Chapter 225
At the entrance of the Court of Imperial Stud.
Mao Liu, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud, saw Qingyun wearing the uniform of Prince An's guards and immediately put on an ingratiating look. He couldn't figure out what Prince An might need.
He thought to himself that if he could gain Prince An's favor, he certainly wouldn't be stuck here tending horses.
With this in mind, Mao Liu's gaze towards Qingyun grew even more obsequious.
"Call your superior out," Qingyun said, glancing at Niu-shi behind him, unsure if this woman's husband was indeed the Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud.
He figured that by summoning their Minister, he could confirm whether it was him or not.
However, Qingyun couldn't recall the Minister's name at the moment. After all, the Court of Imperial Stud wasn't a crucial government office—it was just a place for horse breeding. The Emperor only needed horses for the annual hunt.
The horses for daily use naturally required dedicated caretakers.
Hence, the existence of the Court of Imperial Stud.
"Your Honor, this humble official is precisely Mao Liu, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud. May I ask what instructions you have?" Mao Liu's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected the guard from Prince An's mansion to be looking for him. He wondered if Prince An had some orders.
At this thought, Mao Liu couldn't contain his excitement.
Qingyun frowned, not understanding what Mao Liu was so happy about.
But remembering his task, he quickly said, "Is this your wife? Are you aware that today she went to the residence of Vice Minister Li of the Ministry of Revenue to insult the future Princess An, as well as the female members of Vice Minister Li's household? Moreover, she even intended to have your daughter seduce Vice Minister Li? Minister Mao, your schemes are truly audacious!"
Qingyun looked at Mao Liu with clear displeasure.
Upon hearing this, Mao Liu was utterly dumbfounded.
His wife went to Vice Minister Li's residence to insult the future Princess An and the Li family's women?
Had she gone mad?
And she wanted their daughter to seduce Vice Minister Li?
At that moment, Mao Liu had only one thought: to rush home, crack open Mrs. Wang's skull, and see what on earth was inside.
Otherwise, how could she have the nerve to do something so self-destructive?
Thinking this, Mao Liu felt as if he couldn't catch his breath.
Suddenly, Mao Liu froze. Wait, that's not right?
He didn't have a daughter!
Hadn't Mrs. Wang only borne him two sons?
Where did Mrs. Wang get a daughter to seduce Vice Minister Li?
"Your Honor, might there be some misunderstanding?" Mao Liu asked cautiously, looking at Qingyun with a fawning expression.
He didn't dare say Prince An was mistaken. After all, Prince An's reputation was well-known; he shouldn't be wrong.
So there must be some misunderstanding? Or perhaps someone impersonated his wife and committed these absurd acts?
It was then that Mao Liu noticed the woman being restrained behind Qingyun.
Mao Liu stole a glance at her.
He didn't recognize this person. She wasn't his Mrs. Wang.
"This isn't your wife?" Qingyun asked, frowning.
"Your Honor, this humble official is absolutely certain this woman is not my wife," Mao Liu firmly shook his head, thinking to himself, he wondered whose troublesome woman this was.
She actually had the nerve to provoke Prince An.
Niu-shi kept her head down, not daring to make a sound, wondering if her husband would rescue her once he saw she had been captured.
"This woman claims her husband is from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices," Qingyun suddenly frowned. He had forgotten to ask the Princess-to-be which official's wife from the Court of Imperial Stud this was.
"Your Honor, in our Court of Imperial Stud, there is one Minister, which is myself, two Vice Ministers, four Assistant Ministers, two Archivists, and two Clerks. I have met the wives of both Vice Ministers, and neither is this lady. Perhaps I could have the others come and identify her?" Mao Liu thought quickly and explained, fearing that Prince An might hold a grudge against him and cause trouble later.
Although he was a third-rank official, in the capital, a third-rank official in charge of horses was practically insignificant—perhaps even less influential than this guard from the Prince's mansion.
After all, no one would listen to a mere horse tender.
However, he had never imagined he needed to be so cautious when going out. In the capital, anyone could be a family member of a second-rank official, and anyone could be someone he couldn't afford to offend.
Officials and officials were not the same.
Now, he also wanted to know whose household this troublemaking wife belonged to.
"Then have all your people come out and identify whose 'esteemed wife' this is!" Qingyun said with a frown.
Mao Liu quickly ordered someone to summon everyone present at the Court of Imperial Stud.
Xu Xiangren had just finished assigning tasks at the horse pasture when he heard that Minister Mao needed them to gather. However, the messenger hadn't explained clearly what the matter was.
In no time, several officials from the Court of Imperial Stud came out, only to see Mao Liu speaking with someone.
The two Vice Ministers recognized Qingyun's status and didn't dare to act presumptuously.
However, the Assistant Ministers looked ahead with confusion, unsure who this person was and why the Minister had summoned them.
"What do you think the Minister called us here for so urgently?" asked one of the more impatient Assistant Ministers, Ma Zhichang, anxiously.
He had just been inspecting fodder, with a few strands of grass still stuck in his hair.
Clearly, he had rushed over immediately upon receiving the message.
"I don't know, but who is that person?" Assistant Minister He Ming also asked, puzzled.
"Looking at how Minister Mao is speaking to him, he must be someone of significant standing," Assistant Minister Tuo Zeshan said with certainty, propping his chin.
"What about that Xu fellow?" The group looked around. They were all here, including the two Vice Ministers, but only Xu Xiangren was missing.
"Perhaps the Minister didn't call him," Ma Zhichang said, thinking of Xu Xiangren with some distaste. Xu Xiangren was only their equal in rank but always tried to order them around. Over time, they had grown unwilling to engage much with him.
"Minister Mao, since everyone is here, have them come forward and identify her," Qingyun said to Mao Liu, looking at the several men in official robes.
"Of course, of course," Mao Liu nodded repeatedly.
He then turned to the crowd behind him and said, "Take a look, do any of you recognize that woman?" Mao Liu pointed at Niu-shi.
Niu-shi felt utterly humiliated at this moment. She hadn't expected that wretched girl to dare insult her like this.
Being stared at by her husband's colleagues, Niu-shi wished she could burrow into a hole and disappear.
"Minister, who is this...?" Vice Minister Wei San asked cautiously, leaning close to Mao Liu.
"Do you recognize her?" Mao Liu frowned.
"No, I don't," Wei San quickly waved his hands.
He didn't understand why Mao Liu wanted them to identify this person.
"Minister, this humble official doesn't recognize her either," Jiang Rui beside him promptly added.
"Don't recognize her!"
"Don't recognize her!"
"Don't recognize her!"
Ma Zhichang and the other two also quickly stated.
"Wife?"
