nashuaworldcup Chapter 168 Humiliation
Chapter 168 Humiliation
After accompanying Emperor Shun'an to handle the memorials, the Crown Prince had dinner in Linhua Palace before leaving and returning to the East Palace.
As night fell, Zhou Wangliang stood beside Emperor Shun'an and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, this servant humbly requests leave to visit my elder brother's family outside the palace."
Zhou Wangliang had served Emperor Shun'an for many years and was the emperor's most trusted servant, so Emperor Shun'an would naturally not refuse his request.
"Granted. You do not need to come to serve the Emperor tomorrow."
Emperor Shun'an looked at him with a smile: "You haven't returned to the Zhou family for quite some time. Why did you suddenly remember today?"
Zhou Wangliang said with shame, "I happened to chat with the Crown Prince today, and that's when I realized it's been a long time since I last saw my brother."
Emperor Shun'an raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this, but said nothing more.
On the other side, Wangchun Tower
Zhou Fangguang's servant looked at him cautiously and said, "Young master, Lord Wen sent someone to say that he has something urgent to attend to today and cannot come. We will reschedule for another day."
Now, only Zhou Fangguang and a few others were in the private room. He was still thinking about how to tell Wen Zongji about bribing a minor official in the Beijing Gazette Office when Wen Zongji arrived.
First of all, he did make a mistake in this matter; Wen Zongji was someone he couldn't suppress using Zhou Wangliang.
Zhou Fangguang made a mistake, and since he couldn't overpower Wen Zongji in terms of status and background, he naturally had to admit his mistake.
He was pondering how to apologize when he learned that Wen Zongji wasn't coming.
Zhou Fangguang was taken aback, then his expression twisted: "Is he deliberately trying to embarrass me? I said he could decide the time, but now he's saying he can't come?"
It's no wonder Zhou Fangguang overthinks things; no matter how you look at it, it seems like Wen Zongji is deliberately trying to embarrass Zhou Fangguang.
The servant said, "Could it be that Lord Wen is deliberately retaliating against the young master because of the matter with the Imperial Gazette?"
Zhou Fangguang's chest heaved with anger: "He's angry about this? He could have simply refused my invitation. He agreed but didn't come. What kind of behavior is that? And he calls himself a scholar!"
Zhou Fangguang grew increasingly angry and had no desire to stay any longer. He stood up and shouted angrily, "Back to the manor!"
He would definitely get his revenge on Wen Zongji for this humiliation someday.
……
Yunguangyuan
Pei Rujing was somewhat surprised to see Wen Zongji return on time: "Weren't you going to have dinner with Zhou Fangguang today?"
While changing his clothes, Wen Zongji said, "I only found out why Zhou Fangguang wanted to see me when I went to the Beijing Gazette Office today, so I declined his invitation to the banquet."
Pei Rujing asked curiously, "Why?"
"Zhou Fangguang, along with others, bribed several minor officials in the Beijing Gazette Bureau, deliberately sending their articles along with some poorly written ones to the Yuan government, hoping to manipulate the process so that Mr. Yuan would select their articles and publish them in the Beijing Gazette."
"Mr. Yuan noticed something was wrong and told me about it, which is how I forced him to reveal that someone in the Beijing Gazette Bureau was a traitor."
"Zhou Fangguang invited me to a banquet simply because he hoped I would turn a blind eye to this matter and not pursue it further."
Wen Zongji sneered: "It's impossible not to investigate. I have already reported this matter to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince will handle Zhou Wangliang's side. Without Zhou Wangliang backing him up, Zhou Fangguang is not a threat."
To be honest, Wen Zongji was furious when he learned that Zhou Fangguang was the one who bribed the minor official of the Beijing Gazette Office, yet Zhou Fangguang still dared to host him.
This person is far too arrogant!
Instead of correcting their mistakes, they try to cover them up.
After learning about Zhou Fangguang's matter, Wen Zongji did not intend to go to Wangchun Tower to keep the appointment, but he deliberately sent someone to inform Zhou Fangguang after he finished his shift, which was indeed intended to humiliate Zhou Fangguang.
Such people are not worthy of respect!
Pei Rujing hadn't expected this to be the case, and her face turned cold: "Knowing you're in charge of the Capital Gazette Bureau, how dare you do such a thing? Does the Zhou family really think they can act with impunity just because they have Zhou Wangliang?"
In Pei Rujing's view, Wen Zongji was her husband, and Zhou Fangguang dared to make trouble in the Beijing Gazette Office because he didn't take Wen Zongji seriously.
Husband and wife are one!
Disregarding Wen Zongji is tantamount to disregarding Pei Rujing.
Pei Rujing has never been one to tolerate being insulted: "Tomorrow I will go to the palace to see my uncle. How dare a eunuch's nephew be so rebellious? I'm afraid Zhou Wangliang is not innocent either."
Seeing that Pei Rujing was even angrier than him, Wen Zongji hugged her and comforted her, "My wife, don't be angry. The Crown Prince will handle it... By the way, the Crown Prince asked me to attend Princess Changning's birthday banquet in a few days."
Pei Rujing was taken aback and looked at Wen Zongji: "It seems that the Crown Prince values his husband very much."
Wen Zongji raised an eyebrow: "What makes you say that, my lady?"
Pei Rujing smiled and said, "We grew up together, so I know the Crown Prince quite well. He's mature beyond his years and has a reserved personality. He won't even give a glance to someone he doesn't like. But if he's satisfied with someone, the more satisfied he is, the better his attitude will be."
Wen Zongji said, "Judging from what you've said, the Crown Prince seems quite easy to understand."
"He's the crown prince; he can do whatever he wants. Even if he's easily understood, who would dare to slight him?"
On the contrary, because the Crown Prince is easy to understand, many people will do things according to his preferences, which makes things easier for the Crown Prince.
Pei Rujing said, "Since the Crown Prince has invited my husband, then we will go to Fengyi Palace together with Mother."
Wen Zongji could only nod. The Crown Prince had spoken, and he couldn't refuse no matter how unwilling he was.
……
the other side
Zhou Fangguang returned to the Zhou residence in a rage. As soon as he entered, a servant said, "Young Master, Second Master has returned. Master wants you to see him in the study after you return."
Zhou Fangguang was taken aback: "Uncle's back? Now?"
He subconsciously looked up at the sky. Why did he come back so late at night?
The servant replied, "He just got back a short while ago."
Zhou Fangguang dared not delay and hurriedly ran to the study.
At this moment, Zhou Wangliang was talking to Zhou Wanggong in the study.
"Brother, tomorrow summon everyone in the manor and ask them if they have offended Lord Wen or anyone from the Marquis of Zhongyong's manor."
With Emperor Shun'an's permission, Zhou Wangliang left the palace immediately, without even waiting until the next day.
He knew the Crown Prince well; the Crown Prince wouldn't care about his family for no reason. Something must have happened.
But as soon as he arrived, he asked Zhou Wanggong if he had offended Wen Zongji.
Zhou Wanggong repeatedly denied it, claiming that he had never met Wen Zongji.
Zhou Wangliang knew his elder brother's character; if he said it wasn't him, then it definitely wasn't him.
Zhou Wanggong said, "Second brother, rest assured. You have repeatedly ordered the Zhou family to be cautious in their words and actions and not to act arrogantly when you leave the palace. We have taken your words to heart. Not to mention that Lord Wen is the husband of Princess Anhe, we would never dare to offend him even if he were just based on his current status."
Zhou Fangguang, who had just stepped into the study, happened to hear this.
He froze instantly.
His face turned pale instantly, and a nameless fear gripped his heart.
He suddenly had a strong urge to turn around and run away, to a place where no one could find him, and to come back once the storm had passed.
Unfortunately, he could only think these things in his mind. Zhou Fangguang stiffly walked into the study.