Chapter 175: A Powerful Minister Is Not the Emperor

Lin Yao finally understood what it meant to act with impunity; his young master's wife was exactly that—far too arrogant.

The General of Zhenyuan was a second-rank military official, and Liang Yan was his equal wife; she maintained social ties with the wives of all civil and military officials, yet in the eyes of the young master's wife, the spouse of a second-rank military officer was treated with such disregard.

She even claimed the other woman was tired of living; she was utterly out of control.

"Who are you?" Liang Yan shouted angrily. "I am the General's wife; your manner of speaking to me is far too rude."

Lin Yao stepped forward. "This is our young master's wife."

The wife of Duke Su, who knew Qin Bi, frowned slightly. "Qin Bi, show some decorum when speaking to the General's wife. You are a young master's wife; you must be kind and tolerant, and not meddle in other families' affairs."

The second son of the General of Zhenyuan stepped forward. "Apologize to my mother."

"Apologize to her?" Qin Bi, as if hearing something incredible, let out a cold sneer and said arrogantly, "It would be better if this equal wife of the General's mansion apologized to me first."

"You were the one who was rude first," said the eldest legitimate son of the General of Zhenyuan. "Why should my mother apologize to you first?"

Zhang Bing, the General of Zhenyuan, did not know Qin Bi, but he had heard that this young master's wife was a concubine-born daughter of the Qin Yan Marquis's mansion. Zhang Bing held some contempt for her, though he did not show it on his face, as Lin Yao, the chief strategist of the Rong Prince's mansion, was still present.

"Young Master's wife of Rong, I do not know if you were provoked by Su to dislike Liang Yan," said the General of Zhenyuan. "But please do not meddle in the domestic affairs of my General's mansion; otherwise, even though you are a young master's wife, I will submit a memorial to the Emperor to seek justice for my wife."

"Qin Bi." The wife of Duke Su shook her head at Qin Bi.

The wife of the Minister of Revenue lowered her gaze, pondering which side to take.

If this young master's wife of Rong abused her power and failed to restrain herself, the Censor would impeach the young master of Rong for indulging his wife in bullying the families of fellow officials; with a mouth that was so aggressive, what else could it be but abusing power?

A concubine-born daughter had suddenly risen to a high position, only to reveal her true nature.

"I cannot meddle in other families' affairs, but I must meddle in the affairs of your General of Zhenyuan's mansion." Qin Bi, since being reborn in a womb, had witnessed the power of deception for the first time. She sneered, "You, this equal wife, coming before me to make a scene, are simply tired of living."

Such arrogance nearly twisted the nose of the General of Zhenyuan with rage.

The wife of Duke Su was also nearly fainted with anger. This Qin Bi—she had specifically visited the Qin Yan Marquis's mansion back then, instructing her younger sister-in-law to value Qin Bi more in the future. Who would have thought this concubine-born daughter was so unreasonable.

You are merely a young master's wife, not the all-powerful young master of Rong, yet you speak with even more arrogance than the young master of Rong.

The commotion here had grown so loud that it had already alarmed the officials from the Six Ministries who had come to admire the flowers, including a Censor. This Censor was a lean middle-aged man who had been standing there for a while.

Lin Yao felt a headache coming on; tomorrow at the morning court, the Censor would certainly impeach their young master.

"Young Master's wife of Rong," said the wife of the General of Zhenyuan, worried. "Let it be."

"I have accepted your monster crystal; I certainly cannot let it be." Qin Bi would not give up.

Rong Yang, a regular at the Golden Hall, tugged at Qin Bi. "Mother."

If Mother was this arrogant, even he would be impeached by the Censor.

"What?" Liang Yan shouted loudly. "Sister even gave you a monster crystal? No wonder you were making things difficult for me. I guessed correctly; Sister deliberately sent someone to find fault with me."

The crowd erupted in murmurs. The Censor stroked his beard and took out his brush and ink. "Unbelievable."

True to his title, the Censor was already preparing to write an impeachment memorial.

Lin Yao's vision went dark. He examined Qin Bi with suspicion and alarm. Was the young master's wife possessed? Her conduct and style were completely different from her usual self; when had the gentle and weak young master's wife become so arrogant and disregarding of others?

Seeing the Censor pick up his brush, the Minister of War stepped out from the crowd and said, "Young Master's wife, please speak and act with caution."

Qin Lang, along with Rong Yan and Jiang Xu, had come to admire the flowers. Hearing that there was a quarrel over here, they walked over, only to find it was Qin Bi. Qin Lang was startled and hurried over to ask what was happening.

Lin Yao grabbed Qin Lang. "Hurry and persuade the young master's wife."

Qin Lang was utterly confused. Qin Bi ordered the guards, "Beat her."

The guards hesitated slightly, then unexpectedly slapped Liang Yan across the face.

"Unbelievable, unbelievable..." The Censor was so angry that his hand holding the brush trembled.

The Minister of War could no longer stand it. Liang Yan covered her face and, pulling at the frowning General of Zhenyuan, complained, "Husband, she hit me. She is lawless. You are a second-rank military official; even though she is a young master's wife, she cannot fail to show you respect."

Qin Lang finally understood what was going on. Rubbing his hands, he approached. "Sister, the wife of the General of Zhenyuan has an official rank; you cannot just beat her whenever you like. She is the family member of a court official."

Qin Bi flicked her sleeve, handing Rong Yang over to Qin Lang. "You stay out of this."

Qin Lang took Rong Yang. Seeing that the situation was beyond repair, Lin Yao sent someone to quickly inform the young master of Rong. Given the situation, only the young master could control the young master's wife. Their young master of Rong was a powerful minister, not the Emperor; the young master's wife seemed to have misunderstood that.

The General of Zhenyuan walked over to the Censor and bowed. "My lord Censor, please join me in submitting a memorial tomorrow."

The Censor nodded. "No problem."

Qin Bi had no problem either; she was not afraid at all. Liang Yan was supported by her two sons. Several ladies also walked over. Liang Yan glared hatefully at Qin Bi. "You have bullied the General's mansion; my husband will not let you go."

Qin Bi swept her cold gaze over. "I think you are simply tired of living."

"You dare..." Liang Yan trembled with rage. A woman who had been pampered for over ten years could not endure such humiliation; her face turned pale and green.

Qin Bi was even angrier than Liang Yan. She waved her sleeve, and a gust of force knocked Liang Yan to the ground. The General of Zhenyuan and his two sons panicked and hurried to help Liang Yan up. The Censor and the Minister of War turned grim.

The Minister of War made his decision. He said to the Censor, "Tomorrow morning, I will also submit an impeachment."

Liang Yan was held in the arms of the General of Zhenyuan, her eyes surging with anger. She pointed at Qin Bi. "Several lords, you all saw it. The young master's wife of Rong is abusing her power."

The Minister of War, the Censor, and several other lords nearby nodded. The Censor said, "We all saw it."

The onlookers were filled with indignation, shouting that the young master's wife of Rong was abusing her power.

"Monster, you still dare to make a scene before me?" Qin Bi manipulated fate and directed a value of fighting spirit toward Liang Yan in the General of Zhenyuan's arms. "Reveal your true form."

Everyone was stunned, wondering what had gotten into Qin Bi. While they were still dazed, the General of Zhenyuan felt an invisible force pressing down. His arms suddenly felt empty. The man looked down, his eyes filled with shock.

The crowd was so frightened they jumped in panic. Several ladies were right there, watching the monster rat with rolling eyes that the General of Zhenyuan was holding in his arms. It was a gray-furred rat, its fur sleek and shiny.

A living beauty turning into a monster rat! The ladies screamed; those with weak hearts simply rolled their eyes and fainted.

Who had ever seen a monster spirit? It was the first time for everyone since childhood. The crowd watching the spectacle jumped and ran away.

The Censor stood frozen, his brush in hand.