After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 175 The Liu Family's Balance

Liu Feifei led Bai Wanqing into the study.

Master Liu looked up and examined the woman before him. Her eyes were firm, her demeanor was calm, and she had a good master. It was surprising that Meng Zhan had been able to give up such a woman so easily.

Looking at his daughter, Master Liu couldn't help but sigh. Only his daughter had treated Meng Zhan like a treasure back then.

"Sit down!" Master Liu pointed to the chair in front of him.

Bai Wanqing and Liu Feifei sat down side by side.

"May I ask what brings Madam Lin to see me?"

“Our Liu family is not what it used to be; there are many things we can no longer get involved in.”

Master Liu also assumed that Bai Wanqing was referring to the closure of the clinic, and since he couldn't help, he politely declined.

Bai Wanqing stood up and bowed slightly to Master Liu. "Master Liu, Wanqing has not come here this time to ask you to unblock my clinic."

"I want you to come forward and join me in accusing the Fang family."

As soon as Bai Wanqing finished speaking, both Master Liu and Liu Feifei looked at her in surprise.

The Fang family? The Fang family that could be said to have absolute power in Huaizhou City?
Although the two were shocked, after a little thought they understood why Bai Wanqing wanted to sue the Fang family.

But why did she find the Liu family?

Master Liu quickly came to his senses. He looked at Bai Wanqing thoughtfully and said in a deep voice, "Madam Lin, I know you are anxious to clear your name and reputation, but what does this have to do with the Fang family?"

After Mr. Liu finished speaking, Liu Feifei stared blankly at her father. Bai Wanqing's explanation made it clear that the Fang family was behind the closure of the clinic. Even she could tell that, so why did her father still ask?

Bai Wanqing straightened up and looked at Master Liu calmly, showing no surprise whatsoever at his question.

"Because it was the Fang family who instructed people to switch the medicinal herbs at the century-old medical clinic."

Master Liu's expression shifted unpredictably. "Madam Lin, do you know that such a small matter will not shake the Fang family?"

Master Liu has always been a cautious man. The reason he spoke to Bai Wanqing like this today is because she saved Liu Feifei when she was in danger.

But that doesn't mean he'll drag the Liu family down with Bai Wanqing.

She was well aware of Master Liu's concerns: "Master Liu, do you still remember Wei Qian?"

Wei Qian? Master Liu's eyes flickered for a moment, then he shook his head. "I don't know him."

"But he knows you, sir!"

Master Liu didn't take it to heart. "Madam Lin, you're joking. Although I'm now in office, I was the previous prefect of Huaizhou City. There shouldn't be many people who don't know me."

Bai Wanqing smiled slightly, "But Wei Qian remembers your life-saving grace, sir."

"This is also why I have dared to come to the Liu family today to extend an invitation."

Master Liu narrowed his eyes slightly, but Liu Feifei was completely confused. Who was this Wei Qian?

Why would his father still have saved his life?

For a moment, the room was eerily quiet; you could hear a pin drop.

Master Liu suddenly burst into laughter, "Just because of this? You actually want me to join you in dealing with the Fang family?"

"Madam Lin, I advise you to stop now, lest you become deeply entangled and suffer irreparable harm."

Bai Wanqing remained resolute, saying, "Master Liu, no matter how powerful the Fang family is, they are just a pawn."

"Now that I'm stepping forward to accomplish what you've wanted to do but haven't dared to, I wonder what Master Liu is still hesitating about?"

Master Liu turned around and stared straight at Bai Wanqing for a moment.

"You mean you're braver than me? More fearless than me?"

"I think you're just an ignorant child who has no fear."

"Does Lord Lin know what you're about to do?"

Bai Wanqing shook her head slightly, "Yun Che doesn't know, but even if he did, he wouldn't object."

Bai Wanqing knelt again, "Master Liu, the tragedies that happened in Huaizhou City because of the Fang family can all be called human tragedy."

"With such a person in Huaizhou, Huaizhou will not be at peace."

"If something major happens one day, Huaizhou will become a thorn in everyone's side. At that time, Huaizhou will be filled with suffering and war. Master Liu, is this the scene you want to see?"

Master Liu was surprised that Bai Wanqing knew so much.

She knew that the Fang family was backed by the Prince of Huai, yet she still dared to do it.

Liu Feifei looked puzzled. Wasn't it supposed to be the Fang family? Why is it being described in such a frightening way?

Master Liu glanced at Liu Feifei and said in a low voice, "Feifei, you can go out now."

"I had a conversation with Mrs. Lin about some things."

Liu Feifei was taken aback; she hadn't expected her father to actually be moved.
That's the Fang family! My father was in office for so many years and never had a direct conflict with the Fang family. Now that he's lost his official position, why should he get involved in this struggle again?

"Father," Liu Feifei tried to dissuade him.

Master Liu waved his hand dismissively, not letting her speak, "You may leave! I know what I'm doing."

Liu Feifei had no choice but to get up and leave, glancing back every few steps before she did.

Liu Feifei left the house, pausing anxiously at the door. She tried to eavesdrop, but was spotted by the old master Liu inside.

“I told you I know what I'm doing, Feifei. Why don't you go talk to your mother first?”

Having no other choice, Liu Feifei turned around and went to her mother's courtyard to find Madam Liu.

Seeing that no one was outside the door, Mr. Liu said with a serious expression, "Madam Lin, have you discovered something?"

Bai Wanqing nodded slightly, "I wasn't the one who actually discovered it."

Bai Wanqing took an account book out of her bosom and handed it to Master Liu.

Master Liu took it with some doubt, but after turning just one page, he jumped up from his chair in fright. "Where did you get this?"

Bai Wanqing explained, "I obtained this from one of the Fang family's former bodyguards."

That's right, this ledger is from the days Pan Hu was undercover at the Fang family's house, containing records of Fang's activities.
Death squad members? Master Liu hadn't expected that Bai Wanqing had already had dealings with these death squad members.

He naturally knew that the Fang family had assassins; otherwise, he wouldn't have created such a coincidence to save Wei Qian.

"That doesn't make sense! How would Wei Qian know it was me?" Master Liu asked.

Bai Wanqing stood up and apologized, "Please don't be angry, Master Liu. Wei Qian naturally doesn't know that it was you who saved him, but the assassin does."

“Feifei was here just now, and Wanqing didn’t want to cause her any trouble. Please forgive her, Master Liu.”

Bai Wanqing directly brought up Liu Feifei, so how could he still blame her?
Master Liu turned his gaze back to the account book in his hands, flipping through it page by page, his eyes widening with each turn.

"The Fang family actually amassed so much money?" Master Liu's voice trembled with shock.

Bai Wanqing nodded, "Yes! I originally thought it was just a few clinics, not that serious, but in recent years the Fang family has used underhanded methods to seize a lot of other people's property."

"When you calculate it this way, it turns out to be a huge sum of money."

Master Liu did not respond, but the more he looked, the more alarmed and guilty he became.

"It's my incompetence!" Master Liu choked up. "I knew the Fang family was doing all sorts of evil deeds, but I didn't have the courage to suppress them."

"It's not like Master Liu didn't try."

Master Liu shook his head helplessly and smiled, "Strive?"

"What kind of effort is this? I was just threatened by a letter from someone above the Fang family, and I was so restrained that I dared not interfere with the Fang family in any way."

“I have truly failed the people of Huaizhou.”

When Master Liu was in office, he was diligent and conscientious, and devoted himself to serving the people. However, he could only turn a blind eye to anything related to the Fang family.

Occasionally, they would seize upon one or two minor troubles to give the Fang family a hard time.

He dared not, he was afraid! It was precisely because of his fear that the Fang family became what it is today.

"Now that you've found the Fang family's account books, you should know who's behind the Fang family, right?" Master Liu asked.

Bai Wanqing hummed in agreement, "I know!"

"Did the Fang family give all this money to that person?"

After asking the question, Master Liu immediately realized how ridiculous it was. Every single penny spent in the ledger was clearly recorded: North Wind City, North Wind City!
Master Liu smiled bitterly to himself, then, remembering Bai Wanqing's words, he suddenly looked up and asked, "You mean that person used this money to garrison troops?"

Otherwise, how could there be such widespread suffering and war?
The Prince of Huai actually harbored rebellious intentions? Master Liu was deeply shocked.

"What have I been doing all these years?!" Old Master Liu cried out, pounding his chest with his fist.

"I've become the biggest accomplice!"

"I pride myself on being honest and upright, but after more than a decade in office, I've been caught embezzling public funds and engaging in nepotism. That wasn't enough for me; now..."

"He even became that person's accomplice."

Master Liu burst into tears, overwhelmed with grief.

"Dismissal is right! Dismissal is right!"

“Master Liu, now is not the time to pursue responsibility.”

"As long as the Fang family is in Huaizhou City, the people of Huaizhou City will be the targets of exploitation."

"In the end, this money may become the swords that pierce them."

"The Fang family can no longer stay."

Master Liu wiped away his tears and resumed his serious demeanor.

He handed the ledger back to Bai Wanqing. "Mrs. Lin, please sit here for a while. I'll be right back."

After saying this, Master Liu and Bai Wanqing bowed briefly and then left the study.

Bai Wanqing sat calmly in the chair, staring intently at the account book in her hand, without moving an inch.

After sitting there for about 15 minutes, Master Liu returned.

He brought a wooden box containing a directory and a record of events.

"Take this and see if there's anything you can use."

Bai Wanqing took the wooden box and opened the books inside.

In the twelfth lunar month of a certain year, the patriarch of the Fang family forced good people to become slaves in Liangjia Village.

In the first month of a certain year, Master Fang seized Liang Sheng's farmland in Liangjia Village.

The records were so clear and detailed, one entry at a time.

"Master Liu, this..."

"I know what you're going to ask!" Master Liu sighed softly. "So what if the Fang family guessed it was me?"

"I should also do something for the people of Huaizhou."

Bai Wanqing slightly curtsied, "Don't worry, Master Liu, I will definitely not let anything happen to the Liu family."

Mr. Liu smiled slightly, "I have already explained it to Feifei and the rest of the family."

"Our Liu family has already missed out once enough."

"If you need me to testify, just have someone come and let me know."

"Master Liu is so righteous!" Bai Wanqing bowed one last time, then left with the wooden box.

"Bai Wanqing!" Bai Wanqing, who had just stepped out, turned her head and looked at Liu Feifei, who was calling her from the side, and stopped in her tracks.

(End of this chapter)