Chapter 77: Complain to the Emperor on Her Behalf
When Zhou Xiaoyao opened his mouth, his words were earth-shattering.
He said, "The students do not deserve to be ranked first and are willing to withdraw."
The emperor was stunned, and the ministers were whispering to each other, not knowing what was going on.
"Why?" the emperor asked calmly.
"Because today, I want to file a complaint with the Emperor! You knew that today was the day for the imperial court to select talents, but you failed to distinguish between public and private matters. I am guilty."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was in an uproar.
Complain to the emperor?
You have worked hard and studied for more than ten years, and now you are about to be among the top students, bringing honor to your family. You say you want to file a complaint with the emperor?
Is there any injustice in your family that has not been redressed?
Could it be a tragedy that wiped out the entire family?
"You tell me what to say first." The emperor's expression was indistinguishable from his joy or anger.
Zhang Heyao, who had just been transferred to the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was particularly concerned about today's palace examination because he was also a scholar.
When he heard this, he just thought Zhou Xiaoyao was stupid.
If there is anything, can't we wait until he becomes an official to deal with it?
Why do you want to ruin your own future by filing a complaint?
Unexpectedly, he soon heard his name from Zhou Xiaoyao's mouth.
Zhou Xiaoyao knelt down and said loudly, "Today, I want to sue Zhang Heyao, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, for divorcing his wife and remarrying, which is ungrateful."
Zhang Heyao felt like he was struck by lightning.
He doesn't even know Zhou Xiaoyao!
He had no grudge against Zhou Xiaoyao, so why would he be willing to ruin his own future and bring him down?
The Emperor remained calm as always, "Go on."
Zhou Xiaoyao calmly began to tell the whole story.
He seemed to know everything about the Zhang family.
"...Your Majesty, he is so unfaithful and unfaithful that he even betrayed his first wife, who supported his education and saw his parents off. How can he be worthy of such an important position? I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for Lu's abandoned mother!"
Zhang Heyao felt that countless eyes were fixed on him.
He had dreamed countless times that he was the center of attention, but not in this way!
He stepped out of the group and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, please allow me to report!"
The emperor ignored him and asked Zhou Xiaoyao, "You risked your future to speak up for the Lu family. So, what is your relationship with the Lu family?"
"Your Majesty, Mrs. Lu has cared for me for several years with meticulous care, even contributing her own money to support me. I will never forget your kindness."
"Take care of you? You said she was a slave in your house?"
"Your Majesty, that's right."
"Since she's a servant, why would she use money to support you? Are you trying to say that the Zhou family hasn't treated you well?"
"I dare not. I have the Zhou family's blood flowing through my body, and I was raised and educated by the Zhou family. I dare not complain."
It’s that they don’t dare, not that they really don’t have it.
The emperor seemed to be thinking about something.
"The Lu family is kind-hearted and honest. Although they have never been educated, they are very understanding of righteousness. Speaking of which, I am also benefiting from Master Zhang Heyao's influence. Because my name also contains the word "Yao", everyone in the mansion calls me "Brother Yao."
Brother Yao reminded Lu Qiniang of her brother He Yao.
Her kindness to him, at the beginning, was to find a substitute.
Even though the names are similar, Lu Qiniang, who is in the midst of missing her, can still love her as well.
She mentioned her brother He Yao more than once.
Her brother He Yao is smart and hardworking. He can write articles and even write words that others can't understand.
She said, "Fifth Young Master, your handwriting is too flat, it lacks spirit! My brother's handwriting is almost flying. But I don't understand, I was just talking nonsense. Hurry up and write. The sweet potatoes I baked for you are almost done. I'll go check them out!"
Zhou Xiaoyao gave her half of the sweet potato.
She sat on the doorstep peeling sweet potatoes, looking at the heavy snow outside: "My brother is always reluctant to finish all the delicious food, and always leaves some for me."
Zhou Xiaoyao wanted to say, but those delicious foods were originally given to him by you.
Isn't it right that he leaves a copy for you?
But he didn't say it.
He knew that the deceased Zhang Heyao was Lu Qinniang's spiritual pillar, cleaner and purer than the snow outside, and could not be defiled by anyone.
"My dear Zhang, what do you say?" The emperor's slow words interrupted Zhou Xiaoyao's thoughts.
Zhang Heyao said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, please allow me to report this. There is a hidden story behind this matter. It is not that I abandoned her after having an affair with her, but that Lu has already married someone else. I withdrew to help her."
"You're talking nonsense!" Zhou Xiaoyao, young and impatient, immediately scolded him after hearing him confuse right and wrong. "She has been waiting for you for ten years, how can you have the heart to slander her and insult her innocence!"
"I didn't." Zhang Heyao said calmly, "When I came back, she had already been living with Xiao Yan for a long time. Your Majesty, do you remember the former General Xiao Yan? Lu was with him."
When these words came out, everyone was stunned.
This matter actually involves Xiao Yan?
Wasn’t Xiao Yan bought by a fat pig-raising woman at the end of last year?
This incident actually caused a huge uproar and became a joke for many people after dinner.
It can be said that Xiao Yan single-handedly supported the gossip during the New Year period inside and outside the court.
The emperor narrowed his eyes, "Xiao Yan?"
"Yes, it's Xiao Yan."
Zhou Xiaoyao said, "Master Zhang is really pretending to be ignorant. Didn't Mrs. Lu tell you clearly why she saved Xiao Yan? She did it for you!"
As he spoke, he told the story that Lu Qiniang was grateful to Xiao Yan for the pension he had given her, so she used the last money left in the family to buy Xiao Yan.
"Lu is just repaying Xiao Yan for saving her life. She has no romantic feelings for him and is not with him!"
"So, it's all for the pension money?" The emperor seemed to be talking to himself.
Zhang Heyao said, "I don't deny that Mrs. Lu has done me a favor. But the relationship between her and Xiao Yan is definitely not as innocent as Zhou Xiaoyao said! They are already a real couple!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
"When I joined the army, she was thirteen years old, and we hadn't yet consummated our marriage," Zhang Heyao said. "If Mrs. Lu is truly as innocent as you claim, I can examine her."
"you--"
"That's enough." The emperor said, "I know a thing or two about this matter."
Everyone looked at him in shock.
What is going on here?
What did the emperor know?
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