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

Xiao Fang picked up the petition and glanced at it. His fingertip paused on the words "Madam Su, the Lady of the Marquis," and when he looked up, there was no trace of a smile in his eyes.

"The Su family!"

He tapped the gavel, his voice not loud, but chillingly cold.

"She conspired with the manager to embezzle your dowry; the evidence is conclusive?"

Yun Shuyao responded, "Yes, the evidence is conclusive."

"Then what's the point of the trial?"

Xiao Fang tugged at his official robes and gave the order to the constables:

"Send a few men to tie up Lady Yong'an and bring her to me."

Lord Zhang was sweating profusely with anxiety, and was just about to say a few words of advice.

Xiao Fang glared at him, and the rest of his words were stuck in his throat.

The constables looked at each other, not daring to say anything. When Xiao Fang's gaze swept over them, they rushed out like a gust of wind.

Only a group of纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families) remained in the hall, eagerly observing the woman who was not afraid of Xiao Fang.

When Gu Jinghuai heard that his mother was to be interrogated, he didn't dare to utter a sound. He kept his head down the whole time, only daring to steal glances at Yun Shuyao.

Unfortunately, they didn't even spare him a glance, leaving him unable to give them a meaningful look.

The Duke of Zhenguo watched the farce unfolding in the hall with a livid face, feeling utterly powerless.

He originally thought that once he stepped in, everything would be suppressed.

Who knew such a jinx would appear out of nowhere? Things are going to get complicated now.

"The Heir Apparent of the Prince of Zhenbei".

Yun Chongshan thought for a moment, then spoke in a deep voice.

"The Lady of Yong'an Marquis is the mistress of the household; even if she has made a mistake, she should..."

"What should we do?"

Xiao Fang turned to look at him, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Should they take advantage of their power and status to bully young girls?"

Should they use their future daughter-in-law's dowry to fill their own private coffers?

He looked down at Yun Chongshan, but then changed the subject.

"However, there is one point that I agree with about what the Duke just said."

Sometimes, power and status can indeed justify one's position, as is the case now.

Yun Chongshan felt a chill run down his spine when facing Xiao Fang.

He was well aware of the Su family's despicable behavior, but out of consideration for the reputation of both families, he was too lazy to investigate further.

So in the current situation, reasoning is useless, and even resorting to madness is no match for the person in the hall.

Yun Chongshan opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Xiao Fang ignored him and instead played with the edict on the courtroom table, which was engraved with "Execution by Immediate Severance" in red lacquer.

Before long, the constables finally brought Su back.

Lady Hou, dressed in a respectable silk robe, still wore a somewhat arrogant expression. Her face paled slightly when she saw Xiao Fang in the hall.

"Why...why are you arresting me? I am the mistress of the Yong'an Marquis's mansion!"

Su struggled and shouted.

Xiao Fang toyed with the kill token and spoke casually.

"First, give him twenty strokes of the cane, then we'll investigate the case."

"Your Highness!"

Yun Chongshan was about to speak again, but Xiao Fang coldly interrupted him.

"I don't usually hit old people."

His voice was light and airy, yet it carried an undeniable ruthlessness.

"Unless he's not human."

Yun Chongshan's face turned ashen in an instant.

He knew that these words were ostensibly directed at the Su family, but were actually a subtle warning to him.

If he dares to say another word, given this man's wicked temper, he could really beat up this Duke in public.

As long as the Prince of Zhenbei guards the northern border, the Emperor cannot punish this general's only son, who commands 400,000 troops.

If you truly suffer a loss or lose face, even if you appeal to the emperor, it will be of no use.

At this moment, Su was already pressed onto the torture bench. The bailiffs exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and began to carry out the torture.

Su's screams were incredibly shrill. After twenty strokes of the cane, she was on the verge of death, her hair disheveled, and her dignity completely ruined.

As Yun Shuyao watched this scene, countless images of being tormented and harassed by the Su family flashed through her mind.

How arrogant and domineering she was back then!

Sure enough, it's foolish to be completely open with this kind of person!

Xiao Fang watched the constables make their move and knew they had used a clever technique; the person being hit only looked seriously injured, but in reality, no bones or tendons were broken.

However, he didn't care about any of that, and simply gave the order:

"That's enough, don't kill him and it will affect the trial."

These words, spoken casually, secretly relieved the constables.

Yun Chongshan felt a lump in his throat and could only glare fiercely at Yun Shuyao.

His gaze fell on the heir of the Marquis of Yong'an, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

This person might really not be a good match!

If it weren't for the pressure from Prince Yi, this good-for-nothing who wouldn't even dare to protect his own mother wouldn't be worthy of the young lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

He ultimately remained silent, but feeling ashamed, he flicked his sleeve and said to his son, Yun Shuwen:

"Let's go!"

Yun Shuwen had kept her head down ever since Xiao Fang entered the government office. Now, she followed her father like a quail, leaving without even daring to look back.

Seeing this, Gu Jinghuai also wanted to take the opportunity to slip away, but he had only taken half a step when Xiao Fang called him back.

"Stop right there."

Gu Jinghuai froze, turned around, and forced himself to remain calm.

"What are your orders, Prince Zhenbei?"

"You are the one being judged."

Xiao Fang pointed to the petition on the court table.

"You have no right to leave."

He paused, then suddenly gave instructions to the yamen runners.

"Give him a beating too, young master. Forty strokes of the cane, please."

Gu Jinghuai was both shocked and furious:

"What crime have I committed? Why are you hitting me?"

"Why should I? Because of my eyes."

Xiao Fang smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"You're guilty just because I don't like the look of you!"

His face darkened abruptly, and he slammed the gavel down.

"beat!"

Without hesitation, the constables pinned the man down and began to beat him. On one side was the heir of a marquis's family, and on the other was a living Yama, someone they couldn't afford to offend. Clearly, the latter was more terrifying.

Gu Jinghuai initially tried to hold back, gritting his teeth and refusing to make a sound.

But Xiao Fang sat in the hall, his eyes like knives scraping at the bailiffs, and said coldly:

"Anyone who dares to seek personal gain will be skinned alive."

The constables were startled and their sticks suddenly flew out of their hands, striking Gu Jinghuai with a series of "cracks".

At first, there was the excruciating pain of flesh being torn apart, and later even the bones were being pounded and cracking.

Gu Jinghuai could no longer hold on and howled like a pig being slaughtered, completely losing any semblance of the dignity of a marquis's heir.

After forty strokes of the cane, Gu Jinghuai lay face down on the torture bench, his lower body covered in blood, veins bulging on his forehead, and he could only groan weakly.

Yun Shuyao felt immense pleasure as she watched Gu Jinghuai being beaten to a bloody pulp.

From the moment she learned the truth in her past life, she wished she could tear this heartless man to pieces!

"explain!"

Xiao Fang slammed the gavel down hard.

"When will you repay the money?"

Su was in so much pain that she couldn't speak, her face turned deathly pale, as if some old ailment had flared up again.

Others might not be able to see it, but Yun Shuyao could see it clearly.

Xiao Fang wanted to seek justice for her, and he absolutely could not let it lead to someone else's death.

So Yun Shuyao quickly spoke up and whispered a reminder:

"Your Highness, the Marquis's wife suffers from a congenital heart ailment. Judging from her current appearance, it seems that the beating she received has triggered a relapse..."

Xiao Fang turned his head and looked over. After confirming that Yun Shuyao was worried about him, the corners of his mouth curled up in a smile that was different from usual.

"Isn't this just me helping her treat her illness?"

Seeing Yun Shuyao's confused expression, Xiao Fang's chest heaved, and he chuckled softly.

"Speaking of which... I could be considered a divine doctor, except that my divine doctor... specializes in curing the disease of a corrupted conscience."

With a slam of the gavel, the smile on Xiao Fang's face vanished completely.

"If you don't pay back the money, beat me, beat me to death!"

"I'll pay! I'll pay!"

Mrs. Su immediately cried out.

"I'll return it right away!"

"How long is 'soon'?"

Xiao Fang raised an eyebrow.

"This... we don't have that much cash in the manor..."

"Take something as payment."

Xiao Fang looked to one side of the government office and called out to the Prince of Qing'an and the others who were watching the show:

"Brothers, we've had a hard time accompanying the yamen runners on this journey."

"Go and move the Marquis's belongings to the pawnshop. Remember to pawn them permanently, and once you've raised 780,000 taels, bring the silver notes back to me."

"Alright!"

A chorus of excited responses rang out, and the group of spoiled young men immediately perked up, following the yamen runners to the Marquis's residence.

Yun Shuyao stood still, not having to exert any effort at all, looking like an outsider.

She then turned her gaze to the arrogant man sitting in the hall, a strange feeling welling up inside her.

It's hard to describe that feeling.

It's a bit like... a ruthless tyrant who once ruled a region suddenly becoming one of your own... a strange sense of security!?