Manager Dongniang acted swiftly, directing the tea servers to set up a temporary courtroom in the main hall of Chun Bu Wan.
"Honestly, Aunt Dong is so efficient. Look, she even found a piece of wood from the kitchen to serve as the Court Wood for Magistrate Liu!"
In a private room on the third floor, a young man was peering through the window at the hall below.
Today, because it was the day Chun Bu Wan was selecting the Tea Champion, the third floor was closed to the public, and nearly all the guests were gathered in the main hall.
The two young men in the private room on the third floor were precisely the distinguished guests Prefect Liu had mentioned.
The man by the window, holding a handful of melon seeds and cracking them open, didn't forget to signal his servant to bring over the teapot.
The other man, however, let out a soft sigh.
"Look at you, why do you have to get involved in this commotion? Wherever you go, you love to watch the excitement.
It's just some trivial matters between scholars and beauties. Wouldn't it be better for them to settle the case at the prefect's hall?
You insisted on having them hold the trial in a teahouse. Isn't that just disrupting Chun Bu Wan's business?"
The man by the window chuckled, set down the melon seeds in his hand, turned around, picked up a peanut from the table, and tossed it into his mouth.
"Watching the excitement! Who doesn't love that?
I'm doing this for their own good.
No matter who wins in the end, everyone who knows about this matter is right here on the scene, so they'll learn the truth firsthand.
If they moved to the prefect's hall, such a small place, not everyone would be able to attend.
Those who don't go won't know the truth in time, and relying on hearsay, wouldn't they just spread rumors?
Besides, I was raised by my uncle, so of course I take after him!
Don't worry, I'll definitely watch this commotion to the end, then return to the capital and tell my uncle so he can write a new play.
By then, all the teahouses and taverns in Dayu will be performing this play…
Hey, cousin, do you want to invest in it too? It's a sure profit!"
The man reclining on the couch rolled his eyes at the one by the window.
"Don't call me that casually. I dare not be your cousin.
Your cousin is the Crown Prince. I wouldn't dare to consider myself his equal."
The man by the window grinned.
"True, I'm not worthy after all. You're the Crown Prince's cousin, after all!
What does a cousin like me even matter?"
The man on the couch…
"When will you learn to control that mouth of yours? Ask around the entire capital—who dares to offend you?
Go on, what mischief are you plotting now? What brings you suddenly to Gusu?
I don't believe you came all the way here just to watch Chun Bu Wan's tea competition in Gusu.
This year's tea competition at Chun Bu Wan in the capital… I heard it was more exciting than ever!" The man on the couch tossed an orange toward the one by the window.
The man by the window caught it effortlessly.
Peeling the orange and popping a segment into his mouth, his face immediately contorted from the sourness.
"So sour! You eat it!
I came to Gusu for a reason, but as for what it is, it's not the right time to say.
Cousin, I'll be relying on you during my stay in Gusu.
You have to guarantee my safety." The man by the window tossed the remaining orange back.
Just as the man on the couch was about to nod, the one by the window leaned closer to the window again.
"Cousin, come look—it's about to start. Move the tea table over here. Let's watch and chat at the same time…"
Downstairs in the main hall of Chun Bu Wan, Prefect Liu had already taken his seat.
Madam Li and the other ladies and young misses sat on the left side, with Ye Cishu standing at the very front.
Wang Lianju stood on the right side, with the young Provincial Graduates behind him.
Su Xiaosheng also stood on this side.
Just moments ago, he had tried to persuade Ye Cishu not to escalate the matter, but the usually timid Ye Cishu did not even glance at him.
Seeing everyone still whispering among themselves, Magistrate Liu cleared his throat softly.
Everyone immediately fell silent.
“To keep things simple, I will not follow the formal courtroom procedures.
Since the plaintiff is the fourth young lady of the Ye family, I will simply refer to her as Fourth Young Lady.
As for the newly appointed Provincial Graduate, Wang Lianju, I will refer to him as Ju Ren Wang.
Fourth Young Lady, are you acquainted with Ju Ren Wang?” Magistrate Liu asked first.
“We met once, during the Lantern Festival at the beginning of the year. That day, I went out with my sisters from the household to admire the lanterns.
At that time, Ju Ren Wang was admiring the lanterns with Jieyuan Su and the others.
After that, we never had any further contact,” Ye Cishu said.
This was the only time Ye Cishu could recall meeting this Wang Lianju.
As soon as Ye Cishu finished speaking, everyone began whispering again.
“They met while admiring lanterns during the Lantern Festival? That’s perfectly normal.
Almost all the ladies, young misses, and young masters came out to admire the lanterns that day!”
“Yes, it’s perfectly normal!
If Fourth Young Lady had said she didn’t know him, that would have seemed like trying to cover something up!”
“Meeting while admiring lanterns is reasonable. The Flower Lantern Festival is, after all, a time for talented scholars and beautiful ladies to meet privately…
Hiss…”
Magistrate Liu nodded. Indeed, the Flower Lantern Festival at the beginning of the year was quite lively. Dayu had won a victory in the southwest, and the entire nation was celebrating.
His own wife, sons, and daughters had also come out to admire the lanterns!
“Ju Ren Wang, do you agree with Fourth Young Lady’s account?” Magistrate Liu asked.
Wang Lianju hurriedly bowed in response.
“Your Honor, what Fourth Young Lady said is correct. I first met Fourth Young Lady during the Lantern Festival at the beginning of the year.
Brother Xiaosheng was indeed present at the time, and it was because of his presence that we exchanged a few more words.
However, the very next day, Fourth Young Lady sent her personal maid to deliver an Inkstone to Brother Xiaosheng and also quietly sent one to me.
Additionally…” Wang Lianju glanced at Ye Cishu but did not continue.
“Additionally what? Speak!” Magistrate Liu struck the table with a makeshift Court Wood.
With a thud… the makeshift Court Wood did not seem to be of very good quality.
Proprietress Dongniang frowned—her rosewood tea table…
Startled by Magistrate Liu’s action, Wang Lianju visibly shrank back.
“Additionally, that maid also delivered a bundle of padded clothing and twenty taels of silver to me.
She said her young lady sympathized with my difficult family circumstances and was offering additional support.
Later, I sent a treasured Folding Fan as a token of gratitude.
After that, we began exchanging letters…” Wang Lianju’s voice grew softer and softer as he spoke.
After Wang Lianju finished speaking, even more people in the hall began whispering.
Even Ye Cishu was taken aback.
His account was so vivid and detailed, as if all of this had truly happened.
Seeing the suspicious looks directed at her again, Ye Cishu quickly spoke up.
“Ju Ren Wang, you said it was my personal maid who delivered the items on my behalf. May I ask if you remember what that maid wore, how she dressed, or what she looked like?”
Wang Lianju glanced at Ye Cishu, thought for a moment, and then nodded earnestly.
“I remember!
That maid wore a lotus-pink blouse and skirt, with her hair styled in a Double Bun Hairstyle, and she had a pair of leaf-shaped Gold Pendants in her ears.”
I remember that maid also delivered something to Brother Xiaosheng.
If you don't believe me, you can ask Brother Xiaosheng." Wang Lianju hurriedly said.
Everyone immediately looked at Su Xiaosheng.
Seeing everyone's gaze upon him, Su Xiaosheng quickly stepped forward.
"After the Lantern Festival… it seems there was indeed a maid who came to deliver something to me.
Brother Lianju, I remember that day I went to borrow books from the headmaster and didn't return until evening when the lamps were lit.
When I came back, I saw a bundle on my desk containing an inkstone and some cut Xuan paper.
Brother Lianju, was it that day?" Su Xiaosheng asked, looking at Wang Lianju.
Upon hearing this, everyone believed that a maid from the Ye family had indeed delivered something to Wang Lianju that day.
But before others could start discussing, Ye Cishu suddenly smiled.
"Ju Ren Wang, you say a maid delivered something to you, and just because you claim she was my personal maid, that makes it so?
Perhaps someone was impersonating her!" Ye Cishu said with a faint smile.
Wang Lianju was taken aback.
"Are you saying that girl wasn't a maid from the Ye family? But she didn't just deliver something to me—she also delivered something to Brother Xiaosheng," Wang Lianju quickly replied.
"Indeed! She did deliver something to Jieyuan Su.
But Jieyuan Su also said he never saw the maid—he only saw the delivered items.
Also, let me ask you one more thing: did that maid explicitly say she was my personal maid?" Ye Cishu stared intently at Wang Lianju.
"Yes! I remember clearly—she said her name was Chun Tao. I couldn't possibly be mistaken," Wang Lianju insisted.
"With a double bun hairstyle, wearing a gold pendant with a leaf pattern?" Ye Cishu continued questioning.
Wang Lianju nodded again.
After receiving this confirmation, Ye Cishu suddenly relaxed completely.
"Ju Ren Wang, you've been deceived. That maid is not from our household.
Perhaps some young lady has taken a secret liking to you, and you've mistaken her identity!" Ye Cishu said slowly.
Upon hearing this, everyone, including Magistrate Liu, was stunned.
"Fourth Miss, how can you be so certain that Ju Ren Wang has been deceived?" Prefect Liu asked curiously.
Ye Cishu glanced at Madam Li and saw her give a slight nod.
She then thought about the information in her mind and finally spoke again.