The prince is more stable

Chapter 174 Driving School Certificate
Ordinary people are not that great. As the head of the Imperial City Bureau, Zhao Xiaoqian has somewhat abused his power for personal gain.

First, take revenge, then discuss justice. The main purpose is to avenge Zhang Xiaoyi, and investigating corrupt officials has become a side issue.

Ordinary people have their own faults and their values ​​are not so noble and upright. Since he was standing up for his friend, he should not portray it as doing justice. What Zhao Xiaoqian was doing was not justice.

With the top leader personally observing, the Imperial City officers did not hold back at all.

In front of Zhao Xiaoqian, they broke Wang He's two arms and one leg, and beat every visible part of his face, body, and back.

At first, Wang He screamed like a pig being slaughtered, but the sound became weaker and weaker, and finally he was silent and was dragged to the ice well.

At this point, Zhang Xiaoyi's personal grudge was settled.

Next, the part that belongs to the axiom must also be explained. Now that the thing has been started, there is no reason to start well but not finish well.

That afternoon, the Imperial City Division went to the Yellow River construction site again and arrested Wang Zaosuo, the Water Conservancy Commissioner.

At this point, the matter finally became a big deal.

The Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple were shocked at first, and then furious. The Shangshu and the temple minister went to the government hall and impeached Zhao Xiaoqian in front of the prime ministers for his evil deeds and interference in the judicial system of the Song Dynasty.

The Censorate also took action upon hearing the news. They impeached Zhao Xiaoqian for arresting court officials without reason and arbitrarily questioning river officials without any evidence, which artificially delayed the construction of the dike and caused panic among the Yellow River officials and workers.

In short, there are a lot of charges, but they can be summed up in one sentence: please ask the government and the Council of State to discuss Zhao Xiaoqian's crimes.

Faced with the overwhelming impeachment memorials, Zhao Xiaoqian remained unmoved and had no intention of making any excuses or confessing.

Zhang Dun of the Council of State sent a letter to the Prince of Chu's Palace, formally requesting Zhao Xiaoqian to go to the Council of State to explain the matter. Zhao Xiaoqian claimed to be sick, saying that he had drunk expired poisonous chicken soup, had a high fever that wouldn't go away, was dying, and could not move.

That’s right, it’s so disrespectful.

At the same time, Bingjingwu under the Imperial City Division was working overtime. From time to time, miserable howls of pain and Liu Dan's perverted and creepy laughter could be heard from Bingjingwu's cell. I don't know who made him so happy.

The day after Wang Zao was questioned, the Imperial City Division finally obtained his confession.

No matter how high the official position is, one cannot withstand the torture of Bingjingwu.

Wang Zao finally confessed to the fact that he had withheld money and grain allocated by the court, but what was interesting was that he insisted that he was the only one who did it, and only gave out the names of a few lower-level river officials and supervisors. As for how much of the embezzled money and grain was distributed to higher-level officials and to whom it was distributed, Wang Zao would never say even if he was beaten to death.

Everyone else was willing to confess, even the superior officials. Wang Zao was really much more principled than his son. Liu Dan was such a perverted person. He used all kinds of torture instruments. Wang Zao was almost tortured to death, but he still refused to confess.

After hearing this, Zhao Xiaoqian began to admire Wang Zao a little.

Anyone who could reach the fifth rank official position was indeed no ordinary person. He knew very well that it was okay to expose lower-level officials, but if he exposed higher-level officials, even if it was only one person, something big would happen.

The matter should have ended at this point. By sending the confessions of Wang Zao and a group of river officials to the Council of State, all the charges against Zhao Xiaoqian could be cleared without him having to defend himself.

But Zhao Xiaoqian still didn't react. The work was not done yet and it was not time to end it.

Even if we reach a deadlock, we cannot easily end the matter.

No matter how turbulent the court was and how many impeachments and accusations fell on Zhao Xiaoqian, he remained silent and showed no joy or sadness.

…………

Amidst the chaotic public opinion, the Di Mansion was filled with joy and peace.

The day of Di Ying's wedding is getting closer and closer. After being warned by her elders, Di Ying has to be under house arrest recently. Not to mention seeing Zhao Xiaoqian, she is not even allowed to go out shopping with Yuan'er.

The mansion was decorated with lights and red wedding curtains everywhere. Loads of wedding cakes and gift boxes were piled up in the warehouse. Father-in-law Di Zi wrote invitations by hand at home every day.

The backyard of Di Mansion.

Di Ying and Yuan'er were sitting in the boudoir. Yuan'er was carefully drawing Di Ying's eyebrows. On her delicate face, the carefully drawn eyebrows were like bamboo and willow, and her beautiful eyes were captivating.

With her lightly red lips and slightly powdered cheeks, Di Ying looks full of mystery.

Even though Yuan'er was also a girl, she couldn't help but stare at her in amazement, blurting out, "Young lady, you are so beautiful."

Di Ying smiled, and in the bronze mirror she looked even more radiant and charming.

"The Marquis is so lucky to marry such a beautiful lady. I wonder how many people in Bianjing City envy him." Yuan'er praised.

Di Ying chuckled: "He's very picky about beauty. Ordinary-looking women are not in his eyes. Look at the concubines he has taken in, huh!"

My joy turned into anger, but for some reason I still felt a sense of blockage in my heart.

Di Ying blinked, looked at Yuan'er in the bronze mirror, and suddenly said, "Yuan'er, sit down, I'll put some makeup on you..."

Yuan'er was stunned: "Ah? Miss, I don't need it..."

"What do you mean you don't need it? You must use it! Sit down quickly." Di Ying pushed her in front of the bronze mirror domineeringly, and then put makeup on Yuan'er in a slightly clumsy manner.

Yuan'er didn't dare move, letting Di Ying apply powder and eyebrow pencil to her face. Women are more or less gifted at applying makeup, and even Di Ying, who had never done her own makeup before, soon had Yuan'er dressed up nicely.

After putting on makeup, Di Ying looked carefully at the shy Yuan'er. She saw her almond eyes, white teeth, cheeks as rosy as peaches and plums, and her cute eyes made her feel pity.

Di Ying couldn't help but pinch her cheeks and praised her, "What a beautiful girl!"

You wouldn't notice it on a normal day, but after dressing up carefully, Yuan'er is indeed a rare beauty. Di Ying couldn't help but secretly wonder when this personal maid who grew up with her could have such a beautiful side?
"Miss, are you... ready?" Yuan'er asked blankly.

Di Ying thought for a moment, then held her hand and said seriously, "In a few days, Yuan'er, you will go to the Prince of Chu's mansion to meet Zhao Xiaoqian... um, do you understand?"

Yuan'er was startled, her face first turned red, then quickly turned pale.

"Should I... go alone? I, I'm not ready. Miss, can I not go?" Yuan'er said in a crying voice.

Di Ying sighed, "This is the rule. I can't do anything about it. Do you think I'd be happy to let my man try another woman first?"

The maid who comes with the dowry will help the young lady to try out the marriage first. This is what all wealthy families do. Although there is no explicit rule about it, it has indeed become an unwritten rule among the powerful and wealthy class.

"Mother hinted and urged me yesterday to send you over as soon as possible, to finish the matter quickly and go through the formalities. Anyway... in a few days, I will have you sent to the Prince of Chu's Palace."

Yuan'er became increasingly panicked and at a loss: "I went to the Prince of Chu's mansion and didn't know anyone. What should I do next?"

Di Ying didn't know the procedure either. After thinking for a while, she said, "When you arrive at the Prince of Chu's mansion, go directly to Zhao Xiaoqian's room. Our family will naturally have instructions. At night, you will... first crawl into his bed and wait for him, and then... um, do you understand?"

Yuan'er looked bewildered: "I don't understand. What then?"

"You! So stupid!" Di Ying said angrily, her face unconsciously reddening. "Then, do what you should do. Do you need me to teach you?"

Yuan'er said with a sad face: "What should I do? Miss, I don't know anything..."

Di Ying was speechless. He was about to explain to her in detail what men and women should do, but when he opened his mouth, he found that he didn't understand it either.

Getting married means a man and a woman sleep in the same bed, and then what?
Di Ying only knew a rough outline, but the specific details...

Yuan'er suddenly said cleverly, "Miss, I can ask Jiang Miaoxian. She wasn't... I can ask her. She must know everything."

Di Ying was so angry that she hit her head hard. "You're so stupid! Our goal is to take away Zhao Xiaoqian's favor from Jiang Miaoxian. Together, we will suppress her so that she can't even raise her head. She's our enemy, understand? How can you ask an enemy about this? Aren't you ashamed?"

Yuan'er suddenly understood and nodded hurriedly: "Yes, she is the enemy, we must join forces to deal with her!"

After saying this, she unconsciously clenched her little pink fists, looking very fierce.

Di Ying blinked, then suddenly patted Yuan'er's thigh. "Oh, by the way, my mother gave me a picture book yesterday, secretly, saying I should read it before getting married..."

As she spoke, Di Ying took out a yellowed picture album from under the dressing table.

The cover of the album has no pictures or words, it is blank. It is obvious at a glance that it is a pirated and counterfeit book, and the workmanship is very rough.

Di Ying flipped open the front page with disdain, and what caught her eye was a man and a woman, intertwined in a white mess. That posture, that expression...

The two girls screamed in terror, and in a panic, the book in Di Ying's hand flew out like a hot potato.

"It's too... Who drew such a shameless thing? Let's go to the government and report him. It's so disgusting!" Di Ying said angrily.

As they spoke, Di Ying and Yuan'er looked at each other. When their eyes met, they both turned their heads away shyly, their faces as red as monkeys' butts.

"Mother...why would you show me something like this?" Di Ying felt extremely embarrassed.

Yuan'er blushed and stammered, "Madam said we should study it before getting married. Maybe... there's something worth learning in it?"

"It's so disgusting, what can we learn from it?" Di Ying said stubbornly, but her eyes couldn't help but glance at the picture album lying on the ground.

Yuan'er was silent for a while, and gradually a tragic look appeared on her face, as if she was willing to sacrifice her life for justice.

"Miss, you should learn it. It might be useful in case. I am the first one to ask the county marquis..."

After emphasizing the urgency of learning, Di Ying hesitated for a moment and picked up the album again with a red face.

The two girls suppressed their shyness and turned to the first page.

Then, from the boudoir, the two girls' shy spitting, pooh-poohing, cursing, and whispered discussions could be heard from time to time.

"Eh! How shameless! How could they do this? They seem to be in the garden, in broad daylight... Pah!"

"So ugly, a man...actually looks like this, ugh!"

"Miss, Miss! There are actually three people in this picture. Ahhhh! I'm dying, so embarrassed! Would the Marquis do the same thing?"

"It's immoral, bah!"

(End of this chapter)