This year, all shops opened very late, almost all after the fifteenth day of the first month. Although business was light, it was better than nothing.
The Heavenly Residence also opened and received scattered guests in dribs and drabs. Those aristocratic children, because of tight family constraints, did not dare to go to restaurants. They also wanted to go to some small restaurants that were not conspicuous, ordering two dishes and soup and a pot of wine. Therefore, the big restaurants did not have any business except vegetarian food shops.
Ye Jiayao had intended to introduce vegetarian meals, if so, it seemed she meant to talk to gallants of Lu`s vegetarian food shops. So she forgot the idea, and waited for the queen mother to be buried for another month, and the funeral period would be over.
Su Yi and Zhao Qixuan were not in a hurry to go back to the south.
A few people went to the dessert house every three to five and chose a fine day to go to Ye Jiayao’s farm yard. Life was quite leisurely.
However, it was not long before the peaceful days, a rumor suddenly spread in Jinling city.
It was said that during the disappearance of Ye Jiayao, she was defiled by the steward of Datong Hui, and Jing ‘an marquis house did not dare to speak out in order to preserve its reputation.
Rumors had been growing more and more trustful. Some people said that the reason why Bai steward committed suicide in prison was that Jing ‘an duke forced him to die, fearing that Bai steward would tell the truth.
Of course, everyone was secretly talking about it and would not come to Jing’an marquis house to talk about it, but rumors soon spread to Xia Chunyu’s ears.
Xia Chunyu was so angry, but he could not say, he was afraid that his parents and Yaoyao would be angry when they heard about it. He thought that rumors would fade after a while, and there was no need to be truer. The more you reacted, the more people think you were guilty.
Ye Jiayao was kept in the dark without knowing anything about it, and so was You.
On this day, it was the 7th of the queen mother, and everyone went to the palace to worship the queen mother.
You was here, so Ye Jiayao didn`t have to go. Ye Jiayao developed new dishes in the small kitchen at home.
After the memorial ceremony, You and Yide princess were going to sit at the queen’s place. Before they left Ninghe Palace, they saw several ladies muttering.
You didn’t care, and Yide went forward.
“She was really calm at such a thing and I could not stand it if it was me.”
“After all, it was not good for reputation, they can only hit their teeth to promote blood circulation and swallow them.”
“Would it be fake?”
“Impossible, the news is absolutely reliable, and everyone in marquis house knows it.”
“Is it from marquis house`s people?”
“Of course, otherwise, how do people outside know? Ah, that Bai steward really feared nothing, and even dared to touch Jing`an marquis house’s women.”
“Ha ha, where can we find such a profitable daughter-in-law? As long as she can make money,” someone sneered.
You and Yide paused. You looked at Yide and Yide said, “Ignore them. They just bitch.”
As a matter of fact, Yide had long heard of these popular sayings and asked Little Jing, he said it was nonsense. Yide naturally believed in Little Jing and believed in Ye Jinxuan, so she had not taken it seriously.
However, You was different. Jinxuan was her daughter – in – law. Jinxuan’s reputation was damaged by being vilified, which she absolutely couldn’t tolerate.
She immediately worn cold face and walked over.
“What are you talking about? If you have the courage to say it again, “shouted You majestically.
She didn’t care whether those women were the wives of several ministers. She would never tolerate anyone who wanted to damage house’s reputation and Jinxuan’s honor.
Several ladies saw You, with fear and embarrassment on their faces.
“No, said nothing … Mrs. Xia, let’s go first.”
“Stop.” You said with a heavy voice.
“Today, if you don’t speak clearly, no one will want to go out of this door.” You was angry.
When Yide saw You attack, she also could not bear to come forward and scold, ” Mrs Liu, Mrs Wang, Mrs Deng … you are also people of status and fame, and you have even learned from that woman with a long tongue in the city to catch the wind and catch the shadow, and to spread false news, is there any propriety or shame? Come on, let’s go to the queen and theorize. ”
They were not afraid of a single You, but it was not the same for Yide princess to participate. Everyone knew that Yide was close to the queen, and even the emperor respected the eldest sister and went to the queen to make a theory, could they still get good results?
One by one, they all panicked.
“Princess, Mrs. Xia, we also listen to what people said, and we don’t believe it!” Mrs Liu was busy trying to please.
You blazing with anger, staring straight at her, “Don’t try to justify yourself. I was listening to what you said just now. If you don’t make it clear to me today, it won’t end.”
Mrs. Liu really wanted to fan her big mouth, she was quick to do so just now, which has severely offended You.
“This matter is being reported by everyone, and it is not only us who are talking about,” Mrs. Deng said guiltily.
You was determined to find out the source of this rumor today. Since it had spread all over the city, she had nothing to fear.
Immediately drew all the ladies to the queen.
“You know exactly what kind of person Jinxuan is. You also know why she was in trouble. She suffered in a dark place, was wronged, was not easy to be rescued, but was also vilified like this. I really can`t stand it.” You cried with tears.
Yide also said, “I thought the rumor was confined to the wise, but now it seems that they can’t cure these gossips. Empress, you have to be fair to Jinxuan.”
The queen naturally knew why Ye Jiayao was kidnapped. There was a shadow of King Yu here, but there was no evidence and she couldn’t get it on the table. Ye Jiayao was very helpful to the prince, and it was inevitable that she would be hated. Plus, behind her were Jing ‘an marquis house and HeLian mansion, which were the greatest help around the prince. For various reasons, the queen couldn’t stand by.
She dignified glance at the next few trembling ladies.
Cold hummed: “Very good, very good! A wife of ministers from the Ministry of Rites, a wife of a university student from Longyuan Pavilion, a wife of a censor from the Imperial Observatory … you are all very well one by one! The queen mother hasn’t been buried yet. You don’t think about mourning, but you have a mind to gossiping.”
Everyone was terrified and said in unison, “We know the sin. Please pardon us.”
“Since you said you were listening to what people said, you confess truthfully. Where did you hear all this nonsense?” the queen demanded.
They all confessed the spread of the rumors.
The queen was so effective that she immediately brought all these people into the palace, and one group of people bit another group of people, eventually even Zhou was bitten out, and more than a few people reported her.
You was so angry that she couldn’t wait to strangle Zhou.
Yide’s eyes were on several ladies who had made friends with King Yu’s side concubine Lin, whispered to the queen for a while, and the queen nodded, knowing fairly well that it was King Yu`s mansion who was behind it. This was a godsend! They couldn`t deal with King Yu, but if they could catch Lin’s mistake and give him a charge of lax administration, even the emperor would have an opinion on him.
She took the ladies down for questioning, suggesting that her men must let them bit Lin.
The ladies were summoned by the queen for questioning, and the ministers could not sit still. They were not sure what their wives had done. They were all worried. They were all going out of the palace and were waiting outside to find out the news.
As a result, the emperor was alarmed.
As soon as the emperor came to the Chaoyang Hall, he saw a large area kneeling. The queen came forward to welcome, Yide and You followed. Their facial expression was angry and sad.
“Queen, what happened?” asked the emperor.
“Please move and let me report it.” Queen said.
When the emperor and queen went to the back hall to talk, they waited for an instant and told Yide and You to go in.
The emperor’s face was also not good – looking, and he sighed and said, “I already know this matter, it’s about Ye Jinxuan’s innocence and Jing ‘an marquis house’s reputation, and I will certainly give you justice.”
You knelt down quickly and thanked him profusely.
Just in time, Maid came to report that someone had already confessed. She was instructed by King Yu’s side concubine Lins and Princess Liuli, and they also deliberately wooed marquis house’s third wife to pick the task and increase her credibility.
The emperor flew into a rage when he heard this: “It’s Liuli again. Why does everything have her share? Can’t she settle down for a few days?”
The queen said calmly, “Liuli is a staunch believer. It is estimated that she was used by others.”
Yide immediately understood the queen’s meaning and said, “I heard that Lin often went to see her after Liuli moved out of the marquis house.”
You was not stupid either. She cried: “Liuli is not so popular to mobilize so many people to slander Jinxuan, but I don’t understand why Lin should deal with Jinxuan. Jinxuan has no cause or hatred with her …”
Why did she want to deal with Jinxuan? This problem hovered in the emperor’s heart. The emperor did not know the feud between Lin and Ye Jiayao. He habitually thought about the situation in the court. It was a struggle between women, but it often hid a mystery in it.
Ye Jinxuan was the daughter-in-law of Jing ‘an marquis house, Lin was King Yu’s side concubine, but her position in King Yu mansion was far better than that of A Ruan. Would King Yu want to take this opportunity to suppress Jing ‘an marquis house?
But this kind of means was too despicable. What skill was it to let a woman take the lead?
The emperor thought more and more angrily and said, “Lin is so despicable, the Liuli is rather stubborn and hard – headed, it is not a good lesson, and it is becoming increasingly lawless. Queen, I leave this matter to you and do whatever you want. The list of those accomplices will be drawn up and let the family bring them back, no matter how many officials are demoted.”
With the emperor’s message, the queen’s heart was set.
Ye Jiayao was busy happily at home. Today’s dishes were all very successful and even Xia Chunyu, a senior eater, thought highly of them.
It never occurred to her that court had caused a big storm because of her at this time, and even more so that a group of officials were beaten down overnight after hard work in climbing up to today’s position.
