The slap was so hard that the fat on Wang Chuanjun's face couldn't help trembling.
"You good-for-nothing! Lord Yu kindly allowed you to attend his birthday banquet, yet you dared to cause trouble! Hurry up and kneel down to Lord Yu to apologize!"
The middle - aged man's actions completely confused everyone.
Wang Chuanjun was extremely indignant and wanted to say something.
The middle - aged man slapped him again and then dragged Wang Chuanjun to his knees.
"Your Highness, Lord Yu, and Lady Ningfei. Today's incident is all due to my poor parenting. I've disrupted Lord Yu's banquet. I sincerely hope Lord Yu will allow me to cover all the bills for today's feast."
Lord Yu frowned slightly. "Shopkeeper Wang, what's all this about?"
Wang Fugui cast an apologetic glance at Su Yueyue. "Today, all the accusations my son made against Miss Su Yueyue were misunderstandings."
"Misunderstandings?"
For a moment, everyone's gossipy blood boiled.
The series of events just now seemed to be iron - clad evidence. How could they be misunderstandings?
"Actually, that day, my son was also drunk. He and a few other young masters did spend a night with a woman."
Wang Fugui's eyes swept across Su Yueyue. "But that woman was not Miss Su Yueyue. She was a prostitute from a brothel named Qing'er."
As Wang Fugui spoke, he glared at Wang Chuanjun in disappointment. "Our stupid son mistook Miss Su for Miss Qing'er. When he learned that Miss Su was going to attend Lord Yu's birthday banquet, in a fit of anger, he came here to blame Miss Su."
Wang Fugui's explanation seemed quite plausible.
Lord Yu raised his eyebrows. "Then... what about this bellyband?"
"Well, bellybands all look quite similar. Maybe by coincidence, both Miss Qing'er and Miss Su Yueyue like the same style."
Wang Fugui raised his head and smiled at Lady Ningfei. "Moreover, Miss Su Yueyue is the daughter of Minister Su. Minister Su is the most trusted person by the emperor. How could his daughter do such immoral things? Lady Ningfei, am I right?"
This last sentence sounded like a question, but it was implicitly suggesting that Su Yueyue had the entire Su family backing her up.
Lady Ningfei had to consider the situation. She might look down on the daughter of the Su family, but she had to give Minister Su some face. After all, Minister Su was in the emperor's good graces.
Lady Ningfei wasn't a fool. She naturally understood.
Pressing her lips together, Lady Ningfei came to Su Yueyue with a beaming smile. "It seems we really wronged you. I'd like to apologize to you here."
Saying so, Lady Ningfei took off her jade bracelet and instructed her servant to give Su Yueyue a waist tag for entering the palace. "Go back and rest well today. You can come to the palace to chat with me anytime in the future."
Su Yueyue was so touched that she couldn't speak. She could only cover her mouth, crying and nodding in agreement.
Once Lady Ningfei said this, all the women who had been watching the show earlier showed envy on their faces.
This was great. Not only did Su Yueyue not become infamous, but she also won Lady Ningfei's favor. Wasn't the position of the princess within her reach?
Only Su Mingyu lowered her eyes. Watching this scene, a faint smile played on her lips.
"Um... Lady Ningfei..."
Su Mingyu looked at Lady Ningfei timidly. "My sister is not feeling well. I don't feel right staying here alone. I hope the lady will allow Mingyu to go back to the mansion with my sister so that I can take care of her on the way."
Lady Ningfei raised her eyebrows but didn't say much. She just told the servants to escort the two young ladies back to the mansion properly.
Watching the backs of Su Mingyu and Su Yueyue leaving, Lord Yu frowned imperceptibly.
All women wanted to marry him, but only that Su Mingyu. He had clearly saved her, yet she dodged the moment he touched her.
Was this woman playing hard - to - get or was she really not interested in him?
...
After leaving Lord Yu's mansion, Su Mingyu sighed silently.
It seemed that this Wang Manwen really had some tricks up her sleeve. She had even bribed the money - grubbing Wang Fugui.
Zhizhu was filled with unwillingness. "It's a pity. We were so close to completely bringing down the second young lady."
Su Mingyu didn't really care about the result. "Wang Manwen and Su Zhengyi are backing her up. To bring her down, we might have to get rid of the Su family first."
Although she said so, Zhizhu still felt a bit uneasy.
When they returned to the Su Mansion.
As soon as Su Mingyu stepped through the main gate of the Su Mansion, a shrill scream rang in her ears. "Su Mingyu has harmed her sibling! She should be punished by family law! Seize her!"
Before she could react, she was held down by the on - coming servants. Two elders from the ancestral hall each held a whip. With two "pops", the whips landed on Su Mingyu's body.
The excruciating pain darkened Su Mingyu's face. She raised her eyes and stared at Wang Manwen fiercely, frowning. "What's this all about?"
Wang Manwen's face was gloomy. "I've heard about what happened at Lord Yu's mansion. You actually slandered your sister in front of everyone! Your heart is truly evil! If it weren't for Wang Fugui proving Yueyue's innocence, her chastity would have been ruined by you. You have such a vicious heart!"
Su Mingyu's back was burning. She coldly watched Wang Manwen's seemingly pained expression.
It seemed that Wang Manwen had really spent a fortune to get Wang Fugui to come to her rescue.
Su Mingyu sneered inwardly. "I just told the truth when Lady Ningfei questioned. Sister Yue scolded the legitimate elder sister in public. Shouldn't she be punished even more? Elders?"
The two elders holding the whips glanced at Su Yueyue. Su Yueyue instantly turned deathly pale with fright. "I... I..."
Seeing her stuttering, Su Mingyu chuckled silently.
She had been so happy when hitting her. Now that it was her turn to be beaten, she was so timid?
"Sister, don't be afraid. Although you called me a bitch and a slut, I'm willing to forgive you. After all, you're the precious second young lady carefully cultivated by the Su family."
The implication was that she, Su Mingyu, was just a nobody. Wang Manwen could beat and scold her at will, and she could only endure it.
For a moment, all the servants present recalled Wang Manwen's harsh treatment of Su Mingyu. Even the elders who usually minded their own business frowned.
Sensing the doubt in the two elders' eyes, Wang Manwen forced a smile and was about to explain when a deep voice suddenly came from the door.
"Why is everyone in the main hall?"