When night came, the moonlight was really like frost. The servants in the fu had already prepared all kinds of things. He Ming and Luo Wen Yao looked at the windproof lanterns hanging in the pavilion and the small tables on both sides filled with all kinds of dishes. They finally understood what er ge meant when he said "no need to scrimp" in the morning.
The four sat around the table, each taking a pair of serving chopsticks to start cooking in the pot. Even He Ming, who wasn't very favored, rarely cooked for himself. He didn't know how long it would take for the dishes to be cooked and became the butt of many jokes. But at the time, he ate very happily.
Luo Wen Yao watched as Qu Qing Ju nimbly picked up the dishes she liked and put them into the pot to cook. Her timing was also very precise. She couldn't help but look down on the people of Chang De Gong Fu. No matter what, er sao was the eldest di daughter. But er sao had suffered so much. Otherwise, why was er sao so familiar with these things?
Not knowing that in Luo Wen Yao's heart, she had become a little cabbage in the snow, Qu Qing Ju contentedly drank a small bowl of white fungus and red dates soup. After getting rid of the spiciness in her mouth, she felt she was sixty percent full before commenting: "It's been a while since I've eaten hot pot soup. Our kitchen's hot pot soup base is getting better and better."
"It's good to eat it once or twice. If you eat it every day, you won't like any soup base," He Heng used the serving chopsticks to pick up a cooked tea tree mushroom and put it on her plate. He smiled as he commented, "You ate a lot of meat tonight, it's hard to sleep early."
Qu Qing Ju picked up the tea tree mushroom and dipped it in her plate. After putting it in her mouth, she said: "Then later, you play chess with me."
"Alright," He Heng grimaced. He turned his head and picked out Qu Qing Ju's favorite food to put in her bowl.
He Ming poured a small bowl of white fungus and red dates soup for Luo Wen Yao. Seeing er ge and er sao expertly pick out the dishes they liked for each other, he thought inside, he hadn't done enough.
"Si di's wounds have healed, the marriage is complete. Fuhuang also said that us brothers should put more effort into politics. Why don't you go to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works more often? You can learn more." He Heng raised a cup to He Ming and took a small sip, commenting, "I might be the second oldest, but I'm not even two years older than you. You should put more effort into politics."
How could He Ming refuse? Among the four brothers, other than his eldest brother who was seven years older than him, his second and third brothers were about the same age. But the second and third brothers were already familiar with the affairs of the court. He was the only one who, after turning sixteen, went to court every day, but in reality, there was not much to do.
Father Emperor had never had any intentions towards him. His mother was not favored and there was no one in his mother's clan who could say anything. That was why he had been muddle-headed in the court for two or three years without accomplishing anything. Now that Second Brother had said these words, he wanted to give him a helping hand so that he could stand firm in the court.
"Thank you, er ge. Yu di will learn well, or er ge will be disappointed," He Ming raised his wine cup, "Yu di toasts er ge."
Sitting at one side, Luo Wen Yao smiled gratefully at Qu Qing Ju. Even though she didn't know the whole story, but now that Duan Wang was willing to help her wang ye, she was naturally full of gratitude towards Qu Qing Ju, Duan Wang Fei.
After the meal, both host and guest were happy. The four admired the moon in the garden for a while to aid digestion before returning to their rooms.
He Heng naturally played a game of chess with Qu Qing Ju before hugging the beauty into the land of tenderness. After a round of passion, the two contentedly fell asleep.
In the guest room, Luo Wen Yao took off her hairpins and laid on the bed with He Ming. She hesitated for a long time before asking: "Wang ye, is er bo trying to rope you in?"
"Silly Wen Yao, er ge doesn't need to rope me in," He Ming leaned against the headboard of the bed, pulling the person into his embrace, "What I have, er ge also has. What I don't have, er ge still has. If I hadn't married you, er ge might not have been willing to help me."
Luo Wen Yao paused. She suddenly thought of er yumu who had married into Xiang Qing Hou Fu, and then thought of Duan Wang Fei who was very close to er yumu. In that instant, she understood. She hugged He Ming with heartache and said in a small voice: "That's because wang ye has the ability so er bo wants to help you. Otherwise, no matter who you married, it wouldn't have been useful."
He Ming smiled as he patted her back, his laughter spreading through the entire room.
Because Qing De Emperor was seriously ill, the people of Jing City were fearful. Who knew that after a few days, the Emperor would gradually improve and could even persist in going to court. The thoughts that had been wandering gradually calmed down.
After that, there was an imperial censor who censored Chang De Gong Fu, listing all the scandals that Chang De Gong Fu had done. Allowing slaves to harm people, giving out money, using their power to buy the land of the common people at a low price. It also mentioned that sixteen years ago, when the Duke of Chang De's di wife had just passed away, he had taken a new wife, such an immoral act. Even the Duchess of Chang De, Liang shi, had allowed her paternal family to use the power of the duke's fu to bully people, and had harshly mistreated the daughter of the first wife and the daughter of the shu.
Instantly, the entire court was in an uproar. They had heard of the matters of Chang De Gong Fu but no one had the energy to care. Now that someone was censuring them, naturally these matters became unpardonable crimes. Even more, everyone in Jing City didn't know that Duan Wang loved his di wife dearly. Chang De Gong Fu doing such things, wasn't that making Duan Wang unhappy?
Of course, there were people who looked at Rui Wang's expression. Liang shi's daughter had become Rui Wang's concubine. If Rui Wang wanted to protect her, they couldn't just kick her when she was down. After they watched for two days, they found that Rui Wang had no reaction to the matter. Everyone instantly understood. Rui Wang didn't have the energy to care about the paternal family of a concubine.
Since Rui Wang didn't care, and Duan Wang didn't have any good feelings towards Chang De Gong Fu, the officials of the court instantly understood. In a few short days, memorials to censure Chang De Gong Fu were presented in front of the emperor like snowflakes. There were countless matters, big and small. In a short time, Chang De Gong Fu became the mouse that everyone wanted to beat, as though looking at it would dirty their eyes.
When Qu Qing Ju heard that Chang De Gong Fu was being censured, it was the third day of the matter. After she finished listening to Jin Zhan's report, she paused for a beat before asking: "There's really no one pleading for Chang De Gong Fu at court?"
Jin Zhan shook her head. She looked at wang fei's expression and found that wang fei didn't seem worried at all for Chang De Gong Fu before continuing: "Nubi heard that many daren are censuring the duke and the Liang Family. The Emperor is very angry about this matter."
Qu Qing Ju nodded, "I understand." Based on He Heng's disgust towards Chang De Gong Fu, he definitely wouldn't plead for the Duke of Chang De. It would be good if he didn't kick them when they were down. But with He Heng's conduct, he definitely wouldn't jump out personally. No matter what, the Duke of Chang De was his father-in-law on the surface. If he jumped out personally, if someone purposefully exaggerated it, it wouldn't be good for his reputation.
Even more, people like He Heng were most skilled at backstabbing. For him to act personally like He Qi or He Yuan, it would be hard for him.
He Heng didn't help Chang De Gong Fu. The smart people at court understood what was going on. But He Yuan didn't have any intentions of helping. Because of this, everyone understood that Chang De Gong Fu was an arrow at the end of its flight. It was said that there weren't many who would help in the hour of need, but there were many who would kick them when they were down. The people that censured Chang De Gong Fu and the Liang Family naturally popped up.
Hearing someone mention the crime of the Duke of Chang De marrying a new wife before the corpse of his di wife was even cold, Qu Qing Ju felt a bit pleased. Tian Qu shi was so unlucky to encounter a man like the Duke of Chang De. Even more, Tian Qu shi's cause of death was suspicious but the Duke of Chang De had used illness as an excuse to dismiss her. The people of Xiang Qing Hou Fu had this chance, how could they let it go?
As expected, that day, Tian Jin Ke sent a memorial. The main idea was that jiejie's cause of death was suspicious. Liang shi had given birth to twins eight months after entering the fu. He suspected that the Duke of Chang De had killed his di wife because Liang shi was pregnant so he could marry Liang shi into the fu.
When the news came out, Jing became even more lively. That year, Liang shi had given birth to twins in less than eight months after entering the fu. At the time, the explanation was that she was pregnant with twins which caused the babies to be born prematurely. But thinking about it now, this matter was suspicious.
If there wasn't anything suspicious, why would the Duke of Chang De be in such a hurry to welcome them into the fu? Was it that he couldn't even wait for his di wife's hundred days?
When this matter came out, those that had been in contact with Chang De Gong Fu and the Liang Family all cut off contact with the two families. The two families couldn't find a way to ask for help.
Every day, Qu Qing Ju heard the latest news about the Qu Family at court. Her mood became better and better. Who knew that when she had just finished listening to the gossip that Jin Zhan told her, she heard a report from outside that the Duke of Chang De was asking to see her.
The Duke of Chang De?
Qu Qing Ju's memories of the Duke of Chang De were extremely indifferent and even held a thread of hatred. Hearing that the Duke of Chang De had come, she hesitated for a second before standing and ordering: "Tell the gatekeeper to have the Duke of Chang De wait in the side hall of the wang fu."
"Mistress, you want to see the duke?" Mu Jin looked worriedly at Qu Qing Ju, clearly worried for her.
"What's there to be afraid of? I'm wang fei now. Do I have to be afraid that he will scold me for Liang shi?" Qu Qing Ju smiled coldly, "Jin Zhan, help me change."
Jin Zhan hurriedly complied. The yahuan in the room also started to work.
Looking at the different hairpins and jewellery that the yahuan brought in as well as the grand dresses, Qu Qing Ju picked a thick and luxurious wide-sleeved luan robe. In her memories, didn't the Duke of Chang De like to act like a father and scold the original owner of his body?
Then she would let him understand what it meant to use power to suppress others!
The Duke of Chang De waited for a long while outside the gates of Duan Wang Fu before someone led him in. He followed the taijian in front of him to the side hall of the wang fu. Behind him, Liang Hong took out a pouch and shoved it at the taijian leading the way. He asked fawningly: "This little brother, when will wang fei be free?" He had accompanied yifu to many families. Some didn't even welcome guests, some let them in, but after drinking a bellyful of tea, they still didn't see anyone. So at this time, he couldn't help but want to ask.
The little taijian took the pouch and politely smiled, replying: "Little gongzi is too polite. This one is just a servant, how would I know about wang fei's matters. You two wait, I think you will see wang fei in a while." Finishing, he made a bow and hurriedly left.
Very quickly, there were servants that brought fruits and refreshments for the two. Liang Hong sat uneasily on the carved pear wood chair. Looking at the well-dressed servants of the wang fu silently standing in the room, he strangely felt it hard to breathe.
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