"Enough, Miss Zhe, stop being unreasonable!" A reprimanding voice sounded, and Ning Chen'an walked downstairs with a stern face, looking displeased at Zhe Jing who held a whip and was acting arrogantly.
"Is that Young Master Ning?" a guest in the hall whispered, understanding why the eldest daughter of the Zhe family was here.
The people of the capital had seen enough excitement over the past year. Wherever Young Master Ning appeared, the eldest daughter of the Zhe family would follow, whether it was a bookstore, a restaurant, or visiting friends for a small gathering.
Like jade in the sun, a peerless young master. Zhan Feiyu looked at the handsome Ning Chen'an. He was indeed a scholar from the capital, his demeanor far surpassing that of noble sons from other prefectures, as if he possessed an innate nobility.
The arrogant eldest daughter of the Zhe family was not ugly either, with dignified features and a bright temperament. It was just a pity that she did not match Ning Chen'an, who came from a scholarly background. The former was too ostentatious, while the latter was gentle and refined.
"Did the lady get frightened?" Ning Chen'an asked gently. Although the young lady before him seemed to be around the age of youth, perhaps it was because her eyes were too clean and clear, without any trace of admiration, which made Ning Chen'an's expression more amiable.
Zhan Feiyu smiled slightly, "Not at all, Young Master Ning need not worry."
"You shameless wretch, how dare you try to seduce Brother An in front of me!" The sharp and piercing scolding was filled with anger. If Zhe Jing had only wanted to vent her anger at first, she was clearly truly enraged now.
Not to mention Ning Chen'an's expression turning cold again, everyone else in the hall looked speechlessly at the clamoring Zhe Jing. To call Zhan Feiyu, who was so young, a seductress was an insult to Young Master Ning. How could such a young girl understand love and romance?
Zhan Feiyu looked at the ferocious Zhe Jing again and said unhurriedly, "According to the Great Qing Law, anyone who insults another shall be given ten strokes. Miss Zhe has uttered foul language and even instructed her servants to act. Does this mean the laws of our dynasty are invalid for the Zhe family? Or does the Zhe family simply disregard the laws and regulations?"
An eerie silence fell upon the inn. No one had expected Zhan Feiyu to immediately condemn the noble Zhe family. It wasn't the first time they had seen or heard of the eldest daughter of the Zhe family clashing with other noble daughters.
But in everyone's eyes, these were just squabbles between young ladies, fighting over Young Master Ning. Although it damaged their reputations, it was harmless.
But Zhan Feiyu invoked the Great Qing Law, instantly branding the Zhe family with the crime of disrespect. Disrespecting the law, what were they trying to do? Usurp the throne?
Zhe Jing was also stunned. But no matter how arrogant and overbearing she was, she knew she couldn't let Zhan Feiyu accuse the Zhe family of such a crime. Otherwise, the censors would surely impeach the Zhe family to death at the morning court the next day.
"You wretch, how dare you spout nonsense and slander my Zhe family!" The angry and shocked scolding sounded again. Zhe Jing was furious and whipped her whip fiercely towards Zhan Feiyu.
Ning Chen'an was also startled by Zhan Feiyu's words. Seeing Zhe Jing dare to strike someone, he couldn't help but shout, "Stop!"
Zhe Jing, consumed by rage, would not stop. Fortunately, Ah Da, who was beside her, knew the urgency of the situation and quickly grabbed the whip. Otherwise, if Zhe Jing's whip had landed, this matter would have been truly irreconcilable.
"Ah Da, let go! I will beat this wretch who dares to slander our Zhe family to death today!" Zhe Jing struggled to pull back the whip, but Ah Da, who had always obeyed her commands, refused to let go.
"Miss Zhe's loose tongue is her fault, but I still ask the lady to be cautious with her words," Ning Chen'an said to Zhan Feiyu again, his tone solemn, and even a hint of wariness in his eyes. Although the censors' impeachment would not cripple the Zhe family, Ning Chen'an did not want any trouble before the imperial examinations. A moment of carelessness could lead to his ruin, especially since this matter started because of him.
Before Zhan Feiyu could speak, a tall, thin young man in the hall suddenly stood up, cupped his hands in a salute to Ning Chen'an, and then glared at Zhan Feiyu, reprimanding, "Well said, you glib young lady. I would like to ask you, the Great Qing Law has eight articles on slander."
The eight articles of law are as follows: insulting others; insulting imperial envoys and their superiors; subordinates insulting their superiors; slaves insulting their masters; insulting elders; insulting grandparents and parents; wives and concubines insulting their husbands and their paternal relatives; wives and concubines insulting their deceased husbands' parents.
The young man must have been well-versed in the laws of the Great Qing. After reciting the eight articles fluently, he glanced at Zhan Feiyu and questioned, "May I know which article Miss Zhe has violated? To have this young lady so boldly condemn Miss Zhe, and even implicate the Zhe family, treating the Great Qing Law as a child's play to frame others?"
If Zhan Feiyu's questioning of Zhe Jing earlier was aggressive, then the young man's words now were even more so. If Zhan Feiyu could not provide a satisfactory explanation today, the Zhe family would surely not let her off easily.
Ning Chen'an disliked Zhan Feiyu's previous words, but he also disliked the young man's words that pushed a young lady like Zhan Feiyu to a dead end just to curry favor with the Zhe family. What was a minor conflict was being magnified by them, possibly leading to an uncontrollable situation.
Zhe Jing, understanding the situation, regained her arrogant demeanor, no longer hiding the viciousness on her face. "Tell me which article I have violated! You are slandering my Zhe family with empty words, and I will make you suffer!"