Zhan Feiyu had not expected to cause such a stir upon arriving in the capital. After Ning Chen'an stepped forward, Zhan Feiyu chose to yield. "A'nuan, let's go up."
"No, you can't leave!" Zhe Jing felt she was in the right and refused to let Zhan Feiyu simply walk away. She stepped forward to block her. "You've slandered my Zhe family with mere words, and now you want to leave? Who gave you the audacity!"
The others in the hall were speechless. While the Zhe family was a noble house of Daqing, the young lady before them was clearly not simple. Moreover, for a young lady to be so familiar with Daqing's laws suggested she came from a scholarly family.
In truth, it was Miss Zhe who had been too overbearing, attempting to bully others but instead having her guard overpowered. Since Young Master Ning had intervened, it was best to let the matter rest. Yet, Miss Zhe was still fixated on it.
"Is Miss Zhe intending to commit murder in broad daylight?" Zhan Feiyu sneered, tilting her head to look at the arrogant and overbearing Zhe Jing. This was a prime example of someone who grew tall but not wise.
"You apologize to me. As for your lowly maid who dared to injure someone, she should leave an arm behind!" Zhe Jing held her chin high. She wished Zhan Feiyu would kowtow and apologize, but even she knew that was impossible. Thus, she settled for targeting He Nuan.
One must consider the master before striking the dog. Furthermore, Zhe Jing had instigated the conflict. Ah Da's defeat was simply due to inferior skill. Ning Chen'an watched the arrogant and triumphant Zhe Jing with cold eyes, unable to help but doubt the Zhe family's ancestors on the battlefield...
"You shameless wretch, how dare you try to seduce Brother An in front of me!" The sharp, piercing curses were filled with rage. If Zhe Jing had merely wanted to vent her anger initially, she was now genuinely furious.
Ning Chen'an's expression turned cold once more, and the others in the hall looked speechlessly at the vociferous Zhe Jing. For Zhan Feiyu, who was so petite, to be accused of seduction was an insult to Young Master Ning. How could such a young girl understand matters of love?
Zhan Feiyu looked at the contorted face of Zhe Jing again and calmly stated, "According to the 'Daqing Laws,' anyone who curses another shall be given ten strokes. Miss Zhe has uttered foul language and even instructed her servants to act. Does this mean Daqing's laws do not apply to the Zhe family? Or does the Zhe family simply disregard the laws and decrees?"
However, by invoking the 'Daqing Laws,' Zhan Feiyu had instantly branded the Zhe family with disrespect. Disrespecting the law – what were they trying to achieve? Usurp the throne?
Zhe Jing was also stunned. But no matter how overbearing and arrogant she was, she knew she couldn't let Zhan Feiyu pin the crime of disrespect onto the Zhe family. Otherwise, the censors would surely impeach the Zhe family mercilessly at the morning court.
"You wretch, how dare you spout nonsense and slander my Zhe family!" Another cry of shock and anger arose. Zhe Jing was enraged to the extreme, and she swung the whip in her hand fiercely towards Zhan Feiyu.
Ning Chen'an was also startled by Zhan Feiyu's words. Seeing Zhe Jing dare to strike someone again, he couldn't help but shout, "Stop!"
Zhe Jing, consumed by anger, had no intention of stopping. Fortunately, Ah Da, knowing the gravity of the situation, quickly grabbed the whip. Otherwise, if Zhe Jing's whip had landed, there would be no way to resolve this matter peacefully.
"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 unguarded words are her fault, but I implore you to speak with caution," Ning Chen'an said to Zhan Feiyu again, his tone grave, a hint of wariness in his eyes. Although the censors' impeachment would not cripple the Zhe family, Ning Chen'an did not want any complications before the imperial examinations. A moment of carelessness could lead to his ruin, especially since this matter had arisen 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 turned to Zhan Feiyu, reprimanding her, "Well said, you glib young lady. I would like to ask you, the 'Daqing Laws' have eight articles regarding the crime of cursing."
The eight articles were: cursing a person; cursing a government official and one's superior; a subordinate cursing a superior; a slave cursing the head of the household; cursing an elder; cursing grandparents or parents; a wife or concubine cursing her husband or his close relatives; a wife or concubine cursing her deceased husband's parents.
The young man was clearly well-versed in Daqing's laws. After reciting the eight articles fluently, he glanced at Zhan Feiyu and questioned, "Which article has Miss Zhe violated? That allows this young lady to boldly condemn Miss Zhe, even implicating the Zhe family and treating Daqing's laws as a game for slandering others?"
If Zhan Feiyu's questioning of Zhe Jing was aggressive, then the young man's words were even more so. If Zhan Feiyu couldn't provide a satisfactory explanation today, the Zhe family would surely not let her off lightly.
Ning Chen'an disliked Zhan Feiyu's previous words, but he also disliked this young man's attempt to curry favor with the Zhe family by pushing a young lady like Zhan Feiyu to a dead end. What was a small conflict was being amplified by them, potentially leading to an unresolvable situation.
Zhe Jing, understanding the situation, regained her arrogant demeanor, no longer concealing the malice on her face. "Tell me, which article have I violated? You slander my Zhe family with mere words, and I will make you pay dearly!"