Xiaoxiao.

Faced with the empire's overwhelming military might, the seemingly uncontrollable riot was quickly quelled.

In the face of absolute force, any resistance is futile.

Zhang Zhen never saw Penglou again, and he didn't know where things had gone wrong. Had he been abandoned?

I deeply regret my past actions. If I had been more compliant back then, wouldn't things be different today?

However, there is no magic pill for regret in this world. Once something has happened, no matter how hard you try, it is difficult to go back to the way it was at the beginning, and everything is irreversible.

At this moment, the merciless executioner's blade hung high above his head, as if it could fall at any moment and deliver a fatal blow.

The mere charge of inciting unrest is enough to condemn him to an abyss of eternal damnation.

Moreover, not only will he suffer the terrible consequences, but his family will also be unable to escape them, destined to become victims of this tragedy and accompany him on the road to destruction.

When Li Gui and others were taken away, they had long since lost their former dignity and respect as human beings.

His face was haggard and his expression was filled with fear; where was his former glory? In any era and in any country, rebellion has always been one of the most serious crimes, and it will inevitably be met with the most severe punishment and blows.

Even a powerful empire like the Qin Dynasty showed no mercy to such criminals. The ringleaders were typically subjected to brutal punishments—the extermination of their entire clan; and accomplices were also met with the same leniency, their entire families being executed.

The perpetrators finally faced the trial they deserved, the scales of justice were balanced, and those innocent people who had been wronged were finally exonerated.

Yiquan and others with similar tragic experiences received the compensation they were entitled to.

However, despite all this, what Yiquan lost was something he could never get back. The village that was once full of laughter, the warm and comfortable home, and the relatives and friends who had passed away were all gone like fleeting clouds.

Prior to this, all forces and related personnel involved with Zhang Zhen were severely held accountable without exception.

Surprisingly, Wang Gen escaped unscathed and even received unexpected special attention from the authorities. His close relationship with Zhang Zhen was common knowledge throughout Xiubei County. This outcome was truly incomprehensible and caused a huge uproar.

Immediately, rumors and gossip surged like a tidal wave. Some said that Kuang Zheng would become the next Zhang Zhen, continuing to prey on the people;

Some have accused the government of merely going through the motions, essentially changing the form but not the substance, and failing to address the underlying corruption and darkness.

Even more extreme, some have questioned and criticized the entire judicial system.

In short, all sorts of rumors emerged, plunging the once peaceful county into chaos.

If the bloodstains left from that day hadn't completely dried, some people would probably have gathered again and surrounded the county government office.

However, before long, those rumors and gossip that were flying everywhere and disturbing people's minds disappeared as quickly as if they had been swept away by a storm.

It turns out that some people who knew the inside story had learned about Wang Xiaorong's secret visit to the county government office that night.

Only then did people realize that Wang Gen had actually reformed and turned to the light.

If someone as pragmatic as him is not given an important position, then who else is capable of undertaking such a crucial task?

However, who can definitively say who is right and who is wrong about this matter?

During this period, the Wang family's residence was bustling with visitors and extremely lively!

Because of his outstanding contributions in this fierce battle, the heroic deeds of his family spread throughout the county.

The county government, in turn, reciprocated the favor by giving the Wang family special care and preferential treatment. This led to a sudden rise in Wang Gen's status in Xiubei County, and he was beginning to show signs of becoming the most influential person among the local gentry.

Wang himself was naturally delighted and overjoyed by this situation.

Now, he treats his beloved daughter like a goddess, worshipping her with utmost reverence. Whenever he thinks about the crucial role his daughter played in this turmoil, and the glory and benefits that brought to the family, Wang Gen feels immense pride and satisfaction.

He knew all too well that without his daughter's actions that day, the Wang family could not have achieved such a glorious moment. Therefore, he was determined to protect and cherish this hard-won honor, ensuring its long-lasting continuation.

Qin Shi was also spared from being punished, and she even told others that she had tipped off the county magistrate.

No one bothered to verify the truth of the incident, but because of Qin Shi's reputation, the incident of Qin Shi's whistleblowing took a different turn.

"Have you heard? Qin Shi is now the magistrate's mistress."

"How come I haven't heard of that? I heard he even sleeps in the same room as the county magistrate."

"Wow... this woman is something else!"

"Of course! Otherwise, how could he have captivated both Zhang Zhen and the county magistrate?"

"Hehe... I must say, that woman's figure is absolutely perfect! Hehe..."

"Hey buddy, you're drooling!"

"roll!"

"Hahaha....."

"It's all fate!"

"Her life? Her? A widow. Humph!"

"Hey! Be careful what you say! Be careful what you say!!"

"That's right, that's right, she's the magistrate's lover now!"

"What are you afraid of? You dare to do it, but you're not allowed to talk about it?"

"Hey guys! That's enough for today, see you tomorrow!"

"Let's go, let's go together."

"I have some things to take care of, so I'm leaving now. Goodbye!"

......

"Zheng-ge, when are you going to invite us to your wedding?" Such rumors had reached Ying Yue's ears at some point.

"Oh dear, what nonsense are you all talking about!" Kuang Zheng replied with a helpless expression.

"Hmph! Don't deny it, the rumors are already spreading like wildfire!" Ying Yue said angrily.

“That’s right, everyone’s saying that woman named Qin Shi is your lover!” Wu Ren chimed in from the side.

"Can you believe that? It's utter nonsense! That woman has probably gone completely insane. She watched Zhang Zhen fall from power, while the Wang family not only escaped unscathed but also profited handsomely. So she deliberately spread this rumor to try and gain something for herself!" Kuang Zheng explained angrily.

"Hmph! What a shameless bastard!" Ying Yue cursed angrily.

"Then why don't you think of a way to stop these rumors?" Wu Ren asked, frowning.

"How can we stop it? This kind of thing is not something that can be easily stopped. I'm afraid the more I explain, the more counterproductive it will be, and the more I try to explain, the worse it will get," Kuang Zheng said with a shake of his head and a sigh.

"Hehe...that's true. Who knows what kind of strange and outrageous rumors will spread in the end?" Wu Ren said with a wry smile.

Qin Shi was certain that Kuang Zheng wouldn't bother with such trivial matters, which is why she dared to spread rumors so openly. If Kuang Zheng actually came to her door, then she would have exactly what she wanted.

Who knows what kind of rumors will spread at that time? If that happens, her goal will be achieved.

You see, what people in the yamen love to do most is to figure out what their superiors want, and then they'll try to wipe out Zhang Zhen and his gang in one fell swoop. Right now, they're at the height of their power, and anything even remotely related to them will be blown out of proportion by the yamen staff.

Why was Wang Gen so successful? It was all because his subordinates were trying to curry favor with him.

In officialdom, it's always a case of "a new emperor, a new court." Even though the execution ground is packed with people, it actually creates many vacant positions!

At this point, a mere glance from Zheng could lead to their immediate promotion—this is no joke, it's a fact.

You must know that Xiu Bei was a thorn in the side of Wu'an County. Three county magistrates died in accidents. How much audacity must one have to be so heartless and insane?

However, Kuangzheng had completely eradicated Zhang Zhen's faction in less than a month after he began preparations, and even mobilized the emperor's personal army, the "Wu'an Army." Either of these points warranted the officials praising him relentlessly.

Firstly, there's a severe shortage of staff in all departments, especially department heads, who have almost all been laid off. If we don't act now, are we going to wait until everyone else has been promoted before we do? By then, we'll be too late to catch up.

Secondly, both Kuang Zheng's talent and the power behind him made his subordinates flock to him. You must know that Xiubei County was impenetrable to Zhang Zhen's control, but Kuang Zheng wiped out this local tyrant and his forces in less than a month.

The key point is that all of this was done by a sixteen-year-old boy. If you don't curry favor with someone like that, who else can you curry favor with?

Can someone who can mobilize the Wu'an Army have a small power base?

What's infuriating is that Kuang Zheng is completely unyielding, which is very frustrating.

At this point, giving money or women would be tantamount to suicide, and even if one wanted to, there would be no way to do so!

They don't even meet with anyone; how can you deliver something if you can't even see them in person?

Taking a roundabout approach won't work either. He's all alone; who are you trying to curry favor with, his superior's family?

All the old methods were no longer working, which greatly worried everyone.

Fortunately, there's always a way out, and perseverance pays off.

While investigating Wang Gen, a accomplice of Zhang Zhen, some people learned that Wang Xiaorong had sneaked into the county government office on the night of the incident.

This discovery thrilled him; hadn't he finally found the breakthrough he had been searching for all this time?

Thus, with a stroke of his pen, Wang Gen was transformed from a remnant of Zhangzhen's regime into a hero who abandoned darkness and embraced light.

As he had expected, the magistrate made no comment on the result.

He knew he had made the right move!

The officialdom is a loophole that is exposed from all sides. Although this guy took the first step, others soon discovered this breakthrough as well.

That's why the Wang family's residence was always bustling with visitors.

But little did they know the real reason why Kuang Zheng didn't deal with Wang Gen: he simply didn't want to concern himself with anything in the county government. But the people below didn't see it that way!

They can make even baseless accusations seem real. If Kuang Zheng really went to see Qin Shi, they're capable of doing the most bizarre things.

Kuang Zheng knew this, which is why he let it go.

Qin Shi dared to be so presumptuous because she understood this point.

But in her eyes, this wasn't recklessness; it was love. She truly loved Zhengzheng, at least that's what she believed, and she firmly believed in her feelings.

"Hmph! Shameless!" Ying Yue knew the situation, but she was still furious.

"Alright, alright! We're leaving tomorrow, there's no need to get upset," Kuang Zheng comforted him.

"Didn't you say you were going to hone your skills among ordinary people? Are you done with that?" Wu Ren asked curiously, and Ying Yue was also full of doubts.

"What do you mean by 'strengthening the mind'?" Kuang Zheng did not give a direct answer.

"Experiencing the ups and downs of life, and gaining insights into all aspects of human nature?" Wu Ren said.

"Let your heart be at peace, and give your soul tranquility," Ying Yue said.

"Hehe...you're quite right, but not entirely right," Kuang Zheng said.

"How so?" Wu Ren asked, and Ying Yue was also full of curiosity.

"Wu Gen's so-called experience of the bitterness and sweetness of life, and understanding of all its aspects, is nothing more than letting the heart experience all kinds of things, refining the mind in the myriad aspects of life, making the mindset stronger, and allowing the soul to be sublimated."

"Yue'er means to calm the mind, to settle down. To be unaffected by anything, to walk alone. One is about experience, the other is about returning. Both are correct, but you've both overlooked one thing. This is something I've also been neglecting before, and that is to follow one's heart," Kuang Zheng said.

"At will?" The two were full of doubt.

"Whether it's experiencing something or returning to it, it's all a reaction to what we encounter. We first encounter things, and then we go back to experience them, to understand them, to learn from them, and to grow. Simply put, we gain something from our existing experiences," Kuang Zheng said.

"Does Zheng-ge mean we're being too deliberate?" Ying Yue asked.

“Yes, we’re too eager for trouble. This is what people often call making trouble out of nothing; it’s too deliberate,” Kuang Zheng said.

"Are you saying that haste makes waste?" Wu Ren asked.

“Yes, in fact, our current predicament is the best opportunity to temper our minds. What we are experiencing is precisely our trial. Since we have already encountered it, why bother to pursue it in vain? Wouldn’t that be like entering a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed, putting the cart before the horse?” Kuang Zheng said.

"To cultivate one's heart is to follow one's heart and ask one's own questions. It means not forcing things, not being lazy, not being afraid, and not acting recklessly. If you earnestly walk your own path, you will naturally encounter what you are meant to encounter. Only by walking your own path can you truly find your own path," Kuang Zheng said.

"Shall we go back?" Yingyue asked.

"Yes," Kuang Zheng replied.

"Isn't that going back to square one?" Wu Ren said.

“No, I feel like this is just the beginning…” Kuang Zheng said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the distant sunset with high spirits.