Su Ying smiled. She had finally stopped pretending. This was excellent!
Upon hearing Mrs. He’s words, the crowd grew increasingly clamorous, demanding that Su Ying be drowned in a pond.
However, He Changchun felt that the situation had spiraled far beyond his expectations. He had only intended to take Su Ying as his concubine, not to have her drowned. If she were executed in such a manner, he would truly be left with nothing.
So he stepped forward, shielding Su Ying, and declared, “Everyone, do not blindly trust this Taoist priest. He might be nothing more than a charlatan. After all, this involves a human life! Anyone who so casually suggests drowning someone in a pond must be suspect!”
The Taoist priest glanced at him and chuckled lightly. “What have I deceived anyone about? Did I ask for money from everyone? Or did I act out of lust? I merely stated my observation. Moreover, this woman carries an extremely heavy Killing Aura—I am not mistaken about that. Over the years, many must have remarked that she is plagued by this aura, haven’t they? Why is it acceptable when so many others say it, but not when I alone speak of it?”
He Changchun argued firmly, “Even if there is a Killing Aura, many masters possess methods to dispel it. They act with benevolence and skill, unwilling to let people suffer needlessly, so they would never lightly suggest drowning someone in a pond. If I am not mistaken, someone must have instructed you to do this with the aim of eliminating her. If my guess is correct, it must be the work of the Su family. I recall that when Su Ying’s parents passed away, rumors were fabricated to prove that the three Su siblings were cursed with this aura. Some even went so far as to release snakes and set fires—these are not things that couldn’t have been orchestrated by people. Just think: after the three Su siblings moved out of their new house, who actually benefited? At the time, I had my doubts about this matter, but I was unable to return and seek justice for Su Ying’s parents. Now that I am here, this matter will not be so easily brushed aside! Furthermore, I have one last question: did the Taoist priest truly divine through calculation that many have said this woman carries a Killing Aura, or did he hear it from someone else?”
He Changchun’s words sent a chill through the crowd, prompting them to ponder deeply.
His reasoning indeed held some weight. The Su family had considerable assets back then, which were later divided up by the second and third branches of the family. Moreover, the talk of the Killing Aura had originated from them in the first place!
Mrs. He had not expected He Changchun to expose the matter so incisively, and her heart sank with dread.
Fortunately, he was only speculating and had no concrete evidence.
She quickly composed herself and retorted, “He Juren, you cannot simply shift all blame onto us! If we had hired this Taoist priest, and we already possess the family assets, why would we drive the child to such desperation? Your words truly harm the harmony between us!”
“Heh! If I am not mistaken, the reason you invited this Taoist priest is precisely because you fear that once Yingmei is with me, she will ask me to help her reclaim the properties you seized from her. You had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure!”
With He Changchun’s statement, the crowd’s opinion shifted once again. They began whispering among themselves, pointing fingers and murmuring accusations against Mrs. He.
The suspicions toward the Su family resurfaced, and many found themselves believing them a little more.
Mrs. He’s eyelids twitched. Realizing that He Changchun’s influence was not to be underestimated, she swiftly changed her approach.”He Juren, stop spreading fallacies to deceive people here! I suspect it’s you who has improper designs on my niece. Clearly, you and your mother have been back for so long—if you had intentions of marrying Su Ying, you could have come to inform us earlier. Even if it conflicted with your father’s death anniversary, what would be the harm in notifying us and saying you’d marry her after some time?
Yet you deliberately waited until my niece’s belly was swollen before bringing this up. What schemes you’re harboring need no explanation—anyone can see it clearly! Isn’t that right, everyone?”
Before the crowd could react, Mrs. Ge couldn’t help defending her son,
“What does this have to do with my son? He long ago said he would definitely marry her. It’s she who, seeing my son’s handsome appearance and promising future, couldn’t control herself in the moment. Thinking my son would surely marry her soon, she took advantage of this to turn things upside down with him, intending to enjoy pleasures! Otherwise, why would she so easily give her personal item to my son!”
Mrs. Ge’s words sounded quite reasonable. While suspecting Mrs. He, the crowd couldn’t help shooting glances at Su Ying.
Su Ying showed nothing on her face, but inwardly she was laughing heartily.
What a splendid drama!
Unfortunately, it was time for her to make an entrance.
She stepped forward and explained to everyone, “I know you all disapprove of me, but please hear me out. I never gave He Juren any token, nor did I turn things upside down with him. I am who I am—pure and innocent!
“He Changchun turned to look at her, ‘Sister Ying.’.. you… you don’t want to have any connection with me? I… I think I roughly understand now. I’m sorry, this belongs to you!”
Rationally, He Changchun handed her the sachet from his person, his face full of desolation and weariness. Finally, he added, “If you want me to take responsibility, I’m ready anytime!”
While everyone was praising He Changchun, Su Ying roared in confusion,
“Why? Why are you all treating me like this? I’ve already told you I have nothing to do with you, so why are you pretending in public to be involved with me?
This sachet isn’t mine. Where did you get this sachet that you insist on falsely claiming is mine? Both my parents are deceased, but I’m not a lamb to be trampled by anyone!
Today, unless you prove this sachet is mine, it’s nothing but slander and insult against me!”
No one expected Su Ying to lose her temper one day, and they all stared dumbfounded at this girl.
He Changchun hadn’t anticipated it either. He paused briefly, then immediately said, “I’m sorry, I… I’ll leave now!”
The more he acted this way, the more others could sense something amiss, as if the relationship between the two was even deeper.
“Is He Juren intentionally trying to associate himself with her? Tsk tsk, such ingratitude—is this how a gentleman should behave?”
At that moment, another person approached. Everyone turned to see that Du Xiucai had arrived unnoticed.
But what did his clearly barbed words mean?
He Changchun was a provincial-level successful candidate—they couldn’t afford to offend him. Though Du Xiucai was only a county-level successful candidate, rumors said his father was a high official in the capital—they couldn’t afford to offend him either. Now that the two were confronting each other, they didn’t know whom to side with or believe.
Seeing Du Chenyu, He Changchun’s eyelids twitched slightly, but he calmly inquired, “What do you mean by this, Du Xiucai?”
“What do you mean? Hah? Back then, Uncle and Aunt Su showed you the kindness of rebirth. It was only through their acceptance that you managed to attain the position of Provincial-Level Successful Candidate. Yet now, you use a sachet obtained from a Pleasure House to slander their daughter Su Ying, claiming she had an affair with you? What exactly are your intentions?
That sachet is exclusive to the courtesans of the county’s Pleasure Houses. Moreover, if you open it, there’s an inner layer of cloth that reveals the courtesans’ pet names. Why don’t you open it and let everyone see whether the pet name inside has any connection to the person you’re implicating!”
With these words, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
Du Xiucai actually declared with conviction that the sachet didn’t belong to Su Ying? Could it be that He Changchun was truly framing Su Ying?
Hearing the murmurs of the crowd, He Changchun let out a cold laugh, flicked his sleeve, and said, “What an absolute absurdity! How could I casually tarnish someone’s reputation? To think you’d regard me, He Changchun, in such a despicable light—are you driven by jealousy or some other ulterior motive?”
“What? Is He Juren still determined to persist in false accusations? Why are you unwilling to open the sachet and check the pet name inside? One look would reveal the truth!
Or perhaps… He Juren doesn’t dare?”
Du Chenyu, elegant and composed, spoke with resounding authority.