Ye Cishu’s head throbbed, her mind feeling as muddled as paste, with all sorts of unfamiliar information flooding in.
She shook her head vigorously and pressed hard on her temples, trying desperately to clear her thoughts.
Yet what she saw and heard before her felt like a sudden blow to the head, leaving her ears ringing.
“Wasn’t it said that the Ye family’s daughters were taught manners no less than those of proper official households?
How could they do something as improper as exchanging private gifts?”
“Exactly! All the rumors outside praised the Ye family’s daughters for their virtues and propriety.
But this? Secretly exchanging tokens with an unrelated man?”
“You’re talking about the eldest daughter of the Ye family, who is known for her manners.
This is the fourth daughter, born to a concubine.
That concubine herself is the daughter of a merchant who climbed the social ladder by attaching herself to the second master of the Ye family and sharing his bed.
That’s how the fourth daughter came to be.
With a merchant as her birth mother, what kind of proper daughter could she possibly be raised to be?”
“You can’t say that. What’s wrong with the children of merchants?
In recent years, many merchant families have produced outstanding children. Isn’t our Lord Tao Zhu also considered a merchant?
Besides, isn’t the Ye family also of merchant origin?”
“How can the Ye family be compared to ordinary merchants?
The Ye family are imperial merchants. The old master of the Ye family is someone who can reach the emperor’s ears. How can ordinary small merchants compare to the Ye family?
This fourth daughter, born of a concubine, was clearly corrupted by her birth mother.”
…
Ye Cishu finally understood what was happening.
She wasn’t in her office, surrounded by account books and computers, but among a group of people dressed in ancient attire.
Men and women alike, all wearing exquisite and luxurious clothing, with accessories so dazzling they could blind Ye Cishu’s nearsighted eyes.
Ye Cishu quickly sorted through the information flooding her mind.
This was… a fictional dynasty she had never heard of—the Dayu Dynasty.
She wasn’t in a secluded mansion but in Gusu City’s largest teahouse: Chun Bu Wan.
And today was the biggest event of the year at Chun Bu Wan—the selection of the Tea Champion.
What was the Tea Champion?
Unlike ordinary teahouses, Chun Bu Wan boasted numerous Tea Maidens and Tea Gentlemen, all with exceptional appearances and tea-brewing skills, attracting the city’s elite and nobility.
On this grand day, they had invited all the notable figures of the city to judge and select Chun Bu Wan’s newest Tea Champion.
Thus, Chun Bu Wan was filled with everyone of any standing in Gusu City.
Not only the elite and nobility but also those who had just passed the Xiangshi and become Provincial Graduates.
Along with the wives and daughters of various households.
This was also an occasion where the usual strictures between men and women were relaxed.
It was in such a public, almost excessively open setting that an incident occurred, thrilling everyone present.
A Provincial Graduate who had just passed the Xiangshi this year was found to possess personal items gifted by the fourth daughter of the Ye family.
A handkerchief and a pouch…
This sparked hushed discussions among all those present.
Although the fourth daughter of the Ye family was only seventeen, she had long been betrothed.
And her betrothed was none other than Su Xiaosheng, the Jieyuan—the top scorer of this year’s Xiangshi.
Su Xiaosheng was a distant relative of the Ye family, able to devote himself entirely to his studies with the family’s support, ultimately achieving top honors in the Xiangshi.
And the Provincial Graduate found to be hiding the personal belongings of the Ye family’s fourth young lady, Ye Cishu, was none other than Su Xiaosheng’s close classmate and friend…
One incident after another had everyone buzzing with excitement.
Even the Tea Maiden preparing to demonstrate the tea ceremony in the main hall of Chun Bu Wan paused her work.
“Brother Lianju, why didn’t you tell me about your mutual affection with Sister Cishu? We are classmates and friends, sharing heartfelt conversations by candlelight. Had you informed me earlier, would I not have stepped aside to let love flourish?” Su Xiaosheng asked softly.
Wang Lianju, whose handkerchief and pouch had been accidentally pulled from his embrace, flushed crimson, stammering and at a loss for words.
Upon hearing this, the onlookers, who had initially been only partially convinced, now believed the story halfway.
“Poor Su Jieyuan—what should have been a double celebration has inexplicably turned into a cuckolding.”
“Exactly, and betrayed by both his childhood fiancée and his close friend.”
“Ah, when it comes down to it, it’s the Ye family’s fourth young lady who lacks propriety. Despite being engaged, she still exchanges private tokens with another man. Isn’t this just taking advantage of Su Jieyuan’s humble background? Bound by the Ye family’s kindness, he has no choice but to swallow his pride.”
“Yes, that’s precisely it! Su Jieyuan is the most pitiable.”
…
The more the crowd discussed, the more contemptuous their glances toward Ye Cishu became.
As for Su Xiaosheng, his face wore an expression of helplessness, yet he quietly comforted Wang Lianju, who was apologizing to him.
“Brother Lianju, there’s no need to apologize. Matters of the heart depend on fate. In the end, Sister Cishu and I simply lack that connection. I will discuss with my mother and arrange to dissolve the engagement with Sister Cishu as soon as possible.”
“Brother Xiaosheng, we have truly wronged you. I…” Wang Lianju bowed deeply to Su Xiaosheng, his face filled with remorse.
This scene convinced everyone that Wang Lianju had indeed engaged in a secret affair with Ye Cishu.
All eyes turned to Ye Cishu with disdain.
Even Madam Li, the Ye family matriarch who had brought Ye Cishu out, began to turn pale with anger.
Under her management of the inner household, such a scandal had occurred. She would likely become the laughingstock of Gusu City from now on!
“Cishu…”
“Mother!” Ye Cishu suddenly rose and knelt before Madam Li.
If earlier she had been wondering whether her distant modern self had already perished and if her workplace would recognize her as having died in the line of duty, Ye Cishu now focused solely on how to break through the current predicament.
She had no intention of arriving here only to bear a tarnished reputation and face drowning—or, worse, being sent to the Ancestral Temple for damaging the Ye family’s honor, destined to grow old alone with only an oil lamp and ancient Buddha for company.
With quick thinking, Ye Cishu soon realized the biggest point of suspicion was her fiancé, Su Xiaosheng.
A man betrayed would never react like this.
What’s with this act of noble detachment and indifference?
Having spent her time outside auditing reports indulging in palace and household intrigue dramas, Ye Cishu was not the original host, who would only weep silently in secret.
If she didn’t strip these people bare, she might as well dash her head against a wall and be done with it.
The current scene was clearly designed to cement this narrative in front of everyone.
If that were to happen…
After once again sorting through all the information in her mind, Ye Cishu spoke up.
“Mother, let’s report this to the authorities!” Ye Cishu said calmly.
The previously clamorous crowd fell completely silent upon hearing the words “report to the authorities.”
Report to the authorities?
The Ye family’s fourth young miss wants to report this to the authorities?
Report what? This is clearly an internal family scandal, and she wants to report it? Is she afraid it won’t spread widely enough?
Everyone looked at Ye Cishu as if she were a fool.
Madam Li was stunned for a moment, but soon a gleam flashed in her eyes.
“Report to the authorities? Are you certain?” Madam Li asked solemnly.
“Your daughter is certain!
Mother, let’s report it!
Someone has publicly slandered your daughter’s reputation, trying to damage the Ye family’s name.
Publicly spreading rumors and false accusations—if such matters are not pursued, the Ye family’s reputation will be ruined overnight, and it will harm the reputations of my sisters as well.
Although Cishu is foolish, I can still see this matter clearly.
I will not admit to things I have not done.
Nor will I do anything to harm the Ye family.
Mother, let’s report it!” Ye Cishu said earnestly.
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted into discussion once more.
From the looks of it, the Ye family’s fourth young miss has no intention of admitting to this!
Everyone turned their gaze to Wang Lianju.
At this moment, Wang Lianju’s face flushed red, and he hurriedly raised the embroidered handkerchief pouch in his hand.
“Fourth Young Miss, are you saying I’m spreading rumors?” Wang Lianju asked.
“Isn’t that the case?” Ye Cishu replied coldly, looking at Wang Lianju.
Wang Lianju had not expected Ye Cishu to speak so bluntly in public and suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
He clutched the embroidered handkerchief pouch tightly, his eyes darting around nervously.
“Mother, Fourth Sister would never do anything to harm the Ye family.
Let’s report it! Although the Ye family is a merchant household, we are not some random family that can be slandered by just anyone.”
Ye Wanshu, the Ye family’s eldest young miss, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
Madam Li glanced at Ye Cishu kneeling before her, her back straight and unwavering, then at her eldest daughter beside her, and nodded.
She stood up and walked over to Dongniang, the proprietress of Chun Bu Wan.
“May I trouble you, Proprietress Dongniang, to help us report this to the authorities, as this occurred within Chun Bu Wan’s premises.
Today, due to the Ye family’s affairs, we have disrupted the teahouse’s business. Tomorrow, the Ye family will surely come to apologize in person,” Madam Li said sincerely.
The still graceful Proprietress Dongniang smiled faintly.
“Madam Ye, what are you saying? This is only right. A matter as serious as a woman’s reputation must be clarified.
Tea boy, take the teahouse’s card and go invite…
Ah, I almost forgot—isn’t the magistrate of Gusu City right here in our teahouse?
Magistrate Liu, would you kindly adjudicate this matter?” Proprietress Dongniang smiled as she looked toward a private room on the teahouse’s third floor.