Chapter 159: Rumble in the Ministry of Rites
The moment the severe pain hit, Ning Yucheng's mind went blank.
How dare Du Qingtang?
How dare she come to his house, hit him and threaten him?
Isn't she afraid of making things worse, to the point where they can't be resolved, and ruining Miss Du?
The three officials in the duty room and the officials who came to watch the fun after hearing that Wen Anbo had called the Ministry of Rites were all dumbfounded.
"Spreading rumors? What does it mean to spread rumors?"
"So Lord Ning has nothing to do with the daughter of the Marquis Wen'an Mansion. Are all these rumors fabricated by Lord Ning?"
"No, what's he trying to achieve by doing this?"
"You idiot, of course you're going after Wen Anbo."
The discussion stopped for a moment, and everyone suddenly realized.
Wen Anbo holds the second-rank official position at a young age, and is favored by the emperor, and is deeply trusted by Your Majesty.
As long as he doesn't make any big mistakes, Wen Anbo's future will be limitless, and it is not impossible for him to enter the cabinet in the future.
Lord Ning married Wen Anbo's sister and became a member of the family. How could Wen Anbo not promote him?
Thinking of this, everyone felt mixed emotions, and their eyes looking at Ning Yucheng became meaningful.
"I never thought that Lord Ning would be this kind of person."
"In fact, Li had long seen that he wasn't as gentle and respectful as he appeared. That's why, during all the years we worked together at the Ministry of Rites, we were just acquaintances. I just didn't expect him to be so despicable, resorting to such means to climb the ladder, and even ruining the reputation of an innocent woman."
"It's really unfortunate that the young lady of the Wen'an Marquis's mansion has been targeted by someone like Ning Yucheng."
Because of the presence of Wen Anbo, the officials from the Ministry of Rites could only whisper.
However, Ning Yucheng had sharp ears and eyes, and heard his colleague's words clearly. He felt as if he was slapped countless times from a distance. His face was burning with pain and his head was buzzing.
Ning Yucheng warned himself that the more times like this happened, the more he must not lose his composure.
He must not be charged with maliciously defaming a woman's reputation, otherwise all his ten years of hard work would be wasted. Not only would his career come to an end, but he would also suffer the crazy revenge of Wen Anbo.
Absolutely not!
Ning Yucheng made up his mind in an instant and said righteously, "Master Du, there must be some misunderstanding. I have never met your daughter, so how could I have spread rumors?"
"I dare not lie to you, Your Excellency. I have heard some of the recent rumors and was very confused at the time. I immediately explained to my colleagues that I had no relationship with Miss Du and never thought of marrying up to her."
Some people saw through Ning Yucheng's hypocrisy and were unwilling to make close friends with him, while naturally some people were deceived by his disguise and became his close friends.
The official closest to the door was the latter. He couldn't help but defend Ning Yucheng, "That's exactly what happened. At the time, Lord Ning was so anxious that his face turned pale. I and the others thought he was shy and laughed at him for a long time."
Then several others echoed.
"Maybe there really is some misunderstanding here."
"Lord Ning is always diligent and down-to-earth. It's only a matter of time before he's promoted. He's definitely not the despicable person who would scheme against innocent women just to get promoted."
Ning Yucheng gave them a grateful look. Although his head was pressed on the table and he could not see Du Qingtang's expression clearly, he still had a sincere look and spoke earnestly, trying to excuse himself with a convincing argument.
"Master Du, I swear to heaven that I have never spread any rumors about your sister. If I have said even a single lie, I will be struck by lightning and die a miserable death!"
When everyone saw Ning Yucheng swearing a poisonous oath, those who were originally full of contempt and believed that the rumors were spread by him could not help but waver.
But to Du Qingtang, the so-called poisonous oath is worthless.
Du Qingtang remained unmoved, his expression stern. "Ning Yucheng, aren't you relying on the fear of what others say? Even though I knew your plan, in order to protect my Seventh Sister's reputation, to prevent her from being sent to a nunnery to become a nunnery or becoming someone else's second wife, I had no choice but to marry her off to you. That's why you dare to be so unscrupulous, right?"
"Now, I'm telling you clearly, even if my daughter of the Du family remains unmarried and stays in the Wen'an Marquis's mansion as an old maid for the rest of her life, I will not marry her to you!"
Ning Yucheng's hand on the edge of the table suddenly tightened.
The contempt and disdain in Du Qingtang's words seemed to have substance, turning into sharp blades that stabbed him, leaving him with wounds all over his body and blood all over his body.
What right does she have to say these things?
Is it that he is born inferior to others just because he comes from a poor family?
He also didn't want to be born in the impoverished Ning family. He also wanted to be born in an official family, a powerful family, or even a royal family, so that he wouldn't have to flatter and fawn over others.
But birth is determined by fate and cannot be changed.
He just wanted to change his situation, no longer be looked down upon, and no longer have to live in poverty. Is there anything wrong with that?
Obviously Du Qingtang also came from a farming family, so why couldn't she understand his suffering, but instead mocked him and trampled on his face?
Ning Yucheng's heart was filled with hatred, but he didn't show it on his face. He said in a sonorous tone, full of resentment: "Master Du, you can't shamelessly humiliate me just because I am of a lowly position!"
"What Wen Anbo said was indeed a bit too much."
"But it's understandable. Anyone would be unable to remain calm if they knew their sisters were being slandered by rumors."
"Don't try to divert attention." Du Qingtang looked down at Ning Yucheng and patted his face lightly. "You're quite courageous, trying to play tricks on me. It's a pity you're too impatient."
Ning Yucheng had never been treated like this before. His face immediately turned red and he was ashamed and angry.
Du Qingtang said nonchalantly: "They say you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry, but in just a few days, you have encountered my seventh sister every day——"
As she spoke, she picked up the paper on the table.
"August 2nd, Linlangzhai."
"August 3rd, Zuixian Tower."
"August 4th, Ningxiang Tower."
"August 5th, Dingsheng Restaurant."
......
"August 9th, Linlangzhai."
Every time Du Qingtang reported a location, Ning Yucheng's face turned paler.
Everyone saw the change in his expression and felt a pang of fear in their hearts.
"He looks like a thief with a guilty conscience."
"No wonder he's been asking to go out on business trips lately. So this is his plan, using public office for personal gain!"
"There's no need to be so arbitrary. Wen Anbo only reported the date and the famous restaurants and jewelry stores in Beijing, nothing else..."
Before he could finish his words, Du Qingtang interrupted him: "I sent people to inquire with the shopkeepers of these shops. Because my seventh sister is generous and you haven't spent a penny, the shopkeepers are very impressed with the two of you."
"Those shopkeepers were very confident in their words. You two didn't enter at the same time, but one after the other. You didn't exchange any words the entire time, but you left at the same time. At first glance, your behavior seemed very intimate."
Du Qingtang loosened his fingers, and the thin piece of paper fell on Ning Yucheng's face. "You keep saying you're innocent, so explain to me why you and my seventh sister coincidentally entered the shop and left together every day for several days in a row?"
Ning Yucheng's lips trembled and his voice was hoarse: "Your subordinate..."
Du Qingtang interrupted him coldly: "Don't tell me that these shops are doing a booming business and are crowded with guests. You just happened to meet."
"How come out of the tens of millions of men and women in the entire Xia capital, only the two of you were spotted going in and out together, and then rumors started circulating about an impending marriage?"
"Don't say that these are all fabricated by me just to frame you and clear my Seventh Sister's reputation."
"I don't mind bringing this matter to the authorities. When the time comes, invite a few shopkeepers over and we'll have a courtroom confrontation. We'll know the truth from the question."
Du Qingtang's words directly blocked all of Ning Yucheng's escape routes.
The piece of paper slipped off, revealing Ning Yucheng's dejected face.
He said nothing, yet it seemed as if he had said everything.
The official who had originally spoken for Ning Yucheng was struck by lightning, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Is it really as Wen Anbo said, that you spread the rumor?"
"I trusted you so much and even stood up to speak for you. Ning Yucheng, are you worthy of me?!"
"From now on, Wang and you will sever all ties and go your separate ways!"
"How dare he swear by heaven? Isn't he afraid of being struck by lightning and having a bad end?"
"As long as I can achieve my goal, what's the point of swearing a poisonous oath? Haven't you seen that throughout history, good people often don't live long, while those evil people live easy and happy lives, often living to be a hundred years old?"
"Master Liu is absolutely right. If swearing an oath was effective, most people in this world would have died long ago."
Accusations came one after another, and Ning Yucheng felt as if countless daggers were piercing his flesh, stirring wildly in his blood and flesh, making him feel excruciating pain.
Look, this is his colleague.
A bunch of fence-sitters who change with the wind.
When he was checking in, he still affectionately called him Brother Ning, but after just over an hour, his expression changed.
Ning Yucheng suddenly burst into laughter, as if he had thrown everything into chaos. He broke free from Du Qingtang's hand, staggered backward, and stood with his back against the wall. His expression seemed to be both crying and laughing, his back was hunched, and he looked inexplicably old.
He suddenly felt very tired.
Every day he had to flatter people at the Ministry of Works, and when he returned home he had to take care of his bedridden mother.
Every day when I open my eyes, I have to worry about my livelihood. As a fifth-rank official, I have to do the job of paying people for their writings and also have to accept their disapproval.
He had never been so tired as he was now.
He had calculated and calculated, but he was exhausted and had no strength to calculate anymore.
Never mind, let it be.
Under the astonished gaze of the crowd, Ning Yucheng stopped his crazy laughter, closed his eyes, and said in a hoarse voice: "Yes, I did it."
"I was the one who orchestrated the chance encounter with your sister. I also orchestrated the sight of your sister and I going in and out together. Then, I manipulated public opinion, making everyone think that I was about to climb the Wen'an Marquis Mansion's big tree, forcing your sister to marry me."
The atmosphere inside and outside the duty room suddenly exploded.
"What a sinister and vicious Mr. Ning!"
"Fortunately, Tu didn't have a close relationship with him. Otherwise, he might suddenly stab me in the back one day and I wouldn't even know how I died."
"If it weren't for Wen Anbo coming to our door, we would have been completely deceived by him. He might even be laughing at us behind our backs."
The Minister of Rites' face turned ashen, and he wished he could rush in and strangle Ning Yucheng, the troublesome guy, to death.
It's something that is incapable of doing anything good but is more likely to cause trouble. It's okay for it to plot against others, but at least it will clean up the mess and not let anyone find any clues.
Wen Anbo is a reckless person who is fearless. Apart from His Majesty, he even dares to bully the Prime Minister. If Ning Yucheng plots against her, how can he get away with it?
Here, Wen Anbo came to the door and caused a huge uproar in the Ministry of Rites. He might even vent his anger on him and hate him as the Minister of Rites as well.
Bastard!
It makes me so angry!
The Minister of Rites was so angry that his lungs ached. Then he heard Ning Yucheng say, "I just wanted to climb the ladder, to get a promotion, to be in a high position. What have I done wrong? I'm not wrong!"
Minister of Rites: “?”
Ning Yucheng looked at the crowd of officials from the Ministry of Rites outside the door and said mockingly, "If you could become the son-in-law of a wealthy family and rise to prominence, would you give up such an opportunity that's right at your fingertips?"
"You won't."
"You will just try every possible way to seize this opportunity and climb up at all costs."
Everyone's eyes flickered and they turned away, not looking at Ning Yucheng.
Ning Yucheng sneered, "I admit I'm despicable, but you guys are no good either. We're both equally bad, and no one has the right to blame anyone else."
Minister of Rites: “…”
Ministry of Rites official: “…”
Ning Yucheng looked at Du Qingtang and bowed. "This is all my fault. I have nothing to say. I will clarify the rumors and clear your young lady's name."
But again, he was not wrong and he did not regret doing so.
He has all the talents, but is restricted in every way because of his background. How can he accept this?
When you are in the officialdom, you must be ruthless when you need to be, and you can sacrifice everything when necessary.
For example, conscience.
For example, the reputation of an innocent woman.
Du Qingtang saw through Ning Yucheng's duplicity at a glance. He only looked apologetic, but in his heart he was very dissatisfied. He sneered, "Of course you have to clarify to the public. This official Seventh Sister is not someone who can be associated with anyone. Besides—"
Ning Yucheng felt an inexplicable tightness in his heart, and the others also pricked up their ears, waiting for what would happen next.
Du Qingtang was afraid that the people present might not hear him clearly, so he spoke slowly and slowly, "I don't want to see you in Xiajing again."
Ning Yucheng's face turned pale.
What does Wen Anbo mean by this?
Do you want him to resign or ask to be transferred to another post?
He studied hard for ten years and worked in the Ministry of Rites for ten years. Either of them would be more painful than killing him.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Ning Yucheng stiffened his neck and said stubbornly, "You might as well just kill me!"
Ning Yucheng was certain that Du Qingtang would not dare to kill him.
And that is indeed the case.
Du Qingtang could make a scene in the Ministry of Rites today, strip off Ning Yucheng's hypocritical mask and reveal his ugly face, or force Ning Yucheng to stay away from Xiajing, but he couldn't kill him.
Ning Yucheng was only morally flawed, but he did not violate the law.
Killing him would be tantamount to handing a huge handle to the political enemies, which would be more trouble than gain.
Du Qingtang's thoughts were turning, and he refused to budge: "I am only informing you, you have no choice but to agree."
"I'll give you five days. If I see you again at the Ministry of Rites or in Xiajing, don't blame me for being ruthless. I'll settle all old and new scores."
There are too many people in this world who want to take shortcuts and hope to reach the top overnight.
Since the Wen'an Earl's Mansion had neither capable relatives nor family background, it became the target of calculation and flattery by some people.
Du Qingtang must be tough and strong, otherwise he will be bullied and fall from a high place into hell, where he will be bullied and trampled upon by others.
Even Emperor Qingyuan would be angry that all her previous efforts had been wasted, and like what happened in the 18th year of Qingyuan, he would simply and decisively sentence her to death with an imperial edict or an oral order.
Ning Yucheng spread rumors and caused trouble today. If Du Qingtang picks it up high and lets it go gently, there will definitely be countless Ning Yuchengs jumping out in the future.
What if it succeeds?
What if they can take advantage of the favorable conditions provided by the Wen'an Marquis's Mansion and rise to prominence?
You might as well give it a try. You won’t die and there’s nothing to lose.
They will regard Du Qingzhu and Du Qingju as their own possessions and use all despicable means to achieve their goals.
There are even people who have crazy ideas and want to become Du Qingtang's other half.
Although it is absolutely impossible, it does not stop some people from wishing for it.
By then, troubles will follow and incidents will arise again.
It would be better to cut the Gordian knot and use Ning Yucheng as an example to scare the monkeys and eliminate future troubles.
Du Qingtang left after making these harsh remarks.
The Minister of Rites wanted to talk to her, but before he could go up to her, Du Qingtang had already swept out of the Ministry of Rites like a gust of wind, leaving only a thin and ruthless back to everyone.
"Wen Anbo has done a truly remarkable job."
"You have to be ruthless. There is not a single male in the Wen'an Marquis's mansion. I don't know how many people are eyeing us covetously."
"What do you think, does Wen Anbo want Lord Ning to resign, or to request to be transferred out of the country?"
"Most likely the latter."
The Minister of Rites agreed deeply. He twirled his beard as he looked at Ning Yucheng and sighed, "At this point, Xiajing is not a place to stay for long. You'd better pack up as soon as possible and ask to be sent out."
Ning Yucheng was so willing to see his ten years of scheming destroyed in an instant that he begged with a hoarse voice: "Sir, I don't want to... I beg you..."
"You don't have to beg me. I can't help you." The Minister of Rites sighed and shook his head. "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have done it in the first place."
It is true that most people in the world want to curry favor with the powerful, but Ning Yucheng never thought about it. Is Wen Anbo someone who is easy to get along with?
Others are mean in a subtle way, but she is mean openly and directly. Anyone who provokes her, such as Feng Shu and Liang Wangjin, will have grass three feet high on their graves.
The Minister of Rites had no doubt that if Ning Yucheng continued to stay in Xiajing and continue working in the Ministry of Rites, Wen Anbo might really pull out his tongue and feed it to him.
He is truly the ruthless man who turned Shaoqing Prefecture, known for its chaos and violence, into the pearl of the Northwest. He dared not plead for Ning Yucheng.
If Wen Anbo gets unhappy, he might be the one in trouble.
The Minister of Rites had made up his mind to stand aside and watch, but out of long-standing friendship, he still said a few words: "I will make what has just happened public and dispel the rumors as soon as possible, so that Wen Anbo can calm down. In the future, when you go elsewhere, don't do such foolish things that will destroy your own great wall."
Ning Yucheng opened his mouth, only to feel his throat filled with rough gravel. The sharp edges pricked him painfully, and he couldn't utter a word.
The Minister of Rites walked out of the duty room and waved his hand: "Everyone, go away and do what you need to do."
"Yes, I will take my leave."
When the officials of the Ministry of Rites saw that the excitement was almost over, they bowed to the Minister of Rites and dispersed like birds and beasts.
After everyone left, the duty room suddenly became deserted.
The three officials, especially the one closest to the door, were filled with disdain and sneered, "Some people have lofty ambitions, like toads dreaming of eating swan flesh. They don't even consider their own weight. Aren't they afraid of falling to their death?"
"It's said that Wen Anbo has a fiery temper, but now it seems that the rumor is wrong. Wen Anbo is clearly the most merciful person. If I were her, I would probably want to kill my sisters if they were slandered like this."
"It's all your own fault."
Ning Yucheng's body swayed and he almost fainted.
Seeing his face pale as paper, the official closest to the door finally relented and said, "You'd better hurry to the Ministry of Personnel. Your appointment will take at least three to five days. Once you take office, work hard. With enough merit, you might be able to return to the capital."
Ning Yucheng pulled his lower lip and responded weakly.
At this point, there is no turning back.
He had no choice but to ask to be transferred.
It was just that I happened to run into Wen Anbo's sister that day, which gave rise to such delusions.
Once ambition arises, it is like a wild horse that has broken free from its reins and is difficult to restrain.
Back to Beijing?
As long as Wen Anbo serves in the court, he may never come back in this life.
Ning Yucheng smiled bitterly, left the Ministry of Rites in silence, and went to the Ministry of Personnel to apply for a transfer.
The clerk in charge of registration was unaware of the disturbance Wen Anbo had caused at the Ministry of Rites. He repeatedly confirmed, "You are now a fifth-rank official. If you go to the prefecture, you should be a fifth-rank associate governor. Are you sure you want to be transferred out?"
Ning Yucheng stood opposite, looking as if his spine had been pulled out, with slumped shoulders and a hunched back. Although he was only thirty years old, he looked as if he was twenty or thirty years older.
He stared at the clerk's books for a long moment before nodding, "...OK."
The clerk didn't ask any more questions and quickly registered the matter. "Alright, we'll arrange a replacement from the Ministry of Rites as soon as possible. You can go back and wait. I estimate you'll receive the appointment in the next two days."
Ning Yucheng returned home in a daze, and heard his mother's hysterical coughing in the room.
He stood in the yard until the coughing subsided before going into the house.
Ning's mother fell asleep, her breathing was heavy and sounded very painful.
Ning Yucheng walked to the kang and said in a low voice: "If it weren't for you..."
I have long been the son-in-law of a wealthy merchant or even a minister.
Go to hell.
If you die, I will be free from suffering.
I can save a lot of money and marry a noble lady. I will be very happy and prosperous.
......
“Huh—”
A hoarse scream escaped from her throat, and Ning's mother kicked her legs like dry branches twice before she took her last breath.
The woman, who was suffering from half-illness, opened her eyes wide, and two lines of tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes and seeped into her hair.
Ning Yucheng woke up as if from a dream, lowered his head to meet his mother's dim eyes, and was horrified. He retracted his hand as if he had been electrocuted.
"Ah! What are you doing?"
Suddenly there was a scream from behind. Ning Yucheng turned around and saw that it was the woman who lived next door.
Ning's mother couldn't get up, so Ning Yucheng specially asked a woman to come and take care of her.
The woman looked at the strangled marks on Ning's mother's neck and her eyes wide open. Terror crept onto her cheeks and she turned and ran out: "Murder! Murder!"
Ning Yucheng subconsciously chased after him, but unfortunately he was still a step too late.
"Who killed someone?"
"Master Ning! Master Ning strangled his mother to death!"
-
Du Qingtang didn't know that Ning Yucheng had done another earth-shattering thing, and even if he knew, he wouldn't be too surprised.
Ning Yucheng is an inferior and paranoid person. His mother has been bedridden for many years, and the money for her medicine is enough to drain the entire family.
To him, Ning's mother was a burden and also a means for him to manage his reputation.
When he is at the end of his rope, Ning Yucheng will blame all his misfortunes on his mother.
Then he murdered his mother.
When I returned to the Ministry of Works from the Ministry of Rites, Doctor Su had been waiting for a long time.
"My Lord, fifty thousand copies of the newspaper have been printed."
"Very efficient." Du Qingtang praised casually, "Thank you for your hard work, and you will be rewarded handsomely later."
Su Lang was delighted and bowed repeatedly: "Your Excellency is so kind. I would like to thank you on their behalf!"
Du Qingtang had long been immune to his subordinates' flattery, and his expression remained unchanged: "Send the newspaper to the Ministry of Revenue as soon as possible."
How to distribute it later and how to build momentum for it are not the Ministry of Industry's business, so let Minister Qi worry about it.
Doctor Su replied yes and left to make arrangements.
Immediately afterwards, the person in charge brought another official document.
Du Qingtang was grinding ink with the ink stick in his hand, wondering whether he should report this to Emperor Qingyuan in advance, so as to avoid being caught off guard by the censor impeaching him at the morning court tomorrow.
After thinking about it, I gave up the idea.
The palace was full of Emperor Qingyuan's eyes. Even if she didn't say it, he would still know it once the news spread.
And that is indeed the case.
In less than half an hour, the news that Wen Anbo had contacted the Ministry of Rites, warned Ning Yuanwailang not to spread rumors and forced him to leave the capital within five days quickly spread throughout the court.
Officials who had already seen through Ning Yucheng's intentions sighed with emotion, while those who failed to see through them felt extremely regretful.
"As expected of Earl Wen An. If I had been like her back then, I wouldn't have married my second daughter to a fifth-rank councilor."
"What a pity. I thought I could see a good show about Wen Anbo."
"After this incident, I'm afraid no one will dare to target the Du family girl anymore."
"This is a good thing. My daughter, whom I have pampered for many years, deserves to marry a good man. How could she let that despicable villain get away with this?"
In the cabinet, Cao Yuan heard the news and sneered, "What a fool who set himself on fire! Looks like tomorrow's morning court is going to be a lively one."
He decided to add some more wood to make the fire burn brighter.
Cao Yuan called his confidant and said, "Go find Wang Zhongliang..."
The news reached the imperial study, where Emperor Qingyuan was playing chess with Princess Zhaoyang.
With Princess Zhaoyang sharing some of the government affairs, Emperor Qingyuan has been much more relaxed in the past two years.
At this time of the day, Emperor Qingyuan would have been writing furiously. He had almost finished processing the memorials. Coincidentally, Princess Zhaoyang came to the palace to pay her respects, so he asked her to play chess with him.
As the father and daughter were fighting on the chessboard, Fu Rui stepped forward and reported that Wen Anbo had caused a disturbance in the Ministry of Rites.
Emperor Qingyuan: “…”
I'm tired and don't want to talk.
Princess Zhaoyang held the white piece in her hand and said lazily, "Lord Du is very protective of his people. When Mr. Ning put his hands on Miss Du, Lord Du would naturally not tolerate it."
Emperor Qingyuan cast a black pawn and said angrily, "This Du Aiqing is truly lawless. If she keeps up this, I think she'll tear the roof off the house!"
Princess Zhaoyang raised her eyebrows slightly and asked, "Is it the roof of the Qianqing Palace or the Imperial Study?"
Emperor Qingyuan choked, but was delighted by his daughter's closeness and teasing. He rubbed his palms on the edge of the table, but he couldn't suppress the curve of his mouth.
After Princess Zhaoyang made her move, Emperor Qingyuan observed the chessboard and said, "I have arranged for the firearms troops to go to the border with firearms. We will then arrange a military exercise to deter neighboring countries."
Thinking of the power of the artillery, Princess Zhaoyang's brows relaxed, and she was obviously pleased: "Even for the sake of Lord Du's invention of firearms, you must stand on Lord Du's side at the court tomorrow morning."
"Let's talk about it later." Emperor Qingyuan deliberately kept the subject in suspense, and suddenly changed the subject, "I heard that the man from Wenyuanhou's family has been pestering you several times. He already has a wife, and you..."
Princess Zhaoyang's eyes fell on the chessboard, and she twirled the white piece with her fingertips. "Father, everyone is young and frivolous at times. I was blind then, but I won't be that way again."
Emperor Qingyuan felt relieved and said in a gentle voice, "Marquis Wenyuan's Mansion is not a good place. Sister Rong is perfect and should be paired with the best man in the world."
Princess Zhaoyang raised her eyes and asked in an unclear tone, "Is your Majesty, Father, hinting that I should get married and have children?"
Emperor Qingyuan shook his head: "No hurry, no hurry."
"I think so too," Princess Zhaoyang said, her lips curled. "Besides, in my opinion, the weak should refrain from romance and first strengthen themselves before establishing others."
Emperor Qingyuan squeezed Heizi's hand tightly, then nodded after a moment: "Sister Rong, what you said makes sense."
After a game of chess ended, Princess Zhaoyang said goodbye: "Yuan Shuang found out that there are some dirty things hidden in the suburbs of the city. I have to go back and prepare first."
Emperor Qingyuan looked up and a face full of sharp beauty came into view.
His eyes were dazed for a moment, and he lowered them without leaving a trace: "Safety should be the first priority."
Princess Zhaoyang replied yes.
Just as he was about to leave, Emperor Qingyuan said, "Hangzhou Prefecture has sent a batch of fresh seafood. I'll have some delivered to your residence later."
"Thank you, Father, for the reward." Princess Zhaoyang bowed and said, "I will take my leave."
After Princess Zhaoyang left, Emperor Qingyuan picked up a white piece and put it into the chess basket.
Upon seeing this, Fu Rui hurried forward and said, "Your Majesty, leave this matter to me."
Emperor Qingyuan waved his hand, asked Fu Rui to step aside, and slowly picked up the chess pieces.
The chess pieces fell into the chess basket with a crisp sound.
Only after the last black piece fell into the chess basket did Emperor Qingyuan speak slowly, "Sister Rong is becoming more and more like her mother."
Time flies like flowing water, and she has been gone for 9,132 days.
In recent years, his memory has become worse and he often forgets things.
But her voice, appearance and smile are still in my mind, as bright and charming as ever for twenty-four years.
Emperor Qingyuan supported his knee with his left hand, slowly stood up, and walked to the door of the imperial study.
The aging emperor stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance to the southwest.
The sunlight danced on his face, and every wrinkle and every white hair was clearly visible.
Emperor Qingyuan laughed briefly and said, "Sister Rong is right. The weak should avoid romance. They should first strengthen themselves and then help others."
He didn't understand this truth at the time, and when he realized it later, it was too late.
-
Du Qingtang returned to the Wen'an Marquis's residence, and Meng Fang came to greet him. "Master, His Highness sent over a batch of seafood. I took it upon myself to have the kitchen prepare it. You and the ladies and their husbands-in-law can try it to prevent it from becoming stale and affecting the taste."
Haicuo means seafood.
Most of it was sent from the palace to the princess's residence, and Princess Zhaoyang gave a portion to the Wen'an Earl's residence.
Du Qingtang accepted the favor: "You can arrange these small matters yourself."
"Yes." Meng Fang paused, then continued, "Half an hour before you returned home, the Fifth Miss and the Fifth Uncle came here with the young master."
Du Qingtang gently stroked his waist belt and nodded to indicate that he understood. He returned to the main courtyard and changed into his daily clothes. Then a maid came to ask, "Master, when will dinner be served?"
Because of the morning's disturbance at the Ministry of Rites, time was tight. In order to finish all the official business before the end of his shift, Du Qingtang didn't even have lunch. So he said without hesitation: "We can eat now."
The maid responded respectfully and went to the kitchen to pass on the message.
Du Qingtang walked into the dining room. Everyone was there, sitting in their seats chatting and laughing.
Out of the corner of their eyes, they saw a figure appear at the door, and everyone looked over at the same time.
Du Qingqin smiled and said, "Xianyu is back. Come and sit down. You are the only one missing."
Ever since they found out Du Qingtang's shift schedule, the girls in the Du family tacitly agreed to return home before her.
As soon as Du Qingtang returns home, they can start eating right away.
Du Qingtang glanced at Du Qingmei imperceptibly and said nonchalantly, "Sixth sister didn't come?"
Du Qingmei explained, "Xiao Liu has to go to Liang Mansion to teach today, so he won't be here."
Du Qingtang hummed softly and sat down on the right side of Du Qingju.
The maid served the dishes and left quietly.
Everyone started eating almost at the same time, and there was no rule of not talking while eating or sleeping. They were talking and laughing, and it was very lively.
The seafood was very delicious and everyone present loved it, especially the children at the table. They finished it all in no time and the plates were shining.
After eating and drinking, before leaving, Du Qingqin suddenly mentioned the marriage of her only daughter Fang Jie'er.
"Sister Fang is about to reach her marriage age. Isn't it time to look after her?"
At the next table, Fang Jie'er, who was closest to Du Qingqin, blushed instantly, her eyes were watery, and she looked shy and timid.
Du Qingtang retorted: "There's no rush for this. It's not too late to talk about it when you're seventeen or eighteen."
Du Qingju echoed, saying in a voice that only the people at their table could hear, "Xianyu is right. In fact, a girl who has just reached the age of marriage is not yet fully grown. It is not suitable for her to get married and have children. She should wait until she is at least 18 years old."
Du Qingqin vaguely remembered that when she first proposed to find someone for Du Qingmei and Du Qingju, the youngest one said the same thing.
Du Qingqin hesitated for a moment, but ultimately her love for Fang Jie'er surpassed everything else, so she chose to give in: "Okay, then, let's wait two or three years and see."
Du Qingju was very pleased about this and said with a smile: "Chuxia's mother has recently asked a matchmaker to find her a family."
Du Qingtang thought for a moment: "Chu Xia should be around eighteen or nineteen years old?"
Du Qingju nodded. "Chu Xia came of age when she became my disciple. She is now eighteen years old. However, she secretly told me that she doesn't want to get married and is worried that her mother won't agree."
Speaking of not getting married, Du Qingqin was full of opinions and couldn't help complaining, "It would be fine if you three didn't get married, but now there's one more person, so you can have a table full of people and play mahjong."
Du Qingzhu has heard so much about people urging her to get married over the years that she remained calm and composed. She raised her chin and snorted, "That's perfect! When the four of us become little old ladies, we can just sit at the same table and save ourselves the trouble of finding poker partners!"
Du Qingju burst out laughing.
The others were also laughing so hard that their laughter almost blew the roof off.
Du Qingqin held her forehead and rolled her eyes at her upset sister: "Let's go back, let's go back. If you stay any longer, I'm going to be pissed off to death by you!"
The eldest sister left, and the others dispersed one after another.
On the way to the main courtyard, someone behind him called out "Xianyu". Du Qingtang turned around and saw that it was Du Qingmei and her husband.
What are they here for?
Are you here to ask her for an official position?
Du Qingtang's mind raced as he casually asked, "What has Fifth Brother-in-law been doing lately?"
Guo Qian was stunned for a moment, his expression looking unnatural.
During the days he was in Xiajing, he did nothing but look for opportunities to talk to Du Qingtang about becoming an official.
Anyway, he will be serving as an official in the court soon, so why bother with this? It would be better to conserve his energy.
Seeing this, Du Qingtang showed a look of disapproval: "Fifth brother-in-law, you are a grown man and you can't rely on Fifth Sister for support. Even if your right hand is inconvenient, you still have to support the family."
"Besides, the Guo family still has so many mouths to feed. Even if they have some wealth, they can't just sit back and enjoy it all."
Guo Qian's face twitched and he could not hide his anger.
She really brought up something that was not relevant to him. She knew that her right hand had been crippled, but she still brought it up on purpose, poking at his sore spot.
Du Qingtang seemed completely oblivious to Guo Qian's anger, and looked at the two of them calmly, "What do you want from me?"
Du Qingmei sighed inwardly, swallowing back the words that were about to come out of her mouth. She said calmly, "Your brother-in-law and I came here to tell you that Fei Ge is a bed lover. We won't be staying here tonight. We'll go back first."
Guo Qian suddenly turned his head and looked at Du Qingmei in disbelief.
Didn't they come to ask Du Qingtang to find him an official position?
When did Fei Geer start to recognize his bed?
Du Qingmei didn't even look at him, but smiled and said, "Come back next time when you have time."
Du Qingtang did not try to persuade them to stay, and called the maid: "Send you two out of the house."
The maid replied yes and raised her hand to signal, "Fifth Miss, Fifth Master, please follow me this way."
"Xianyu, I..."
Guo Qian wanted to say something, but was forcibly pulled away by Du Qingmei.
Du Qingtang stood at the entrance of the main courtyard, watching the two of them go away, his face calm, no emotion visible.
On the other side, Du Qingmei and Guo Qian got on the carriage.
Guo Qian's face darkened, and his tone was full of questioning: "Madam, why didn't you let me finish what I was saying? Why did we have to leave the Wen'an Marquis's Mansion overnight?"
If he were to tell them, the residence Du Qingtang prepared for them was far more grand, more spacious, and more comfortable to live in than the two-story courtyard bought by the Guo family. The idea that Fei Ge was only known for his own bed was completely nonsense.
Guo Qian also didn't understand why Du Qingmei suddenly resigned, especially at the critical moment when he was planning to ask Du Qingtang to find him an official position.
"It's almost been a month since we came to Xiajing. Madam, you promised me time and again to ask Xianyu to find me an official position, but there has been no progress. Just now, there was clearly an opportunity..."
Du Qingmei sat sideways, picking at the wick with her hairpin. The flickering candlelight made her look gloomy and unclear: "Xianyu may know what we are planning."
Guo Qian was like a chicken being strangled by the neck. His questioning stopped abruptly. After a long silence, he said nonchalantly, "Wouldn't it be better if Xianyu knew? I just need to find a way out. Maybe in three or five days, I can take up the position."
Du Qingmei shook her head: "If Xianyu agreed, why would she ask you what you have been doing recently and even point out your hand... So, this matter is probably not going to work."
Disappointment flashed across Guo Qian's eyes. He gently held Du Qingmei's hand and appealed to her emotional and logical reasons: "My parents are old, but they traveled thousands of miles to Xiajing for us. If they knew that my career was completely over, I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to bear the blow."
"Madam, you and I have been married for many years. You should be most aware of my ambitions. If I cannot realize my ambitions in this lifetime, I will die with regrets!"
When Guo Qian thought about the ridicule and sympathy he had endured in the past two years, tears welled up in his eyes, his voice choked with sobs, and he was filled with resentment.
Du Qingmei was not willing to accept this, but Du Qingtang was determined and it was obvious that he would not help.
She didn't want the relationship between the sisters to deteriorate again, so she had to avoid talking about it.
Seeing Du Qingmei keeping her head down and saying nothing, Guo Qian suddenly remembered that in April, two men who claimed to be the Prime Minister's confidants came to him.
They wanted him to provide evidence against Du Qingtang, and in exchange, the Prime Minister would allow him to reach the fourth rank in his lifetime.
Guo Qian was well aware of his shortcomings and felt that a fourth-rank official position was sufficient for him.
However, Du Qingtang has always been cautious. He has been married to Du Qingmei for many years and has never heard of any evidence against her, so he had to reluctantly reject the proposal of those two people.
There is another reason, which is that compared to the Prime Minister whom he has never met, Du Qingtang, the wife's sister, is obviously more reliable.
Guo Qian's eyes flickered. Now he could barely be considered an honored guest of the Wen'an Marquis's Mansion. If he could seize the opportunity to find something to hold against Du Qingtang...
As he was lost in thought, the back of his hand suddenly felt warm. It was Du Qingmei holding Guo Qian's hand. "Please wait a little longer, my husband. I will try my best to persuade Xianyu to find you an official position."
Guo Qian felt relieved, but also quite dissatisfied.
I used to think that Du Qingmei and Du Qingtang had a deep sisterly love, but now it seems that they are just so-so.
Whether it is Du Qingtang or Prime Minister Cao Yuan, neither of them is a good person and he cannot afford to offend them.
Unless it is absolutely necessary, he will not turn to Cao Yuan and seek benefits from the tiger.
He hoped Du Qingtang would be sensible and find him an official position, otherwise he wouldn't mind surrendering her.
Guo Qian thought so and smiled slowly, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Madam."
-
The next day was a small court meeting, attended only by officials of the third rank and above. There was no need to go to court at the hour of Mao, and one could simply arrive at the Golden Throne Hall at the hour of Chen.
Du Qingtang got up half an hour early and went out calmly after having breakfast.
"Xiasheng Daily! Auntie, would you like a copy of the imperially published Xiasheng Daily?"
"Officials' achievements, legal science stories, court anecdotes, poetry, calligraphy, and paintings, strange stories...all in Xiasheng Daily!"
"Want to learn about court decrees in real time and get closer to His Majesty and the other officials in the court? Then take home a copy of the Xia Sheng Daily!"
"Shock! The legendary Justice is actually like this!"
"Shocking! A sixty-year-old man actually did something like this on the street late at night!"
Du Qingtang propped up his chin and listened to the shouts coming from the streets and alleys, and then he said: "......"
He lifted the curtain and looked out. He saw the clerks and runners from the Ministry of Revenue carrying messenger bags filled with newspapers. They handed the newspapers to him whenever they met someone.
Out of curiosity and awe of the imperial court, the people all accepted the newspapers.
Many of them could not read, so many educated people volunteered to read aloud the contents of the newspaper.
The people listened with great interest and were amazed.
"It turns out that theft is also divided into several levels, with different penalties."
"So, will the officials fight over their opinions at the morning court?"
"Hahahahahahahaha, it turns out that the sixty-year-old man is actually the Shangshu Lord. Not only was he chased by a dog all the way while investigating the case, but he even lost his shoes hahahahahahaha!"
"The little fox met a scholar, and it seems that the scholar discovered its identity as a monster. Then what happened? Then what happened? Why did it disappear?!"
"Why did it stop here all of a sudden? My heart feels like it's being scratched by a cat. It's so uncomfortable!"
"Wow! This wanted criminal is so ugly. He looks like a bastard who has killed many people!"
"Since the court has printed the portraits of wanted criminals in the newspapers, we should all be more careful when walking on the streets. If we spot anyone suspicious, we should report it to the authorities immediately. We might even get a reward!"
Du Qingtang watched the world in silence and curled his lips imperceptibly.
It seems that the people have a very good acceptance of Xia Sheng Daily.
Du Qingtang lowered the curtain, got off the car at the palace gate, and walked to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
As she stepped over the threshold, all the officials in the hall looked at her at the same time.
Dozens of eyes converged on him, but Du Qingtang calmly looked back: "Why are you all looking at me like that? Could it be that there are flowers or words on my face?"
The Grand Secretary of the Dongge twitched his lip, half smiling, "Master Du is truly capable. I have served in two dynasties and for over thirty years, and you are the first one who dared to cause trouble in the six ministries."
"Your Excellency is too kind." Du Qingtang bowed his hand gently, his tone calm and calm, "My sister has suffered injustice and has been hiding in her room crying every day. I am heartbroken and must seek justice for her."
Everyone: “…”
Don't think they don't know. Two days ago, when Shixiang Pavilion opened, Miss Du personally unveiled the sign and welcomed guests with a very bright smile. How could she be hiding in her room crying?
Just at this moment, a voice was heard outside the hall.
"Your Majesty has arrived—"
When Emperor Qingyuan, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat on the high throne, all officials knelt down and saluted, shouting "Long live the emperor" three times.
"Everyone, please stand up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
All officials stood still, and Fu Rui sang loudly: "If you have something to report, please report it. If not, please leave the court——"
Right Censor-in-Chief Wang Zhongliang stepped out and knelt, saying, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
Emperor Qingyuan raised his hand: "Approved."
Wang Zhongliang kowtowed and said in a thunderous voice, "I would like to report the current Minister of Works, Earl of Wen'an, Du Qingtang, for abusing his power, oppressing his subordinates, and killing the mother of an imperial official. I implore Your Majesty to severely punish Du Qingtang and make him pay with his life!"
Du Qingtang: “…?”
When did she kill the mother of an imperial official?
Could it be Ning Yucheng's old mother who has been bedridden for many years?
That should have been Ning Yucheng's fault, what does it have to do with her?
Don't be ridiculous!
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