Teahouses in the capital are always crowded.
Many people gathered together to discuss the latest gossip in the capital.
"How can you tell me that a mere sixth-grade court lady with no family background or background dares to break into the military camp and cause trouble?"
"She is from Liupin'an, and she is also a country woman. How can a woman from the countryside understand the power struggles in the capital? She is used to being arrogant and domineering in the village, and thinks that people in the capital are inferior to her."
"But I heard that the Sui'an man's son was almost beaten to death in the military camp, so the Sui'an man would be impulsive..."
"Her son is also a bastard. Is Mr. Ye Jingui? I heard that Mr. Ye was whipped fifty times by her. He fainted on the spot and didn't know whether he was alive or dead. He really has the most poisonous heart of a woman."
"I thought that the Ye family would come forward to seek justice for Mr. Ye the next day, but I didn't expect that the Ye family would keep silent, probably because they were afraid of offending the people of Sui'an."
"It is said that the people of Sui'an understand the national language of Assab and are reused by Honglu Temple. At this juncture, the Ye family naturally does not dare to report."
"Just because you want to be on good terms with Assab, why don't you deal with this vicious woman? She beats court officials and is rude to the general. If the court doesn't deal with her, how many scholar-bureaucrats will feel chilled."
"It's better to start a war with Assab and make this poisonous woman useless!"
"Our country of Dayu is prosperous and powerful, and we will definitely defeat Assab. I also advocate a war!"
"..."
People in the capital were talking a lot, from sympathizing with the Ye family to condemning the Sui'an people, to finally advocating war with Assab. Assab was inexplicably wading into troubled waters.
After the morning session on the third day after the incident, Cheng Zhao hurriedly came to the yard where Cheng Wanwan lived: "This morning many people petitioned to deal with the second aunt, and they brought out many great principles. Taifu Lin and Mr. Zhang spoke for the second aunt, and were gathered together by hundreds of officials. And as a result, no one is willing to hear the truth, and many people want to take this opportunity to bring down the second aunt..."
He also wanted to defend his second aunt, but his official position was too low and he could not enter the palace, so he could only stand outside the palace and worry.
Cheng Wanwan smiled lowly: "Of course these men don't care what the truth is. They only know that a woman from the countryside has blocked their light. The faster I get promoted, the more their incompetence is revealed. There was no reason before." Just attack me, but this time the Ye family is taking the lead and Yun is secretly operating. They just need to agree... Even though my fall will not do them any good, they still want to see a woman fall from a height with their own eyes. …”
Cheng Zhao clenched his fists: "I will mobilize the scholars to clarify the truth..."
"At this time, how many literati would be willing to get involved?" Cheng Wanwan shook his head, "The pen in the literati's hand is indeed a sharp spear, and when used properly, it is equivalent to an elite army... But the identity of a literati The status is still low, and it is far from enough to defeat the Ye family."
Cheng Zhao was shocked: "Second aunt, you mean to defeat the Ye family?"
He just wanted to clarify the truth for the second aunt and expose this matter, but he did not expect that the second aunt had such a plan.
Although the Ye family is not an aristocratic family, there is a concubine Yun, a fifth-grade prince, the head of the family is a fourth-grade official, there are fifth-grade deputy captain Ye, sixth-grade chief Ye, and three eighth- and ninth-grade minor officials. Such a scale , and also supported a family. After another three to five years of development, the Ye family will be able to fully establish a foothold in the capital.
And the second aunt, without any powerful family background, how can she compete with the Ye family?
Cheng Zhao originally wanted to give some advice, but when he saw the determination in Cheng Wanwan's eyes, he loosened his clenched fists and said, "No matter what Second Aunt wants to do, I will stand firmly by Second Aunt's side and ask Second Aunt for your orders."
Cheng Wanwan looked up at him: "There is something you really need to do. In two days, it will be the Insect King's Day on the sixth day of June."
The Insect King Festival has different meanings in different dynasties, but they are all similar. The Insect King Festival in the Dayu Dynasty is related to farming. In June, the rice in the fields is growing vigorously. Farmers should observe the growth of the rice to predict the growth of the rice. When there is a good harvest, some farmers will burn incense in their fields to pray for good weather, pests to disperse, and a smooth harvest.
At this time every year, the imperial court would summon civil and military officials to open an altar, and the emperor would lead the officials to pray to heaven and earth for a good harvest.
This is not a major festival, but it is also very lively, because the place of sacrifice is not in the palace, but in the largest square in the south of the capital, where people from all over the city can come and watch.
"I want to participate in the Insect King Festival." Cheng Wanwan said slowly, "I wonder if you can do it?"
In fact, she could go to the Empress, but meeting the Empress at this juncture would easily give the people new things to talk about.
Cheng Zhao nodded without any thought: "I don't dare to say that I can definitely do it, but I will try my best."
He is a new seventh-grade official, and he is not even qualified to enter the palace. It is too difficult to do this, but he must do it.
He was able to get to where he is today, all thanks to his second aunt. Now that his second aunt is behind bars, he will risk everything to help her clarify the truth.
While the aunt and nephew were talking, Mrs. Qi walked in and reported: "An Ren, Mrs. Zhang, Mrs. Lin, and Mrs. Situ are here."
Cheng Wanwan smiled: "Please come quickly."
She is now the target of public criticism, but the Lin family, Zhang family and Situ family are still willing to visit her. This kind of friendship is very rare.
The three ladies were led in, all of them looking worried.
Mrs. Zhang sighed: "Although many people have complained, fortunately the emperor has not expressed his position, so there is still room for change on this matter."
"Concubine Yun made a lot of small moves in private and asked many people to speak for the Ye family. Now the situation is one-sided. Anyone who speaks for the people of Sui'an will be attacked by civil and military officials..." Mrs. Lin whispered. He said, "I heard that it was the Queen who appeased the Emperor, otherwise the Emperor would have announced that Sui An had entered the palace."
Master Situ was of low rank, he knew little information and could not do much. Mrs. Situ sighed and said: "It means that bullying women cannot go to court, otherwise the situation would not be like this. People from Sui'an, what should we do now?" good?"
Just as Cheng Wanwan was about to speak, Mrs. Qi came over in a hurry: "Anren, it's the maid next to Concubine Yun who is here."
Cheng Wanwan said quietly: "Bring it in."
A little palace maid who was less than twenty years old walked in with her head lowered: "Sui'an people, Concubine Yun asked this servant to tell you something. If Sui'an people come to the door with heavy gifts and personally plead guilty to Master Ye, then what happened this time will be a big deal for Ye." I don’t care about it at home. But if the Sui’an people can’t see clearly the situation and are unwilling to bow their heads, then the Sui’an people’s status as a sixth-rank official may not be preserved.”
Mrs. Zhang looked in disbelief: "Empress Yunbi has such a loud tone..."
Before she finished speaking, Cheng Wanwan stopped her. She didn't want Mrs. Zhang to confront Concubine Yun.
She looked at the little palace maid, pretending to be sad and said: "Go back and tell Concubine Yun that I will personally apologize to Master Ye, so that she can rest assured."
The little palace maid received a positive reply and then turned and left.
"People from Sui'an, you can't go." Mrs. Situ said, "I heard that Mr. Ye was beaten all over with bruises. If you go to the Ye family's door, you won't be able to come out intact."
Mrs. Lin nodded: "The Ye family is not so easy to talk to. There must be a conspiracy."
Mrs. Zhang said coldly: "Besides, you are not from Sui'an and you did something wrong. Why should you apologize... Why don't we jointly ask to see the Queen, and then ask the Queen to ask the Emperor, and we must ask the Emperor to uphold justice... …”
"Thank you to the three ladies for advising me. It's an honor for me to be treated sincerely by the three ladies." Cheng Wanwan said sincerely, "But it is a fact that I hurt Mr. Ye. No matter what I say, I should apologize. But I should apologize." I’ll choose the venue.”
