Chapter 612 - 390: She Has No Evidence, But She Has a Mouth

Chapter 612: Chapter 390: She Has No Evidence, But She Has a Mouth

News of the Tao Xinde brothers sharing a mistress quickly spread throughout the Capital City. Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager summoned Duchess Gu En to the palace for a scolding. The duchess left the palace in disgrace, but inwardly she was indignant. ’Isn’t the Empress Dowager just casting me aside now that I’ve served my purpose?’

Duchess Gu En suspected that the Tao Family’s troubles were connected to Ming Fei. After all, they knew exactly what had happened with Baozhuang Building. The Ling Family had just dealt with Third Master Ling a short while ago, so it was possible he had exposed the Tao Family.

At this thought, Duchess Gu En could no longer sit still. The Tao Family couldn’t be the only ones to suffer this undeserved disaster.

So, Duchess Gu En went to complain to Marquis Gu’en, pinning all the blame on Ming Fei. Otherwise, how could things be so coincidental?

She had no proof, but she did have a mouth.

Surprisingly, Marquis Gu’en actually found his wife’s words reasonable and went to confront Marquis Wenxin.

Song Nanzhen had been waiting for this. When Marquis Gu’en came to question him, he played dumb, claiming to have no grievances or grudges against the Tao Family. As for the concubine in the palace, she didn’t even know what the Tao Family did. ’Play dirty tricks?’

’For what reason?’

Song Nanzhen’s innocent yet faintly provocative tone infuriated Marquis Gu’en. They started arguing right there in the government offices of the Six Ministries, and in a slip of the tongue, the marquis blurted out the Ling Family’s name.

This was a huge development. Song Nanzhen put on a show, rolling his eyes back and fainting on the spot. After he was revived by someone pinching his philtrum, Song Nanzhen rolled up his sleeves and decked Marquis Gu’en!

Everyone: ...

Song Nanzhen’s reputation as an honest man was so deeply ingrained in everyone’s minds that this sudden act stunned them all.

’What was that about Minister Song being highly capable at managing the Ministry of Revenue? What did that have to do with him being an honest man? Can’t honest men be good officials?’

As Song Nanzhen threw punches, he also shouted accusations. It was only then that the crowd learned what had happened with the Ling Family and what the Tao Family had done. So, with Marquis Gu’en coming to cause trouble for Marquis Wenxin, wasn’t that a confession without being prompted that he was the one pulling the Tao Family’s strings?

The onlookers thought it over carefully. The Empress Dowager had always been hostile toward Ming Fei. Could Gu’en Houfu’s plot against Baozhuang Building be related to that?

The Tao Family had made a critical blunder. Not only had they acted as pawns for Gu’en Houfu, but their own closets were full of skeletons, and now all their dirty secrets had been exposed.

In a word: they deserved it!

Events escalated with the unstoppable force of a wildfire. Song Yunzhao was truly forced to see her father in a new light. She never thought that a man of such firm principles and integrity could pull off something so sensational.

All she could say was, ’Well played!’

’That’s my father, all right.’

’If only my eldest uncle were also an official in the Capital City,’ she thought. ’He’s so thorough and tactful. Paired with my father, the two brothers could complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses, ensuring the Song Family’s stability.’

’Unfortunately, it won’t be easy for him to become an official in the capital.’

’My father has reached the position of one of the Six Ministers, and my eldest cousin is a rising star favored by the Emperor. My uncle is caught in the middle, in an awkward position. The court can’t be filled entirely with members of the Song Family. So as long as my father and cousin’s careers proceed smoothly, my uncle’s own future is destined to be limited.’

But something even more unexpected for Song Yunzhao was yet to come. Before the scandal with the Tao Family had even subsided, the Left and Right Ministers received a memorial from Song Nanyong announcing his resignation.

Upon hearing the news, Song Yunzhao immediately summoned her eldest aunt into the palace for questioning.

Madam Song greeted Yun Zhao with a warm smile and explained in a soft, gentle voice, "This was a decision your uncle made after careful consideration. First, your eldest cousin is highly regarded by the Emperor; as long as he serves diligently, his future is secure. Second, the Capital City is unsettled, and your father’s disposition is still a bit too magnanimous. For the Song Family to remain safe and sound, someone needs to be there to support him. Besides, now that there is an Eldest Prince, there are too many eyes on you and the Song Family. We must act with the utmost caution. Third, by resigning over this matter, your uncle will make the Emperor feel indebted to the Song Family. That favor will be useful someday."

Song Yunzhao’s thoughts churned for a long time. Her uncle had been an official for decades, pouring his heart and soul into restoring the Song Family’s prestige, and now he was resigning. Her eyes immediately turned red.

Seeing this, Madam Song quickly consoled her. "Yun Zhao, you don’t need to be sad. Your uncle has been rushing from post to post for years, and his health has suffered for it. I’m actually happy he’s resigning and coming home; it’s a good chance for him to recuperate. Besides, there are many matters at home, and many external affairs that require someone to manage them. Now that your father is a Chief of Staff, it’s inconvenient for him to handle such things. I’m just a woman—and his sister-in-law at that—so there are many situations where it’s not appropriate for me to step in. But when your uncle comes back, everything will be different."

Song Yunzhao understood.

"I will remember my uncle’s profound kindness," Song Yunzhao said earnestly.

Madam Song smiled. "We’re all family. To say such things is to treat us as strangers."

Along with Song Nanyong’s resignation memorial, a report from the secret agents left behind in the Capital City also arrived before the Emperor.

Feng Yi sat in an open-sided tent while Meng Jiuchang hurried to help the Emperor remove his boots and change into lighter shoes. After a full day of riding, his boots were filled with sand.

Feng Yi sat under a lamp and read through the memorials. He started with the ones from the Left and Right Ministers, which primarily dealt with important matters of the court. A single read-through was enough for Feng Yi to get a clear picture.

Then he moved on to the memorials the two ministers had sent that required his decision. Right at the top of the pile was Song Nanyong’s request for resignation.

Logically, Song Nanyong’s resignation should have been handled by the Ministry of Personnel. But since he had a niece who was the beloved Ming Fei, the memorial was naturally delivered directly to the imperial court.

After reading Song Nanyong’s memorial, Feng Yi’s brows knitted tightly. ’Too old? Poor health? If an official of Song Nanyong’s age were to resign for such reasons, then thirty or forty percent of all officials in Great Chu would have to go home.’

’Something must have happened.’

Feng Yi then opened the secret agent’s report. After reading it, his face was as dark as a thundercloud. He let out a cold sneer. It was a little surprising that the Empress Dowager had actually learned to act indirectly this time.

’The Tao Family...’

Feng Yi’s anger surged. He wasn’t in the capital, and just as he’d expected, the Empress Dowager had made her move.

Feng Yi thought of Yun Zhao again. ’She must be heartbroken over her uncle’s resignation,’ he mused. He knew Yun Zhao had always been close with Madam Song, so her relationship with this uncle must be good as well.

’Now that Song Nanyong is resigning, Yun Zhao will surely figure out the reason, and she’ll feel even more guilty toward the main branch of the Song Family.’

At this thought, Feng Yi immediately ordered someone to grind an inkstone. He spread out an imperial edict and, with a flourish of his brush, wrote swiftly.

The Emperor approved Song Nanyong’s resignation. Yun Zhao had a troublesome birth mother and an equally difficult elder sister. While Madam Song could keep them in line, she lacked the authority that Song Nanyong possessed.

With a son like Song Buran, Song Nanyong’s resignation was not a setback for the Song Family—on the contrary, it was a good thing. He needed to make way for his son.

But Feng Yi had to compensate Yun Zhao for this loss. He couldn’t let her be sad because of it.

No one in the Capital City suppressed the news of Song Nanyong’s resignation. Thanks to Ming Fei, many eyes were watching the Song Family’s every move, so word got out almost immediately.

Before anyone could start gloating over the Song Family’s misfortune, the Emperor’s imperial edict arrived in the Capital City.

It approved Song Nanyong’s resignation but also ennobled him as Ning’an Bo, bestowing upon him the mansion right next to Marquis Wenxin’s Mansion.

The entire court was in an uproar, once again witnessing the sheer power of Ming Fei’s immense favor.