Rongguo Mansion, reception hall.
"Cunzhou!"
"Shifei!"
Smiling, Jia Zheng looked at the middle-aged man opposite him. Broad-faced and square-mouthed, with a long beard beneath his chin and a thick waist and broad back, he was none other than Jia Yucun, Left Councilor of the Tongzhengsi!
Jia Yucun introduced the official beside him with a smile:
"This is Sun Yu, Rites Section Supervising Secretary!"
"My respects, Lord Jia." Sun Yu bowed respectfully.
After returning the greeting, Jia Zheng personally brewed tea. The Six Ministries Remonstrators held low rank but great authority. Though only seventh-rank officials, they had the power to investigate and censure the six ministries directly.
"Cunzhou." Jia Yucun hesitated briefly before stating his purpose:
"The Tongzhengsi has impeached the Imperially Invested Lady Zhao for coarse and disrespectful conduct. Lord Sun, Rites Section Supervising Secretary, has already submitted the memorial to the Grand Secretariat and the Directorate of Ceremonial!"
Boom!
The smile vanished abruptly from Jia Zheng's face, and he erupted in fury:
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Please, calm yourself." Jia Yucun hurriedly rose and said quietly:
"Lord Wang, the Nine Gates Commander, hinted that this should be done. I dare not offend him."
Jia Zheng slammed his teacup onto the table, his face flushed scarlet:
"You trump up charges against a woman in my household and put me in this humiliating position! You dare not offend Wang Ziteng, so you throw your weight around with me?"
"Without me and my brother-in-law Lin Ruhai, could you have entered officialdom? Now that Wang Ziteng is riding high, you cling to him and turn around to trample on me?"
"Calm yourself, Cunzhou, please." Jia Yucun hastily offered an ingratiating smile.
"Calm myself?" Veins bulged on Jia Zheng's forehead, his chest choked with resentment.
He had raised Jia Yucun up, only