The young master is in trouble
Both families' betrothal gifts were returned. Yang Shen felt guilty for his incompetence, having been extremely busy, and then having a frivolous young lady by his side only added fuel to the fire.
"Yang Shen, the betrothal gifts have all been returned. Sister Wen is not satisfied and thinks you are not sincere enough. You might as well ignore my second brother and hurry up and coax your future wife."
Yang Shen paused, then said in a serious tone, "I will apologize myself."
Oranges were roasting on the stove in the warm room. Yang Cong was engrossed in reading a book, not even glancing at her. Yang Fei was instantly filled with anger. "Second brother, you're so careless. No wonder Sister Zhou cried, made a scene, and even threatened to hang herself. She just doesn't want to marry you."
Yang Fei was outspoken, but she also took the opportunity to sow discord and speak ill of her. She had a whole repertoire of cunning thoughts. Wen Ruo stood at the door, listening carefully. She had been standing there for most of the day. Yang Cong stayed inside without moving and was even reading a book, which was quite different from the rumors outside.
Yang Cong picked up an orange, carefully peeled it, and said indifferently, "You're still trying to please Yang Shen, but he won't even look at you. A young lady of high birth is offering herself to a servant. You're really disgracing the Yang family."
"I lose face at home, unlike you, who loses it all outside. What's the use of putting on such a good show at home? If you fail the exam again next spring, I'm afraid no one will want you. I remember Sister Zhou seems to like Young Master Qi. She's called romantic if she doesn't get involved with anyone, but you're filthy and vulgar. How did it feel to sneak back from the Red Robe Pavilion after spending the night there?"
Wen Ruo pricked up her ears. She had gone back to inquire, and the madam said there had never been any new women in the room. Could there be something fishy going on? She recalled that fleeting glance, and realized things a little too quickly. If she could enter that room in the Red Robe Pavilion, then naturally others could too. Yang Cong was up to something.
"Shut up!"
Yang Fei refused, and scoffed, "Are you angry because you're embarrassed? Or is Young Master Qi ignoring you now?"
With a loud crash, a chair fell to the ground inside the room. Yang Cong, as if his secret had been exposed, looked at her with a murderous glare and raised his arm to hit her.
Since his drunken outburst, rumors have been circulating in the capital, and Qi Guanlan has been reluctant to see him. Yang Cong has been turned away several times and is getting increasingly impatient.
After Qi Guanlan was coaxed away, he deliberately went to the room on the west bank of the stream to sober up, just because Yu Niang was waiting inside. When she heard him come in, she couldn't help but mock him: "Where is the young master Qi you promised?"
"My wife is truly heartless." Yang Cong lowered his eyes, his words sounding as if he had been hurt. He hadn't realized it when they were deeply in love, but now he realized she was an ambitious woman.
He got together with her based on just a few words and a ring. When his lie was exposed, he was caught off guard. Yu Niang recognized him at the city gate just by his voice. He even dared to have designs on the real Young Master Qi. He and Yu Niang hit it off immediately.
I really have to thank that stupid errand boy, what Yang Shen's wife.
Qi Guanlan is muddle-headed. How smart can the person he praises be? He was easily fooled by Yu Niang with just a few words. He probably still thinks that Yu Niang's sweetheart is Qi Guanlan. But at least it saved him some trouble.
He actually asked him to marry Yu Niang, so that he and Yu Niang could live happily ever after.
The tent was filled with an enchanting fragrance, but unfortunately Qi Guanlan had run away. Yu Niang, dressed in a light yellow and white gauze that draped over her shoulders, looked even more beautiful than before. He recalled their past pleasures and involuntarily lifted her foot, coaxing, "Who would have thought that I would run into your benefactor today? I'll find another opportunity next time, okay?"
Yu Niang used some kind of incense, it was really powerful, his body wouldn't obey him, and he didn't wake up until dawn, so he was late returning home, not expecting to be seen. Yang Fei was spoiled by the mistress, thinking himself smart but actually foolish without realizing it, easily causing trouble but also easy to manipulate.
"You dare!"
Yang Fei raised her eyebrows, a hint of contempt flashing in her eyes. She didn't believe that a son of a concubine would dare to hit her. Yang Cong was suddenly pushed to the limit and slapped her. "Why wouldn't I dare? As your elder brother, I will teach you what it means to be a respectful elder brother today."
Wen Ruo and Xiao Tao quickly came in and stood on either side of Yang Fei. Half of Yang Fei's fair face was swollen, and clear finger marks were left on her face, showing that Yang Cong had used a lot of force.
The young lady was in so much pain that tears welled up in her eyes. Her reason had been blown away by the slap. She had always looked down on her second brother, so how could she be willing to suffer such a humiliation? She was about to hit back immediately, but Wen Ruo quickly pulled her back.
Upon hearing the commotion, Yang Shen rushed over to break up the fight. Yang Fei then came to her senses, covered her disheveled appearance, and said angrily while covering her face, "You wait, Yang Cong, you're dead! I'm going to Mother's. You forced the maid, and I haven't settled accounts with you yet. Today, I'll settle all the old and new scores together."
Wen Ruo's eyes flickered with emotion. A maid? Yang Cong kicked the stove, angrily saying, "Even if Mother came, it would be you who spoke rudely and talked back to your elder brother!"
The two had only been arguing and leaving each other for a short while. Wen Ruo quickly glanced at him and hurriedly left, leaving Yang Shen to clean up the mess. He didn't hear her panting as she walked up to the attic alone, where she stared at him for a long time, her disdain almost overflowing.
The three walked past the winter plum trees and through the moon gate, which led directly to the mistress's courtyard. Wen Ruo seemed to sense something and looked back. At the highest point of Yang Cong's courtyard, there was a blurry figure.
"I thought Miss was a woman of deep thoughts, but it turns out she was using them on me. Young Master Yang was easily provoked and fell for her trap." Is the matriarch of the Yang family really so easy to talk to, causing trouble at such a crucial moment?
Yang Fei, who had been walking briskly, stopped at the door. Her face seemed even more swollen, and she spoke with a spasm of pain, "What did you say!"
Wen Ruo covered her face with a handkerchief, "Young Master Yang's marriage will only bring benefits to the family. If Miss goes to make a scene, wouldn't that go against the wishes of Master and Madam?"
"My mother loves me dearly, what's there to be afraid of?" Yang Fei said dismissively, but her eyes darted around and she couldn't help but ask, "Do you have a plan?"
Wen Ruo shook her head, "You and Young Master Yang are still siblings after all. My little quarrels are just a reminder to Miss not to worry Madam. If you continue, you'll be stirring up trouble between you two."
Yang Fei spat, "Who says they're siblings! What a hypocrite."
"However, Miss Yang is right about one thing. I originally thought it was a matter between the three of us, but it seems I was naive. Let's try again another day?"
Yang Fei grabbed her arm. "I hate people who only say half of what they mean. Explain yourself clearly to me!" Wen Ruo pried her off, but seeing the determined look on her face, she sighed.
"When I arrived, I saw Yang Cong ordering Yang Shen to drive people away. The figure seemed to be a woman. Coupled with what happened to you, Miss, I suddenly realized that Yang Shen is working for the Yang family after all. If Yang Cong is like this, what if Yang Shen becomes an accomplice to evil in the future?"
She couldn't help but fall silent, as if she still felt regret in her heart, and sighed, "It's hard to say whether he is a good man or not. I'm afraid that Yang Lang and I are not the same kind of people. It's better to test his character than his sincerity."
After Wen Ruo left, Yang Fei nestled in the warm pavilion, her face already covered with ointment. The maidservant changed her perfume and, while combing her hair, noticed her lost in thought and couldn't help but speak up, "Miss, are you still thinking about her words? I think she's trying to fool you. Everyone in the manor knows Yang Shen's character, otherwise you wouldn't be like this, Miss."
Yang Fei's expression turned serious as she frowned in thought. "What she said is also true. Everyone has times when they are not in control of their own destiny. Just because I don't make things difficult for him doesn't mean that the despicable and treacherous Yang Cong won't."
"What you say makes sense, Miss. What should we do then?"
Yang Fei narrowed her eyes slightly: "Go and keep a close eye on Yang Cong and see who he associates with."
Upon receiving two letters from Zhou Xuanyan within a day, Wen Ruo noticed the urgency in her letter. After returning to Hongshang Pavilion, she went back to find out about Yang Cong. Before she could find any information, she heard that a fifty-year-old man from Dali Temple had come to seek justice for his daughter, accusing Qi Guanlan of being unfaithful and heartless, ruining his daughter's reputation, and forcing her to commit suicide.
The daughter the old man mentioned, Wen Ruo, was none other than Yu Niang.
Qi Guanlan had already gone to the military camp a few days ago and was not in the capital. He had not found Yu Niang's body. The old man only had a letter from Yu Niang as evidence. He refused to see any guests at the Princess's residence and said that he would clear Qi Guanlan's name.
Wen Ruo didn't expect that she still couldn't get rid of the government officials, not because of Yang Fei, but because of Qi Guanlan. The princess's mansion directly denied that Qi Guanlan had been to Peach Blossom Town in the spring.
The Dali Temple immediately sent people to verify the information and summoned Qi Guanlan back for questioning. However, it would take time for both sides to travel back and forth. Just as the people were leaving disappointed, the informant suddenly jumped out and said that he had seen Yu Niang in the Hundred Flowers Garden and confessed his identity.
The news spread quickly, and Wen Ruo's house was immediately surrounded by many eyes. Her unassuming carriage collided with the officials who arrived at almost the same time, and both stopped in front of her house.
"That's the princess's carriage; you can imagine they're trying to keep it a secret."
"If Miss Wen knew what was good for her, she would naturally have latched onto his coattails. It's just a pity that Yu Niang, such a beautiful young woman, was ruined by a beast."
"I act entirely according to my conscience."
What could she say? That Qi Guanlan's jade thumb ring was in Yu Niang's hands, that Yu Niang was called Qi Lang, or that Qi Guanlan wanted to marry her but couldn't? Gossip drifted in from under the door.
After Wen Ruo finished getting ready, she opened the door. As soon as she stepped out, she glanced at Xiao Shun and was met with shouts and curses. People said that the two of them were lackeys of rich people. Wen Ruo glanced at the man, who immediately cowered behind others.
Wen Ruo sneered and walked up to the officers. "Let's go, I'll go with you."
Amidst the uproar, Wen Ruo arrived at the Dali Temple. Seated in the hall was Zhou Xuanyan's father, Zhou Chengnian. She looked around, but Yang Cong was nowhere to be seen. Before she could even finish her sentence, Wen Ruo bowed and said:
"My lord, I did see Yu Niang in the Hundred Gardens, but that was all. I was too far away to know what Yu Niang, Qi Guanlan, and Yang Cong were saying."
Zhou Chengnian: "Someone reported that you saw Yu Niang at the teahouse and that you had a very good relationship with her, but you didn't hear her mention this matter?"
Wen Ruo: "It is true. I met her by chance on the road and we talked for a while, and then we became familiar with each other. At first, she only said that she would wait a few days. Before she disappeared, I saw that she was not acting strangely. She even asked me to deliver a letter, saying that it was a farewell letter. I am illiterate and do not know what it said."
Zhou Chengnian's eyes immediately lit up, and he asked, "Where is the letter?"
Wen Ruo: "I gave the letter to the servant of Young Master Qi to deliver it. It should be in Young Master Qi's hands, but I can't guarantee that."
Zhou Chengnian: "Do you know what crime it is to lie in court?"
Wen Ruo replied, "Every word I have said is true. I have not lied. Your Excellency can summon Young Master Yang Cong and ask him. As for her relationship with Young Master Qi, Young Master Yang Cong saw it with his own eyes and knows it better than I do."
After signing and affixing her fingerprint, Wen Ruo left without incident. As soon as she exited the courtroom, she saw the scholar Zhang Tingjia waving anxiously at her from the crowd. Upon seeing her, he immediately shouted, "Miss Wen, your mother is missing!"
Wen Ruo instantly received a lot of sympathy, pity and praise. The crowd immediately made way for her, and she ran over and asked anxiously, "What happened? I was still at home when I left."
“The princess must have taken him away, young lady. Why don’t we go with you to the princess’s residence to demand his return?” someone shouted. The scholar paused. “When I went to deliver the things, no one was home. When I heard about your situation, I rushed here to find you.”
"Little Shun, the princess's carriage!" Wen Ruo's eyes darkened, and she ran off without looking back.
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