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

Xiao Fang then looked at the eight or nine shopkeepers who were being held captive, too lazy to ask questions, and said directly:

"Fifty strokes for each person; if they don't die, they'll be thrown into prison to eat prison food."

Lord Zhang, watching from the side, clicked his tongue in disbelief and couldn't help but whisper a reminder.

"Your Highness, they haven't been interrogated yet..."

"What are you investigating?"

Xiao Fang glanced at him sideways.

"The evidence is right here. Do you dare question me?"

Lord Zhang shuddered in fright.

"No! No!"

"If you're too scared, then stand aside."

Xiao Fang waved his hand, as if shooing away flies.

The two remaining constables quickly and efficiently beat each of the eight shopkeepers with a board.

Each person receives fifty strokes of the cane, so nine people would receive four hundred strokes.

After beating these prisoners, the two constables couldn't even lift their arms.

The shopkeepers were all on the verge of death, but none of them died from torture.

Finally, the yamen runners summoned the jailers, who then dragged the shopkeepers to the prison.

Yun Shuyao felt incredibly pleased as she watched the fate of these treacherous servants and Gu Jinghuai and Madam Hou lying motionless on the ground.

More than half an hour later, the Prince of Qing'an returned with his men, holding a thick stack of silver notes, which he slapped on the table in the hall.

"All done! Seven hundred and eighty thousand taels of silver, not a penny less!"

Xiao Fang picked up the silver notes without counting them, got up, walked to Yun Shuyao, and stuffed them into her arms.

"Take it."

The man then curled that half-smile into a roguish grin and said:

"You're the first woman I've ever met who dared to cause such a scene."

After saying this, Xiao Fang gave a thumbs-up gesture before leading the group of playboys out of the government office.

Yun Shuyao held the heavy silver notes, her heart pounding wildly.

"Your Highness!"

Yun Shuyao mustered her courage and called out to him.

Xiao Fang stopped and turned to look at her.

Yun Shuyao's heart skipped a beat when she met those deep eyes, and it took her a while to find her voice.

"Thank you for today's events, Your Highness."

Her voice trembled slightly.

Xiao Fang didn't say anything more, just curled the corners of his mouth, and walked away.

The red robe drew a flamboyant arc in the sunlight, leaving an indelible mark on the girl's heart.

So, it turns out, people really can live like this...

Don't care about the rules, don't worry about saving face, just follow your heart and be unrestrained!

"You little bitch!"

Yun Shuyao's thoughts were interrupted by a sharp curse. She turned to look at Madam Hou, who was no longer pretending to be dead.

Looking over there as well was Gu Jinghuai's extremely resentful gaze.

Yun Shuyao clutched the silver note in her hand, a smile playing on her lips.

"Oh dear! I wonder if the Marquis's residence has been manipulated? I wonder if the Marquis will be furious when he sees that scene after court?"

She left after uttering her hurtful words, having no intention of saying anything more to them.

After struggling for a long time, the wound on my back has reopened.

She bowed deeply once again to Lord Zhang in the hall.

"Thank you, Prefect Xie, for upholding justice!"

"You're welcome, you're welcome!"

Lord Zhang didn't know what kind of relationship she had with Xiao Fang, but he figured it was always best to treat her with respect.

"I wasn't much of a help..."

His gaze drifted to the Lady of Yong'an, who was beaten bloody and mangled, and the heir of the Yong'an Marquis's mansion, his smile more like a grimace.

After leaving the government office, Yun Shuyao did not return to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, but instead turned her carriage around and went to the largest brokerage firm in the capital.

The slave trader, all smiles, stood beside Yun Shuyao, enthusiastically describing how wonderful his slaves were.

The clattering sound of chains dragging on the ground, mixed with heavy breathing, was heard as seventy-eight strong men stood in two rows against the wall, their backs ramrod straight.

These people were all guards selected by Yun Shuyao.

Chun Tao followed behind, holding the roster, her fingertips turning white from the force. The young lady was really going to buy so many slaves who knew martial arts.

"Raise your heads, everyone."

Yun Shuyao's voice was clear and crisp, standing out exceptionally well in the noisy courtyard.

The men all looked up, their eyes filled with wariness, numbness, and a barely perceptible glimmer of hope.

Yun Shuyao's gaze swept across the crowd and finally landed on a man in the very last row.

He was in his early thirties, wearing faded shorts, with a scar on his left cheek that ran from his brow bone to his jaw, but it couldn't hide the composure in his eyes.

While others either lowered their heads or glanced sideways, he stood straight, like a pine tree that could not bend in the wind and rain.

"What's your name?"

Yun Shuyao walked down the steps and stopped in front of him.

"Zhao Hu".

The man's voice was hoarse, honed by the battlefield.

"What have you done before?"

"I came from a military background and was discharged due to injury."

Yun Shuyao nodded, confirming her suspicions.

"Where is the injury?"

Zhao Hu paused, then turned to the side and pointed to his right leg.

"The arrow wound is nothing to worry about; it's enough to protect my master."

Yun Shuyao didn't press further, and turned to the brokerage owner, saying:

"I want all seventy-eight guards, as well as the twenty-four maids, three cooks, and ten rough-working women over there."

"Tell my maid how much silver she wants. Once everything is handed over, have them pack their things and come with me as soon as possible."

The brokerage owner was overjoyed and immediately sent someone to get it done.

Zhao Hu watched Yun Shuyao's retreating figure, hesitated for a moment, and then followed her.

"Where are you taking us, Miss? If it's far, I can prepare a carriage."

"A house in the south of the city...a long-abandoned residence."

Yun Shuyao turned to look at him, making no attempt to hide anything.

Seeing that he was upright and there was no hint of flattery in his eyes, she gave him some authority.

"You can arrange it as you see fit."

Zhao Hu nodded quickly and instructed the crowd:

"Have the martial arts practitioners split into two groups, one to lead the way and the other to bring up the rear, protecting the maids and servants."

Yun Shuyao felt a little more at ease watching him give instructions in an orderly manner.

In her previous life, she had seen many servile people in the Marquis's mansion, and Zhao Hu's uprightness truly had the spirit of a border guard.

The group left the brokerage in a grand procession, with carriages in the middle and guards surrounding them, giving it a somewhat ceremonial appearance.

Chun Tao lifted the carriage curtain to look outside and asked softly:

"Miss, with so many people, can the old house accommodate them all?"

"Let's go take a look first. There's plenty of space, but the houses are old and may need repairs."

Yun Shuyao gazed at the street scene flashing past the window, but her heart sank heavily.

She didn't go home that night, and from today onwards, she is completely severing ties with her family.

Although some guards were hired, they could only watch over the house and protect the courtyard. If her father really wanted to take her back, these people would be unable to stop him.

The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

The atmosphere in the main hall was colder than an ice cellar in the twelfth lunar month.

The rattan cane was placed on the octagonal table, its surface shiny and glossy, yet it exuded a cold aura.

Qin felt a tightness in her chest just looking at it.

The Duke of Zhenguo sat in his armchair, his teacup already empty, yet he was still unconsciously rubbing the rim of the cup, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"Father, how about... we put away the family discipline for now?"

Yun Shuwen stood to the side, stealing glances at his father's gloomy face, and rarely spoke up about Yun Shuyao.

"My sister must have been delayed on the way."

"delay?"

Yun Chongshan suddenly looked up, his voice as cold as ice.

"She dared to challenge her father in the government office, and even had the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei back her up. I think she's forgotten who's the head of the family!"

Qin rushed forward, her voice trembling.

"Master, please calm down. Yao'er is young and must have been frightened today..."

When she comes back, you can discipline her properly, but please don't punish her with family discipline again; her back injury hasn't healed yet..."

"Properly teach them?"

Yun Chongshan sneered and pointed outside the door.

"If she were willing to listen to guidance, she wouldn't have repeatedly caused trouble in court, and she wouldn't have made a fool of the Yun family in front of the Marquis's mansion!"

Just then, footsteps came from outside the door. Qin's eyes lit up and she hurried to go to greet them.

"Is Yao'er back?"

The person who came in was a panting servant. As soon as he entered the main hall, he knelt down and kowtowed, his face pale.

"Lord Duke! Madam! Young Master!"

"Miss...Miss hasn't returned to the manor!"

Where did she go?

Yun Chongshan slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly.

"I...I've found out that Miss went to her maternal grandfather's old house in the west of the city!"

The servant kowtowed and continued to report with trepidation.

"I also heard that Miss bought over a hundred people from the brokerage firm, including guards and servants, and even hired craftsmen to renovate her house. It seems... she's going to stay there permanently!"