Upon realizing what he had said, Boss Huang immediately wished he could faint.
"Keep the straw mat for yourself!"
After saying this with a dark expression, he quickly left.
“Little sister,” Huang Lao Er clicked his tongue twice, “look how angry you’ve made your elder brother. He’s even afraid to use his coffin.”
"Are you sure it's me?" Huang Xiaosan's expression was indescribable. "Second Brother, please, have some decency!"
He was certain that if his second brother hadn't acted so recklessly, his eldest brother would never have been so enraged that he lost his mind.
Huang Xiaosan was completely unaware of his own destructive power.
He genuinely felt he was acting in his elder brother's best interest and was worried that he might be beheaded.
Huang Lao Er chuckled twice and sneered, "Likewise!"
He could see it clearly: his older brother had lost his mind because of his mistress.
Neither brother was willing to admit defeat, and they both felt that the other had angered Boss Huang.
Although Huang Laoda was so angry with his younger brother that he was in a daze, he also knew that things were really serious.
Immediately, he couldn't help but find Jiang Nuan.
"Mother, what should we do?"
"What do you mean, what to do?"
"It's about the capital. My son will be going to the capital soon."
"Hasn't it already been resolved?"
"Solve it? When?"
Jiang Nuan stopped what she was doing and asked in confusion, "Didn't Liu An tell you?"
Can he believe it?
Old Master Huang didn't dare to ask that question aloud.
But the doubt in his eyes was clear to everyone.
"Don't worry," Jiang Nuan couldn't help but smile, "I've already checked the arrangements, and there shouldn't be any problems unless something unexpected happens."
That old man, An Ge Lao, will definitely not have an easy time in the future.
Jiang Nuan only hoped that he would be healthy enough not to fall ill from anger.
"What if something unexpected happens?"
“It doesn’t exist,” Jiang Nuan explained. “Liu An was just one of the people behind this, and he was the weakest one at that.”
"Is Mother inside too?"
"Hmm?" Jiang Nuan looked at her son with satisfaction. "Not bad, you've improved a lot."
"What can a son do?"
"The wine that was buried earlier is ready to be opened. In a few days, you will go with Liu An to send one hundred jars to the capital."
Upon hearing this, Huang the eldest became serious. "Mother, haven't we demonstrated enough value? Why do we need to send gifts?"
It's not that I'm reluctant to part with it, it's that I just don't understand it at all.
Okay, actually I'm still reluctant to part with it.
Good things should be passed down through generations to benefit future generations.
Figure it out yourself!
Jiang Nuan didn't explain further; there was no need. She would know in a few days anyway.
In the capital, the once-prosperous Grand Secretary An was playing chess with his students in the backyard when a servant suddenly came to report.
"Master, something terrible has happened, something really terrible has happened."
"Can't you speak properly?" Elder An frowned and angrily rebuked, "I'm sitting here perfectly fine, which dog eye saw that I'm unwell?"
I didn't know that this was his biggest taboo?
He also wanted to live to be a hundred years old, accomplish great things, and leave a lasting legacy.
"Sir, rumors are circulating that you are a despicable person who manipulates people's hearts, is hypocritical and only seeks fame and fortune."
"What?" Elder An's expression changed drastically, and he stood up abruptly. "Who is spreading rumors and daring to damage my reputation? Arrest them all!"
"It's being spread everywhere—in teahouses, theaters, even brothels—there are just too many people to arrest them all."
"What exactly is this matter?"
“It’s that poem from before,” the servant said nervously, swallowing hard before explaining with a chilling scalp. “It’s said that the poem was originally written by the Lady of the State as a private admonition to Grand Secretary Liu, but the master misappropriated it to gain fame and political achievements. He didn’t hesitate to step on his colleagues’ faces to get ahead, and even smeared the Lady of the State.”
Then, the servant recounted all the different versions of events with great indignation.
"What?" Grand Secretary An felt his ears were ringing. "Rumors, absolutely rumors! Quickly, send someone to clarify."
"Master, the eldest young master has already sent someone to clarify, but it's not very useful."
The news spread too fast to be contained, and with so many half-truths and half-lies, it was impossible to explain clearly.
In addition, he offended too many people, and many others took advantage of the situation to get involved, making the matter even more public.
The servant felt he had been very careful and dared not mention that many people believed the floods in Shandong were because his master was unworthy of his position and had angered Heaven.
"Teacher, please don't panic. For now, the best course of action is to stay calm."
Such a powerful rumor, yet their own teacher received no information whatsoever; the person behind it must be someone of considerable power.
“Yes,” Elder An slapped his forehead, “I was so anxious that I lost my mind.”
"Someone, prepare the sedan chair. I am going to the palace." He then turned his head and said, "Ji Ran, go to the Ministry of Justice and have them handle this."
"Yes, sir."
On the way, An Ge Lao was both anxious and angry.
He was wondering whose handiwork this was.
"Qi Yong? Liu An? Guo Rui? Su Tong? Or Zhong Ping?"
Everyone had doubts, yet none dared to be certain.
"To spread rumors in teahouses, theaters, and brothels is truly shameless; it must be that bastard Qi Yong."
Every scholar cherishes his reputation, and An Ge Lao especially so; the older he gets, the stronger this concern becomes.
He would attend almost every banquet that could enhance his reputation, and would also suggest that others write his biography.
After years of painstaking effort, his reputation was widely praised among the literati of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He was known as a gentleman of integrity, humility, and a leader in the literary world.
However, this only applies to scholars.
In front of the common people, he primarily fulfilled his duty as the emperor's shepherd, and was always imposing and dignified.
Although he would go to those places of pleasure, he looked down on such low-class places and never bothered with them.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com