Chapter 320 Being beaten by a woman in front of so many people, where is his dignity?
Lou Yue added, "This rumor has reached the palace. If things continue like this, Miss's title of Lady of the First Rank might be revoked. The Duke's Mansion has already sent someone to tell us that they want to take the young master away."
"Fortunately, Vice Minister Lin had taken the young master and his wet nurse away beforehand. Xia Chan told them that the young master had gone to the estate with the young lady."
She spoke with anger and resentment, and tears welled up in her eyes.
However, neither she nor Xia Chan knew whether the painting was real or not, nor where the problem lay, so they had no way of investigating. They could only tell the outside world that someone was jealous of Hui Bafang and was deliberately spreading rumors to smear them.
They could only desperately keep the shop afloat while pleading with Magistrate Gao to find out who was behind it all as soon as possible.
Taoye handed over the paddle: "Such a big thing happened, why didn't you tell the villagers?"
Lou Yue said, "Miss's eyes are injured. Xia Chan said we shouldn't affect her emotions, as it would only worsen her condition."
Having spent a lot of time with He Yin, they all know that anger damages the liver, and the eyes are related to the liver.
Tao Ye cried out urgently, "If you don't dare tell Miss, you can tell me! I... I'll go and kill that vile woman!"
Tao Ye knew very well that the painting was done by Zhan Xingzhuo.
He actually circulated the young lady's painting, and even made multiple copies for the whole city to see!
What good would it do him to force the young lady to her death?
At this moment, in Tao Ye's eyes, Zhan Xingzhuo was not a vice minister, nor the second young master of the Duke's mansion, nor a son-in-law; he was just a lowly person!
Lou Yue stared blankly at her: "Tao Ye, is that painting real? Do you know who painted it?"
Tao Ye opened her lips, glanced at Yao Qingling, and then tightly closed them.
Yao Qingling stood up with a cold face and ordered, "All shops will be closed for the next few days."
Lou Yue: "Closed again? What about those goods?"
Are they just piling up in the warehouse waiting to get infested with insects?
Yao Qingling said, "Contact Sheng Dahe's people and transport the goods to sell outside the city. You and Xia Chan go to the nearby counties and ask the shopkeepers if anyone wants to buy the goods."
Yao Qingling had made a prior agreement with Sheng Dahe that her purchase price would be lower than others, which allowed her to sell her goods at a lower price. Now, by reselling them to the shopkeeper in the county town, she wouldn't lose money.
As for the poor, their silence at this moment, unlike their previous protests, was simply because they could still buy rice and weren't starving. In fact, they were even waiting for Yao Qingling's reputation to worsen, so they could buy high-quality rice at cheap prices.
They don't think long-term; if Yao Qingling's shop closes down, they won't even be able to afford the lowest quality rice.
Yao Qingling has a kind heart, but she cannot show kindness indiscriminately.
Everything proceeded normally, provided that she was not defeated.
Lou Yue nodded.
Yao Qingling glanced at Tao Ye: "Come with me to a place."
Taoye followed Qingling and got into the carriage.
Yao Qingling went to the Ministry of Revenue.
Once inside, Yao Qingling ignored all the stares directed at her and went straight to Zhan Xingzhuo.
The minor official still wanted to put on airs in front of her, but Yao Qingling swept her cold gaze over him, her fierce and ruthless aura overwhelming him.
A minor official, with a spectator's mindset, chuckled and offered to inform Qingling, while the other clerk was asked to serve Qingling tea.
Qingling stood motionless, like an unyielding pine tree.
When Zhan Xingzhuo heard that Yao Qingling had come, he immediately knew why she had come.
His scalp was about to explode.
He gave the fake painting to Yao Qingling, but now countless fake paintings are plastered all over the streets and alleys.
"Minister Zhan, what do you mean by this? Madam Yao is waiting outside. What are you afraid of if you don't go?"
Zhan Xingzhuo glanced at him, then steeled himself and went out.
When Yao Qingling saw Zhan Xingzhuo, she didn't say a word, but with a loud slap, it sounded like a firecracker going off.
It startled everyone who was watching the spectacle.
If it is a husband and wife relationship, and the wife hits her husband when she is angry, it can still be said to be a family matter.
But they are no longer.
Yao Qingling was the first person to dare to beat an official of the imperial court, especially in a government office.
Zhan Xingzhuo turned his face to one side, licked his cheek, and turned back: "Yao Qingling, that slap you gave me—"
Before he could finish speaking, Yao Qingling was about to slap him again. After all, Zhan Xingzhuo was a martial artist, so letting her hit him the first time was an apology, but a second time was impossible.
He grabbed her wrist: "Yao Qingling, don't go too far!"
How could a high-ranking official of the third rank be slapped by a woman in front of so many people? Where was his dignity?
Yao Qingling's face was icy: "Zhan Xingzhuo, the painting you gave me is fake. Shouldn't you be punished?"
Zhan Xingzhuo's cheeks bulged, and he gritted his teeth. He said coldly, "You accepted the painting. Whether it's real or not, don't you know?"
At this point, he could only insist that the painting was real.
It was Yao Qingling's fault for not inspecting the property in person, and besides, she didn't discover anything unusual afterward.
Yao Qingling narrowed her eyes slightly, then suddenly laughed mockingly: "A high-ranking official of the imperial court, yet you dare to do it but not admit it. Zhan Xingzhuo, how did you stoop so low? Are you even a man?"
"Wait a minute, Madam Yao, what do you mean? Is the person in that painting really you?" An official ran out while eating melon seeds and asked.
Yao Qingling chuckled and replied, "You should ask Minister Zhan about that. I just returned to the city and haven't seen any paintings; I've only heard about them from others."
"You slapped Master Zhan just because you heard some gossip?"
Isn't this just like protesting too much?
Qing Ling smiled and glanced at Zhan Xingzhuo: "If Lord Zhan is not satisfied, he can go to the prefect to file a complaint against me. That way, I can clear the name of the world instead of dragging my sick body around and having to deal with the mess."
She rolled her eyes at Zhan Xingzhuo and turned to leave.
Zhan Xingzhuo was very concerned about his reputation, so she wanted to beat him up in the government office and humiliate him.
The officials were all shrewd; as soon as she returned to the city, she didn't bother with anyone else but went straight to Zhan Xingzhuo.
If they believe the person in the painting is Yao Qingling, it's not hard to guess that the person who wrote the painting is Zhan Xingzhuo.
He is a very skilled painter.
Yao Qingling was originally a housewife, so the painter must have been someone close to her to agree to be painted.
It's not surprising that scholars, who are fond of romance, would draw eyebrows and paint portraits for their wives in their boudoirs; many people did this.
If anyone is to blame, it's Zhan Xingzhuo for being heartless, despicable, and vile. After the divorce, he distributed his ex-wife's paintings, causing her to be humiliated.
Yao Qingling is his legal wife, not a concubine, much less a lowly maid. If he humiliates his legal wife, he will be despised and ridiculed by others.
Yao Qingling is a Lady of Imperial Decree. If things really get out of hand, Zhan Xingzhuo's behavior will not only be criticized by the censors, but even the emperor will think he is a villain and will no longer trust him.
Qingling vented her anger first, then turned and left.
Zhan Xingzhuo stared grimly at Yao Qingling's retreating figure, closed his eyes, and suppressed the anger in his heart.
He didn't know why this happened.
The original painting is with Prince Xin, who assured him that he would not let anyone else see it, much less circulate it.
When the incident occurred, Zhan Xingzhuo had approached Prince Xin, who reiterated that the painting was still there. He had not given it away to anyone else, nor had he copied Yao Qingling's painting and plastered it all over the streets.
Prince Xin is pursuing Yao Qingling; there's no need for him to anger her.
Unless... he deliberately ruined Yao Qingling's reputation, forcing Yao Qingling to have no choice but to bow down and beg him.
He thus gained both Yao Qingling and Hui Bafang, killing two birds with one stone.
"Minister Zhan, Yao Qingling assaulted a high-ranking official of the court, and you're just going to swallow this insult?" someone stirred up trouble.
Zhan Xingzhu ignored him and turned away.
He wanted to go see Prince Xin again.
The second person Yao Qingling went to see was Lord Gao, the Prefect of the Capital.
The paintings were not redistributed, and Qingling specially brought a gift to thank him.
"I just returned to the city and heard about the incident on the way. I didn't even go to the Marquis's residence. I came here immediately to thank the Prefect for his help. I am extremely grateful." Yao Qingling's face was bitter, her eyes were brimming with tears, and she forced a smile.
It's heartbreaking to see.
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