After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Dusheng chuckled softly.

There was not a trace of arrogance in that laughter, only a clear and calm understanding after seeing through the fog of the world, like a gentle breeze brushing across a secluded pool.

"Princess, you asked me if I'm sure?" Jiang Dusheng tilted her head slightly, and the sunlight from the window fell into her clear eyes, reflecting a clear and bright scene.

"In the temple, I have witnessed the myriad forms of worshippers and helped countless wandering souls find peace."

"I have seen women hang themselves because of a baseless rumor; I have seen them strangled by the shackles of so-called fame, driven step by step to the edge of a cliff, with nowhere left to retreat."

"I have seen how families, in order to preserve their so-called dignity, easily treat them as disposable pawns, pushing them into the abyss and letting them wither away silently."

"Then, with a thin coffin and a few vague words, all traces of their existence are erased, as if they had never lived, or only deserved a stigma of immorality, hastily preserved in a corner of the family genealogy for people to spit on."

Jiang Dusheng's voice was steady, yet each word was sharp and piercing: "Ruan Guyan is not the first, nor will she be the last."

"That stigma was like a red-hot branding iron, not only burning her skin in life, but also scorching her soul in death, etching it into her three souls and seven spirits, cutting off her path to the underworld, preventing her from finding peace and being reborn."

"The rumors that Chu Yanzhao fabricated on the spot, with the slightest movement of his fingertips, easily crushed a woman's life that should have been bright and beautiful."

"He may have long forgotten, or perhaps... he never cared at all. But someone has to remember."

Jiang Dusheng stood up and walked to the window.

In the courtyard, a few flowers, nearing the end of their blooming season, were blooming in solitude, their beauty dazzling, yet no one stopped to admire them.

"Physical evidence may be destroyed, witnesses may fall silent, and power may oppress, but..."

She reached out and touched the cold window frame. "Justice will not die."

"It may be buried, distorted, or forgotten, but as long as there is a breath left, it will burn faintly in the deepest corner of people's hearts, weighing good and evil, and measuring right and wrong."

"The Chu family is related to the imperial family, and Chu Yanzhao is the heir apparent, so what? Just because it's difficult, does that mean we should let the injustice be buried, let a woman's soul be consumed by resentment, and let those perpetrators continue to live sanctimonious and glorious lives?"

Jiang Dusheng turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Princess Yongning. "Princess, now that I've met Ruan Guyan, heard her story, and witnessed that lingering resentment and pain, then..."

She slightly raised her chin, the cinnabar birthmark between her brows strikingly red in the sunlight, and her voice was resolute, without the slightest hesitation:

"No matter how difficult it is, no matter who the opponent is, I, Jiang Dusheng, am determined to handle this!"

"I don't need Chu Yanzhao to publicly prostrate himself and confess, nor am I sure I can find any irrefutable evidence. What I want... is to let that carefully orchestrated, sordid shadow fall back on his own head."

"What I want is for everyone who has heard the rumors and despised Ruan Guyan to begin to doubt and scrutinize; I want to make it an unspoken fact in Changling City that Chu Yanzhao framed the young lady for personal gain."

Her tone was resolute: "Reputation? Since he is most adept at using this invisible blade to kill without leaving a trace, then let this blade turn its edge and let him taste the bitterness of being devoured by it."

"This world is too harsh on women. Rumors are like knives, each one drawing no blood, yet enough to slowly torture a woman's life."

"My power is meager; I may not be able to shake the foundations of this world, nor move the heavy, oppressive mountain. But at least—"

The light in Jiang Dusheng's eyes was dazzlingly bright. "I can make a sound for those souls who are silently weeping in the underworld, and open a crack."

"Even if only a sliver of light shines through to illuminate this small area, it's better than eternal darkness."

"Knowing it's impossible, I will still do it; though there are thousands of people against me, I will go."

"So, Princess," she asked finally, her gaze clear and unwavering like glass washed by snow, "would you be willing to lend me another helping hand?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Princess Yongning stared at her blankly.

The woman before him was slender, standing in the light and shadow, her back straight as bamboo, yet her eyes were incredibly firm and bright.

At this moment, she suddenly remembered that when she was young, hiding behind the heavy curtains of the palace, she also had the spirit to speak out against injustice.

Thinking about how I am now a mother, I feel a deep-seated worry and helplessness about the harsh realities my daughter Zhaohua will face in the future…

In this world, the shackles on women have never been truly removed.

After a long while, Princess Yongning put down her teacup, which had long since gone cold, stood up, and walked to Jiang Dusheng.

She reached out and grasped Jiang Dusheng's slightly cool hand. "Okay!"

Princess Yongning's voice was not loud, but it was equally resolute: "I will stand with you on this matter."

"It's not for the sake of befriending you, but for Ruan Guyan, and for the many women in this world who may be in darkness right now and may face the same injustice in the future."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Dusheng took a step back and bowed deeply to Princess Yongning with a solemn posture.

"Your Highness is so kind. On behalf of Ruan Guyan, and on behalf of the many women in this world who have no way to speak out, I thank Your Highness."

Princess Yongning quickly stepped forward to help her up, scolding, "Get up quickly, there's no need for this between us."

She pulled Jiang Dusheng back to sit down, her expression turning serious. "Since you have this intention, you must have a plan. Tell me, what specific plan do you have? How do you need my cooperation?"

Jiang Dusheng stopped being polite, nodded, and his eyes flashed with a calm light. "There is indeed a plan. The first step is to create momentum for myself."

"Although the palace banquet has brought Jiang Dusheng's name to the public's attention, compared to the prestige of the Imperial Preceptor and the honor bestowed upon him by the court, it is still like a firefly compared to the bright moon."

"I want Jiang Dusheng's name to not only be passed down by word of mouth in the streets and alleys, but also to reach a level that, while not comparable to that of the Imperial Preceptor, is enough to weigh in the hearts of the people as much as the title of Imperial Preceptor."

She paused briefly, then continued, "The second step requires the princess to step in."

She looked at Princess Yongning and said, "At that time, please ask the Princess to host a grand banquet of a hundred flowers, and invite all the prominent ladies and noblewomen of Changling City, as well as the eligible young men from all families. The event should be grand, and the guests must be well taken care of."

Princess Yongning immediately understood her intention, "You mean, in front of everyone..."

"That's right." Jiang Dusheng took over the conversation, his tone resolute. "Leave the rest of the banquet to me."

Before she finished speaking, Princess Yongning had already grasped the deeper meaning behind her words.

Jiang Dusheng's plan cleverly placed Princess Yongning in the position of an unsuspecting organizer.

If everything goes smoothly at that time, it will be because Jiang Dusheng is very capable.

If this provokes a backlash, Princess Yongning can simply say that she is holding a normal banquet, and all the unexpected events can be blamed on Jiang Dusheng, thus leaving Princess Yongning a way out.