Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 928: Chapter 839: Unwilling to Be a Slave 59

However, what surprised Shuangshuang Nangong was that before she could speak to Lady Jing, Lady Jing spoke first. She called Shuangshuang Nangong and her mother, Luo Yueying, over, and told them about the court uncovering a large-scale corruption case involving her uncle, Chengmao Nangong.

Previously, Lady Jing had inquired about Shuangshuang Nangong’s father’s situation, knowing that her father, Chengxuan Nangong, had been framed by his own brother.

Therefore, upon discovering that Chengmao Nangong was also entangled in the current corrupt event, Lady Jing’s father, Gao Yan, the Assistant Imperial Censor, directly found someone to revisit Chengxuan Nangong’s case. Now, they were just waiting for a thorough investigation to vindicate Shuangshuang Nangong’s father.

Moreover, overturning this case would actually be quite straightforward, as Shuangshuang Nangong’s father was renowned for his integrity in office. When the family’s property was seized due to accusations of embezzlement, aside from that batch of corrupt silver coins mentioned by Chengmao Nangong, there wasn’t much silver.

Although the household wasn’t impoverished by any exaggeration, it was modest enough. The family lacked grand mansions, luxurious decor, which is quite absurd for a corrupt official’s household. Now, overturning the case easily clears Chengxuan Nangong’s name.

Shuangshuang Nangong was somewhat surprised and touched; while she was still contemplating when to speak, Lady Jing had kept her situation in mind constantly, and upon noticing an opportunity, took action before Shuangshuang Nangong could say anything.

If this was Lady Jing’s method of bestowing favor to gather loyalty, Shuangshuang Nangong determined that Lady Jing’s methods were indeed superb, as she had been genuinely influenced and was deeply grateful.

Because this corruption event, which involved embezzlement of disaster relief funds, erupted, the Emperor was furious. For several days in a row dealing with the matter, he hadn’t entered the harem, commanding the Ministry of Justice, the Inspector, and the Ministry of Justice to jointly investigate this case.

Given the Emperor’s scrutiny over the matter, the trial progressed exceptionally swiftly. Among the involved parties, Chengxuan Nangong was just a minor ripple, quickly resolved. Moreover, there were several more officials found unjustly wronged besides Chengxuan Nangong.

However, others differ from Chengxuan Nangong; two were scapegoats pushed forward by superiors, two were incorrupt officials slandered for refusing to collude, one was sacrificed as a pawn. Chengxuan Nangong was most unfortunate, for being too upright, feared to act against his kin, thus framed by his brother.

Those sacrificed as pawns, despite pardoning, could not have their official hats back due to partial guilt. The two incorrupt officials’ ranks were raised one grade, with silver rewarded for consolation, and following his pardoning, the Emperor deemed Chengxuan Nangong overly honest yet lacking in cunning. Just right as his scholarly aptitude was great, the Emperor had him follow a scholar in book compilation projects.

Regarding Chengxuan Nangong’s book compilation affair, Shuangshuang Nangong was utterly pleased. Her father wasn’t fit for officialdom; compiling books was ideal, keeping his reputation untainted while staying out of trouble. Despite having modest salary, she had rewards of silver.

Not to mention, this time, Shuangshuang Nangong, advising Lady Jing, was granted a thousand taels of silver by her. Had Lady Jing possessed more silver, mostly luxuries supplementary awarded by the Emperor, Empress, and later the Empress Dowager, she would have given more silver to Shuangshuang Nangong.

The silver Shuangshuang Nangong accumulated before and after nearly reached three thousand taels; this sufficed for her frugal father Chengxuan Nangong and mother Luo Yueying to settle down and live comfortably, enough even if they bore a son and raised him into adulthood, marrying a wife.

The decrees pardoning Chengxuan Nangong, after his receipt, necessitated his return, consuming at least half a year, even riding horses both ways, since Chengxuan Nangong reached an Exile Land far away.

Upon pardoning Chengxuan Nangong’s offenses, the Emperor specially decreed permitted departure from the palace for Shuangshuang Nangong and Luo Yueying, awarding five hundred taels of silver for settling expenses, also restoring Luo Yueying’s title.

Luo Yueying’s departure from the palace had become imperative after her and Shuangshuang Nangong’s pardoning, transforming merely into civilians previously, naturally capable of entering the palace as slaves, but now restored as titled nobility necessitates departure.

After discussing with Luo Yueying, Shuangshuang Nangong decided on Luo Yueying’s departure from the palace, herself remaining to assist Lady Jing. Being an official’s daughter, even if going home now, she soon faced the selection age.

In selection terms, Shuangshuang Nangong faced grave danger; her father, being a minor official, met the Emperor’s criteria for choosing concubines without solid background.

Her appearance exceptionally distinguished; Shuangshuang Nangong previously avoided the Emperor, or bowed her head without drawing attention, knowing he wouldn’t specifically notice a little palace maid.

Within the Emperor’s cognition, all harem women desired his favor, thus he never imagined women intentionally avoiding him.

Shuangshuang Nangong’s constant bowing before him led the Emperor to naturally assume she appeared unattractive, shy to lift her gaze before him, and the Emperor held no interest in an ugly maid.

In essence, Shuangshuang Nangong avoided the Emperor’s view through careful means. Facing selection, whether or not Shuangshuang Nangong hides on purpose, her beauty can’t be concealed. Once chosen into the harem, first she supports Lady Jing, becoming her adversary.

Of course, Shuangshuang Nangong didn’t fear this; most importantly, she inherently rejected sharing a man with numerous women, finding it filthy, hesitating even acknowledging the Emperor, given his innumerable female companions, she felt disgusted.

The optimal strategy in avoiding selection is remaining at Lady Jing’s side, turning from common girl to official’s daughter, even if an official’s daughter of moderate rank. At Lady Jing’s side, she could become a female official.

For minor official’s daughters, they either enter as selection candidates or concubine attendants, acquiring rank. Receiving official salary equivalent to regular officials, unmatchable by palace maids.

The harem female officials divide into two groups, internal Six Departments female officials under Six Departments or those serving Princess or second-rank concubine female officials.

Female officials with Princess or concubine serve as Ladies, Princess’s Ladies are fourth-rank officials, concubine Ladies under second-rank concubine are fifth-rank, Junior First Rank concubine Ladies are Junior Fourth Rank, First Rank concubine officials are fourth-rank, super-grade Imperial Concubine Ladies equivalent to deputy super-grade, Junior Third Rank, Empress Ladies are third-rank.