tallest building

Chapter 169 A Road of Enemies

Inside that house, Lady Leng was drinking with Marquis Fengxian.

Lamb was simmering in a small charcoal pot on the table; it was Fengxianhou's favorite dish in winter.

“You women are really ruthless. You can kill people with just your words,” said Marquis Fengxian, taking a sip of wine and squinting. “I imagine that in a few days, that Wen’s reputation will be completely ruined.”

"Her reputation is ruined, so your wishful thinking will come true, my lord?" Madam Leng smiled broadly. "Who told her to refuse a toast only to suffer the consequences! If she had readily agreed back then, not only would we have been able to smooth over the past grievances, but we would also have received a lot of money."

"Yes, both men and women in this world should be pragmatic." Marquis Fengxian nodded. "If this matter succeeds in the end, you will be a hero."

"By the time when Wen Mingqian's reputation was completely ruined and she became a rat crossing the street, no one would protect her anymore, not even those nuns."

"At that time, the Marquis can do with them as he pleases; I don't believe they'll dare to resist again."

Lady Leng smiled smugly, “My lord, have another cup of warm wine! This wine with mutton really warms you up from head to toe.”

While they were enjoying themselves, Sang Er had already delivered the letter to the Zhu residence.

After reading Wen Mingqian's letter, Lord Zhu immediately ordered his servants to add two more pieces of charcoal to the charcoal brazier. He then ground his own ink and began writing a memorial impeaching Marquis Fengxian and Cui Rong.

After several days of bad weather, a clear and windless day finally arrived.

Wen Mingqian was counting down the days until it was time to see the Princess again.

So he and Sang Er got ready and went out.

When they arrived at Bowang Mountain, they took a sedan chair up the mountain, but halfway up, the sedan chair pole suddenly broke.

Fortunately, it only flashed and didn't slide down.

"Mother, are you alright?" Sang Er quickly lifted the sedan curtain and asked.

"It's alright." Wen Mingqian slowly stepped out of the sedan chair. "It seems we'll have to walk up."

"Madam Wen, we'll go down the mountain now and get another sedan chair so you'll have a ride when you go down," the sedan chair bearers said apologetically.

"No need to rush, the weather is nice today, it won't hurt to take a walk," Wen Mingqian said.

Fortunately, the steps leading up the mountain had already been cleaned, and Wen Mingqian and Sang Er helped each other up the mountain.

After walking about a mile, we saw people carrying a sedan chair coming down from the mountain.

The sedan chair stopped as it passed them, and the person inside lifted the curtain, saying with a hint of mockery, "Isn't this the famous Lady Wen? What a coincidence!"

Wen Mingqian took a look and recognized the man as the military officer he had met at the teahouse a few days ago.

Since he knows who he is, he must have done some investigation in secret.

So naturally, they must have heard the rumors circulating on the street, which is why they spoke to themselves in such a sarcastic tone.

"Mother, who is he?" Sang Er asked softly.

"I don't recognize him either." Wen Mingqian ignored the man. "Let's go!"

"Lady Wen actually walked up the mountain, is it to show her sincerity?" The man scrutinized Wen Mingqian. "Is it really worth going to such lengths to please the Princess?"

“Our sedan chair broke down halfway up the road, otherwise how would we have walked up? You’re so rude. How can you tell us what’s wrong with our wife?” Sang Er said angrily. She couldn’t stand others talking to Wen Mingqian like that.

“Sang Er, you must not be rude. This soldier must have just paid his respects to the Princess.” At this moment, Wen Mingqian not only recognized that this man came from the military, but also concluded that he was of extraordinary status. Otherwise, how could he have come to see the Princess?
It's best to avoid people like that; there's no need to cause trouble for yourself. "How about I be a good person and let Lady Wen ride in my sedan chair up the mountain?" the man said with a half-smile.

"Thank you, but no need." Wen Mingqian didn't want to get entangled with him any longer, and pulled Sang Er to continue walking up the mountain.

The man gave a slight sneer. He didn't think Wen Mingqian was aloof or arrogant at all. On the contrary, he was convinced that Wen Mingqian must have ulterior motives and was by no means innocent.

It's best to keep such people away from the princess.

Wen Mingqian and Sang Er walked for another two miles before finally arriving at the Princess's residence.

"Did you meet the Prince of Changliu when you came up?" the princess asked with a smile.

“So that person was…” Sang Er was quite surprised.

"This humble woman does not recognize Your Highness," Wen Mingqian said, "so I have not had a chance to greet you."

"It's alright. He's been guarding the frontier for years and doesn't follow these rules," the princess said with a smile. "Speaking of which, it's been several years since we last saw each other."

Although Wen Mingqian had never met Ying Wuchou, the King of Changliu, he did not feel unfamiliar with him.

He is one of the few royal princes in the current court who holds military power. He is the nephew of the eldest princess and the cousin of the current emperor.

Everyone says that he aspired to ride horses on the battlefield since childhood, and volunteered to go to the frontier before he was twenty.

He was indeed a capable and brave warrior. During his years of guarding Yunmen, he maintained peace on the border and was loved by the local people.

He was already in his thirties but had not married. As for why, there were many different opinions, but there was never a definite answer.

"I've been itching to play these past couple of days. I just played two games with Wuchou, but his moves were too aggressive, I didn't like them," the princess said to Wen Mingqian with a smile. "It just so happens that you've arrived."

Wen Mingqian then played chess with the eldest princess.

The eldest princess secretly observed her several times and saw that she looked calm and composed, not at all troubled by the rumors. Meanwhile, Zhu Hui submitted the memorial. He was a notorious figure in officialdom, and if he impeached someone, the lightest punishment would be a salary reduction and self-reflection, while the heaviest would be beheading and confiscation of property.

If the emperor did something wrong, he would argue his case in court and persuade the emperor to fast in the main hall.

Marquis Fengxian never dreamed that he would be impeached when he went to court as usual.

The person who impeached him was none other than Zhu Hui.

Cui Rong was not qualified to attend the court meeting and only heard about it later.

"Minister Zhu, you say that Marquis Fengxian allowed his son to abuse his servants, and that Cui Rong bribed officials and forced women to become nuns. Are these things all true?" the Emperor asked after reading the memorial.

“Every word is true, I would stake my life on it,” Zhu Hui declared loudly.

"In that case, I'll leave these two matters to you to investigate thoroughly!" the Emperor said. "I'll also send someone to assist you."

“If Your Majesty wishes to send someone to assist me, why not ask Duke Feng?” Zhu Hui said. “He is a Duke, so there is no need for him to fear Marquis Fengxian.”

Zhu Hui has always been straightforward, so the Emperor didn't mind and immediately agreed.

Of course, Marquis Fengxian wanted to protest his innocence, but the Emperor simply said, "Don't be alarmed. The innocent will clear themselves. Once this matter is thoroughly investigated, it will be over. Zhu Hui and the others will not have wronged you."

Helpless, Marquis Fengxian could only stand aside and secretly plot how to escape this calamity.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out how this had anything to do with Wen Mingqian; he just felt incredibly unlucky.