The suspicion in Li Shiyue's eyes was quite obvious, especially since the smile on her lips had disappeared, and there was no longer any hint of teasing.

Even though Qin Wanyin was simple-minded, she sensed that something was amiss. After thinking about it carefully, she nodded and said, "No, besides looking at the portrait, they just asked me to copy books to calm my mind."

“It’s not like we haven’t seen outsiders at all. Several ladies from the Cheng’en Duke’s mansion came before, and I met them once. After that, as you know, the epidemic was so severe that no one dared to go out.”

Li Shiyue couldn't help but clench the handkerchief in her hand, her brow throbbing: "But I heard that Grand Tutor Qin has taken a liking to a scholar. Although he comes from a poor family, he is good-looking and talented. It means that Grand Tutor Qin has chosen him as a son-in-law, and even Madam Qin has praised him highly."

"There are also those who say that you nodded in agreement yourself, blushed as soon as you saw the scholar, fell in love with him, and took the initiative to ask Grand Tutor Qin to let you marry the scholar."

These things weren't entirely heard from Madam Yang; some were also inquired about by Li Shiyue in recent days.

However, after some time, the rumors did not stop, but instead spread even more widely.

So today, under the pretext of delivering the invitation, she thought of personally visiting the Grand Tutor's residence to see Qin Wanyin and to find out if this was really just a rumor.

If it were true, they should have prepared many gifts for Qin Wanyin, but Qin Wanyin did not mention that student just now.

Although Li Shiyue knew Qin Wanyin earlier than Xu Lingzi, Qin Wanyin was simple-minded and shallow. If she really had feelings for that student, she would have been talking non-stop when she saw him long ago.

Obviously, that's not the case right now.

Seeing Qin Wanyin's expression turn to confusion and shock, Li Shiyue gripped her handkerchief even tighter: "You don't know? These days, people in the capital have been saying that your good news is coming soon, and we've even prepared gifts."

"I don't know, I haven't seen any students."

Qin Wanyin was stunned, seemingly not having processed what Li Shiyue had said.

Xiao Yu, standing to the side, was also bewildered: "Impossible, Lady of the Crown Prince. The Lord and Mistress have not arranged a marriage for you, Miss, nor have they met any prospective son-in-law. At most, they have shown you a portrait."

"But the girl didn't look at any of them, so how could such a thing have come out?"

Li Shiyue's expression was somewhat serious. She glanced at Qin Wanyin, who was equally shocked but at a loss, and said, "Xiaoyu, go and invite Madam Qin here. If it's a rumor, we can't let false rumors spread. It would damage the reputation of the Qin family and Ayin."

Xiao Yu knew the seriousness of the matter, and forgot to bow. She turned around, lifted her skirt, and ran away very quickly.

He darted out of the courtyard gate, and as he looked again, his figure gradually shrank.

"How could this be? No, I've never seen my husband before."

Qin Wanyin was somewhat doubtful of herself. All she had done was stay at home with her parents to look at portraits and copy some books. How could rumors have spread that she was in love with someone else and was about to get married?

I don't know what Xiaoyu said, but Madam Qin arrived really quickly, with a very serious expression. As soon as she came in, she grabbed Li Shiyue's hand and asked, "Is this really true?"

Li Shiyue nodded: "Why would I lie to Madam and Ayin? Before, when the epidemic was not completely over and we couldn't go out, I heard people talking about it. I didn't take it seriously at first, but when the servants went out to buy things, they heard many people on the street talking about it."

"Knowing that I am close to Ayin and that our two families have a close relationship, she told me about it. I even told my cousin that if it's true, we should prepare a nice gift for Ayin."

“But A-Yin said there was no such thing, and I felt something was wrong, so I asked Xiao-Yu to call you here. If it is just a rumor and not true, it is better to clarify it.”

This wicked woman has a bad reputation; this method is truly vicious.

"I understand. Leave this to me." Madam Qin looked tired, but she couldn't hide the anger in her eyes.

After leaving Qin Wanyin's courtyard, Madam Qin sighed and watched Li Shiyue's figure disappear into the distance before she couldn't help but relax.

"Go, tell the lord to return to the manor, quickly return to the manor."

Li Shiyue alighted from the carriage in front of the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, still feeling somewhat doubtful.

When Xu Yunci returned later that evening, she brought up the matter, but she never expected that Xu Yunci would have heard about it.

"That student comes from the south, from a poor family, and will be twenty next year. He's fairly good-looking, and I've heard he's quite talented. I've never met him, I've only heard about him from others."

"However, surprisingly, Grand Tutor Qin was not very close to that student. Grand Tutor Qin was fond of poetry and literature, and the student's talent was undoubtedly the one he admired most. There were many students in the world, and even if he admired them, Grand Tutor Qin would not become close to them all."

"Moreover, the Grand Tutor's Mansion is now closely tied to Chonghua Hall. If Grand Tutor Qin associates too closely with those students, it will appear to others as forming cliques for personal gain. It is best to cherish what is right; one's life and property are the most important things. Grand Tutor Qin is not unaware of this principle."

Xu Yunci sat beside her, raising his eyes with some doubt: "You went to the Grand Tutor's residence today? So this matter is true? I don't think so. If it were true, I haven't seen Grand Tutor Qin make any moves."

Li Shiyue shook her head: "On the contrary, the Qin family seems to know nothing about this. Madam Qin said that when the epidemic was severe, the mansion had stockpiled a lot of food, so they didn't let the servants go out much."

"Grand Tutor Qin wanted to temper A-Yin's character, so he asked her to copy more books. Madam Qin also ignored what was going on outside, so the Qin family was unaware of this rumor."

"When I went to the Grand Tutor's residence today to discuss this matter, A-Yin was very surprised, as was Madam Qin. I could tell that Madam Qin was quite angry. If it's false, it will ruin the reputation of the young lady's family. A-Yin is not yet married, who knows if it will delay her marriage?"

"If it were me, I would be angry too. Someone just throws a label on you out of nowhere, and you're the last to know about it."

Li Shiyue was still a little confused and looked up at Xu Yunci: "But what is the purpose of this rumor? Could it be that someone wants to target Ayin? But Ayin is always a cheerful person and I have never heard of her making enemies with anyone."

I thought about it again and again, but I still couldn't figure it out.

"Just look into that student; maybe he's not innocent either."

Xu Yunci spoke casually, but when Li Shiyue turned her head, she saw his fingertips rubbing against the thumb ring, a sign that he was about to scheme against someone.

What are you going to do?

Xu Yunci thought for a moment and said, "Actually, it's quite simple. If we were to investigate, we might not find anything. If that student really has a problem, then the person behind him must have made all the arrangements. All we know is what they've told us to know."