Ye Qingxue began to feel pain all over her body, a pain that seemed to emanate from her bones and was unbearable.
She took out the painkillers she carried with her, took three pills, but they didn't relieve the pain. She took two more pills and waited a while before the pain slowly subsided. Her face was pale and her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.
She unpacked her bundle, took out a light blue dress, and found a secluded spot to change.
Pan Heng rode up, and Ye Qingxue descended the mountain and waited for him by the roadside. Pan Heng gave a shout and reined in his horse.
Ye Qingxue noticed that the seriousness that had been lingering around his eyes had dissipated, indicating that things had gone very smoothly.
However, a trace of worry still lingered on his face, presumably because of his fiancée's affair. It was confirmed that Wei Jingtong had embezzled a huge sum of money, which could save the Pan family, but the third daughter of the Wei family was definitely doomed.
As her fiancé, he found it difficult to explain to the third daughter of the Wei family.
"Why is only Miss Ye here? Is Miss Dongbai away on business? Does she need any help?" Pan Heng spoke first.
Ye Qingxue said, "She has already returned to the capital."
"Miss Ye, you waited for me here on purpose?" Pan Heng was somewhat surprised. She really kept her word. Wouldn't a young lady be afraid to wait for him here for half the night?
Her face was so pale, and there was a thin layer of sweat on her forehead; she must have been scared.
Pan Heng then asked, "Miss Ye, where is your horse?"
“After the eldest young master left last night, Qingfeng Town, which is not far away, was massacred. My horse was injured and has been taken back by Dongbai.”
Pan Heng frowned. How dare someone massacre an entire town? Who did it?
However, he couldn't care less about that now; protecting the Pan family was the most important thing.
He looked at his steed, then at Ye Qingxue in front of him, and hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do.
Ye Qingxue suddenly smiled: "If the young master does not mind, I am willing to ride with the young master."
It was that bright and open smile again, bathed in the morning light, hazy and dreamlike. Pan Heng's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
He quickly looked away: "I don't mind, but it would damage the young lady's reputation."
Fortunately, he left three guards to stay in place and took a personal guard with him back to the mansion.
Pan Heng's bodyguard Shuang Rui caught up on horseback. Pan Heng dismounted and rode with Shuang Rui, while giving his horse to Ye Qingxue.
Ye Qingxue didn't hesitate, mounted her horse, and rode away with Pan Heng and Shuang Rui.
When they entered the capital, the sun was already high in the sky. People were already watching them in the shadows. As soon as they rode away, news of Ye Qingxue not returning home that night and having a secret rendezvous with Pan Heng, the eldest son of the Minister of Rites, spread at lightning speed.
Shortly after entering the city, Ye Qingxue dismounted, returned the horse to Pan Heng, and then they parted ways.
The news that "the eldest daughter of the Ye family, after being brought back to the Marquis's mansion for three days, couldn't bear the loneliness and went out late at night to meet a man outside" spread last night.
And now, the man Ye's eldest daughter is secretly meeting is Pan Heng, the eldest son of the Minister of Rites, which is even more shocking.
Therefore, rumors spread faster than a galloping horse. Ye Qingxue had only dismounted a short while ago, and as she walked among the crowd, she could already hear the disdain and curses directed at her and Pan Heng.
Words like "immoral," "unworthy of Prince Ding," and "disgraced the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion" were all used to describe and condemn her.
Ye Qingxue's lips curled up slightly; this lively scene of harsh words and insults was exactly what she wanted.
The effect is quite good, Dongbai made it well.
Once inside the teahouse, Ye Qingxue found a seat by the window, ordered a pot of tea and two plates of snacks, and slowly sipped her tea while patiently waiting for Dongbai to come over.
"Is this true? The man Ye Qingxue secretly met last night was actually the eldest son of the Pan family?" Madam Min of the Marquis's mansion also received the news immediately.
Last night, all I knew was that Ye Qingxue was having a secret rendezvous with a man, but today is different. I even know the man's identity and name.
This is a real handle against her. This time, Ye Qingxue not only ruined her own reputation, but also ruined her marriage with Prince Ding.
Moreover, the responsibility lies entirely with her.
It seems that the deadly poison of the Broken Moon Orchid wasn't entirely useless; at least it made Ye Qingxue unable to bear it any longer and prompt her to go out and seek comfort.
She's a girl who grew up in the countryside; she's incredibly stupid.
"We, the people guarding outside, saw it clearly," said Hu Mama excitedly. "It was the eldest son of the Pan family."
"This old servant sent someone to inquire, and it is said that a few days ago, on her way back to the capital from Jingzhou, the eldest young lady encountered the Pan siblings' carriage, which had broken down. So the eldest young lady gave the Pan siblings a ride. It is likely that the eldest young lady and the eldest son of the Pan family met at that time."
That day, Ye Qingxue clearly only took Pan Jing, her personal maid, and her nanny, but the person spreading the rumor added Pan Heng to the mix to make the rumor seem plausible.
Moreover, the story was told in such a detailed and convincing manner that it was completely believable.
Of course, Dongbai also contributed her efforts to this.
Madam Min smiled, her eyes filled with frost: "Very well. Since she has taken a liking to the eldest son of the Pan family, we should grant her wish. How can we let her marriage to Prince Ding trap her?"
After her eldest son inherited the title, he worked under Prince Ding. She remembered that her eldest son had vaguely mentioned that Prince Ding wanted to get rid of the Pan family.
Ye Qingxue's move was truly like a godsend, a perfect opportunity for her to surprise both her eldest son and Ye Yabing.
She beckoned to Hu Mama to come over, then leaned close to Hu Mama's ear and whispered something only the two of them could hear.
This time, she was determined to ruin Ye Qingxue's reputation and force her to relinquish her marriage contract with Prince Ding and give it to Ye Yabing.
"This old servant will make the arrangements right away. This time, I'll definitely make the young lady pay!" said Granny Hu, rubbing her hands together excitedly.
...
Pan Yuanzhou barely slept last night. He got up before dawn and paced back and forth in the yard, waiting for news from his eldest son. He couldn't eat anything except water.
And then, it was a bolt from the blue!
Rumors are circulating that his son is having a secret rendezvous with Ye Qingxue!
He looked up at the sky; the sun was already high in the sky, it must be almost noon. Based on the address Ye Qingxue had given him, his eldest son should have returned home around 9:00 AM.
Now, instead of his eldest son returning, rumors have spread that he was having an affair with Ye Qingxue. Pan Yuanzhou is both angry and helpless.
He began to regret believing Ye Qingxue's words last night. Maybe this really was a trap to lure his eldest son into it. Then, Prince Ding would bring his men to his door and say that his eldest son had seduced Prince Ding's fiancée, and they would arrest and imprison his eldest son!
Prince Ding and Ye Qingxue were betrothed by the Emperor!
He's been too anxious lately and hasn't had enough rest. He wasn't calm enough last night, which is why he wanted to take a gamble.
They've been tricked! Ye Qingxue was sent by Prince Ding to kill the Pan family. He fell for it in order to save his entire clan.
Suddenly, unfamiliar footsteps sounded outside, and Pan Yuanzhou's heart trembled. Were the guards from the Prince Ding's mansion coming to the door?
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