A Face as Thick as a Pig's Head

The moment Marquis Chengping was summoned into the throne hall, he heard the voices of a woman and a child.

He assumed someone from the imperial harem had come to the front hall to watch the excitement. News that he had brought an improved papermaking method had probably spread throughout the harem.

At the time, he was excitedly answering Emperor Hongyao's questions, and he thought it understandable that a few favored women would break the rules and behave this way.

In any case, none of the civil or military officials had questioned it, so perhaps everyone already knew about it.

Then came the words "lying" and "his wife's older sister's daughter."

They nailed Marquis Chengping to the spot. His proud expression vanished, leaving only shock at being exposed. He jerked his head up and stared in horror toward the voices, and that was precisely where the crown prince stood.

Only, there seemed to be someone standing behind the crown prince.

Marquis Chengping's mouth hung open, his jaw trembling, until a cold question came from the throne above.

Emperor Hongyao's good mood had instantly soured. "Marquis Chengping, did your son really work out the improved papermaking method?"

Marquis Chengping dropped to his knees in fright and knocked his head against the floor, cold sweat pouring from his forehead.

Could it be that His Majesty had already investigated everything?

Judging by his reaction, the others could more or less tell that he could hear Shen Anxin's thoughts too.

Quite a few were ready to enjoy the show. You little rascal, how dare you lie? Let's see if this scares you half to death!

They had actually believed Marquis Chengping had raised a genius son. They had never expected the child to belong to his wife's older sister.

Shen Anxin: [Wow, Emperor Hongyao just gave the order and planned to carry out this policy well, and someone's already taken the lead in claiming someone else's credit and deceiving the throne. I'd say this marquis is lighting a candle in the latrine, looking for shit-courting death.]

The melon-eating crowd: ...Courting death, all right! Marquis Chengping had better not have harmed the original creator, or His Majesty really will make an example of him and deal with him harshly.

Marquis Chengping: Again! I heard that voice again! What on earth is going on?!!! I didn't see a woman over there!

Shen Anxin: [But it looks like he's already investigated. As expected of Emperor Hongyao, plotting every move from his command tent!]

Emperor Hongyao kept an awkwardly straight face. He had been so delighted when he received the proposal that he had hurried to share it with everyone and forgotten to send someone to investigate.

Besides, in his mind, how would the ministers under him dare deceive him so brazenly?

Emperor Hongyao was furious now, and his gaze turned cold as he looked at Marquis Chengping.

"What? Have you nothing to say, Marquis Chengping?"

Marquis Chengping did not dare breathe too loudly and hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, it... it happened like this. The improved method was worked out by my wife's own older sister.

"Her whole family met with an accident and died. When we received the news, we went to Huai City to help arrange their funerals and brought their only surviving daughter, Yan Xuetong, back to the capital to care for her.

"Since Xuetong had no home, my wife and I discussed betrothing the two children. She would become my son's wife in the future.

"After Xuetong came to the capital, she heard about Your Majesty's policy and gave me the improved method of her own accord. I thought it belonged to the two of them as husband and wife, so naturally it also counted as my son's.

"That was why I said what I did. I had no intention of deliberately deceiving Your Majesty!"

Marquis Chengping sounded sincere, and he kowtowed with equal earnestness.

Quite a few people looked uncomfortable when they heard this, because they seemed to understand what Marquis Chengping had done.

After all, His Majesty would surely reward such great merit generously, but what he bestowed on a man and a woman would certainly differ. At the very least, official posts and noble ranks could only be bestowed on men.

For example, if Marquis Chengping's son received the credit, then, leaving everything else aside, he would at least rise swiftly in the world and gain the emperor's favor. The family would flourish for a long time to come.

But if the credit went to a young girl like Yan Xuetong alone, the most she could gain would be personal glory. It would not spread beyond her.

There was no need to draw distinctions within a family. After a woman married, she would naturally put her husband's family's interests first. Giving the credit to her future husband would bring the greatest benefit and be the best choice for the entire family's future.

In the same situation, the wives of any other family would probably make the same choice.

But in truth, they were taking advantage of their wives, and they knew it themselves. Naturally, they could not say so openly. They could only say they understood Marquis Chengping's actions; it could not be called bad, merely a matter of practical interests.

If that was really how things stood, presumably His Majesty would take the circumstances into account as well.

Shen Anxin: [Although women in ancient times were influenced by their traditional upbringing and really might take such things into consideration, why does this sound off to me? It feels like there's something wrong somewhere.]

The melon-eating crowd: It isn't exactly aboveboard, but people generally consider their family's interests, so that's normal enough. Shen Anxin has probably only been back to normal for two years. Though she knows how things work here, she can't understand them deeply, so it sounds off to her.

Emperor Hongyao, however, narrowed his eyes slightly. "How did the Yan family meet with this accident?"

The melon-eating crowd was startled. Could it be...

Marquis Chengping froze, then caught on, his face nearly turning red with anxiety.

"Your Majesty, their family ran a papermaking workshop. It was an accidental fire; that was how the local authorities closed the case. Besides... besides, when I went to take care of it, the Welfare Pavilion hadn't even been established yet!"

Of course Marquis Chengping understood what Emperor Hongyao suspected, and he felt terribly wronged. He had merely shifted the credit to someone else in a roundabout way, so how had he nearly ended up shouldering such enormous blame?

It had to be what the owner of that voice said that aroused His Majesty's suspicions.

"Your Majesty, if someone doubts me, let her come out and confront me face-to-face. I am absolutely innocent in this matter..."

Wearing the air of someone fiercely defending his honor, Marquis Chengping tried to raise a hand and point toward the voice. Although the crown prince was all he could see there, he was certain someone else was behind him.

Besides, everyone surely knew whom he meant.

But before he could raise his hand, a Brocade Guard suddenly appeared and gripped his shoulder.

Marquis Chengping was scared witless. He could not understand why a Brocade Guard had suddenly popped out.

He tried to speak, only to find his voice caught in his throat as something indescribable arose in his mind.

The commander of the Brocade Guard warned him in a low voice, "Even if you hear it, pretend you didn't. Otherwise..."

Marquis Chengping was terrified. What is this?! What is going on?! What on earth happened at court while I was away? How did things suddenly get so uncanny?

Emperor Hongyao changed the subject. "Very well, I will send someone to investigate that. As for..."

Chacha: [He wasn't lying about that. He only learned she had the improved method after he brought Yan Xuetong back to the capital.]

Marquis Chengping's mind had been full of thunderclaps a moment ago, but when he heard that eerie voice actually prove his innocence, the thunder stopped at once.

Yes, yes, yes! That alone is enough to prove my innocence!

Shen Anxin: [But I still feel like something's wrong.]

Marquis Chengping: Who is that young lady? Is she plagued by suspicion? How could there possibly be anything wrong with me!

Xiao Yanchen suddenly spoke. "Marquis Chengping, did Miss Yan personally agree to the idea of presenting the proposal in Young Master Zhuo's name?"

At this question, Marquis Chengping froze. All his emotions seemed to burst like a bubble, and his expression went blank for a moment.

A question rose from the depths of his soul. This... needed Xuetong's consent?

She was going to marry his son, so naturally she should make sacrifices for his son's benefit.

Was there anything wrong with that?

Marquis Chengping's lips twitched, but in the end, he did not dare contradict the crown prince.

Shen Anxin: [Damn! I knew something was off. Chacha, does that girl not even know?]

The melon-eating crowd caught on too. Judging by his reaction, she doesn't. That seems rather unreasonable, doesn't it?

Chacha: [That's right. Last night, the young lady wanted to ask him, as her elder, to help present the proposal to Emperor Hongyao.

[He saw how efficient the improved papermaking method was and happened to know about the latest decree, so he readily agreed to help Yan Xuetong.]

[Yan Xuetong went back to wait for news, never expecting that when Marquis Chengping turned around and shared it with the old madam of the household, she would immediately try to persuade him.]

[For the family's sake, she wanted him to let her eldest legitimate grandson claim the credit. Marquis Chengping thought the old madam made a great deal of sense. They were family, after all.]

[He thought this put the bigger picture first and was a clever thing to do. Without discussing a word of it with Yan Xuetong, he excitedly came to present the method.]

Marquis Chengping's face turned white. How did that voice know everything?!

Had everyone around him heard it?

Shen Anxin: [How can he take it so much for granted and act so self-righteous? Taking something without asking is stealing. Doesn't he know that makes him a thief, a robber?]

Marquis Chengping: !!!! You can't look at it that way, can you?! They're family! What's wrong with appropriating a little something from a younger relative? It shouldn't be a big deal, should it?

Marquis Chengping secretly raised his head, hoping the others would understand.

But all he received were disapproving looks.

The melon-eating crowd: Even if she were his own daughter-in-law, he couldn't do it without telling her, much less when she's a fiancée staying in his home.

Marquis Chengping was dumbfounded. He had merely forgotten to tell that little girl Xuetong. Though it was a little wrong, surely it did not warrant dragging him out for public execution.

Even now, Marquis Chengping still felt terribly wronged.

Chacha: [Host, that's not all.]

Shen Anxin: [What other ridiculous stunt did he pull?]

The melon-eating crowd: There's more?!

Marquis Chengping: No... there probably... isn't, right?

Marquis Chengping himself was not confident, since everything that strange voice had said had truly happened.

And yet, sometimes, some people did not simply do bad things; they did not even realize they were doing them.

Chacha: [In fact, Yan Xuetong doesn't count as his son's fiancée at all. According to the customs here, there's no proof that any betrothal was established.]

[From beginning to end, he and his wife only discussed it verbally once. His wife didn't even agree; she only said they should discuss it further. Yan Xuetong herself has never heard a word about it.]

[She thought her maternal aunt and uncle had merely brought her home to care for her for a while. She offered the improved method to find a way forward for herself.]

[Not to mention that when the old madam of the marquis's household first heard of the betrothal, she was vehemently opposed to it.]

[Strictly speaking, Yan Xuetong was a merchant's daughter, and with both her parents dead, she had become an orphan.]

[The old madam of the marquis's household looked down on her completely. She thought Yan Xuetong unworthy of being her eldest legitimate grandson's principal wife and was only willing to compromise by letting her become a noble concubine.]

[Marquis Chengping thought that made sense. For his son's and the family's future prospects, they did indeed need a future mistress of the household from a better background.]

[But he never expected Yan Xuetong to produce the improved method. When the old madam persuaded him to transfer the credit, Marquis Chengping made the betrothal a condition, as compensation. He secured the position of principal wife for Yan Xuetong.]

[Of course, from beginning to end, Yan Xuetong knew nothing about any of this.]

Shen Anxin listened with her eyes wide and her mouth hanging ever farther open, a sense of absurdity creeping over her entire body.

The whole throne hall also fell into an eerie silence.

Then Shen Anxin's curses exploded in her mind.

[SHAME! LESS! BASTARD! So the whole thing was a one-man show by him and his mother!

[What a betrothal, with the main party taking no part at all! What a fiancée, who doesn't even know she's one! Better yet, this fiancée was upgraded from a noble concubine!]

[So this uncle of hers had arranged the young lady's whole life for her!]

[This is the first time I've learned what the art of speaking means. What, you discussed it, so she's your son's wife?]

[So you can take the treasure she wanted to offer the emperor of her own accord and parcel it out as your family's property?]

[Her treasure becomes your son's treasure?]

[Ha ha, I'll give him a big slap across the face!]

[If he doesn't want his face, he can cut it off and put it on a pork stall. Guaranteed to drive up the price of pork!]

All the civil and military officials at court felt their hearts tremble at the fighting power behind Shen Anxin's tirade.

To anger their lucky star to this extent, Marquis Chengping was quite a talent!

Thinking carefully about what this talent had done, it really was something. How had it all seemed so natural to him?

Wasn't this bullying an orphan girl? He was conceited to the extreme. He had not shown the orphaned girl the slightest respect.

At this moment, Marquis Chengping was stunned too.

It was the first time anyone had ever cursed him like that!

Just as he was wondering whether to argue or be angry,

Emperor Hongyao spoke. "Attendants, summon the old madam, the marchioness, the eldest legitimate son, and Miss Yan Xuetong, the guest who offered the treasure, from Marquis Chengping's household to the palace! I will personally ask whether Yan Xuetong is really your family's prospective daughter-in-law, and whether she is willing to give your son this credit!"

Eunuch Chen repeated the decree and sent people to the marquis's residence to bring them in.

Only then did Marquis Chengping finally grow frightened.

It seemed that what he thought was not what he thought, and what he took for granted was not taken for granted by His Majesty or even the entire court.

They all sided with that voice and thought him a villain.

Had he done something wrong?

He... he...

A woman's face suddenly flashed through Marquis Chengping's mind.

That woman was gentle and virtuous, exceptionally generous and well-mannered, and deeply in love with him, so...

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I did indeed handle this matter improperly, but I absolutely had no intention of stealing anyone else's credit. Xuetong is still young and doesn't understand these things.

"But she is Su Lingyu's daughter, and Lingyu was the one who developed the improved method. If it were Lingyu, Lingyu would certainly agree to the two children's marriage.

"She would certainly want Xuetong to marry my son, and she would certainly let her future son-in-law claim this credit."

Emperor Hongyao was utterly confused, but Marquis Chengping's expression made it seem as though this were really the case.

At this, the expressions of quite a few ministers below changed.

Everyone, without exception, recalled an old affair from twenty years ago.

Shen Anxin: [What's going on? Su Lingyu is Marquis Chengping's wife's own older sister, right? Why does it sound so strange coming from him? Shouldn't he call her older sister? Why is he using her name? Are they close?]

Chacha: [They are very close, because the person Marquis Chengping was originally supposed to marry was actually Su Lingyu, the Su family's eldest daughter.]

[The old marquis himself even went to the late emperor to request an imperial decree granting the marriage.]

[But later, Marquis Chengping fell in love with someone else and became infatuated with the Su family's younger daughter, Su Xue'er. The two got involved with each other.]

[Su Xue'er was discovered to be pregnant and was unwilling to be a concubine, so Marquis Chengping had no choice but to change the person he was betrothed to and marry Su Xue'er first.]

[But he also felt he had wronged Su Lingyu, and originally wanted Su Lingyu to enter his household as a co-wife, with neither sister outranking the other.]

[But before he could find a way, Su Lingyu quietly married far away in Huai City.]

[When Marquis Chengping learned of it, he was filled with regret. He always believed Su Lingyu had made that mistaken decision to ruin her own life because she was heartbroken.]

[But it was already beyond saving, and he could only keep her memory in his heart.]

Shen Anxin: [I let my guard down and didn't dodge! Another faceful of melodrama!]

Chacha: [No, no, no. There's actually more to this melodrama than meets the eye.]