In the silence of the hall, Ye Xinyan looked up several times, hoping the Emperor would allow her to stand. You say you all are a group of old masters, standing, sitting, making me, a mere woman, kneel alone. Don't you find it degrading?
However, the Emperor showed no such inclination, and the others also ignored her, completely unperturbed, without feeling the slightest bit ashamed.
The Eunuch brought in account books, surprisingly more than everyone expected, neatly tied in two large stacks.
At Zhang Cunhai's gesture, the Eunuch placed these two stacks of account books in front of Ye Xinyan.
The Emperor looked at the stacks of account books, somewhat surprised: "Would the construction records for the wooden tracks really have this much?"
Ye Xinyan was reluctant to respond; shouldn't one speak with courtesy when asking questions? And they expected her to explain while kneeling? Absurd!
Fine, she'd accept it—after all, she was an oppressed individual in ancient times.
