Although everyone present prided themselves on their status, upon hearing this news, lewd scenarios automatically popped into their heads. Naturally, they were eager to know the details immediately. So they all stopped and listened to Fu Rongli.
Madam Fu was so angry that her nose seemed to be crooked. She couldn't discipline her own biological son properly, but couldn't she even manage her concubine - born son? She flew into a rage on the spot. "What did you say? Marriage matters should be decided by parents. How could you... you..."
Today was the birthday of the elderly Madam Qin. Naturally, Madam Qin didn't want any trouble. She quickly pulled Madam Fu to stop the argument. "Oh, children these days are all so troublesome. Madam, don't be angry. Just ask carefully. If it's a girl from a good family, it'll be a happy event."
Madam Fu suppressed her anger and demanded, "Who is she?"
Fu Rongli hesitated and couldn't bring himself to say it.
Jiang Shishi whispered to Lu Wanning, "It's so strange. Could it be that the girl's family doesn't agree? Or maybe she's not from a decent family?"
Madam Fu was about to strike Fu Rongli, but he dodged to the side. The pouch in his arms fell out and happened to roll to Madam Qin's feet.
Madam Qin picked it up. "Hey, isn't this a girl's thing?"
The people present exchanged ambiguous glances. It was definitely a girl's thing. It seemed that Fu Rongli had feelings for someone and they had already secretly exchanged tokens. They just wondered who this shameless girl was.
Lu Wanning wasn't standing close. She just looked up and saw Shi Aohan's half - smiling face. She also put on a smile and waved at Shi Aohan.
Then a sharp - eyed noble girl said, "Hey, this pouch looks so familiar. It seems that a few days ago..."
Before she could finish, someone else continued, "Princess Zhaoyang seems to have worn it."
Chattering, several noble girls nodded and said they had seen Lu Wanning wearing this pouch.
Jiang Shishi tightened her grip on Lu Wanning's hand. "What's going on? Isn't this..."
Lu Wanning picked up a melon seed from the table and sneered, "It's so ridiculous. Such an ordinary pouch is just similar to mine. How can you be sure it's mine?"
Jiang Shishi also laughed and took out a pouch from her clothes. "Look, I have one too. You just haven't seen it. Such ordinary things, why do you have to say it belongs to someone in particular?"
Princess Consort Wei and Princess Consort Shao also took out their own pouches. "Well, everyone in our family has one."
Fu Rongli was stunned. He nervously looked back and was slapped to the ground by Madam Fu. "Rebellious son! Hurry up and say whose it is!"
Whose was it? It was Lu Wanning's. She always carried it with her.
He Chan couldn't hold back and immediately said, "Although it's ordinary and everyone has one, Lu Wanning, since they've all taken theirs out, where's yours?"
Lu Wanning spread her hands. "Where's yours?"
He Chan was furious. "I don't have one, but you... They've all seen you wear it."
Lu Wanning said indifferently, "Just because I've worn it once, do I have to wear it all the time?"
He Chan stood up and pointed at Lu Wanning. "It's you! You're in love with him, so you gave him your personal pouch, right?"
Lu Wanning looked at He Chan mockingly, with the corner of her mouth slightly raised. "Him? He's not worthy."
Originally, Fu Rongli was nervous and didn't know what to do. But after hearing this, he was enraged. He was a concubine - born son, and everyone looked down on him. Why? Lu Wanning was so cheap. She had been crazy about his elder brother before and was now so fickle. How could such a person look down on him?
"Yes, this pouch was given to me by Princess Zhaoyang," Fu Rongli said, somehow finding the strength to break free from Madam Fu's hand and shouting loudly. "Because I look a bit like my elder brother, she was disappointed in my elder brother and then transferred her feelings to me. She said... she would only marry me... Because of her previous relationship with my elder brother, I was hesitant to tell my parents..."
Everyone's eyes were on Lu Wanning's face, but she wasn't the least bit flustered. She just raised her eyebrows and watched Fu Rongli kneeling on the ground as if watching a joke.
Fu Rongli stared at her. She was so beautiful, so high - above, and so arrogant. And he, even though he was from a noble family, was the least - favored concubine - born son, like the mud in the gutter. At this moment, all the evil in his heart was aroused. He just wanted to pull such beauty into the gutter and let her experience the feeling of falling into the abyss.
In the future, he would be her world. He would see how he could torment her.
"Moreover, Princess Zhaoyang and I have already had an intimate relationship. I... I will surely be responsible for her."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone gasped. Having an intimate relationship with a man before marriage was simply a disgrace to the family.
Zhen Yan couldn't bear it any longer and jumped up. "You're talking nonsense! You can't do anything right, but you're good at framing Ning'er? Who do you think you are?"
Scolding like a shrew in public, Madam Zhen glared at her daughter fiercely and told her not to talk nonsense.
But Zhen Yan couldn't hold back. She rolled up her sleeves and was about to beat Fu Rongli.
Then a quick - tongued woman sneered, "Madam Zhen really has good family education."
Although she was talking about the Zhen family, her eyes were clearly on Lu Wanning. After all, it was Lu Wanning who was supposed to have done something shameful. The Zhen girl was just standing up for Lu Wanning.
The Princess Consort was so angry that her face turned pale. She clasped her fingers tightly and stared coldly at Fu Rongli in front of her.
It was Princess Consort Shao who reacted quickly. She stepped forward and grabbed Zhen Yan. "Miss Zhen, don't be rash. Ning'er has never done such a thing. No matter what others say, we won't admit it. He has a lot of nerve to frame the princess."
Fu Rongli shrank back. His eyes rolled, and he shouted at Lu Wanning again. "Ning'er, since the matter has been exposed, don't try to cover it up. We can face everything together. You don't want to see me marry another girl, do you?"
Jiang Shishi had already stood up and walked to the front. She bowed to the Princess Consort. "Princess Consort, today's matter is directly related to Sister Ning'er. Shishi knows that it's not convenient for the palace to get involved. How about letting Shishi ask him a few questions?"
He Chan sneered. "Aren't you also protecting Lu Wanning? Since she's done such a shameful thing, she should be drowned in the pond as a warning."
Lu Wanning raised her eyebrows and asked, "Cousin He thinks that someone who's been framed should be drowned in the pond?"
"I don't have such a disgraceful cousin like you!" He Chan said impatiently. "What being framed? Aren't you just afraid to admit what you've done?"
Lu Wanning laughed. "I'm Princess Zhaoyang conferred by the emperor. How can I be afraid to admit something? But you, He Chan. Our Lu and He families are in - laws. Well, someone frames me, and you won't even allow me to defend myself. You're so eager to convict me. Could it be that you and him colluded deliberately to frame me?"
Madam He's face darkened, and she said, "Ning'er, your cousin just speaks quickly. How can you suspect her like this?"