Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C027 pt2

Wushuang naturally saw the sympathy in everyone's eyes. She was not surprised by this result. She had long known that Master Qin was also a well-known figure in the capital.

In her previous life, she did not know. It was only after she got married that she learned by chance that Master Qin had long had a bad reputation. She had never imagined that a female teacher whom no one was willing to invite would be invited by the Mei family to teach her.

Her mentioning 'Master Qin' was also intentional, like casting bait. Once the bait was cast, she would see if any fish would bite. She did not think she could succeed in one go. She had underestimated Master Qin's bad reputation. Someone had actually connected it to her.

When they arrived at their destination, Wushuang planned to return. Several young ladies tried to persuade her to stay.

"Wushuang, why don't you stay and play with us?"

Wushuang smiled and refused, saying, "It's better not to. I promised Sister Yueyi that I would help her, so it's not good to leave just like that. Let's do it another time. Anyway, it's not like we won't see each other again."

After Wushuang left, the young ladies began to discuss the Mei family's affairs again.

One added a bit, another added a bit, and gradually, they pieced together more and more.

"What are you talking about?" It turned out that several young ladies who were strolling in the garden had come to this place. One of them was close to Fourth Miss Meng, so she joined the conversation.

"We were talking about…"

It had been a long time since any family's scandal had come to light. The key was that this was not a deliberate scandal, but something that had been discovered unintentionally.

Thus, more and more noble young ladies came to know about it.

Some noble young ladies had conspiracy theories, saying that Third Miss Mei must have known about the female teacher's reputation and deliberately used them as a foil to create this scene. But someone said that this female teacher surnamed Qin had disappeared five or six years ago. How old was Mei Wushuang five or six years ago?

Moreover, who would bring up such a person for no reason? It was just a coincidence that she was mentioned.

In fact, Master Qin's reputation in the circle of noble young ladies was not small. Because whenever a family wanted to hire a female teacher, or if a daughter in the family had not learned her manners well, this person would be brought up. For example, they would say, "You must never find a female teacher like that," or "You are just missing a female teacher like that to teach you."

Mei Wuxia had only accompanied the Liyang County Princess for a walk, but she did not expect that on the way back, she would encounter Seventh Miss Lu looking at her with a very strange gaze.

And it was not just her alone, but all the noble young ladies who were with her were like that.

She wondered if her clothes were dirty or her hair was messy. When she passed a small pond, she even specially looked at her reflection in the water.

Very good! Then what exactly was going on?

When she passed a flowerbed, she heard someone talking.

"I didn't expect it to be like this. I thought that eldest Miss Mei was pretending to be aloof and noble, but it turns out she has such a deep mind."

"Indeed. I used to say that Third Miss Mei of the Mei family was perhaps unwell in the head. She's been ridiculed so many times, yet she doesn't change. It must all be intentional, done by a calculating person."

"Why would she do that? What benefit does it bring her?"

"How could there be no benefit? That Third Miss Mei is so beautiful, while she is so plain. Her temperament is passable, but with her younger cousin so beautiful, doesn't it make her fade into nothingness?"

"Come to think of it, I used to believe that the Mei family had no other daughters. Yet today, two more have appeared. These two Mei family misses are quite lovely. If what you say is true, and everyone was unaware that the Mei family had other daughters, could that also be intentional? Think about it, keeping a strictly controlled Third Miss Mei by her side to set her off, and not bringing any of the beautiful ones out."

The person spoke with increasing unease, ending with a gasp of astonishment.

"Truly, this woman's schemes were underestimated!"

"You know, when we sisters have disagreements, they usually pass quickly. When have we ever seen someone with such deep-seated scheming?"

"Such a person is not to be deeply associated with."

"It's likely that the elders at home are like this, which is why the younger generation is the same. You know, that Mei Zong devoured his stepbrother's inheritance and still bullies those young ladies. This whole family is too vicious."

Mei Wuxia had only paused because she heard someone mention the Mei family. She never expected that the subject of their discussion would be her.

In these people's mouths, she had become a scheming, ruthless, and vicious woman, jealous of her own sisters and cousins.

In that instant, Mei Wuxia felt as if a thunderbolt had struck her head. Her vision blurred, her head throbbed, and she wanted to rush over and tear those people's mouths apart, but she remained motionless.

Because what these people said was true. Even if she went forward to argue, how could she possibly win? Moreover, Mei Wuxia saw that among them were several young ladies whose families were of higher standing than the Marquis Changyang's. One she could perhaps handle, but so many? How could she afford to offend them?

If she wasn't careful, this matter might escalate even further.

She thought: perhaps it was just these few who were gossiping, perhaps others were still unaware.

After memorizing their faces, she left with forced composure, her spirit lost, her mind in a daze.

Just as she was about to reach the entrance of the flower hall, Chen Yueyi suddenly appeared before her.

"Wuxia!"

"Yueyi," she saw that Chen Yueyi's expression was somewhat off, and subconsciously asked, "Yueyi, what's wrong?"

Chen Yueyi stamped her foot, grabbed her, and quickly led her away. After many twists and turns, they stopped in a secluded place.

"Is that matter true?"

"What matter?"

"It's just…"

Chen Yueyi hurriedly recounted what she had just overheard, which was similar to what Mei Wuxia had heard earlier.

Mei Wuxia couldn't help but pale slightly.

"Tell me, is that matter really true?"

"Yueyi, let me explain…"

At that moment, a sound of voices and footsteps came from not far away.

"I never expected that Third Miss Mei would be so beautiful."

"That eldest Miss Mei of the Mei family…"

The two immediately shut their mouths, but it was too late to hide. They could only stand in place, waiting for those noble young ladies to pass by.

In truth, the others were also quite embarrassed upon seeing them, not expecting to encounter the very people they were discussing. Fortunately, they had not yet said anything.

Just like that, the two groups passed each other. Chen Yueyi's face alternated between green and white. She stamped her foot and said, "Forget it, I don't have time to listen to your explanation right now. Let's talk after I'm done with my business."

Having said that, she hurriedly left.

Mei Wuxia, who remained standing, clenched her fist so tightly that her nails pierced her palm without her noticing. Her face was twisted in a ferocious grimace, her eyes filled with hatred.

You just wait, Mei Wushuang!!

***

Mei Chang and Mei E suddenly became very popular.

Originally, the two had accompanied those noble young ladies to their destination, and it was not appropriate to leave immediately. Naturally, they had to stay for a while before departing, so as not to appear abrupt.

Originally, no one paid them any attention, but who knew that suddenly people would take the initiative to talk to them, and some even came over from other places.

Some asked them tactfully why they had not been seen out before, and also inquired about matters of the Mei family, asking about Mei Wushuang and Mei Wuxia.

Mei E was fine, as she was always cautious, but Mei Chang did not have so many reservations. She naturally spoke with a half-concealed, aggrieved expression, saying things that sounded like complaints, but on the surface, one could not find fault with them. They only made people feel that she was so pitiful and the other person was so bad.

If one were to speak of complaining and expressing grievances, no one in the entire Marquis Changyang's mansion dared to call themselves second to Aunt He, and Mei Chang, who was taught by her, was not far behind.

In a short time, Mei Chang's performance and her words became further evidence for the noble young ladies who were piecing together what they believed to be the truth.

On the other side, Wushuang went to find Chen Yueyi.

"Sister Yueyi, I'm afraid I can't help you for the time being."

Chen Yueyi looked at her, her expression somewhat complicated, but she still asked, "What's wrong?"

Wushuang explained that someone had unexpectedly recognized Master Qin, and that many people were pulling her aside to ask questions. She did not know what to say, so she wanted to hide for a while.

In fact, Wushuang could have avoided this trip, but she felt that Chen Yueyi was still a good girl. Even though she was influenced by Mei Wuxia, before she caused that incident with Zhao Jianzhi, even if she was disdainful, she had always been somewhat considerate.

Moreover, she did not want to let Mei Wuxia easily argue that it was all her deliberate scheme, using Chen Yueyi as a stepping stone to try and turn the tables.

After listening, Chen Yueyi's expression became even more complicated. "Alright then, anyway, we're done with the busy work for now. Find a place to sit and rest, and come back when the banquet starts."

"Thank you, Sister Yueyi."

At the same time, a commotion arose among the male guests.

Marquis Xuanping personally came forward to greet someone at the main gate.

By this time, almost all the guests who were supposed to come had arrived, and there were no idlers in front of the Marquis Xuanping's mansion gate. At this moment, the main gate, the second gate, and the main hall were all wide open, all to welcome the distinguished guest.

Marquis Xuanping bowed slightly, attending at the side, surrounded by many guards. In the middle walked two tall men.

One was tall and robust, wearing an indigo brocade robe, and the other was slightly thinner, wearing a dark gray long robe with gold embroidered dark patterns, his waist bound by a white jade-inlaid belt with auspicious cloud patterns of the same color.

The servants stood far away and could not see the people in the middle. They could only vaguely see the gold crown on the distinguished guest's head and the gold embroidery on his robe flash by, and could not help but exclaim in their hearts: Which distinguished guest has arrived?