Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 44 - 43: Who Doesn’t Attend Court Every Day!
After being escorted out of the Duke Mansion, the Wu Family didn’t move even a step. They arranged a few benches right at the Duke Mansion’s gate, with even a tea table, and sat there motionless, taking turns angrily denouncing the arrogance and tyranny of Duke Ping and his son.
Everyone passing by stopped to watch, and the news spread like wildfire. Overnight, the "crimes" of Duke Ping and his son reached every corner of the Capital City.
When Su Juan heard about it, she was so shocked that her spoon fell into her bowl.
Well, although she’d heard that the Wu Family was troublesome, that was a long time ago, and she wasn’t even in the Capital City then. She really didn’t expect them to be this hard to deal with!
Blocking the gate with family members, not allowing entry or exit, yet not resorting to violence, just quarreling with anyone they caught - regardless if it was a servant. Who could withstand that?
Dongdong continued, "I heard that the Wu Family is still blocking the gate of the Duke Mansion!"
Su Juan looked on sympathetically, feeling a bit guilty since the Wu Ziyu had come for her initially.
Perhaps... after court today, I should visit the temple and pray for Xie Xun?
...
Braving the cold wind, Su Juan yawned as she entered the Golden Hall, catching a deep glance from Song Qianfan as he passed by.
Su Juan felt a peculiar sensation, "What’s up with Song Qianfan? He’s been looking at me a lot these days... something’s up..."
"I got it!"
Under his sleeve, Song Qianfan suddenly clenched his fist tight!
"This bastard must be planning to assassinate me!"
Su Juan’s confident tone left Song Qianfan startled, releasing a breath of relief, thinking she had realized what he was planning lately...
Feeling reassured, he strode forward confidently.
Su Juan, a Junior Sixth Rank official, still standing at the back, listened to others discussing the blocked gate of the Duke Mansion as they passed by.
"Seems like Duke Ping won’t be attending court today."
Su Juan envied, "That’s nice, in this freezing weather, he’s rightfully absent from court."
Those who heard agreed, precisely, as the days grow colder, Duke Ping could just rest at home, making others envious.
"Sigh, why doesn’t the Wu Family block the gate of the Prince Jing Mansion?"
"Such suffering should be mine to endure!"
Prince Jing: "???"
"Isn’t the Wu Family too audacious?"
"It’s not easy for Duke Ping, really."
"Exactly, why trouble my Duke Ping? They should be blocking the gate of the Prince Jing Mansion!"
Prince Jing’s temple throbbed; was the Wu Family so easily provoked, just for skipping court... how unfortunate to have such a daughter-in-law! It’s a family misfortune!
"Hush... Minister Wu is here."
The nearly seventy-year-old Minister of Rites entered the Golden Hall with a slow step, though his eyes were dim, his voice was vigorous, "With the weather turning cold, how are my colleagues faring?"
Each immediately plastered on a smile, "We are well, thank you for your concern, Minister Wu."
With Minister Wu’s arrival, the talk of the Wu Family quickly shifted in tone.
"I heard it was Xie Xun who splashed freshly boiled wine on the Wu Family’s daughter and insulted her."
Su Juan’s ears perked up, "What? Xie Xun splashed Wu Ziyu?"
Minister Wu snorted, standing outside the crowd, observing his colleagues gossip like old gossipmongers, feeling disdainful being among them.
"Is that so!?"
"How audacious of that Xie family boy!"
"Poor Wu Family girl."
Su Juan was shocked, the court rumors were outrageous. Clearly, it was Wu Ziyu trying to splash her with wine, but it ended up on Xie Xun, how did it turn into Xie Xun splashing Wu Ziyu?
Hearing the accusations against Xie Xun, Su Juan silently mourned for him: Poor little Xie, after court, I’ll burn some incense for you.
"Clearly Duke Ping is a poor teacher!"
"In this matter, I side with the Wu Family; the Xie Family went too far."
When she heard them start to slander Duke Ping, Su Juan was bewildered: "???"
"Yeah, how could Duke Ping bring up his son like that, poor Wu Family girl, such a nice young lady..."
"Bullshit!"
The angry shout startled both the civil and military officials, and even Minister Wu.
"What’s wrong with Xie Xun, the most handsome man in the Capital! Elegant and learned, with a gentle and kind personality, helping elderly across bridges!"
The entire court fell into an unusual silence.
Is this Vice Director Su talking about the Xie Xun they know?
Prince Jing was also surprised; how did it sound like, in his daughter-in-law’s eyes, Xie Xun, the profligate, was better than his already career-committed son?
Song Qianfan’s face darkened, this woman was truly shallow and wanton!
Her husband was right here, and she was looking at another man with favor, so... unfaithful!
At this moment, many looked at Song Qianfan, often disliked by Su Juan, with sympathy.
Look, Vice Director Su could certainly praise someone, putting Xie Xun on a pedestal, so why was she so dismissive of her own husband?
Su Juan scoffed coldly, "What do you wine and dine know?"
"Duke Ping fought on the battlefield for decades, didn’t marry or have a son until later, and then returned to the battlefield... not even seeing his son many times!"
"And still managed to raise such an elegant son, is it easy?"
Someone coughed loudly twice.
Some were unconvinced: Looks are inherent, how is it Duke Ping’s doing?
"You guys are home every day, yet haven’t raised your sons to be good-looking or outstanding!"
"They’re rather unsightly, as a junior, I’m embarrassed to say."
The officials whose sons were called unsightly: "..."
The Hanlin Academy Scholar up front wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, could this be... slightly impolite?
"Each one of you is getting on in age, not as competent as Duke Ping, nor ranking as high, your sons aren’t as good-looking, yet you dare criticize, where’s the shame in that!?"
Defending Duke Ping, Su Juan kept shooting words like arrows, piercing the officials’ hearts.
One by one, they flushed with rage, yet no one could retort, for what Su Juan said was fact.
The Minister of Rites, his face ashen, thought to himself, he had always said women’s minds were narrow, unsuited for court.
Just look, turned the court into what?
Child’s play!
In her righteous fury, Su Juan felt a fiery spirit, her body no longer cold.
Surprisingly, Duke Ping still arrived, appearing at the last moment, breathing white clouds as he walked, showing he’d hurried over. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
Su Juan’s inner fire instantly quelled, "See! Despite being blocked at his gate, Duke Ping finds a way to attend court."
"Attending court daily, no wonder he’s a Duke, beyond comparison!"
Everyone fumed, "???" Wasn’t everyone attending court daily too!
"These folks have time to gossip, ultimately because the Old Emperor hasn’t shown up, must be cozying up in bed in this cold... tsk."
Old Emperor: "?!!" Who’s cozying up in bed!
