The reason Qingyou invited these two ladies over was because she had calculated that after the emperor scolded Char Siu Bao, he would come back to make trouble for her.

The two ladies we've invited today were both my childhood study companions.

After growing up, she returned home and got married, but she still kept in touch with the original owner of the body, and their relationship remained good.

Lady Hou was known in the capital for her love of gossip, and she was the kind of person who couldn't control her chatter.

Especially after becoming a mother-in-law, she became even more fond of gossiping about other people's affairs, and couldn't help but spread whatever she heard.

Another one is the wife of the Imperial Censor. She herself is not gossipy, but her husband is very upright and old-fashioned, especially known for his filial piety. If he knew about Huo Jiwen's affairs, he would probably be tempted to impeach him.

That's why Qingyou invited the two of them to watch the show.

However, although Huo Jiwen is love-struck, he was indeed well-trained in both literary and martial arts by the original owner of the body.

In the past, if Char Siu Bao had seen the two ladies present, he certainly wouldn't have been so impulsive as to come over and question her, and instead stormed off in anger.

So when he first entered, Qingyou stirred up a trace of Yin energy that entered his body, which amplified his emotions and caused him to speak his mind without being so rational.

If Char Siu Bao had maintained her previous composed and rational demeanor, she wouldn't have invited the two ladies for nothing.

When Lady Hou asked this, Qingyou sighed helplessly, "Because of a woman who's been arguing with me every day."

She deliberately left things unclear, which only heightened their curiosity.

Sure enough, Lady Hou asked, "For a woman? Is she a merchant's daughter?"

Qingyou looked at Lady Hou in surprise, "How did you know?"

This lady is truly the queen of gossip in the capital. Qiao Mingxuan had just had the news of Char Siu Bao and Xiao Baihua spread in the capital, and before it even got out, she already knew about it.

Upon hearing Qingyou's question, Madam Hou realized she had let it slip and blurted it out.

She gave an awkward laugh. "I heard it from someone else. They said the young master is seeing a merchant's daughter frequently in private."

She also heard that the two had secretly pledged their lives to each other, but she didn't say it out loud, for fear of upsetting the princess.

Qingyou feigned surprise again, her face darkening even more. "This bastard's awful deeds have even reached the outside world."

Lady Hou asked, "I thought it was just rumors spread by outsiders, but it's actually true?"

She had heard about this before and genuinely thought it was just hearsay.

After all, the Duke's family had very strict discipline, and the young master Huo had always had a good reputation and a noble status. He didn't seem like the kind of person who would do such a shameful thing.

Qingyou sighed again, "It's true."

She added, "Not only that, but in order to let that woman into the house, he keeps coming to bother me all day long, and if I disagree, he talks back and makes a scene."

She didn't mention that Huo Jiwen wanted to break off the engagement, as that would damage Qiao Xinyue's reputation.

Anyway, if you mention entering the house, these two will most likely think you're going to be a concubine.

As expected, both of them misunderstood.

The censor's wife thought for a moment and suggested, "Sometimes it's better to guide than to block. If he really wants that woman to come in, just bring her in, and he won't make a fuss with you anymore."

The flowers in the garden don't smell as sweet as the wild ones; men just love to steal them.

Qingyou smiled wryly and said, "It's not that simple. She's not happy about being a concubine at all."

Hearing her say that, Lady Hou and the Censor's wife were both disdainful. What kind of status did a merchant's daughter want? Did she want to be the heir apparent's wife? Did she even deserve it?

Before the two could continue speaking, Qingyou added, "Moreover, before he even entered the house, he was already infatuated with that woman and started talking back to his elders. Recently, he has been skipping school frequently, and he has also started to shirk his studies and martial arts practice. He's becoming more and more outrageous."

"If we let him in, who knows what he'll become."

“I’m afraid he’ll spend all his time in the backyard and won’t be willing to come out and do anything productive.”

She looked worried. "He is the future Duke of Zhenguo. He should be fighting on the battlefield to protect the country like his grandfather and father. How can he be so infatuated with his personal feelings?"

Neither Lady Hou nor Lady Yushi expected that Huo Jiwen would become so unambitious because of that merchant girl. Wasn't this just lust blinding him?

If he were to lead troops into battle and the enemy used a honey trap, wouldn't he be utterly defeated?

The two agreed, saying, "In that case, we really can't let that woman in."

They could understand the princess's worries and anxieties; if it were their own son, they would be angry too.

The young master Huo was truly unfilial; even the most dissolute sons of prominent families in the capital wouldn't do such a thing, yet he did it.

No wonder His Majesty summoned him to the palace to reprimand him; he deserved it.

Seeing their expressions, Qingyou knew they had taken her words to heart and were beginning to feel disgusted with Huo Jiwen.

Knowing it suited her son, she gave him a look that said she'd talked too much, and forced a smile, "Let's not talk about these upsetting things anymore, let's continue watching the show."

Lady Hou and Lady Yu Shi wisely refrained from asking further questions, saying, "Yes, yes, let's watch the show."

After watching the play, the two noticed that the princess didn't look well and knew she was still worried about the prince's troubles, so they took their leave.

As Qingyou had expected, after the two left the Duke's mansion, the Lady of the Marquis couldn't help but share the news with people she knew, and it began to spread like wildfire.

The censor's wife then told her husband.

Within a few days, almost all officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital, as well as the families of nobles and members of the imperial family, had heard about this.

When the family members find out, they will naturally share the gossip they've heard with their husbands.

As a result, the civil officials, military officials, nobles, and members of the royal family who originally had a very good impression of Huo Jiwen had their impressions of him completely overturned.

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