Chapter 156 Infidelity
The chair was brought over, but Old Madam Shen did not sit down.
She felt that if she sat down, it would take some effort to stand up and hit that Vice Minister Zhang again, so she might as well just stand there.
But this action was interpreted differently by others.
This old woman may look uncouth, but she is as clear-headed as a mirror.
In the imperial court, apart from the imperial family, even the crown prince and the Prince of Qin were standing. The old lady knew she couldn't sit!
It seems they know exactly who they can and can't mess with!
In particular, the Duke of Anguo and Prime Minister Xu looked at Old Madam Shen with eyes full of inquiry.
One of them is responsible for throwing a tantrum, so what about the other one...?
As expected, Shangguan Jin stepped forward.
"Your Excellency, I would like to ask you, has the Duke of Dingguo's mansion offended your Zhang family?" Shangguan Jin asked seriously.
When Zhang Shilang saw Shangguan Jin, he was worried that this young Duchess would be like Old Madam Shen, and would hit him with her cane as soon as she came up.
But seeing that Shangguan Jin had spoken up to ask, he immediately stopped worrying.
Hearing that Madam Shen was the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family, she must be well-read and wouldn't chase after him like that country bumpkin...
"No, I have said it before, everything I have done is for the sake of the Great Yu..."
"Is that so? Since our family has never offended you, why do you want to push our Duke Dingguo's family into a position of disloyalty and unfilial piety?" Shangguan Jin asked loudly.
Upon hearing this, everyone in the court looked at Shangguan Jin.
Emperor Xiao Jing also looked at Shangguan Jin.
He knew that his sworn brother's wife would not let the matter rest.
How could someone who could subdue the war god of northern Chongqing to the point that he wouldn't even dare to marry a concubine be a weak woman...?
"You...you're talking nonsense, spouting blasphemous lies!" Vice Minister Zhang's face flushed red once again.
"My lord, I advise you to be more polite."
In terms of rank, you are only a third-rank official.
I am the wife of a first-rank duke, further promoted to the title of first-rank protector of the nation; my rank is higher than yours.
Since you're from the Ministry of Rites, you wouldn't be mistaken in the proper etiquette, would you?
You'd better answer my question properly, otherwise...
Before Shangguan Jin could finish speaking, Old Madam Shen, standing to the side, forcefully poked the floor tiles of Zichen Palace with her cane.
Vice Minister Zhang...
"Madam Shen, I have not done anything to cause the Duke's mansion to fall into disloyalty and filial impiety."
On the contrary, I believe that, according to my plan, the Duke's mansion can become a benevolent and righteous family that everyone praises.
After all, a woman...
"You old bastard, you think you can take advantage of me just because I gave you a little taste of your own medicine?"
You think you can fly just because I gave you a chicken feather?
"A family of benevolence and righteousness? Are you out of your mind? Are you dreaming of becoming an immortal? Or is it that the court of Dayu can no longer accommodate you, and you want to find another place..."
Emperor Xiao Jing was stunned...
All the officials and civil and military officials stared at Shangguan Jin in astonishment.
That's not right. Madam Shen comes from a powerful family. Everyone in the capital knows that the Duchess of Dingguo is well-educated, humble, and gentle. She speaks softly to everyone.
this......
Lord Shangguan was also startled, but quickly recovered.
This was Jin's plan.
That old bastard Zhang is the best at being unreasonable and sophistry. He won't listen to anything you say; his mind is full of etiquette, the words of sages, and the like.
His eldest daughter suddenly changed her attitude in order to catch him off guard.
Indeed, Father taught him well. He once pointed his finger at the old Minister of Rites and berated him in the same way.
What kind of scholar...
In the end, it just turned into pointing fingers and cursing at each other—simple, direct, and satisfying...
Lord Shangguan hugged the ceremonial tablet in his hand to his chest and began to watch the show with an air of composure.
It's been so many years since I've seen such a grand performance. I must watch it carefully and attentively, and then tell my father, mother, and wife about it when I get back...
Look how capable my Jin'er is, she's just like her father back in the day...
"Dayu was founded on war, a foundation laid by the founding emperor."
It is precisely because all the emperors of my Great Yu Dynasty followed the holy will of Emperor Taizu that my Great Yu Dynasty was able to establish itself in the Central Plains.
With a strong and well-equipped army, prosperous people, and a stable border, the country enjoys a peaceful and secure border.
Despite being surrounded by powerful enemies, Da Yu was still able to protect the peace and tranquility of its people; this was all thanks to the battles it fought for.
It's not about getting it by sending princesses and noblewomen from the royal family to the beds of foreign vassal kings, as you said.
How incompetent must an emperor be to think of using women to exchange for peace?
Vice Minister Zhang, how dare you!
You actually want to destroy the foundation that has been built up over the past century in Chongqing?
You're courting death, fine, but why drag our Dingguo Mansion into your pawns?
Everyone in our Duke Dingguo Mansion is willing to dedicate themselves to Dayu.
Regardless of gender.
Even the daughters possess the same grandeur as the Duke in his prime.
However, I am telling you this in my capacity as the wife of the Duke of Dingguo and the wife of the Protector of the Nation.
The children of the Shen family, regardless of gender, will only fight desperately for Dayu on the battlefield.
As for anyone who tries to humiliate the Shen family, I will not let them get away with it.
Even the Duke of Dingguo, if he knew this from the afterlife, wouldn't.
The children of the Shen family, no matter who they are, are the kind of people who would rather die standing than live on their knees.
Zhang Shilang, give up on that idea!
If you want a marriage alliance, send your daughter to marry into the other family. If one daughter isn't enough, send two. If you still don't have enough daughters, include your wife and concubines.
Oh, and there's more! It's not just the southern barbarians, but also the northern barbarians!
Send your daughter over there too, to serve those old princes of the Northern Hu.
The Northern Hu people are unrestrained and have no concept of ethics.
Even if the old ones die, the young ones will still be cared for.
"Maybe if you're lucky, your family might be able to serve you for three generations!" Shangguan Jin said, enunciating each word clearly.
With each sentence he spoke, Vice Minister Zhang took a step back.
He found that he couldn't refute what the Duchess said.
Those in the court were completely convinced.
As expected of someone from the Shangguan family, their tongue is indeed very smooth.
Even the Duke of Anguo kept nodding in agreement.
No wonder the Duke of Dingguo was known as the God of War of the North; even the people in his household could think so far ahead...
I'd rather die standing than live on my knees...
Emperor Xiao Jing was deeply moved.
Any child of the Shen family, regardless of gender, would risk their life for the Great Yu, but only on the battlefield...
Indeed, this is the family tradition of the Duke of Dingguo.
Just as Emperor Xiao Jing was about to offer his praise, he heard Shangguan Jin speak up again.
"Your Excellency, do you know what the consequences of your actions will be?"
Once the idea of a marriage alliance gets out, everyone will assume that it's the imperial family's idea.
Those from other countries, however, tend to think a little more deeply.
The fact that Da Yu is actually trying to use women to ease tensions—what does that signify?
This shows that the Great Yu dared not fight. This shows that the Great Yu was afraid!
Once this door is opened, the consequences will not only be marriage alliances, but also ceding territory to sue for peace.
Today this foreign land wants a piece of land, tomorrow that foreign land wants a city...
They will also demand that Da Yu send jewelry and gold as compensation...
Step by step, they encroached upon the land of Dayu, humiliating its people...
Given time, Dayu will once again become a tempting target for foreign powers, and at that time...
Minister Zhang, isn't this disloyalty?
They are disloyal to the country, disloyal to the emperor, and even more disloyal to the common people!
Vice Minister Zhang, how dare you stand in front of everyone and spout such nonsense?
You are the utterly disloyal one!
As soon as Shangguan Jin finished speaking, everyone's minds went blank.
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