Now that you're reborn, who would still keep a mistress for their scumbag husband?

Dou Jinzhao stood there for a while longer and understood that what they were talking about was that Lu Changting's dowry was embezzled by the servants in the mansion.

The two men rushed to Lu Changting's yard. The warehouse was filled with dowry boxes, which were sealed with wedding characters. It was the middle of the night, and some people were keeping watch while others were taking things out of the boxes.

"Here, take this. This small piece is inconspicuous. This jade is of good quality, bright and translucent. If you sell it, it will be worth at least one hundred taels of silver." A man took out a piece of jade cicada from the box and looked at it against the light.

Dou Jinzhao recognized this person as a managing nanny in Lu Changting's courtyard. Her surname was Ren and she was called Mrs. Ren. She was an elder in the mansion, but she was old, so she was not included in the dowry list this time.

These people picked and chose, and took several valuable but inconspicuous small items. Some of them put them in their pockets and went out through the back door of the yard.

Dou Jinzhao asked Luoxia to follow and see clearly, and she returned to Xixiangyuan by herself.

After taking a bath, Luoxia came back, "That woman left the house through the backyard door we came in through. From the tone of her voice, today is not the first day. They are in collusion with the two women guarding the gate. If they get the money, they share it with everyone."

Qiu Shui listened from the side and laughed, "Earlier, Madam Miao spread the word that some people would be sent out from the eldest lady's courtyard, and there were too many people in the kitchen. The master had just been out for a while when the kitchen started to make a commotion. It was so noisy that Madam Miao had already sent several people out."

Dou Jinzhao had already asked someone to open a small kitchen in Xixiangyuan. She ate her own food and just watched the fun in the big kitchen.

"Send away the kitchen staff at this time? Starting tomorrow, some relatives will come to add dowry to Lu Changting. She's getting married the day after tomorrow, and there will be at least dozens of banquets. If we send them away now, who will do the work later?" Dou Jinzhao was a little confused about Dou Miaojin's approach.

Qiu Shui laughed and said, "That's exactly what I meant!"

The next day was not a day off, so the morning court went on as usual. Lu Changyuan got up from the study in the front yard. Jixiang helped him put on his clothes and sent him out.

Last night, he and Jixiang stayed up a little late. Standing in the main hall, Lu Changyuan took a lot of effort to restrain himself from yawning. Several civil servants were arguing over the recent land measurement issue.

These things had nothing to do with military generals, and Lu Changyuan felt sleepy after listening to them.

After finally getting through this hurdle, Yang Lian, the official in charge of the Lantai, stepped forward holding a tablet and said, "Your Majesty, I impeach Duke Dingguo Lu Changyuan for colluding with the prince of Xiliang, collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country, and having a rebellious heart!"

Yang Lian's remarks were outrageous and shocking, but not many people took them seriously. Sometimes, in order to attract attention, people like Lan Tai Doctor would speak very seriously so that the emperor would take them seriously.

Lu Changyuan broke out in a cold sweat and woke up completely.

Emperor Yongjia didn't take it seriously. "The last time the prince of Xiliang escaped, I have already punished Duke Dingguo. Duke Dingguo has also been pursuing this person. Is there still no news?"

Lu Changyuan heard the dissatisfaction in the emperor's tone and trembled with fear, "I am incompetent. So far, I only know that Tuoba Yu is still in my Northern Qi. I will do my best to hunt him down again."

Yang Lian sneered, "He was caught once and allowed to escape even when he was trapped in the army. How can Duke Dingguo catch him again? Who knows if he let him escape last time on purpose? I heard that Duke Dingguo got those 500 horses from Tuoba Yu. Did Duke Dingguo rob them or did Tuoba Yu give them to him?"

Lu Changyuan couldn't stand this man's sarcasm and was completely furious. "Yang Lingshi, if you have any opinions about me, just tell me directly. I am just a military officer. If you are being evasive and I don't understand you, don't waste your majesty's time."

Yang Lian was waiting for this sentence. He stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that the five hundred horses that Duke Dingguo obtained from Tuoba Yu were not the five hundred horses that Duke Dingguo offered and raised at Xiaomatan Horse Farm."

It was like a bolt of lightning striking Lu Changyuan on the top of his head. He was stunned for a moment. How could Yang Lian, a mere civil official, know such a secret matter?

Emperor Yongjia finally took it seriously and said, "Changyuan, tell me, what's going on?"

How could Lu Changyuan admit it? He forced himself to remain calm and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know where Yang Lingshi heard this rumor to impeach me. I have never done such a thing to deceive the emperor. Please understand clearly, Your Majesty!"

Yang Lian continued to give evidence, "Your Majesty, I have found out that after Duke Dingguo obtained 500 fine horses from Tuoba Yu, he used these 500 fine horses from Xiliang to exchange for 500 ordinary stallions from the Weizhou Xin's Horse Farm. The horses at the Xiaomatan Horse Farm are these 500 ordinary horses."

This was no mere figment of the imagination. Emperor Yongjia did not hide his anger. "Changyuan, is this true?"

Lu Changyuan knelt down, "Your Majesty, I was stationed in Weizhou and did have contact with the Weizhou Xin's horse farm. Some of the war horses in the army also came from Weizhou Xin's. When I got 500 Xiliang stallions from Tuoba Yu, I was ecstatic.

My Great Qi has always been short of good stallions, and the number of horses in the army is not as many as that of Xiliang and Khitan. I think with these stallions, the number of horses in the army will be improved in the future.

The stallions are too precious, I dare not neglect them, before returning to Beijing, I entrusted them to Weizhou Xinshi to help take care of them. I have absolutely no intention of embezzling 500 stallions, and I have no relationship with Weizhou Xinshi at all. "

Yang Lian sneered, "Duke Dingguo, I heard that the Xin family of Weizhou intends to marry into the Duke Dingguo's mansion and wants to marry their daughter to the Duke Dingguo as his concubine?"

When the military officers heard the word "second wife", they all laughed. Someone joked with Guo Xiao, "General Guo is so lucky. He married the daughter of the Duke of Dingguo. He won't have to worry about not being able to marry a second wife in the future!"

Duke Dingguo himself married a concubine, so he would not stop his son-in-law from marrying a concubine.

The civil servants had gloomy faces and looked at Lu Changyuan with contempt as if he were a monkey being played.

It is simply a violation of moral standards and a disruption of social ethics.

Lu Changyuan looked at Yang Lian with murderous eyes, "Yang Lingshi, this is slander!"

"Whether it is slander or not, you know it well!" Yang Lian bowed to the emperor, "Your Majesty, I am willing to guarantee with my life that my words of impeachment against Duke Dingguo are true!"

Crown Prince Ling Chengxu moved his fat body out of the line, "Father, Weizhou Xin's horse farm also cooperates with the army. Duke Dingguo is dedicated to the public, so he must have put 500 horses in Weizhou Xin's horse farm without thinking too much. If the 500 stallions were really replaced, it must be that Weizhou Xin's bad intentions put Duke Dingguo in an unjust position.

I am willing to guarantee for Duke Dingguo that he is devoted to the court and has no intention of being disloyal. "

Lu Changyuan apologized at the right time, "Your Majesty, I am a relative of the emperor. I have been stationed at the border for several years and have fought with Xiliang for no less than ten times. I have hatred for my country and family, but I have no intention of collaborating with the enemy or betraying my country."

The emperor nodded. He did not suspect Lu Changyuan of treason, but it was possible that he had colluded with Weizhou Xin's horse farm. "Leave this matter to Yang Lian to investigate. Duke Dingguo is a pillar of the country. We must find out the truth and clear Duke Dingguo's name!"

"I obey your order!" Yang Lian raised his chin proudly. When he left the court and left the palace, he whispered to Duke Dingguo, "Duke Dingguo, just because you married a woman that Tuoba Yu didn't want as your concubine, I didn't wrongly accuse you!"