Selling wife for fame? Kick out the scumbag and marry the new emperor to enjoy the harem of favors

Chapter 209

“It’s not a problem that Father-in-law is hiring more people on the estate, but the key issue is that I’ve discovered there might be more people on the estate than just those on the surface,” Madam Fan said in a low voice.

Xie Wei became wary. "How do you know?"

“I was suspicious of this matter all along, so after I went down the mountain, I went to the place where the grain was sold. The long-term laborers who sold themselves into servitude are not tenants; they have to use the master’s things for food and clothing. I visited several grain shops and found that the grain purchased by my father-in-law’s estate was enough to feed twice the number of people. Moreover, they only bought grain twice and then stopped buying from the local area. So where did the grain come from for so many people who all had to work?” Fan said.

These words immediately sparked an idea in Xie Wei's mind.

“Father wanted to conceal the specific number of people on the estate, which shows that these people are definitely not farmhands. If they were just servants, why would he need to hide it? He even bought the grain from other places, not wanting to leave too many traces in the local area.”

Madam Fan frowned. "That's what I thought too, but why is Father-in-law secretly keeping so many people around?"

“Private army.” Xie Wei frowned and uttered these two words. “I think Father is probably keeping a private army.”

“According to the rules of our dynasty, a prince’s personal guards are not allowed to exceed three hundred people. Father-in-law’s private army on this estate probably has at least five hundred people. What if there are other people being raised in other places? This…” Madam Fan felt a wave of fear, but also felt strange. “But these are not enough to start a rebellion.”

The garrison in the outskirts of Beijing alone numbers 30,000 on both the east and west sides, the Imperial Guards in the palace number 3,000, and the infantry headquarters has a permanent garrison of 3,000 men. Xie Mingshen's mere 500 men, even if we count 1,500 of them, are not enough to accomplish anything.

Xie Wei also had doubts, but no matter what, the existence of this group of people was definitely not allowed. Raising more than the required number of private soldiers was considered treason, a capital offense.

"Let's not alert them yet. I'll find a way to go to that manor and investigate before making a decision."

"it is good."

Fan agreed, though he was also nervous.

How could we not be afraid? What if the Emperor blames us after the incident and punishes us along with him?
But we can't just let it go unchecked. If we let Xie Mingshen continue like this, it will only make the whole family suffer an even worse fate.

Having such a father-in-law was incredibly frustrating for Madam Fan, but fortunately her husband was reasonable and treated her very well. Her sister-in-law in the palace was also a sensible person, hoping that Xie Mingshen could be dealt with so that the whole family could have a smooth life.

In fact, over the years of their marriage, Ms. Fan rarely returned to her parents' home.

When she married into this family, she thought she had entered a blessed place, but she never expected it to be a place of trouble. Because she was afraid of implicating her maternal family, she secretly told her family about the situation here and then avoided them.

If the Xie family changes, then Madam Fan can reconnect with her maternal family.

Thinking of all this, Madam Fan sighed repeatedly.

But compared to her, Xie Jiu was in a worse situation. Neither her maternal family nor her husband's family was reliable. Now, she had remarried into the palace, and although she seemed to be living a life of luxury, she was actually walking on thin ice every day.

Even after recommending Du Qian, Xie Jiu was still not at peace.

After all, until things are truly settled, she doesn't know if Zhao Xingjin will appoint Du Qian.

Another thing, Consort Liu came to Jingming Palace and brought up the person Xie Jiu had asked her to investigate before, named Lü Weixing, the deputy director of the Ministry of Personnel's Performance Evaluation Department.

This time it wasn't about politics, but a scandal. "The wife of the Lü family comes from a family of salt merchants. Although their business wasn't very large, the profits were considerable. They were rich, if not as rich as a country, but certainly among the wealthiest in the region. Lü Weixing's father was also a merchant, and his family was considered wealthy, but they were far less well-off than his wife Xia's family. Lü Weixing was able to marry Xia because he passed the imperial examination with high honors. After the marriage, he spent a considerable amount of money from his wife's family to bribe officials, hence his fear of his wife."

Liu Cairen sipped her tea and began to speak slowly.

Xie Jiu also cracked some melon seeds, "If you're afraid of your wife, why would you go to Jinming Tower for romantic pleasures?"

“Who says otherwise? Look what’s happened now.” Liu Cairen’s eyes shone brightly. “Xia discovered that he was having an affair, so she came to Jinming Tower and made a huge scene. She wanted to catch the vixen, but unexpectedly, she caught Lü Weixing on the man’s belly. Because of the big commotion, it’s now common knowledge.”

Hearing this, Xie Jiu was also taken aback by Xia's shrewishness.

But then I thought it was great that Xia was doing this. Those scoundrels, spending their fathers-in-law's money and their wives' dowries, living like respectable people, still philandering outside, neglecting their wives and children at home, deserve to be disgraced.

"Actually, there have been quite a few disturbances at Jinming Tower, but the reason this one has escalated so much is because someone recognized the man who was naked and embracing Lü Weixing."

Liu Cairen, having finished her gossip, looked at Xie Jiu, seemingly hesitant to speak.

Seeing her like this, Xie Jiu chuckled and gave her the answer.

"It was the former Marquis of Weiyuan, my ex-husband, Wu Que, is that right?"

"Ok!"

Liu Cairen nodded emphatically, her face full of sighs.

“Originally, not many people in the capital knew that he had fallen to such a state, but now, thanks to Lü Weixing’s wife’s commotion, at least all the regulars at Jinming Tower know. My brother has many rough men around him, and a few of them like to go to Jinming Tower for fun. They happened to be there that day and were caught in the act. When they came back, the whole camp was talking about it as a joke. After my brother found out, he also sent a message to me.”

At this point, a hint of worry appeared in Liu Cairen's eyes.

Looking at Xie Jiu, she said, "I already know, and I'm afraid others in the palace might know as well. I'm worried that someone might use this to their advantage and deliberately upset Her Majesty."

"It's alright. I have no connection with Wu Que now. If they insist on spreading rumors and come after me, I won't hold back." Xie Jiu's expression was calm and unaffected.

Seeing this, Liu Cairen felt much more at ease.

Actually, she came here today specifically to tell Xie Jiu this gossip so that Xie Jiu would be mentally prepared, since there are too many people in the palace who want to make Xie Jiu unhappy.

However, I never expected that after hearing something new and interesting this morning, I would run into someone with a sharp tongue while taking a walk in the Imperial Garden this afternoon.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to Consort Jin." Consort Chen smiled and curtsied. "Your Majesty has quite the refined taste, even taking the time to stroll in the Imperial Garden. Could it be that Your Majesty is unaware of the lively scene outside the palace?"

Xie Jiu looked at her with a half-smile, "I really don't know what all this commotion outside the palace is about. I never expected that Consort Chen, who has been serving the Empress Dowager and worshipping Buddha for so long, would still have so many distracting thoughts. She's always asking around. Tsk, all this thinking and worrying is not good for a healthy pregnancy."

Chen Meiren knew that Xie Jiu knew she was pregnant, so when she heard the words "pregnancy care," her expression didn't change; she was still smiling.

"Thank you for your concern, Consort Jin. With the Empress Dowager's blessing and protection, my unborn child is very safe and sound. But I'm afraid Your Highness is not so safe. If the scandals in the capital reach His Majesty's ears, and remind him of Your Highness's past, will he feel uncomfortable?"