This means they don't intend to enter the residence; they want to argue outside.

Ye Zhengqing already felt ashamed, how could he let others laugh at him?

He was angry and resentful that the Marquis of Zhongyong had hit him, but he was ultimately guilty.

“My in-laws must have misunderstood. My wife may make a few mistakes sometimes, but how could she harm her own daughter?”

He left room for maneuver in his words, so that if the Marquis of Zhongyong found out anything, he could change his story.

He then reassured him, "This humble official knows that the Marquis treats Ye Zhen like a daughter; it's not at all like the rumors..."

Marquis Zhongyong was too lazy to listen to Ye Zhengqing's polite words.

He interrupted him, "It's not like I haven't done anything wrong. I still remember the banquet where I was awarded titles."

If you insist on protecting him, I will suspect that you orchestrated all of this.

If spreading rumors constitutes defamation, the offender will be punished with flogging or caning, depending on the severity of the offense; those with serious offenses will be exiled.

"I'll be lenient with you, Ye Zhengqing. If you're tired of this official position, come with me to the government office. Otherwise, bring Wang out. I don't have time to deal with you."

After the man stayed at the Marquis's residence for a few days, he realized that he had no real ability but was obsessed with officialdom, valuing his career more than his life.

Seeing that he didn't seem to be joking, and fearing he would be beaten again, Ye Zhengqing had no choice but to go and call Wang Shi.

He thought it best not to argue with a woman.

Wang was still talking about Ye Zhengqing when he appeared before her, his face bruised and swollen, and he wanted her to go outside the mansion to confront the Marquis of Zhongyong.

She panicked and got angry. "His own misconduct has nothing to do with me."

"Sir, how can you believe everything he says? I'm not going."

How could the Marquis of Zhongyong have found her so quickly?

She glared at the old woman who was handling the matter, saying, "Didn't you say you were going to do it discreetly? Hurry up and erase all traces."

The old woman, having received a hint, slipped away.

“Since he came to us, he must have some evidence.”

Ye Zhengqing was in great pain and was also being blackmailed by the Marquis of Zhongyong with his official career, all because of Wang Shi.

He said angrily, "Only you could come up with such a stupid trick. Ye Zhen's reputation is bad, so how can yours and mine be good?"

A hint of resentment flashed in Ye Wantang's eyes.

She came up with the idea, but Ye Zhengqing called her stupid.

She waved away the servants. "Father, are you addicted to being Ye Zhen's father? When Madam Liu targeted Ye Zhen before, didn't you object?"

How can they be the same?

At the time, Lady Liu promised that as long as Ye Zhen took responsibility for everything for Xie Yunzhou, she would find a way to get Marquis Zhongyong to promote him.

But now, he's been ridiculed by his colleagues and beaten up. What else is there?

After being reminded by her daughter, Wang said in a shrill voice, "She was born with a bad fate and grew up in the village. Even if she is immoral, it cannot be attributed to your or my poor upbringing."

After returning from the south, she married into the Marquis's family and stayed there longer than she did in the Ye family, which was also due to the Marquis's family's poor upbringing.

As the saying goes, "If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too." She probably learned it from her mother-in-law. How can Xie Bang possibly have the nerve to cause us trouble now?

She tried to defend herself, but her defense lacked conviction.

She thought to herself that this was the General's Mansion, and no matter how arrogant the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery was, he would never enter the mansion to arrest a woman like her.

Unexpectedly, the person who spread the rumors had already fallen into the hands of the Marquis of Zhongyong; all that was missing was an old woman to contact them.

Marquis Zhongyong let Ye Zhengqing, who had been beaten, into the mansion, hoping to make Wang Shi uneasy and lure the old woman out.

The old woman was caught by his men as soon as she went out the back door.

Along with those who spread rumors, they were all brought to the main gate of the General's Mansion.

They publicly confessed to their crimes.

The evidence is conclusive.

Wang Shi stayed inside the mansion and refused to come out. When Ye Zhengqing went in to call for help, she also hid and did not show herself again.

The onlookers were abuzz with discussion.

Marquis Zhongyong led Cui Yihuan up the steps of the general's mansion and told her about how Wang had slandered the children the night before.

"Many people don't understand why I would give half of my manor to Ye Zhen, because Xie Yunzhou is not my flesh and blood."

He was born to Lady Liu and Fu Jiang, so Ye Zhen cannot be considered the daughter-in-law of this Marquis.

However, she suffered a lot of grievances in the Marquis's mansion over the years, and neither of her biological parents were humane.

She is filial to me and manages the manor using the military strategies taught by Ye Jinghong. I admire her and have accepted her as my daughter-in-law.

Worried that she wouldn't even have a place to stay if she left the Marquis's residence, I, the Marquis, considered her situation.

Unexpectedly, the first person to express malice towards her was her mother, Wang.

Having such a mother greatly traumatized Ye Zhen, causing her to fall into a nightmare and remain unconscious.

Having lived an upright life, I will not tolerate the slander of the Wang family, nor will I encourage this unhealthy trend of arbitrary framing.

He cupped his hands to the crowd, saying, "Let's try courtesy first, then force. I gave Wang a chance, but she hid herself away. Ye Wantang, the master of the general's mansion, has also not shown her face."

"I will have to go in and find them myself. I ask you all to be my witnesses; I have no intention of provoking trouble."

Cui Yihuan also said, "If the Marquis were so romantic, how could he have not had a concubine all these years? Even I only asked to enter the manor because I was rescued from drowning and admired him. He is an upright elder, not at all like the rumors."

Marquis Zhongyong was slightly surprised that she would speak up for him.

Compared to the scandalous affair between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, everyone is equally curious about how Wang will explain it.

Marquis Zhongyong enjoyed a good reputation among the people. He also revealed Xie Yunzhou's background, and many people believed his and Cui Yihuan's explanations, and were willing to accompany him to the mansion.

Upon receiving the news, Wang wanted to hide, but Cui Yihuan led people into the backyard.

Ye Wantang wanted to stop her, but seeing the crowd following behind Cui Yihuan, she ultimately remained silent.

Wang struggled, and Cui Yihuan slapped her twice across the face.

"My lord is kind, yet you have spoken of him in such a despicable way. If you do not clear my lord's name today, who will dare to do good in the future?"

"No one does good; this world is full of vicious people like you. How are those who need help supposed to survive?"

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