Li Liang felt indignant for Tang 77 and started shouting indignantly. The two people next to Geng Rui couldn't sit still either and immediately started cursing back at Li Liang.
Before long, the verbal sparring had escalated into a physical fight. Tang 77 watched Geng Rui's reaction calmly, but Geng Rui surprisingly did not say anything to stop it.
Li Liang was highly skilled in martial arts. Although the two men attacked him from both sides, they could not harm him in the slightest. In fact, Li Liang even taught the two men a severe lesson.
One of them called out, and two more people came to help. How could Tang 77 let her people be wronged? She said coldly, "Are you private individuals? Do I have to pay you?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than twenty bodyguards appeared in unison, and within moments, all of Geng Rui's men were taken down.
Geng Rui frowned, looking displeased, and said, "Your Excellency the Regent is going too far. I am, after all, the Minister of Revenue, appointed by the City Lord himself. You brought so many experts to my residence and injured my servants. Is this a sign of dissatisfaction with the City Lord?"
Tang 77 frowned and said with a stern face, "Geng Rui, have I been too kind to you? What a hypocrite! Lanling is in dire need of rebuilding, and it's the time for everyone to contribute. You've been claiming to be sick at home for days. Is this because you're dissatisfied with the city lord, or because you don't want to serve the people?"
Geng Rui, radiating coldness, said, "I am highly regarded by the city lord and entrusted with important responsibilities. Naturally, I will do my utmost, even unto death. However, to expect me to take orders from a mere brat like you is simply a pipe dream. At worst, I will resign from this position as Minister!"
Upon hearing this, Tang 77 was not angry at all, but instead laughed: "Does the Minister hold a deep grudge against me just because I am young?"
Geng Rui made no attempt to hide his disgust for Tang 77. He said with great sorrow, "Our city lord has always been wise and powerful, extremely sagacious and open to advice. But ever since you appeared, all the civil and military officials have impeached you, yet he still insists on making you regent. You are a treacherous minister who is bringing disaster to the country. I, Geng Rui, cannot persuade the city lord, nor will I be your henchman or help you in your evil deeds!"
Tang 77 clicked his tongue and said, "Lord Geng, are you almost moved to death by your own words? You're fearless of power, you're practically a lotus rising from the mud, aren't you?"
Looking at Tang 77's nonchalant attitude, Geng Rui felt even more contempt for him, his face full of disdain.
Tang 77 changed his tone and said sharply, "Everyone says that Lord Geng is an upright man who is dedicated to the people. But I think you are just a blockhead and a coward. You pretend to be sick and hide in your mansion all day long, doing nothing, and you still try to make yourself look good by talking in a high-sounding way."
If you were truly loyal to the city lord, you wouldn't have let the entire Ministry of Revenue fall into disrepair when he needed your assistance the most. If you truly cared about the people, you wouldn't have ignored official duties and let them fend for themselves when you knew they had been exploited to the point of having nothing by Qin Xiao. You are a hypocrite. Since you don't want to continue, hand over the official seal. In such a vast place as Lanling, are you afraid you can't find a minister?"
The man who had just been knocked down by Li Liang, with red eyes, angrily said to Tang 77 Shuo: "How could a villain like you, who became regent through improper means, know how much our lord has sacrificed for Lanling and for the people? The city lord's actions this time are truly disheartening!"
Li Liang had reached his limit. His master was, after all, a regent. He was good-natured and didn't say anything, but he couldn't let a servant bully him like this.
Li Liang leaped forward and kicked the man to the ground again: "Who do you think you are, daring to speak to our Regent like that!"
At this moment, Geng Rui, after being scolded by Tang 771, was as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water, and instantly sobered up.
He raised his eyes and stared at Tang 77 with an aggressive gaze, saying, "Does the Regent mean that he will not bewitch the City Lord and will not do anything that would bring disaster to the country and its people?"
Tang 77 was speechless. What was wrong with these people? From top to bottom, apart from Lan Yu, not a single person looked up to him.
It's understandable that Uncle Liu doubts his own abilities, given his age.
But everyone is saying she bewitched Lan Yu, calling her a seductive man who bewitched the emperor, a scourge to the country, and that she did nothing wrong, yet they want to nail her to the pillar of shame.
Tang 771, looking utterly dejected, said, "I've only been in office for seven days. Where did you get the idea that I've brought disaster to the country? You don't have faith in me, or in Lan Yu, or even in the City Lord? Don't you know what kind of person he is? You keep claiming to be loyal to the City Lord, but do you deserve that title?"
Geng Rui was speechless after Tang 77's easy-to-understand explanation, his face turning red and white in turns.
He trusted Lan Yu completely; he wouldn't joke about the rise and fall of Lanling, especially in such a difficult time.
Everyone is saying that the city lord brought back an extremely handsome man during his recent ordeal, and they are inseparable. It is said that the city lord is a homosexual.
Lan Yu has always been alone over the years, rejecting countless women who have thrown themselves at him, which makes the rumors seem more credible.
That day in the imperial court, he saw a young man beside the city lord whose beauty was astonishing, and the city lord's eyes were so ambiguous that Geng Rui believed him 78% of the time.
Later, the city lord defied public opinion and insisted on making this beauty the regent. Not only Geng Rui, but all the civil and military officials felt that Tang 77 was a treacherous minister who brought disaster to the country and the people.
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