Free Web NovelChapter 228: Chapter 228: The Rumor... Is Absurd
Seeing Li Yun, Ming Lingyi seemed at a loss for words for a moment. Then she smiled suddenly, a rare occasion where she took the initiative to invite him to sit in the backyard.
"I went for a stroll through the East Market with Miss Cai today. Her wedding day with Lord Jiang is approaching, and there are still many things to purchase. Since I had nothing else to do, I went along with her."
Ming Lingyi poured Li Yun a glass of mint water. The mint leaves were freshly grown in her own courtyard. While its flavor couldn’t compare to some priceless tribute tea, it had the advantage of being fresh and having a unique taste.
"We went to a shop selling Dongzhu and spotted a set of Dongzhu jewelry. I remembered, didn’t you say before that whenever Lord Jiang gets married, you would be sure to give a generous gift? This present today isn’t incredibly valuable, but it’s still a wedding gift. I used your silver, so you don’t have any objections, do you?" Ming Lingyi asked.
’How could Li Yun possibly have any objections?’
He had been overjoyed ever since he found out that the private seal was just for Ming Lingyi to authorize a Patrol from the Jingzhao Mansion to withdraw silver from the Guotai Silver Bank. Knowing that she was proactively spending his money was more than enough to make him happy.
He didn’t care in the slightest how the silver was spent.
Besides, he was ecstatic that Jiang Yuchuan was marrying someone else. Spending a little silver on it was nothing; he wasn’t so petty as to let it bother him.
"My silver is naturally your silver. Spend it however you want!" Li Yun felt a little smug. He picked up the glass of mint water and downed it in one gulp.
Ming Lingyi chuckled, on the verge of teasingly asking Li Yun if he would still be so pleased if she took the money and used it to find other young gentlemen.
But before she could get the words out, Shi Mingyue, who had been busy outside, walked over and said in a low voice, "Miss, Mr. Ming has arrived with that Mr. Pu."
Ming Lingyi was surprised. "Mr. Pu? You mean the reviewer we hired for our restaurant?"
"Yes, that’s him."
"What’s he doing here?"
Shi Mingyue replied, "From what Mr. Ming said, it seems this Mr. Pu wishes to thank you."
Shi Mingyue hadn’t gone out with Ming Lingyi today. She had only overheard snippets of conversation from the restaurant’s patrons and gathered that her lady had encountered that young lady from the General Mansion and that something unpleasant had occurred. As for the history between Pu Yan’s family and the Qin Family, she was completely in the dark. Thus, she was still rather confused.
Li Yun’s expression had already soured the moment he heard Ming Chengyu’s name.
He had finally managed to get on Ming Lingyi’s good side, and now Ming Chengyu had to show up at the worst possible moment, even bringing some stranger along with him.
"Never mind. Let them come over," Ming Lingyi said.
She already had a good idea of why Pu Yan had come.
And sure enough, shortly after Pu Yan followed Ming Chengyu through the door, he saw Ming Lingyi and immediately dropped to his knees with a THUD.
The action startled not only Ming Lingyi, but Ming Chengyu as well.
"Brother Yan, what are you doing?" Ming Chengyu hurriedly reached out to pull him up.
But he hadn’t expected Pu Yan to be so stubborn; it was as if "not even ten oxen could pull him... up." Ming Chengyu simply couldn’t get the man off the ground.
Pu Yan said, "Today, I heard at home that the young lady of the Qin Family has been taken to the Ministry of Justice. The incident started with a dispute with Boss Ming in a jewelry shop. Boss Ming was in the right, but that Miss from the Qin Family was vicious and unreasonable, and she assaulted someone. If Boss Ming hadn’t subdued her and reported it to the authorities, sending that Miss Qin to the Ministry of Justice, who knows how much longer she would have gotten away with her crimes!"
Ming Lingyi was completely dumbfounded as she listened.
’What was this about me subduing Qin Lingzhi?’
’And me reporting it to the authorities?’
She had only sent someone to pass a message to the Jingzhao Mansion. She hadn’t arranged for anyone to report the incident to the Ministry of Justice.
’Did she really look like someone who could win a fight against Qin Lingzhi?’
’How had the rumors become so outrageous in such a short amount of time?’
’It made her sound so formidable.’
"Perhaps Boss Ming is unaware, but I have some history with that Qin family. However, being utterly useless all these years, I was never able to take revenge. But today, thanks to you, a strange twist of fate has allowed me to have my vengeance and see that woman finally brought to justice. So, Boss Ming, please accept another bow from me!"
Ming Lingyi felt a gaze on her from the side. She didn’t have the spare attention to deal with Li Yun just yet; she had to handle the matter with Pu Yan first.
"Mr. Pu, this is really unnecessary. The person who brought Qin Lingzhi to justice was the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice. I didn’t actually report the incident to the Ministry of Justice, either. The report was filed by the young woman who was whipped by Qin Lingzhi today. So, you truly don’t need to thank me for what happened. If you must thank someone, you should thank the laws of Dayan, which ensure every wrongdoer faces justice," Ming Lingyi said.
In truth, she was genuinely pleased with a measure Li Yun had proposed years ago.
The common people had a right to be informed, especially about major, widely-circulated cases or high-profile incidents happening in their own communities. These things ought to be made public.
If the court and government offices simply shelved these case files without informing the public, it would only lead to wilder speculation among the people. In the long run, that would be detrimental to the peace and stability of the states and counties.
This measure also served as an excellent deterrent to would-be criminals.
Some people were brave enough to commit nefarious deeds in the shadows, but they lacked the courage to have their actions exposed to the light of day.
With such a rule in place, some who considered committing a crime would have to weigh whether they could afford the public disgrace.
"Did anyone from the Qin Family hurt you?"
Li Yun saw that Ming Lingyi wouldn’t meet his gaze. He recalled that when she had mentioned the day’s events earlier, she had left out the part where the Qin girl dared to whip people in the East Market. He couldn’t be bothered with propriety now and asked her directly.
Only when Li Yun spoke did Pu Yan, who was still trying to bow to Ming Lingyi, realize that the reigning Emperor was also present.
He had been so focused on thanking Ming Lingyi that he hadn’t noticed anyone else was there.
Besides, at his official rank, it was incredibly rare to have an audience with the Emperor.
Now, seeing Li Yun, it took Pu Yan a moment, but he eventually recognized him.
"E-Emperor?" Pu Yan’s eyes widened. Quickly realizing his improper behavior, he immediately lowered his head and kowtowed. "This official, Pu Yan, pays his respects to the Emperor."
Li Yun had no time for Pu Yan right now. He motioned for him to rise, then turned back to Ming Lingyi and asked again, twice, "Are you hurt?"
Ming Lingyi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Noticing that her own brother was now also watching her with concern, she simply spread her arms and spun in a circle right in front of them.
"See? See? I’m fine. If something had happened, I would have called for help! I have people backing me up, you know!" Ming Lingyi said.
Upon hearing this, Ming Chengyu and Li Yun both turned to look at Ming Lingyi in unison.
Of course, both men assumed that she—their sister, their wife—was referring to them.
But before they could receive a confirming glance from Ming Lingyi, their own eyes met.
Ming Chengyu turned and shot Li Yun a cold look.
Li Yun’s gaze was much the same, a silent challenge passing between them.
