Su Qing secretly shot a glare at Nanny Hao, and the old lady’s sharp eyes also turned toward her.
Nanny Hao’s legs went weak, and she trembled as she knelt in the hall.
She had originally intended to muddle through with a few words, casually splashing dirty water on Xue Ning.
“This old servant—”
But before she could speak, Xue Ning calmly interjected, “Nanny Hao was personally guarding outside my room at the time. It’s impossible for her not to have seen clearly.”
If she hadn’t seen clearly, it would mean she had neglected her duties and failed in her responsibilities.
The Xuanyi Marquis Mansion managed its household with strict discipline. If a wicked servant harmed their master, they would be directly sold out of Dongjing, never to return.
Nanny Hao stiffened, understanding the hidden meaning in Xue Ning’s words, and hurriedly said, “Old Madam, what Miss Xue said is all true.”
Su Qing’s expression darkened, and she bit her lip resentfully. “Xue Ning, we’ve all heard about it. You were pushed into the water by Shizi Cao and then rescued by a strange man. You… your body must have been seen by others, tarnishing the reputation of the young ladies of our Marquis’s residence outside! How are we sisters supposed to arrange marriages in the future?”
Xue Ning knew that those who wanted to harm her would surely use this incident to their advantage.
She let out a faint, light laugh and looked directly at Su Qing.
“Fourth Sister speaks as if you were there yourself, but since you weren’t, how do you know my body was seen by others?”
Su Qing choked, her face flushing red. Certain that Xue Ning couldn’t provide a proper explanation, she raised her chin and curled her lips. “Your hair is still wet even now. Do you dare say you didn’t fall into the water and weren’t carried up by a man?”
Xue Ning pressed her lips together, momentarily at a loss for words.
Her hair was damp, yet it remained meticulously styled, without a trace of disarray.
Moreover, she was naturally endowed with a rare, delicate beauty—her small face adorned with rosy lips and pearly teeth, so tender it seemed one could squeeze water from it. The more fragile, aloof, and coldly elegant she appeared, the more striking her beauty became.
Su Qing narrowed her eyes, filled with jealousy and disdain, and snorted lightly, growing increasingly smug. “Grandmother, I’ve long said she isn’t someone who knows her place, haven’t I? Her surname is Xue, so losing face herself is nothing. But now that she lives in our Marquis’s residence, tarnishing its reputation is a serious matter. Eldest Sister is to discuss marriage this year. If outsiders find out, who would dare marry the young ladies of our Marquis’s residence? In my opinion, why bother with an Acknowledgment Banquet? It’s better to drive her out sooner!”
Su Xi wore a cold expression, watching the drama unfold with a faint, mocking smile.
Madam Jiang and Su Man looked worried, while Liu Shi glanced covertly at Madam Dong. Su Mai and Su Yu wore inscrutable expressions.
Princess Xiuning remained as steady as a mountain, sitting in place to watch the commotion, her eyes occasionally drifting toward Su Zhan.
Marquis Su was still out socializing, and the two uncles from the second and third branches were not in the inner residence.
The news of what had happened at Zhenguo Temple today had been suppressed by the old lady as soon as it reached the mansion.
Now, as Su Qing sought to drive Xue Ning out of the residence, Su Zhan hadn’t uttered a single word.
Madam Jiang wanted to plead on Xue Ning’s behalf, but as soon as she opened her mouth, Xie Laofuren cut her off.
Xie Laofuren pondered for a moment and said to Xue Ning, “What do you have to say?”
Xue Ning bowed her head and kowtowed. “Old Madam, if I truly speak, please do not be angry.”
Xie Laofuren didn’t particularly like Xue Ning, but the girl had lived in the Marquis’s residence for many years and had grown up under her watch. Aside from being somewhat reclusive and not skilled in social interactions, she hadn’t caused any major trouble. Usually, aside from going out to pay respects to her parents, she rarely left the residence.
She said, "If you can speak reasonably, I am not unwilling to listen."
Xue Ning raised her eyes, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "If we follow Fourth Sister's words, that a woman who falls into the water and is rescued loses her purity, ruins her reputation, and tarnishes her name, then A-Ning should not be driven out of the Marquis's residence."
Xie Laofuren asked, "Then what do you think should be done?"
Xue Ning replied, "A-Ning should marry Brother Lu."
As soon as these words fell, everyone's expressions changed in shock.
Xie Laofuren was taken aback, her brows furrowing tightly.
Su Qing bit her lip, unable to believe what she heard, and said, "Xue Ning, what nonsense are you talking about? Wishful thinking! How could a lonely orphan like you ever hope to marry Shizi brother—"
Su Qing's words were too blunt, and the term "lonely orphan" displeased Madam Jiang.
Madam Dong frowned, pressing Su Qing's small hand to stop her from speaking further.
Xue Ning said earnestly, "A-Ning was rescued by Brother Lu and brought back to Qiyun Pavilion some time ago, and many people saw it. Second Brother even mocked A-Ning about it that day. If A-Ning is considered to have lost her purity to Brother Lu because of this, shouldn't A-Ning marry him?"
Madam Jiang chuckled, and Su Man also laughed, "Exactly! Grandmother, Man Man agrees with A-Ning sister! If she truly lost her reputation because of falling into the water, then Brother Lu should be the first to take responsibility!"
Su Qing's face grew increasingly unpleasant, darkening with anger.
Madam Jiang quickly added, "Mother, Man Man's words may be rough, but the reasoning is sound. Besides, if Ningning had been alone with that man, it would be one thing, but I heard there were many people watching at the time, and even Master Miaolin from Zhenguo Temple was present. She was just wet from the water—how could her body have been seen completely? Zhan'er, you were at the temple. Tell us, isn't that the truth?"
Xue Ning held her breath, lowered her head, and obediently knelt in the hall.
She did not glance at Su Zhan.
She knew Su Zhan would surely speak up for her.
Because, in all of Dongjing City, he was the one most unwilling to marry her.
Sure enough, Su Zhan soon spoke in a measured tone, "I saw it with my own eyes. She did not engage in any improper conduct, and falling into the water was merely an accident. At the time, I was there, and not many people saw her body. She was quickly taken back to the meditation room by Bao Chan to change clothes and later returned to the residence with me."
Though her heart ached with bitterness, Xue Ning secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips.
Su Zhan's words left those waiting to find fault with nothing to say.
She raised her head again and pledged her loyalty to Xie Laofuren, "As long as Xue Ning lives in the Marquis's residence, she is a member of the household and will wholeheartedly consider its interests. If Laofuren agrees with Fourth Sister's words and wishes to marry A-Ning off to Shizi Cao or the man who saved A-Ning's life, A-Ning will obediently comply without a single word of complaint."
Su Zhan raised an eyebrow, glancing at Xue Ning's snow-white face, but said nothing.
Xie Laofuren nodded in satisfaction, instructing someone to help Xue Ning up, and added, "Your hair is still wet. Return to your courtyard early to bathe and freshen up, so you don't harm your health."
Xue Ning felt as if a weight had been lifted, smiling as she said, "Thank you, Laofuren."
As the commotion subsided, Su Qing could only fume helplessly.
Xue Ning led Bao Chan out of Wanshou Hall. As the curtain fell, blocking the scheming faces inside the room, she felt both physically and mentally relieved.
Outside the corridor, snow fell like down, and the wind was bitterly cold.
The young ladies were all dressed in thick fox fur coats, with collars of soft gray squirrel fur wrapped around their necks.
Xue Ning's neck was adorned with fluffy white rabbit fur, framing her delicate chin and making her already fair, snow-like complexion appear dewy. Her eyes were large and glistening, strikingly dark.
Seeing Su Zhan stand up, Princess Xiuning hurriedly rose as well, her face flushed as she said, "Shizi brother, wait for me."