Transmigrated into a vicious female supporting role, reborn as a hostage to the paranoid male protag

"Your Highness, Manager Chen is here." Taxue brought Manager Chen of Dachen Pawnshop into the house and reported to Su Yingxue.

"Mr. Chen." Seeing this, Su Yingxue put down the file in her hand and stood up to greet him.

"Greetings, Your Highness," seeing this, Shopkeeper Chen Dong walked to Su Yingxue's desk and saluted respectfully.

"Please stand up, Mr. Chen." Seeing this, Su Yingxue quickly stood up and helped Mr. Chen to his feet. She asked someone to help him sit down and pour tea. Her words were all respectful. "Mr. Chen, you are so embarrassed."

"Mr. Chen has collected all the files and witnesses on the numerous crimes committed by officials of the Shangguan family over the years. He has now handed them over to me."

"For such a long time, Mr. Chen has guarded the last remnants of the Nangong family and has been searching for evidence of the crimes committed by those criminals for me. I am afraid that I will never be able to repay this loyalty and sincerity in this lifetime."

Su Yingxue looked at the piles of files and testimonies on the table in front of her. After the death of Nangong Jiuyue of the previous dynasty, the Shangguan family divided the Nangong family's troops and wealth, and became extremely powerful in the government for a time.

The Shangguan family, guest officials, and clansmen almost occupied the important official network of the Dasheng Dynasty. Over the years, they have been continuously and intentionally supported and cultivated, and they can be said to have firmly grasped the political core of the Dasheng court.

Once a noble family reaches an unparalleled level of power, it will breed some dissolute scoundrels who abuse their power to bully others.

If a noble family has members throughout the government and dominates the government, it will be suspected that officials are protecting each other and treating the people's livelihood with disregard.

"Your Highness, the officials and politicians of the Shangguan clan have come before His Majesty today to accuse you of colliding with the Ziwei Star, a calamity that harms the nation and the people."

"Your Highness has become a disaster for the nation and its people in the eyes of the people, the court, and all the students in the academies of the world."

"Your Highness, this game of chess is bound to be dangerous. I only hope that these files and witnesses can weaken the power of the Shangguan family and help Your Highness safely overcome this disaster."

Chen Dong looked at the woman sitting in front of the desk, calm, steady and composed, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Sure enough, people do grow up.

His Highness, from that spoiled, willful, rude and disrespectful person, has become such a polite, intellectual, intelligent and reliable person.

"Mr. Chen, these aren't just bargaining chips in the game between the Shangguan family and Xuanyuan Luoshan. Every file and confession here reflects the suffering and injustice of the people, the blood and tears of the common people, and the justice that the people deserve."

Su Yingxue studied hard all night last night, but she only read less than a third of the book. She had never imagined that this seemingly glorious and prosperous dynasty was actually dominated by aristocratic families, with the upper echelons wielding immense power and oppressing the common people.

If one is born into an aristocratic family, he or she will be promoted to a high position and have immense power. If one is virtuous, loyal and upright, he or she will be praised as a hero.

Many, however, abused their power to bully and oppress the common people. In the palaces of the aristocratic families, there were corrupt officials who embezzled the people's wealth and used it to provide disaster relief. There were also many who forcibly abducted women and indulged in sensual pleasures. There were officials in the capital who used their immense power to torture, kill, and abuse the people. There were also those in positions of power who fabricated false cases and coveted the private wealth of the wealthy.

The officials in the official residences of the aristocratic families protected each other and almost blocked all avenues for the resentful and victimized people to seek justice.

Officials protect each other, and the people have nowhere to seek redress for their grievances.

The rulers enjoy and squander the people's money at will, while the common people live frugally, are overwhelmed by heavy taxes and levies, and still have to work hard and endure being bullied.

This Dasheng court is no longer the court of the world, but the court of a prominent family.

"The connection between the Dasheng court and the aristocratic families is like a parasitic vine and creeper," Su Yingxue said calmly. "The aristocratic families have been plagued by problems for a long time, and have long been embedded in the Dasheng court like a cancer."

"If the power of the aristocratic families is not eliminated, the court will never be a court of great prosperity, nor will it be a court for the common people."

"If the people have no place to seek redress for their grievances, and if those in power oppress the people at will, then the people will suffer and the country will cease to be a nation!"

Chen Dong hadn't expected Su Yingxue's insights to be so sharp. Her words were like a sharp sword, striking the softest part of his heart.

Chen Dong had never thought that his prince had such a side to him, loving the common people, petitioning for them, caring about their livelihood, and being loyal to the country.

Perhaps Chen Dong had never known His Highness, or perhaps the world had never known His Highness either.

Chen Dong looked at Su Yingxue and wondered how the people who were rescued in Furong Tower would feel if they found out that the prince they sneered at, spat on and insulted was the one who saved them?

If those students in the academy who have read the books of sages since childhood and are eager to pass the imperial examinations and denounce Su Yingxue for bringing disaster to the country and the people hear these words from Su Yingxue one day, will they feel ashamed?

If one day, Your Highness single-handedly fights against the long-standing evils of the aristocratic families, even if the future is thorny, even if life and death are uncertain, even if you risk yourself to redress the grievances of those wronged people, to seek justice for those who have been abused, to fight for the clear justice of heaven, will the people who benefit from it feel ashamed of having despised such a kind, sincere, honest, and dedicated Highness who is willing to protect and petition for the people?

Chen Dong didn’t know if such a day would ever come.

But he knew that the princess before him was the best princess. Diligent, studious, and intelligent, she remained fearless despite being innocently persecuted numerous times and facing enemies many times stronger than her.

When Mingming first met her, Su Yingxue was still so immature, ignorant of state affairs, and had little knowledge.

But now, she has gradually grown up and is no longer that immature, ignorant and weak person.

Chen Dong looked at her and felt that whether it was her eyebrows, her appearance, her sincere and frank heart, or her compassion for the people, Su Yingxue was really becoming more and more like a human being.

Like Nangong Jiuyue.

The former Nangong Jiuyue was the daughter of the first family of the previous Dasheng Dynasty and the future heir of the family.

Although she was a woman, she was well-read in the Book of Rites and the Book of Changes. She cared deeply about the people. Whenever there were floods and droughts, and the people were starving, she would lead the Nangong family, bringing relief food, supplies, and money to help the victims rebuild their homes.

She was deeply influenced by the teachings of the clan leader and dared to speak for the people. She was like a ray of warm sunshine, beautiful, upright and kind.

But she, the Nangong family, which was so upright, had strict family rules and strict self-discipline, was destroyed by the fear of the late emperor.

The more upright and honest one is, the more he loves and protects the people, the more popular he will be.

As the most aristocratic family in the previous dynasty, the Nangong family was richer than the national treasury. The national treasury was empty, so they borrowed from the Nangong family's private treasury.

The Nangong family, just like the Shangguan family today, controlled the core officials of the court at that time, and even more than them.

The prosperity of a noble family is like a tree that attracts the wind. A good sword that is too sharp is like a sword hanging over one's head, which arouses the suspicion of the one who holds it.