Qin Yining burst out laughing at his tone. “If it were really hot tea, I might have burned him.”

“Are you feeling sorry for him?” Pang Xiao huffed in displeasure.

“I was afraid of making things unmanageable. If word spread, it would damage my reputation.”

Pang Xiao naturally knew Qin Yining acted with restraint. She wasn’t just concerned about reputation, but also didn’t want to create complications by breaking relations with the Lu family at an inappropriate time. But his precious treasure that he held in his palms afraid of dropping, kept in his mouth afraid of melting, had been bullied after just one day out – and by the couple Lu Heng and his wife working together no less.

“I don’t think those women are any good either. The way they spoke, I wonder if it was intentional troublemaking. What proper woman would be so loose with her tongue? And those were mistresses of noble houses.”

Pang Xiao looked down on the noble ladies present today. To put it bluntly, these women only cared about gossiping about others behind their backs, never thinking that others would suffer criticism because of it. They wouldn’t take responsibility for their words.

Especially that woman who deliberately brought up the Empress Dowager’s attempt to matchmake Lu Heng and Qin Yining years ago – she had malicious intent, deliberately steering the conversation in that direction.

Pang Xiao’s first instinct was to wonder if someone was at odds with him and thus framing Qin Yining. But on second thought, sometimes the hostility between women often came from jealousy. Perhaps someone was jealous of his Yining’s beauty.

Pang Xiao’s large hands held Qin Yining even tighter. “Never mind them. In any case, we’ll have less contact with those gossipy women in the future, so they won’t anger you.”

“I know!” Qin Yining wrapped her arms around Pang Xiao’s neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck. “Alright, let’s consider this matter over. It has nothing to do with us anyway, so there’s no need to take it to heart.”

“That won’t do.” Pang Xiao lowered his head and kissed Qin Yining’s forehead. “I can see that surname Lu clearly hasn’t given up his evil intentions. He bullied my wife – can a cup of cold tea settle it? Don’t worry about it, I have my own plans for this matter.”

A jealous man was simply untouchable.

“Fine, fine, fine, everything as you say. I won’t interfere.” Qin Yining’s voice was soft as she covered her mouth and yawned. “Talking to those barely familiar people all day was more exhausting than fighting a battle.”

Hearing this, Pang Xiao massaged her shoulders and neck with his large hands, feeling only skin and bones with barely any flesh.

“Alright, I had them prepare bird’s nest with milk for you. After you eat a bowl, we’ll sleep.” Pang Xiao said tenderly. “I promise not to torment you tonight.”

The first part was fine, but the ending became improper again.

Qin Yining punched Pang Xiao, who laughed heartily and rocked her in his arms.

Such a precious treasure – he didn’t even know how to properly cherish her.

After a good night’s sleep, the next day Qin Yining continued “recuperating” at home with Pang Xiao as usual, gradually beginning to decline their few visitors.

Pang Xiao secretly went out once, and Qin Yining didn’t ask in detail what he went to do.

“Princess, Princess.” In the evening, Bingtang said excitedly, “Do you know? Yesterday Loyalty Bo’s wife followed Loyalty Bo to the palace to give thanks, but ended up causing a huge scene at Ci’an Palace, even disturbing the Empress.”

“Really?” Qin Yining was making little clothes for Zhao Ge’er and asked with interest, “With her temper, she’d probably suffer in the palace.”

“More than that.” Bingtang lowered her voice. “They say Loyalty Bo’s wife went to complain, saying Loyalty Bo humiliated her – on their wedding night, neither of them even removed their wedding clothes.”

“You heard about this too?” Qin Yining was surprised.

Bingtang said embarrassedly: “I’m not the only one talking about it. The women who went out shopping today came back saying the whole capital is talking about it.”

Ji Yun entered carrying a box and caught Bingtang’s last sentence. “Exactly, Princess, you don’t know – Loyalty Bo, someone of such noble family background, finally remarried but to such a person. Now many people outside are discussing this matter. They say Loyalty Bo’s wife is shrewish and rude, offending both the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Later it alarmed the Emperor, who scolded Loyalty Bo’s wife. Even the favored Imperial Concubine Zhuang was implicated and nearly demoted to Noble Consort.”

“Tsk, if I were Imperial Concubine Zhuang, even for a marriage alliance I wouldn’t choose a cousin with such a temperament.” Bingtang clicked her tongue. “Isn’t this just causing trouble for herself?”

“Imperial Concubine Zhuang is probably weak-willed too. I heard if not for Imperial Concubine Zhuang being truly gentle and beautiful, and being someone who doesn’t compete with others, the Emperor showed mercy. Otherwise the Bian family would have been greatly disgraced.”

Qin Yining listened to the two maids chattering and thought of Bian Ruohan’s appearance, unable to help shaking her head.

Living too comfortably with overly indulgent parents and elders could spoil a girl like that.

But this couldn’t be blamed entirely on the parents. There were plenty of parents in the world who doted on their children, yet not every child turned out crooked like Bian Ruohan.

Qin Yining shook her head, not taking this matter to heart either.

Pang Xiao also didn’t mention this matter again, only continuing to feign illness and recuperate, staying away from court.

After another two days, more amusing news spread from the Bian household. It was said that when Bian Shi returned home, she was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall without even being given food. Loyalty Bo also only stayed briefly before leaving, abandoning Bian Shi at her natal home without even staying for a meal.

A grand wedding ending in such discord – these rumors were too extreme, overshadowing many versions of gossip from the wedding day.

Now it was widely known that Loyalty Bo had married an unruly shrew.

With previous rumors of the Emperor mistreating meritorious officials and bullying great heroes, now it wasn’t just Prince Zhongshun being mistreated by the Emperor.

Many people in the streets were discussing it.

“Loyalty Bo’s marriage was arranged by the Emperor himself. When the Emperor arranges a match, regardless of what kind of woman she is, ministers can’t refuse, right?”

“So the patriarch of such a great family as the Lu clan, who also holds noble rank, actually married such a shrew.”

“Could this also be…”

Some people didn’t dare say more, but everyone understood the unfinished words. This matter easily reminded people of the harsh treatment Prince Zhongshun received when returning to the city.

It was clear that the Emperor’s mistreatment of ministers wasn’t coincidental.

“They say Prince Zhongshun is still miserably recuperating in his mansion, and the Emperor hasn’t arranged any official position for him either.”

“Arrange an official position? It would be good if he’s not impeached. It’s only been peaceful for a few days – who knows when another accusation will be thrown at him.”

The speaker sighed with emotion.

Such discussions weren’t limited to one place in the city – people were talking everywhere.

Li Qitian soon received the news as well.

“Your Majesty, this minister’s words are all true. Those ignorant commoners outside are indeed spreading such rumors. As a censorial official, reporting facts to Your Majesty is this minister’s duty.” In the imperial study, a middle-aged official knelt on the ground, speaking righteously.

Li Qitian naturally trusted him. This man was his confidant who had handled affairs steadily for many years. Though he hadn’t risen meteorically, his step-by-step promotion in the Censorate was truly based on his own abilities.

“Minister Liu, please rise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Censor Liu stood up with an upright appearance, not reading Li Qitian’s expression as he continued: “This minister has another matter to report to Your Majesty.”

Li Qitian rubbed his forehead. “Speak.”

Censor Liu said: “This minister has discovered that Loyalty Bo privately engages in selling official positions and noble ranks to line his own pockets. The officials he trades have fixed prices, and sometimes go to the highest bidder. For example, Minister Lu who was previously appointed as imperial commissioner to Great Yan’s former capital – that position was sold by Loyalty Bo.”

This statement was like thunder, truly earth-shattering.

For a moment the imperial study was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Xiong Jinshui and several young eunuchs, having heard such inside information, were so frightened they didn’t dare breathe loudly, quietly hiding in corners, afraid of drawing the Emperor’s attention.

Yet Censor Liu, who had lit this bombshell, still stood like a pine tree.

Li Qitian’s head throbbed painfully. “Impossible. Lu Tingzhong was personally appointed by me. No matter how capable Lu Heng is, could he make me obey his every word? Forget this one commissioner – for all court positions, the appointment, evaluation, and promotion of officials above county magistrate are all personally reviewed and approved by my imperial brush. You say the Lu family sells positions – did he bewitch me into agreeing?”

“Your Majesty, this minister doesn’t mean that, but the Lu family selling positions is an undeniable fact. Someone in the Lu family deceived Your Majesty and deliberately guided Your Majesty to succeed in profiting from it.”

Censor Liu thought for a moment and continued: “Let this minister give a concrete example. Some time ago, a merchant family in the south wanted a reliable official to protect their thriving business. Since the local officials were inflexible, they thought of a solution – buy a local commissioner position. This way they could act without restraint.

“This merchant family approached the Lu family, who handled the commissioner matter. But this merchant refused to pay the agreed reward to the Lu family – reportedly didn’t give them a single coin and even had people freeload at the Lu residence for quite a while.

“The Lu family completed the task but didn’t get paid. In anger, they ruined the merchant’s business completely. This minister dares to speak directly before Your Majesty today – the Lu family sold a commissioner position, specifically Minister Lu’s position, but didn’t receive the merchant’s payment. Not content with just ruining the merchant, they must want to reclaim the commissioner position to be satisfied.”

Li Qitian listened with furrowed brows. “You’re saying the Lu family will influence me to have Lu Tingzhong replaced?”

Censor Liu said: “Whether it is or isn’t, Your Majesty will slowly come to know.”

Li Qitian knew Censor Liu wasn’t someone who spoke carelessly, so he became somewhat half-believing.

In early April, it happened to be time for official evaluations. By coincidence, someone from the Personnel Ministry submitted a memorial to Li Qitian, saying that Commissioner Lu Tingzhong’s southern inspection of public sentiment should be completed and he could be transferred back to his original position. The memorial explained the reasons and requested Li Qitian’s approval.

Previously, many official appointments and dismissals were handled this way – the Personnel Ministry would submit memorials that Li Qitian personally reviewed.

Today, upon seeing this memorial and remembering Censor Liu’s words, Li Qitian’s brows furrowed.