Official Whistleblowing

Princess Jade Hayes fixed her gaze steadily on Jonathan King and Samuel King, her eyes serious and full of confidence.

So even though Princess Jade Hayes was a woman, neither Jonathan nor Samuel King dared to underestimate her.

Samuel King summoned his courage and asked, "Madam, what means do you have to clean up Kingston?"

Princess Jade Hayes smiled gently and didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked, "You still haven’t answered my question. Do you dare to expose the Qians and the Ma Family?"

Samuel King pressed his lips together, then steeled himself and declared, "I dare!"

"Haha! Young Master Samuel, such courage! A true hero indeed!" Princess Jade Hayes burst out laughing, her eyes shining as she looked at the two of them. "Since we’re all planning to cooperate, I won’t hide anything. I am the Queen Consort of Qin—Princess Jade Hayes, also known as Chancellor Su. I’ve come to Kingston not just for business, but more importantly, the court intends to officially take over Kingston."

"Ch-Chancellor Su... Q-Queen Consort of Qin!" Jonathan and Samuel King were so shocked by Princess Jade Hayes’s identity that they were speechless.

Samuel King was the first to react, dropping to his knees with a thud, and then pulling Jonathan King down to kneel beside him.

"I-I didn’t know Chancellor Su had arrived. If I’ve offended you before, please forgive me, Your Excellency!" Samuel King stammered, trembling.

"No offense taken if you didn’t know." Princess Jade Hayes lowered her gaze, looking at the trembling Jonathan and Samuel King, her expression turning serious. "Now that you know who I am, you must understand: I’ve come to Kingston personally to reclaim it for the court. What I need from you now is a written list of charges—write down every crime committed by the Qians and the Ma Family, one by one. Samuel King, do you dare to write it?"

Samuel King looked up at Princess Jade Hayes and said, "Chancellor Su, I dare to write!"

"Good!" Princess Jade Hayes looked at Samuel King with appreciation.

Samuel King immediately took up brush and ink, listing out the corruption and bribery in Kingston’s officialdom, how officials bullied commoners and merchants, and how the Ma Family acted as accomplices, using the Qians’ power to oppress other merchants…

When Samuel King finished, he stamped his fingerprint, then had Jonathan King do the same, and handed the document to Princess Jade Hayes. "Chancellor Su, we’re reporting them under our real names!"

Princess Jade Hayes raised her eyebrows. Reporting under their real names—these two were truly risking everything!

Princess Jade Hayes read through the charges and nodded. "If all these crimes are verified, it’ll be enough to have Kingston’s officials beheaded a hundred times over. As for the Ma Family, now that Martin Ma is the new mayor, they won’t escape responsibility either."

Princess Jade Hayes let the King father and son stand. Both of them were filled with hope at the thought of the officials and Ma Family finally being brought down.

Princess Jade Hayes looked at Samuel King and smiled, "Young Master Samuel, your father says you want to become a scholar-official?"

Samuel King nodded, "Yes, I want to be an official, so no one will bully us small merchants anymore. But, alas, I’m not good at studying—I haven’t managed to achieve much so far."

Jonathan King chimed in, "Ah, my Samuel has learned all my porcelain skills. If his studies were half as good as his porcelain craft, he’d have become a County Scholar by now."

Princess Jade Hayes smiled at Samuel and Jonathan King, "Times have changed. Studying isn’t the only path. There are three hundred sixty trades, and every trade has its champions. You two are both master porcelain artisans—you can make your mark, so don’t belittle yourselves."

Jonathan King gave a self-deprecating laugh, "Chancellor Su, you don’t need to comfort us. Craftsmen like us are always at the bottom, just making a living with small business."

Princess Jade Hayes smiled at them, "I have a secret plan—to establish a Kingdom University in Qin. One of its colleges will specialize in porcelain. Since you two are master artisans, if you’re interested in becoming teachers, I’ll appoint you as Technical Professors. Would you be willing to come to Qin as porcelain instructors?"