Yu Mingyue stepped forward, neither crying nor shouting, her soft voice still carrying a childish tone, "This humble daughter cannot accept the apology from the Marquis of Chengen's mansion."
Yu Mingyue tidied her slightly soiled but not disheveled clothes, bowed respectfully to the Sage, and then said again, "This humble daughter dares not let the wife of the Marquis of Chengen apologize. The wife of the Marquis of Chengen has always been decisive, and this humble daughter fears that it will bring trouble to herself and her family in the future. This humble daughter dares not."
Yu Mingyue's small body stood straight, unyielding, and her words were full of deep meaning.
The Sage, for the sake of the Noble Consort, was willing to posthumously grant the title of Princess to the deceased Yao Sanniang rather than reward the Marquis of Chengen, indicating that the Marquis was not favored by the Sage.
Speaking more deeply, the Emperor was pleased to see the Yao family in internal strife, and even more so to see it escalating.
Especially since the wife of the Marquis of Chengen, Madam Luo, hailed from the Duke of Huguo's mansion. The Luo family, the Duke of Huguo, held sway in Youzhou, seemingly becoming an emperor in their own right. The Sage had long harbored dissatisfaction and naturally detested Madam Luo.
A deathly silence fell around them. However, everyone knew in their hearts that what was being called "hating evil as if it were one's enemy" was clearly a confusion of good and evil, reckless and ignorant, narrow-minded.
What the young lady of the Yu family said was not wrong at all. If she were to apologize today, given the character of the Yao family, they would surely seek revenge in the future.
There are those who can steal for a thousand days, but not those who can guard against thieves for a thousand days. Although Yu Liuniang was young, her actions were indeed meticulous.
Madam Luo realized what was happening, this little vixen was mocking her. She had already admitted her mistake, what more did she want? She immediately straightened up and roared at Yu Mingyue, "What do you mean by your sarcastic tone?"
Yu Mingyue smiled coldly, with a hint of disdain.
"Speak!" Madam Luo was even more enraged by the piercing gaze.
Yu Mingjing cupped his hands and said, "If Madam dares to question my sister like this in front of the Sage, I dare not imagine what she would do if the Sage were not present."
"Insolent child!" Madam Luo's voice was loud, but her imposing manner vanished under the Sage's gaze.
Censor Fang could not bear to watch. If one could tolerate this, what could one not tolerate?
As an official responsible for the people, if he could not even protect a child, what kind of official was he, and how could he govern the country?
"Your Majesty, if the inner family members of the Marquis of Chengen's mansion are so arrogant and overbearing in the capital, daring to bully a young lady of the Duke's mansion's status at will, then in the future, will the inner family members of the mansion have to be locked up at home, confined to their own space, and hide from trouble?"
"Censor Fang speaks the truth. My lady has always been timid. If she were to encounter such a situation, I fear she would be wronged to the point of throwing herself into a river." The one speaking was General Song.
General Song harbored considerable resentment towards the Yao family. Their actions had ruined the Lantern Festival, and they had thought there were rebels causing trouble in the capital, making the Qianniu Guard act as if facing a great enemy, sealing the city gates in search. In the end, it was only a lost daughter.
Unexpectedly, they were blamed for being too zealous, which led to the leak of information, causing Yao Sanniang to hang herself. General Song was reprimanded by the Sage for this and fined three months' salary.
Did he not fight with all his might for that meager salary? To cut off someone's livelihood was like killing their parents. If not now, when would he take revenge?
"Pack your bags and return to Jiangnan. After being away from home for several months, my lady probably misses her father too." Zhou Zixuan, a scholar who had accompanied the Sage, flicked his sleeves and left.
The scholars attending the poetry gathering followed suit and departed. In the palace, Yao Noble Consort had forced Empress Wang to leave the palace for many years. With the Yao family's arrogance in court, it was likely difficult to find a foothold in the imperial court.
Those who left were precisely the ones the Sage admired most, and the Sage's expression became even more displeased.
"Nonsense!" The Sage was furious, startling even Yao Noble Consort, who quickly signaled her elder brother.