"There is no such thing as sisterly affection in the inner quarters; there is only hostility. No matter how good the gifts from the lady are, they are still a favor."
“If I want the grace, I will earn it with my own hands; I don’t need anyone’s charity.”
"The only favor that allows me to hold my head high is that of the master."
Hongxiu was a little puzzled. "But, Second Madam, I can see that First Madam really cares about you. She even taught you how to do things at the last wedding banquet."
Yu Shuang curled her lips.
“Hongxiu, I am a woman of the night, frequenting the company of high-ranking officials and nobles, and I have long seen through it all.”
“Those men liked me because of my body. Now, in this inner courtyard, the madam is teaching us because she has grown cold towards the master.”
"If her heart were to return someday, do you think she would still teach?"
"Besides, that wedding banquet became a laughing stock in Bianjing. She managed to clear her name completely and even gained a good reputation in the end."
“If she really cares about us, she should take all the blame and say that she did it herself, instead of telling us to do it.”
Hongxiu sighed, which was taken as tacit agreement.
The Marquis of Zhenbei hurriedly walked to the Golden Palace, keeping his head down the whole way, not daring to say a word to the officials.
Upon arriving at the palace, he stood at the entrance, panting as he straightened his clothes, then smiled and stepped over.
But for some reason, his legs were completely out of control today, and he tripped over the threshold and fell to the ground.
With a "bang," he fell face-first to the ground, exclaiming, "Ouch!"
When the ministers heard the noise, they all looked in his direction and saw him fall flat on his face. They all burst into laughter.
"Hahaha... What's wrong with the Marquis of Zhenbei?"
"They bowed to us so early in the morning, with His Majesty still here. We cannot accept such a grand gesture."
The Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was the most enthusiastic. Ever since Lin Shiming touched his daughter's little hand, he had held a grudge against the Marquis of Zhenbei.
If the Marquis of Zhenbei makes even the slightest move, he can drown him with his spittle.
Seeing him like this, the others also started to laugh.
"Yes, yes, don't be so polite."
"Marquis of Zhenbei, please get up quickly, it's time to meet the Emperor."
The Marquis of Zhenbei hurriedly stood up, his face flushed, and ran back to his seat.
Be careful what you say!
He didn't attend yesterday, and I don't know if they know. If he offends His Majesty, he'll be in deep trouble.
The Holy Emperor sat on his throne, thinking about how Lin Wanwan had awakened the Spirit Pearl, which even her ancestors had failed to awaken for centuries, using only a small chick yesterday.
I was incredibly excited.
If he hadn't wanted to avoid suspicion, he would have had Ye Lanyin and Lin Wanwan stay for a meal long ago.
Now, I don't know how things are going with Cheng Yun, so I can't afford to alert him.
"Marquis of Zhenbei, you were late for court today, and you were absent without cause yesterday on the Ghost Festival. Do you know your crime?"
The Marquis of Zhenbei had just steadied himself and was trying to lower his head to minimize his presence when he heard the Holy Emperor's words from above.
His legs buckled and he collapsed to his knees with a thud.
"Your Majesty, when I came in just now, there were other colleagues behind me."
The Holy Emperor raised an eyebrow. "Really? I didn't see it."
The Marquis of Zhenbei was devastated. Why didn't he come in with his colleagues?
He brought this on himself!
He then added, "Your Majesty, my absence yesterday was due to my illness. I beg Your Majesty to investigate."
"Marquis of Zhenbei, why have I not received your memorial?"
"Your Majesty, the servants in the manor said that my wife helped me ask for leave yesterday. Could it be that my wife lied to me?"
When the Holy Emperor heard the Marquis of Zhenbei speak of Ye Lanyin in this way, he cursed the Marquis of Zhenbei a thousand times in his heart.
The ministers who attended yesterday, in particular, knew of the Emperor's fondness for Lin Wanwan and the slight favor he showed to Ye Lanyin. They were all waiting to see what would happen.
"Marquis of Zhenbei, you have quite the nerve! You think I'll approve your leave request just because you had Ye Lanyin put in a good word for you before me?"
"As an official appointed by the imperial court, you don't know how to follow the procedures, provide your superiors with leave certificates, or write leave letters. Instead, you're always thinking of crooked ways!"
"Now you're even blaming your own wife? Do you think I'm a fool?"
The Marquis of Zhenbei was terrified; his whole heart was trembling.
"Your Majesty, I didn't mean it. I didn't expect my health to suddenly deteriorate like this..."
Seeing this, how could the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices let such an opportunity pass by?
He interrupted the Marquis of Zhenbei, smiled, cupped his hands to the Emperor above, and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
"If everyone were like the Marquis of Zhenbei, who could get leave by having his wife say a few words to His Majesty, then I would also have my wife ask for leave tomorrow."
General Yao said, "That's right, I will have my wife ask for leave tomorrow as well."
The Grand Master of the Court of State Ceremonies said, "Your Majesty, I haven't been sleeping well lately. Tomorrow, I'll have my wife ask for leave on my behalf. I need to sleep!"
Prime Minister Jiang said, "Your Majesty, I have no wife. Would it be alright if I sent a servant to invite her?"
"These past few days, I've been feeling rather absent-minded and need to go on a trip to relax..."
He was truly suffering; his wife and children were separated, his family was destroyed, and he still attended court every single day.
He just couldn't learn any of the ways of the Marquis of Zhenbei, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to get this miserable position of prime minister.
...
Many officials stepped forward and, following the example of the Marquis of Zhenbei, greeted the Holy Emperor in the same manner.
Marquis Zhenbei died of anger.
He was genuinely unwell. During the Ghost Festival, he was haunted by spirits and was in a daze all day.
How can these people be told they are unwell?
"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation."
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