Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Xiao Fang lowered his head to find her lips, but she turned her head slightly to avoid him, though she didn't manage to escape.

He pinched Yun Shuyao's chin and kissed her properly.

Between breaths, she heard the man mumble, "Relax, leave everything to me."

He then steadily pulled Yun Shuyao into his arms.

Afterwards, Yun Shuyao lay in his arms, her whole body so limp that she didn't even want to move a finger.

Xiao Fang, on the other hand, rested one hand behind his head, while the other hand casually stroked her long hair scattered on the pillow, his breathing as steady as if he had just taken a walk.

"I think the angle is much better this time."

He spoke thoughtfully, his gaze still fixed on the roof beam.

"However, the rhythm can be adjusted a bit more when finishing."

"We shouldn't have been in such a rush. We should have slowed down, let you recover from this wave, and then pushed you up sharply just as you were about to come down. What do you think?"

Yun Shuyao closed her eyes, pretending that she was already asleep.

"You're not asleep."

Xiao Fang turned to the side, leaned close to her ear, and spoke with a mischievous smile.

"Your eyelashes are still moving."

Yun Shuyao resignedly opened her eyes and met his handsome face, which was very close to hers.

"There are still twelve pages left."

Xiao Fang kissed her earlobe, his tone as if announcing a given fact.

"That'll keep us busy for a while."

Since taking office, Xiao Fang has brought down a high-ranking official in the court almost every few days.

At first, everyone hid in fear, afraid that one day it would be their turn.

But as time went on, they discovered that Xiao Fang was only dealing with the Wing King's henchmen.

The morning court session takes place in the Golden Palace.

When Xiao Fang stepped forward, all the officials' eyes fell on him.

He always stood up in the same posture.

He walked unhurriedly to the center of the main hall, straightened his clothes, and then took out a memorial from his sleeve.

"Your subject, Xiao Fang, the commander of the Censorate, has a memorial to present."

He unfolded the memorial, then glanced back at the Wing King.

That glance was faint, and the corners of his mouth even curved slightly, carrying a meaning that only the Wing King could understand.

It's not a provocation, it's a warning.

It's as if it's saying: Are you ready? I'm about to begin.

The Wing King's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Shen Jingyao, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, served from the twelfth year of Yongning to the nineteenth year of Yongning."

Taking advantage of their control over the allocation of state funds, they fabricated funds and falsified accounts.

They embezzled a total of 470,000 taels of silver from the treasury.

Xiao Fang's voice was steady and clear, echoing throughout the hall.

"In addition, there are twelve estates, five mansions, and a number of antiques and paintings, all of unknown origin."

His son, Shen Jingyao's nephew, Shen Wenqing, took advantage of his uncle's influence to forcibly seize more than 300 mu of farmland in the Beijing area.

The lawsuit filed by the two tenant farmers, who were driven to their deaths, has been recorded by the Censorate.

He handed the memorial to the emperor, and the eunuch jogged over to take it and present it to the emperor.

He then presented a stack of account books, land deeds, and confessions.

The papers were spread out on the dragon desk with a rustling sound, like a small mountain.

The Minister of Revenue stood in the court, his legs already trembling.

"The matter I have reported is supported by both witnesses and physical evidence."

The account books, land deeds, and testimonies of the victims have all been sealed and stored in the Censorate, and can be accessed and examined at any time.

Xiao Fang stepped aside, revealing the trembling clerk from the Ministry of Revenue behind him.

"This is the head of the Revenue Department of the Ministry of Revenue, a confidant of Shen Jingyao."

He is willing to testify in court, identifying all the details of Shen Jingyao's embezzlement of state funds and falsification of accounts.

"Injustice—I am innocent!"

Shen Jingyao knelt down with a thud, crawled forward two steps on his knees, and kowtowed repeatedly to the old emperor on the dragon throne.

"Your Majesty, I have served as an official for twenty years, working diligently and conscientiously, and have never dared to have the slightest selfishness!"

This must be a frame-up by a villain, it must be—"

"Lord Shen."

Xiao Fang interrupted him, his tone carrying a lazy smile.

"Are you saying that the Inspection Department framed you?"

Are these account books fake? Are the land deeds fake? Or is it—”

He paused, then looked down at Shen Jingyao kneeling on the ground.

"Was your nephew's forced occupation of farmland, which led to someone's death, also instigated by the Censorate?"

The Wing King stepped forward from the court officials.

His expression remained calm and composed, a gentle smile playing on his lips. He bowed to the old emperor and said:

"Father, Shen Jingyao has been working diligently in the Ministry of Revenue for many years. There may be something fishy about this matter."

The Inspectorate is known for its swift and decisive handling of cases, but we cannot rule out the possibility that some people might use this opportunity to frame loyal and virtuous officials.

"Your Highness!"

Xiao Fang turned his head to meet the Wing King's gaze, his smile unchanged.

Of the 470,000 taels of silver embezzled by Shen Jingyao, 120,000 taels flowed into your household's accounts.

Should I also present Your Majesty with the records of the Prince's household accounts?

The smile on Wing King's lips froze for a moment.

On the dragon throne, the old emperor slammed an account book onto the table.

The sound wasn't loud, but it sent a chill down the spines of all the officials.

Although the emperor is old, he is not senile.

"Someone come here."

The old emperor's voice was as deep as muffled thunder.

"Strip Shen Jingyao of his official hat and peacock feather, and imprison him in the Censorate prison. He will be tried by Xiao Fang, bypassing the three judicial departments."

All relatives involved in the case will be detained, their property confiscated, and await further judgment.

"As for the Wing King—"

The old emperor turned his gaze to his gentle and refined son and remained silent for a moment.

"For failing to properly employ or recognize talent, the person shall be fined six months' salary and confined to their home for one month to reflect on their actions."

The punishment wasn't severe, but all the officials understood the underlying meaning.

This was the second time the Emperor had reprimanded Prince Yi in court because of trouble caused by his cronies.

Once is a coincidence, but twice is?

The Wing King knelt down to express his gratitude, his expression unchanged, a smile still firmly on his lips.

As Xiao Fang walked past him, he paused for a moment and said something in a low voice, just loud enough for the Wing King to hear.

"Your Highness, your men seem to be getting less and less useful."

The Wing King's smile remained unchanged, but the fingers hidden in his sleeve slowly clenched.

Shen House

The Imperial Guards of the Censorate were stationed at the Shen residence during the Fifth Watch.

Before dawn, the dogs on the street were barking wildly in fright.

The torches cast flickering light on the stone lions in front of the Shen residence.

The neighbors peeked through the cracks in the door and saw a dark mass of imperial guards surrounding the Shen residence.

The plaque bearing the inscription "Shen Mansion" that had hung above the gate for nearly a hundred years was now secured by several iron chains.

Several spoiled young men, holding the other end of the iron chain, rode on their horses and whipped their rumps, all working together.

With a loud thud, the plaque and the tiles on the lintel were ripped off and smashed into several pieces on the steps.

Lu Zhao stood at the door giving instructions, tapping the horsewhip in his hand.

"Search the east and west wing rooms one by one."

The account books and documents were carried away, and the gold, silver, and valuables were sealed in boxes.

Be careful with antiques and calligraphy; they can all be exchanged for money.

The guards responded and filed in.

The servants of the Shen family were already kneeling on the ground in fear. The steward, trembling, respectfully handed over a bunch of storeroom keys.

Lu Zhao glanced down at him, didn't take the key, and directly used his riding whip to push his hand away.

"No key is needed."

He said with a smile.

"We're here to raid your property, not to search your inventory."

He kicked open the warehouse door.

The warehouse was piled high with goods.

Boxes of silver, bolts of silk, and strings of copper coins stacked higher than a person.

Antiques and paintings wrapped in oil paper, and several locked boxes.

Lu Zhao drew the dagger from his waist and pried open the lock with one stroke.

Lifting the lid of the box, you'll find it filled with glittering gold ingots.

He tucked the dagger back into his waistband and turned to shout into the courtyard.

"Lin Hui! Come and see!"

Lin Huiyin walked over slowly, fanning herself with a fan.

He glanced down at the box of gold, then at the mountain of valuables in the storeroom, and shook his head.

"The Minister of Revenue is in charge of all taxes in the country. Every single penny of that money is squeezed out of the people."

He closed his fan and said to the guards behind him:

"Seal the boxes! Move them out one by one, so that the neighbors can see how the Shen family made their fortune."