Seeing her son's extremely pale face, Madam Fan hurriedly asked, "What's wrong, Baowen?"
Fan Baoyun said, "Letters like these have now spread throughout the entire Zhaoling Academy. I bought these few at a high price."
Upon hearing this, Fan Baowen trembled all over.
When Fan Mingli saw his son's expression, he snatched the letter, took a closer look, and his old face turned red.
This content is too...
It's even more erotic than the erotic stories circulating outside, making readers blush and their hearts race.
Most importantly, it also contains illustrations, including illustrations of naked bodies!
Seeing that her father and brother's expressions had changed, Fan Baoyun cautiously said, "They also said... that the girl in the painting is Du Lanlan..."
Enraged, Fan Baowen's veins bulged, and he tore them to shreds on the spot.
"Someone framed me!" Fan Baowen said through gritted teeth. "The letter Xia Chunmei has is real, but all these other letters are fake!"
"We must find out who's behind this immediately!" Fan Mingli knew very well how much this matter would affect Fan Baowen and Du Lanlan.
Especially Du Lanlan, who had an affair without a matchmaker, became pregnant out of wedlock, and whose so-called "nude photos" were circulating outside—how could she ever face anyone after all this?
Fan Baowen was a man. If he wasn't engaged, people might just call him a womanizer. In the eyes of the world, especially many scholars, it wasn't a big deal.
But just today at the Junzi Teahouse, his engagement to Xia Chunmei was exposed, and now it's been revealed that he got Du Lanlan pregnant. Won't people say he's morally corrupt?
To participate in a scientific expedition, one needs to have their family history traced back three generations and also needs someone to vouch for them. Nobody dares to vouch for someone with a bad reputation!
"What bad luck has befallen our Fan family!" Madam Fan slapped her thigh in anger, tears streaming down her face.
Fan Mingli: "Baowen, who exactly did you offend?"
“I’ve always been kind to people. Apart from having some disagreements with Zhang Jing and Yao Weiming, I’ve never argued with anyone else. It was just a small misunderstanding between Zhang Jing and Yao Weiming. They couldn’t possibly have gone to such extremes.”
Fan Jiangshi said excitedly, "That's not necessarily true. Some people may seem harmless on the surface, but they are actually full of bad intentions and extremely narrow-minded. Baowen, I think it must be them without a doubt."
Could it be Xia Chunmei?
As soon as Fan Baoyun finished speaking, everyone looked at her.
Fan Baoyun then explained, "After the plan at the Du family failed last time, Madam Du arranged for several people to try to ruin her. However, Xia Chunmei was unharmed, but those hooligans were injured, their faces were bruised and swollen, and their teeth were knocked out."
They also said Xia Chunmei knew kung fu, and most importantly, they said Xia Chunmei knew who sent them, and that they should have the courage to accept her return gift. Don't you think that's too much of a coincidence?
Madam Fan spoke first: "How is that possible? She may have some skills, but how could she possibly get the letter from the Du family, and even after getting the letter, she would have someone copy it, draw it, and spread it around, making it known throughout the entire Zhaoling Academy? This is not something an ordinary person could do."
“That’s right. Unless Xia Chunmei has extraordinary abilities, how could she possibly do that? Besides, she’s been busy with banquets lately; these things can’t be accomplished overnight,” Fan Mingli said. “Baowen, think carefully again about who else you might have offended.”
Fan Baowen didn't say anything, but strode away.
"Baowen, where are you going so late?"
"I'm going to find Xia Chunmei. Whoever gives her the truth is the one who harmed me!"
At this time, in the Du family's village in the county town.
"Look what you've done! You're a disgrace!" Du Jinghua slapped Du Lanlan across the face in anger.
"Lanlan!" Madam Du rushed forward to support her, crying, "Lanlan is pregnant, don't take your anger out on the baby!"
"I won't hit her. Hitting someone who's pregnant out of wedlock is shameful enough. Now... I only regret not drowning her back then!"
Du Lanlan's older brother, Du Tao, also looked resentful: "I've completely lost face. Anyway, Dad, please arrange a transfer for me as soon as possible."
“There’s only one academy in Zhaoling, where can you transfer to?” Du Jinghua said.
"Transfer to Baoqing Academy."
Upon hearing that her son wanted to go to Baoqing Academy, Madam Du became anxious, "Baoqing Academy is in Baoqing, which is separated from us by Songshan County, it's too far..."
"Otherwise, who told her to do such a shameful thing? I don't want people coming to me with a portrait asking if this naked woman is really my sister! I'll pack my things now, and I'll go to Baoqing to settle down first thing tomorrow morning."
Before leaving, Du Tao glared fiercely at Du Lanlan, then turned and left; he couldn't stay there a moment longer.
When her beloved eldest son was about to leave his hometown for Baoqing, Madam Du was heartbroken and shed tears. She was also very dissatisfied with her daughter Du Lanlan, whom she had always doted on.
"Crying, crying, all you do is cry! Look at the good daughter you've raised!" Du Jinghua said sternly, "What exactly happened with those letters?"
Du Lanlan cried and said, "I don't know either. Many of those letters were fake, especially that painting. Someone must be trying to harm me! It must be that bitch Xia Chunmei! She's taking revenge on us!"
“She can’t even protect her own things, she’s not only useless but also stupid! How could that country bumpkin be so capable?” Du Jinghua said. “She must have someone close to you to have stolen the letter! Butler Du, go and arrest everyone in the young lady’s courtyard and interrogate them!”
Steward Du immediately led his men to arrest all the maids, servants, and young men who served Du Lanlan. They were all beaten until they were covered in bruises, but they found nothing. They all said that this matter had nothing to do with them and that they knew nothing about the lost letter.
"It's probably that bastard Du Bin who did it! He holds a grudge against me for driving him away back then! He's trying to get revenge on me through these kinds of means!" Madam Du said fiercely. "It must be him! Only he knows the situation in this manor!"
The more Madam Du thought about it, the more she felt it was Du Bin. After all, he came from the Du family and had lived there for so many years. He knew the Du family's situation well, and there might even be one or two of his people hiding in the mansion.
Moreover, he was familiar with the academy's situation, so it was much easier for him than for Xia Chunmei to steal anything or deliver letters to the various dormitories.
Upon hearing this, Du Jinghua also became suspicious of Du Bin, since he had both the motive and the means to commit the crime.
"Bring that beast here to me right now!"
Upon receiving orders, Steward Du immediately went to Zhaoling Academy to find Du Bin.
Although Du Jinghua punished Du Bin for what happened between him and Ling Xiaoxiao, it was a family scandal after all, and for the sake of the family's reputation, it was not publicized, which is why Du Bin was able to continue studying at the academy.
Du Bin had long anticipated that the Du family would suspect him, so he was not surprised when Butler Du came to see him.
Back at the Du family home, before Du Bin could even speak, Du Jinghua threw a teacup at him: "Did you do this?"
Du Bin remained calm and answered without changing his expression, "No."
"Still trying to deny it! It's you, it must be you! What good will this do you?" Duran screamed hysterically.
Madam Du was furious: "He won't confess without torture! Drag him out and beat him! Beat him until he tells you!"
Du Bin glanced at his father, Du Jinghua, but Du Jinghua, with an angry expression, showed no intention of stopping him.
Du Bin felt disappointed; he shouldn't have had any hope for him…
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