Chapter 457 So what if I married into the family?
"Mu Yunzhou, this outsider doesn't understand, but don't you know better?" Han Tao twisted his body, trying to break free. "Aren't you afraid that my Han family will cause you trouble?"
Seeing that the Empress Dowager had brought her secret guards, Mu Yunzhou straightened his back and looked at Han Tao coldly, "At first, I was afraid that you would hurt Young Master Song, so I didn't want to argue with you."
"Now that Young Master Song has brought people to protect me, I no longer need to tolerate someone like you."
Han Tao was amused by Mu Yunzhou's sudden change in attitude. "I really underestimated you. You really are quite adaptable."
No wonder he was able to become a son-in-law in the Jiang family.
Mu Yunzhou showed no anger on his face and said calmly, "You don't need to worry about that. You should worry about your own family matters first."
Whether I marry into your family or not, and where I live, is none of your business. Your concern is just sour grapes.
"I was astonished that a poor scholar like me could live in the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion and marry the first female scholar in the history of Dongling Kingdom."
"What a joke, me envying you?" Han Tao scoffed. "You're probably having a nightmare."
"We only had a few words exchanged, and you had me arrested. If my father finds out, no matter who you are, he won't let you off the hook. Let me tell you the truth, no one in Dongling can afford to offend the Han family."
"Your Han family talks like you're about to ascend the throne. I'd like to hear how you're so unapproachable," Song Zhuyi sneered. "Let me, an outsider, broaden my horizons in the capital."
Han Tao's tone carried a hint of smugness, "I told you, you can't afford to offend the Han family. Let alone a mere third-place scholar, even the Regent has to give them some face."
"Otherwise, our Han family could immediately defeat Dongling!"
"Oh? So that's why you're so confident. It turns out your Han family is colluding with the enemy." Song Zhuyi's voice turned slightly cold as she said the last two words.
Han Tao realized he had said the wrong thing and tried to explain, but Song Zhuyi didn't give him a chance.
"Today, all the people of Dongling heard it on this street: the Han family admitted to colluding with the enemy. That's right, Han Fei is from Nanli, not Dongling."
"But if it weren't for the people of Dongling adopting him, he wouldn't have achieved what he has today. He really is a hypocrite who curses his mother after being fed."
"That's not how it is." Han Tao shook his head like a rattle-drum. "It's not what you're saying. I was just... just talking nonsense."
Someone in the crowd threw an egg at Han Tao. The egg hit him on the head, and the yolk dripped down his forehead. The sticky feeling made Han Tao even angrier.
"I won't let you get away with this!"
"Traitor! Son of a bitch!" someone cursed, throwing a rotten vegetable leaf at him.
The others followed suit and threw their own, while Han Tao and his group of spoiled brats shrank back in fear and remained silent.
"stop!"
Suddenly someone shouted.
The surroundings fell silent instantly. Han Tao heard a familiar voice, looked up, and exclaimed excitedly, "Second Uncle, Second Uncle, please save me!"
Han Ting, the second son of the Han family, had a square face without any expression. With his hands behind his back, he strode around with an official air. "What are you doing?"
"Second Uncle, they beat me up in the street. I was just joking around with Young Master Mu. He doesn't respect me at all because he married a top scholar."
"They even called our Han family traitors."
"Make them release me!" Han Fei twisted his arm again, but the guards held his arm firmly, and he couldn't break free no matter how he moved.
"Release them now!" Han Ting shouted coldly.
The guards acted as if they hadn't heard anything, making no unnecessary movements.
Han Ting instantly felt ashamed and pointed at Mu Yunzhou, "You're still young. I advise you to avoid causing trouble in the capital."
"In this capital city, if a plaque falls down and hits half of the people, even a minor third-place scholar like myself wouldn't dare to mess with me."
"If you really do this, you'll offend the Han family along with Jiang Tanhua."
"What? Is your Han family someone we can't afford to offend?" Empress Dowager Song Zhuyi said coldly.
Han Ting, the second son of the Han family, is not a biological brother of Han Fei. He is considered the true son of the Han family. However, Han Fei is grateful for the Han family's kindness in raising him and, after being promoted, he helps all the members of the Han family who can help him.
Han Ting does not hold an official position in the court. To be precise, if it weren't for Han Fei, the rest of the Han family, including Han Ting, would be planting rice seedlings in the field right now.
Nowadays, everyone in the Han family is doing whatever they want outside because of Han Fei. The Han family member who died a couple of days ago and was supposed to be married in a ghost marriage was Han Ting's son.
The son just died and hasn't even been buried yet, and the father is already coming out of a brothel.
The marks on his neck speak for themselves without needing to ask.
Empress Dowager Song Zhuyi returned to the palace yesterday and learned about the specific situation of the Han family.
Han Ting frowned at Song Zhuyi, "And what are you?"
"Second Uncle, it was him, it was him and Mu Yunzhou who were spouting nonsense here and even lifted me up."
"Second Uncle, go and call my father quickly, and have him come here."
Han Ting glared coldly at Song Zhuyi, "You guys have some nerve!"
"No matter how bold you are, you're not as bold as me." Jiang Wanjun's voice came from behind.
Everyone looked up as Jiang Wanjun lifted the sedan curtain, revealing herself in a crimson official robe embroidered with white cranes.
Bai Lan helped him down from the carriage.
Jiang Wanjun stepped forward, and the people who had been surrounding her spontaneously made way for her.
"Lord Jiang." Although Han Ting was dissatisfied, he still bowed respectfully on the surface.
Jiang Wanjun ignored Han Ting and went straight to Empress Dowager Song Zhuyi. He lifted his robe and knelt down to pay his respects, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"Your Majesty, I am late in coming to your rescue. I hope you will forgive me."
Upon hearing Jiang Wanjun's words, everyone except Mu Yunzhou stood there stunned.
"You... what did you say? He... she is the Empress Dowager?" Han Ting pointed at Song Zhuyi, then immediately pressed down with his other hand, realizing it was inappropriate.
"Lord Jiang, please stand up and speak." Song Zhuyi bent down and helped Jiang Wanjun up.
Jiang Wanjun stood up and said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager."
Then she turned to Han Ting and said, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is compassionate towards the lives of our people. She also learned that your Han family is forcing women on pleasure boats to have ghost marriages. That's why she pretended to go shopping with me and went to the pleasure boats to investigate this matter."
"The same applies to coming out today."
"I never expected to be humiliated in public by the Han family."
Song Zhuyi naturally understood that Jiang Wanjun had explained her identity and the reason for going to the pleasure boat in public.
If word were to get out that she had gone to the pleasure boat, who knows what people would say about her, even though she was now the Empress Dowager.
Since it's for investigating a case, there's nothing wrong with that.
"Your Majesty and I were almost murdered on the pleasure boat by the steward of your Han family. Han Fei has already admitted his identity as Nan Li in prison."
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