Wasn't he supposed to be beaten to death? Why did this powerful cousin love him so much?

At the morning court session, Duke Zheng Tong slowly stepped out of the ranks.

Zheng Tongnian was nearly fifty-eight years old. He had spent half his life at the top of the nobility, and half of the military officers and scions of aristocratic families in the court followed his lead. Even the highest officials had to give him some respect.

Zheng Tongdao said, "Your Majesty, I have recently heard rumors circulating in the capital, causing unrest among the people. There are even ominous sayings being sung by children in the marketplace. I am deeply worried, fearing that this is not a blessing for the country. Therefore, I risk my life to speak out."

Emperor Jingyuan: "Oh? What rumors could possibly cause Minister Zheng such worry?"

Zheng Tongdao: "Your Majesty, the capital has been abuzz with news lately, all because of a murder case that occurred in front of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. A street ruffian named Wang Da drowned himself, and his widow, Li, dressed in mourning clothes, is weeping in front of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, claiming that her husband was coerced to death by the Duke of Dingguo's family!"

"This matter is originally a minor one, and I did not wish to taint Your Majesty's ears with common gossip. However, that disrespectful children's rhyme has quietly spread, causing beautiful women to float and rivers to surge. It bewitches the ministers and brings misfortune to the coming years!"

"This rumor refers to the woman who caused a fatal incident in front of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. She is the Duke's adopted daughter, and the people suspect her of being a fox spirit and a harbinger of disaster. I have also heard that she has recently been privately making strange medicines and practicing unusual skills in the market. If such a woman truly fulfills the prophecy of a year of misfortune, causing damage to the nation's fortunes, who will bear the brunt of this calamity? I humbly request Your Majesty to consider the well-being of the nation and punish this woman to appease the people and set the record straight!"

Six months ago, Xie Jue implemented new policies, drastically investigating hidden land, eliminating redundant officials, and showing no regard for the feelings of aristocratic families. He successively investigated thousands of acres of fertile land hidden by the Zheng family, removed the hereditary officials of the collateral branches of the Zheng family, and cut off most of the Zheng family's source of wealth and foundation for official career.

Cutting off someone's money is like killing their parents.

As soon as Zheng Tong finished speaking, Marquis Geng Zhong of Yongning took the lead, and others who were at odds with the Xie and Fu families echoed his sentiments.

"The Duke of Zhenguo is absolutely right!"

"I second the proposal regarding the Duke of Zhenguo!"

"Your Majesty! Prophecies are not without foundation! It's better to believe they exist than to dismiss them!"

"Those so-called miraculous medicines also need to be thoroughly investigated. How can we be sure they aren't just sorcery and evil arts, used to bewitch people?"

Emperor Jingyuan narrowed his eyes.

He had long known that Xie Jue's wife, whose status was not prominent, would be a burden to him, but he never expected that she would cause him trouble before even getting married.

If Xie Jue had married Chen Shixuan, not to mention others, her father, Prince Rui, would have been furious.

As Emperor Jingyuan was pondering this, Fu Chong jumped out: "Nonsense! Zheng Tong! Stop spouting lies! Se Se is of pure and good character; how could she have done anything so evil?! That nursery rhyme was clearly deliberately spread by you treacherous individuals. As for penicillin, it's something that has saved countless lives. You treat the lives of ordinary people like dirt, yet you falsely accuse the virtuous of evil. What are your true intentions?!"

Emperor Jingyuan glanced at Fu Chong.

However, the in-laws Xie Jue chose are quite reliable.

Zheng Tong disdained to argue with Fu Chong, but simply turned slightly and bowed again to Emperor Jingyuan, saying, "Your Majesty! I understand Fu Chong's deep love for his daughter. However, the greater good of the nation outweighs personal feelings! Spreading rumors and inciting unrest undermines the foundation of the country. How can we tolerate this because of a woman? This is not an exaggeration; it is a sincere expression of our patriotism! We implore Your Majesty to make a swift decision!"

Emperor Jingyuan was indeed dissatisfied with the marriage, but Xie Jue was in Jiangnan, and the waterways of Jiangnan were more important. Emperor Jingyuan did not want to distract Xie Jue by dealing with Jiang Sese.

However, this matter cannot be ignored, as Zheng Tong has already put it this way.

Emperor Jingyuan: "Prophecies and divination are so perverse and confusing to people's minds, and I deeply abhor them."

Emperor Jingyuan was the first to set the tone for the rumors, denying the legitimacy of the nursery rhymes.

Emperor Jingyuan slowly glanced at everyone. Fu Chong's face lit up with joy, while Zheng Tong and the others looked grim.

Emperor Jingyuan further stated: "I hereby order the Jingzhao Prefecture, together with the Imperial City Guard, to thoroughly investigate the source of this rumor and who spread it. I also order the adopted daughter of the Duke of Dingguo's family to move to the quiet room on the east side of the Imperial Ancestral Temple immediately, and await the Jingzhao Prefecture's investigation into the truth of the rumor."

The moment the decree was issued, the hall fell silent.

The side quiet room of the Imperial Ancestral Temple was a place next to the Imperial Ancestral Temple specifically for members of the royal family or nobles who had made mistakes to conduct short-term self-reflection.

The person was indeed punished, and was removed from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and confined to the royal residence to reflect on his actions, which was a gesture of respect to Xun Gui.

At the same time, he showed considerable leniency to Fu Chong and Xie Jue.

Although Fu Chong's face was grim, he understood that this was already the best possible outcome given the emperor's favoritism.

If Jiang Sese didn't have the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and Xie Jue behind her, then killing her would have been effortless and costless.

Fu Chong gritted his teeth and bowed with difficulty: "This old minister... obeys the decree!"

A shadow of gloom flashed across Zheng Tong's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and bowed as well.

"Dismiss the court!" the eunuch's shrill voice rang out.

……

The wheels rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a monotonous rumbling sound.

Jiang Sese sat in the spacious carriage of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, not very afraid.

If Emperor Jingyuan really wanted to punish her, he could have simply imprisoned her.

Therefore, Jiang Sese guessed that Emperor Jingyuan had probably transformed into a master of balancing things, trying to appease everyone by dealing with her in a conciliatory manner.

Besides, what about the quiet room in the Imperial Ancestral Temple?

In Jiang Sese's view, isn't it just about staying in a different place?

As long as she continues to eat and drink, everything is negotiable.

The carriage stopped in front of a side gate near the imperial city area.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple is a sacred site, and even those who are reflecting on their mistakes must walk a distance to show reverence.

Two stern-faced old women sent by the eunuch were already waiting.

"Miss Jiang, please change to a sedan chair." The head maid's voice was calm and even as she gestured for her to proceed.

A small sedan chair with blue curtains was parked nearby.

Jiang Sese stepped off the carriage with a calm expression.

The sedan chair was lifted steadily and moved forward along the shadow cast by the high palace walls.

Sitting in the sedan chair, Jiang Sese recalled the unexpected events that occurred during her last trip to the palace, but thankfully, the journey was safe and nothing happened.

The sedan curtain was lifted from the outside by the nanny: "Miss Jiang, please alight from the sedan chair, we have arrived at the quiet room."

Jiang Sese opened her eyes, leaned on the sedan chair door frame, and bent down to get out.

Before us lay a wide open square, at the far end of which stood the Imperial Ancestral Temple of the Great Yong Dynasty.

Jiang Sese was in a relatively isolated area on the east side of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Several rows of houses with blue bricks and gray tiles were nestled among the pines and cypresses, making it exceptionally quiet and even somewhat lonely.

This is the so-called quiet room, a place for members of the imperial family or sons of high-ranking families to reflect on their mistakes and introspect.

Jiang Sese stopped, raised her hand to remove the veil covering her face, and handed it to the old woman beside her.

Just as Jiang Sese was about to go in, a young male voice, filled with obvious surprise and hesitation, rang out from not far away:

"Miss Fu?"

Jiang Sese turned her head to look when she heard the sound.

A young man dressed in a blue official robe and wearing a black gauze hat was standing by the stone steps leading to the quiet courtyard. He had obviously just arrived in a hurry, and there was still a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

The young man appeared to be in his early twenties, with a handsome face and refined demeanor.

This person was none other than Shen Ziyu, a junior compiler in the Hanlin Academy.

Shen Ziyu was on duty at the Hanlin Academy today when he heard that the Duke of Zhenguo had actually caused trouble in the court, forcing His Majesty to send Lord Xie's fiancée to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to reflect on her mistakes. He was immediately extremely anxious.

Lord Xie had shown him great kindness and mentorship. Now that he was far away in Jiangnan, how could Shen Ziyu sit idly by and do nothing?

Shen Ziyu immediately made an excuse to ask for leave and rushed over, hoping to offer some care or comfort to this Miss Fu when she first arrived, as a small token of her goodwill.

But he never expected that Lord Xie's fiancée would look like this.

Her thick hair, styled in a loose, flowing bun, fluttered gracefully; her smooth cheeks, like delicate flowers, were evenly adorned. Her red lips revealed her white teeth, and her emerald-green hair shone like moth scales.

Her beauty was striking and captivating, far beyond the delicate elegance of an ordinary young lady; she resembled a legendary, alluring concubine who wreaked havoc in the palace.

Shen Ziyu felt her breath catch in her throat, and countless words to describe the beauty flashed through her mind, but they all seemed pale and powerless.

He finally understood why the rumors linked her to a fox demon; her beauty was indeed otherworldly!