Chapter 36: The Goddess - One Shouldn't Be So Biased (2)

  The middle-aged man sighed in relief and shared everything he knew.

  Though his knowledge was limited, he held nothing back.

  Yun Rong listened intently, a slight confusion appearing in her gaze.

  The shopkeeper’s relief wasn’t an act, which was strange.

  Wasn’t he afraid of being falsely accused and arrested as a scapegoat?

  After a few more questions, Su Qing stepped outside.

  A single person’s testimony was insufficient—next came random street interviews!

  On the bustling street, pedestrians eagerly answered his inquiries, offering up every detail they knew.

  After questioning a few, some bystanders took the initiative to ask in return.

  "Your Excellency, who was that assassin? How dare he act so brazenly in broad daylight?"

  A burly man inquired.

  Others nearby wore curious expressions as well.

  "I’m not entirely sure, but such disturbances are likely the work of the rebels."

  Su Qing casually pinned the blame on the rebel factions.

  As for whether it was true or not—

  Who cared? Unless the rebels wanted to step forward and clarify things themselves.

  "I knew it! Those restless bastards again!"

  The burly man spat angrily.

  "Exactly! The new Emperor is wise and just, yet those traitors remain unsatisfied!"

  "In the end, it’s all for their own gain. They claim it's for the people's sake—bah!"

  "Your Excellency, you must capture those rebels! My child was just born—I can’t afford for anything to happen!"

  The gathered crowd erupted in righteous indignation, hurling curses at the rebels.

  Su Qing nodded solemnly, assuring them he would bring the culprits to justice.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Amidst the people’s passionate responses, he led a stiffly smiling Yun Rong away.

  "Every time I handle matters among the common folk, their enthusiasm is overwhelming."

  Su Qing sighed.

  "Benefactor, I have a question… Isn’t the current Emperor… a woman?"

  Yun Rong hesitated before asking.

  "Oh, that? Yes, a female Emperor is not widely accepted by tradition."

  "But Her Majesty has proven her competence through action, granting the people peace and prosperity."

  "With their quality of life improving visibly, who cares about her gender?"

  Su Qing replied after a brief pause.

  "Is that… so?"

  Yun Rong forced a smile, her expression tinged with uncertainty.

  Her worldview felt shaken.

  There was a saying: 'Hearing is false, seeing is believing.'

  She had witnessed these things herself—how could they be fabricated?

  Who was truly deceiving the people, and who was causing the turmoil?

  In her mind, echoes of the citizens’ words resounded:

  *'They claim it’s for the people, but it’s only for their own gain—bah!'*

  That single statement buried itself deep within her thoughts.

  For the first time, Yun Rong began to doubt her own choices.

  ---

  Meanwhile—

  Ye Xueyi frowned at the belated intelligence report, concern filling her gaze.

  Though her martial aunt had assured her earlier, she had now gone ahead and tested that villain directly!

  How was she now? Had she suffered the same fate as herself?

  Anxiously, she searched for her martial aunt but found nothing.

  Left with no choice, she resigned herself to waiting.

  Ten minutes later, Yun Rong pushed open the door and entered.

  Ye Xueyi immediately scrutinized her from head to toe.

  Her focus? Naturally, the way she walked.

  Only after confirming there were no visible issues did she sigh in relief.

  "Xiaoxue, why are you looking at me like that?"

  Yun Rong felt a little guilty under her junior’s peculiar stare.

  After all, she had gone against her word.

  "Martial aunt, you… sigh. What did you do today?"

  Ye Xueyi opened her mouth, then swallowed the reprimand.

  After all, Yun Rong was her elder—it wouldn’t be right to scold her.

  Instead, she sighed and dropped the subject.

  "Martial aunt, I know you have your own thoughts, but that man is truly dangerous."

  The goddess spoke earnestly.

  She could only hope her martial aunt still had a chance to turn back.

  "Xiaoxue, are you mistaken about him? He is clearly a gentleman."

  Yun Rong shook her head, speaking sincerely.

  Ye Xueyi was stunned.

  Had she misheard?

  A gentleman? Peace-seeking? Courteous and virtuous?

  Was there someone else in the capital with the same name?

  The goddess scrutinized her martial aunt’s face, searching for any trace of deception—but found none.

  Suddenly, she lunged forward and, without warning, pulled open Yun Rong’s collar, inspecting her body.

  Beneath her gaze, Yun Rong’s fair skin glowed with a pearlescent sheen, slightly flushed yet unmarked.

  No wounds. No suspicious marks.

  She wasn’t lying?

  "Xiaoxue, what are you doing?!"

  Yun Rong’s voice was filled with both reproach and urgency.

  Her elegant face was now tinged with an alluring blush, as she hurriedly pushed her junior away.

  At that moment, a mature beauty and a tall, imposing young woman were practically entangled.

  The loose clothing, pulled in the struggle, revealed swathes of smooth skin.

  Particularly, the graceful curves peeking through—dazzlingly pale.

  A mature beauty beneath, an imposing heroine above—

  The situation was utterly compromising.

  And not only that—the taller woman was still groping inside the folds of the fabric, searching for evidence.

  The scene exuded a forbidden allure.

  "Xiaoxue, what’s gotten into you? Has worldly corruption changed you?"

  Yun Rong adjusted her robes, her voice laced with concern.

  Her junior had never acted this way before!

  "I… I just wanted to confirm something. Martial aunt, what do you think of him?"

  Ye Xueyi quickly changed the topic, embarrassed by her own actions.

  "He… might be a good man, simply kept in the dark. I wish to investigate further."

  Yun Rong blushed as she summarized her thoughts, avoiding further discussion.

  The goddess, however, felt an overwhelming pang of frustration.

  For some reason, she sensed her martial aunt slipping away!

  And why had her experience been so vastly different?

  Where were the ropes? The drugs?

  Why was she treated so unfairly?!

  Feeling increasingly aggrieved, Ye Xueyi could no longer suppress her emotions.

  Her heart churned, threatening to disrupt even the serenity she had cultivated over the years.

  She needed to see him—only then would she find peace!

  Moments later.

  Su Qing met with the white-robed, blue-haired, red-eyed ice queen.

  Despite everything, she did not appear haggard.

  If anything, her breathtaking beauty now carried a newfound mature charm.

  Her already flawless figure had grown more voluptuous, making her even more captivating.

  However, unlike before, her demeanor had completely shifted—now utterly unreserved.

  She pressed close to Su Qing, disregarding any sense of personal space.

  Her striking blue eyes burned with barely restrained fury.

  "Scoundrel, what exactly are you planning?!"

  Her accusatory voice echoed through the room.