Chapter 26 After the Chaos
Xiaolianzi Mountain, the nest of golden magnolia, and the fragrant cottage.

There was no sunlight in the cave all year round, and Jin Mulan's pale face looked incredibly strange when illuminated by the candlelight.

After Yu Feng dealt with Fang Qian and Wu Yi, he left the city overnight and reported all the changes in the city to Jin Mulan.

Faced with this sudden bad news, Jin Mulan found it difficult to accept.

"How could this happen? This is impossible! This is impossible!" Jin Mulan screamed hysterically.

"Fang Qian and Wu Yizhi are two useless bastards. Di Renjie used a little trick to trick them. They really deserve to die."

"Please calm down, master." Yu Feng knelt on one knee and said.

"Calm down? How can I calm down! Di Renjie has only been in Youzhou for a few days, and he has already destroyed half of the forces we have painstakingly built up in Youzhou." Jin Mulan was so furious that her chest could be seen rising and falling even through her armor.

She waved her arms wildly and questioned Yu Feng: "If you give him a few more days, will he come here to fight? Huh?"

Yu Feng lowered his head, not daring to breathe, and silently endured Jin Mulan's anger and dissatisfaction.

Jin Mulan vented for a long time and realized that she had lost her composure. She took a deep breath, calmed down a little, and asked, "Is there still no news from Li Er?"

"Viper sent a message saying that Li Er had been poisoned, but there is no result yet." Yu Feng said cautiously.

"I don't want to hear this. Go back and inform Viper. I just want Li Er to die!" Jin Mulan looked impatient.

"Yes." Yu Feng agreed.

Yu Feng had been reporting bad news for a long time, and finally told a piece of good news: "Master, all the money in the Youzhou treasury has been transferred to Tianbao Silver Bank, and it will be shipped here soon."

"Well, the city is on high alert now. You notify Ma Wu and tell him not to make any moves for the time being. Wait until the news has passed before transferring the goods here." Jin Mulan nodded casually and made the arrangements.

"Wait, the secret passage in the governor's mansion hasn't been discovered, right?" Jin Mulan suddenly asked.

Yu Feng's words seemed to remind her, and a brilliant plan emerged in her mind.

"Probably not. According to Ma Wu, he used the secret passage recently." Yu Feng thought for a moment and replied.

"Okay, go and invite Liu Jin over." Jin Mulan instructed the maid beside her, and the maid took the order and left.

"Hmph, it won't be easy for Di Renjie to destroy the hard work I have put in building Youzhou over the years," said Jin Mulan.

She suddenly changed her decadent look, and her eyes were full of ambition again.

Yu Feng was delighted when he heard this and asked, "Master, do you have any good ideas?"

Jin Mulan sneered: "I'm going to give him a plan to revive his body."

Not long after, the maid led Liu Jin to Qingxiang Cottage.

After Liu Jin handed over the list, Jin Mulan forced him to erase the words behind him with a knife, causing him to be tortured and turned pale.

He had been under house arrest, so he was not happy with Jin Mulan.

"I have already handed over the list. I wonder what you want me to do here?" Liu Jin said bluntly.

He was a little wary and secretly observed Jin Mulan's expression, worried that she would abandon her.

However, Jin Mulan's reaction surprised him.

She put away her usual fierceness and asked with concern: "Brother Liu, are you feeling better?"

"It's okay now, but you still need to apply some medicine." Liu Jin looked at Jin Mulan with some confusion, not knowing what she was up to.

"That's good. Brother Liu is in good health so that we can work together to achieve great things." Jin Mulan said empty words with a smile on her face.

Liu Jin was unmoved and asked directly: "Together we can create a great cause? Don't beat around the bush. Did something happen in Youzhou? What do you want me to do?"

Jin Mulan is a person who never comes to visit unless there is something important. Liu Jin knows this very well. He knows that the situation in Youzhou must have changed and Jin Mulan needs his help.

But he has already handed over the list, and his only remaining influence is just some of his old subordinates in Youzhou.

"As expected of the King of Yue's senior aide, he has extraordinary insights." Jin Mulan showed admiration on her face.

She signaled Yu Feng with her eyes, asking him to tell Liu Jin about the changes in Youzhou.

"There is no false reputation under a great name. I never thought that Di Renjie is so powerful..." After hearing this, Liu Jin showed a look of fear on his face.

Seeing this, Jin Mulan deliberately provoked him, "Why, are you scared?"

"Afraid? I have never been afraid even when facing the severe torture of Qianniu Guards. Since I followed King Yue in the rebellion, I have already put life and death aside. I don't know what fear is!" Liu Jin said coldly.

Jin Mulan was delighted when she saw this, and immediately proposed her plan: "In this case, I have a plan that may help you regain the position of Governor of Youzhou. Do you dare to try it?"

Liu Jin did not hesitate and said resolutely: "Why not? I just want it!"

"Okay! Let's arrange it right away." Jin Mulan said with satisfaction.

Yu Feng and Liu Jin went to Youzhou City to implement the plan. She watched them walk away from the exit of the cave.

It was dawn, the sky was already pale, and the sun's light was expanding little by little.

The loss in Jin Mulan's heart has disappeared, replaced by a burning desire for power in her eyes.
-
The morning light also shone on Youzhou City. The atmosphere on the streets was different from usual, with cavalry patrolling everywhere.

In the hall of the governor's mansion, Di Renjie sat at the top, with Zhao Ji and Li Yuanfang guarding on both sides, and officials of Youzhou below. Di Renjie started by talking about the crimes of Fang Qian and Wu Yizhi, redressed the unjust case of the villagers of Daliushu Village, and abolished all the harsh policies of Fang Qian during his tenure.

He also unified the military and political power of Youzhou under the Governor's Office, announced a series of personnel transfers on the spot, arrested many of Fang Qian's remnants, and promoted a group of clean officials.

Of course, Qiao Tai's help was indispensable in this process. Those who were promoted were very proud of themselves, while some had to worry about their future.

Di Renjie had not even forgotten the missing persons case in Xiaolianzi Village mentioned by Lu Dayou, and sent a lawyer to investigate.

"From now on, you should work diligently on government affairs and put people's livelihood first. You must not be negligent or slack off. If this cabinet finds that anyone is committing corruption for personal gain and ignoring people's livelihood, we will punish them according to the law and will not tolerate them!" Di Renjie finally warned the officials again.

With the examples of Fang Qian and Wu Yizhi not far away, all the officials in the hall solemnly agreed.

The meeting was almost going on until noon, and Di Renjie ordered everyone to disperse. However, a guard came to report that many people from Daliushu Village came to express their gratitude.

Di Renjie hurriedly took Zhao Ji and Li Yuanfang out to greet them.

When they arrived at the gate of the governor's mansion, they saw Zhang Laosi, the survivor from Daliushu Village, with his women and children, and Wu Laoer, who was on the execution platform, and other common people.

When they saw Di Renjie, Zhao Ji, and Li Yuanfang coming out to greet them, they all bowed down and said, "We, the common people, thank you, the imperial envoy."

This made Di Renjie very anxious: "Oh, fellow villagers, please get up quickly, get up quickly."

Zhao Ji and Li Yuanfang quickly signaled to the guards around them to help the people up.

"My fellow villagers, I, Di Renjie, am late and have caused you a lot of suffering. I am here to apologize to you on behalf of the court." As he said this, he bowed deeply, and Zhao Ji and Li Yuanfang followed suit.

Zhang Laosi said with tears in his eyes: "Without Lord Di, General Zhao, and General Li, we might have starved to death, and the villagers who were captured would have been killed by the officials in Youzhou long ago. Don't you think so?"

The people behind him all shouted "Yes" in unison, and bowed to Di Renjie, Zhao Ji and Li Yuanfang once again.

The three of them could not resist and had to accept the greeting.

After the people stood up, Di Renjie said with a smile: "My fellow villagers, don't leave today. Let's go to the Governor's Mansion. I will treat you all to a good meal."

The people cheered again and followed Di Renjie and his two companions in groups.
-
The three of them brought the people back to the Governor's Mansion and held a banquet.

Qiao Tai and others were also invited to join in the fun. Even Hu Jinghui, who was in charge of military affairs in the Youzhou camp, was called back to join in the fun with the people.

To the villagers, Di Renjie was a great benefactor. Li Yuanfang stayed in the Big Willow Tree the longest, and Zhao Ji saved many elders from the execution ground.

At first, the villagers took turns toasting Di Renjie, Zhao Ji, and Li Yuanfang, and Hu Jinghui, Qiao Tai, and Di Chun followed suit.

In the end, even the guards on duty and the servants delivering food joined in, regardless of gender, age, status, and the whole banquet was filled with laughter.

That is to say, Di Renjie, Zhao Ji and others drank tea instead of wine for fear of delaying their official duties, otherwise they would have been drunk to an undetermined degree.

"Come on, General Zhao, let me toast you another glass." Wu Laoer raised his glass and wanted to persuade Zhao Ji again.

Zhao Ji quickly snatched the wine glass from his hand and tried to dissuade him, "Father-in-law, stop drinking. You're drunk. Erniu, come and take Grandpa to the side to rest."

After saying that, a little girl came over obediently and helped Wu Laoer away.

Zhao Ji put down the wine glass, smiled helplessly and shook his head.

Di Renjie came over, patted Zhao Ji on the shoulder and said, "Relieving the suffering of the people and sharing happiness with them is truly one of the greatest pleasures in life!"

Li Yuanfang also came over and said with a smile: "Today is the happiest day of my life."

"Who wouldn't be happy in this situation? Look at General Hu and Lord Qiao, they are both like this." Zhao Ji said happily.

He spread his fingers all over the banquet, and everywhere was filled with warmth and joy.

The adults were in high spirits and the children were jumping around. The cheerful mood had a magical effect that infected everyone at the banquet.

Di Renjie and Li Yuanfang both laughed when they heard this, but a few people from Daliushu Village came over, surrounded the two and urged them to drink.

Zhao Ji laughed out loud as he watched from the side.

At this time, Qiao Tai also came over, also with a smile on his face: "It is worth my life to be so loved by the people as an official."

When Zhao was in high spirits, he was not as cautious as usual. Although he did not drink any alcohol, he seemed a little tipsy.

He put his arm around Qiao Tai's shoulder and whispered, "Hey, you didn't arrange for these people to come to see the adults, did you?"

When Qiao Tai heard this, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He kept pointing his fingers and scolded Zhao Ji, "General Zhao, you are too mean. It was obviously the people who wanted it first. As the chief secretary, how can I not make things convenient for the people? You make it sound like I forced the people to come here."

Zhao Ji chuckled, and then the frivolous look on his face disappeared, and he said seriously: "It's just a joke, Brother Qiao, don't take it as an offense. I have another favor to ask of you."

Qiao Tai did not dare to neglect upon hearing this. He leaned over and listened to Zhao Ji's whisper, nodding continuously.

"The sooner this happens, the better. Don't let anyone else know. I'll wait for your news." Zhao Ji ordered.

"Okay, I'll do it right after the party is over," said Qiao Tai.

Zhao Ji nodded, looked at Hu Jinghui who was mingling with the people on the other side, and breathed a sigh of relief.

　It was a surprise that this book was signed today. I really want to thank many readers such as Nonghuazuihongyan, Sifang, Tizijiadao, Rexratu for their support and suggestions. Without your support, this book might not have been sent out. Thank you all for saving a newcomer like me who has poor writing skills from being a single player, and even giving me the opportunity to sign a contract. I am also grateful to the Detective Di Renjie series, which gave me a group of lovely readers. Thank you again! I can't update more during the new book period, but I will definitely write more when it is on the shelves.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)