Suddenly, Su Yueyue felt that she was unable to defend herself no matter how she tried.
She wracked her brains but couldn't figure out why this bellyband had ended up in Wang Chuanjun's hands. She was sure she had burned it with her own hands!
Su Mingyu curled her thin lips and watched with satisfaction as Su Yueyue slumped like a stray dog. Then she casually gave Zhizhu a look that said "Well done".
Of course Su Yueyue had burned that bellyband, but if she could burn it, couldn't she make another one?
Come to think of it, Su Mingyu had to thank this ancient era for not having any anti - counterfeiting trademarks.
It was extremely easy to imitate an embroidered peony bellyband.
All it took was a few skilled embroiderers working day and night according to the pattern.
Coincidentally, Su Mingyu had a photographic memory, so replicating an identical bellyband was a piece of cake.
Seeing Su Yueyue's hopeless expression, the King of Yu impatiently waved his hand, signaling the guards to drag her away.
Seeing the guards about to rush forward, in extreme panic, Su Yueyue suddenly caught sight of Su Mingyu.
Almost without thinking, she turned around and hugged the King of Yu's leg. "Your Highness! My elder sister was there that day. She can prove that I'm telling the truth!"
Hearing what Su Yueyue said, for a moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on Su Mingyu.
Su Mingyu pretended to be terrified as she stepped forward and bowed to the King of Yu and Concubine Ning. "Mingyu... pays respects to Your Highness and Her Ladyship Concubine Ning."
Concubine Ning nodded. "You're Su Mingyu, right? Raise your head."
Su Mingyu slowly raised her head. Her pair of watery eyes were as clear as crystal.
Although her delicate little face wasn't as charming as Su Yueyue's, it had its own unique charm.
Although there were no exquisite embroidery or luxurious hidden patterns on her bamboo - green dress, her elegant and serene appearance made her stand out among these extravagantly dressed young ladies.
"You're quite a beauty. Is what Su Yueyue just said true?"
Su Mingyu looked at Su Yueyue fearfully. Her timid look made Concubine Ning frown. "You should know what the consequences will be if you lie in front of me."
Su Mingyu knelt on both knees. "Your humble servant wouldn't dare..."
"However... although I went to Cousin Lin's mansion with Sister Yue that day, I left early because I couldn't hold my liquor..."
Su Yueyue's face immediately turned ashen.
This damned Su Mingyu, how could she be so stupid?
If she had said that they had returned together, this matter would have been so much simpler!
Biting her lower lip secretly to suppress her anger, Su Yueyue looked at the King of Yu with tear - filled eyes. "I left right after my elder sister. The servants in the mansion can testify to this!"
"Your Highness, Your Ladyship, you must believe me!"
Concubine Ning didn't respond to Su Yueyue in a hurry. Instead, she turned her gaze to Su Mingyu.
"This..."
Su Mingyu lowered her head, looking a bit scared. "Mingyu did return to Cousin Lin's mansion once to look for a dropped embroidered handkerchief..."
"However, in the courtyard at that time... Mingyu... Mingyu did see a woman with... and those men..."
At this point, Su Mingyu seemed too ashamed to continue. She bit her thin lip and remained silent for a long time.
Although she didn't finish her sentence, everyone knew what she meant.
Su Yueyue stared at her with eyes as big as copper bells and let out a shrill scream:
"Su Mingyu! You heartless wretch! Why do you slander me? What on earth did I do to you that you want to frame me like this? I clearly got you drunk that day. How did you get back by yourself? Who can prove it?"
Su Yueyue's voice got louder and louder until it was almost a shriek.
As soon as Su Mingyu heard this voice, she couldn't help but tremble all over. She curled up, covering her ears with her hands, and kept mumbling:
"I'm not..."
"I didn't..."
"I... I'm sorry. Don't hit me..."
Her subconscious self - protection actions and her pitiful look like a frightened rabbit made everyone present feel pity for Su Mingyu and dislike Su Yueyue even more.
Su Yueyue was already extremely angry, and when she noticed the contemptuous looks in everyone's eyes, she lost her mind completely.
She stepped forward to scratch Su Mingyu's face, but before her hand could reach Su Mingyu, a tall figure had already pulled Su Mingyu up.
The King of Yu glared coldly at Su Yueyue. "Have you had enough of this nonsense! Today is my birthday banquet. Do you want to see blood? You claim you're innocent. Then why did you deliberately get your elder sister drunk?"
His natural kingly aura instantly spread out. With just one look, Su Yueyue became completely obedient.
Su Yueyue knelt on the ground in terror. She wanted to speak up in defense, but she couldn't find her voice for a long time.
The King of Yu was a bit impatient. He waved his hand. "What are you standing there for? Drag this crazy woman away. I don't ever want to see her again!"
The guards quickly stepped forward, grabbed Su Yueyue, and dragged her outside.
Su Yueyue turned back and looked at the King of Yu unwillingly. She pleaded, "Your Highness... I'm innocent... Su Mingyu is the least favored daughter of the Su family. What you want, she can never give..."
"Shut up!"
Concubine Ning scolded in a low voice with a grim expression. "Someone, since Su Yueyue has spoken recklessly, give her twenty slaps on the mouth!"
The reason the King of Yu wanted a legitimate daughter for his concubine selection was precisely for the power behind the legitimate daughter.
This was a well - known fact among those attending the birthday banquet. This stupid Su Yueyue had actually exposed it in front of so many people.
If this matter were to be taken advantage of by someone with ulterior motives, at best it would be seen as forming cliques, and at worst it could be a case of the harem colluding with the court to interfere in politics.
Concubine Ning didn't dare let the King of Yu bear such a big responsibility at all, so Su Yueyue was simply looking for death.
Just as the atmosphere at the banquet was in complete chaos, a portly middle - aged man rushed in.
"Wait."
He walked straight up to Wang Chuanjun and slapped him across the face.