Chapter 169 - The Culprit I

Third person POV

Ming Yu's face was as black as ink when the face of the man that had been flirting around her appeared in her brain. She lost Ming Zhu's favor just because he kept lurking around her even after she had rejected him. And it causes her to suffer from her other siblings bullying because Ming Zhu wasn't there to help her.

Ming Yu: "He is Wei Fang Tan, Ming Zhu's Jiejie fiancé. He kept flirting with me and caused Ming Zhu Jiejie to misunderstand that I am the one who seduced him. One time, I followed him because I was curious and I found him flirting with other noble ladies and some p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.es.

I wanted to tell Ming Zhu Jiejie about his lecherous behavior today but accident happened before I can tell her about him."

Hong er observed Ming Yu's expression and believed her.

Hong er: "Do you remember who attacked you?"

Ming Yu took a deep breath and decided to brave herself to ask Hong er a request. She didn't know whether Hong er would accept it or not but she had no one else to ask for help.

Ming Yu: "Your Majesty Empress, this lowly one is not very educated therefore this lowly one request Your Majesty Empress to help this lowly one to find the suspect and clean my name."

Ming Yu looked at Hong er directly at her eyes and went to the floor to kowtow to Hong er. Hong er stared at Ming Yu and told her to sit.

Hong er: "Fine. Ben Gong will help you as this case happened in Ben Gong's tea party."

Actually Hong er wanted to stay out from these kind of dramas as much as she can but as the host of the party, she had to clean up her own name or else she would be labeled as irresponsible and negligent towards her duty.

Ming Yu replayed the scene in her mind where she was attacked and told Hong er every detail that she could grasp.

Ming Yu: "At that time, I was told by my second eldest sister to accompany her to the side of the garden as she said she felt quite nauseas. I followed her and out of nowhere, there was a cloth blindfolded me and I couldn't see anything.

My mouth was also gag with a cloth so I couldn't scream for help. I was pushed down by unknown man and he roughly ripped my clothes off. I struggled really hard, yet, he didn't budge.

Then he suddenly yelped in pain and released my hand. I ran away with everything I have. Because I don't know anything about the palace, I ran without direction and with that I came out from the bushes and ran into the entourage."

Hong er: "En. Explain to me in detail about the man that tied you."

Ming Yu closes her eyes and took a deep breath.

Ming Yu: "His hands are quite rough in a certain places, I assume that he handled sword. His clothes are high quality as it rubbed on my skin when he tried to restraint me. And…."

Ming ZYu knitted her brow.

Hong er: "Voice?"

Ming Yu opened her eyes and gasped.

Ming Yu: "It-it is Wei Fang Tan himself."

Hong er nodded her head and waved her hand to Meiyun.

Hong er: "You and Huayun go investigate this."

Meiyun: "Who will protect Your Majesty Empress if we leave your side?!"

Hong er: "Aiyo~ It is fine. Ben Gong has many bodyguards, furthermore, His Majesty Emperor won't mind it if I borrow his personnel."

Huayun: "But-"

Hong er: "Aiya~ Just consider this as your holiday la~"

Ming Yu stared at the three of them with bewilderment. She never thought that the relationship between one's master and bodyguards could be this close and intimate. Hong er turned her attention to Ming Zhu and smiled tenderly.

Hong er: "Miss Ming Yu don't worry too much. With Ben Gong's power, your name will definitely be cleared."

Ming Yu's eyes got watery as she smiled gratefully at Hong er as she bowed her head profusely.

Hong er: "Meiyun, send Miss Ming Yu off."

Meiyun: "Yes, Your Majesty Empress."

Meiyun politely send Ming Yu to her family's carriage and immediately went back to Hong er's side.

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Weisheng: "Wei Fang Tan?"

Hong er: "En."

Hong er nodded her head as she signed the scroll in front of her. Since Xiu Rong (Hong er's grandmother) gave them an advice to always tell each other their trouble, they had spoke out about everything that weighed their heart even to the most trivial things.

Weisheng: "Qiyi, Qier."

Qiyi and Qier suddenly appeared in front of his desk but Hong er wasn't surprised by their sudden appearance.

Weisheng: "Go investigate Wei Fang Tan."

Weisheng threw a scroll at them, the Qi brothers gave their salute and departed. Hong er set down her brush and sat closer to Weisheng.

Hong er: "I had dispatched Meiyun and Huayun to investigate. If Qiyi and Qier go, then who will protect you?"

Weisheng: "Say the one who sent her bodyguards away."

Weisheng glanced at Hong er and smirked. Hong er pouted and furrowed her brow to express that she was upset by his teasing but to Weisheng, she is too cute to be true.

Weisheng: "That Wei family started to get ahead of themselves just because Wei Yunru is my close aide."

Hong er: "What did they do?"

Weisheng: "Bribing and drugs. Especially Wei Fang Tan."

Hong er: "Hoo~"

Weisheng: "He owned a gambling house and brothel in red district. He uses drug on innocent women and threatened them to work as p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e. And he also sells it to the customer."

Hong er: "Hhmm."

Hong er nodded her head and continued to sign mountains of doc.u.ments.

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Somewhere in the residence where Di family stayed, a young tall man sat at the side of a pavilion with a bottle of wine in his left hand and an empty cup in his right hand. He let out a long sigh and leaned his head on a pillar behind him whilst staring vacantly at the bright moon.

He caught a glimpse of her in the Summer Tournament a few days ago, yet he couldn't call out her name when he saw her serious and stern face. After not seeing her for more than a month which felt like an eternity for him, his body froze and could only stare at her in awe.

And just like that she passed by him. He thought that maybe he shouldn't disturb her when she was working so he tried to talk to her at the Tea Party. Yet once again, he was entranced by her charm and missed his chance again with the occurrence of the accident regarding Ming Yu. He really regretted his cowardice for not calling her out.

Unknown to him, there was someone watching him depressed over his first love and that person went to call her husband. Di Shang stared at the moon and felt like he was connected to Meiyun then out of nowhere there was another bottle of wine appeared in front of his face.

Naran: "Ya really head over heels for that Meiyun girl, huh~~"

Di Shang glanced at both of his parent and lightly nodded his head.

Di Shang: "En."

Naran: "Hoo~ So honest~ Why don't you go talk to her?"

Di Shang: "She was working so I couldn't call her out just for my personal reason."

Naran: "Aiyoo~ It is fine. That Hong er is very kind, she won't mind it if you borrow her bodyguard for a sec."

Di Shang: "*Sigh, I know. But her crush was there."

Naran: "Crush? Oohh~ That guy that she talked about when she was drunk. How do you know that it is him?"

Di Shang: "I can tell that it was him just by how he glared at me."

Di Yu: "So you give up on her?"

Di Yu who had been silent all the time spoke up. They had already seated in front of Di Shang with a bottle of wine in each of their hand. Di Shang frowned by his father statement.

Di Shang: "No, I won't give up."

Di Yu: "Then chase her. Be shameless, it is fine."

Naran: "NAHAHAHA~ Do you know how shameless your father when he was chasing me down?! Your father kissed me right in front of my ex-fiance when he asked me to go back with him. Ahahaha~"

Naran laughed out loud whilst smacking Di Yu's arm. Di Yu silently took the hit and grinned from recalling those memories.

Naran: "Let me tell ya, my son. Woman's heart can change you know. Especially when you are there for her in her worst time. I can ensure you that she will fall in love with you."

Di Shang: "En."

A wide smile emerged on his lips as he remembered that Meiyun promised him that she would wait for him.