The Marquis stayed at home for dinner, played with his chubby daughter for a while, secretly slipped her some treats, and made her beam with joy before riding back to the camp.
The next day at noon, Jiayin took a nap. When she woke up, Huiniang brought the twins over for a walk, and Madam Cui also came over to chat.
The class was moved to Old Lady Li's house.
But before the sewing basket could be opened, a commotion broke out outside the yard.
Old Mrs. Li frowned and called Shui Ling, who was serving at the door, to go and take a look.
As a result, Granny He rushed in and reported, "Madam, Madam Cui, the old lady of the Wen family is here again. She's making a scene in the front yard, demanding to see Madam Cui. She says something has happened to Mr. Wen and she wants Madam Cui to find a solution..."
Everyone's expression changed. Although they all guessed that this was the men's arrangement, they were also worried that something unexpected might happen.
So they quickly arrived at the front yard.
This time, Madam Wen did not come; only Old Madam Wen brought an old woman.
Old Madam Wen's eyes were red from crying. As soon as she saw Madam Cui, she rushed forward, grabbed her hand, and cried out, "Jinrou, you have to think of something! My second son... he's gotten himself into big trouble! They say he advised the Emperor and made him faint with anger, waah, they say he's going to be beheaded!"
The emperor fainted from anger?
Beheading?
Everyone was startled. Madam Cui was about to speak when Old Madam Li stopped her.
Old Mrs. Li shielded Madam Cui behind her and said to Old Mrs. Wen, "Old Mrs. Wen, you've been crying to Jinrou nonstop lately, saying that Mr. Wen was raised with great care by your Wen family and that you taught him with great care, and that he bears the heavy responsibility of bringing glory to your Wen family."
"Since Mr. Wen is so important to the Wen family, it is precisely at this time that your Wen family should put in the effort to find a solution. Why are you coming to find Jinrou? Doesn't your Wen family dislike her?"
"She's a woman, and at this time she's risking her reputation by stepping forward to help Mr. Wen! What if Mr. Wen is rescued, but your family still despises her? How will she live then? How will she ever be able to hold her head up in public again?!"
Feeling guilty, Madam Wen whispered, "That...it wasn't me. My husband and the others said...they need to avoid suspicion and can't save the second son. The second son likes Jinrou, so I can only ask her for help. She's familiar with the Liu family..."
Old Mrs. Li grew increasingly angry. "Oh, so your family wants to avoid suspicion, so even your own son is unwilling to help. And Jinrou isn't afraid of gossip or being implicated, yet she insists on stepping forward to run errands, is that it? Your family really has a clever plan!"
Hui Niang chimed in, coldly saying, "Your family has grown up with nothing but cunning! When there's something to gain, your son is yours, but when it's time to lend a hand, you think of others!"
"Isn't the Wen family a scholarly family? What kind of thing are they doing? Even we from humble families know to share joys and sorrows. Mr. Wen is truly pitiful!"
Old Madam Wen was speechless after being scolded by the two men, and felt extremely wronged. "They won't let me interfere, but I thought that since I gave birth to the second son, I came here specifically to inform them, and you still treat me like this? Fine, I won't interfere anymore!"
She angrily flung her hand away, helped the old woman out the door, got into the carriage, and left.
The remaining people were both angry and amused.
Hui Niang, with her sharp tongue, retorted, "Did you pick up Mr. Wen from a roadside ditch? When your son is in trouble, isn't it a mother's duty to try to save him? She comes to ask someone to save her son, and expects others to be grateful?!"
Grandma Li also shook her head, "There are indeed few mothers like this, but in the end, among all the Wen family members, she's the only one who still has even a little bit of affection for Mr. Wen..."
Everyone sighed. Madam Cui was still worried, so she called for Sister Qiong to hitch up the carriage, as she wanted to go into the city to check on things.
Old Mrs. Li found Ye Tong and asked him to go with her and be at her beck and call, so that he could come back and report immediately if anything happened...
The city was bustling at this time, with almost every teahouse and restaurant buzzing with discussion.
"Have you heard? A censor dared to contradict the Emperor in front of him, causing the Emperor to faint from anger!"
"No way, who would be that stupid? Even if you want to offer advice, you have to choose the right time!"
"Of course it's true! This censor is the second son of the Wen family, a disciple of Grand Secretary Cui Zhengqing, and the successor of the School of Mind in this generation."
"Ah, the second son of the Wen family? The one who was in the Hanlin Academy before, and later led the refugees from the north to petition the emperor and got the county magistrate at the dock dismissed?"
"Yes, yes! It's him!"
"The Wen family has a deep-rooted history. Although they have declined somewhat in recent years, the eldest son is now a fourth-rank official, and the old master Wen has been a successful candidate in the imperial examinations for many years without taking office. They still have some influence in our area. With a little effort, this matter shouldn't be too difficult to resolve, right? At most, Censor Wen will be dismissed from his post and kept at home, but at least his life will be spared..."
Everyone was talking at once, but no one thought this matter was that serious.
After all, Imperial Censor Wen was not an assassin, nor did he intend to harm the emperor; he was merely offering frank advice.
But things don't always go as planned. Soon, news spread that Imperial Censor Wen had been thrown into the Dali Temple's prison.
This is a serious matter.
But someone was watching the Wen family's gate, and even though the incident had happened for most of the day, Old Master Wen still hadn't come out.
Not only that, the eldest patriarch of the Wen family took leave from the government office and went home claiming to be sick.
Is this a case of not intending to deal with Censor Wen and having his entire family confined to their rooms to reflect on their actions?
Everyone was completely baffled, not understanding what the Wen family was planning...
At this time, Madam Cui's carriage had already entered the city and was heading straight for the Liu family.
Soon, Liu Zhiheng brought the silver and rushed to the Dali Temple prison.
Just then, as he arrived at the door, he ran into the Li brothers, Li Zhensheng and Li Boye, who were carrying a lot of food and drink.
Food and money were sent to bribe the jailers, making them happy, and bedding and clothing were successfully delivered.
However, their request to see Imperial Censor Wen was refused.
Li Zhensheng and Liu Zhiheng went off separately to inquire about the news, while Lord Li sat in the carriage, guarding outside the prison until nightfall, when the city guards on patrol came to chase them away, and he finally left.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Lord Li's carriage reappeared in the same spot.
The breakfast that Cyclamen specially prepared was also filled into two large food boxes and sent to the prison.
This happens at noon and in the evening, every single meal.
A high-ranking official guarding the gate, yet he so diligently bribed everyone in the prison, just so that the Imperial Censor Wen in the cell could also have a hot meal.
Liu Zhiheng, accompanied by his sworn sister and carrying his father's invitation, visited Cui Dashi's old friends and classmates one by one.
So that they could jointly write a memorial to plead for Imperial Censor Wen.
Liu Zhiheng was one thing; regardless of his relationship with Imperial Censor Wen, he was still a man.
Even though Madam Cui is known as the junior sister, a woman who goes to such lengths for a man is bound to be criticized.
She didn't care at all and used all her connections without reservation.
In contrast to the all-out efforts of the Li, Liu, and Cui families, the Wen family remained completely unresponsive, as if they were dead...
Sorry for the late update today, it's still the fourth update!
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