"impossible!"
Madam Shen glared angrily at the elderly, weak women, and children who were acting like beggars. "Don't even think of slandering us. Our Shen family has been a family of integrity for a century. We would never do anything like what you're saying. Did you accept some favor from Yang Zhao that's why you come here to throw dirty water on our Shen family?"
"You've come all the way from the Western Great Wall to the capital to file a complaint? Why didn't you say you came from the Western Paradise? With your old, weak, and sick legs, even if you walked for years, you wouldn't be able to walk from the Western Great Wall to the capital..."
As Old Lady Shen spoke, she convinced herself that these old, weak, and sick people must be fake and were bribed by Yang Zhao to frame her Shen family.
"I'm telling you, this is in front of Dengwen Tower. This is not a place where you can casually make false accusations. His Majesty is watching from the high platform. If you dare to tell lies, you will lose your head."
"You'd better tell the truth."
"Did Yang Zhao bribe you? Or did someone from the Yang family instruct you to frame our Shen family?"
Old Madam Shen asked louder and louder.
The Yang family members were so angry that they almost laughed.
Even Old Madam Yang clenched her Buddhist beads tightly, her eyes wide open and her face darkened as she angrily shouted, "You can always find a pretext to accuse me of something. You, the Shen family, are so shameless! I shouldn't have married my granddaughter to your family in the first place!"
"We are shameless? How can your Yang family be any better?"
"Yang Zhao has been unruly since she married into our Shen family. She's been running around all day, showing off everywhere. If she were in another family, she'd have been thrown into a pig cage. It was our Shen family who generously tolerated her, but she's so ungrateful that she's even brought up a concubine and a child, demanding a divorce. Now she's even accusing her own in-laws of crimes..."
Old Madam Shen became angrier and angrier as she spoke, even forgetting that she had just said something wrong in order to flatter her elder sister.
I even forgot what the Shen family was like back then.
The people present were completely shocked by her shamelessness.
"Oh!"
At this moment, a cold sneer sounded.
It’s Yang Zhao.
There was something sarcastic and...pathetic in her laughter.
Everyone present felt inexplicably sad.
Look at what the Shen family has done! They really threw people's sincerity into the wind.
But this world is so unfair to women.
A single word about women's virtue can erase all a woman's efforts, and she will be labeled as unfaithful and condemned by the world...
All the women present felt angry and sad.
"why are you laughing!"
"Laugh at the shamelessness of your Shen family!"
"you……"
"I thought that for the six years I've been protecting the women of the Shen family, I'd at least... earn a little gratitude from you. It seems like a small amount of kindness is often met with resentment."
"But that's fine."
"In this way, our Yang family can completely repay the kindness that Elder Shen showed us when he sent food and supplies to rescue Yongcheng!"
After Yang Zhao finished speaking, she kowtowed to Emperor Wenyuan again, straightened her back, and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to accuse the Shen family of another crime: the murder of the imperial merchant Qi Yanggong."
Imperial merchant Yang Gong of Qi?
Suddenly, a cry of surprise rang out from the crowd: "Is it the wealthy merchant Qi Yanggong who transported grain to provide disaster relief for several months during the severe drought in Yunzhong City five years ago?
"Three years ago, a plague broke out in my hometown, causing countless deaths and injuries. Even the government had given up on sealing off the city. It was Duke Yang of Qi who sent a large amount of medicinal herbs and invited hundreds of doctors to come and treat us. Otherwise, my family, young and old, would have survived the plague..."
"I come from a poor farming family. If it weren't for Duke Yang of Qi establishing a charity and private school in my hometown, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to become a juren and come to the capital to take part in the Spring Examination..."
"Was Duke Yang of Qi really murdered?"
"Who is it?"
"These bastards from the Shen family..."
"Today, even if I have to sacrifice my life, I will avenge him..."
“…”
Many people in the crowd rose up in anger like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
Even Emperor Wenyuan, who was on the high platform, straightened up instantly when he heard the three words "Duke Yang of Qi".
Duke Yang of Qi was the most mysterious and wealthy businessman in the Mo Dynasty.
It is said that she had helped the late emperor quell rebellions, killed enemies, and blocked swords, and had made great contributions to saving the emperor several times. She was a loyal person who was no less than the Marquis of Zhenbei. The late emperor also intended to confer a title on her, but for some reason, he only gave her the title of "Duke Yang of Qi" in the end.
No one knows her identity or appearance.
All we know is that Duke Yang of Qi's business methods and tactics were extremely novel and ruthless. With the support of the previous emperor, he rose to power rapidly in just a few years through brutal means. He not only had his own trading company and caravan, but also a fleet...
Since the late emperor was still alive, Duke Yang of Qi had gradually become known to the world.
She spread charity far and wide, opening charity halls and private schools everywhere... Wherever there was a disaster, 'Duke Yang of Qi' would be there to provide relief... Every year, she would even send a certain amount of food and supplies to the soldiers guarding the border in the name of the imperial court...
Duke Yang of Qi.
He is definitely a wealthy businessman who is loved by the people.
After Emperor Wenyuan ascended the throne.
It's not that I haven't thought about taking back some of the business from 'Duke Yang of Qi'.
After all, in this era of supreme imperial power, an emperor cannot tolerate someone's reputation being greater than his own.
But the facts proved that Duke Yang of Qi did have some means. The copper, iron and salt industries were in her hands... and could earn a large amount of taxes and profits for the court, but if they were in the hands of someone else, the amount would be greatly reduced.
In addition, the late emperor left a will.
Finally, Emperor Wenyuan stopped wasting his energy on 'Duke Yang of Qi'.
Among the four classes of people, scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants, merchants are ranked the lowest.
No matter how famous Duke Yang of Qi was in the hearts of the people, he was just a businessman.
But when Emperor Wenyuan heard Yang Zhao say that the Shen family murdered 'Duke Yang of Qi', he was still deeply shocked.
Let’s put the reputation aside.
Duke Yang of Qi brought more benefits than disadvantages to the Mo Dynasty...
"You accused the Shen family of murdering Duke Yang of Qi. Do you have any evidence?" Emperor Wenyuan asked Yang Zhao.
Everyone looked at her...
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