182: Chapter 0182 Execute First, Report Later

In the three hundred years of the Great Gan, there have been dozens of marquises, large and small.

But for an ordinary marquis, the rank must be downgraded with each generation, and they slowly fade into obscurity.

There are only three founding marquises who can truly inherit their titles perpetually, retaining their fiefs and the empty title of the Junior Second Rank!

The Marquis of Linyuan is one of them!

Not only that, the Xie Family of Linyuan is also an important branch of the millennium-old prestigious Xie Clan.

The Xie Clan has endured through five dynasties; they have always been feared by the imperial power of every era, yet they remain standing, which shows the depth of their foundation.

Even the domineering and arrogant Prince Bai, who holds heavy military power, focuses primarily on winning over the Marquis of Linyuan.

If Lin Xiao hadn't brought his army to the city gates and forced that lackey Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan into a corner, they wouldn't have torn off all pretenses.

Because of this, when Chang Youkui proposed a thorough investigation of the Marquis of Linyuan...

The reaction of the people of Yangquan was singular—holding a lantern in a latrine, looking for shit?

To the Marquis of Linyuan, Cang Province is like his own backyard!

Ask around the farms near Yangquan; seven or eight out of ten belong to the Xie Family!

Nearly thirty percent of the commercial firms in the northern provinces cannot escape their connection to the Xie Family!

Tens of thousands of people in the North are working for the Xie Family!

What's even more ridiculous is that the great General Lin is also the Marquis of Linyuan's 'Imperial-bestowed Son-in-law'!

As long as the wedding takes place within the year, it will be a natural progression, and they will firmly be one family!

You want General Lin to investigate himself?

Many people looked at Chang Youkui, unable to help but shake their heads and sigh.

This guy... give him an inch and he takes a mile. A mere minor Judicial Officer, does he really think he's an Imperial Commissioner?

Lin Xiao pondered quietly for a moment, jumped off his horse, and walked up to Chang Youkui.

"Chang Youkui, I will only ask you one thing."

Lin Xiao said in a deep voice, "If you investigate Marquis Xie Shang but find no definitive evidence of a crime, do you know the consequences?"

Chang Youkui's body jolted; he frowned and looked at Lin Xiao with a complex gaze.

He understood Lin Xiao's meaning. This was a gamble, and the stake was his 'life'!

Seeing a few colleagues he usually got along with shaking their heads at him from the side, advising him not to be impulsive.

Deep within Chang Youkui's heart, a streak of stubbornness arose!

He had been marginalized and excluded for so many years; he thought his passion had cooled, but things had taken a turn, and he had met someone willing to use his talents...

Was it really going to end here?!

No! He was not reconciled to it!

He wanted to risk it once, even if it meant being smashed to pieces!!

"This humble official is but a minor ninth-rank clerk. I am fortunate to have the General's trust and the opportunity to thoroughly investigate the officials of Yangquan. I have long since put my life and death aside!"

"According to the laws of our dynasty, a commoner who damages the reputation of a founding Marquis shall be sentenced to immediate execution!"

Seeing that his mind was made up, Lin Xiao had nothing more to say. What he wanted was exactly this determination to perish together if necessary!

He never intended to share the world with these aristocratic clans anyway. I don't care what kind of 'monkey' you are; if you break the law, I'll deal with you!!

"Good! Since you understand, then investigate for me!!"

The entire place broke into an uproar!

The commoners whispered among themselves, all finding it unbelievable!

Lin Xiao wants to investigate the Marquis of Linyuan? This is even more explosive than repelling the Earl of Anyang!

Since the founding of the dynasty, when has the Linyuan Marquis Mansion ever suffered such an insult!?

Even a group of generals from the Zhenbei Army looked at Lin Xiao with concern, feeling that this move was too reckless.

Chang Youkui was overjoyed. In truth, he didn't have much confidence, given that the relationship between the Marquis of Linyuan and Lin Xiao was unusual.

He didn't expect that this General Lin would not hesitate to sacrifice personal ties for the sake of justice!?

Meeting such a superior, even if one died taking the blame, there would be no regrets!

"General Lin! This official took men there, but the Marquis Mansion won't let us in!"

Chang Youkui was anxious, fearing the Marquis of Linyuan might destroy certain evidence.

Lin Xiao flipped back onto his horse. "Oh? The Marquis Mansion is that hard to enter? Then this General will go with you to take a look! Let's go!!"

"This official obeys!!"

Chang Youkui's face was flushed with excitement. He ran behind the horse's tail, looking at Lin Xiao's back with eyes full of reverence!

Seeing this, the men of the Zhenbei Army naturally had nothing to say and all swarmed toward the Linyuan Marquis Mansion!

At this moment, the gates of the Marquis Mansion were tightly shut.

Inside the mansion's main hall, Marquis Xie Shang was drinking tea and playing a solo game of Go, looking perfectly composed.

Xie Juner walked in at this time, still wearing her leather armor. She tossed her sword onto the table, looking unhappy.

"What's wrong? Wasn't it a great victory?" Marquis Xie Shang said with a smile.

"We won, but I didn't help with anything. I feel like I did something stupid," Xie Juner sighed.

"Haha..."

Marquis Xie Shang chuckled. "If he really had to rely on you, a woman, to defend the city for him, how could Lin Xiao have lived until today?"

"Juner, people are born different. You don't need to do these superfluous things."

"You are a Commandery Princess of the Marquis Mansion, a daughter of the Xie Clan. Your status itself is the greatest help to Lin Xiao!"

Xie Juner frowned. "But I don't want him to think I'm just a pretty face. I want to be his right hand, just like Sister Su Wansha!"

"Wrong! Entirely wrong!"

Marquis Xie Shang put down a chess piece and asked with a playful expression, "Do you think you can do what Su Wansha does?"

"Of course!"

Xie Juner said proudly, "If I were to do it, I would only do it better!"

"Then if we gave it to the several head managers under our Marquis Mansion, could they do it?"

"Naturally, they could. They are all one-in-a-ten-thousand talents in the way of business!" Xie Juner said.

"Isn't that right then?"

Marquis Xie Shang smiled. "Lin Xiao letting Su Wansha manage those businesses for him isn't because Su Wansha is so extraordinary, but because she just happened to become Lin Xiao's wife."

"Once you and Lin Xiao are married by imperial decree, with your status, wouldn't it be even easier to expand the Northern Trade Alliance?"

"At that time, Lin Xiao will naturally rely on you. Seeing your business talent, how could he look down on you?"

Hearing this, Xie Juner's eyes couldn't help but light up!

It was true; she simply lacked an opportunity to show her worth!

She wasn't great at fighting, but when it came to business, poetry, songs, Go, or painting, which of them was she not proficient in?

"I was being foolish. Thank you for the guidance, Father!"

Xie Juner cheered up, her confidence in the future restored once more.

Only... she wondered when that man would come to the Marquis Mansion to discuss the wedding date?

According to the imperial decree, there were less than two months left until the end of the year.

At the thought of getting married, Xie Juner couldn't help but let her imagination run wild, her face involuntarily heating up.

Marquis Xie Shang naturally noticed his daughter's expression and sighed inwardly: A grown daughter cannot be kept at home!

However, he was also looking forward to this son-in-law!

The Linyuan Marquis Mansion rose through military merit, but it has been quiet for far too long...

Just then, a commotion was heard outside.

Old Butler Huang Xu ran in hurriedly and reported loudly, "Marquis! Commandery Princess! That Judicial Officer Chang Youkui is knocking on the door again, saying he wants to audit the mansion's accounts!!"

"What's the panic? Throw him out!"

Marquis Xie Shang's face showed some impatience, as if he were being disturbed by a fly.

"Father, what's going on?" Xie Juner asked in confusion.

"It's that fiancé of yours. He had this ninth-rank clerk investigate corruption, and the man actually reached his hand into our Linyuan Marquis Mansion."

Marquis Xie Shang snorted coldly. "If it weren't for Lin Xiao's sake, this Marquis would have already executed him first and reported it later!"