it was this scoundrel who was behind it all!

The shouts from the crowd grew louder and louder. A woman remembered crying and cursing Governor Ding for forgetting his roots at home. Her eyes reddened, and she wiped away her tears, saying, "I even resented Governor Ding. Now that I think about it, I really wronged an good man!"

"That Qian Wu is truly an ungrateful wolf! Lord Ding saved his life, yet he committed such a heinous act!"

"You ungrateful scoundrel!"

"You utterly depraved wretch!"

"He must be torn to pieces to pay for Lord Ding's life!"

The rising and falling shouts of anger shrouded Rongzhou City in a mood of grief, indignation, and guilt in the early morning.

Several elderly men who had received favors from Governor Ding in the past bowed deeply in the direction of the governor's mansion, their eyes red as they murmured, "Lord Ding, we were blind and misunderstood you."

At this moment, in a side courtyard of the governor's mansion, Su Zhenhai was talking with Madam Ding and Young Master Ding.

“Madam,” Su Zhenhai picked up the tea on the table and handed it to Madam Ding, speaking sincerely, “Lord Ding suffered this misfortune while in office, and according to the regulations of the court, he should have received a pension.”

Furthermore, the people of Rongzhou are all grateful for Lord Ding's kindness, and the government can spare some funds to buy you and your son a small house in Rongzhou, so that you will have a place to live in the future.”

Madam Ding gazed at the sky outside the courtyard, her eyes filled with a sense of melancholy.

After a long while, she gently shook her head: "I appreciate Lord Su's kindness."

But Rongzhou is full of sorrow for my son and me.

We only want to take my husband's body back to our hometown, give him a proper burial, and let him rest in peace.

Young Master Ding also spoke up: "Rongzhou is where my father was wronged. If we stay here and look at this city every day, we will only think of those unpleasant things."

My father's old friends are still in my hometown, as are the ancestral graves of our Ding family. Returning there would be the best place for us to rest.

Su Zhenhai understood the situation by looking at the expressions on the mother and son's faces.

Governor Ding was originally demoted to Rongzhou by the imperial court. He was full of enthusiasm to benefit the people, but he ended up dying a tragic death and his reputation was ruined by others. There was really nothing to miss about Rongzhou.

He sighed and abandoned his intention to persuade them to stay: "Since you have made up your minds, I will not force you. However, the journey is long, and you must have enough money for your travel expenses."

As he spoke, he took out a heavy cloth bag from his pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Madam Ding: "This is a small token of my appreciation, along with the travel expenses that the yamen is supposed to provide. It's all here. Take it, so you'll have more money on the road."

Madam Ding looked at the cloth bundle, her eyes reddening again. She wanted to push it back, but Su Zhenhai held her hand down: "Madam, please don't refuse. Lord Ding is a good official I respect. It would be a relief for me if you and your son could safely send him home."

The mother and son bowed to Su Zhenhai and said, "Thank you very much, Lord Su."

The Rongzhou Wharf was shrouded in mist, and the sails of the boats on the river were faintly visible, giving it a somewhat desolate feel.

Su Zhenhai, accompanied by several of his men, came to the dock to see them off. Surprisingly, a number of people spontaneously gathered on the stone steps by the dock.

Madam Ding, dressed in plain clothes, was helped by Young Master Ding as they slowly walked to the bow of the boat.

Inside the cabin behind her was Governor Ding's coffin, covered with a plain brocade that swayed slightly in the river breeze.

"Madam Ding!" An old man suddenly spoke from the crowd, his voice choked with emotion, "We've come to see Lord Ding off! We wronged him, we're so sorry!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding people's eyes turned red with anger.

A middle-aged man stepped forward and handed a basket of pastries onto the boat: "These are rice cakes that were just steamed at home. Madam Ding should take them with her for the journey. Lord Ding is a good official, and the people of Rongzhou all remember his kindness!"

Then, many people handed over what they had brought and tiptoed onto the boat.

As Madam Ding looked at the people on the shore, tears streamed down her face. She gripped the gunwale and bowed deeply to the crowd, saying, "Thank you, fellow villagers. My husband, if he were alive, would surely appreciate your kindness."

Young Master Ding also bowed to the shore. His father's injustice had been redressed and he was still remembered by the people, which was a consolation.

The boatman called out that it was time to set sail, the mooring ropes were untied, and the boat slowly moved away from the shore.

Su Zhenhai stood by the dock, watching the ship gradually sail away until it became a small black dot on the river before turning his gaze away.

Turning back, still thinking about the aftermath of Rongzhou, he happened to run into Huo Changhe standing on the stone steps in front of the gate, gazing absently at the river in the distance.

He strode forward, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "Your Highness."

Huo Changhe turned around: "They're gone?"

"He's gone," Su Zhenhai nodded, his tone tinged with a hint of melancholy. "The people all went to see him off."

Su Zhenhai frowned slightly: "Your Highness, now that Prefect Ding's grievances have been cleared and Qian Wu has been arrested, the position of Prefect of Rongzhou is vacant. How should we report this to the court?"

He was actually quite anxious; Rongzhou could not be without an official for even a day, and if it dragged on, trouble was bound to arise.

Huo Changhe did not stop walking. He walked to the stone table under the corridor, sat down, took the hot tea handed to him by his attendant, touched the warm cup with his fingertips, and then slowly spoke, his tone calm and even: "Don't be in a hurry."

Su Zhenhai was taken aback, somewhat puzzled: "This... why can't we rush it? Rongzhou cannot be without a prefect for even a day."

Huo Changhe looked up at him: The wrongful case of Prefect Ding has implicated a wandering sorcerer who can change his appearance; this is no small matter.

"It would be wise to wait until everything is sorted out before submitting a memorial to the court."

Upon hearing this, Su Zhenhai suddenly realized what was going on.