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The news of Marquis Side-by-Side beating the Minister in the Ministry of Revenue swept through the entire Divine Capital at a terrifying speed.

From the various government offices and noble estates to the East and West Markets, teahouses, taverns, and even the streets and alleys.

Almost everyone who heard the news reacted with disbelief at first, followed by an uncontrollable passion for gossip.

"Did you hear? The newly appointed Marquis Side-by-Side beat up the Minister right inside the Ministry of Revenue!"

"Gasp, is that true? Is Marquis Side-by-Side that fierce? Beating up their boss on their own turf?"

"Absolutely true! The cousin of a friend of the younger brother of my second uncle's neighbor works in the Ministry of Revenue and saw it with his own eyes! Rumor has it that one punch landed right on his face, and the Minister passed out on the spot!"

"He actually knocked him out?! My goodness! Why?"

"It seems because the Crown Princess's Palace is auditing the accounts, and the Ministry of Revenue's ledgers are missing quite a few pages. Marquis Side-by-Side went to hold them accountable, the Minister refused to admit fault, the two started arguing, and then they came to blows."

"If you ask me, there is definitely something wrong with the Ministry of Revenue's accounts. They deliberately destroyed them out of fear of being found out. What is the background of this Marquis Side-by-Side to dare wade into such deep waters?"

"It is said that he is Her Highness the Eldest Princess's favorite male concubine. She keeps him by her side every day, which is why he is so arrogant and domineering."

......

The rumors and gossip were embellished and exaggerated, becoming more and more outrageous as they spread.

The Crown Princess's Palace.

A female official hurried up the high platform to report the explosive news that had just arrived to Luo Zhao and Shangguan Yunying.

"Your Highness, Chief Official."

"News just came in. Marquis Side-by-Side got into a conflict at the Ministry of Revenue and even beat up Minister Shangguan Yuan."

"What?!"

Two exclamations rang out at the same time.

Shangguan Yunying stood up abruptly and blurted out subconsciously:

"Is Gu Chengyin alright?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she immediately realized something was wrong.

The one who got beaten was Shangguan Yuan, yet she asked about Gu Chengyin. Her feelings were revealed a bit too obviously.

Sure enough, the reporting female official and Luo Zhao on the main seat instantly focused their gazes on her face, their eyes full of weirdness.

After just one glance, the reporting female official quickly lowered her head, biting her lip tightly, her shoulders twitching slightly.

She was clearly trying desperately to hold back her bursting desire to gossip.

Shangguan Yunying quickly waved her hands to remedy the situation: "No! That is not what I meant! I was referring to Shangguan... Is my father alright?"

The female official who came to report lowered her head even further and replied in a muffled voice: "To answer the Chief Official, the Minister has some bruising on his right eye, but is otherwise fine."

"When the news was received, he and Marquis Side-by-Side had already been invited to the Grand Secretariat."

"The Grand Secretariat..." Shangguan Yunying muttered, her mind settling slightly.

As long as the people were fine, taking the matter to the Grand Secretariat was always better than bringing it directly before His Majesty.

"I understand."

Luo Zhao's voice sounded: "You may step down first, continue to keep an eye on things."

"Yes." The female official felt as if she had been granted a general amnesty and quickly bowed and retreated.

Luo Zhao looked at Shangguan Yunying's pretty face, which was full of worry and confusion, and was about to say a few words to comfort her.

But Shangguan Yunying seemed to have figured it out herself and took the initiative to ask:

"Your Highness, are Marquis Gu and my father putting on an act?"

Luo Zhao nodded slightly, confirming this guess.

Seeing Luo Zhao nod in confirmation, Shangguan Yunying let out a long sigh of relief and shook her head slightly, saying:

"I knew it. With Marquis Gu's temperament, no matter how angry he gets, he would never do something so impulsive."

Her tone was full of understanding and trust in Gu Chengyin, as if as long as she confirmed that this was Gu Chengyin's scheme, there would definitely be no problem, even if the target of this scheme was her father.

Listening to Shangguan Yunying's words and looking at the peace of mind and understanding on her face.

Luo Zhao frowned slightly and suddenly asked with feigned indifference:

"Yunying, it sounds like you know Marquis Gu very well."

"Uh..."

Shangguan Yunying was taken aback by Luo Zhao's sudden question and said somewhat embarrassedly:

"Not at all, I only know a little bit about Marquis Gu."

Luo Zhao listened quietly, looking at her most trusted chief female official showing such an expression because of another guy she trusted the most (only in terms of ability).

For a moment, she did not know which side was causing the annoyance in her heart.

So she did not say much more, just gave a faint hmm and looked away.

As if the question just now was merely a casual inquiry.

...

The Grand Secretariat.

Subtly different from the Crown Princess's Palace, this place was filled with a tense, explosive atmosphere.

The Grand Secretary on duty, Cui Shifan, was currently sitting upright behind a massive red sandalwood desk. His brows were deeply furrowed, and his face was so gloomy that it looked as if water could drip from it.

In front of him, sitting on the chairs on the left and right sides respectively, were the two protagonists of this storm.

On the left was the Minister of Revenue, Shangguan Yuan.

He had changed into a clean purple official robe, but the dark purple bruise around his right eye socket looked particularly glaring and comical under the bright indoor lights.

He covered the injury with one hand, occasionally gasping in pain. His face was full of agony and grief, and the look he gave the person opposite him was like looking at an enemy who had stolen his beloved daughter.

On the right was Gu Chengyin.

His robes were somewhat messy (done on purpose), and his face carried the red flush of indignation (forced by circulating his cultivation base). Although his sitting posture was upright, his tight jawline and cold, hard eyes showed that his anger had not yet subsided.

The two were like fighting cocks, neither willing to yield. Their gazes clashed in the air, almost sparking.

Cui Shifan looked at this frustrating scene and only felt a massive headache coming on.

He slapped the desk heavily, producing a loud smack.

"Enough!"

Carrying the oppressive aura of someone who had long held a high position, Cui Shifan swept his stern gaze over the two of them: "You two, one is a newly promoted Marquis, specially appointed by Her Highness, with a bright future."

"The other is the Minister of Revenue, a pillar of the imperial court! Both of you are people of status and position who should serve as role models for the world!"

Cui Shifan scolded them with bitter heartache: "Look at what you are like right now! You actually fought publicly in the Ministry of Revenue office, in broad daylight, like street ruffians!"

"What a scandal! If this gets out, will it not make us a laughingstock! Where will the imperial court put its face?! It is simply absurd!"

Cui Shifan was truly angry, and his headache was also real.

How many years had it been since such a scandal of high-ranking officials brawling in public had occurred in the Divine Capital?

As it happened, the two parties involved both held high status, and even if they wanted to suppress the matter, they might not be able to.

"Grand Secretary Cui!"

Shangguan Yuan stood up with a swish, pointing at his bruised right eye, and complained first: "Look! Look at this injury! I am a man of such advanced age, how could I possibly brawl with someone?"

"It was entirely Gu Chengyin, relying on his youth and strength, unilaterally beating me up! Bullying me for being old, weak, and powerless to resist!"

"Grand Secretary Cui, you must seek justice for me!!"

Shangguan Yuan shouted until his voice was hoarse, spit flying everywhere, perfectly acting out the image of an old, victimized official.