Duke Chong’s knife didn’t stab Marquis Dongxiang, so there’s no way he could be using him.
Eunuch Fu felt a bit sorry for Duke Chong.
If he guessed correctly, Duke Chong intended to stab Marquis Dongxiang, but unexpectedly, his strike happened to cut out the malignancy in Marquis Dongxiang’s heart.
Hit right in the mark.
However, Duke Chong was also very pleased at the mont.
As long as Dongxiang Marquis Mansion protects Wenyuan Bo Mansion, the Dongxiang Marquis’s wife has essentially admitted she’s the missing girl from Wenyuan Bo Mansion fifteen years ago.
Once she admits it, her good days are effectively over.
Affairs from the court reached Wenyuan Bo Mansion.
Uncle Wen Yuan’s body felt cold halfway through.
He hadn’t expected to be impeached by the Imperial Censorate.
Almost everyone knew the Imperial Censorate was under Duke Chong’s control.
Duke Chong was determined to ruin him.
Uncle Wen Yuan was terrified to the point of weakness; he knew what he had done, and was more aware than anyone whether he could escape this calamity.
He glared at Miss An, "Look at the ss you’ve caused!"
Miss An’s eyes were red, feeling extrely wronged.
Madam Wen Yuan felt sorry for her daughter, but feared even more being exiled and having their estate confiscated; having lived comfortably, who would want a life of exile?
She looked at Uncle Wen Yuan and said, "Go beg Duke Chong, even if you have to offer half your wealth. There’s always hope if you survive."
Uncle Wen Yuan understood this logic.
He took a pile of property and land deeds out the door.
His nose was broken, and the wind blew, causing it to ache faintly.
But he couldn’t enter Duke Chong’s Mansion this ti.
Duke Chong refused to see him.
Uncle Wen Yuan waited at the door for a quarter of an hour when Manager Wang ca and said, "Uncle Wen Yuan, please leave. Our Duke won’t et visitors."
Uncle Wen Yuan offered a silver note, hoping Manager Wang might help plead his case.
As a steward at Duke Chong’s Mansion, a few words from him might lead Duke Chong to see him.
Manager Wang accepted the silver note, but didn’t pass on the ssage nor show leniency, saying, "You’re asking the wrong person. The Emperor has already assigned the Ministry of Justice to thoroughly investigate this case. Though the Minister of Justice isn’t in the Capital City, he’s the son-in-law of the Old Prince of Prince Zhenbei Mansion, and has maintained good relations with Marquis Dongxiang."
"You are the Dongxiang Marquis’s wife’s brother. With one word from Marquis Dongxiang, the Ministry of Justice could circle the case, declaring you wronged."
"Not only would you avoid punishnt, but you could even be promoted."
Manager Wang laughed and said, "I’ve co to congratulate Uncle Wen Yuan in advance."
Congratulations?!
This was just rubbing salt into the wound!
But Uncle Wen Yuan suddenly realized Duke Chong wanted him to recognize the Dongxiang Marquis’s wife by any ans.
Perhaps he wasn’t genuinely impeaching him; instead, he used this thod to help facilitate their recognition.
Thinking this way made Uncle Wen Yuan feel much better and less worried.
He carried a brocade box and arrived again at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
Last ti he stood; this ti, after a short while, he knelt down.
This kneeling sufficiently aroused the frustration of everyone at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
They had already said they wouldn’t recognize him, and the Marquis had broken his nose, yet he dared to use the agony strategy.
Did he think kneeling would make her forgive and help him?
"There’s gold under a man’s knees; he’s really spineless," Young Master Su said with disdain.
"It is gold beneath a man’s knees," Ninth Prince remarked.
Young Master Su looked at him.
Ninth Prince leaned against the door and said, "Now that court officials have impeached him, he risks losing his title and rank, possibly facing exile and confiscation. Father trusts your dad."
"If your dad intervenes, he might be given a lighter punishnt."
Although court laws are strict, they’re not so rigid that you cannot plead for leniency.
"My dad is more likely to secretly be pleased rather than help plead for him," Young Master Su said.
"Besides, if my dad helps plead for him, what if your dad seizes the opportunity to claim my sister?"
Although the Emperor is easier to reason with than your dad.
But once your dad sends it before the Emperor, can he resist taking advantage of the situation?
Your dad is unlikely to do such a foolish thing.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t be like him.
Young Master Su trusts Marquis Dongxiang but worries about his mother.
Young Master Su felt a bit jealous and bothered.
If his mom treated Uncle Wen Yuan half as harshly as she treated him, Uncle Wen Yuan would have disappeared long ago.
But Uncle Wen Yuan soon cald down.
Uncle Wen Yuan was impeached, and evidence seed strong, though not entirely verified.
As the Ministry of Justice had accepted the case, they couldn’t let Uncle Wen Yuan act as if nothing happened.
Governnt officials from the Ministry of Justice went to Wenyuan Bo Mansion to arrest him but were told he had gone to Duke Chong’s Mansion and then to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
And then—
Uncle Wen Yuan was imprisoned.
However, only Uncle Wen Yuan from the entire Wenyuan Bo Mansion was imprisoned.
Madam Wen Yuan and Miss An still remained in the mansion.
When Uncle Wen Yuan was arrested, Madam Wen Yuan realized the severity of the situation, and panic left her utterly distraught and helpless.
She didn’t know who to turn to for help or who she could turn to.
Those who impeached Uncle Wen Yuan were from Duke Chong’s side, and Uncle Wen Yuan only interacted with Duke Chong’s n, having no connections elsewhere.
After much thought, only Mrs. Tang could be relied on.
With Uncle Wen Yuan gone, Madam Wen Yuan arrived.
She knelt at the door, crying her heart out.
Young Master Su, annoyed, didn’t like won crying.
Does crying solve problems?
Fed up with weeping people, Young Master Su went back to the inner courtyard.
Inside, Mrs. Tang tossed her embroidery hoop into the basket.
Mrs. Jiang noticed the stitches on the embroidery were not as neat as usual.
Mrs. Jiang looked at Mrs. Tang and said, "Madam, have you softened?"
"What should I do?" Mrs. Tang asked, looking at Mrs. Jiang.
She didn’t want to save Uncle Wen Yuan.
She hadn’t sought revenge, already being rciful.
But she didn’t want Wenyuan Bo Mansion to fall.
It was a title her grandfather and father earned with blood.
If she couldn’t protect Wenyuan Bo Mansion, it was one thing; but she could ask Marquis Dongxiang for help.
She didn’t want to go against her conscience or dishonor her ancestors, hence her distress.
Knowing her difficulty, Mrs. Jiang put the embroidery hoop down and said, "Madam, think it through. It isn’t easy for anyone’s ancestors to establish a family; yet, there will always be unworthy descendants who don’t strive to honor their families but indulge in perverse deeds that ruin their heritage."
"Madam is devoted; without her, Wenyuan Bo Mansion would have been lost fifteen years ago. Madam is the mansion’s pride, and the ancestors would not bla her."
"You could plead with the Emperor to grant leniency and save the mansion, but what about the future?"
"With Dongxiang Marquis Mansion as a backing, Uncle Wen Yuan won’t restrain himself; he’d only beco more egregious. The embezzled resources, who knows how many lives have been lost for them?"
"Why dirty your hands over soone so ungrateful?"
Mrs. Tang said nothing.
Her eyes were red, and she felt a sting in her nose.
Mrs. Jiang embraced her, saying, "This world is unfair; Madam is brave and wise, unlike Uncle Wen Yuan."
"If won could inherit titles, Madam would shine brightly; would she let a large estate be wasted by a re half-brother?"
If Madam had any close brothers, she wouldn’t have to endure such hardship in her lifeti.
Mrs. Jiang cherished Mrs. Tang like a daughter, truly feeling it wasn’t worth it for her.
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