Xu Maozhi then told the emperor about Xiao Jinghong sneaking into the academy and molesting Ranran.
"He got into the academy only by donating silver."
"Yes," the emperor nodded. "It was all Yi Qing's lousy idea. You should go talk to her about this."
Xu Maozhi said seriously, "I agree. After all, only in this way can we get the silver to encourage poor students. Otherwise, we'll have to ask the emperor for it."
The emperor picked his ear and pretended not to hear.
"Xiao Jinghong was very clear about the smuggling. This is a very serious matter. For the public good and for our own sakes, we can't let him go."
The emperor waved his hand and said, "Didn't I say I'd leave it to you? Go and investigate!"
He had placed the Earl of Yi'an in Jinling, but he never expected them to get involved in such a big mess.
After Xu Maozhi left the palace, he immediately ordered Xiao Jinghong to be arrested and imprisoned.
Lady Sima was being scolded by the Earl of Yi'an. Before she could explain clearly, she heard this terrible news and almost fainted.
Xiao Jinghong was arrested in a brothel, which further confirmed Xu Maozhi's accusation.
"My lord," Lady Sima cried. "What did we do to offend Xu Maozhi? Please think of a way to save Hong'er. He's our only son!"
The earl roared, "If it weren't for you, would I have only one son?"
Lady Sima was stunned. With tears in her eyes, she looked at the earl in disbelief.
What did he mean?
Did he miss Xiao Jinghan, or did he know that she had harmed his pregnant concubine?
However, the earl obviously didn't want to dig up these old and messy accounts with her now. He was anxious to find out about the smuggling, which was a serious crime that could cost one's head and even implicate one's family!
Moreover, this matter had already been reported to the emperor. Now he hoped it was just a rumor and that it could be settled quickly.
"Speak up!" The earl saw Lady Sima's shocked expression. He used to like her, but now he hated her.
"Is my lord blaming me?" Lady Sima's tears streamed down. She looked so pitiful.
"You've spoiled Hong'er like this. Now the whole family is going to be ruined by him. Do you think I'm wrong to blame you?" The earl was furious. "Tell me clearly about the smuggling. Otherwise, we'll all lose our heads!"
Only then did Lady Sima get scared. She murmured, "Isn't it just selling some goods to make a little silver? Why do we have to lose our heads?"
"You really know about it?!" The earl's voice changed.
Lady Sima quickly waved her hand. "No, no, my lord. It's not what you think. It was just some drinking companions that Hong'er met outside who persuaded him to do this. But Hong'er didn't have any silver at all. He couldn't have done it."
So there really was such a thing. The earl felt dizzy. He took two steps back and leaned on the table to steady himself.
"This stupid fool! He's good for nothing but causing trouble!" He roared. "And you! A kind mother often spoils her son! You didn't even tell me about such a big thing. Now we're being impeached and in such a passive position. Tell me the truth. Did you give him any silver?"
Now he was just worried that Xiao Jinghong was really involved. If so, he wouldn't be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River. He would be in big trouble even if he didn't lose his life.
"No, I didn't." Lady Sima stammered. She knew that at this critical moment, she must never admit that she had given him any silver.
Even if she said it was a loan, the furious earl wouldn't believe her.
"What else do you know? Tell me honestly." The earl said angrily.
"I... I don't know anything else."
The earl flicked his sleeves and left. Before leaving, he told the servants at the door not to let Lady Sima out.
Lady Sima was shocked. Was she under house arrest?
Over the years, although their relationship was mainly because of her flattery, the earl had never been so angry with her.
Besides worrying about Xiao Jinghong, the earl's words "If it weren't for you, would I have only one son?" also made her feel terrified.
Lady Sima felt that something was slowly slipping away, and she couldn't hold on to it.
She slumped onto the couch and murmured, "How could things turn out like this?"
The same thought occurred to Yi Qing.
When she heard that Xu Maozhi had impeached the Earl of Yi'an's mansion, she was so angry that she paced back and forth in the room with her hands on her hips.
"What is he doing but butting in? He's ruining my plan!"
If everything had gone smoothly, in another month or two, she would have emptied Lady Sima's money bag.
Xiao Tian came over and hugged her. "Don't be angry. This matter isn't that bad."
"Not bad?" Yi Qing was furious. "I'm like a general who dies before achieving victory, killed by Xu Maozhi. Ranran couldn't even control this fool!"
"Don't be in a hurry." Xiao Tian stroked her shoulders. "I have a way."
Yi Qing's eyes immediately lit up. "What way?"
"Turn the tables." Xiao Tian said calmly. "We'll make Xiao Jinghong really guilty of the crime that Xu Maozhi has accused him of. That'll be enough to give the Earl of Yi'an's mansion a hard time."
Yi Qing rolled her eyes and suddenly burst out laughing. She hugged Xiao Tian and clung to him like an octopus. She looked up and kissed his chin randomly. "Why didn't I think of that? Qing San can't be found, so there's no way to confront him. This is exactly what Xiao Jinghong wanted to do."
It was a pity that Xiao Jinghong had only thought about it and hadn't taken any substantial action. In the end, he would probably only get a few dozen blows with a big stick.
Xiao Tian held her and scolded with a smile, "Don't wriggle around. I'll drop you."
"Xiao Tian, no!" Yi Qing suddenly remembered something and showed a look of indignation.
"I'm no good?" Xiao Tian narrowed his eyes.
Yi Qing was speechless. She punched him twice. "I'm talking to you about serious business!"
This man, after they had become intimate, seemed to have gradually opened up his meridians. Recently, he had become more and more bold, and he was even beginning to outshine her.
In the past, he would blush, but now Yi Qing would feel her face heat up when he talked to her. It was really like the waves behind were pushing the waves in front.
"I'm also talking about serious business." Xiao Tian whispered in her ear and felt a little excited again.
He was in a good mood. No matter who made the Earl of Yi'an's mansion unlucky, he would be happy.
So it would be even more pleasant to have an intimate moment at this time.
"No!" Yi Qing wriggled in his arms and pushed him away. "Let's talk about serious business. I want Lady Sima to bleed money! I want her to go bankrupt!"
Lady Sima loved silver the most. If she didn't lose any money, the plan couldn't be considered a complete success.
Yi Qing was very unwilling.
Xiao Tian thought for a while and then asked, "What do you want to do?"
"Go to the emperor and ask him to fine them a lot of silver. Is that feasible?" Yi Qing asked.
Xiao Tian pondered for a moment and shook his head. "It's very difficult. After all, Xiao Jinghong didn't do anything. It's entirely possible that he was just bragging. If we fine them until they go bankrupt just like that, some people might think that the emperor is deliberately making things difficult for them."
That's right. It was unlikely that the emperor would help, and if he did, he would definitely ask for a price.
Yi Qing thought for a while. "Then I'll have to do it myself."