"I heard you're quite familiar with that woman in the west courtyard?"
"What does it matter to you whether we're familiar or not? Do you also like Shen Xiang? Is that why you dislike her?"
Jun Xiaoqiao was most impatient with these gatherings of young ladies, and Jun Jianling was the kind of sharp-tongued woman she disliked the most. She was most reluctant to answer her questions, but today was the New Year, and she couldn't remain silent, so she had no choice but to reply.
"I'm just giving you a friendly reminder. That kind of woman is really shameful. If you want to maintain your reputation, you should stay away from her as soon as possible."
Jun Jianling took a sip of tea and couldn't help but offer a reminder.
"That's right! I've only been at the governor's mansion for two hours, and I've already heard the maids and servants talking about all sorts of promiscuous things. A woman like Xiao Qiao is just ruining the Jun family's reputation. You'd better stay away from her!"
As soon as Jun Jianling finished speaking, Fu Jingyi, the girl from the Fu family to her left, chimed in, waving her fan.
“I arrived late and was immediately ushered into the flower hall by you, but I haven’t heard anything about her being promiscuous. Sister Fu, why don’t you tell me about her? And Sword Spirit, you tell me about her too. If you say she is, I will naturally keep my distance from her and give you the two new hairpins I just got on my head.”
Jun Xiaoqiao smiled and looked at the two of them with amusement.
She had no idea that Cen Xi, that brat, had become so famous so soon after joining the military headquarters, and with such a terrible reputation. She knew Cen Xi was never one to stay put, no matter where she went.
"Sigh, this is a family scandal. I don't know what got into my brother, but he took great care of her. The night before last, he even kept her in his courtyard. They were chatting and laughing like a perfect couple. I thought I would have a new sister-in-law. But the next day, which was yesterday, many people in the mansion saw her go into Prime Minister Shen's guest courtyard again and stay there for a long time without coming out."
“This morning, I heard from the maids in the manor that she wanted to be my sister-in-law’s woman, and she still hasn’t left the room of Prime Minister Chen. Moreover, the servants in the guest courtyard said that they sleep together. Do you think such a woman has no shame? She is unchaste and has become like this. I feel ashamed to let her continue to live in the Jun manor.”
Seeing Jun Xiaoqiao's attentive demeanor, Jun Jianling's eyes flashed with disdain and contempt. She hesitated for a moment before recounting the words she had spread throughout the mansion that morning.
"That's right! Sword Spirit, I think you should go and talk to your uncle about this. How can such a woman be worthy of living in the governor's mansion? It would be better to kick her out as soon as possible."
Before Jun Xiaoqiao could respond after Jun Jianling finished speaking, Jun Jianfang, the ninth young lady of the second wife, with a face full of resentment, quickly interrupted and spoke.
"I originally thought of it, but Ninth Sister, you know my identity. Besides, with Eldest Brother and Prime Minister Shen protecting that woman, I... I really can't bring myself to say it. Sigh, let's just forget about it. I don't even know if Eldest Brother will marry her in the future. If he does, with such a promiscuous woman, I don't even know if my nephew will be my Eldest Brother's. Just thinking about it makes me feel sorry for my Eldest Brother."
Jun Jianling wore a sorrowful expression, perfectly embodying the image of a good sister who worries about her elder brother. She also wore her own sadness at being of low status and unable to speak up, all of which was written on her face.
Jun Xiaoqiao watched with awe, thinking to herself, "This girl's acting is superb. If she were in modern times, she would definitely win an Oscar!"
Cen Xi must have dug up their family's ancestral graves, right? That's why she went to such lengths to rap about her.
"Sword Spirit, you must persuade Brother Jun. How can such a woman be the young mistress of the Jun family? A man as talented as Brother Jun deserves a well-educated and virtuous lady. How can such a shameless and promiscuous woman be a wife of the Jun family?"
As soon as Jun Jianling finished speaking, Fu Jingyi couldn't help but interrupt.
“That’s right, that’s right, Sword Spirit. If it’s inconvenient for you to talk to Big Brother, I will. If Big Brother is still stubborn, I will go to Uncle. Uncle will definitely not allow Big Brother to marry a woman like that. The eldest daughter-in-law of our Jun family should naturally be a beautiful, gentle and elegant woman like Sister Fu. Don’t you think so, Sister Fu?”
As soon as Fu Jingyi finished speaking, Jun Jianfang, who was always close to her, chimed in.
The three women chatted animatedly, one after another, leaving Jun Xiaoqiao unable to get a word in edgewise.
However, after listening for so long, she began to understand some of the meaning behind it.
It's another love story, a classic tale of a jealous young woman fantasizing about a handsome man.
Whether Cen Xi was promiscuous or not is not important. What is important is that she simultaneously possessed the love of two men, which is why she was envied, jealous, and hated by others.
so…
Even if she has nothing to do with these two men, they will still create trouble to tarnish her reputation.
Because they've set their sights on the two men who care about her.
After a few compliments, Fu Jingyi blushed slightly… She hesitated for a moment before saying:
"But Brother Jianchou never sees the good in me! If he were even slightly kind to me, I would be content even if I died."
"Sword Spirit, isn't there any other way? Look how much Sister Fu is suffering from unrequited love. Should we help her out?"
Seeing Fu Jingyi gazing wistfully in the direction where Jun Jianchou was staying, Jun Jianfang couldn't help but feel indignant on her behalf once again.
"Perhaps we can force things to a fait accompli, but as you all know, my brother is skilled in medicine. I'm afraid that before we can even get Sister Fu to his bedside, she'll be thrown out. So, Sister Fu, I'm afraid the sword spirit can't help you. You'll probably be lovesick for the rest of your life."
Jun Jianling sized up this distant cousin and bluntly shattered her illusions.
After she finished speaking, she felt a faint sense of satisfaction. She couldn't even get the man she wanted, so why should others be luckier than her?
"Oh, that Sister Fu is so pitiful."
Jun Jianfang glanced at the devastated Fu Jingyi and couldn't help but add insult to injury.
"Yes, how pitiful! Jun Jianchou is such a dashing and romantic man. If I weren't a member of the Jun family, I'm afraid I would also be longing for him day and night. And there's an even more handsome and refined man in this manor, but unfortunately, he's been monopolized by that wretched woman. What a lament!"
After Jun Jianfang finished speaking, Jun Xiaoqiao was finally able to speak, so she quickly echoed him.
After she finished speaking, she glanced at the three parties involved, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally.
She realized that Jun Jianchou's younger sister had taken a liking to Prime Minister Shen Jinchen, while the second young lady of the Fu family clearly had her eye on the young master of this mansion, Jun Jianchou!
And these two men, of all people, had their eyes on Cen Xi. So, unable to have her, they resorted to sour grapes, and since they couldn't have her, they could only smear her behind her back. Jun Xiaoqiao knew perfectly well that Cen Xi would never be two-timing. As for these rumors they were spreading, even a fool could tell they came from those three in the flower hall.
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