Everyone looked back and forth, and finally, their gaze landed on Pri Minister Zhang.
Because regarding this matter, the most vehent and indignant was Pri Minister Zhang. He even blad the Ning Prince’s wife for his second daughter’s inability to marry, claiming it was due to favoritism.
Pri Minister Zhang stepped forward, saluted the emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, recently there has been a matter spreading throughout the streets and alleys. I don’t know if it has reached the palace."
"What matter?" The emperor raised an eyebrow and asked.
"This matter is neither too significant nor too minor. It’s rely about the Ning Prince and his wife. It’s just so rumors from the streets, and I dare not discuss them rashly. If Your Majesty pardons from saying it without consequence, only then will I speak."
"Oh, is that so?" The emperor looked at Pri Minister Zhang indifferently, with a thoughtful expression. After a mont, he said, "Since Lord Zhang says it’s rely street rumors, there’s no need to say it."
Pri Minister Zhang: "..." Shouldn’t the emperor have pardoned from consequence?
Such an unexpected response left Pri Minister Zhang speechless, unable to utter a word.
Lin Xingyi and Jie Huanzhi both laughed, especially Lin Xingyi, who was visibly relieved.
He, after all, knew the facts; he knew Gu Youyou and Jin Zijin were married long ago. When Gu Youyou was staying at the Lin Residence, Jin Zijin would still climb over the wall every night to see her.
Had the emperor inquired, he really wouldn’t have known how to answer.
Not telling the truth would be a cri against the emperor!
Jie Huanzhi looked at Pri Minister Zhang gleefully and saluted the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. How can we discuss the Prince based on so unreliable street rumors? Your Majesty, I suggest investigating the instigators thoroughly and then interrogating them properly."
"Jie Huanzhi, don’t get carried away!" Pri Minister Zhang huffed and glared.
"How am I getting carried away? I am rely adhering to the truth."
"Hmph, what exactly is the truth? Perhaps summoning the Ning Prince and his wife to the court and questioning them properly would make it clear."
The two of them began quarreling again, disregarding the emperor sitting high up.
The emperor slamd his hand on the table, and everyone finally fell silent.
"Hmph, did neither of you hear my intention clearly? Are street rumors now to be brought to court for discussion? If you dare to slander the Prince again, don’t bla for punishing you two!"
It was only then that the two ceased this topic.
Jie Huanzhi did not feel pleased because the emperor forcibly suppressed this matter. Instead, he was worried.
The emperor’s unusual suppression of this matter for the Ning Prince and his wife suggested he knew sothing. Could it be that the selection of brides that year was rely a facade, and the whole world was deceived?
Pri Minister Zhang did not say much more, because he knew the truth. The emperor could suppress it for a while but not forever. The more he acted this way, the more it showed their guilty conscience, and that was quite good.
...
Gu Youyou was not idle either. Upon learning that the rumor about her and Jin Zijin deceiving the public was spreading, she imdiately had people blend in among those instigators, tracing the source of the rumors to a certain woman nad Chen on West Street.
"Princess, those words were spread by that Chen Mashi. Do you want us to bring her in?"
Gu Youyou narrowed her eyes and said, "Yes, of course, but not by you all. Find so street hooligans and have them put her in a sack!"
Though the guard had many doubts in his heart and felt it inappropriate for the princess to engage in such a secretive act of using a sack, he said nothing more and went to the street to find so hooligans, who then, holding sacks, intercepted Chen Mashi as she went out alone.
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