Accidentally dressed as an empress

Chapter 140 Catching Thieves and Stolen Things

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, but the entrance to the official post station was already bustling with activity. A woman in red arrived outside the station.

"Today, I want to expose Qiu Ping's involvement in the counterfeiting of ironware!" Lu Bing's voice was crisp and powerful, like the collision of metal and stone, causing ripples in the crowd.

Gu Qian heard the guard's announcement that Lu Bing had come to report Qiu Ping, and he quickly sent a guard to invite her. The door opened, and Lu Bing, accompanied by Ji Yun and a group of elite guards, walked into the inn with firm steps.

Gu Qian stood on the threshold of the courtyard, her hand unconsciously stroking the token hanging around her waist, feeling quite hesitant.

Gu Qian's gaze finally settled on the courtyard guarded by the garrison not far away. A flicker of determination flashed in his eyes as he said to Lu Bing, "As you know, His Highness has arrived in Wufeng City. This case is of great importance. Since His Highness is here, it is natural that He should personally hear the case to demonstrate the majesty of the royal family and ensure impartiality."

Upon hearing this, Lu Bing bowed to Gu Qian and thanked him. Then, a group of guards walked through the corridor and headed towards the other courtyard.

As they entered the courtyard, a woman in green came into view. Tan Juan was looking at them with a smile. "Your Highness has been waiting here for a long time. This case will be left to your Highness for decision."

Under the guidance of Tan Juan, Lu Bing slowly stepped into the yard. When Lu Bing stepped over the threshold of the main hall, she looked up and saw an acquaintance. She was stunned for a moment.

A woman dressed in yellow silk satin sat upright in the main seat, her posture elegant and her aura noble, like the most dazzling pearl in the world. Lu Bing's eyes widened, and an indescribable emotion surged in her heart—this Miss Xiuyun was actually the High Prince?

"Why don't you pay your respects to His Highness?" Tan Juan's voice rang in her ears, reminding her how noble the extraordinary woman in front of her was.

Yunxiu was now smiling at Lu Bing. Her eyes were deep and bright, as if they could see into people's hearts. She nodded slightly, her voice gentle and kind, "Miss Lu, we meet again. I never thought we would meet here again. It seems we are truly destined to be together."

Lu Bing's heart was filled with astonishment. She stared at Yunxiu, stunned, and for a moment, she didn't know how to speak. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, then slowly said, "Miss Xiuyun... No, Your Highness, it's my fault that I didn't recognize you..." As she spoke, she began to kneel and bow.

Yunxiu had already had the system monitoring Lu Bing and his group. Gu Qian, the shrewd old man, had finally pushed the matter onto her. Yunxiu couldn't push the matter onto the Supervisory Department anymore. So she asked Tan Juan to bring the people over.

Yunxiu looked at Lu Bing's reaction, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes. It's quite satisfying to pretend to be cool.

Yun Xiu hurried forward and helped Lu Bing up. "Miss Lu, please don't be so polite. Your sword-making skills are so superb that I am deeply impressed."

"Your Highness is overly complimentary."

Yunxiu smiled and said, "What brings Miss Lu here today?"

Almost forgetting the main business, Lu Bing bowed respectfully. "I've come here today to expose Qiu Ping, Prefect Xu's brother-in-law, as the mastermind behind the ironware counterfeiting case. Your Highness, please help us and restore order to Wufeng City."

Yunxiu nodded slightly, turned around and said to Zhong Lu behind him: "Zhong Lu, go and ask Governor Xu to come over quickly. This matter is of great importance and we cannot be negligent in the slightest." Zhong Lu responded and quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

The atmosphere in the courtyard was tense and solemn. Lu Bing and the others stood aside, while Yun Xiu stood in the center of the courtyard, gazing quietly into the distance.

As time went by, Xu Taishou hurried over. She walked into the courtyard and into the hall, her eyes sweeping over everyone, finally settling on Yunxiu and Iron Official Gu Qian.

She bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness, Master Gu, I am late."

Yunxiu waved her hand gently and said, "Master Xu, let's not waste any more time. I'll get straight to the point. Qiuping has committed a crime, and Master Xu, you are suspected of shielding her."

His Highness's words were equivalent to directly accusing her of harboring a criminal. He had only come to inform her. The smile on Xu Lian's round face froze. The atmosphere inside the official inn was tense and solemn.

Yun Xiu said, then turned to look at Lu Bing: "Miss Lu, please tell me the whole story in detail."

Prefect Xu stood in the hall with an unnatural smile on his face, as if trying to hide his inner panic.

Lu Bing looked straight at Governor Xu and said fearlessly: "Today, I have come to expose Qiu Ping's involvement in the counterfeiting of ironware." As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the hall.

The ironware was counterfeited, and the court sent iron officials. Qiu Ping was really lawless. She even dared to counterfeit weapons supplied to the court.

Xu Taishou's face changed, and he quickly defended himself, "I knew nothing about this matter. Someone must have framed me!"

However, Lu Bing ignored his explanation and turned to Yun Xiu, saying, "Your Highness, please allow me to finish my speech. The evidence is irrefutable, and I have brought witnesses."

Yunxiu nodded, motioning Lu Bing to continue. Lu Bing smiled slightly, turned to Qian Yong and said, "Qian Yong, please tell me everything you know."

Qian Yong nodded, took a deep breath, and began to tell the whole story of the case...how Qiu Ping colluded with the blacksmith to make fake ironware.

As Qian Yong continued his story, the atmosphere in the hall became increasingly tense. Prefect Xu's expression became increasingly grim. He tried to interrupt Qian Yong, but was stopped by Yun Xiu's stern look.

At this moment, Yunxiu said, "To catch a thief and seize the stolen goods, we have witnesses, but we also need physical evidence."

Lu Bing said to Yun Xiu, "If Your Highness is trustworthy, please send troops and follow me."

A team of garrison troops broke into the Qiu family's warehouse, seized a batch of fake ironware, tied up Qiu Ping, and returned to the official post station.

Upon arriving at the official post, the three judges met to hear the case. Qiu Ping's face turned pale, and she could no longer maintain her composure. She fell to her knees and sobbed as she confessed her guilt. Xu Lian's face was ashen, as she knew her official position was in jeopardy...

Gu Qian, the iron-fisted jury, looked at Xu Lian and Qiu Ping coldly, "Master Xu, you're such a thief, you're better than anyone at stealing from your own family."

Yunxiu glanced at Qiuping and Xu Lian and said coldly, "Qiuping, you colluded with the blacksmith to produce counterfeit ironware. The evidence is irrefutable, and you deceived the court. Your crime is unforgivable. Governor Xu, as the local official, you condoned Qiuping and shielded her crimes. Your crime is even more serious."

Upon hearing this, the two men trembled with fear, unable to speak. Seeing this, Yunxiu continued, "I am here today to uphold justice for the people. Take Qiu Ping to prison immediately and await your sentence. Remove Xu Lian from his position as prefect and never employ him again. As for Qian Yong and Lu Bing, you have been meritorious in exposing Qiu Ping's crimes. I will report this to His Majesty and reward you accordingly."

Lu Bing heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this. The case was finally settled, and the Lu family's injustice had been cleared. "Your Highness is wise. Lu Bing bows to you and thanks you for upholding justice for our Lu family."

Yunxiu smiled slightly and said, "Please stand up quickly."