Inside the Marquis Mansion, Old Marquis Hong, who usually kept to himself, was seated in the main hall, together with the families from the other branches, including Heir Hong.
"Where are the people from the third branch?" The voice of Old Marquis Hong was chilly, and anyone could see that he was in a bad mood.
For many years, Old Marquis Hong had ceased to ddle in court affairs, but his detachnt did not an he was clueless about the events in the Imperial Palace.
On the contrary, the fact that Ye Huangyu was conferred the title of general and shot Hong Fang with an arrow at the palace gates had already been reported to Old Marquis Hong by the scheming Heir Hong.
The face of Old Marquis Hong was clouded, an impending storm brewing at any mont.
"Third Young Master and the two young ladies went to the Imperial Palace to pick up Madam. Young Master Yulang went out and hasn’t returned yet; servants have been sent to ask him to co back."
The steward responded, noting that Uncle Fu had just returned, hitched the carriage, and went back to the palace again.
After asking this question, Old Marquis Hong stopped talking, and the people from the other branches exchanged glances.
The Heir Consort, seated next to Heir Hong, rolled her eyes out of boredom.
The third branch has beco increasingly arrogant, actually having a bunch of them here waiting.
Thinking about how the third branch has beco more overbearing lately because of Hong Ming Yue, the Heir Consort felt wave after wave of annoyance.
Clearly, her family’s heir is the rightful successor of the Hong Residence, yet Old Marquis Hong is so favorable to the third branch, how could she not be upset.
Beside her, a maid whispered sothing into the ear of the Heir Consort.
The eyes of the Heir Consort suddenly lit up, and she asked in a voice that was neither too loud nor too low.
"Is this really true? You said the Third Madam was defiled by an old eunuch from the cold palace while she was there?"
The primary wife of Old Marquis Hong had passed away years ago, and in the mansion, only the primary wife could be rightfully addressed as "Madam." This remark about the Third Madam, delivered with deliberate ambiguity, left no doubt about whom it referred to.
Upon hearing this, the faces of the other branches in the room, all trained in martial arts, took on odd expressions.
Two sharp gazes swept over, belonging to none other than Old Marquis Hong.
"What are you mumbling about? Eldest, keep your woman in line. If any gossip spreads, I won’t let her off lightly!"
Scolded by the gaze of Old Marquis Hong, the Heir Consort shrank her neck in fear, daring not to say more, but inside she was secretly delighted.
The third branch, always so haughty because they were protected by the Heavenly Armor Sect, now it turned out, was disgraced by an old eunuch, which was truly gratifying.
Not long after, Hong Yulang returned as well.
He looked rather downcast, as if he had just co from Hongwu Hall not too long ago.
Xia Capital was neither too big nor too small.
The incident that befell Hong Fang at the palace gates today had already sparked a flurry of idle chatter, and Hong Yulang could not believe that the father he respected most could be humiliated by a contemptible woman.
He hurried ho precisely to inquire about this matter with his father, and just happened to run into Old Marquis Hong’s ssengers requesting his return to the mansion.
Upon entering, Hong Yulang saw everyone in the main hall and realized that his grandfather likely had so admonishnts to deliver. He did not dare to ask more and awkwardly stood to the side.
After a while, Hong Fang, Zhuge Rou, and the sisters Hong Ming Yue finally walked in.
In the main hall, dozens of pairs of eyes suddenly looked over.
Hong Fang felt a chill in his heart, knowing that he could no longer avoid the issue at hand.
The entire hall was silent; not a single person spoke.
When Hong Mingyue and Hong Yuying helped Zhuge Rou enter, Hong Yulang hurriedly ca to et them.
"Mother, why have you only just returned? During the day..." As soon as Hong Yulang saw his father’s expression and his mother’s tear-streaked face, the words he was about to ask were stuck in his throat.
"Oh dear, sister-in-law, I heard you went to the Imperial Palace to see the Empress today. But as for , I happened to et the Empress and the Empress Dowager at the temple today." The Heir Consort Hong pretended to step forward and chit-chat with Zhuge Rou, and as if unintentionally, she saw the ambiguous marks on Zhuge Rou’s body. Her eyes widened in shock. "Sister, you couldn’t have been... in the palace..."
"Shut up!" Zhuge Rou, who usually appeared amicable, suddenly raised her head and stared fiercely at the Heir Consort Hong. The ferocity of her look caused the Heir Consort Hong to retreat several steps in fright.
"What exactly happened? Speak, Hong Fang, is it true about the imperial decree of divorce?" Marquis Hong was also very angry.
Outside the palace gates, Hong Fang had received the divorce decree from Ye Huangyu, and through the Princely Heir’s mouth, this news had reached Marquis Hong.
Imperial decree of divorce?
Upon hearing this, Zhuge Rou’s complexion changed again and she glanced at Hong Fang.
Hong Fang pursed his lips, his handso face clouded with anger, yet he remained silent.
"Bring forth the divorce decree," commanded Marquis Hong in fury.
Hong Fang had no choice but to step forward and humbly present the humiliating decree.
rely catching a glimpse of Ye Huangyu’s signature and Emperor Xia’s jade seal, Marquis Hong slapped the divorce decree onto the table.
The thin page of paper embedded itself half an inch deep into the tabletop.
"That vile Ye Huangyu, she’s got so nerve."
The humiliation was enormous.
Marquis Hong’s chest ached with anger.
Hong Fang, along with Zhuge Rou and several others inside, all knelt down.
"Father (Grandfather), please calm your wrath."
"Look at the ss you’ve made, you’ve completely disgraced the Hong Residence. Third son’s wife, I ask you, did you in the palace today..." Marquis Hong glanced at Hong Fang as he entered; Hong Fang’s face had been kept down, making it temporarily difficult to discern what he was actually thinking.
"Father, you must stand up for your daughter-in-law, I’ve been frad. It must be that wretched girl Ye Lingyue, she conspired with the Empress to set up. I’ve been completely devoted to my lord, how could I do such a thing to bring dishonor to our family?" Zhuge Rou cried as if her heart was shattering.
Her husband, who used to be so affectionate, was now as cold as a stranger today.
And the mocking and schadenfreude in the eyes of the Heir Consort and the others were like needles piercing her heart, pricking Zhuge Rou painfully.
Hong Mingyue exchanged glances with her mother and ordered soone to present both the tea that Zhuge Rou had earlier drunk and the body of the nanny who had been killed.
Inside the sack, Zhuge Rou’s personal nanny had long since stopped breathing, her body was covered in wounds, yet no martial arts had been used.
As for the tea, it contained aphrodisiac, but what did that prove?
Could it be that the Hong Residence would risk further humiliation by confronting the Empress in the Imperial Palace?
Both Hong Fang and Marquis Hong understood that even if they questioned her, there would be no results, as Empress Liu was already well-known for her favoritism towards the Ye Family’s mother and daughter.
Marquis Hong sighed deeply.
"You’re over thirty years old and to think that you’ve been plotted against by a teenage girl. Enough, enough, enough, as for this matter, I have my own judgnt. For the next few days, everyone from the third branch must reflect in isolation within the residence. If anyone dares to make a fuss, they will imdiately be expelled from the Hong Residence!" Having said that, Marquis Hong stood up, his face expressing deep disappointnt, and without giving Hong Fang and his wife another look, he left indignantly.
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