The night was falling, the stars were twinkling, and the lights in the Yu family mansion were as bright as day.
In the banquet hall in the backyard, the stage has been set up, but the actors have not yet officially performed on stage.
The guests who were going to watch the show had not arrived yet. Li Sisi and Li Nian sat side by side under the stage, eating fruits and pastries while drinking tea and chatting.
As soon as Xiao Yunchen arrived, he was called away by Mr. Yu.
Li Sisi chewed a piece of preserved fruit and whispered to Li Nian in a low voice, "Old Yu is really weird. If he wanted to invite Chenchen to the opera, he could have just invited him alone. Why did he have to invite the two of us? I can't appreciate opera. I can't even understand it."
Li Nian took a sip of hot tea and replied, "It's not just us two who were invited. Many officials in the capital were invited, and our entire family came."
As the two were talking, they saw Xiao Yunchen approaching: "Madam, sister-in-law, Patriarch Yu asks you to move to the front yard. He has something to discuss with you."
Li Sisi asked doubtfully: "What's the matter?"
"Please go and see the ladies of the Yu family." Xiao Yunchen replied.
Li Sisi suddenly realized: "So he asked us to see a doctor?"
She looked at Li Nian: "Niannian, go and take a look?"
Li Nian stood up immediately and said, "Let's go!"
When he arrived at the front yard, Li Nian saw several young men and women with pale faces and signs of sores on their bodies.
After greeting each other, Li Nian began to see patients one by one.
After looking at one or two of them, Li Nian basically knew that these people were all poisoned.
No wonder there are rumors in the capital that all the noble families have contracted the plague!
If it hadn't been found to be a poison, it would indeed look like a disease spread by the plague.
While Li Nian was seeing the patient, Xiao Yunchen was chatting with the Yu family.
"According to what you said, the officials who contracted this strange disease are all colleagues who support the Queen?"
"Yes, and this disease came on very strangely. It seemed that everyone was infected at the same time on the same day. But within two days, rumors began to spread in the capital."
Upon hearing this, the old man of the Yu family spoke in a dignified tone: "In my opinion, this matter may not be a rumor. It is basically against the laws of nature for a woman to ascend the throne."
He looked at Xiao Yunchen and said earnestly, "Yunchen! You really shouldn't have done that. The royal family still has princes. It's definitely not the turn of a princess to ascend the throne."
When the other members of the Yu family heard what the old man said, they all remained silent and did not say a word of rebuttal.
Xiao Yunchen said gently, "The throne should be occupied by the capable, and one should not focus on the difference between men and women."
"If the princess hadn't ascended the throne, how could these things have happened?" Old Master Yu argued stubbornly.
Li Sisi listened to what these people said and angrily interrupted their conversation.
"They're not sick, they're poisoned. We went to the palace to see the emperor the same day we returned to Beijing. Your family members were poisoned by the same poison as the emperor." Li Sisi's eyes swept over the faces of the Yu family members. "According to what you just said, those who were poisoned are officials who support the empress's rule. So the purpose of the person who poisoned is self-evident."
"This... is impossible? Now there is only the Fourth Prince left in the royal family. Could it be..."
"Fourth brother! Stop talking nonsense!"
"Has the Crown Prince's wife been diagnosed clearly? Is it certain that it is poisoning and not plague?" Some members of the Yu family who were unwilling to give up were still asking.
It was as if if this disaster was a plague, they would have enough excuse to overthrow the queen.
Li Nian nodded: "Sisi is right."
Li Nian took out a few bottles of medicine and placed them on the table. He changed his gentle and friendly expression and snorted coldly, "If you believe it, take this medicine. If you don't believe it, throw it away."
Li Sisi added, "That's right. Don't take the medicine Nian Nian gave you while agreeing with the ridiculous excuses given by outsiders, saying that a woman ascending the throne will be punished by God."
She looked at the oldest man in the Yu family, the old man. Facing his majestic eyes, Li Sisi was not afraid at all.
"You can accept a father and son who committed adultery as emperor, but you can't accept a woman as emperor? And that Fourth Prince loves married women the most. If he becomes emperor, aren't you afraid that the wives of your family will be favored by him? Or do you just wish it and feel honored?"
"You! You are talking nonsense!" The old man of the Yu family was so angry that he was spitting gasps and pointing at Li Sisi with shaking fingers.
Li Sisi didn't care about that: "Niannian, let's go."
Before leaving, Li Sisi said, "The current emperor is not the same as the two previous emperors who only knew how to eat, drink and have fun. You should have seen her methods. I advise you to be careful with your words and actions in the future. Otherwise, if you slander her behind her back, you will bring disaster upon yourself."
Li Nian followed Li Sisi.
Walk out to the front yard.
Li Sisi's face was sullen, and she was still a little angry. "What's wrong with a woman becoming emperor? What's against the will of heaven? Isn't it just because she's afraid that she won't be able to enjoy the benefits brought by male dominance? Pah!"
Li Nian looked at her angry expression and smiled softly, "Sister, don't be angry. These old-fashioned people can't change their minds overnight. Back then, our Sister Wu also relied on her iron-blooded tactics and outstanding political achievements to silence those people. Even so, many people in later generations still spread rumors and disobeyed her!"
Li Sisi frowned: "These old antiques should be punished by being sent to a country where women are respected for reform."
Li Nian took her arm and said, "Next time we go to the palace, let Tongtong promulgate a new law. Women can have three husbands and four concubines. It will piss off these old fogies!"
Li Sisi tilted her head and looked at her: "Is it really okay?"
Xiao Yunchen, who followed the two of them, said: ...
"No!" Xiao Yunchen's face was gloomy. "Given the current national situation, having three husbands and four concubines is simply impossible!"
Li Nian thought Xiao Yunchen was going to stay and talk with his teacher for a while, but unexpectedly he followed them out.
Li Nian gave him an awkward smile: "Just kidding."
Li Sisi agreed: "Yes, yes, we are just talking nonsense."
Xiao Yunchen glanced at Li Nian, who looked calm.
The eldest brother always says that his wife will lead his eldest sister-in-law astray. In his opinion, it is obviously his eldest sister-in-law who will lead his wife astray!
You still want to have three husbands and four concubines?!
Li Nian asked Li Sisi, "Are you still going to the theater?"
At this time, a servant from the Yu family came out from the main courtyard and said, "Master Xiao, our master wants you to come over to discuss something important."
Xiao Yunchen looked at Li Sisi and said, "My dear, you and your sister-in-law should go to the theater first. I will come to you soon."
Li Sisi originally wanted to go back right away, but after a moment of hesitation she agreed: "Okay, then come find me soon."
"Okay." Xiao Yunchen responded and left with the servant.
The two best friends walked towards the stage in the backyard.
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