The Lucky Farmgirl

"That’s not really the case," Bai Shan, unlike Manbao, lacked experience in discussing gossip with the Emperor, so he was visibly conflicted for a while before deciding to speak honestly, "Your Majesty, this is a personal matter for others. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to talk behind their backs."

The Emperor was taken aback, as it was the first time he had been politely declined in this way. His interest was piqued, and he immediately said, "How is it a personal matter?"

The Emperor spiritedly remarked, "Didn’t you hear Wei Zhi and others saying? In the royal family, there are no personal matters. Even if I eat half a bowl less of rice, they will talk about it. Now it involves the promotion or reassignment of an official; how could that be a personal affair?"

He fixed his gaze on Bai Shan and said, "Clearly you know the truth behind this. Tell me quickly, what’s the hidden story here? Did the Governor of Daizhou offend Li Meng and others by rejecting their requests, resulting in so many people recently impeaching him?"

Bai Shan hastened to clarify upon hearing the Emperor’s speculation, "Your Majesty misunderstood."

He paused and then said, "I don’t know the details very well, but the Ma Family and Ms. Cui are related by marriage. The Governor Ma has a nephew who married Ms. Cui’s Sixth Lady as his wife..."

Bai Shan recounted how Manbao diagnosed Wang Ruile’s illness, determined her multiple miscarriages, and uncovered that she had fractured many bones.

He dared not disclose Madam Tang’s scheme to have Ma Hongzhong beaten in Yongzhou but did mention Ms. Cui’s attitude, "Nowadays, Ms. Cui wants to annul the marriage, but Ms. Cui is compassionate to her son, reluctant to be separated from her youngest son, so they’re currently fighting over the child."

Generally speaking, when couples divorce, the children follow the father, and it’s rare for a woman to take her child away from the husband’s family.

Obviously, Ms. Cui doesn’t want to give up the child.

The Emperor, upon understanding, pondered briefly before asking, "What is the relation between Li Meng and the Wang Family?"

He hadn’t heard that they were friendly.

Bai Shan replied, "Aren’t they both relatives by marriage with Ms. Cui? Maybe it’s a favor from relatives."

The Emperor squinted, realizing Li Meng has a rather stubborn temperament. If it was just a favor from relatives, it’s unlikely he would speak on such matters privately.

However, he understood that Bai Shan, being young and inexperienced, wouldn’t speak much about these matters. Since he already knew the key points, he waved Bai Shan away.

Once Bai Shan left, he instructed Gu Zhong, "Have Yin Li come into the palace."

Hmph, Bai Shan might be cautious in speaking, but would Yin Li also be hesitant?

As for whether Yin Li knew about this issue, the Emperor didn’t have doubts. Since the matter had escalated to the court, how could Yin Li not know?

Yin Li indeed knew, not only did he know, but he was also better informed than Bai Shan and Zhou Man.

He had a sip of tea first, before starting to explain to the Emperor, causing even the secretary who was recording with a pen to be stunned, feeling conflicted over how to succinctly document the gossip.

If recorded briefly, it might lead future generations to not find the origins in historical records in case of significant consequences from this incident.

If recorded lengthy, it would take up too much space and lack focus, which wouldn’t be good.

Though his mind wandered, the secretary faithfully documented everything.

Yin Li paid attention to this matter because Madam Tang and others beat someone in Yongzhou.

Though he was stationed in the capital, Yongzhou, being a secondary capital, also fell under his jurisdiction. And especially with his son present at the scene, it was hard for him not to pay attention.

Upon closer inspection, he discovered that Ms. Cui and Ms. Wang were confronting the Ma Family, especially Ms. Cui, who seemed intent on crushing them.

Therefore, Yin Li sent someone to investigate, uncovering not only that Ms. Cui’s daughter had been beaten and confined, but also that Ms. Cui sent Ms. Wang’s daughter back to Ms. Wang’s family.

The smile on the Emperor’s face faded, as he asked, "Such brutal behavior, Ms. Cui never noticed?"

Yin Li sighed and said, "Sixth Lady Wang is orphaned with only a younger brother studying abroad, not returning home for years. She only visits her uncle and aunt’s home, and her aunt was the one sent back to the Cui family."

The Emperor immediately understood.

Yin Li continued, "Ladies confined to the inner court have limited resources. Once communication channels are cut off, and if there’s no one caring or asking within the family, it’s normal for outsiders not to notice anything wrong for three to five years."

"Had the Ma Family been wise, they would have completely subdued Sixth Lady within these years, or directly killed her, outsiders probably would not sense anything amiss. But they preferred leveraging Ms. Cui’s influence, so they were reluctant to do it wholeheartedly. Moreover, Sixth Lady was not subdued, leading to the current turmoil."

The Emperor coldly snorted, straightforwardly asked, "That person called Ma Hongzhong, is he also studying?"

"Yes, utilizing the Wang Family’s influence, he studied at Bingzhou Prefecture school. Heard that he took the Ming Classic exam this year but did not pass."

"He’s of quite an age without passing a single exam, clearly without talent. If talentless, let that be, but devoid of virtue as well; retaining such a person in the school is wasting a spot. Merely have Bingzhou expel him."

But the Emperor wasn’t most concerned about this; his main concern was Ms. Cui’s attitude, "Ms. Cui’s face is lost substantially."

"Yes, the number of people aware is limited as the matter was suppressed, but Ms. Cui certainly did assist Ms. Wang in suppressing the Ma Family."

The Emperor pondered for a long moment, then said, "You go find someone to submit a memorial, impeach the Governor Ma for poor family management, and expose this matter."

Yin Li hesitated, "Your Majesty, that isn’t the Governor Ma’s family; the Governor Ma and his brother separated families long ago..."

"I don’t care, I just want someone to impeach, without specifically naming Ms. Cui’s mistakes in the affair. Simply report that Ms. Wang’s daughter was beaten badly, submit the memorial tomorrow, and find someone quickly."

The Emperor was ready to secretly intervene, but upon returning to the harem, he felt somewhat uncomfortable, thus he discussed with the Empress, "When Mingda and Changyu marry, we should give them more personal guards, simply eight hundred, no, a thousand. How about that?"

He said, "This way, if they are bullied in their husband’s family, they won’t have no means of seeking aid."

The Empress replied, "...Your Majesty, a thousand personal guards is the regulation for a Prince’s mansion."

"Why can’t I make Mingda a Prince?" He remarked, "She’s weak, can’t allow her to suffer grievances."

The Empress helplessly said, "The Bai Family won’t bully Mingda; does Bai Er seem like someone who could bully Mingda? Giving her so many people she’d have to find a place to accommodate them, wouldn’t that be wasting resources?"

Moreover, the court officials wouldn’t agree to this; the Empress swallowed these words, not daring to bring them up now, lest it trigger his stubborn temperament, potentially causing an adverse effect.

The Emperor insisted, "Wasteful, let it be wasteful. Only a thousand people, I can still afford them."

He said, "You don’t know how bad people’s hearts can be outside; is the Wang Family better than the Ma Family? Just like us compared to the Bai Family; when Wang Feng chose the Ma Family for marriage, he must’ve thought the Ma Family was lowly and wouldn’t dare bully his daughter. But in reality, isn’t it that not only the entire Ma Family, even a serving woman dared to humiliate Ms. Wang’s daughter."

"What Yin Li said is true, ladies confined to the inner court, without some power outside, once caught, they’re without a way to seek help," The Emperor thought of Mingda and felt heartbroken to tears, saying with reddened eyes, "When I imagine Mingda getting bullied in the future, unable to even send a message back to the palace, suffering outside while we’re in the palace thinking she’s well, my heart aches unbearably."

The Empress felt speechless...

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!