Seeing the surprise on Xie Lang's face, Shen Mingzhu couldn't help letting out a soft laugh. "Do you think I'm the kind of person who would just sit waiting for death?" she asked. Xie Lang's mouth was quicker than his mind. Hearing Shen Mingzhu's words, he immediately flattered her, "How could that be? Your Highness is naturally the most amazing person in my mind, always one step ahead and planning a hundred steps in advance."
Li Xiyu beside them let out a soft laugh.
There was also a hint of amusement in Shen Mingzhu's eyes. Seeing the uneasiness on Xie Lang's face after he came to his senses, she added, "Just wait and enjoy the show."
Chun Tao came late. Seeing Shen Mingzhu, she nodded and whispered, "Your Highness, this servant has given the orders as you instructed."
Shen Mingzhu nodded.
Seeing this, Xie Lang couldn't help getting closer and whispering in Shen Mingzhu's ear, "What did Your Highness do?"
The gentle breath in her ear was warm. There was nothing amorous about it at first, but because Xie Lang's voice was so soft, it somehow took on a different flavor.
Shen Mingzhu's expression remained unchanged. When she turned her head, she found that the distance between her and Xie Lang was surprisingly close, only about a finger's width apart. So she instinctively took a step back.
"Be careful!"
Xie Lang's low exclamation rang out.
Only then did Shen Mingzhu realize that there was a small stone behind her. So when she stepped back, she almost fell backward and lost her balance.
Li Xiyu reached out to catch her, but unexpectedly, Xie Lang was quicker. He directly pulled Shen Mingzhu into his arms and then continued, "Get down."
The people around also squatted down one after another.
The commotion was quite big. Those who were watching the excitement over there thought something had happened and immediately looked over in a hurry.
Shen Mingzhu's heart skipped a beat. She even got ready to stand up.
"Don't be afraid," Liu Minmin said gently. "A cat just ran by over there and kicked a pebble off the rockery."
So everyone's attention turned back to the center of the excitement.
"Hiss—"
Shen Mingzhu instinctively took a breath. Looking at Xie Lang, she said, "How did you..."
"Don't blame me first," Xie Lang said confidently, with a hint of teasing in his eyes. He lowered his voice and said, "It was Your Highness who didn't finish speaking. Otherwise, why would I ask?"
Shen Mingzhu: "..."
[Why did Shen Mingzhu dodge just now? It was just getting a little closer. Am I some dirty thing?]
Shen Mingzhu cleared her throat and said to Xie Lang, "Shh, look over there."
Saying that, she pretended to get up casually and continued to look over there.
"What's going on?"
Miss Zhou, the cousin from the Zhou family, with a sneer in her eyes, raised her eyebrows and took a step forward. She said to Mrs. Liu, "Can you, Mrs. Xie, claim that you can make the decisions?"
"Then handle this matter properly and punish these people who have corrupted the social morals in public," she continued.
As she spoke, there was even a compelling look on Miss Zhou's face. After all, she was from a noble family. Although she was domineering, her aura was still intimidating. "Could it be... could it be that this person is really..."
Mrs. Liu naturally wouldn't let her finish. Hearing this, she quickly interrupted, "Miss, be careful with your words. Otherwise, if you slander someone's reputation for no reason, in the end, it will be my fault, and I'll be the one who is being overbearing."
A little maid suddenly ran over and whispered something in Mrs. Liu's ear. Mrs. Liu's face immediately changed greatly.
That stupid Xie Fangfei! She actually had an affair with someone. Her plan didn't succeed, but she got herself into a big trouble!
But... but if the matter of Xie Fangfei's affair was exposed, wouldn't it bring shame to the entire Xie Mansion?
But... but what if she used Xie Fangfei's matter to cover up the current situation? It was better for Xie Fangfei to be unlucky than for her own son to be in trouble!
In an instant, Mrs. Liu made a decision. With a look of distress on her face, she whispered a few words in the little maid's ear.
Seeing this, Miss Zhou from the Zhou family laughed and said, "Could it be that you, Mrs. Xie, are now thinking of calming things down?"
Seeing that she had taken the bait, a hint of smile flashed in Mrs. Liu's eyes.
She had already told the people who were blocking Xie Fangfei to disperse. She thought she would see that stupid girl soon.
Seeing the distressed look on Mrs. Liu's face, Miss Zhou from the Zhou family was naturally proud. Just as she was about to speak, she heard a sharp female voice.
"Mother! Mother!" Xie Fangfei was in a mess. She looked extremely embarrassed, with her lipstick smeared. "Mother, you must avenge me!"
Mrs. Liu let out a sigh of relief.
I have to say that this stupid Xie Fangfei was really bold. She dared to attack Shen Mingzhu back then, and now she was willing to ruin her own reputation in order to marry Zhou Chengyu.
"What... what's going on!"
Mrs. Liu pretended to be panicked. She said to Xie Fangfei, "Quick! Quickly find someone to bring a cloak for the young lady!"
Seeing the sudden change of the situation, the ladies present couldn't help looking at each other, and there was a hint of contempt in their eyes.
The Xie family was really in a mess. So many things had happened in just a short while.
Unexpectedly, Xie Fangfei's next words would change everyone's faces. "Mother! You must avenge me! That young master from the Zhou family actually said he was asking for directions and then dragged me into a small house and tried to molest me."
"What! The young master from the Zhou family!" Mrs. Liu pretended to be surprised and quickly asked, "Which one?"
"The eldest young master from the Zhou family."
Saying that, Xie Fangfei wiped her eyes hard and forced herself to cry.
"You!"
Seeing this, Miss Zhou from the Zhou family immediately changed her face. Frowning, she said, "Where did this nobody come from? How dare she implicate my cousin!"
"Just pick a random man on the roadside and say it's my cousin?" Miss Zhou from the Zhou family was angry. The elegant demeanor she had just now was completely gone. "She has a mouth for nothing and a really thick face! Is this the character of the daughter of the Xie Mansion? How vulgar!"
The situation instantly became deadlocked.
Xie Fangfei sobbed and took out a jade pendant. "This is the thing I snatched from Young Master Zhou at that time. Could it not be his jade pendant?"
Miss Zhou from the Zhou family's face changed greatly.
Not far away, Xie Lang raised his eyebrows and looked at Shen Mingzhu. "No way. Did Zhou Chengyu really lose his innocence?"
Hearing this, without even touching him, Shen Mingzhu could seem to hear his schadenfreude. She said, "No. Someone just happened to have Zhou Chengyu's jade pendant. That person has already been captured by the people from the Xie Mansion."
"The people from the Xie Mansion?" Xie Lang curled his lips and looked at Shen Mingzhu. "Could they be Your Highness's people?"
Shen Mingzhu gave him a sideways look.
As they were talking, Miss Zhou from the Zhou family over there couldn't hold back her emotions anymore. She said angrily, "My cousin is such a noble and upright gentleman! How could he do such a thing!"
"Miss!" Xie Fangfei cried, with tears all over her face. "How... how can you slander me for no reason without even figuring out the situation?"
"My reputation!"
Xie Fangfei choked with sobs. She glanced at the rockery not far away and glared at Miss Zhou from the Zhou family. "Since that's the case! Then Fangfei has no choice but to die to prove her innocence!"
Shen Mingzhu didn't expect that Xie Fangfei would choose this place to pretend to hit herself to death. Immediately, she exchanged a look with Xie Lang and saw the panic in each other's eyes.
How could it be such a coincidence!