Marrying a treacherous official

Cui Zemin's entire game of chess was disrupted by Yun Ji, forcing him to follow her rhythm and make his moves to open up the current situation.

He strongly advocated Gu Huaizhang's proposal in the court, and advised Emperor Chenghe to implement the strategy of lending grain for disaster relief in various prefectures and counties. He also called on all officials to set an example by lending the grain stored in their estates at low interest rates.

The entire court was shocked by his advice.

How could they accept seeing such a bloodthirsty person lay down his butcher's knife and, contrary to his usual behavior, strongly recommend disaster relief strategies?

Even Emperor Chenghe couldn't help but ask more questions:

"How did General Cui suddenly develop such profound insights into disaster relief?"

"This humble general dares not deceive His Majesty."

Cui Zemin stepped forward to clean up the mess, aiming for both fame and fortune.

"My wife distributed porridge at Xiangguo Temple to relieve famine, and also lent grain at low interest rates to displaced people who owned land. This was in line with the idea of ​​Censor Gu, and it was also my own idea."

Gu Huaizhang stood at the end of the civil official line and scoffed at his attempt to pat himself on the back.

Emperor Chenghe repeatedly said "good" three times, and immediately proposed:

"All of you should take General Cui as your example and rescue the people from their suffering. Which other official is willing to lend out the grain stored in their estates at low interest rates?"

Gu Huaizhang was the first to step forward, "Your humble servant is willing."

Pei Yun also stepped forward, "This subordinate obeys orders."

One after another, officials stepped forward from the queue to petition the emperor.

Cui Zemin didn't take them seriously. He stared intently at Pei Yun, only bothered by his act of standing up for him.

When Madam Zheng learned that Yunji was being held captive in the inner courtyard without even a maid or servant to attend to her, she felt a surge of satisfaction, and the pent-up frustration she had felt at the reunion banquet dissipated.

She believed the slander of Granny Tong and thought she had something on Yunji. She summoned several troublemaking women from the clan and went to Qinghui Courtyard to settle accounts with Yunji.

The group was stopped by the guards at the entrance of the inner courtyard.

Taking advantage of the fact that she was cleaning up the family for her master, Zheng said all sorts of nasty things to the guards, but Li Xiuji just stood there expressionless and refused to let her in no matter what.

The group shouted for a long time but no one paid any attention, so they had no choice but to leave cursing.

As they went out to the outer courtyard, they happened to run into Cui Zeming, who was returning from court.

Previously, Zheng would always avoid Cui Zeming when she saw him, but this time she went up to him with her cane and sighed deeply in sympathy for his misfortune.

"This time, the old man has truly been wronged."

Cui Zemin glared at the old woman who had come looking for trouble, then forced a smile and said, "Great-aunt, why did you come with your aunts?"

Zheng, considering herself an elder who would make decisions for him, put on airs and said:

"My aunts and I cursed for ages in the inner courtyard until our throats were dry. We quickly had the maid bring us tea and water, and I'll tell you what to do about this later."

Cui Zemin, unusually kind, invited them into the front hall and instructed Chi Ying:

"Serve tea to my great-aunt and aunts."

"Yes, sir."

Chi Ying took out the imperial tribute Dragon and Phoenix Tea, brewed seven cups of tea, and placed them one by one on the table.

After drinking half a bowl of tea, Zheng started gossiping about the affairs of the courtyard.

"The old man is too proud to talk about certain things, but now that I've heard about it, I can't just stand by and do this for him."

"What did your great-aunt hear outside?"

Cui Zemin picked up the teapot and added water to the teacup.

When Zheng spoke of this matter, her eyes were filled with hatred for Yunji.

"Is it true that the First Madam emptied the storeroom and took all the silver that the Emperor had bestowed upon the Master to Xiangguo Temple for disaster relief?"

Cui Zemin slowly sipped the Dragon and Phoenix Tea in his teacup, ignoring her.

"Even at this point, you're still protecting the First Madam."

Madam Zheng slammed her cane down hard and cursed fiercely:

"How could she possibly use the money for disaster relief? She's clearly embezzling your money, and you're still completely in the dark!"

Several aunties also chimed in with sarcastic remarks:

"I've never seen anyone carry out such large chests of silver for disaster relief. They neglect their own family and only think about helping those unrelated refugees outside. What kind of logic is that?"

"Master, quickly send someone to investigate where that money went. It might be hidden in the Gu family's courtyard. When we catch them red-handed, let's see what the Madam will have to say then."

"Ultimately, this whole mess was caused by the First Madam managing the household and courtyard. If Qinghui Courtyard had been handed over to the Marquis's wife, how could such a scandal have occurred?"

As Cui Zemin listened to their vicious and endless accusations against Yun Ji, he coldly interrupted them, saying:

"Have you said enough?"

Looking at his sinister eyes, Madam Zheng assumed it stemmed from deep resentment towards the First Madam, and said gently:

"I know you're upset, but after something like this happened, she should be taught a lesson, shouldn't she?"

"What does your great-aunt think is the best course of action?"

Cui Zemin's casual remark made Zheng Shi quite proud, and relying on her status as a clan elder, she spoke to him:

"Divorcing her with a divorce decree is already too lenient on her."

"What does that great-aunt mean?"

"Family scandals should not be aired in public. After the first wife is beaten with eighty strokes of the cane, she should be expelled from the mansion with a letter of divorce."

Cui Zemin murmured softly:

"If someone were beaten eighty times, my great-aunt would probably beat a perfectly healthy person to death."

Madam Zheng smiled at him slyly and subtly, "I will watch the maids carry out the punishments, and I will make sure that the First Madam lives a life worse than death."

Cui Zemin roared outwards, startling Zheng Shi and her aunts.

"Someone come here!"

"Your subordinate is here."

Li Xiuji rushed in and knelt down on the ground in response.

Cui Zemin held out his hand to him, "Give me a knife."

The biggest difference between Li Xiuji and Huo Xi is that when the general orders him to take a knife, he not only doesn't try to stop him, but also promptly hands the knife to the general.

Zheng was belatedly frightened, and she stood up shakily.

"Grandpa... what are you doing with that knife? I'm your great-aunt!"

"I'll kill you, you old hag."

Cui Zemin raised his knife and slashed at Zheng Shi, who was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground. The blade pierced the sandalwood eight-immortal table beside her, splitting the table in two. At the same time, the knife in his hand also broke in two, falling hard to the ground.

He reached out his hand menacingly, "Get the knife again."

Li Xiuji rushed out to get the knife.

Terrified, Zheng stared blankly out the window, screamed, and scrambled away to escape.

"The old man is killing someone! The old man is going to kill someone!"

Cui Zemin did not let these people off the hook.

After snatching the knife from Li Xiuji's hand, he strode out and chased after her. When he reached the stone steps, he saw the old lady being helped into Qinghui Courtyard, while Zheng was sitting on the ground, hugging her legs and wailing.

"Why did Grandmother come over without telling me beforehand?"

Cui Zemin threw down the broadsword in his hand and looked at the unfamiliar woman behind Old Madam Cui, saying, "Who is that aunt? I've never seen her before."

When Madam Gu saw the three-foot-long knife he threw, she was terrified and almost fainted.