Zhao Qianxue cast Ye Qingyu a hateful glance but only shook her head pitifully. Beside her, Miss Qiu had no choice but to cry and explain once again.
“So that’s how it was. Miss Qiu, you needn’t blame yourself too much. Qianxue is the hostess here, and you are an honored guest. Protecting guests is the duty of the host.”
Madam Zhao naturally heard the hidden meaning in these words, but given the situation, she couldn’t say anything in front of so many noble ladies. Otherwise, the family’s reputation would suffer.
“Miss Zhao sacrificed herself for others—truly a model among young ladies.”
“Yes, I’ve long heard that Miss Zhao is well-read, proper, and gracious. Seeing her today, she’s even kinder than expected—it makes one’s heart ache.”
“Miss Zhao hasn’t been betrothed yet, has she? Whoever marries her will surely be blessed for generations.”
The noble guests were generous with their praise, smoothing over the incident.
All the ladies of the inner chambers were shrewd enough to understand what had really happened. They simply treated it as if Zhao Qianxue had fallen into the water while trying to save someone.
Suddenly, a servant rushed in, panting. “Madam, something terrible has happened!”
“Silence! On such a joyous day, how dare you speak such ill-omened words?” Madam Zhao was already fuming, and now this servant had barged in without any sense of propriety.
The newcomer was Xue Liu, Zhao Qianmei’s maid, her face pale with panic and dripping with sweat.
Madam Zhao asked impatiently, “What is it?”
At that moment, Mo Shu quietly returned to Ye Qingyu’s side.
“Miss, just as you predicted, Third Young Master was indeed targeted. I’ve already taken him to our carriage.”
“Has he been given the Clear Heart Pill?”
“Yes. In less than a quarter of an hour, Third Young Master will regain consciousness.”
“Good. I understand.”
After speaking, Mo Shu silently stepped aside, blending back in as if she had never left.
Meanwhile, Xue Liu sobbed bitterly, her voice breaking. “Madam, please go see Fifth Miss! She—she was abducted by a drunken scoundrel! Please, save Fifth Miss!”
Her desperate cries left the entire room of noble guests exchanging uneasy glances.
“What!”
“This is outrageous! In broad daylight, someone dares commit such a vile act against a young lady of the Minister’s household! Who is it?”
“Come, where has your young lady been taken?”
Madam Zhao was truly panicked and anxious. The room full of noble ladies exchanged uneasy looks and followed along.
Ye Qingyu observed Madam Zhao’s frantic and worried demeanor—it didn’t seem feigned. It appeared she truly had no knowledge of this matter.
Xue Liu led the group to a secluded courtyard. Just as they reached the gate, they heard a woman’s cries for help coming from inside. Yet there wasn’t a single servant around the courtyard.
Seeing this, Ye Qingyu’s eyes flickered with a cold smile. So well-prepared indeed!
“Guard this courtyard! Don’t let anyone enter!” Madam Zhao ordered.
Such disgraceful, scandalous matters that could tarnish the family’s name were best kept from spreading. The noble ladies present had rushed over upon hearing the news, claiming concern—but in truth, everyone knew they were here to watch the Minister’s household’s misfortune.
Madam Zhao seethed inwardly, furious at Zhao Qianmei, that wretched girl, for bringing shame upon the Zhao family.
“Do you recognize the man who abducted your young lady?”
Xue Liu, her face pale with fear, spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear clearly: “This servant recognizes him. I’ve seen him once before. That young master should be the Third Young Master of the Duke’s household.”
Madam Xu, who was among the guests, immediately changed her expression upon hearing this. The other ladies turned to look at her, their faces shifting in various ways—none of them kindly.
The Duke’s third son, Gu Huaizhi, was famed for his brilliance and gentle demeanor. Talented from a young age, he had already earned distinction at seventeen by placing first in the provincial exam. If he were to succeed again in the upcoming metropolitan exam, he would rank among the top scholars, bringing immense prestige to the Duke’s household.
Now, however, the noble ladies looked on with thinly veiled schadenfreude. Among the sons studying at the Imperial Academy, none had escaped being overshadowed by Gu Huaizhi. And yet, here he was—rumored to have drunk too much and committed such disgraceful behavior. It seemed the tales of his virtue might not be so trustworthy after all.
“Madam Gu, is your Third Young Master so eager to marry that he resorts to this? I heard your household hasn’t even arranged a concubine for him, yet he comes to another family’s home and bullies a proper young lady—this is going too far.”
“Oh, don’t say that. Perhaps he was simply drunk and acted carelessly.”
“Well, either way, I’ll be sure my son keeps his distance. With such character, I wouldn’t want him to be led astray.”
Listening to the sneers, scorn, and thinly veiled glee, Madam Xu was furious, her anger rising to the heavens.
“You are all esteemed ladies of the capital, known for propriety. And yet, based on the words of a single maid, you would throw filth upon my son Huaizhi’s name?”
Madam Zhao’s face was cold. “Madam Gu, if my maid were lying, why would she name your son specifically, and not some other young master? The man is still inside—how could she falsely accuse your household?”
Madam Xu’s expression hardened, her voice dripping with contempt. “Falsely accuse? Hmph. I see you’re trying to harm my son. No one knows who is truly inside, yet you insist it is him. Do you think the Duke’s household is so easily bullied?”
Someone chimed in mockingly, “Oh, Madam Gu, there’s no need to argue. Why don’t we just go inside and see for ourselves whether the maid spoke the truth?”
Ye Qingyu gently patted Madam Xu’s back, speaking softly to comfort her. “Third Aunt, don’t be angry. You know Third Cousin’s character—he would never do such a thing. Since the person is inside, and the Minister’s household isn’t afraid of ridicule, why not go in and see for ourselves?”
Ye Qingyu’s words darkened Madam Zhao’s expression.
Indeed, such disgraceful matters were usually hidden tightly, for fear of even the slightest rumor. A scandal could damage the family’s reputation and affect the marriage prospects of all its daughters. Yet Zhao Qianmei’s maid had blurted it out in front of everyone, as if eager to spread the shame.
Truly, nothing good ever came from that third branch of the family. The third master spent his days drinking, gambling, and chasing pleasure, and his daughter was no better.
Madam Zhao was livid. Today was meant to be Zhao Qianxue’s coming-of-age ceremony, a grand occasion to secure her a fine marriage. Now, thanks to that wretched Zhao Qianmei, the banquet had been ruined, and Zhao Qianxue’s future prospects would surely suffer.
Seething, Madam Zhao no longer cared about Zhao Qianmei’s dignity. She led the group of ladies straight toward the courtyard.