The officials approaching outside the door happened to stop in their tracks, then, just a few breaths later, abruptly quickened their pace!
Better to arrive at the right moment than to arrive early!
Juicy gossip the instant they arrived-wasn't this their reward for diligently working even while out enjoying themselves?!
"Good fortune to you, sir!"
"Good health to you, sir!"
The Upright Officials cheerfully paid their respects to Emperor Mingze, then cheerfully took their places in a corner, temporarily tossing their reason for coming to the back of their minds.
They had mainly come to show their faces today anyway. That little matter could wait!
Gossip came first!!
Jiao Hongmiao: "..."
Jiao Hongmiao clenched his teeth hard, relying on sheer willpower to resist the urge to march over and thrash his colleagues.
The veins at his temples, however, would not stop throbbing.
Gobble, gobble, gobble!
All you know is gobbling up gossip!
Swallow everything and you'll only bring disaster on yourselves!!
At the same time, he felt deeply conflicted.
He truly wanted to know what his bastard of a younger brother had done, but he did not want to find out amid such a "lively" gathering.
Yet the little one's inner voice rang out merrily, utterly unconcerned whether the Uncle Jiao whose secrets she was exposing felt happy or socially annihilated. She simply savored the gossip in her soft, sweet childish voice, with a certain beauty born of complete indifference to anyone else's survival.
Jiao Hongmiao squeezed his eyes shut.
The winds of gossip had finally blown his way.
[Hmm... this is a bit confusing... let Chengcheng sort it out first...]
Seated in the Grand Tutor's Chair padded with several layers of soft cushions, Jiang Yingcheng knitted her brows, her round eyes brimming with confusion.
*[Uncle Jiao's family's main businesses