Lin Nong’s expression was icy and stern. “Wangfei, choose your words carefully! I am innocent and pure. Even though you hold the esteemed position of Wangfei, how dare you openly slander and defame me, tarnishing the reputation of my Lin family?”
“I have not slandered you,” Zi Sangli retorted, pointing at her and then at Helan Yue Zheng with a cold laugh. “You were secretly meeting with another man—Wangye and I witnessed it with our own eyes. This is an indisputable fact, and no amount of argument on your part will change that!”
“I’ve always wondered why you showed no admiration for Wangye, a man favored by heaven himself. So it turns out you already have a beloved! But no matter how reluctant you are to let go of past ties, you are now Wangye’s Cefei and should uphold virtue and propriety!”
“If this were to spread, you would only bring upon yourself a reputation of debauchery, but worse, you would drag Wangye into scandal and gossip! You are a noble lady raised by a prestigious family, always preaching about rules and dignity in daily life!”
“How could you not understand such a basic principle?”
Xiao Chengyan’s face grew even more unpleasant. The aura of a superior filled the air, as if it might explode at any moment.
Lin Nong denied the accusations, the corners of her eyes tinged with a faint red from agitation, making her appear both pitiful and alluring. “I have done no such thing, Wangfei! Cease your baseless accusations!”
Zi Sangli scoffed.
Even if they hadn’t been caught in the act, how could a noble like Xiao Chengyan tolerate his concubine entertaining such lewd thoughts?
“Caught red-handed, and now you dare to bite back at me! Lin Shi, you truly have no sense of shame!”
She flung her sleeve.
A teacup on a nearby table shattered on the floor, fueling Xiao Chengyan’s rage.
It also drew the attention of onlookers.
Xiao Chengyan, being of royal blood, would not allow himself to become a laughingstock among his subjects. “Return to the Wangfu!”
Lin Nong felt as if she were being dragged off her feet!
Instead of struggling or trying to escape, she did the opposite—clutching his lapel, she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “Will Wangye not even grant me a chance to defend myself? If that is the case, I would rather dash myself to death here than return to the Wangfu!”
Xiao Chengyan’s gaze was cold and sharp. “You dare threaten me?”
Zi Sangli would never allow Xiao Chengyan to take her away!
Today, she was determined to ruin the wretched woman’s reputation!
Pretending to mediate, she fanned the flames instead. “Since Lin Shi wishes to quibble, Wangye should hear her out!” Otherwise, if unfounded rumors spread, the people might think the Wangfu has treated her harshly, and they may even point fingers and curse behind your back!”
Xiao Chengyan, suppressing his fury, shoved Lin Nong away. “Speak!”
Lin Nong staggered back to the window, clutching her chest and biting her lip hard.
She remained silent.
Zi Sangli lifted her chin, a smug smile playing on her lips. “Lin Shi, Wangye has given you a chance. Aren’t you going to argue back?”Sophistry!””There is no need to argue for something I have not done!””
A cold laugh echoed from within, carrying the distinct voice of an elderly woman.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Several elderly matrons emerged, followed by a group of young men and women.
They were all from the Lin and Helan families.
At the forefront was the Lin family’s matriarch, her eyes blazing with anger.
“You are the Wangfei, expected to be virtuous, kind, and gracious to all. How dare you slander and humiliate the jewel of our Lin family in this manner!”
Xiao Chengyan was taken aback.
He hadn’t expected so many people to be in the private room!
Zi Sangli was stunned.
Looking more closely, she realized that this private room was connected to the adjacent one, separated only by a bamboo curtain that had been drawn earlier!
After a moment of astonishment, she quickly adjusted her mindset, clinging to the rumors and splashing all the dirty water!
“What does it matter even if several ladies are present? When His Highness and I entered, only Lin Nong and Helan Gongzi were in the outer chamber, and their behavior was extremely intimate!”
Lin Nong’s voice was low, carrying a hint of restraint and trembling: “Yue Zheng and I are merely like siblings!”
Zi Sangli easily refuted: “How can there be sibling affection between unrelated men and women! Lin Shi, you are simply insulting His Highness’s intelligence!”
She turned to look at Xiao Chengyan.
“Your Highness, despite your kindness toward Lin Shi, she dares to spin such lies and lacks any sense of propriety! This matter must be reported to His Majesty and Her Majesty immediately. She must be divorced at once, or she will eventually tarnish the reputation of the Wangfu and Your Highness!”
A sharp glint flashed across Helan Yue Zheng’s gentle face: “So the Wangfei finally reveals her true intentions!”
Zi Sangli was startled and instinctively looked at Xiao Chengyan.
A flicker of insight crossed Xiao Chengyan’s mind, and his brow twitched slightly.
Then he heard the other party continue: “Nong’er and I are first cousins—how could we not share blood ties?”
Xiao Chengyan’s gloomy expression was instantly replaced by astonishment: “What did you say?”
Zi Sangli seized upon this as if catching a flaw, shrilly exclaiming: “At least make your lies logical! She is a daughter of the Lin family, and you are a son of the Helan Family—how could you possibly be cousins? Do you think His Highness and I cannot distinguish family relations?”
Helan Yue Zheng walked over to Lin Nong and helped her sit down.
Lin Nong knew Xiao Chengyan’s gaze was fixed on her but did not respond: “The second master of the Helan Family and the fifth master of the Lin Family were born on the same day and were accidentally switched at birth. Helan’s uncle and my father are biological brothers, making Yue Zheng and I genuine first cousins!”
“Since we have known since childhood that we are cousins, how could there ever be any talk of marriage? Moreover, with elders present today, what harm is there in Yue Zheng and I sitting in the outer chamber chatting or playing chess? How can that be considered a secret rendezvous?”
Yi Ran rushed in from outside the door and knelt with a thud: “Your Highness! It is clear that someone is deliberately spreading rumors to damage the reputation of our mistress and the Lin Family!”
“Rumors are rampant outside. The Minister and the Old Madam were furious upon hearing them and sent people to investigate who is behind these schemes. They feared our mistress would be upset by such vile talk, so they ordered this servant not to mention it in front of her, only saying they would visit Your Highness in the coming days.”
“When you questioned our mistress last night, she did not answer out of guilt—she simply had no idea why you were suddenly accusing her so unjustly! Our mistress is a well-bred lady, pure and innocent. How heartbroken she must have been to be doubted and questioned by her own husband for no reason!”
So that was the truth!
Xiao Chengyan’s gaze toward Lin Nong shifted to one of remorse.
But he also grasped the key point.
The Lin Family intended to speak with him.
This meant the rumor-monger was connected to the Wangfu!
But within the Wangfu, who would target Lin Nong so maliciously?
Aside from Zi Sangli, there could be no one else!
His previously subdued anger flared up again.
No wonder!
No wonder last night, she and her confidant deliberately brought up the engagement rumors and claimed many had witnessed Lin Nong’s intimate interactions with Helan Gongzi—all to sow discord, make him misunderstand Lin Nong, and grow to despise her!
And today, she insisted he accompany her here to listen to opera—what else could she be plotting? Everything was clear now!
Zi Sangli was stunned.
The Lin Family had actually uncovered her involvement!
And Xiao Chengyan already believed it!
She clung stubbornly to Lin Nong: “Wangye, I truly have done nothing! They are clearly lying and making excuses for Lin Nong! Even if the mistaken embrace is true, that still doesn’t prove the two of them aren’t having an affair. You mustn’t be deceived by them!”
Xiao Chengyan remained silent.
His gaze swept over Lin Nong and Helan Yue Zheng, filled with suspicion.