Chapter 53: Take Back the Headgear
In just one day, the wedding banquet at the Xuanping Marquis Mansion became the biggest topic of conversation (joke) on the streets. You could hear different versions of the story in any teahouse or tavern.
After the court was dismissed, Emperor Defeng learned about this and his mouth twitched.
He wondered why both Chu Dingfeng and Chu Yian, father and son, looked so pale, and it turned out that his son had also contributed to it.
"Call Xiao Qi to me."
The head eunuch Feng Youcai bowed and replied with a smile, "The Seventh Prince has been waiting outside the Imperial Study since early morning, just waiting for Your Majesty to summon him."
De Fengdi snorted softly, "It seems he also knows what he has done."
Xiao Yanci went inside and bowed.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. I have come to you today to report that the imperial decree regarding the divorce of the daughter of the Lu family and the Marquis Xuanping's residence has been read out. The divorce is progressing smoothly. I am proud that I have fulfilled my mission!"
When Emperor Defeng heard what he said, he was so angry that he almost laughed because he thought he was trying to take credit for it.
"Then should I still reward you well?"
Xiao Yanci boasted, "Your Majesty, please record all of this in your son's account. When I marry the princess in the future, I will give it to her to manage. You know, I can't keep money. No matter how much I reward, it will just go to others for free."
Emperor Defeng: "...You think long-term!"
Xiao Yanci said sternly, "My son's fate is special, so naturally I have to think more about myself."
Emperor Defeng didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.
He coughed lightly and got back to the point, "Who asked you to announce the imperial decree yesterday?"
Xiao Yanci looked innocent, "Your Majesty, father didn't specify a day when the decree couldn't be issued, so I naturally chose an auspicious day."
Emperor Defeng: ...
"You did it on purpose! You're happy just because you ruined someone else's wedding banquet?"
Xiao Yanci smiled broadly, "Yes, I love to see others make fools of themselves."
His reckless attitude made Emperor Defeng so angry that he didn't know how to scold him.
I could only point at his nose and say, "You will get married one day too. Be careful that this will come back to haunt you."
Xiao Yanci didn't take it seriously. "How evil is this son? If any monster dares to cause trouble at my wedding banquet, wouldn't that be courting death?"
I couldn't scold him anymore, so I just waved my hand and sent him away.
After Xiao Yan left, Emperor Defeng said to Feng Youcai in a bad mood: "Look at him, he is becoming more and more lawless."
Feng Youcai bowed, his face full of smiles, "It is because the Emperor treats the Seventh Prince kindly that the Seventh Prince acts so freely in front of you."
Emperor Defeng snorted, "Did anything go wrong at yesterday's wedding banquet?"
Feng Youcai hesitated to speak.
Emperor Defeng raised his eyebrows and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."
"I heard that before the Seventh Prince announced his decree, two jokes happened."
"Tell me about it."
Feng Youcai pondered and said, "The manager of Miss Lu's shop was detained in Jingzhao Prefecture for corruption. Faced with irrefutable evidence, they were forced to confess, but they also revealed the mastermind, who was none other than the wife of Marquis Xuanping, Jiang."
Emperor Defeng frowned slightly, "Is this really true?"
"This matter has not yet been decided, and I do not know whether it is true or not. I really should not disturb His Majesty's ears with this."
Emperor Defeng said quietly, "Empty blood brings no wind. What's the other matter?"
Feng Youcai spoke carefully, "This matter has something to do with Doctor Zhao..."
He narrated the whole story in a concise and concise manner, and Emperor Defeng's expression gradually darkened.
"After all, the Zhao family girl isn't from a prominent family, and her behavior is truly unpresentable."
Feng Youcai didn't dare to comment on this, after all, that was a person promoted by the emperor himself.
"Yesterday was her wedding day, so let her rest in the mansion for a while."
Feng Youcai remained calm and agreed with a smile.
"Your Majesty is indeed considerate of your humble servants."
When Emperor Defeng's oral order reached the Marquis Xuanping's residence, everyone turned pale.
No one expected that the emperor's punishment would come so quickly.
Jiang cried out, "The Emperor is apparently showing sympathy by giving you leave, but in reality, he's actually taking your position away from you! He didn't even mention a time limit. What if the Emperor never remembers you? Won't you just have to stay at home like this forever?"
Zhao Shuning's heart tightened, but he forced himself to appear proud and confident. "Impossible! Concubine Li's illness needs me. No one else can heal her except me."
The gynecological disease that Concubine Li suffered from could not be cured by the imperial physicians at all, only I could do it.
As long as Concubine Li helps, she will definitely be able to return to the Imperial Hospital.
However, this incident also reminded her that she must find more opportunities to display her medical skills.
If she had a group of loyal fans, even if she was forced to leave the Imperial Hospital, she would still be able to treat the ladies of noble families.
A strong sense of urgency and ambition flashed in Zhao Shuning's eyes.
Jiang was filled with resentment, "If you hadn't pointed out that she was pregnant, we wouldn't have gotten into so much trouble today!"
Zhao Shuning's face turned slightly cold.
Chu Dingfeng scolded him, "Clean up your own mess first before blaming others. When the court was dismissed today, Lord Fu specifically reminded me about the case. I've lost all my face!"
He put his old face aside and begged Lord Fu to show mercy, but the other party was ruthless and refused to respond. He only conveyed Lu Zhiran's attitude that as long as the stolen money was paid back, the case could be closed, otherwise, Jiang would be brought to the government office for trial.
She only cares about money, not people.
Jiang's face turned the color of liver.
"Have you collected all the money yet?"
Jiang stammered, "How can such a large sum of money be so easily raised?"
Chu Dingfeng: "You've embezzled so much money, are you going to spend it all? The Marquis' Mansion is in trouble right now, and we can't afford any mistakes. You must fill this hole for me!"
Jiang's eyes flickered, and she sent someone back to her parents' home to ask for the money. Sure enough, her brother and sister-in-law said that the money could not be returned for a while.
Although she has some at the moment, it is far from enough.
Zhao Shuning lowered his head, with a gloomy look in his eyes.
Lu Zhiran’s money must be collected and returned, but what about my own money?
After Jiang cried for who knows how many times that she couldn't come up with the money, Chu Yian suddenly spoke.
"In that case, let's return Qing'er's headgear."
Jiang's crying suddenly stopped, "How can this be possible?"
Chu Dingfeng, who was about to leave, stopped and looked back with some confusion.
"Which headgear is Qing'er wearing?"
He usually didn't care about the affairs of the rear house, so he was completely unaware of the previous incident.
Chu Yian spoke in a deep voice, "Not long ago, Qing'er ordered a set of headgear from Ruyi Pavilion. The total price was 8,888 taels. Shu Ning paid for her."
Chu Dingfeng took a breath when he heard the amount.
"Why didn't you say so earlier? Return it now! Return it now!"
Jiang objected sharply, "No, that's Qing'er's! Besides, how can you return something you bought? If the news gets out, will the reputation of the Marquisate be ruined?"
Chu Dingfeng pointed at her nose and cursed, "Then go to jail, and then all of us will be proud!"
If it weren't for his own face, he wouldn't bother to care about Jiang's life or death.
Jiang fell silent instantly.
After a while, she murmured, "Didn't the old marquis leave some things behind..."
Chu Dingfeng slapped her in the face and said, "How dare you covet my father's possessions? Are you planning to squander the entire Marquis's fortune?"
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