As a result, the Minister of Appointments’ son, Chen Changsheng, had bought a number and came to treat his syphilis.
Zi You had instantly said to him, “Your disease can’t be cured. I can’t go against the heavens. The heavens want to punish you, so how can I save you?”
She had firmly denied him treatment. He wasn’t only Duke Yongnan furen’s nephew, but he was a true tyrant. He was different from the Four Tyrants in the capital. The Four Tyrants were led by Shangguan LingRan and weren’t really wicked. They were just dissolute and frivolous on the surface.
They often lingered in brothels, but they were actually Shangguan LingRan’s good friends. They had the same goal, so they had to hide their true natures. And they targeted vicious officials and not the common citizens unlike Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng had relied on him being on Taizi’s side and ruined a lot of girls. But he still pretended to be a righteous gentleman. He was the same kind of person as his cousin Zhao HongXiang.
Chen Changsheng was a second-rank guard in the Palace and harmed a lot of people for the Empress and Taizi. Zi You certainly would not treat him.
Originally, Chen Changsheng had disguised his true nature very well. So, when Zi You refused to treat him, he had shouted. “Why aren’t you treating me? What three ‘won’t treats?’ I didn’t violate any of those rules. I’m a good person, so why aren’t you treating me?”
Before Zi You could expose his evil deeds, a woman jumped out and scolded, “You animal! You cause my daughter’s death. If you’re a good person, then all the good people in the world are dead!”
There were more than a 1,000 people lining up. They immediately gathered around and asked each other what was going on.
The woman had cried out, “My family has a small embroidery shop in the village. My daughter was very pretty. When she went to deliver the embroidered goods to the Minister of Appointments fu, she caught this animal’s eye. He wanted to marry her as his Fifth Yiniang. But not even three months after she married, she miscarried and died. The truth is that my daughter didn’t have a natural miscarriage. It’s this animal and his wife who harmed her. They’re both wicked people!”
Chen Changsheng had quibbled, “You’re speaking nonsense. You sold your daughter for glory. Your daughter had a short life. What does that have to do with me and my wife? If you keep speaking nonsense, I’ll send you to the yamen.”
Zi You had instantly sneered and said, “Aren’t you afraid the Fifth Yiniang who died because of you will seek revenge? Remember. Persisting in evil deeds will bring about your self-destruction.”
Chen Changsheng had cursed and swore as he left. The woman had knelt to Zi You and thanked her for speaking up.
Originally, this matter would have passed just like this. But three days later, Chen Changsheng and his wife died. They were supposedly scared to death by ghosts. And his father, Minister of Appointments Chen Yonghao, was censured by the imperial censors for corruption. Xuanwu Emperor had given orders to arrest and imprison him.
As a result, Zi You’s fame increased. It was said that when someone met a villain, he would immediately say, “You’re not afraid the National Guardian will stand up for justice and come to look for you?”
The Minister of Appointments undoubtedly belonged on the Taizi and the Empress’ side. Zi You would start with him. Then she would start with the other important ministers and pull out all of Taizi and the Empress’ forces.
Moreover, once he died, Nee Chen wouldn’t have any support anymore. Without Zi You doing anything, Duke Yongnan would certainly deal with Nee Chen.
Minister Chen didn’t leave a ledger behind. Zi You fabricated a ledger according to Shangguan LingRan’s knowledge and placed it in fifth-rank Imperial Censor Li Zheng’s study.
Li Zheng scored second place in last year’s palace examination. He had a humble background and no foundation in the capital. But he was very honest and trusted by Xuanwu Emperor. It was the most appropriate for him to expose Minister Chen’s crimes.
