"But...but...we can't do anything..."
Wu's mother cried bitterly.
"Yeah, we have no other options... What else can we do besides asking for help..."
The woman sobbed.
"Whether there's a way or not, others have no obligation to find out. The Xiang family has been very merciful by not handing the case over to the authorities for questioning," Ye Qianning said in a voice as cold as ice. "It's the most disgusting thing for a perpetrator to beg the victim for help."
People are always so unsatisfied, and sometimes kindness can bring a lot of trouble...
Mother Wu felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her body, and she shivered all over. She looked up at her, and all the hairs on her body stood up in an instant.
"Then...what should we do...what should we do..." the woman lying limp on the ground murmured.
How can ordinary people like them have the ability to compete with the Earl's Mansion?
"National law." Ye Qianning said.
The woman looked up blankly, seeing no hope at all: "National law, Beili national law is completely useless against them..."
"It's useless to sue alone, but if two or three people all come together, they can still make a splash even in the deepest water."
"really?"
"Everything depends on human effort. Being tough always brings more hope than being weak."
Mother Wu slowly got up from the ground: "I...I will file a lawsuit. I want to sue the Earl's Mansion. I want to sue the emperor."
Several women were deep in thought after hearing Ye Qianning's words, but when they turned around and saw Wu's mother's firm and resolute look, they made a decision immediately.
"I will also file a complaint with the emperor. For my son, I am not afraid of death."
"Yes, I'll go too."
Their sons are innocent. They are the guards of the Earl's Mansion and obey the orders of their master. All the orders are from the Earl's Mansion. Why should their sons bear the blame?
Ye Qianning would not easily let go of the people on the city gate. As long as Xu Chang and Xu Hongwen did not go to the city gate to pick them up, she would never let them go.
Even if they were really going to be hanged, she would not have any sympathy. Those people were ruthless when they came to assassinate her. Not killing them and keeping them alive with potions was the greatest mercy.
Whether they can survive depends on their own luck.
People like Wu's mother just prayed, even if they died here, no one would even look at them.
The reason why I said those words was to let them understand that their only hope of survival was in the Earl's Mansion. Mindlessly begging her would most likely cause the living to die faster.
"Rowan."
"Miss." Luo Wen landed.
"You should also write a petition and send it to the prefectural government in my name, suing the Earl's family and the Fifth Princess, as well as the false imperial edict."
"yes."
"Also, Du Yi, the Xiang family's guard, has now returned to the Xiang family. This fact must also be made known to everyone."
"Du Yi was ordered to protect the Eighth Prince in the past. For so many years, everyone in the capital has known that Du Yi is the Eighth Prince's confidant. With such a relationship, it will be much easier for the eldest lady to stay in the capital in the future." Luo Wen was puzzled.
"He shouldn't be held responsible for what I did."
Everyone in the capital knew Du Yi, so whenever something happened to him, they would naturally blame Sang Zhi, just like what happened at the city gate.
She hadn't thought it through and dragged him into this and made him take the blame.
Luo Wen understood, but felt that the eldest lady was too protective of the Eighth Prince.
Ye Qianning walked out of the street leading to the Earl's Mansion, hired a carriage, and headed west of the city.
During this time, bursts of reading sounds came from outside the car. It must be said that Sang Zhi was really brave. Even the crown prince Sang Qi would not dare to be so disobedient among the royal family. Sang Zhi would have to fight a tough battle when he returned to the palace.
"Miss, we have arrived at the west side of the city. Which house are you going to?" came the driver's voice.
Ye Qianning pulled aside the curtain and looked up at the time. It was almost three quarters past noon. It was not auspicious to enter the house at this time after not seeing him for many years. "Wait a moment."
"Okay."
Ye Qianning sat in the car, feeling excited, scared, and complicated.
She had heard Gu Shuo and Zhan Chi say before that the old man couldn't recognize people. He used to be sometimes lucid and sometimes confused. In the past two years, he has grown older and has rarely been lucid.
She became a little tense just thinking about that year.
The sun was blazing, and it was noon.
Storytellers all over the city read the imperial edict aloud, and no official dared to move. The people in the city gradually relaxed from their initial tension.
In just one morning, everyone in the capital knew about it and began to doubt the authenticity of the imperial edict.
Changyang Palace
After Prince Changyang had dealt with the matter of the city gate, he returned and listened to letters along the way, his face looking worried and gloomy.
It doesn't sound like something the emperor would say, but how can it be explained if it's not the national seal?
"Father."
Nan Xiang came out of the hall and just met Prince Changyang who had returned.
Prince Changyang raised his eyes and asked, "Want to go out?"
Nan Xiang, dressed in a smart riding suit, immediately put her whip behind her back when asked and said with a flattering smile, "I'll just be out for a while."
"It's very chaotic outside, so you should stay out of the house for the next few days." How could Prince Changyang not see through her little thoughts?
"I'm just going out to take a look. I'm not going to cause any trouble."
"Hasn't that been enough trouble?" Prince Changyang glanced at her and said, "Go back."
"Father...I'll just be out for a while." Nan Xiang pulled his arm and acted coquettishly.
"Go back. If you dare to leave the house in the next few days, you will be confined to your house for half a year." Prince Changyang pulled his sleeves mercilessly and walked into the hall.
Nan Xiangyuan pouted and stomped her feet in anger.
"Xiang'er, what's wrong?"
Princess Changyang came from the corridor.
Nan Xiang saw the person coming and immediately ran over with a pout, complaining, "Mom, my father is going to confine his daughter for six months."
Princess Changyang was about to ask a question when a deep voice came from the hall.
"Don't listen to her twisting of the facts. If you dare to go out without permission in the next two days, you will be grounded."
Nan Xiang was still stubborn: "It's all the same. Father wants to confine me anyway. Mother, you have to make the decision for me."
Princess Changyang glared at her, patted her hands, and led her into the hall.
Prince Changyang sat on a chair, took a sip of his teacup, and looked up at Nan Xiang: "Even if your mother comes, don't even think about leaving the house today."
"Mom." Nan Xiang was dissatisfied.
Princess Changyang shook her head slightly at her.
"snort."
Nan Xiang let go of her and sat down on the chair angrily: "I wasn't the only one who went to the city gate yesterday. Miss Wang and Miss Rongchang went there, as did many housekeepers and young masters."
Princess Changyang took a few steps forward and sat down. "Xiang'er has always loved to join in the fun. How could she have stayed in such a lively place yesterday? Fortunately, she didn't cause any trouble."
"Forget about yesterday. Look at how she is dressed today. Doesn't she want to leave the city?" Prince Changyang saw through it at a glance.
"I... who said I was going out of town?" Nan Xiang retorted.
"Who can be satisfied with the little thoughts in your mind?"
Nan Xiang's secret was exposed, so she stopped trying to hide it: "I just wanted to take a look.
"Yesterday, the Earl's Mansion sent people out of the city to assassinate him. The Fourth Prince led his men to Sifang Mountain early in the morning. Nowadays, Sifang Mountain is not accessible to anyone who wants."
Nan Xiang was startled, then scolded her little face: "It must be the Fifth Princess."
"How are they? Are they hurt?"
Princess Changyang was shocked when she heard this. She thought that Marquis Xiang Ming and his entourage had attacked the Fifth Princess as soon as they arrived yesterday, but she didn't expect that he would send someone to assassinate her in such a fright.
Prince Changyang chuckled, "With Marquis Xiangming here, who can harm those good-for-nothings in the Earl's Mansion? All those who tried to assassinate them were hanged at the city gates early this morning."
Nan Xiang stood up excitedly: "Really?"
"Well, I just came back from the city gate. If we talk about the tricks, they are the ones who did it. There is a notice posted at the gate..." Prince Changyang recounted what happened at the gate in detail: "If the Earl's Mansion doesn't handle this matter properly, I'm afraid it will be disastrous."
Nan Xiang was invigorated by what she heard, her eyes sparkling. She stood up and said, "Father, I won't leave the city. I'll just go to the city gate to see if it's feasible."
Prince Changyang: "No, stay at home obediently."
"Xiang'er, listen to your father. Haven't you heard that the capital is in chaos right now, with rumors of imperial decrees everywhere? If you're not careful, you'll get into trouble."
It was so chaotic that Princess Changyang didn't dare let her go out.
"What do they say? It's none of my business. I just went to the city gate to watch the fun."
Prince Changyang put down the quilt in his hand heavily.
"Xiang'er, listen to your father. The city is in chaos now and no one knows which way the wind is blowing. It's better to be careful everywhere." Princess Changyang spoke first.
"mother……"
"Xiang'er, your mother and your father still have something to say, so you should go back to Lan Yixuan first." Princess Changyang spoke in a gentle voice and winked.
Nan Xiang pursed her lips and said, "Yes... Father, Mother, I'll take my leave."
Prince Changyang watched her walk out the door and sighed, "It's all your fault."
"Your Highness, is that imperial edict true?" Princess Changyang has been worried since she heard Nan Xiang talk about what happened at the city gate yesterday.
Upon hearing this, Prince Changyang shook his head with a complicated expression: "I'm not sure."
"The imperial edict was taken out yesterday and it was widely circulated in the city today. Do you think it was directed to Marquis Ming and others..." Princess Changyang hesitated and did not finish the sentence.
"When I heard the news this morning, I thought it was them, so I asked someone to investigate. The person behind the replica of the imperial edict is the Eighth Prince."
"The Eighth Prince?" Princess Changyang was shocked. "Isn't he afraid of angering His Majesty by doing this?"
"Hasn't that kid angered the emperor enough over the years?" Prince Changyang was not too surprised, but felt that he was very brave.
"The emperor didn't care because these were all bloody murders, but now he has ordered people to copy the imperial edict with the national seal and let storytellers spread it all over the city. He is trampling on the emperor's majesty. How can the emperor allow him to provoke him like this?" Princess Changyang was full of worry.
"The Emperor may not punish him."
“Why?”
"I can't explain it clearly, but the emperor's attitude towards the eighth prince has completely changed since he returned to the palace ten years ago. No matter how many troubles the eighth prince has caused over the years, the emperor has never punished him. It should be the same this time." Prince Changyang has never been able to figure out the reason.
But he knew one thing: the emperor did not dote on the eighth prince, but was... afraid of him!
He got drunk during the palace banquet that year and left the table to sober up. He accidentally overheard the emperor talking with the eighth prince. What the eighth prince said at that time was even more shocking than a replica of the imperial edict.
The emperor was just angry at the time, but did not order him to be arrested. After the eighth prince left, he saw murderous intent and fear on the face of the emperor.
Whenever he thinks about it, he still finds it unbelievable.
Princess Changyang was completely bewildered. "How can those things be compared to what's happening now? Even if the Emperor indulges him, he won't tolerate him being so presumptuous."
"In any case, you don't have to worry. The Eighth Prince will be fine. Although the child has changed his temperament and others say he is bloodthirsty, I have always known that he is a child of affection and loyalty."
"How can I not worry?" Princess Changyang sighed.
Even though the prince said so, she was still worried.
"Your Highness." The butler came hurriedly.
"What is it?"
"The eunuch outside the door has sent a message, the emperor summons the prince and he can enter the palace."
Prince Changyang stood up and said, "Tell them to wait a moment. I will come after I change my clothes."
"yes."
Princess Changyang also stood up and said, "The Emperor summoned you to the palace at this time, most likely because of the matter of reproducing the imperial edict."
"Well, it just so happens that regarding the city gate, I also need to go to the palace to explain the situation to the emperor. Madam, I may be back late today. Remember to keep an eye on Xiang'er and don't let her leave the house."
Princess Changyang nodded: "I know."
"Don't worry, the Eighth Prince will be fine."
"Well, I'll go prepare some clothes for you."
Prince Changyang nodded.
After returning to the courtyard and putting on court robes, Prince Changyang hurried out of the palace.
West of the city, Gu family.
It was past noon when Ye Qianning got off the carriage and walked along the alley to a house where two sons of the Gu family were hanging high up.
She stood at the door for a long time but no one came to visit.
Ye Qianning took a few steps back and was wondering whether to climb over the wall when he heard a series of shattering sounds coming from the yard.
Since she entered the alley, she has been using her special ability to listen to the sounds in the yard. There are people inside, and there are quite a lot of them, but it has been very quiet. There is only the sound of breathing, and no talking can be heard.
The sound of shattering fell, and then there was a suppressed low roar: "Get out."
It was Dai's voice.
"Second sister-in-law, don't be angry. You and second brother are not young anymore. Dad is confused now. It's important to have a young person by his side. If anything happens to Dad, our Gu family will at least have someone to take care of it, so we won't have to panic."
"That's right, second brother, won't you say anything? We were wrong in the beginning, and we regretted it a long time ago. The Gu family can't do without Gu Shuo."
"Second brother, second sister-in-law, Gu Shuo is the hope for our Gu family to turn things around..."
"Uncle, let's go and bring Gu Shuo back..."
Ever since the several branches of the Gu family saw Gu Shuo at the city gate yesterday, they started to make plans.
After returning from the city gate, they gathered together to discuss it. They came to the old house early this morning and spent most of the day there, but Dai still refused to give in.
Gu Mingqiu wanted to persuade Dai, but when he opened his mouth, he was frightened by Dai's look and swallowed back what he was about to say.
The other three branches and descendants of the Gu family could not help but look down on him when they saw this. They were really surprised that none of the men in the Gu family were as afraid of their wives as he was.
"Eldest brother, third brother, fourth brother, let me say it again, Gu Shuo is not on the Gu family tree, and even if he comes back, he will not clean up the mess for you." Dai's face was cold and she was very angry.
Gu Xichao had never had the table flipped over by a woman while eating. Dai Shi refused to listen to his words, and he lost his temper: "Gu Shuo has been following the old man in business since he was young. The old man taught him all his skills in his life. No one taught him. He taught him everything. If he doesn't ask about the Gu family, who will ask about the Gu family?"
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