Xiao Lingxin accused Su Wantang with a heart full of fury, but she soon discovered that most of the people nearby were looking at Su Wantang, who was sitting on the ground, with expressions of sympathy.
Some even went as far as to say that Su Wantang did not look like the type of person who would push someone into the water.
Enraged, Xiao Lingxin stepped forward and moved to drag Su Wantang up: “Get up! Stop with the act!”
Su Wantang let out a soft cry and covered her head, pleading for mercy. Just then, a figure suddenly blocked Xiao Lingxin, shielding Su Wantang behind him.
It was Helian Rong.
Helian Rong didn’t understand why himself—perhaps it was because he had once mistaken this Second Miss Su for Lian Niang and helped her, so seeing her helpless and being bullied now, he couldn’t just sit by.
Although the Helian family’s status was not as high as the Duke of Yong’s household, they were a military family. His personality was straightforward; he couldn’t stand Xiao Lingxin’s arrogance and overbearing nature, so he blocked her directly and mocked her coldly, “You keep saying you were pushed into the water by Second Miss Su, then how do you explain the water on her face?”
Wrapped in her cloak, Xiao Lingxin gritted her teeth, “I did splash water on her face, I admit that! But it was she who pushed me into the water… Su Wantang, do you dare to do it but not admit it?”
As the words left her lips, she saw Su Wantang shrink back in fear, “I didn’t…”
Xiao Lingxin gritted her teeth, wanting to pounce on her, but was firmly held back by Helian Rong. She was so angry that she scolded Helian Rong as well, “No wonder you were fooled by a cult witch; you really are a lecherous, foolish idiot!”
Having his scars ripped open, Helian Rong’s expression darkened even further. He no longer held back in his language, sneering, “Looking at how fierce you are, Second Miss Xiao, it’s a wonder you don’t bully others—how could anyone possibly bully you?”
A noble lady nearby, feeling unable to watch any longer, handed a handkerchief to Su Wantang: “Second Miss Su, quickly wipe your face.”
Su Wantang raised her eyes and whispered her thanks to the lady: “Thank you, sister.”
Seeing her pitiful and helpless appearance, the noble lady felt even more sympathy and couldn’t help but say to Xiao Lingxin, “Second Miss Xiao, your temper is well-known. Since you have already splashed tea all over Second Miss Su, why must you frame her and be so overbearing?”
Xiao Lingxin was about to die of anger… and just at this moment, Su Wantang spoke again.
“Earlier, Second Miss Xiao scolded me for no reason, and now this… I truly do not know how I have offended you?”
Seeing her dare to speak, Xiao Lingxin immediately pointed at Su Wantang’s nose: “You still have the nerve to ask? Do you dare say you didn’t intentionally throw yourself at Grand Tutor Xie earlier? That was in full view of everyone; how dare you turn black into white!”
Xie Yan, standing to the side, frowned slightly, while Crown Prince Zhao Xuanyin watched the scene with a malicious, mocking expression.
Su Wantang cried out in grievance, on the verge of tears: “There were people all around then. If I truly harbored such thoughts, why would I act in plain sight? At that time, I merely tripped and was supported by Master Xie. We are both upright and honorable; I truly do not know why Second Miss Xiao is harping on this and refusing to let it go.”
Su Wantang looked at Xiao Lingxin with a wronged and confused expression: “Furthermore, what does this have to do with you, Second Miss Xiao?”
She sniffled: “Could it be that you, Second Miss, harbor other intentions yourself, or have a guilty conscience, which is why you see ghosts in everyone else?”
For a moment, Xiao Lingxin’s mind went blank.
She…
She wanted to say it was because Xie Yan might be betrothed to her elder sister, but that matter had not yet been made public. Saying so would make the Xiao family look like they were desperate to cling to the centuries-old Xie family.
Moreover, it was clear that this base girl, Su Wantang, was implying that it was she, Xiao Lingxin, who harbored secret desires for Xie Yan…
The pedantic scholars around them were full of sympathy and comforted Su Wantang one by one, making Xiao Lingxin’s eyes red with rage.
Beside them, seeing her sister suffer a defeat, Xiao Changle looked helpless: “Alright, Lingxin, don’t be naughty anymore.”
After saying this, she bowed gracefully to Su Wantang: “My younger sister has always had a childlike temperament. If there was any impoliteness, I apologize to Second Miss Su on her behalf…”
Su Huajin, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward with a smile: “Oh, the two of them are of similar age and still have a childish air. It’s just some bickering, Miss Xiao needn’t take it to heart.”
Su Huajin also knew about the rumor that Xiao Changle might be betrothed to Xie Yan. If the two families were to marry, the status of the Duke of Yong’s household would likely rise further.
Therefore, Su Huajin intended to build a good relationship with Xiao Changle.
Xiao Lingxin wanted to say something more, but was met with a cold glance from Xiao Changle… With just that one look, Xiao Lingxin dared not speak again. She gritted her teeth, glared fiercely at Su Wantang, and turned to leave, supported by her maid.
Xiao Changle then turned to apologize to Xie Yan.
Xie Yan remained gentle and slightly distant in his politeness: “It is fine as long as no one was hurt. Second Miss Xiao is still young, so Xie will not hold a grudge over her indiscreet words.”
Although he said he wouldn’t hold a grudge, Xie Yan intentionally and pointedly mentioned her “indiscreet words.”
Xiao Changle felt helpless inside, but she had no choice but to accept it.
After all, although this young Grand Tutor held a high position and came from a noble background, his temperament was as calm as a deity’s; others were in awe of him, yet he had almost never shown his temper in public.
Now that he had specifically pointed out Xiao Lingxin’s “indiscreet words,” the reputation of her sister would likely be difficult to salvage in the future.
However, Xiao Changle still had to offer thanks politely, because it was clear that he did not intend to pursue the matter.
After the Xiao sisters left, Su Huajin took Su Wantang and took her leave… After all, a scene had been caused. Regardless of who was to blame, Su Wantang would inevitably be gossiped about, and she, as the sister who brought her out, felt even more restless staying there.
Su Wantang followed Su Huajin obediently, saying goodbye to acquaintances. She curved her lips slightly at the noble lady who had given her the handkerchief. After the two left, the noble lady sighed silently: “That Second Miss Su is so beautiful and enchanting, yet she has such a weak and easily bullied temperament. No wonder she gets picked on when she goes out.”
A few Imperial Academy students nearby were craning their necks to watch the backs of the Su sisters, secretly thinking about finding out more about that Second Miss Su when they returned.
At that moment, someone seemed to recall something.
“I heard that Second Miss Su previously had a marriage contract with Brother Jinnian… After the Xu family’s downfall, she discarded him like worn-out shoes.”
“This… is that not too heartless?”
“What are you saying? Do you think someone with Second Miss Su’s temperament could make her own decisions? With the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers, whether to keep or abandon a betrothal isn’t that up to the Marquis of Cheng’en?”
“That’s true, Second Miss Su looks truly pure and kind…”
Xie Yan had no interest in listening to the gossip of the scholars. As he turned to walk outside, he saw Crown Prince Zhao Xuanyin withdrawing his gaze from the Su sisters with great interest.
“That Second Miss Su is actually quite interesting.”
Zhao Xuanyin walked side-by-side with Xie Yan. Beside the tall, elegant, and upright Xie Yan, he kept his hands in his sleeves with a lazy and unrestrained air, asking Xie Yan with a smile: “Grand Tutor, tell me the truth—did that Second Miss Su intentionally brush up against you earlier?”
They were teacher and student in name, but Xie Yan’s biological mother, Princess Anping, was Zhao Xuanyin’s aunt, and Zhao Xuanyin was only two years younger than Xie Yan. When they were in private, Zhao Xuanyin was always informal.
Xie Yan was already accustomed to his roguishness, but concerning the reputation of a young lady of a noble house, he replied, “I merely supported her; there was no impropriety whatsoever.”
Hearing this, Zhao Xuanyin clicked his tongue in deep disappointment: “I thought my cousin finally had spring fever…”
Xie Yan: …