Chapter 574: Chapter 237 My Son is a Treacherous Minister (Part 13)
Damn it, who did I offend now?
"Farming slave," a phrase that’s nothing more than a common insult, is used by everybody, so why, when it comes to me, does it become an unforgivable sin?
Seized by the guards of Princess An Kang, Yang Sanlang was dragged all the way to the Imperial Palace, filled with sorrow, indignation, and grievances.
He truly wished he could beat his chest and shout out loud.
Ah, ah, ah!
Was this Ms. Hetian truly clueless, or was she deliberately seizing the opportunity to stir up trouble?
It’s just a petty verbal dispute. How did it reach the Saint’s ears?
As a noble family’s son accustomed to looking down on all beings, a disdain for the common people was etched into his very bones.
In the Previous Dynasty, their noble families even dared to disdain the Imperial Family.
It was only because the Daxia Dynasty disregarded customs, suppressing noble families and promoting those from poor families, that the order of rank and norms crumbled!
All he did was speak a truth, and the result was, well—
Grieved, Yang Sanlang was unexpectedly summoned by a eunuch and taken to the Taiji Palace, and Vice Minister Yang, who had no idea what was going on, felt even more wronged.
Damn it!
What is this about trouble falling from the sky while one sits at home?
There he was, enjoying tea and appreciating art with friends, and the next thing he knew, he was informed: Dear, your son has caused a mess! He’s upset the Saint and the Empress Dowager’s most beloved Princess An Kang!
To be honest, Princess An Kang, although she was highly favored, did not have a strong presence in the Capital City.
She was unlike those Royal Princesses or ladies from the Imperial Family who were flamboyant, riding through the streets, bullying others, or leading a dissolute life; none of it was related to Princess An Kang.
Even the servants under her command did not engage in evil deeds like encroaching on communal land or competing with the common people for profit.
The most famous things about Princess An Kang were only two—
First, she was the only daughter of Princess Yongchang and the highly respected nobleman, raised in the Imperial Palace since childhood by the Saint.
Second, she married into a poor family and seemed to get along quite well with her mother-in-law who came from a farmer background.
That was all.
Princess An Kang had a gentle nature, liked peace and quiet, and rarely attended the various grand banquets in the city.
But even if she didn’t attend, the noble ladies couldn’t truly disregard her.
And Vice Minister Yang, summoned into the palace by a eunuch, upon hearing about his son’s foolish actions, suddenly realized that not just the noblewomen, but also the court officials like himself, could not afford to ignore Princess An Kang.
Here came the trouble!
"Uncle, my mother-in-law comes from a rural background and doesn’t understand the ways of the world, but for Mr. Yang to publicly insult her was unworthy of a gentleman!"
"My mother-in-law, young and widowed, raised her children through bitter hardships. As a widow, life is tough. Who knows how many rumors and slanders she had to bear in the countryside?"
"I thought that after my husband ranked as Third place scholar and was promoted by you, uncle, to an official position, my mother-in-law and her family coming to the bustling Capital City would escape those slanders."
"Who would have thought that the young man from the Assistant Minister of Rites’ family, a well-known scholar in the Capital, with no grudges or reasons, would, would actually spout vicious words at my mother-in-law!"
"...My mother-in-law is but an uneducated village woman, she doesn’t fear personal humiliation, she’s only afraid it might bring trouble to my husband!"
"My mother-in-law solely wishes for death, but what has she done wrong to deserve this?"
"Uncle! Your Majesty, please uphold justice for her!"
Princess An Kang bowed deeply.
As she prostrated before the Saint, a strange feeling suddenly came over her.
From childhood to adulthood, she had rarely ever asked anything of her uncle.
Even after marrying into the He Family, even when plotted against by the evil mother-in-law, worn down, coldly treated, and betrayed by her husband, she never ran back to the palace to complain or beg for anything.
Firstly, she did not want to trouble her aging grandmother because of her problems.
Secondly, although her uncle doted on her, she always felt there was a barrier of some kind between them.
She couldn’t adopt that attitude of self-righteousness and total justification.
But today, here she was kneeling before her uncle, not for herself but for an evil old lady who had once mistreated her.
The feeling was indeed subtle!
Princess An Kang herself hadn’t even realized how the situation had developed to this point.
But since things had progressed this far, she could only keep moving forward.
Moreover, having just played out a drama with her mother-in-law, Princess An Kang felt as if a door to a new world had been opened for her.
Some things she had steadfastly clung to also seemed not so important anymore.
What about face?
What about reputation?
Were they really that important?
For example, Princess An Kang had long been disapproving of Yang Sanlang and the entire Yang Family.
But if it were up to her usual nature and persistence, she would have had no way to deal with them.