Chapter 109

Chapter 109

Meng Tingyi soon learned the news from Fan Hong. Seeing the hopeful look in Fan Hong's eyes, Meng Tingyi chuckled. "Let her be. If she doesn't vent this anger, it might harm her health."

Fan Hong was speechless. His wife had hoped that the old master would persuade Lady, but it seemed there was no such luck.

Having received the message, Fan Nanny considered the old master's words and found them reasonable. It would be unwise to risk Lady's well-being just to preserve her reputation, especially since she didn't rely on it for her livelihood.

Due to Meng Die's earlier instructions, Fan Nanny had established many connections in the gambling dens and brothels. Now, those contacts were as eager to accept the silver as they were efficient in carrying out their tasks.

Scholar Yao was an indulgent and lustful man by nature. Ever since Meng Die had branded him as a corrupt court favorite, fueled by his anger and sorrow, he had been spending almost every day lately in the city's pleasure houses and brothels. Amongst his amusements with the courtesans, cursing Meng Die had become a daily ritual.

The courtesans would feign agreement with his curses, but none of them would spread the words. It wasn't because they held any particular professional integrity or sympathy for Meng Die; such occurrences were simply too common in their line of work.

Alcohol often emboldened men, and under the influence, coupled with the sweet flattery of beauties, many lost their sense of direction. Apart from refraining from rebellious talk, they would spout all sorts of nonsense. The courtesans would listen and promptly forget, not bothering to spread such tales, as it didn't earn them extra silver.

However, once they received subtle hints from the brothel managers and attendants, things changed. Passing on a curse was no big deal, and they could even exaggerate the venom.

In just a few days, the vilification of Meng Die spread like a whirlwind from brothel to brothel, engulfing every inch of the capital city, reaching even the smallest corners. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that not only the sparrows and rats within the city walls but even the ants could form a chorus to curse Meng Die.

Meng Die's smile bloomed radiantly upon receiving the good news from Nurse Fan. The next day was a day of rest; thus, she decided to pay a visit then. Immediately, she penned a formal letter of visitation and instructed her servants to deliver it to the residence of the Vice-Minister. She also asked Lu Wei, who had rushed back from the countryside, to seek permission from Lady Marquis and Lady Ning, informing them that she would be leaving the manor the following day.

Lady Marquis and Lady Ning had, naturally, heard various versions of the gossip. They wholeheartedly endorsed Meng Die's plan to confront the matter by paying a visit. Lady Ning, in particular, advised Meng Die to display the official escort befitting a county princess when she made her appearance. Even though a second-rank lady did not have an entourage, a county princess held a higher rank, entitled to her own ceremonial escort.

Dressed in the official robe of a county princess and adorned with accessories appropriate for her status, Meng Die, for the first time, boarded a palanquin accompanied by her ceremonial escort, with copper gongs leading the way, heading straight for the residence of the Vice-Minister of Justice.

The Vice-Minister of Justice was a high-ranking official of the third rank, and his mansion was situated in the prestigious East District, not too far from the Marquis Yongyi's estate.

In no time, Meng Die sensed the palanquin halt. She raised an eyebrow—something seemed amiss.

Lu Wei's voice, tinged with anger, sounded from behind the curtains of the palanquin: "Second Lady, their family hasn't opened the main gate, and there's no one at the entrance to greet us."

Meng Die's eyes rolled as she understood. Shi Huanli undoubtedly held women in great contempt – in the language of her dream world, he was a severe misogynist. He must have forgotten her status as a County Princess when sending the invitation, only remembering her as a Second Rank First Class Lady by virtue of her husband's position.

A small smile curved Meng Die's lips. This was perfect: "Order them to tear down their main gate for me. Anyone who dares to resist shall be dealt with severely."

Her attendants swiftly obeyed and moved forward in unison.

The doorman of the Vice-Minister's residence, upon seeing Meng Die's entourage, hastily ran inside to deliver the news. The less alert guard, however, froze at the sight of so many people surrounding him, too terrified to attempt any interference.

Today, apart from the dedicated ceremonial guards, all those present were carefully chosen by Lord Wang from among his estate's residents. These men worked with remarkable efficiency, swiftly dismantling the grand entrance gate.

With a resounding crash—two loud bangs. Shi Huanli and his wife emerged from behind the screen wall, just in time to witness their double doors crashing heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Shi Huanli's eyes widened, his mustache bristling with anger: "You...!"

Lu Wei stepped forward promptly: "Vice Minister Shi should consider yourself fortunate that your gates are made of iron. Otherwise, our County Princess would have surely smashed them to pieces."

The words 'County Princess' were like an iron collar tightening around Shi Huanli's neck, silencing him mid-sentence. His face flushed red, spots of light danced before his eyes, and cold sweat trickled down his back.

Meng Die had sent a formal invitation, and his wife hadn't kept this from him. However, he hadn't taken it seriously at all. Apart from the fact that he inherently looked down on every woman, he also held an extra layer of disgust for Meng Die. He had never encountered such a restless, deceitful, and wicked woman.

She dared to cut off someone's future prospects with her words; no wonder they said a woman's heart was the most poisonous. So what if their son scolded her a few times? If she dared to come to the Vice-Minister's residence, he would surely give her a taste of her own medicine and teach her the true meaning of "chastity and propriety"!

In the end, it wasn't Meng Die who received his intimidating welcome, but his very own front gates that were demolished by her.

Meng Die's sedan chair entered through the main gate, passing the screen wall before finally stopping in front of the main hall. Lu Wei lifted the curtain, and Meng Die, holding onto her hand, stepped out of the sedan chair at a leisurely pace and walked straight into the main hall, seating herself on the seat of honor. Lu Wei had even prepared a cushion beforehand.

Shi Huanli's eyebrows twitched violently as he struggled to suppress the anger rising in his chest.

Meng Die settled herself regally and gave Shi Huanli a disdainful glance before speaking first. "Is it that Vice Minister Shi is displeased with His Majesty's elevation of me to a Countess, or do you believe the ladies of the Great Yi Dynasty aren't worthy of entering your home through the main gate?"

Shi Huanli's expression flickered between several shades of green and white. After a deep breath, he bowed respectfully. "I am terrified, Your Excellency. Lately, I have been feeling unwell due to a cold, which has affected my energy. For that, I apologize for my neglect towards you. I hope you will forgive me."

Satisfied by Shi Huanli's discomfort, Meng Die responded, "Oh! So, it was due to a sudden cold that left you drained! It seems your health is not in its best state. I can overlook your neglect towards me, but if your duties suffer because of your weakened condition, wouldn't that be an injustice both to His Majesty's trust and the people's faith? In my opinion, Vice Minister Shi should consider submitting your resignation to maintain your dignity."

Shi Huanli's chest heaved deeply. His wife, An, interjected, "It was my fault. As a wife, I failed to take proper care of my husband. A few nights ago, when the temperature dropped, I didn't think to add more clothes for him, which led to his cold. The doctor said a couple of days of rest and a few doses of medicine will cure him."

Meng Die scoffed. "Self-improvement, family harmony, national governance, and world peace – tasks always start small. Vice Minister Shi is no three-year-old child, unable to recognize the need for extra clothing when it's cold. How can you truly fulfill His Majesty's missions and bring benefits to the people with such negligence?"

An's face twisted in visible panic.

Shi Huanli's expression twitched. "It was indeed my arrogance that led me to believe the autumn breeze would pose no threat. I didn't expect to catch a cold."

Meng Die cast a cold glance at Shi Huanli and An with biting words. "I have no interest in hearing how you caught a cold today. Vice Minister Shi thinks he's still young at heart despite his age— that's his own affair. Lu Wei, order them to bring the men forward."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Two servants promptly escorted two men, dressed in simple attire, into the main hall. Upon entering, they immediately prostrated themselves on the floor, trembling in fear, unable to utter a single word.

Meng Die scoffed coldly. "Speak up, aren't you all quite talkative? Why are you silent now? Do you want me to speak on your behalf?"

Both men shuddered and lowered their heads even further.

Meng Die glanced at Shi Huanli, noticing his composed demeanor. Disregarding whether he would intervene or not, she sneered again. "The two of you had better think this through. If you don't come clean today, there will be no need for you to utter another word in the future."

The two kneeling men trembled once more. The one in blue finally stammered, "I-I was merely a concubine for good luck, we never formally wed. S-She actually thinks of herself as a titled lady."

Perhaps encouraged by the first speaker, the man in brown chimed in, "Meng Die, that shrew, should have her tongue ripped out."

"Meng Die, in her own aging years, harbors jealousy towards youthful beauty. Her animosity towards the rumored stunning concubine is immense."

"Meng Die is envious of beautiful women, and she has disfigured several ladies' faces; she is a textbook case of a jealous woman."

"Transporting sugar to the front lines shows she has some self-awareness. Unfortunately, it's of no use; when Li Erlang returns, his first order of business will be to divorce this venomous shrew for her jealousy and provocativeness."

"In a male-dominated society, Meng Die, this lowly woman, is indeed of the lowest station, utterly despicable."

"Meng Tingyi boasts of his integrity, yet he is no better than a man who sells his daughter for personal gain, attaching himself to the Tang family."

...

Meng Die cast a subtle glance at Shi Huanli, and indeed, she caught him secretly observing her. Her demeanor instantly became even more composed, the corners of her lips lifting into a faint smile.

"I-I only heard up to this point. That's all I have to say."

"I'm finished as well. I also only heard this much."

Lifting her eyelids, Meng Die fixed her gaze on Shi Huanli, "Vice Minister Shi, what are your thoughts on these words?"

Shi Huanli: "Slandering or insulting a court official or his wife is punishable by law, according to Article 131 of the Great Yi Dynasty's legal code. It calls for ten to thirty slaps on the face."

Meng Die's smile widened. "Is this the answer the Deputy Minister of Justice gives me? Does Minister Shi usually conduct trials in such a manner? Ignoring the reasons and focusing only on the outcome?"

Shi Huanli: "Your family has a distinguished history in the justice system, with ancestors serving as Chief Justice and now yourself as Minister of Justice. I dare not exhibit my ignorance before a county princess, who is well-versed in these matters."

Meng Die: "It's true that our family has a deep-rooted knowledge of the law. However, I am still a woman of modesty, often confined within the walls of my home. Many things, I have not seen or heard firsthand; what I know is limited to what I've read. Minister Shi, I hope you can enlighten me further."

Seeing Shi Huanli's clearly flustered expression, Meng Die felt even more pleased. If he thought her humility would make him superior, he was sorely mistaken! Not in her dreams!

Failing to gain the upper hand in words, Shi Huanli promptly turned to the two men. "Why do you insult and slander Minister Meng and Miss Meng?"

Meng Die chuckled softly, but Shi Huanli seemed oblivious.

The man in green said, "I-I heard it from others."

Shi Huanli replied, "One hears countless words every day. Why do you specifically remember these few? Do you have grievances against Minister Meng and Miss Meng?"

"No, no," the man in brown interjected hastily. "We said those things because someone paid us to."

A clear stiffness appeared on Shi Huanli's face, and he shot a subtle glare at the man in brown. However, since the man had his head down ever since entering the hall, he completely missed Shi Huanli's cue.

Shi Huanli took a deep breath and asked in a chilling tone, "Who paid you?"

The man in the blue robe replied, "Yes, it's Master Yao, Young Master Shilang."

"Nonsense," Lady An snapped first, her anger flaring. "My son is but a child, barely of age. How could he possibly comprehend such matters? Do not let your imaginations run wild..."

Meng Die cast a chilly glance at An Shi, who sheepishly fell silent.

Shi Huanli clenched his hands at his sides. "You're saying Shi Yao told you to do this? Where did you meet him, and under what circumstances did he give you money to say these things?"

The blue-clothed man replied, "I work at the Hundred Melodies Pavilion, and Young Master Shi often visits there. Lately, it seems he's been in a bad mood. Whenever he drinks, he starts cursing, and if we echo his words, he rewards us with money."

The brown-clothed man added, "I work at the Crimson Bloom Tower, and Young Master Shi is also a regular there. He's been constantly cursing at Meng Die lately. The more harshly we join in, the more generous he is with his tips."

An was about to speak.

But the blue-clothed man continued, "This isn't limited to just these two places; the whole Flower Street and Willow Lane knows about it. Young Master Shi is quite generous, and everyone has joined in the criticism at some point."

Lady An's figure wavered precariously.

Closing his eyes and reopening them, Shi Huanli called out to the servant standing at the door, "Go bind this disobedient son of mine and bring him here."

"Unnecessary," Meng Die interjected. "As your wife has mentioned, your son is still young, merely a child. Would I really hold a grudge against a child? They say a servant reflects their master's behavior, and children inherit their father's traits. If a child is not disciplined, it is the fault of the father. Today, I ask you, Censor Shi, how do you teach your children? What kind of family values does the Shi household uphold?"

Shi Huanli replied, "My lady, please calm your anger. My wayward son, under the influence of alcohol, has offended you. I sincerely seek your forgiveness, and I assure you that I will handle this matter justly and discipline him severely."

Meng Die responded, "Under the influence of alcohol? What does that mean? Why didn't he mention drawing a knife to kill his own father when he was drunk? Why didn't he talk about rebellion? Does Censor Shi usually handle cases in such a manner? Are people allowed to act lawlessly just because they've had some alcohol? Would it be acceptable for me, after drinking, to raze this Censor's residence and force you to eat excrement in a latrine? All under the pretense of being drunk, right? Nonsense! He merely spoke his true thoughts after imbibing some spirits and lacks the courage to face the consequences. He uses drunkenness as an excuse."

"How old is he, anyway? He's just a child who hasn't even been married. How could he understand such matters without being taught by his elders? Do you, Deputy Minister Shi, take me for a three-year-old child?"

Shi Huanli replied, "I have never taught him to say such things. Lady, you might as well bring this disobedient son before us and ask him precisely where he learned these base words."

Meng Die sneered. "Is Deputy Minister Shi trying to play the game of disciplining a child in front of me? You think of teaching now? For whom are you putting on this show? Why didn't you teach him before? Letting him wander around the pleasure districts at such a young age, are you not afraid that he might contract some vile disease or has he already done so, but is hiding it?"

An panicked and said, "Lady, please be cautious with your words."

"Cautious?" Meng Die glared at An. "Who do you think you are to lecture me? Warning me to be cautious, do you intend to challenge my authority?"

Lady An fell to her knees in fear, "This humble woman has lost her composure, please forgive me, County Princess. My son only went to the pleasure district... just..."

Meng Die interjected, "Just what? Just to chat under a quilt with no ulterior motives?"

Shi Huanli bowed once more, "I beg your forgiveness, County Princess. Indeed, my son was in the wrong. I assure you, I will give you an explanation, a satisfactory one."

Meng Die replied, "An explanation, a satisfactory one? Undersecretary Shi overestimates yourself. You think that by presenting a proper facade, I would be unaware of your family's disgraceful behavior. Yet, you are but a hypocritical pretender, expecting trust from me?"

Shi Huanli's face flushed with anger, "County Princess, my son's ill-tempered words were his mistake. I accept your scolding and punishment for him. I also acknowledge my failure in disciplining him. But regarding the accusation of forgetting our roots, please do not falsely defame us."

"Accusing others of spitting out blood?" Meng Die scoffed. "Your Shi family's ancestors were once poverty-stricken in the previous dynasty. It was solely due to your wife's exquisite embroidery skills that the family not only managed to live comfortably with food and clothing but also supported your husband's education, leading to the tale of Shi Huanli's successive victories in the imperial examinations. Your wife, Lady Lin, was even honored as a first-rank lady. Minister Shi cherished his wife deeply and never took concubines throughout his life. Their loving and harmonious marriage, like a perfect melody of a zither and lute, has been celebrated as a beautiful legend, still widely known today. Am I fabricating this story?"

"You've forgotten what your wonderful son said, haven't you? Now you're pretending ignorance. Shipping the white sugar I produced to the border for my husband to use is already a loss for me, yet your ancestors' embroidery for their husbands' education wasn't? Weren't they also contributing? Have you forgotten your family's roots?"

Shi Huanli was left speechless.

Meng Die gazed intently at him. "How did such an admirable minister and his wife produce descendants like you? Forgetting your roots, dishonoring other families' girls, and committing immoral acts, disgracing your ancestors."

Shi Huanli's pupils constricted.

Meng Die: "He must be guilty to call me a shrew who deserves to have her tongue cut out. Your family's men all keep concubines and have illegitimate first-born sons. You're afraid that my family will come asking questions, so you accuse me in advance, labeling any who dare to question as shrews deserving such punishment. I must have hit a nerve back then!"

"Vice Minister Shi, rest assured, I will make sure the whole capital knows about your family's conduct with drums and gongs. Let everyone know what kind of people the Shi family truly are!"

After two decades in the treacherous world of politics, Shi Huanli finally lost his composure: "Miss Meng, refrain from your groundless accusations. Which of my family's males keeps a concubine? And which has an illegitimate first-born son? Where is your evidence?"

"Oh!" Meng Die's face was filled with mocking disdain. "Now you talk about evidence? Where's the proof for your claims that I'm envious of beautiful women or that I harm them? Your Shi family can make baseless accusations, why can't I make educated guesses?"

Shi Huanli's mind was reeling: "Even if my son lacks concrete evidence, it doesn't mean he's making things up. It's merely a logical inference based on common knowledge. Women have often been jealous of beautiful women and resorted to harming them throughout history."

Meng Die scoffed repeatedly, "The phrase 'I would pity even her' was originally used by women to admire other women. Women have always appreciated one another, while the story of 'Fù Fěn Hé Láng' is about men. Allow me to enlighten you, Vice Minister Shi, Cáo Pī envied Hé Yàn's fair skin and refused to accept that someone could be naturally so pale. He assumed Hé Yàn used powder, so he deliberately invited him for a hot noodle soup, hoping to expose him when he wiped his sweat. To his surprise, Hé Yàn's beauty was truly innate. This anecdote from ancient times demonstrates how men have historically been narrow-minded and envious, as well as malicious."

Shi Huanli raised his voice, "Men are superior to women; we are born noble. You cannot generalize all of us based on one example..."

Meng Die pointed at Shi Huanli, "You, who came out from between a woman's legs, what nobility do you possess?"

"Y-You..." Shi Huanli gasped, his eyes rolling back as he collapsed.

"Master!" An-shi hurriedly caught him, "Someone, help! Someone, please help..."

Meng Die rose from her seat and approached Shi Huanli.

The servants waiting outside the door immediately swarmed around, some massaging his back, others pinching his philtrum to revive him. After a moment, Shi Huanli coughed up a thick phlegm and slowly opened his eyes.

Looking down at Shi Huanli with a radiant smile, Meng Die said, "I told you that Vice Minister Shi's health was frail. It would be best for you to retire early and return to your hometown before it's too late. Otherwise, if something were to happen to you while on duty, how would that reflect on your responsibilities?"

Just as Shi Huanli had regained consciousness, he suddenly rolled his eyes and lapsed into unconsciousness once more.

"Master, Master..."

Meng Die laid her hand on Lu Wei's arm and said, "Lu Wei, let's go."

Anshi dared not obstruct them and could only watch as Meng Die exited the main hall with poise, then boarded a sedan chair and left Shi Family's residence in grand style.

Upon returning to her chamber, Hulu promptly took her position at the door with keen awareness. Nurse Fan and Lu Wei joined hands to help Meng Die remove her jewelry. Nurse Fan couldn't resist asking, "So how did it go?"

As Meng Die slid off her bracelets and rings, she replied, "Shi Huanli truly deserves his high rank as a vice-minister. Apart from initially underestimating me and failing to welcome me properly, which gave me an advantage, he was adaptable and articulate once inside the hall. He spoke with great caution, and despite our back-and-forth, I didn't gain any significant upper hand for quite some time."

Nurse Fan grew anxious, "Then..."

Meng Die smiled radiantly. "I nitpicked and pressured him, gradually leading him into my trap. First, I accused him of forgetting his roots to rattle him. Then, I hinted at his mistreatment of women, hitting on his deepest insecurities. Finally, I threatened to expose his family's poor reputation. That's when he lost his composure, revealing his true nature and voicing his hidden thoughts."

Nanny Fan exhaled deeply. "No wonder he managed to hide such a twisted hobby for over a decade. He truly has great depths."

Meng Die sighed. "He's a genuine scholar, having passed the imperial examinations with honors. I recall he was second in his class, and he's only in his early forties. While he has benefited from his ancestors' glory, it still takes some personal talent to rise to the rank of a third-class Minister with actual power."

Lu Wei remarked, "It's a shame that all his intelligence and wit were channeled into such nefarious pursuits."

Meng Die nodded and turned to Nanny Fan. "Have you made all the necessary arrangements?"

Nanny Fan nodded repeatedly. "After Second Madam left this morning, Fan Hong immediately returned home to send a message to Old Master. He said everything was in order. He was concerned that Shi Huanli might have people within the Ministry of Punishments, so he borrowed some soldiers from Inspector General Fu, who oversees the Nine Gates. A small group of skilled men were assigned to keep a close eye on Shi Huanli and his associates, particularly that chief eunuch. The majority, however, were tasked with monitoring all official and private pawnbrokers across the entire capital."

"The poverty-stricken areas of the city are being personally supervised by Inspector General Fu himself. If any abandoned girls are found, they will be immediately sent to our manor."

"I also secretly requested the help of a few trusted informants we've been in contact with for a long time. I gave each of them three hundred taels of silver to increase their surveillance of the slums in the capital, as well as the surrounding counties."

A smile finally appeared on Meng Die's face. "Excellent. I made a scene at their residence today. By tomorrow, news of it will surely spread. With such a disgraceful incident, Shi Huanli must feel extremely unlucky. He'll definitely want to rid himself of this bad fortune!"

A twisted expression flashed across Nanny Fan's face.

Meng Die: ?

A clear struggle flashed across Foster Mother Fan's face, followed by a grimace. "The moment Second Madam arrived on the street where the Shi family resides, countless servants from neighboring households popped out to peek. Second Madam demolished the Shi family's gate, and their neighbors actually allowed their children and servants to climb ladders to eavesdrop! Now, the entire capital is abuzz with this news. What in the world is going on? These people!"

Meng Die and Lu Wei burst into laughter. Meng Die said, "Foster Mother already knows all about it, so why ask again upon my return?"

Foster Mother Fan replied, "The rumors spread because of two things: Shi Huanli's rejection and Second Madam's final insult to him. As for what happened before that, I'm not aware."

Meng Die laughed again, her pent-up frustration dissipating. She was now eagerly anticipating Shi Huanli's inevitable downfall.

Faster than Shi Huanli's entrapment was the spread of Meng Die's notoriety. If her earlier outburst at the Chen family had branded her as a notorious shrew across the entire capital, her recent antics at the Shi residence – from dismantling their gate to quoting two historical anecdotes and delivering that biting final insult – quickly ricocheted through the city's alleys and avenues.

And with a speed surpassing even the fastest imperial couriers, these tales reached every corner of the Great Yi Dynasty. Virtually everyone knew of the "I See Her and Feel Pity" and "Peach-Blossom-Faced Lothario" references, and many men found their pride stung by her final, explosive remark, nursing grudges against Meng Die.

Meng Die's reputation as a shrew resonated throughout the entire Great Yi Dynasty.

Unaware of this, Meng Die would have merely chuckled if she had known. She cared little for such matters now; all her attention was focused on awaiting news, eager to see what move Shi Huanli would make next.