Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 65 Open the door! The crackdown on organized crime has begun.

Half an hour later, Jiu Que received a thick stack of papers. She casually flipped through a few pages and felt that everything she saw was filled with layers of blood and tears. She didn't hesitate to assume the worst about others, but when she saw it with her own eyes, she was still shocked by the ugliness of human nature.

I initially thought that the abducted girls being sold to brothels was the worst thing, but that was only a small part of it. This document details how many beautiful young men and women were abducted in a certain year and month. Some of them were indeed in the capital, but the rest disappeared without a trace, their whereabouts unknown.

"My position is still too low. The highest-ranking person I can find is only the head steward of the Third Prince's residence. Moreover, the real mastermind would never openly appear before us expendable beings. All I know is that Zhao Jie once let slip while drunk that there was an account book that could determine the life and death of many people, but that account book is not in Zhao Jie's possession, nor even in the Third Prince's. Whoever gets that account book can become the true master behind the Worry-Free Cave. After all, that account book is the death warrant for everyone involved in the Worry-Free Cave."

Mr. Yi took a breath and then spoke.

"In the south of the city, there is a large villa, whose owner is ostensibly just a merchant surnamed Zhu. But in that villa, hundreds of beautiful young men and women are kept. Every night, the villa is brightly lit until the rooster crows. Those who come and go there are high-ranking officials you can't even imagine. Officials who are known for their integrity and incorruptibility in the court may become greedy and cruel beasts there, tearing off their masks. Lord Ying, you were born into a wealthy family, how could you know the ugliness of human nature? I suppose the most terrifying person you can imagine is a human trafficker like me, but in that villa, the number of people who die every night is enough to make all the flowers in the courtyard bloom brightly."

"I came out of there ten years ago, and the scars on my body are still clearly visible to this day. Was I lucky enough? No, it was just because I was smart enough to get in touch with the higher-ups and become a perpetrator, rather than a victim."

Mr. Yi's wounds had been bandaged. He sat on the ground expressionless, his eyes vacant, as if he were looking at memories he didn't want to touch. However, even in his current disheveled state, he no longer possessed the subtle provocation he had shown before. On the contrary, his emotions were always filled with an indescribable elation.

Ying Jiuque slowly put down the thick stack of papers in front of him, unsure of what to say, only feeling a headache coming on.

It seems this case involves more people than I imagined.

Would you be willing to help?

"Of course, I would be very happy to."

Mr. Yi nodded heavily. Ever since he saw the Third Prince being brought in from the prison, he had completely believed in Ying Jiuque. Regardless of whether he survived, he would at least drag all those who had harmed him down to hell. He couldn't die in vain, could he? Wouldn't it be the best way to have those high and mighty people die alongside him, a lowly commoner with no influence?
Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back. Having obtained definitive evidence, Jiu Que wasted no time and immediately led his men to the mansion Mr. Yi had mentioned.

It was nighttime, and I thought that with the search being so thorough lately, the people in this mansion wouldn't be so audacious. But when I arrived at the well-hidden mansion after being guided, I was surprised to find it brightly lit.

Do those people indulging in pleasure inside not know that His Majesty is thoroughly investigating the Wuyou Cave case during this period? Or do they have the means to defy the law and commit crimes?

In short, no matter what those high-ranking officials and dignitaries inside are thinking, they can't escape tonight.

The Golden Armor Guards bestowed upon her by His Majesty were quite adept at such cases of confiscation and extermination, so in no time they had set up ambushes at all the entrances and exits of the mansion. Although Ying Jiuque was stronger, she was the first among the guards to disagree with facing the enemy head-on, so she could only wait in a safe position. Mr. Yi was also nearby; mainly because he was currently injured and might collapse at any time, Ying Jiuque was quite considerate of him. Jia Twenty-Three took a deep breath, led his men forward, and nimbly leaped over the courtyard wall.

Moments later, screams and chaos erupted from the seemingly peaceful mansion.

Mr. Yi watched this scene with a strange smile on his face. Those audacious nobles probably never imagined they'd be surrounded while seeking pleasure. He wondered if they'd stomp their feet in anger when they discovered it was this so-called lowly commoner who had put them in this predicament.

After the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, Jia Twenty-Three invited Jiu Que inside, and there were still a few drops of blood on his body.

"presumptuous!"

As Jiu Que entered, he heard this sharp shout. Looking up, he saw many disheveled men being restrained by the Golden Armor Guards. One of them, eyes wide, was still struggling and hurling a string of vulgarities at the guards who dared to hold him.

"How dare you! Do you know who I am? Be careful, or I'll report you to His Majesty and have you all beheaded!"

"That's Prince Ping."

Mr. Yi knew the guests here very well. He recognized the shouting man at a glance. However, for some reason, he turned his head and told Ying Jiuque.

Nodding, Jiu Que gave a forced smile. "Prince Ping, isn't this the child of one of His Majesty's concubines and her ex-husband? It's said he's kind and gentle, deeply loved by His Majesty." But Jiu Que glanced at the blood-soaked boy kneeling beside him, and wanted nothing more than to find the person who said those words and beat them half to death. Was this what they called kind and gentle? Seeking pleasure was certainly reprehensible, but to beat someone like this, and to look at the usual attitude of those around them, he might have done even worse!
Your Majesty seems quite wise, so why are there such a bunch of clueless relatives? Even a stepson can cause so much trouble.

"Prince Ping, it's the middle of the night, why aren't you in your own palace? What are you doing in this godforsaken place?"

"who are you?"

Prince Ping was furious with the Golden Armor Guards who controlled him, but they were all like gourds with their mouths sawed off, refusing to utter a single extra word. Suddenly seeing a woman bold enough to speak to him, Prince Ping was taken aback. Years of indulging in wine and women had weakened his body, causing him to see double. After taking another look, he realized that the person standing in front of him was a tall and beautiful woman.

(End of this chapter)