Chapter 166: The Yamen Dares Not Accept
Old Master Gu didn’t understand what was going on, but he had managed to deduce a great deal just from his surroundings. Ultimately, he threw all the blame onto the other party.
’This must be the epitome of protecting one’s own...’
Gao Yunqin watched quietly, a plan already forming in her mind.
’I’ll find a chance to leave. I can’t get involved in this.’
"O-Old Master Gu, Yun Yue is your future granddaughter-in-law! How can you speak like that when she’s been beaten to this state?" Madam Gao was fuming. The Gao and Gu families were supposed to be united by marriage, after all.
Old Master Gu was astonished. "What did you say? Granddaughter-in-law? Her? Marrying one of my grandsons?"
"It’s Gu Yuan, the youngest son of Fourth Master Gu! The Emperor issued an imperial edict two months ago. The wedding is scheduled for the ninth of next month."
"Wasn’t he marrying the young lady from Gao Zichen’s family? How did it become someone from the Prime Minister’s Mansion?" Old Master Gu was once again astonished, his gaze toward Gao Yunyue growing more disdainful by the second.
’Sometimes, you can tell good from evil just by looking at a person’s face. This girl had a harsh face, a jealous demeanor, and a vicious look about her. If the Gu family were to bring someone like her in, she’d turn the entire household upside down.’
"Gao Hui? Is she even worthy? The one Brother Yuan is marrying is me!" Gao Yunyue had never gotten along with Gao Zichen’s daughter, Gao Hui, and couldn’t restrain herself upon hearing her name.
Madam Gao truly wished she could give her daughter another slap.
"..."
’Brother Yuan?’
’Pah!’
Old Master Gu was speechless. ’I already thought she was harsh, but I didn’t realize she was a fool, too. What on earth was my fourth son thinking, arranging a marriage with the Prime Minister’s family?’
Zhan Yi also felt that two slaps had been too light.
’If any daughter of mine acted this way, I’d whip her half to death. What an utter disgrace.’
"Miss." Luo Wen had returned.
"How did things go?" Ye Qianning asked.
"The local magistrate has been ill for several days. Now he can’t even get out of bed, so he cannot accept your petition, Miss," Luo Wen reported.
"Sick? What convenient timing," Ye Qianning sneered.
She was the Headmaster of Lou Mountain Academy’s personal disciple, and on the day of the academy’s banquet, she had presented the Diagram of Duality to the Emperor. Everyone in the entire Capital City knew about it.
Prime Minister Gao held immense power and influence. The case between her and his family was a hot potato that would burn whoever touched it.
"Should I go to the Ministry of Justice?" Luo Wen asked.
"No one will dare to accept it now, no matter where we go. Since they won’t, we’ll handle it ourselves." Ye Qianning hadn’t placed any hope in the official channels to begin with.
"Yes, Miss. This was retrieved from the Minister Mansion." Luo Wen took a book from his robes and handed it to her.
Ye Qianning took it and began to flip through. She had only asked Luo Wen to retrieve evidence related to the Lou Mountain Academy and the assault on Fourth Granny. She hadn’t expected Qian Fanji to be so generous as to give her such a thick volume.
It was filled with records of Prime Minister Gao’s corruption and bribery, as well as the wicked deeds Madam Gao had committed in secret.
’With this book, Prime Minister Gao’s political career is about to get a lot rougher.’
"Did Minister Qian say anything?" she asked.
"No, but he has arrived at the main gate of the Prime Minister’s Mansion."
Ye Qianning nodded and placed the ledger on the table.
The hall fell strangely silent. Madam Gao’s heart lurched at the mention of Qian Fanji. Minister Qian was famously shrewd. She didn’t need to guess; whatever had been retrieved from him was surely related to her husband.
Gao Yunqin felt like she was standing on hot coals. She began to inch discreetly toward the door. They all knew what kind of man Qian Fanji was. For him to come in person meant that this was a serious matter.
Old Master Gu was extremely curious about what was written in the ledger.
Without a word, Zhan Yi walked out the door.
’Even if the Prime Minister’s family is guilty of terrible crimes, their punishment is a matter for the Emperor. It was improper for this young girl to barge in here on her own authority. I need to figure out how to handle the fallout for her.’