"What happened? What did you say just now? Why did you suddenly start fighting?" Fang Ruotang leaned close to the court attendant and asked in a low voice. He looked back with a complicated expression and remained silent for a long time.
"You don't know either?"
Fang Ruotang looked at him in surprise. Could it be that this person, like her, had been slacking off during court?
"Stop!"
The emperor suddenly shouted angrily.
The ministers, who had been pretending to break up the fight but were actually secretly plotting against Minister Dou, immediately scattered.
Imperial Censor Cao straightened his official hat, then suddenly knelt down on the ground, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Your Majesty, I beg you to do justice for this humble subject!"
"What's wrong with him?"
Fang Ruotang nudged the attendant next to her again.
The court attendant, with a stern face, said numbly, "This is Imperial Censor Cao, and the one he just beat up is his son-in-law, Vice Minister Dou of the Ministry of Rites."
Fang Ruotang's eyes lit up. She had just finished reading their gossip when she saw the person in person. She couldn't help but complain to the little mirror in her mind.
This Vice Minister Dou looks respectable, yet he's such a scoundrel. Let me see what's wrong with him.
[My God! There's no limit to how perverted things can get. What kind of good man would a man who would peep at the widow next door while she bathed since childhood? And yet, this kind of person still managed to pass the imperial examination, gain favor with his superiors, and rise through the ranks.]
No, this kind of scum doesn't deserve to be an official, let alone a human being. Let me see if there's anything we can dig up about him.
【Um? 】
[Ugh!]
[He's inhuman! He let so many men sleep with his wife just to get promoted! No, no, I can't take it anymore! I'm going to kill him with a knife!]
Fang Ruotang looked left and right, trying to find a suitable tool.
Prime Minister Fang could not hold back any longer. Ignoring the impoliteness in front of the palace, he stepped forward and whispered a rebuke: "What are you doing? You're swaying from side to side like a monkey."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Fang Ruotang called out, "Grandfather."
[The eldest daughter of the Cao family is so pitiful. How could I possibly talk about this? If this gets out, her reputation will be ruined, and she won't be able to live either, sob...]
The court officials remained silent, except for Imperial Censor Cao, whose voice was choked with sobs.
He wanted nothing more than to kill Vice Minister Dou, and at the same time, he couldn't help but take his anger out on Fang Ruotang. She didn't say it aloud, but she said it all in her heart. His poor daughter had no way out.
"Get up first!"
The emperor rubbed his temples, looking rather weak.
After listening to Fang Ruotang's thoughts for a while, I didn't see her point out any crimes against Vice Minister Dou like she did with the Minister of Revenue. This shows that although this person has flaws in his private life, he doesn't have any major problems in his official duties. Surely it's not like the emperor would kill the other party for the sake of his minister's family affairs!
The Emperor glanced at Fang Ruotang, somewhat speechless. He really wanted to tell her not to think about things she shouldn't be thinking, but this was just making things difficult for her!
"Your Majesty, I must expose Vice Minister Dou's immoral conduct, his abuse of my daughter, and his unworthiness as a human being. I beg Your Majesty to grant my daughter a divorce and allow her to return home."
"Minister Dou, do you have something to say?" The Emperor looked at Minister Dou with a cold expression.
Minister Dou dared not say a word. His whole body ached, and he didn't dare utter a sound. He honestly admitted his mistake and begged the Emperor for forgiveness.
Although such private morality is not the most important thing for those in positions of power, it is extremely shameful for a man to treat his legal wife in this way.
Moreover, given Dou's behavior over the years, others still consider him a loving husband and family man. No one would have expected him to be so shameless in private.
"In that case, I will grant Minister Cao's request. From now on, marriages between men and women will be separate matters."
The Emperor spoke, and the decision was made.
Fang Ruotang was also busy.
[Little Mirror, you're so amazing, can you help Miss Cao? I think she might not survive.]
I can turn back time, but your little world can't withstand it. Are you sure you want to risk everyone's lives for her sake?
No, no, no. Of course, her and her family's lives are more important.
"Can you help her forget the past?" Fang Ruotang's eyes lit up, offering her suggestion like a wise woman.
Little Mirror: ...
[Is this burying one's head in the sand?]
Fang Ruotang pouted, clearly unhappy.
The little mirror egged them on.
[Isn't the reason she can't go on living because she feels unclean? If you give the Marrow Cleansing Pill to Miss Cao, after she cleanses her marrow and bones, no one in this world will be cleaner than her.]
But this is for my older brother.
I'll give it to you again once you've completed the task.
You're just trying to trick me into doing the quest.
Fang Ruotang pouted unhappily, but her eyes darted around.
How did Imperial Censor Cao know about Vice Minister Dou's affairs, and why was he so foolish as to bring it up in court? Did he want to force his daughter to her death?
Imperial Censor Cao was out of breath.
Why did he make such a scene in court? It was because it was no longer a secret. If there had been even the slightest possibility, he would never have revealed it.
So, will you save her or not?
Give me another Marrow Cleansing Pill, and I'll repay you with points after I complete some tasks.
No credit allowed.
"Then I won't save it; I'll save this one for my older brother."
Seeing that Fang Ruotang was not easily fooled and still wanted to deceive him, Xiao Jingzi really wanted to stand up for herself, but she was unhappy!
The little mirror compromised and rummaged around.
You can't lie to me! You'll have to complete tasks to give me my points back!
Fang Ruotang held the newly acquired Marrow Cleansing Pill and gave a perfunctory "uh-huh" and "yeah" sounds.
As for the points?
She earned the Marrow Cleansing Pill through her own abilities, so why should she have to return the points?
Fang Ruotang played with the Marrow Cleansing Pill in her hand, occasionally putting it under her nose to smell it.
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