Wanyun couldn't help but laugh at the sight. The kneeling women were so frightened they scrambled to flee, not daring to linger a moment longer.
But before they could get far, a group of guards with swords drawn blocked their path.
Duke Wei stepped forward and declared, "Audacious rabble! How dare you insult an Imperial Concubine? Men, arrest them all and throw them in the Heavenly Prison!"
A few of the more timid women immediately dropped to their knees. "Sir, we were muddle-headed! We know we were wrong! It was a maid from the Ming family who gave us silver to come here and demand justice for Shi Shuangshuang."
A few scholars added, "We were deceived by the storyteller at Qingming Building! He was speaking out against the injustice done to Shi Shuangshuang and incited us to come here and make a scene."
"Yes, that's right! I was also paid off by the Ming family."
"We were stirred up by the storyteller from another teahouse."
