Chapter 190: Was the Ning family also involved in the tax embezzlement case?
The man was tall and slender, his figure accentuated by a moon-white robe. His features were delicate, his skin as white as porcelain, and his eyes were brimming with tears…
What a charming and beautiful woman.
“That day, on your bed, my lord told me that he would redeem me from my servitude. I have been waiting for you for many days but have not seen you. I heard that you are coming to the banquet today, so I had no choice but to come here.”
The banquet hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; all eyes were fixed on the two individuals. In Da Gan, the people were known for their open-mindedness, and some women in wealthy families would hire male prostitutes, but that was always in private. If it were known to others, it would be a disgrace to the entire clan.
Of course, royal princesses are an exception.
As for Jiang Yu, the female duke, seeking out male prostitutes... it seems... somewhat plausible. Who among those present could deny having frequented brothels? But regardless, Jiang Yu was still a woman, and her seeking out male prostitutes was still considered morally reprehensible.
Everyone was watching to see how Jiang Yu would handle the situation.
Under everyone's gaze, Jiang Yu showed no anger on his face. He turned to the eldest son of the Ning family and asked, "Are the guards and servants at your mansion so lax? The young men from the brothel can freely come and go from your mansion."
To everyone's surprise, Jiang Yu targeted the Ning family first, not this male prostitute. Shouldn't she be trying to exonerate herself now?
Those who were on good terms with the Duke of Chu's mansion, such as Marquis Anyuan and Duke of Wei, breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Jiang Yu could handle things on her own.
"This..." Young Master Ning looked embarrassed. He hadn't expected Jiang Yu to question him first, so he didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Hmph, what does it have to do with the Ning family if the male prostitute you found comes to you?" Fourth Young Master Ning said, looking at Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu glanced at him, smiled, and then looked at Young Master Ning and said, "So, the girls and boys from brothels can come and go from the Ning family home at will!"
Young Master Ning's face flushed red. What respectable family would allow people from brothels to come and go as they pleased? He turned to the Fourth Young Master Ning and said, "Don't talk nonsense."
He glanced at the man kneeling on the ground again and said, "Get him out of here."
As soon as he finished speaking, several burly servants came over and bent down to drag the man away. But Jiang Yu raised her hand to stop them, saying, "Wait, now that he's come to me, I have to ask him properly."
Several servants looked at Young Master Ning, while Jiang Yu leaned back, one hand resting on the armrest of the chair, looking at the man with a seemingly casual yet imposing gaze and asking:
"I've probably been busy and forgot some things. Where are you from? What's your name?"
"I...I am Zhishu from Yiyunxuan." Zhishu's hands trembled with nervousness; he hadn't expected Jiang Yu to do this.
When faced with something like this, wouldn't most people deny it on the spot and then take the person to a secluded place for questioning? Why did Jiang Yu ask her in public? Doesn't she feel ashamed?
"Oh, Zhishu." Jiang Yu pretended to think carefully, then said, "I don't remember. You said I went to Yiyunxuan to look for you, when?"
Zhi Shu became even more nervous and said, "Last month...the...the third day of the first month."
"What time is it?" Jiang Yu asked again.
Zhi Shu clenched her fists tightly. "Xu Shi...Xu Shi Yi Ke."
Jiang Yu nodded knowingly, then looked at Li Zhengze standing not far away, "Brother Li, tell him where I was and what I was doing on the third day of last month at 1:15 PM?"
When Li Zhengze was called out, he immediately walked over and looked at Zhishu, saying, "If you're talking about other times, I don't know, but on the third day of last month, I spent the whole day with the Duke of Chu."
These words elicited a gossipy look from many people, at which point the Marquis of Jinyang's voice rang out, "Speak properly."
Li Zheng touched his nose and said, "As everyone knows, the Duke of Chu just investigated a case, the embezzlement case of military supplies. I work with the Duke of Chu and also participated in the investigation of that case. On the third day of last month, we worked in the Ministry of Revenue's study from the hour of Mao (5-7 AM) to the hour of You (5-7 PM).
After finishing my shift, I invited the Duke of Chu to my home. It was my father's request; I wanted to thank the Duke of Chu for his patronage.
"That's how it is," the Marquis of Jinyang's voice rang out again. "As everyone knows, my son used to be disappointing, but after following the Duke of Chu to investigate cases, he has visibly improved a lot."
I had intended to invite Chu Guoguang for a drink to express my gratitude, but since the Duke of Chu was, after all, a woman, I invited him to my home instead. My wife accompanied him, and we had a meal together to express my thanks. It was about 7:45 PM when we finished, and my son and daughter-in-law escorted the Duke of Chu home.”
The father and son finished their story, one after the other, and some of the people present believed them, while others did not. Everyone knew that the Marquis of Jinyang's mansion and the Duke of Chu's mansion were now very close.
But what can you do if you just don't believe it? Is there any evidence to refute it? No.
Zhi Shu also had no evidence to refute this, and he stammered, "Then...then...maybe I remembered the time wrong."
Jiang Yu laughed, then looked at the eldest son of the Ning family, "The Ning family has to give me an explanation."
Zhi Shu was able to enter the Ning family's home, and even publicly challenge her at such an important banquet. She simply couldn't believe it without the Ning family's backing. But she didn't know when she had offended the Ning family. Or perhaps, the Ning family was involved in the tax embezzlement case?
But Jiang Yu also felt that if the Ning family was involved in the tax embezzlement case and wanted to ruin her to stop her from continuing the investigation, they wouldn't use such a crude method, would they?
Young Master Ning's face turned ashen; he naturally suspected that someone from the Ning family was involved in this matter.
"What's going on?" A dignified voice rang out, and then Privy Councilor Ning Qi walked in.
He glanced at Jiang Yu, then at Zhi Shu, and frowned, saying, "What kind of filthy things have come in? Drag them out!"
Several servants came over to drag Zhishu away, but Jiang Yu stood up and said, "Lord Ning, this concerns my reputation, so let's get to the bottom of this."
Ning Qi was in her fifties, tall and strong. Although Jiang Yu was tall for a woman, she still looked very small next to Ning Qi.
At this moment, Ning Qi looked at Jiang Yu with a sense of pressure, while Jiang Yu raised her head slightly and met Ning Qi's gaze, showing no sign of weakness. Ning Qi frowned.
“Lord Ning,” Marquis Anyuan walked to Jiang Yu’s side and stood down, looking at Ning Qi and said, “It’s just a trinket. The Duke of Chu won’t care, and neither will I. But what we care about is your attitude, Lord Ning.”
“Yes, things need to be clarified, otherwise it will tarnish the reputation of the Duke of Chu and make people say that your Ning family is not managing things properly.” The Duke of Wei stood beside Jiang Yu with a smile.
Ning Qi glanced at Marquis Anyuan and Duke of Wei, then at Marquis Jinyang and his son, as well as those in the crowd who were on good terms with the Duke of Chu's family, and his brows furrowed even more.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
