Back at the official residence, the steward hurriedly bowed to the crowd as he saw them.
The people simply waved their hands at him, then they eagerly pursued Shao He with ceaseless questions.
Helpless, Shao He could only reveal the original incident.
After listening, everyone shook their heads in disbelief.
Pei Haolan lamented, "Xia Zhaoshun has too much audacity. To conceal such a massive issue, and even dare to marry Jiang Zhou into the Second Prince’s household as his Principal Wife."
"Indeed, if The Emperor or the Empress Dowager were to find out, Jiang Family and Xia Zhaoshun wouldn’t escape so easily," Yan Ze agreed, nodding.
Shao He raised an eyebrow, "Perhaps no one expected the Jiang Family to be so bold as to marry a daughter who had a child to the Second Prince as his Principal Wife."
This was undoubtedly the greatest insult to the Second Prince. It was possible that he sensed something, which is why he humiliated and tortured Jiang Zhou in such a manner.
Everyone sighed in sympathy.
Who would have thought it would end this way? Pei Siyang and Pei Haolan got the gossip they wanted and did not stay any longer.
Yan Ze stared at Pei Huaian for a long time, saying, "You’re asking me to investigate this case—it’s not just about taking down the Jiang Family, is it?"
Shao He blinked her large eyes, constantly moving back and forth between the two of them.
She had guessed some of it. Pei Huaian had Yan Ze take over, first to keep the royal scandal from leaking, and second to keep Xia Zhaoshun in line while also cutting off a major source of his support.
As for the Jiang Family, after such an incident, to maintain their integrity and protect themselves, they would certainly ask to be relieved from their duties.
The developments were exactly as Shao He had speculated, Yan Ze reported the matter exactly but omitted the part about the royal scandal.
Xia Zhaoshun did not attend the morning court today, claiming to have caught a chill and was confined to bed.
After hearing the charges, Father Jiang thought he could clear the relationship. Pei Siyang coldly reminded, "The Jiang Family truly raised a good daughter!"
Father Jiang looked up at Pei Siyang and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, "This, this daughter indeed erred, but if not for the Second Prince’s abuse, she wouldn’t have chosen this path!"
"Oh? Master Jiang means the Second Prince had first erred? Does this Crown Prince need to explain why he severely beat Jiang Zhou?"
Pei Huaian initially wanted to save him some face for him and the royal family. Yet if he insisted on tearing that face apart, the consequences would be more than just losing his position.
Father Jiang heard the warning in the words, but he was not content after years of hard work for it all to come to naught.
He was even less willing to leave the Imperial Court and let the Jiang Family lose all their honors.
Pei Haolan coldly reminded, "Master Jiang had better think through his actions carefully!"
The ministers seeing this began to murmur among themselves.
"This Jiang Family is pitiful, offending several princes like that."
"It’s all because they raised such a daughter. I heard the Second Prince was severely burnt."
"He’s completely disfigured; no one even knows what he’ll look like when he wakes up."
"If the Jiang Family were wise, they would protect themselves and not dare to blame the Second Prince anymore."
The Emperor was very aware that he was ignorant of some aspects of this matter, but it wasn’t suitable to ask more at this moment.
"Master Jiang, what do you have to say?"
After pondering for a while, Master Jiang knelt down, gritted his teeth and said, "This servant is guilty of betraying The Emperor’s expectations. I failed to educate my daughter, causing her to commit such mistakes. It’s all my fault."
"I feel so guilty that I hereby resign from my official post today and will take my family home, never to set foot in the Capital City again." He then heavily kowtowed twice.
The Emperor frowned upon hearing this, "My dear subject, why abandon your duties in the Imperial Court over such trivial matters!"
"Thank you for Your Majesty’s generous kindness, this servant has taken it to heart," he replied.
Knowing that remaining might not be a good thing, Master Jiang could use this opportunity to retire from the court, which wasn’t necessarily a bad outcome.
"So it is, I grant your request. Court dismissed!"
Master Jiang tremulously raised his head, took off the black gauze cap, and unfastened his official robes, then staggered out of the court.
Pei Siyang and Pei Haolan watched his retreating figure, shaking their heads helplessly.
Yan Ze quietly said from behind, "Had he persisted, the consequences would have been more than just losing his post."
If Father Jiang hadn’t initially left Shao He alone, Pei Huaian wouldn’t have let him off so easily.
"Let’s go. Let’s have a drink together," Pei Haolan said, grabbing Yan Ze by the shoulder.
Yan Ze repeatedly waved his hands, "I can’t. Today, I promised the Commandery Princess to go out. My family is waiting for me."
Pei Haolan looked at Pei Siyang, and seeing him shake his head, he knew it was no use.
Pei Siyang thought of the people waiting for him at home, and the smile on his lips deepened.
Watching them one by one in such a manner, Pei Haolan felt a certain indescribable melancholy.
He went to the tavern he often frequented and took his usual good seat.
As he watched the couples outside, the wine in his hand didn’t seem as fragrant anymore.
"What troubles you so, young master?" a crisp female voice asked.
Pei Haolan looked up to see a woman dressed in a light green gown, her waist tightly cinched with a white jade belt, revealing her slender and graceful neck, beautiful and dignified.
"Do you recognize me?" Pei Haolan was stunned.
"No, but seeing the young master drinking alone and sighing heavily, I specifically came over to ask," she replied.
Pei Haolan looked down slightly, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward, "Drinking alone is too lonely. Sadly, there’s no one to join me!"