It wasn't until Lu Xingjian led Yu Ji into the superior room that Liu Yu had specially arranged to wait for the imperial physician that everyone began to discuss it eagerly.
"So the Emperor likes this kind of alluring exotic style. No wonder Yu Yongsheng got promoted so quickly!"
"What man isn't lustful? Even the emperor is no exception!"
"You really can't believe all the rumors. I always said that Miss Su is beautiful, but her personality is too bland. It's Miss Yu, who is bright and charming, who attracts men."
"This Miss Yu really knows how to turn the tables and keep throwing mud at Miss Su. People's hearts have really gone to waste."
"Miss Su slapped Miss Yu twice, I'm afraid she won't get away with it. Let's just wait and see."
Yu Ji became a celebrity that everyone envied and was jealous of.
Even Yu Yong, who was visiting from outside the courtyard, was even more sought after, with people constantly offering him toasts, eventually getting him drunk.
Madam Xing and Liu Yu naturally wouldn't make things difficult for Su Wanwan, and in the spirit of quelling the incident, they saw Su Wanwan, who wanted to leave, out of the house.
As I passed through the front courtyard after leaving the hanging flower gate, a bloodstone seal hanging from the waist of a middle-aged scholar by the roadside inadvertently caught my eye.
Su Wanwan had already walked past, but she still stopped.
This is almost identical to the bloodstone seal with a dragon-tiger knob that my father used to wear.
The bloodstone seal that my father had was a gift from the Empress Dowager to him after Su Wanwan saved Gu Ziyu, as a way to appease the Su family.
It was also a silent reward for Su Wanwan's sensible nature.
Su Wanwan turned to the scholar and asked, "May I ask your honorable name?"
The middle-aged scholar leisurely returned the greeting, seemingly waiting for her to ask a question: "This humble citizen thanks you, Di."
Madam Qiu introduced, "This is Xie Di, the younger brother of Xie Qian, the former Vice Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. He once served as a principal officer in the Ministry of War."
Less than a month after Liu Yu became Minister of War, Xie Di repeatedly defied Liu Yu and was eventually forced to retire by imperial decree.
Xie Di hasn't returned to his hometown yet, and he even came to the Liu family banquet today.
It does seem to suggest that they are forgiving of past grievances.
Or perhaps there's something else going on?
Su Wanwan's eyes narrowed slightly, and her gaze swept over Xie Di's bloodstone seal at his waist again: "Master Xie, your seal is quite unique. I wonder where you got it?"
Xie Di smiled meaningfully: "This seal was a gift from my old friend, Mr. Su Nan."
Su Wanwan's pupils contracted.
He's lying.
Such gifts from the palace were inherently prone to causing trouble, so the father would never give them away to someone else.
The dragon-tiger knob is exclusive to the Emperor's Seal.
If it weren't for wanting to support her in the Xu family last time, her father wouldn't have carried that seal with him.
Because it is easy for people to accuse them of overstepping their bounds.
She recalled that since leaving the palace, she had sent several letters to the Su family in Luoyang, but had not received a reply.
It is still unknown whether the father and Wan Ying have arrived home safely.
She suppressed her worries and asked calmly, "So that's how it is. I wonder when my father gave it to Master Xie?"
Xie Di looked as if he had just realized something, revealing a touch of elder's kindness:
"So you are the daughter of Brother Cheng'an. I am honored to be your elder."
“My dear niece, this seal was given to me by Brother Cheng’an through a third party. I only received it today.”
Su Wanwan tried her best to appear calm:
"May I ask who sent this gift? Do you have their name and address? I have a few questions for you."
"He is an old friend surnamed Zheng, who lives in Gaojing Hutong, west of Deshengmen."
Xie Di was very open and honest, and even called over a servant to offer to guide Su Wanwan.
Madam Qiu hesitated to speak, but then the Grand Princess of Chun'an came out. Madam Qiu went to greet her and apologized repeatedly for her poor hospitality.
Princess Chun'an didn't seem to mind: "I know you're busy today, so I won't bother you. Just have Su escort me back."
Su Wanwan instinctively wanted to refuse.
The Grand Princess of Chun'an said leisurely:
"Isn't it on the way to Deshengmen, which is also on your route?"
Madam Qiu gave Su Wanwan a wink and said, "That's fine. I'll arrange for someone to follow her and escort Miss Su home."
After all, she is the noble eldest princess of the royal family. To disobey her in public would not be good for anyone.
Su Wanwan had no choice but to agree. She glanced at the crane shadow that was following closely behind her, then got into her own carriage and followed the Grand Princess Chun'an's carriage away.
He Ying stayed behind, lifted her skirt, and hurried to the inner courtyard.
She searched the inner courtyard extensively but couldn't find Lu Xingjian, nor did she know where he was.
She was worried that the Grand Princess of Chun'an would make things difficult for Su Wanwan, and at this moment, the only savior she could turn to was the Emperor.
But she dared not ask everyone she met about the emperor's whereabouts.
Wouldn't that just be announcing to everyone that the emperor and Su Wanwan have a relationship?
He Ying had no choice but to go to the outer courtyard to find Xiao Bin.
Xiao Bin was socializing with a group of military officers in the outer courtyard.
Because of Su Wanwan's huge dowry donation, almost all the border generals who had not yet returned to Xuanfu and Datong took the initiative to befriend Xiao Bin.
The border troops are currently in dire straits, and many military households have fled to the inland areas south of the Yangtze River to live.
If the treatment of border troops cannot be improved, it is hard to say whether they will be able to defend the border in the future.
Although Xiao Bin was only a minor centurion, he was now able to drink and chat with mid- to high-ranking generals such as the guerrilla general.
Seeing He Ying's panicked and anxious expression, Xiao Bin's face turned serious: "Where is the young lady?"
"Lord Xiao, please think of something! The young lady has been taken away by the Grand Princess of Chun'an!" He Ying was so anxious that she was almost crying.
Xiao Bin's pupils contracted sharply.
He was completely unable to contend with someone of that caliber.
He Ying quickly said, "The Emperor has also come to the Liu family, but I can't find him. If I could ask him for help, that would be great."
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