As soon as Su Mingyu uttered these words, the young lady's face instantly turned as ugly as if she had eaten a fly. All her words got stuck in her throat. She wanted to plead for mercy, but she just couldn't bring herself to speak.
Su Mingyu didn't bother to deal with her. She walked straight in. As soon as she entered the backyard, she saw a figure surrounded by a crowd.
One had to admit that even with all the capital's young ladies present, Su Yuetong's beautiful face still stood out.
So it was only natural that she stood beside the King of Yu.
Su Mingyu wasn't in a hurry to go over. She just found a corner to hide in and watched the scene with great interest.
"Her Majesty, Consort Ning, has arrived!"
Suddenly, a shrill voice rang out at the door.
Everyone knelt down to pay their respects.
A very dignified woman slowly walked past everyone, then sat directly on the highest soft chair in the backyard and said softly, "Everyone, rise."
"Today is my son's birthday. I hope all of you will feel at ease."
Although she said so, judging from her imposing manner, one could tell that she was not an easy person to deal with.
Consort Ning sized everyone up and immediately spotted Su Yuetong. "Whose daughter are you?"
Su Yuetong was overjoyed. She quickly took two small steps forward. "Greetings to Consort Ning. I'm Su Yuetong, the daughter of Minister Su."
Consort Ning raised her eyebrows. "A concubine's daughter?"
Hearing the change in Consort Ning's tone, those young ladies who had just envied Su Yuetong were secretly happy.
Consort Ning herself was a concubine's daughter.
Because of her status as a concubine's daughter, she had suffered a lot before entering the palace for the imperial consort selection. That was why she always insisted on finding a legitimate daughter for the King of Yu.
This Su Yuetong, a mere concubine's daughter of a minister's family, actually had the nerve to come and curry favor with the King of Yu. It was like hitting the muzzle of a gun.
Just as everyone was waiting to watch the show, Su Yuetong calmly said, "Your Majesty, Yuetong is indeed a concubine's daughter. I believe Your Majesty has heard something about the situation in the Su Mansion. Although Yuetong is only a concubine's daughter, my mother is the mistress of the Su Mansion."
One had to admit that Su Yuetong's words had hit Consort Ning's heart.
She always insisted on a legitimate daughter because she valued the prestige and power represented by the legitimate daughters of various families.
Now Su Yuetong's words were like telling Consort Ning that in the Su family, she, Su Yuetong, was the most favored daughter who could get the most support from the Su family.
Seeing Consort Ning's complexion improve a bit, Su Yuetong continued, "Moreover, my elder sister has been weak and sick since childhood. The reason my mother sent me here in her place was out of concern that her long - ill body might offend the King of Yu or Your Majesty. That would be a great sin."
Consort Ning lowered her eyes. "Fine. Let the banquet begin. Don't miss the auspicious time."
Su Yuetong knew when to back off. She directly retreated to the King of Yu's side and sat down next to him.
The King of Yu lifted his well - defined chin, which was like a tacit approval.
Now the female guests present were so jealous that their eyes turned red.
Only Su Mingyu watched the scene mockingly, and from time to time, she cast a sidelong glance at the fat figure in the crowd.
The dancers had just come on stage, and the music hadn't started yet when sudden applause, "Pa, pa, pa", came from the corner.
The King of Yu frowned, looking displeased. "Who is it?"
A chubby figure stood up while clapping. "I'm Wang Chuanjun, the eldest son of the Wang family's rice shop in the capital. I'm clapping at this moment because I want Your Majesty, Consort Ning, and Your Highness the King to watch a good show."
The King of Yu's eyes glinted slightly. "Oh? What is it?"
A sneer flashed across Wang Chuanjun's eyes. His gaze suddenly fell on Su Yuetong, who had just been in the limelight.
Su Yuetong's face turned deathly pale. She tightly pinched her palm, forcing herself to stay calm.
Early in the morning, Lin Jun had sent ten virgins to his mansion as Wang Chuanjun had requested.
Moreover, Wang Manwen had whispered in Su Zhengyi's ear, asking him to raise the price of the official - supplied rice from their Wang family's rice shop by about ten taels per picul, which allowed them to earn millions of taels more out of thin air every year.
She had already given such benefits, but Wang Chuanjun still wanted to target her. The shopkeeper Wang would surely not agree.
Wang Chuanjun coldly watched Su Yuetong's terrified look, feeling secretly delighted.
This bitch dared to humiliate him like that that day.
"Your Highness, do you know that this Miss Su Yuetong beside you looks cute and innocent on the outside, but in fact, she is a cruel and promiscuous woman?"
"Moreover, she lost her virginity five days ago at the mansion of Minister Lin."
Wang Chuanjun's words were like a bomb, instantly causing a huge stir at the banquet.
The King of Yu turned his head and coldly glanced at Su Yuetong, his eyes filled with aloofness.
Su Yuetong clearly saw the emotion in the King of Yu's eyes.
She gritted her teeth and suddenly stood up, pointing directly at Wang Chuanjun. "Wang Chuanjun! What's your intention?"
"I did go to my cousin's mansion five days ago, but I never stayed overnight at the Lin Mansion!"
"Both the people in the Lin Mansion and the Su Mansion can testify. How can you slander me like this!"
Su Yuetong's face was as pale as paper.
She timidly cast a sidelong glance at the King of Yu and Consort Ning.
Just that one sidelong glance, the piercing contempt seemed to envelop Su Yuetong.
Without thinking, Su Yuetong immediately knelt on the ground, looking at the King of Yu and Consort Ning with teary eyes. "Your Majesty, Consort Ning, Your Highness, the King of Yu, that day this Wang Chuanjun showed his love to me several times, but I didn't accept it. His slander today must be out of hatred for that incident, so he deliberately splashed dirty water on me!"
One had to admit that Su Yuetong's tearful look was really touching.
Looking at the grievance on Su Yuetong's little face, the King of Yu raised his eyes and said to Wang Chuanjun with a hint of threat in his words, "Young Master Wang, you need to have evidence when you speak."
Wang Chuanjun sneered. "Evidence? This is the evidence."
With that, he took out a red peony bellyband from his bosom.
"Ah!"
The other female guests present covered their faces in shame.
Only Su Yuetong stared with wide eyes, looking incredulous. "No! No! It's impossible! I clearly already burned..."
Just as the words reached her lips, Su Yuetong suddenly realized something was wrong, but it was obviously too late for her to change her words.
The King of Yu disgustedly pushed her away, and his tone suddenly turned cold. "If you have nothing to be ashamed of, why did you burn that bellyband?"