Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

The news that Feng Mulan intercepted someone who was secretly transporting food and fodder out of the country spread throughout Youzhou City in just two days.

Whether in the military camp, government offices, or on the streets, people were talking about it.

"Have you heard? The Crown Prince's Concubine intercepted a large amount of food at the border a few days ago, and it was almost shipped out!"

"Who is so bold? This is a crime that could cost you your life!"

"Hush... I heard that the caravan has the governor's pass..."

The people were whispering to each other, and the officials of Youzhou were all silent.

After all, this matter involves Youzhou Governor Ma Qingsheng, and no one knows what will happen next.

However, surprisingly, after Feng Mulan captured this group of people, she did not take the next step.

She neither publicly interrogated the captured caravan members nor sent anyone to the governor's office to question them. It seemed as if everything was under her control and she was just waiting for a certain opportunity to come.

It was not until the third day that Ma Qingsheng, the governor of Youzhou, finally could no longer sit still.

He originally thought that Feng Mulan would send people to arrest him directly, and had even secretly deployed people to prepare for resistance if necessary.

But unexpectedly, Feng Mulan didn't move at all, which made him even more uneasy.

"Can't wait any longer!"

Ma Qingsheng gritted his teeth and finally decided to go to the military camp in person to test Feng Mulan's attitude in the name of apologizing.

That afternoon, Ma Qingsheng brought several close associates to the military camp and informed the guards that he wanted to see him.

Soon, he was received by Feng Mulan.

Inside the tent, Feng Mulan sat in the main seat, dressed in military uniform, looking very heroic.

As soon as Ma Qingsheng entered the room, he immediately bowed and saluted, his tone respectful and fearful:

"Your humble servant, Ma Qingsheng, the Governor of Youzhou, pays his respects to the Concubine! This time, someone smuggled grain out of the country. I failed to supervise properly, and it nearly caused a disaster. I beg the Concubine to punish me!"

Feng Mulan's eyes were cold as she spoke slowly, "Master Ma, as the governor of Youzhou, you actually allowed such important military rations to be nearly lost abroad. You deserve to be punished."

Ma Qingsheng's forehead was covered in sweat, and he quickly said, "This humble official has failed in his duty. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Feng Mulan stared at him, then suddenly changed the subject, her tone cold: "However, rather than the crime of dereliction of duty, I would like to know more about your relationship with the Grand Tutor..."

Ma Qingsheng's heart suddenly shook and his pupils suddenly contracted!

"Grand Tutor? Your Majesty, why do you say that? Grand Tutor lived in Kyoto, and I am far away in Youzhou. How could I possibly have any friendship with him?"

He forced himself to remain calm and responded with a wry smile.

Feng Mulan sneered, "Is that so? But from what I know, you came from a humble background, yet you were able to climb step by step to the position of Governor of Youzhou. Without someone secretly supporting you, it wouldn't have been that easy, right?"

Ma Qingsheng's forehead vein twitched slightly, and he quickly defended himself, "Your Majesty, I am certain that I was able to reach this position entirely thanks to the imperial court's support, and without any help from anyone else!"

"Ah."

Feng Mulan sneered, her eyes sharp as a knife: "Master Ma, there is no need to act in front of me."

She slowly stood up, looking down at him condescendingly, her tone icy, "Why do you think I've been sitting still these past two days?"

"I am firstly waiting for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's order, and secondly, I am waiting for you... to come to me on your own initiative."

Ma Qingsheng's face turned pale instantly!

"If I go directly to the Governor's Mansion to arrest him, you will definitely be prepared, and you might even incite the Youzhou officials to resist. But here..."

Feng Mulan looked around, a cold smile curled up at the corner of her mouth: "You can't escape even if you have wings."

Ma Qingsheng felt cold all over and finally realized that he had fallen into a trap!

He suppressed his inner panic and gritted his teeth, "Your Majesty, are you going to arrest me just because I know the Grand Tutor?"

"I have never done anything to offend the Crown Prince. Your Majesty, by acting this way, aren't you afraid of chilling the hearts of officials?"

Feng Mulan's eyes were as cold as ice. "If it were simply because you had a past relationship with the Grand Tutor, I would naturally not touch you. But the people who delivered the grain this time used your pass. How do you explain that?"

Ma Qingsheng's face was gloomy. Just as he was about to argue, Feng Mulan raised her hand and said coldly:

"Save your words for when you go to Kyoto to explain to the Crown Prince."

Before he finished speaking, several elite soldiers rushed into the tent and pinned Ma Qingsheng to the ground in an instant!

"How dare you? I am an official appointed by the imperial court. Who dares to arrest me without an imperial decree?" Ma Qingsheng roared and struggled.

Feng Mulan sneered: "The prince's order is here, Master Ma, you should accept your fate."

Ma Qingsheng looked as pale as death, and finally realized that he had no chance of turning things around.

He was tied up and escorted out of the tent, while Feng Mulan looked at his back with a deep light in her eyes.

"The chess game in Youzhou has just begun. Now it's Kyoto's turn."

"I hope this chess piece, Ma Qingsheng, can help His Highness!"

Everything that happened today was arranged by Chu Ning, just to lure Ma Qingsheng into the trap.

However, after taking down Ma Qingsheng, the Youzhou officialdom also needed to be cleansed.

After all, this person is the highest-ranking civil servant here, and he must have his own followers. While those people are still unaware of Ma Qingsheng’s current situation, we should strike first!

Zheng Yuankui, the Tongpan of Youzhou, was Ma Qingsheng's confidant and in charge of the state's criminal law and finances. The customs documents for the smuggling of grain and grass were signed by him.

Feng Mulan led her troops directly to the Tongpan Yamen. Zheng Yuankui was still asleep when he was dragged off the bed by the soldiers who broke in.

"Empress... Concubine? What crime have I committed?" Zheng Yuankui was disheveled and terrified.

Feng Mulan raised her hand coldly, and a personal guard threw the found account books to the ground. "Sir Zheng, these grain and fodder transport records don't match the figures you reported to the court, do they?"

Zheng Yuankui's face turned pale, and he tried to argue, but Feng Mulan shouted, "Catch him! Take him to jail and interrogate him strictly!"

The smuggling of grain and fodder must be related to the Cangcaosi.

Feng Mulan rode straight to the warehouse office. Upon hearing the news, the warehouse officer Zhou Huan tried to escape but was intercepted by the Jinyiwei who were ambushing at the side door.

"Sir Zhou, where are you going in such a hurry at this late hour?" Feng Mulan said with a half-smile.

Zhou Huan forced himself to remain calm and said, "This humble official is only conducting a routine inspection of the granary..."

"is it?"

Feng Mulan waved her hand, and the soldiers found several forged granary cashier receipts from Zhou Huan's room.

"Did you stamp the seals on these documents yourself?"

The evidence was irrefutable, and Zhou Huan collapsed to the ground, no longer able to make excuses.

There were also Ma Qingsheng's followers in the army.

Wu Zhen, the commander of Youzhou's military, was in charge of the state's military power and had provided escort for caravans smuggling grain and fodder on many occasions.

Feng Mulan personally led the cavalry to break into the military camp. Seeing that the situation was not good, Wu Zhen wanted to draw his sword to resist.

"Captain Wu, are you going to disobey orders?" Feng Mulan's eyes were cold.

Wu Zhen gritted his teeth and shouted, "How dare a woman from the Feng family touch a military officer without permission?!"

Before he finished speaking, the archers behind Feng Mulan fired their arrows, which pierced the ground in front of Wu Zhen's feet.

She walked forward slowly and said coldly, "Here is the Crown Prince's order. Do you want to accept the punishment yourself, or do you want me to help you?"

Wu Zhen looked around and saw that all his confidants were under control, and finally he dropped his sword in despair.

Overnight, the political situation in Youzhou changed drastically.

Six officials, including the Tongpan Zheng Yuankui, the Cangcao Zhushi Zhou Huan, and the Zhechou Duwei Wu Zhen, were all arrested, shocking the whole city.

Feng Mulan sat in the provincial government office and read out the prince's edict in public, strictly investigating the crimes of corruption and treason.

"Anyone involved in the Ma Qingsheng case must surrender within three days to avoid being implicated. Otherwise, all nine generations of the family will be executed!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the officials in Youzhou were trembling with fear, and no one dared to hope for luck anymore.