The general kneels on the washboard again

Before dawn the next day, Jiang Yunxiao wandered around the city with his upper body naked and a whip on his back. Later, he went to court with Jiang Songrui.

This caused a wave of public opinion in the city: "What's wrong with this guy today?"

Dacheng was holding court early in the morning, and the eunuch was calling out, "Go to court."

Civil and military officials in uniform court robes came in from outside the hall in a mighty procession, and Jiang Yunxiao looked a little awkward.

Jiang Songrui's face was covered with frost. He pulled Jiang Yunxiao to his knees and said, "Your Majesty, I have failed to educate my son properly, causing him to become lawless and even dare to fight with the prince. Now I have tied up this rebellious son and ask Your Majesty to deal with him."

At this time, the Second Prince Ling Ze, who had always been on good terms with Jiang Yunxiao, also said, "When the Duke and his wife were young, Yunxiao was often left in the Prince's Courtyard with us when they were on campaigns. We had countless fights together, and I still remember that my third brother was always the one to complain."

Jiang Yunxiao also knelt in the court: "I know my crime, please punish me, Your Majesty, please punish me, Your Highness Prince Cheng."

Jiang Yunxiao had been practicing martial arts and fighting for many years, and his skin was covered with scars over the years. The thorn had pierced his skin in several places, making it look bloody and a bit scary.

At this time, the king on the throne spoke, his tone majestic without anger: "The dignity of the royal family cannot be questioned."

Jiang Yunxiao knelt deeper: "Your Majesty, Yunxiao knows his mistakes. Yunxiao is responsible for his own actions. Please don't vent your anger on the Duke's Mansion."

The man in the upper seat had no expression on his face: "What if I insist on taking my anger out on you?"

Jiang Yunxiao raised his head, revealing his stubborn nature. "If Your Majesty insists on taking your anger out on me and slaughtering my entire family, then I'll have something to say before I die. The incident between me and the Third Prince started when he ordered his men to destroy the innocence of a young woman. To achieve his goal of breaking off the engagement, he even ruined her life. If this is his privilege as a royal relative, then I'm willing to die in such a court."

The emperor was moved and somewhat furious, shouting at all the civil and military officials, "This is just my family affair, yet you insisted on submitting a petition to the emperor. Now that you are involved in my family affairs, are you satisfied?"

The ministers knelt down one after another, feeling an inexplicable sense of oppression: "Your Majesty, please calm down."

The emperor changed the subject again: "Are there any other matters to report today? If not, I will adjourn the court."

Jiang Songrui, Jiang Yunxiao, Crown Prince Ling Yuan, Second Prince Ling Ze, and Third Prince Ling Xun were taken to the back room.

The emperor helped Jiang Songrui up. "You said that the fight between these sons even reached the court. It reminds me of when we were young. You were as reckless as Yun Xiao, and you were fearless in your words."

Jiang Songrui hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am guilty."

Jiang Songrui had accompanied the emperor in his campaigns, which led to the peace in Dacheng today. They were friends for life, but the emperor had been in high office for a long time, and suspicion and loneliness followed. The Jiang family had indeed made him think differently.

The emperor ignored Jiang Songrui and turned to kick Ling Xun: "Kneel down, you useless person."

Ling Xun felt pain and fell to his knees with a thud, saying aggrievedly, "Father."

The emperor only asked, "Is what Jiang Yunxiao said in the court today true?"

Ling Xun knew he couldn't hide it anymore, "Father, when Mother was alive, she betrothed me to a merchant's daughter as my princess. I know Dacheng values his word, so he naturally waited for the wedding. But I recently learned that girl was raised in the mountains of Yunzhou, uncouth and unrefined. She relied on her status as my late wife's legitimate daughter to be mean to my stepmother and sisters. She's truly not a good match. And look at her second sister, she's well-educated, well-mannered, gentle and charming, far superior to many women from aristocratic families. I was impulsive and did such a foolish thing."

His son's thoughts were all exposed, and the Emperor said, "You are both daughters of merchants, and you have been wronged. As long as you handle the aftermath properly and do not damage the reputation of the royal family, there is nothing wrong with that. However, Yun Xiao also has a point. You are wrong to use such despicable means to persecute a girl in the boudoir. Jiang Yunxiao, you are also wrong to violently beat Prince Dacheng. You will each go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and receive fifty strokes of the cane."

……

Yue Niang had been waiting for news, and finally received Yan Qi's reply: "Master, everything went smoothly. The Duke and his companions had just arrived at the mansion, and His Majesty immediately allocated many rewards. Now most of the rumors in the city have been suppressed. However, the young master received fifty strokes of the cane, and I'm afraid he won't be able to leave his bed for a while."

"As long as people are alive, that's good. By the way, have you found any results on that matter you investigated?"

Yan Qi carefully surveyed the surroundings and said, "I've already figured it out. It was indeed Tian and Fu Shiqing who went to Tianyoumen together. I found quite a few colorful gardenias in the secret compartment at the foot of Tian's bed."

Yue Niang nearly crushed the teacup in her hand. "Matricide is a serious crime. How dare they do it? Don't worry, just watch carefully for the evidence."

At Jiang Yunxiao's house, Yue Niang asked Yan Qi to deliver a few bottles of the best medicine for wounds, leaving only a few words: Take good care of your injuries.

In the blink of an eye, it is the end of another year. The wind and snow in Kyoto are lingering and not at all gentle.

Jiang Yunxiao had been strangely quiet recently. Cao Jin was worried he might have a mental problem, so he went to counsel him. Unexpectedly, he asked, "When will Sister Yue Niang come?"

Cao Jin looked at her silly son, who was indeed almost old enough: "Yun Xiao, tell me honestly, are you attracted to Yue'er?"

Jiang Yunxiao tilted his head and lay on the bed: "How is that possible?"

Cao Jin's words startled Jiang Yunxiao. He was attracted to Fu Yueniang? But she was cute, smart, and beautiful. What on earth did he see in her?

Jiang Yunxiao was able to go out of bed, and Cao Jin, thinking about the recent bleak situation, planned to hold a winter banquet to liven up the atmosphere.

Naturally, Yue Niang also received the invitation. After receiving it, Yue Niang hurriedly handed it to Tian: "Madam has taught me a lesson, so Yue Er will not go to this banquet."

Tian looked at the post and rolled her eyes: "You go."

After the last incident, Tian was thinking, if you don’t go, how will my daughters go?

Yue Niang said in panic, "I dare not go, Madam. You said that being on good terms with the Jiang family, especially Young Master Jiang, would jeopardize the reputations of my sisters. Yue Er must not do such a thing."

Tian looked at Yue Niang with a look of dismay, but she had no choice but to say, "It's okay. It's not a big deal. I have to go because they have invited me." After saying that, she handed over the invitation.

Yue Niang stepped back and said, "Yue'er doesn't dare, but if you insist that I take my sisters with me, it's not impossible to discuss it."

Tian was as if facing a formidable enemy: "You say."

Yue Niang pointed out a number with her fingers: "Five thousand taels."

Tian actually breathed a sigh of relief and told Xi'er behind her, "Go to my room and get the banknotes for the young lady."

Yue Niang's face lit up with joy: "Thank you, Madam, for your generosity."

After receiving the banknote, Yue Niang took the invitation and left.

Xi'er asked in confusion, "Madam, the eldest lady is clearly trying to embarrass you, why are you still letting her do whatever she wants?"

Tian sighed softly, "Although my Yuanniang has secured the position of the Third Princess, she still has no engagement letter and no matchmaker. Fortunately, she only asked for a banknote, so I agreed. When my daughters come forward, I'll see how I deal with her."