Chapter 137: A Treacherous Affair

Qin Jianyu did not speak to Xue Fanzhi without reason. After seven or eight years, he was finally seeing her again.

At the chaotic banquet just now, he was astonished to realize that Xue Bayang actually looked like this!

Today, Xue Fanzhi wore a red quju robe, her simple hair bun combed back with a silver comb, hair cascading down the nape of her neck. Beneath the fringe, her eyes were clear and flawless...

She was far from the dull, pudgy figure he remembered; instead, she was rosy, radiant, and captivating.

She captured his heart at first glance!

A woman like this was the only one worthy of him, Qin Jianyu.

Luckily, luckily—the engagement had not been broken off prematurely.

Not only was she beautiful and from a good family, but more importantly, as the granddaughter of Madam Xue, she was even more deserving of an engagement.

Since they were betrothed and would eventually marry, he could not afford to treat her carelessly.

“All right, you should go and rest now. There’s really no need to escort me further,” Qin Jianyu said kindly.

Never mind what he thought; in a little while, he wouldn’t be smiling like this anymore.

Xue Fanzhi nodded. “Yes, my lord, please take care!”

“Please take care,” he said, but she could not afford to be so polite—she had to catch a betrayer.

After Qin Jianyu left, Xue Fanzhi immediately called upon her two maids, Hongxiao and Honglian, and began to follow Qin Jianyu’s footsteps.

As they neared the gate of the Second Courtyard, darkness suddenly fell before her eyes.

“If you keep following like this, you’ll be discovered!”

A pleasant voice came from ahead.

Xue Fanzhi looked up and, as expected, it was none other than Xiao Yi.

The young man’s face was filled with a radiant smile, brighter even than spring sunlight.

He was grinning cheerfully.

Why were all the men today so cheerful?

Remembering how Xiao Yi had just rescued her, Xue Fanzhi nodded. “Thank you, my lord, for your timely help just now. But I have business to attend to and cannot stay to talk. Please, feel free to go about your own affairs.”

“What business could you possibly have?” Xiao Yi smiled broadly, unable to contain his grin. “I’m in a very good mood today. Will you join me for a drink?”

Today, A-Zhi was unharmed and would not have fertility affected. They would have children of their own in the future, no longer needing to force him to marry another woman.

Such joy deserved a celebration.

No, they—the couple—should both go!

“My lord, perhaps you don’t know, but I am not good at drinking. I cannot accompany you,” Xue Fanzhi said hastily as she turned to leave.

“Actually, I know that!” Xiao Yi replied cheerfully. “It’s okay, you can just have a little fruit wine. I know a tavern that serves all kinds of wine, very good indeed. Let me take you there!”

Did he really not see how busy she was?

Xue Fanzhi thought for a moment, then took out a handkerchief from her pocket. She unfolded it to reveal two pieces of cake she had saved for when she might be hungry.

She pressed them into Xiao Yi’s hand. “Your Highness, take these. Go enjoy your drink. I have business today, but I will accompany you another day.”

Take them, play with them!

Xiao Yi was at a loss, half laughing, half crying.

He was no longer a child; couldn’t A-Zhi see that? She was the real child here.

“To be honest,” Xiao Yi said, “you want to follow Qin Jianyu, don’t you? His servant is a woman, he’s unfaithful to you, and you want to catch him in the act so you can break the engagement, right?”

He wore a smug expression as if he knew everything.

Xue Fanzhi was a little surprised. “You knew?”

“Oh, you care deeply for Qin Jianyu, don’t you? So now you’re blocking me because you don’t want me to ruin her reputation?” She paused, eyes narrowing.

Xiao Yi: “...”

He wasn’t even called “my lord” anymore!

“I care deeply for Qin Jianyu?!” Xiao Yi frowned. “Who said that?”

“You don’t need to know who said it. No one can stop me today!” Xue Fanzhi turned aside and started to leave.

Xiao Yi said, “I’m not trying to stop you. I just want to say, is it really appropriate for a young woman like you to go catch a cheating man alone? There’s someone more suitable than you!”

Xue Fanzhi looked back puzzled.

A bright smile curved Xiao Yi’s lips.

………………

The Fourth and Third Branches were already at odds and certainly would not unite.

The matron of the Third Branch, determined to isolate the Fourth Branch, had specially returned with Mrs. Liang of the Fifth Branch. Both had to pass through the rear garden of the Second Branch to get home, so they rode in soft sedan chairs.

Near the gate of the Third Branch, the two alighted together. Mrs. Liang naturally came to see the Third Matron off.

“Seventh Young Master’s family—do you think today’s incident with the First Branch will affect us again?” The Third Matron obviously wanted to chat and lingered.

Mrs. Liang looked puzzled. “What incident with the First Branch?”

“What incident?” The Third Matron sneered with contempt. “What else but the matter between Seventh Young Lady and that young man from the Sun family? A woman who led him astray to the point he tried to have her assassinated—what kind of good reputation could she possibly have? Won’t this drag down innocent people like us?”

“That matter is not yet settled!” Mrs. Liang frowned. “Perhaps that young man from the Sun family was reckless, deliberately blaming her. Matters involving a woman are always disadvantageous; even if she’s right, it’s hard to prove, but that doesn’t mean it’s the truth! Before the facts are clear, Third Lady shouldn’t condemn her own child.”

Her own child, when she was already five degrees removed.

The Third Matron disliked Mrs. Liang’s protective nature toward her niece-in-law; sometimes that niece-in-law was so aloof, no one knew whom she was trying to emulate.

But if she didn’t talk to Mrs. Liang, she couldn’t seek out the Fourth Matron either.

“Didn’t you hear what Bayang said at the time?” The Third Matron sneered coldly. “Even if it were false, there were sister witnesses—then it’s true! The First Branch is usually a family of refined ladies, wealthy and well-educated. How could they lose face so badly during such a matter? There are only two young ladies in total, and not one is well-mannered!”

Mrs. Liang found it difficult to defend the First Branch; indeed, the quarrel between the two sisters was quite ugly.

The Third Matron continued, “Because of this, our two daughters are implicated, aren’t they? The Seventh Young Mistress—I think we should speak with the Old Madam. We can’t always let the family’s young ladies’ reputations be dragged through the mud. The Xue family girls can no longer count on their family!”

Indeed!

But wait!

The Third Branch didn’t even have any young ladies anymore!

Mrs. Liang looked at the Third Matron strangely.

The Third Matron said, “Here’s what we’ll do: since the First Branch had trouble today, tomorrow we’ll go together to speak with the Old Madam!”

With that, she gave Mrs. Liang no chance to respond, waving her hand. “You go back first. We’ll leave together tomorrow.”

Mrs. Liang was well-mannered; after a bow, she returned to her sedan chair.

The Third Matron, supported by her maid, started toward the house gate.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. Ouch—she wouldn’t make it to the gate.

She signaled her personal maid with her eyes, who helped support her toward the rear garden of the Second Branch, where there was a small wooded area.

Before they reached the spot, faint sounds of a woman’s soft gasps came from ahead: “My lord, I’ve waited for you so long. Why do you start touching me the moment we meet? Can’t we just talk properly...”

An illicit affair!

The Third Matron immediately perked up, the pain vanished. With her years of experience, she was certain this was adultery—and involving a young lady.

But since their own family had no young ladies left, what was there to hesitate about? Catch them!