Chapter 14: Who Dares Slander Me?

Upon hearing Xia Jiujang’s voice, Xia Yue’er was stunned. She stared in disbelief at Xia Jiujang, who appeared in Anke Courtyard with her clothes immaculate and her hair perfectly arranged, not a hint of disorder. The people outside Anke Courtyard parted to make way, and Xia Jiujang entered with calm composure, her steps light yet dignified. A regal presence radiated from her gaze, so much so that Xia Yue’er felt this Xia Jiujang was a stranger.

Xia Yue’er’s heart pounded wildly, anxiety and shock flooding her. Xia Jiujang should have been at Qinlin Courtyard; Lin Baixue had specifically sent servants there to seize her. How could Xia Jiujang appear in Anke Courtyard with no sign of dishevelment? But if she had come from Qinlin Courtyard, none of the servants sent had returned, which meant Xia Jiujang had never been at Wei Aunt’s Qinlin Courtyard at all.

Whispers rippled through the crowd, “The Lady of Jin has come at such a moment.”

“What difference does it make? After what happened between His Highness and the third miss of the Xia family, he’ll surely have to take responsibility.”

“I thought the prince was indifferent to women; how could he be involved with the third miss?”

“He may be indifferent, but if he was drunk, that’s another matter.”

“This is Anke Courtyard; maybe His Highness mistook the third miss for the eldest.”

When Xia Wentao saw Xia Jiujang, he froze for a few seconds, then quickly spoke with a cold face, “Where have you been? The banquet isn’t over yet. We searched all over the Xia estate for you two…”

How amusing—what a father she had. Seeing Xia Chan’s clothes in Anke Courtyard and assuming she’d been involved with the prince, he no longer regarded Xia Jiujang as the Lady of Jin, addressing her merely as ‘you’, his expression changing faster than flipping a page.

Xia Jiujang replied with certainty, “I’ve been staying in Anke Courtyard since my return, but suddenly grew nostalgic for my old quarters, so I took a walk to Yi Residence.”

Xia Yue’er asked, puzzled, “Sister, weren’t you accompanying Chan’er to Qinlin Courtyard to change clothes? How did you come from Yi Residence?”

Xia Jiujang’s clear eyes fixed on Xia Yue’er, as if peering straight through her. Xia Yue’er felt unsettled, as though Xia Jiujang could see every thought in her heart.

With a gentle smile, Xia Jiujang explained, “I did accompany Chan’er to Qinlin Courtyard, but after she finished changing, we parted ways. I wished to revisit Yi Residence, and Chan’er probably headed to the front hall for the birthday banquet.”

Xia Jiujang acted as if she had no idea Xia Chan was in Anke Courtyard—innocent and artless, her performance could truly fool anyone.

Now, the people in Anke Courtyard looked at Xia Jiujang with a flicker of amusement. Her own husband was entangled with the third miss of the Xia family during the banquet, right here in Anke Courtyard, and Xia Jiujang was utterly clueless—a pitiable fool.

Xia Yue’er frowned. Hadn’t Xia Chan said she would ruin Xia Jiujang’s reputation? Why hadn’t she trapped Xia Jiujang in Qinlin Courtyard? It seemed Xia Chan was so intent on getting close to the Prince of Jin that she forgot to deal with Xia Jiujang—a failure indeed!

If they couldn’t topple Xia Jiujang, she would remain the Lady of Jin. Even if Xia Chan entered the Prince’s mansion, she’d be no more than a secondary consort—perhaps not even that.

But Xia Yue’er gradually calmed herself. Even if Xia Jiujang’s reputation wasn’t destroyed, she could still become a laughingstock: her husband had been caught with her younger sister during the homecoming banquet. How ridiculous for the Lady of Jin.

Even the dullest of minds could now grasp what had happened. Wei Aunt advised Xia Chan not to act rashly, but Xia Chan refused to listen. Yet the outcome seemed to be under Wei Aunt’s control.

With Xia Chan and the prince physically intimate, and so many distinguished guests present for the birthday banquet, the prince would find it impossible to defend himself. This would force him to marry Xia Chan, elevating Wei Aunt’s status. Where she had once been suppressed by Lady Lin Baixue, now she could rise above.

Wei Aunt wailed, “My daughter—how could Chan’er do such a thing? She must have been drunk to overstep the rules with His Highness.”

Her cries thundered through the courtyard, surely audible even outside.

Xia Jiujang asked, “What does Wei Aunt mean? What happened between Chan’er and His Highness?”

Xia Yue’er stepped up to Xia Jiujang, speaking sympathetically, “Sister, to think such a thing has happened… But now that it has, you must endure it. Pick an auspicious day to let our third sister enter Prince Jin’s mansion.”

“What do you mean by that?” Xia Jiujang stared blankly at Xia Yue’er.

Apparently, Xia Jiujang was completely in the dark. Old Madam Xia made a few tutting sounds, “Chan’er and His Highness in Anke Courtyard… They have become husband and wife. Look at all these clothes on the floor—they’re still lying in bed…”

Xia Jiujang stepped into the front hall, staring in stunned silence at the mess.

A flicker of triumph flashed in Xia Yue’er’s eyes. Today, Xia Jiujang had returned home, so arrogant at the gate; now, she would plummet from the clouds. Let her recognize early that she’s nothing but a useless fool, no match for the Xia family.

Xia Yue’er waited to see Xia Jiujang embarrassed, shocked, panicked, and broken, but the reactions the Xia family wanted never appeared on her face.

She showed no surprise or distress, did not weep or look disheveled. Instead, she spoke calmly, “You claim His Highness and Chan’er have an improper relationship? Yet you all stand here in the front hall, without even lifting the bed curtain. How can you be certain the person inside with Chan’er is the Prince of Jin?”

Xia Yue’er exclaimed in shock, “Sister, are you refusing to acknowledge what happened between His Highness and Chan’er?”

Wei Aunt snapped, “What does Her Highness mean by this? This is the Anke Courtyard where you and His Highness reside; Chan’er’s clothes are torn and scattered. How can you deny that the people inside are His Highness and Chan’er?”

Xia Yue’er added, “Even if you don’t want Chan’er to enter Prince Jin’s mansion, you shouldn’t go so far as to deny it.”

Wei Aunt glanced at Xia Jiujang, “Exactly. Chan’er is your sister—after being intimate with His Highness, how can you, as her elder, so thoroughly distance yourself? Truly disheartening for the family!”

Xia Jiujang replied with a smile, “Wei Aunt, you jest. Anke Courtyard is where His Highness and I reside, but the room that should be mine now contains Chan’er. Similarly, the person who should be His Highness may not necessarily be him.”

The people in Anke Courtyard chattered, “His Highness and Xia Chan—no matter how much Her Highness denies, it’s useless.”

“Indeed, Her Highness’s denial cannot erase the facts.”

“His Highness defiled the third miss of the Xia family—if word spreads, this will be catastrophic.”

“We should cover it up and let Xia Chan enter Prince Jin’s mansion. How improper to make such a scene.”

Xia Wentao spoke coldly, “This isn’t something Her Highness can talk her way out of. If you don’t believe it, lift the bed curtain. Then the truth will be undeniable.”

Xia Jiujang hesitated, “Father, it’s best not to lift the curtain. If you do, it will only bring shame upon the Xia household.”

Xia Wentao thought Xia Jiujang was afraid and looked at her triumphantly. She was merely a child. He pressed, “If you won’t lift the curtain, then give us an answer. Will you let Chan’er enter Prince Jin’s mansion, or do you have other plans?”

Xia Jiujang’s eyes grew cold. “Father, do you insist on demanding an answer in front of all the guests?”

Xia Wentao declared, “His Highness and the third miss have done such a thing. Even if you evade responsibility, I, the Chancellor, will report this to Emperor Zongkang and ask His Majesty to clear Chan’er’s name.”

He was forcing Xia Jiujang to agree to Xia Chan entering Prince Jin’s mansion—if she refused, he would make the scandal public.

Seeing the faces of the Xia family, Xia Jiujang almost wished Xia Wentao would make a scene.

A cold voice sounded from within the courtyard. No one knew when Jun Buwen had appeared in Anke Courtyard, but he spoke loudly, “I wish to know—who is slandering me with claims that I defiled the third miss of the Xia family?”