Chapter 22: The Twist of Facts Causes An uproar

"Well..." Qin Xuefei scratched her head, embarrassed, "I've already made arrangements with my two cousins ​​to join the army together. That way, we can take care of each other in the army. I'll be using my maternal grandfather's connections with them, so it's actually quite safe."

That means I didn't tell my parents and planned to travel secretly.

Ye Mingzhu asked, "Did your two cousins ​​really agree to take you along?"

"Of course!" Qin Xuefei proudly raised her chin. "They were initially unwilling and tried to persuade me to get married and have children. They even said they would introduce their friends to me, but I beat them into submission! Actually, I'm quite skilled. I can take on ten of my maternal grandfather's elite soldiers, so taking on two of them wouldn't be a problem!"

Ye Mingzhu covered her mouth and laughed, then pressed on, "You really aren't going to tell your family?"

“…Yes.” Qin Xuefei nodded. “My idea is too shocking. My mother probably won’t allow it, and my father might break my legs. I can only keep it from them.”

"Not necessarily," Ye Mingzhu said. "Madam Qin is the daughter of a military family. She doesn't stop you from practicing martial arts, and she might even support you joining the army. Why don't you talk to her frankly and ask for her consent? That way, you won't hurt her feelings, and you won't lose your family's support."

"Is that so?" Qin Xuefei asked thoughtfully.

What she was most worried about was that her mother would be heartbroken.

Ye Mingzhu said, "Madam Qin cares about you the most. Even if Grand Secretary Qin disagrees, she might help you cover for him. Besides, if you stay a few days longer, I can prepare some essential medicines for you."

"Okay!" Qin Xuefei's eyes lit up. "I'll go tell her right now!"

After running a few steps, she rushed back to Ye Mingzhu, smiled, clasped her hands in a fist and said, "Thank you, Sister Mingzhu!"

His dashing appearance made Ye Mingzhu smile.

Half an hour later.

No one knows how Qin Xuefei spoke to Madam Qin, but Madam Qin clearly cried, her eyes were red, yet she looked proud of her daughter.

Princess Ronghua learned of Qin Xuefei's decision and had her demonstrate her skills, which made Princess Ronghua look at her with admiration.

Because of Qin Xuefei's decision, the countermeasures that Princess Ronghua and Madam Qin had previously discussed were no longer needed, so the group sat down to discuss them again.

Ye Mingzhu offered her idea: "Since Miss Qin has decided to fake her death to escape and change her name to join the army, why don't we make a big fuss and let the Liu family suffer the consequences?"

She remembered the contents of the storybook and knew that Liu Pinliang's father, Liu Xian, had a criminal record. His crimes were discovered by Liu Pinliang's political enemies after Liu Pinliang rose to power, causing him considerable trouble.

Now if they go to investigate, they'll definitely find out the truth every time.

In the storybooks, Liu Pinliang, who had already gained power, was able to escape danger. Could he do it again this time? He is only a scholar who has passed the imperial examinations, and his abilities are limited.

Madam Qin became intrigued: "How about we make a big scene? I can't wait to see them get their comeuppance!"

Ye Mingzhu smiled and began to explain in detail.

Another half hour passed.

After the matter was settled, Madam Qin left with Qin Xuefei. Princess Ronghua looked at Ye Mingzhu with admiration, as if she were seeing her for the first time.

Ye Mingzhu touched her earlobe: "Mother..."

Princess Ronghua laughed: "I was worried that you would be bullied and I even wanted to deal with the rumors outside for you. Who knew you were so capable that I didn't have to worry about you at all."

Ye Mingzhu felt somewhat uneasy.

A woman is considered beautiful for being gentle and quiet; having cunning and manipulative skills is not a good adjective.

She worried that perhaps her deep hatred for Liu Rumei and her brother, and her ruthless treatment of the Liu family, was so different from her usual docile demeanor that Princess Ronghua had discovered her true nature and deliberately targeted her.

Princess Ronghua smiled and said, "I'm so glad that our Duke's Mansion has such a good mistress. I'm just hoping that Junzhao will get better so that I can hand over the household affairs to you and relax a bit."

Ye Mingzhu breathed a sigh of relief, then felt a little embarrassed: "I'm not as good as you say."

...

evening.

Ye Mingzhu was sitting by the window looking at the account book when Sheng Yunche, who was returning home after his shift, strode up to her and stopped in front of her.

His dark phoenix eyes glanced at her, and he looked down at her, saying, "You must have heard the rumors outside. If you want me to take action, just say the word, but you'll need to pay a price."

Ye Mingzhu was in a good mood and looked up at him with a smile.

She took his hand and placed it on her cheek, asking softly, "Does Your Excellency want this? Feel free to squeeze it, but please don't bother with the rumors. I've already taken care of them."

Sheng Yunche: "...?"

He held Ye Mingzhu's shoulder with one hand and unconsciously pinched her earlobe, which she had brought to his hand, with the other. He felt very satisfied, but also had a strange and subtle feeling.

Something's not right.

Although he was the one asking for benefits and she was giving them benefits, and he had the upper hand completely, why did he feel like she was treating him like a child?

Or rather, was she teasing him like a cat?

Sheng Yunche suddenly tightened his grip on the earlobe, looked down at the person in front of him, and said in a deep voice, "Is that all the benefit you get?"

Ye Mingzhu looked up at him and asked, "Otherwise what? I don't need your help."

Sheng Yunche: "..."

"Your Excellency?" Ye Mingzhu feigned understanding and asked obediently, "Is there anything else you would like?"

Sheng Yunche: "..."

He took a deep breath, said "I'm going to take a shower," and hurriedly headed to the bathroom without even having dinner.

Watching his departing figure, Ye Mingzhu couldn't help but chuckle.

Baozan, who was serving her, asked curiously, "Miss, is the young master shy?"

Ye Mingzhu thought for a moment: "Probably not, he shouldn't be so shameless." He just didn't manage to put on airs, so he's too embarrassed to ask her for more.

Simply put, it's a man's self-esteem.

Baozan didn't quite understand, but nodded vigorously: "Whatever Miss says is right, all men are shameless!"

Ye Mingzhu laughed again.

Ruyi and Ruixiang burst into laughter.

Even though he had walked away, Sheng Yunche, who was still sharp of hearing and sight, thought: "...?"

He quickened his pace.

...

The following days were incredibly lively in Yanjing.

On the fourth day of the Lotus Banquet, two imperial censors presented a memorial to the court, criticizing Grand Secretary Qin for his lax management of his household.

Qin, the Grand Secretary, retorted angrily. The Emperor summoned Liu Xian to confront him in court. Liu Xian burst into tears after saying only a few words, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

On the fifth day, the rumors circulating in the streets became increasingly outrageous, with many saying that Grand Secretary Qin bullied the poor and favored the rich.

If it had been a scion of a prominent family who saved Qin Xuefei, instead of a mere illegitimate son from a family of fifth-rank Hanlin scholars, the Qin family would probably have married their daughter off long ago.

After all, Qin Xuefei has lost her innocence; getting married is better than becoming a nun or committing suicide.

Some people say that Ye Mingzhu, being a merchant's daughter, is indeed cunning and calculating. After being abducted, she not only failed to preserve her chastity by dying, but also took pride in becoming the Duchess of Wei. It's not surprising that such a shameless person would steal credit from others.

Upon hearing this rumor, Madam Zhen, along with Madam Wang and Ye Baozhu, rushed to the Duke of Wei's residence. The three of them took turns trying to comfort Ye Mingzhu, fearing that she might be influenced by the rumors and do something foolish.

Ye Mingzhu felt a warmth in her heart.

On the sixth day, white lanterns were suddenly hung in the Qin residence, announcing the tragic news that Qin Xuefei, unable to bear the suffering any longer, had drowned herself in the lake.

On the seventh day, Madam Qin, grieving the loss of her beloved daughter, angrily presented evidence proving that Qin Xuefei had been murdered and that the perpetrator was none other than Liu Pinliang.

Among the witnesses were not only Ye Mingzhu, but also Wang Jing, the younger brother of Consort Shu.

Meanwhile, the ladies and young women who witnessed Qin Xuefei's personal maid being knocked unconscious by a stone also came forward to prove that something was amiss.

The situation took a turn, causing an uproar.

With a death in the Qin family, no one dared to say a bad word about Qin Ge Lao, who was grieving the loss of his beloved daughter.

Liu Pinliang wasn't so lucky.

The more people sympathized with Liu Pinliang before, and felt sorry for him for being bullied by those in power after jumping into the water to save someone, the more severe the backlash of anger is now that the truth has been exposed.

In an instant, Liu Pinliang was seen as a shameless scoundrel who had tried to climb the social ladder and forced Qin Xuefei to her death, and the Liu family's reputation was ruined.

On the eighth day, Grand Secretary Qin submitted several memorials, accusing Hanlin Academy reader Liu Xian of embezzlement, bribery, seizing fertile land, and forcibly taking respectable women as concubines. Each accusation was supported by irrefutable evidence!

The Emperor decreed that Liu Xian be imprisoned.

On the ninth day, after being pelted with several rotten eggs, Liu Pinliang broke down in tears in the street, saying that Qin Xuefei's drowning had nothing to do with him or the Liu family, and that it was all orchestrated by his married second sister, Liu Rumei.

Liu Rumei is from the Duke of Wei's mansion. It must be that the Duke of Wei's mansion deliberately set a trap to frame the Liu family!

Willow-like eyebrows?

The Duke of Wei's Mansion?

The people of Yanjing, who were following the matter closely, never expected that things would take such a new turn, and their enthusiasm surged once again. In an instant, Liu Rumei's name resounded throughout Yanjing, even surpassing her reputation as a talented woman.

Ye Mingzhu was neither surprised nor surprised...

Surprisingly, Liu Pinliang was incredibly brainless.

Unsurprisingly, the falling out between Liu Pinliang and Liu Rumei was within her expectations, and she was involved in it.