“The Duchess butchered the Duke like a pig?” The Emperor knitted his brows. What sort of nonsense was this?
Eunuch Wang didn’t flinch in the slightest. “This old servant heard it with his own ears.”
It was just across the river, but the garden had been in an absolute uproar. All sorts of clamor had buzzed around Eunuch Wang’s ears. It was only by luck that he caught Tong Anying’s inner monologue, and he had hurried back without delay to report it to the Emperor.
The Emperor raised a hand. Eunuch Wang leaned in with practiced familiarity, only to have his ear caught in a vicious twist.
“And now?” The Emperor asked with a cold smirk.
A man pushing fifty, Eunuch Wang actually put on an aggrieved pout. “Everything this old servant said is the absolute truth.”
The Emperor caught on. No matter how much Eunuch Wang loved to banter, he wouldn’t dare make light of an affair like this.
He beckoned again, but having learned his lesson, Eunuch Wang dug his heels in and refused to budge.
The Emperor: “?”
He cursed under his breath, “Useless thing.”
Then, smoothing his expression, he ordered, “Summon the Duke and Duchess. Let Us see what this mess is truly about.”
So, His Majesty just wants to enjoy the drama too, doesn’t he?
“Understood.”
By the time Eunuch Wang arrived, the garden had quieted down.
The ladies seated there were all wives and daughters of high-ranking officials; none failed to recognize the Emperor’s closest confidant. But what was Eunuch Wang doing here?
Even Wei Mingning froze for a moment.
Eunuch Wang announced, “His Majesty has caught wind of the commotion here and summons the Duke and Duchess to attend him.”
Flicking his horsetail whisk, he caught sight of Wei Mingning, surveyed the area, and asked, “Where is the Duke?”
“Right here.”
Tong Anying pointed toward Gu Zhenye, who had tried and failed multiple times to stand up, all in a desperate bid to preserve what little dignity he had left.
Gu Zhenye: “?”
This was an utter humiliation.
Yet he couldn’t afford to dwell on lost face. The Emperor was here. Gritting his teeth, Gu Zhenye pushed himself up and yanked the child free from the grip of Wei Mingning’s head maid.
He called out pitifully, “I beg His Majesty to uphold justice for me!”
Right, right, right, uphold justice. Why not just marry him off to his little mistress while they’re at it?
A ripple of stifled chuckles broke out across the crowd.
The Fourth Miss of the Marquis household truly had a venomous tongue.
Eunuch Wang’s expression soured. “Save your wailing for when you’re standing before His Majesty, Duke Gu.”
Gu Zhenye forgot to keep crying. What was that supposed to mean?
Wei Mingning walked in front, while Gu Zhenye followed behind, dragging the child along. Looking at their backs, he sneered inwardly. Just a castrated lackey and a willful woman.
Their day of reckoning would come.
Once the couple left, whispers broke out among the guests, all circling a single question:
Why was the Emperor here?
He was tricked into sneaking out of the palace.
Good heavens, someone actually dared to trick the Emperor?
Su Zhouyue glanced at her daughter, whose silent inner revelations kept dropping bombshells. Tong Anying was currently stuffing her cheeks with pastries, munching away while staring at the willow branches swaying by the riverbank.
After watching her for a moment, Su Zhouyue realized Tong Anying’s eyes were rolling along in sync with the swinging branches.
Just like a little kitten.
Her heart softened even further.
She waved to her daughter. “Anying, shall we head back?”
“Okay.”
I’m full anyway.
Watching Tong Anying’s puffed-up cheeks, Su Zhouyue couldn’t tell whether the girl was stuffed with sweet pastries or stuffed with all the gossip she’d consumed.
Before leaving, the Duchess had already excused the guests, apologizing for the scene and promising to make it up to them another day.
In truth, these noblewomen were remarkably bold. Not only had they relished the Duke’s disgrace, but they were also dying to hear how on earth the Emperor had been duped into sneaking out.
Unfortunately, Tong Anying didn’t utter another peep.
The gathering disbanded.
Several ladies approached Su Zhouyue, warmly inviting her to bring Tong Anying over to their manors another time.
Were they taking a liking to her daughter, or to her daughter’s uncanny abilities?
Su Zhouyue eyed them warily, guarding her daughter as if warding off thieves.
Before they could even reach the gates of the Duke’s estate, a figure came barreling toward them.
Su Zhouyue instinctively shielded Tong Anying behind her. Looking closely, she realized it was Cui Heng’s mother.
Lately, Cui Heng’s illicit affair with his cousin and the bastard child she now carried had become the scandal of the city.
Father and son had even been fiercely impeached at morning court.
Tong Siyuan had fueled the flames at every turn. Today, having had her fill of the spectacle, she had gone to the Cui estate to demand a divorce.
Tong Fengye had accompanied her, and Tong Yibin had even taken leave from the Ministry of Justice to back her up.
Judging by this woman’s arrival, had things gone sideways?
The moment Luo Shuyun spotted Su Zhouyue, she burst into a shrill wail. “Su Zhouyue! The daughter you raised has no conscience! Not only is she taking her dowry back, she’s trying to strip our entire household bare!”
Su Zhouyue cupped her hands over Tong Anying’s ears and replied coolly, “Why she’s taking it, don’t you know the reason in your own heart?”
Spending her daughter’s dowry to plug the financial holes of the Cui manor! If she hadn’t felt obliged to attend the Duchess today, she would have marched over and helped strip the place bare herself.
Mother and daughter truly shared the exact same icy exterior and unyielding resolve.
Luo Shuyun carried on weeping until someone nearby muttered, “Stop crying. His Majesty is visiting the Duke’s estate today.”
Luo Shuyun’s eyes lit up. The Emperor was actually here?
She scrambled to her feet instantly. “I will go beg His Majesty to seek justice for my son!”
Not long after she rushed off, Eunuch Wang arrived to escort Su Zhouyue and Tong Anying over. By then, Tong Siyuan, Tong Fengye, and Tong Yibin had just returned and joined them.
Cui Heng hadn’t even shown his face. Su Zhouyue’s disdain for him only deepened.
The family of five made their way toward the pavilion where the Emperor was seated.
Inside, Gu Zhenye and Wei Mingning stood on one side, Luo Shuyun on the other. In the center sat an imposing figure draped in imperial yellow robes.
So, this is the Emperor?
The Emperor froze, casting a sharp look at Eunuch Wang. What was that voice?
Eunuch Wang blinked with a smug twinkle in his eye. His Majesty hadn’t believed him earlier, stunned now, aren’t you?
He gave a subtle nod toward Tong Anying.
As expected of the Son of Heaven. He truly looks imposing.
The Emperor stroked his beard, thoroughly pleased.
Su Zhouyue hurried her children forward to pay their respects.
The Emperor was remarkably lenient toward the Tong family. He turned to Tong Siyuan and asked, “Madam Cui claims you intend to strip their manor bare. What is the meaning of this?”
Tong Siyuan answered neither servilely nor haughtily, “Because every single item in question was purchased using my dowry.”
The Emperor’s gaze darkened. He turned toward Luo Shuyun. “Is that so?”
To think he had previously considered the Cui household a respectable clan.
Luo Shuyun’s heart skipped a beat. She pleaded frantically, “Your Majesty, what man under the heavens does not take a concubine? Demanding a divorce simply because another woman carries her husband’s child, is this not utter madness?”
Host, that actually sounds kind of reasonable.
Reasonable my foot! You are a good system; you’re not allowed to pick up bad habits!
I just meant that Luo Shuyun’s husband is fooling around with someone at home at this very moment. She really is generous, isn’t she?
Tong Anying bit her lip. She desperately wanted to laugh, but held it in.
Hearing this, Luo Shuyun’s face turned an ashen green. What demon or ghost was uttering such slander? Go away! Begone!
Now that Gu Zhenye had the Emperor present, his courage returned. He chimed in, “Precisely!”
Host, the web of relationships between these people is an absolute mess.
Tong Anying’s interest piqued. How messy?
Too messy. I can barely untangle it.
Tong Anying had never seen what her system looked like, but it always spoke in a tender, childish voice, sounding like an utterly obedient little sister.
Hearing that sweet, innocent voice deliver such words made it all the more compelling.
Tong Anying’s protective instincts flared. Messy? Here, let me break it down for you.
Back in modern times, Tong Anying had been an undisputed gossip queen; sorting out scandalous drama was second nature to her.
The system blurted out a deluge of names and incidents, leaving everyone present who could hear the broadcast thoroughly dazed.
Just in the nick of time, Tong Anying stepped in.
Let’s label them: Old Cui, Old Wang, Old Gu, Lady Du, and Madam Luo. Old Gu and Lady Du were childhood sweethearts. Old Gu swore he would marry her, but then he got blinded by power and status and married another woman instead. Then Old Gu thought, ‘I can’t let my precious white moonlight suffer!’ So, he secretly sought out Lady Du, dipped into his wife’s fortune to buy her property, and kept her as an exterior mistress.
Wei Mingning ground her teeth in fury. That scoundrel Gu Zhenye, too stingy to spend his own coin on his beloved, so he spent mine instead!
Now, Old Gu was alright, but he was a bit hideous, a bit lecherous, and rather weak-willed. Lady Du figured she shouldn’t put all her eggs in one basket, so she hooked up with Old Cui. Old Cui fell in love with Lady Du at first sight and lavished silver on her every month.
Old Cui? Luo Shuyun clenched her handkerchief white-knuckled. It couldn’t be.
Old Wang was an odd-job laborer working around the residence. One thing led to another, and the two of them hooked up as well.
Then one day, Lady Du dressed in men’s clothing for an outing, and ended up charming Madam Luo! Madam Luo went so far as to vow she would hand over her outer estates to ‘him.’
And Old Cui and Madam Luo are husband and wife. System, do you get it now?
Understood.
Luo Shuyun’s eyes bugged out in pure disbelief.
The rest of the onlookers were left slack-jawed.
Good heavens. A married couple keeping side pieces on the outside, and it turned out to be the exact same person?
Luo Shuyun felt the world spinning around her.
Finding the situation halfway bizarre and entirely entertaining, the Emperor discreetly signaled Eunuch Wang to bring Lady Du over.
Eunuch Wang had already tracked her down, and she was promptly ushered inside.
Having had her pressure points vigorously pinched to stay conscious, Luo Shuyun opened her eyes, caught one look at Du Liu’er, and nearly swooned again. She wailed, “Heavens above! It really is that karmic debt of mine!”
Seeing Du Liu’er, Gu Zhenye was secretly thrilled, assuming the Emperor meant to grant him his wish. He stepped forward to take her hand, but Du Liu’er kept her eyes cast down, refusing to look at him.
What was this supposed to mean?
Just then, the Emperor glanced at the neglected child nearby and asked with great amusement, “Whose child is this?”
Gu Zhenye blurted out, “Your Majesty, the boy is this subject’s!”
Almost simultaneously, another voice declared, “He is this subject’s!”
Gu Zhenye whipped around to see Cui Ming striding forward.
Gu Zhenye: “?”
“You wretch! You old bastard!” Luo Shuyun lunged at Cui Ming, looking ready to beat him to death. “Your own son is about to be divorced, and you played dead hiding in your room! But the moment your mistress is dragged into trouble, you come running!”
Cui Ming shoved Luo Shuyun aside and dropped to his knees before the Emperor. “This subject and Liu’er share deep affection. The child is without doubt mine!”
The Emperor arched an eyebrow. “Yet Minister Gu just claimed the boy is his.”
Gu Zhenye? How could that be.
In an instant, the gears in Cui Ming’s head turned, and everything fell into place. Shaking with rage, he pointed a finger at Du Liu’er. “You betrayed me!”
Du Liu’er’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I didn’t.”
Tong Anying asked curiously, System, whose child is it really?
Everyone listening wanted to know too!
It is—
Luo Shuyun waved her hands wildly, shaking her head. “Well, he certainly isn’t mine!”
Cui Ming: “?”