The Marquis doesn't support his beloved wife's ambitions, so I'll take the imperial e

"Give me back my son's hard-earned money! You vixen!"

The filthy shouts and curses crashed against the facade of the "Golden List Success Study Room" like a tidal wave, attracting crowds of onlookers who packed the entire street into a complete blockage.

The atmosphere inside the study room was so oppressive it seemed to freeze. The students who had been engrossed in their studies had all stopped writing and were peering through the cracks in the doors and windows at the group of people outside who looked like madmen. Their expressions varied, some were angry, some were contemptuous, and some were even a little afraid.

Kang Mingyan was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth beside Jiang Zhenxue: "Xue'er, what should we do? These people are clearly being instructed to cause trouble! Should I report this to the authorities?"

"Report to the authorities?" Jiang Zhenxue sat calmly behind the counter, her expression unusually composed. She picked up her slightly cool tea and gently blew away the foam. "If the authorities come, at most they can disperse the crowd. If Lin Ruyu can bribe them to cause trouble the first time, she can bribe them to cause trouble a second time. They'll disperse today, but they'll come back tomorrow."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of Kang Mingyan and Shen Yu, who was clenching his fists tightly beside her.

Shen Yu's lips pressed into a straight line, his handsome face full of frost: "Sister Jiang, I'll go and chase them away."

"How can you, all by yourself, drive away dozens of mouths that distort the truth?" Jiang Zhenxue put down her teacup and finally stood up.

She smoothed out the wrinkles in her plain dress, her face showing no sign of panic, but rather a very faint, almost cold smile.

"Let's go out and take a look. We can't keep the guests standing outside for too long."

As she spoke, she strode toward the door. Shen Yu and Kang Mingyan immediately followed on either side, like two guardian deities protecting her in the middle.

The shop door creaked open.

The noise outside instantly reached its peak.

"She's out! That vixen is out!"

"Look everyone! It's her! The vixen who's completely bewitched my son!"

The middle-aged woman who was leading the tantrum on the ground wailed even louder when she saw Jiang Zhenxue, pointing at her and shouting at the top of her lungs, "You heartless bastard! Give me back my son's money! He stole all the money his family had saved for his wedding to come to this wretched place!"

Jiang Zhenxue's gaze swept past her, lightly surveying the surroundings before finally settling on the woman's face.

"Madam," her voice was clear and cold, yet strangely pierced through all the noise, "you say I took money from your son, do you have any proof? Every single transaction at my 'Golden List Success Study Room' is recorded. What's your son's name? What day did he come? How much did he spend? Just tell me his name, and I can find out immediately."

The woman's sobs faltered, her eyes darting around, and she stammered, "I...how should I know! Anyway, he just spent all his money on you!"

Jiang Zhenxue chuckled lightly, her laughter full of sarcasm: "You can't even give your name, yet you dare to block my door and accuse me of cheating your son out of his money?"

She turned to another man who was shouting that she had seduced men and continued, "Brother, you say I seduced men, do you have any witnesses? Did you see it with your own eyes, or did you hear it from someone? And which man did I seduce? Why don't you give me his name, and we can confront each other and see if I seduced him, or if he was just incompetent and trying to pin the blame on a woman?"

The man was rendered speechless by her question, his face flushed red, and after a long while he finally managed to stammer, "Anyway... anyway, that's what everyone's saying!"

"That's what everyone says?" Jiang Zhenxue repeated these words, her lips curving into an even colder smile. "So, in Puxian, you don't need evidence to convict a woman; all you need is 'that's what everyone says.'"

Her gaze slowly swept over the onlookers, and her voice suddenly rose several decibels: "Then I would like to ask everyone today, what exactly did I, Jiang Zhenxue, do wrong?"

"Was I wrong to open a study room to provide a quiet place for students with limited funds to read widely and study?"

"I improved the desks and chairs and provided tea, all so that students could study in a comfortable environment and no longer have to suffer the hardships of studying. Was I wrong?"

"I painstakingly compiled my notes and experiences from previous provincial examinations, held mock provincial examinations, and invited scholars to give lectures, all to help the students of Pu County, increase their chances of success in the examinations, and bring glory to Pu County! Was I wrong?!"

She asked three questions in a row, each one filled with tears and resounding with conviction!

The crowd gradually quieted down, and many people wore thoughtful and hesitant expressions. Indeed, they had witnessed firsthand the benefits that Jinbang Timing had brought since its opening.

Seeing that things were not going well, the group of troublemakers started shouting loudly again.

"Don't listen to her sweet talk! She's a vixen!"

"Exactly! For a woman to show her face in public is simply immoral!"

Looking at their ugly faces, Jiang Zhenxue's last bit of patience finally ran out. The last trace of warmth in her eyes faded, leaving only boundless coldness.

She suddenly turned around and said to Shen Yu behind her, "Xiao Yu, bring me the sword that I hung on the wall."

Shen Yu was taken aback, but out of absolute trust in Jiang Zhenxue, he didn't ask any more questions and immediately turned around and went into the store.

Kang Mingyan was startled and quickly grabbed her, saying, "Xue'er, what are you doing? Don't be impulsive!"

Jiang Zhenxue ignored him.

Soon, Shen Yu came out carrying a long sword with its sheath still attached. The sword was a decoration left by the previous owner when she took over the shop. The blade was already dull, but it still gleamed coldly.

Jiang Zhenxue took the longsword and, with a clang, drew it in front of everyone!

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, and they instinctively took a few steps back.

The troublemakers were so frightened that they shut their mouths.

Jiang Zhenxue, holding a long sword, walked step by step to the group of troublemakers. The gleaming blade reflected a dazzling light in the sunlight.

"You all say that I, a woman, opening this study in public is immoral, tarnishes the reputation of scholars, and ruins their future."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, carrying a resolute and ruthless edge.

"it is good."

She raised her longsword, the tip pointing directly at her heart.

"Since my existence, Jiang Zhenxue, has become a stain on the scholars of Puxian, then today I will use my life to clear the name of the scholars of Puxian!"

"I only ask one question: If I die, will your sons' futures be restored? If I die, will every student in Puxian County achieve top honors in the imperial examinations?!"

"If my worthless life can bring about a flourishing of literature in Puxian County, then I, Jiang Zhenxue, will die without regret!"

With that, she lowered her wrist, and the sharp tip of the sword was about to pierce her chest!