Chapter 26 Emperor’s Evaluation

In just a few days, the rumors of the Shu family’s rebellion spread like wildfire in the capital!

Wei Shi said to Shaoyu, “Son, isn’t it a bit too much to say that the Shu family is rebelling? It’s hard for people to believe this!”

“It wasn’t me!”

An Shaoyu said with a dark expression.

“I only let people spread rumors about the Shu family spoiling their daughter excessively, not about rebellion!”

“Then who did it? Could it be the Shu family’s other enemies?” Wei Shi said with a serious face.

 “It might be that old thing Shu Jin Yi spreading the rumors himself!”

Shaoyu’s grandmother suddenly said and realized, “They want to make a big fuss out of this!”

Wei Shi furrowed his brows in annoyance.

The Old Lady couldn’t think of a good solution for a while and somewhat regretted letting her son seek trouble with the Shu family.

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“The Shu family is rebelling?”

The Crown Prince listened to the vivid description of the rumors outside by the little servant beside him and couldn’t help but find it a bit amusing.

“Hey, Yuyang, did you hear that? Your family is going to rebel!”

Shu Yuyang didn’t even raise an eyebrow, “Oh? Is that so?”

“In that case, please lend me some guards, Your Highness, considering my role as your companion.”

The Crown Prince couldn’t help but chuckle. Since Shu Yuyang was his companion, and the third son of Anding Marquis had been posting notices all over the capital, he had some understanding of the matters between the Shu family and Anding Marquis Family. He asked, “Is this rumor coming from Anding Marquis’s residence?”

Shu Yuyang casually replied, “Who knows?”

The Crown Prince didn’t delve further into it.

It’s hard to believe that the Shu family would rebel, from the Emperor to the entire court, no one would believe it. The Shu family is purely a scholarly family, without any military power, how could they rebel?

It’s unclear why such rumors have spread. It seems to be related to the well-known separation between the legitimate daughter of Shu Xiangya and the legitimate son of Anding Marquis who recently arrived in the capital.

Inside the Shu residence,

Shu Yuwan heard Qing Dai mentioning the rumors of the Shu family rebelling outside and was full of doubts. The rumors about the Shu family’s daughter made some sense, but this rebellion idea was truly absurd.

Would Anding Marquis be so foolish?

Shu Yuwan went to find her mother, perhaps she knew something.

“Mother.”

“Yuwan, why are you here?”

“I heard that everyone outside is saying that our Shu family is going to rebel.” Shu Yuwan said.

Lady Shu smiled at her daughter, “Your father’s idea is that this way no one will focus on the reputation of the Shu family’s daughter!”

Shu Yuwan suddenly understood.

That was indeed a good solution.

“Don’t worry, your father is clever!” Lady Shu was very proud.

Seeing the affection between her parents, Shu Yuwan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Their relationship was really good.

Growing up in such an environment, she also hoped for a loving relationship between husband and wife. So in the previous life, she had always hoped for An Shaoyu to turn around, until he brought Zhao Qing Qing back to the mansion, she realized that An Shaoyu was not her destined partner!

In this life, she didn’t expect that anymore, as long as her family was safe, she would be content.

The next day,

As soon as court began, Hong Gonggong by the Emperor’s side stepped forward and announced, “If there are matters to report, present them; if not, court is dismissed!”

Shu Jin Yi took a step forward and knelt in the middle of the hall, “Your Majesty! Please do justice for your humble servant! I have been wronged!”

“What injustice have you faced, Minister?” The Emperor seemed a bit puzzled.

“In recent days, there have been widespread rumors in the capital that the Shu family is planning a rebellion! Your humble servant is truly fearful!”

“Please, Your Majesty, see through this! The Shu family, generation after generation of upright officials, has been loyal to Your Majesty. I don’t know who wants to push me to my death!”

“Minister, rest assured, I naturally believe you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“I heard that recently, there have been some contradictions between the Shu family and the Anding Marquis’s family regarding the surname of the daughter born to Mr. Shu and the legitimate daughter who returned home. The Crown Prince casually remarked.”

Anding Marquis broke out in a cold sweat.

He quickly stepped forward and said, “It’s just some private matters, not worth mentioning.”

“Why wouldn’t it be worth mentioning? Didn’t Anding Marquis’s residence previously come to accuse our Shu family of being too arrogant? Since then, rumors have been spreading in the capital that the daughter of our Shu family is more honored than a royal princess! Following that, rumors of the Shu family rebelling have emerged!”

Shu Jin Yi turned to the Emperor and performed a respectful bow, “Your humble servant dares to trouble Your Majesty with this matter, please evaluate the situation between my daughter and the Anding Marquis’s family.”

The Emperor became interested.

He had heard from the palace concubines before about the incident where the third son of Anding Marquis had posted notices, but he didn’t expect there to be further developments.

“Oh, please elaborate.”

Anding Marquis’s face darkened.

He knew that Shu Jin Yi was going to cause trouble today.

But he didn’t expect the Crown Prince to speak up for the Shu family. Indeed, if the Crown Prince ascended the throne, their Anding Marquis’s residence might not fare well.

It seemed that it was time for Shaoyu to marry that girl from the Zhao family!

“My daughter and the legitimate son of Anding Marquis have been married for two years. Just when she became pregnant this year, the son of the Anding family suddenly claimed to have found true love! He insisted on divorcing my daughter, even posting divorce notices all over the capital. My daughter was already six months pregnant, and although we tried to persuade them, the son of the Anding Marquis family insisted on the divorce and even attempted to induce a miscarriage!”

“Helpless, my daughter had to agree to the divorce. I brought her back home, and a few months later, she gave birth to a daughter. Since the divorce notice clearly stated that the child in my daughter’s womb belonged to her, I had to include the child in our Shu family genealogy. However, the Anding Marquis’s residence came to accuse the Shu family, insisting on including the child in their family records. I disagreed, and soon after, various rumors about the Shu family spread throughout the capital.”

The Emperor listened with great interest.

“Anding Marquis, do you have anything to say?”

Anding Marquis said with a dark face, “Reporting to Your Majesty, I was unaware of the matter regarding the child belonging to the daughter of the Shu family. Therefore, I felt it was inappropriate to include it in the Shu family genealogy. However, the rumors of the Shu family rebelling have nothing to do with me!”

“Aside from the Anding Marquis’s residence, I have not had any conflicts with anyone! As for the contents of the divorce notice, if the Anding Marquis claims ignorance, then it can only be said that the Anding Marquis has been negligent!” Shu Jin Yi huffed.

“It’s not impossible that Minister Shu Jin Yi himself spread the rumors!” Anding Marquis retorted.

“What a joke! Am I so impatient with life?” Shu Jin Yi replied.

“Alright, alright, both of you ministers, stop arguing.”

Shu Jin Yi and Anding Marquis fell silent.

“This matter is indeed difficult to handle.”

“Minister of Rites, do you have any suggestions?”

“Your Majesty, I have never encountered such a precedent before!”

“Indeed, which noble son would mix with the legal wife without fault and seek a divorce while she is pregnant?” Shu Jin Yi interjected.

“And no upright family would include the child born to their daughter in their own family records!” Anding Marquis responded.

The Emperor was also perplexed.

In the end, he said, “Ultimately, Anding Marquis’s residence was at fault first! Since the situation has come to this, let’s maintain the current status!”

“As for the rumors of the Shu family rebelling, they are purely groundless!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Shu Jin Yi was excited and quickly performed another deep bow.

“Your humble servant obeys!” Anding Marquis also knelt down to express his gratitude.