Generals of the Great Song Dynasty.

Summary

Chen Shun Zhi and Wang Ning An investigate the source of rumors, focusing on a suspicious middle-aged man who visited a bookstore to print a poem at an exorbitant price. The bookstore owner, knowledgeable about local affairs, suggests that the man may have been hired for nefarious purposes. They discover that the old man in prison, tortured by goats, reveals a network of disgruntled politicians and scholars in Xijing who manipulate public opinion for profit. Liu San Shui, a key figure in this scheme, is identified as a notorious rumor-monger who has thrived for years by spreading slander and promoting individuals for payment. He shares that he has been involved in significant cases, including one that damaged the reputations of notable officials over a decade ago. Wang Ning An learns that the current rumors were commissioned by Qian Ming Yi's steward, with a trail of evidence leading back to the Shen Du Money Exchange. Furious, Emperor Zhao Zhen orders Qian Ming Yi to be brought before him.

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