The several people present each held their own version of events, and the area under the corridor fell into utter chaos.
Initially, Su Wanying had wanted to maintain her gentle and refined image since Chang Gongzhu was present, offering a few feigned words of persuasion.
However, seeing that Chang Gongzhu remained standing outside the crowd with an expressionless face and made no move to intervene, Su Wanying abandoned the thought.
Xiao Yunshu’s reputation was thoroughly ruined today!
Just as the situation reached a stalemate, a cool and steady child’s voice rang out from behind the crowd.
“I can testify.”
Startled, everyone turned their heads to see Mo Yanchen standing not far from the corridor.
The innate majesty he carried caused everyone present to hold their breath instantly.
Mo Yanchen paced slowly into the circle, his gaze drifting over the various faces before finally settling on the panicked Duan Chenlang.
He did not speak, merely tilting his head slightly in a silent signal.
Two black-clad Shadow Guards appeared like ghosts, and immediately following them, two people shaking like sieves were tossed in front of the crowd.
They were the older servant who had previously led Xiao Yunshu here and the maid who had “accidentally” spilled water on her.
“Speak!”
The older servant was already scared out of her wits, kowtowing like a woodpecker. “Your Highness… Your Highness, spare my life! It was Young Master Duan who gave me a silver ingot and told me to lead Yunshu Junzhu to this room. He also said that something good had been lit inside, and for the Junzhu to… for the Junzhu to…”
She dared not continue and could only kowtow desperately.
The maid also chimed in repeatedly, identifying that she had been acting under Duan Chenlang’s instructions.
Duan Chenlang’s face turned from green to white. “Nonsense! You are slandering me! It was clearly Xiao Yunshu who seduced me first—”
“Presumptuous!” Mo Yanchen interrupted him, his child’s voice carrying the weight of a thunderclap. “Duan Chenlang, do you think my eyes are blind, or do you think my Shadow Guards are deaf?”
“I… I wouldn’t dare.” Duan Chenlang felt a chill deep in his heart under the gaze of the Imperial Eldest Grandson. His legs gave way, and he collapsed onto his knees, unable to utter another word of defense.
Mo Yanchen’s gaze swept over the indignant Nuannuan, his voice cold. “Duan Chenlang’s conduct is improper, and he has framed a Junzhu. Escort him to the Jingzhao Yin Office to be dealt with strictly according to the law. Once the Jingzhao Yin has concluded the trial, he is to personally go to the Wu’an Wangfu to kowtow and apologize to Yunshu Junzhu.”
How could Duan Chenlang dare to say no?
After dealing with Duan Chenlang, Mo Yanchen’s gaze finally landed on Su Wanying.
Feeling that gaze, Su Wanying instinctively lowered her eyes.
He was clearly just a young child, yet the aura surrounding him made her feel an unprecedented pressure.
“Miss Su.”
Just those two words made Su Wanying’s entire body stiffen.
She forced a smile that looked more painful than crying. “Your… Your Highness, what are your orders?”
Mo Yanchen spoke word by word. “This matter occurred within the Zuoxiang Fu. I shall not pursue the matter of the servants being bribed for now, but you have been lax in disciplining your subordinates and are also guilty of oversight.”
Su Wanying was socially adept; how could she not understand the Imperial Eldest Grandson’s meaning?
Even if she was a thousand times unwilling, she could only grit her teeth and endure it, performing a deep bow toward Xiao Yunshu.
“Yunshu Junzhu, today’s events were indeed a result of the Zuoxiang Fu’s negligence, which caused the Junzhu to be frightened. Wanying hereby apologizes to the Junzhu and asks for the Junzhu’s forgiveness.”
On the outskirts of the crowd, Chang Gongzhu watched Mo Yanchen with great interest.
This nephew of hers had been mature and steady since childhood—one could even say he was cold and withdrawn—and he loathed these kinds of occasions the most.
If she hadn’t dragged him here today, he would likely have preferred to stay in his study reading a few more essays on policy.
Yet, unexpectedly, not only did the boy come, but he had also broken his usual habit by meddling in someone’s backyard affairs.
This did not seem like the Imperial Eldest Grandson she knew.
While Chang Gongzhu was looking at Mo Yanchen thoughtfully, she suddenly felt her skirt being gently tugged.
She looked down and met a pair of clear, large eyes.
It was the little girl brought by Xiao Yunshu.
She had heard this was Xiao Yunheng’s daughter.
“Do not be impolite!” Seeing this, the palace maid behind Chang Gongzhu hurried forward to scold her.
Chang Gongzhu, however, waved her hand and crouched down with interest, her tone possessing a softness she hadn’t even noticed herself. “Little girl, what is it?”
“Sister, pretty.”
Nuannuan was not shy at all. She tilted her little head and spoke in a milky voice.
Looking at this small face, which was almost carved from the same mold as the Xiao Yunheng in her memory, and hearing those words, Chang Gongzhu couldn’t help but burst into a soft laugh.
She reached out and gently pinched Nuannuan’s somewhat thin cheek, deliberately putting on a stern face. “What? Are you not afraid of me?”
Nuannuan didn’t dodge when her face was pinched; she just shook her head vigorously.
“Not afraid.”
“Sister is pretty, a good person! Helped Auntie beat the bad guy!”
The little girl’s unreserved trust caused Mo Zhiyun, who was accustomed to the unpredictability of human hearts, to soften. She let out another soft laugh.
This time, it was from genuine delight. “What a clever little girl.”
As they spoke, Mo Yanchen walked back with his small hands behind his back, looking very serious.
Chang Gongzhu looked up with a teasing smile. “Well? Has our Imperial Eldest Grandson played the part of a fair and honest judge today?”
Mo Yanchen gave his imperial aunt an expressionless look.
Nuannuan immediately scurried to Mo Yanchen’s side, staring at him with bright, sparkling eyes.
“Thank you, Brother. Brother is a good person.”
Mo Yanchen remained stiff-faced.
However, as his gaze fell upon Nuannuan’s small face full of admiration, he paused imperceptibly.
He gave a faint “Mm” in response.
The tips of his ears, however, quietly turned a thin shade of red.
Chang Gongzhu took in the entire scene, the smile in her eyes deepening.
So, it turned out that the root of her nephew’s unusual behavior today lay with this little girl who had suddenly appeared from the Wu’an Wangfu.
Looking at the two children—one pretending to be mature and cold, the other innocent and romantic—a thought suddenly popped into her head.
If she were to arrange a childhood betrothal for these two little ones, it would be quite interesting.
Only…
Her gaze swept over the isolated Xiao Yunshu, and then thinking of the Wu’an Wangfu’s current situation, she couldn’t help but sigh in her heart.
The Wu’an Wangfu probably couldn’t afford to worry about such things right now.
Since the Imperial Eldest Grandson had already spoken, Xiao Yunshu could not be too aggressive.
Now that the matter was resolved, the interest in the Shanghua Yan had been lost, and everyone prepared to disperse.
Only then did Xiao Yunshu notice that Nuannuan had somehow scurried over to Mo Yanchen’s side and was chatting away non-stop.
Startled, she stepped forward in a few quick strides and hurriedly scooped Nuannuan up. “Please forgive her, Your Highness. My niece is young and ignorant. If she has offended you in any way, I hope Your Highness can be magnanimous.”
This Imperial Eldest Grandson had a cold and withdrawn personality; if Nuannuan were to offend him…
Nuannuan was in the middle of talking excitedly when she was suddenly lifted off the ground. She instinctively reached out her small hand toward Mo Yanchen. “Brother.”
“Nuannuan, this is the Imperial Eldest Grandson. You must not be impolite.”
The moment Nuannuan was carried away, the expression on Mo Yanchen’s face seemed to grow even colder and harder.
But seeing her reluctant call, the slight displeasure in his heart vanished instantly.
His face remained expressionless, but his tone softened considerably. “It is no matter.”
“Auntie, play with Brother!”
“Nuannuan wants to play with Brother.”
Nuannuan waved her hands and kicked her legs in a hurry.
Mo Yanchen’s gaze drifted awkwardly toward his imperial aunt. He cleared his throat, his voice still flat. “Tomorrow at the hour of Si, I will go to the Wu’an Wangfu to find you.”
Hearing this, Nuannuan immediately forgot her slight grievance. Her large eyes curved into crescents, and she wiggled in Xiao Yunshu’s arms.
“Really?”
“Okay, okay!”
Seeing this, Xiao Yunshu felt both surprised and conflicted as she hurriedly thanked him on Nuannuan’s behalf.
Mo Yanchen gave a slight nod and said no more.