However, the table in front of the bed was still some distance from the bedside, and since his legs were weak, if he leaned over and reached out, he was afraid he would fall headfirst.
Su Wanyan quietly wrote the complaint, while Yu Nanqing silently used his hands to support his body, slowly moved his buttocks off the bed, and sat down with difficulty on the blanket on the floor.
Seeing that everything was in order, he slowly reached out, picked up the inkstone from the inkstone, and began to grind the ink.
Su Wanyan glanced at him but didn't say anything.
A wisp of hair brushed against Su Wanyan's face, and a faint fragrance wafted into Yu Nanqing's nose. At this moment, he was only a foot or so away from her.
Yu Nanqing was captivated by the scent and couldn't help but move slightly closer.
With such a large, living person so close to her, Su Wanyan couldn't possibly be unaware. She moved away and turned back curiously: "Why are you standing so close?"
"Cough..." Yu Nanqing didn't know whether to say that Su Wanyan was very vigilant or that she simply didn't like him doing this. How did she notice such a slight movement?
He made up an excuse: "Let me see what you wrote in your complaint."
"Wait a moment, I'll show you when I'm done writing."
In fact, it didn't take long for Su Wanyan to write. She wrote down the whole story of what happened at Qinxue Garden in a few sentences on the petition, including Zhen Yuhuai's outrageous behavior.
Zhen Yuhuai and Su Muqing both fell into the water. The lady of the Thousand Hairpin Banquet sent them back to the Marquis's residence. When she explained the situation to the steward of the Marquis's residence, she happened to miss the time when the Marquis of Yuanning was leaving court.
When Marquis Yuanning left the court, before the steward could even begin to report what had happened, several maids from Marquis Yuanning's wife's side pulled him to the main courtyard.
After being soaked in ice water and exposed to the cold wind, Zhen Yuhuai cried and wailed in front of Marquis Yuanning, saying that Su Wanyan had tried to harm her and her daughter in public.
When Su Muqing fell into the water and was rescued, many people in Qinxue Garden saw it. They said that Su Wanyan did it on purpose. Su Muqing has lost face today. What right does she have to ask for a marriage proposal in the future?
In ancient times, a woman's reputation was of utmost importance. The servants who saved her came in all shapes and sizes, tall and short, fat and thin. How could Su Muqing ever hold her head high in front of others again?
Moreover, Zhen Yuhuai said that if Su Wanyan dared to attack them today, she would dare to attack the Marquis's mansion tomorrow.
Given the current situation of Prince Gong's mansion, she will definitely not let the Marquis's mansion off the hook in the future.
Hearing what was said earlier, Marquis Yuanning was still somewhat suspicious. No matter how much power Su Wanyan had or how bold she was, she wouldn't push them into the water in broad daylight.
As a princess, she secretly plotted against the mistress of the Marquis's mansion and pushed her elder sister into the water. Her methods were insidious. Just this one charge alone, if brought to the Imperial Clan Court, would cause Su Wanyan a lot of trouble.
If Su Wanyan weren't stupid, how could she be so impulsive?
However, upon hearing the rest, Marquis Yuanning could no longer contain himself.
He was still hoping that Su Muqing would marry into the Xia family and thus gain access to the Empress's royal lineage.
His family had held a high position in the capital for many years, and no amount of favors could surpass those bestowed upon members of the imperial family. The only way for them to advance further was through a marriage alliance with the royal family.
The Empress gave birth to a legitimate prince four years ago. As long as she marries into the Xia family, it will be a certainty that she will become a member of the imperial family, both now and in the future.
The Marquis's mansion will enjoy even greater wealth and honor.
Thinking of this, Marquis Yuanning was furious. If things were really as Zhen Yuhuai said, then Su Wanyan was simply audacious.
He insisted that the Emperor give him justice in this matter!
In the blink of an eye, Marquis Yuanning, who had just finished court, rode into the palace in a carriage without even changing out of his court robes.
In the Imperial Palace, in the Imperial Study, Emperor Yuanhe was looking at the petition that Su Wanyan had submitted to the palace, his brows furrowing more and more tightly.
Just then, Liu Rencai entered from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, Marquis Yuanning requests an audience."
Emperor Yuanhe's brow twitched slightly: "Coincidentally, I also have something to discuss with him!"
It was clear that Emperor Yuanhe's tone was not good.
Liu Rencai, unaware of which memorial had angered the emperor, hurriedly ducked and invited Marquis Yuanning in.
Upon entering the hall, Marquis Yuanning knelt down with an air of righteous indignation: "Your Majesty, this humble subject pays his respects! Your Majesty, you must do justice for this humble subject this time!"
Emperor Yuanhe took a deep breath and looked at the Marquis of Yuanning, who was kneeling on the ground: "Let me guess, did you come to the palace to see me because of the matter of your wife and your daughter falling into the water?"
Marquis Yuanning was taken aback and looked up.
He had already planned out how he would react, but after hearing what Emperor Yuanhe said, he was speechless.
But in the blink of an eye, he adjusted his mindset, composed himself, and said, "Since Your Majesty knows, then this humble subject need not say anything more. I hope Your Majesty can uphold justice for this humble subject and allow the Prince Gong's Mansion to give this humble subject a fair judgment!"
After saying that, he kowtowed again in a devout manner.
"Ha, fairness?" Emperor Yuanhe's face darkened, and he threw a petition directly in front of him: "Take a look at what's written on this first!"
Marquis Yuanning was curious and hesitated for a moment, but still obediently picked up the folded book from the ground, opened it, and saw that it read:
Lady Zhen Yuhuai, wife of Marquis Yuanning, is reckless and defiant. While in Qinxue Garden, she falsely accused me of harming Su Muqing, angrily denounced me as an ingrate, and stated that my marriage to Prince Gong was a carefully planned scheme by Marquis Yuanning, otherwise I would not have my current status.
Su Muqing, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yuanning, fought over the pastries I bought and accidentally fell into the water. She then falsely accused me of framing her, showing contempt for imperial authority and disregard for hierarchy. Her behavior was extremely vile.
Regarding the matter at Qinxue Garden, all the ladies and daughters of the capital who participated in the Thousand Hairpins Banquet can testify that every word I utter is true.
"It seems you are very dissatisfied with this marriage I have bestowed upon you! I did not pursue the matter of you substituting one person for another, but I did not expect that you, Marquis of Yuanning, would use this matter to publicly humiliate me!" Emperor Yuanhe was furious: "Su Youwei, do you think you have rebelled?"
Marquis Yuanning was stunned after reading it, and quickly looked up: "Your Majesty! This is only Su Wanyan's side of the story, it cannot be believed!"
"Whether it's her side of the story or not, do you think I won't investigate?" Emperor Yuanhe glared at him angrily.
Upon hearing this, Marquis Yuanning was speechless.
Su Wanyan's complaint already states that the daughters and wives of prominent families in the capital can testify, which means that many people know about this matter.
The Emperor said this to tell him that it was fortunate he hadn't investigated, otherwise Marquis Yuanning wouldn't still be kneeling in his study.
At this moment, Marquis Yuanning stopped crying out for justice and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty's grace is something I am deeply grateful for. However, now that my daughter has fallen into the water, how will she have the face to appear in the capital in the future? Moreover, my daughter is not yet engaged. If Su Wanyan harms her like this, who will dare to propose marriage in the future?"
He looked up at Emperor Yuanhe: "Su Wanyan is going against the Marquis's Mansion in this way, she must be holding a grudge against the Marquis's Mansion. Your Majesty, I am loyal to you and we are in the same boat. You cannot ignore this!"
Emperor Yuanhe's brows twitched slightly, and a storm was brewing in his eyes.
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