After that incident, the First Madam had originally locked Ziyan up to sell her away. Who knew that Ziyan somehow secretly escaped and took the opportunity to cling to Li Minfeng relentlessly, threatening him that if he drove her away, she would expose everything. She made quite a commotion.

The First Madam frowned, “A perfectly good banquet has been disrupted by a senseless maid. Someone, take her away.”

Immediately people clumsily moved to carry Ziyan away. Bai Zhi tightly grasped Ziyan’s sleeve. With both sides pulling, they actually tore Ziyan’s clothing halfway open. The First Madam angrily shouted, “Quickly pull her away!”

Bai Zhi suddenly cried out, “Look!”

Everyone’s gazes followed her words and looked over, only to see Ziyan’s fair collarbone and arms completely covered with bruises and purple marks—one could tell at a glance these were traces of abuse.

Li Changle quickly glanced once, then abruptly turned her head. The movement was so sudden that the red ruby gold-inlaid earrings on her ears jumped twice. She said coldly, “She must have done shameless things herself. Truly filthy and debauched!”

The picture of a noble young lady, pure as ice and jade.

The Fifth Prince hurriedly fawned, “Eldest Miss must not look at such dirty things, lest they soil your eyes!”

The Third Madam said slowly, “Since this maid was already given to the eldest young master, she should be under your disposal, but this way, it’s really too much…”

Her meaning was very clear. Although Ziyan was just a maid, she shouldn’t be abused like this, not to mention these accumulated injuries. The sons of aristocratic families should be upright and courteous. To do such things…

Li Weiyang sighed leisurely, as if quite unable to bear it, “Eldest Brother, I don’t mean to blame you, but Ziyan came with me from Pingcheng. She was well-behaved, obedient, and sensible. For you to force her to death like this—how can I possibly explain it?”

The First Madam narrowed her eyes slightly. Her eyebrows curved into a crescent moon arc as she said sternly, “Minfeng is usually busy with affairs—how would he notice the movements of a mere maid? The servant girls in the Li household must conduct themselves properly to serve their masters with peace of mind. This maid Ziyan must have committed adultery with a servant boy and caused trouble, then feared our reproach, which is why she ended her life.”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly and said, “Oh, is that so?”

Li Minfeng was of course the person most clear about this matter. Ziyan had persistently clung to him, wanting him to elevate her to become a concubine. But he hadn’t even married yet—how could he want such a maid? So he hardened his heart and ordered his attendants to forcibly bind this maid, either to kill or sell her. Those several men must have developed lustful intentions and secretly violated Ziyan. The key problem was, the corpse that should have been sent out of the manor—how did it appear before the public masses?! This was clearly someone deliberately causing trouble! Thinking of this, his face flushed red with anger. He clenched his fingers and responded with a cold laugh, “Regarding Ziyan’s death, I truly knew nothing.”

The First Madam said sternly, “Quickly carry her away!”

The servants began clumsily moving the corpse. However, just as they were preparing to drag the body away, there was a soft pattering sound as something fell from Ziyan’s bosom.

Li Weiyang smiled slightly and said, “Eldest Brother, this is the sachet you carry with you. Now that this maid has dirtied it, do you still want it?”

A maid inexplicably hanged herself, her body covered haphazardly with traces of abuse, and from her bosom fell the eldest young master’s personal sachet… With this series of events, everyone’s expressions couldn’t help but change.

This eldest young master of the Li family—his moral character was truly too corrupt! Not only was his conduct scandalous, he even had such perversions! Who would dare marry a good daughter to such a person? How could he possibly serve as general or minister, enter court as an official in the future? He had simply thrown away all of Prime Minister Li’s face!

Li Xiaoran’s face was iron-blue, suppressing countless amounts of fury. He stared intently at Li Minfeng, as if the next moment he would explode in rage.

The servants carried Ziyan away. Everyone recovered calm expressions, but their hearts were all churning with dark currents. Looking at Li Minfeng, their gazes seemed strange no matter how one looked, faintly revealing a kind of fear.

At this moment, Madam Liu suddenly cried out, “Su’er!” Everyone then saw a maid bringing the just-eight-year-old Young Master Liu over. Madam Liu suddenly rushed over and embraced the little boy in her arms, calling out precious treasure and dear heart.

“What happened?” Li Xiaoran asked with a frown.

The maid bowed and said, “This servant saw Young Master Liu in the back. He was looking everywhere for the toilet, which is why he got lost—”

Everyone laughed, but having just experienced that incident, their laughter was all somewhat insincere. The banquet had reached this point—how could it continue? Everyone awkwardly toasted and then all departed.

The Li family members stood at the entrance seeing off guests. The First Madam and several others all wore forced smiles, only Li Weiyang’s smile remained as usual. When Tuoba Yu passed by her, he smiled slightly and said softly, “Well done.”

Li Weiyang’s expression remained calm, as if she hadn’t heard. She bowed respectfully, “Farewell to the Seventh Prince.”

She knew that today, whether it was Tuoba Zhen or Tuoba Yu, neither would believe Li Minfeng was such a confused person. But so what if they didn’t believe? Rumors were fiercer than tigers. Tomorrow, everyone in the capital would know how morally corrupt and depraved the eldest son of the Li family was in his words and conduct.

Starting from today, whether it was Li Minfeng’s official career or marriage prospects, both were completely ruined.

This was her return gift for how he had framed her last time.

After there were no outsiders, Li Xiaoran suddenly slapped Li Minfeng across the face. The force was so great that it knocked him entirely to the ground. Even a tooth was knocked out, his mouth full of blood.

The First Madam hurriedly went up to restrain him, “Master, can’t you see that today’s matter was someone deliberately framing him?”

Li Xiaoran didn’t care about any framing or not. He only knew he had lost face before everyone. The Li family’s century-old reputation had all been destroyed in Li Minfeng’s hands. He couldn’t help but angrily say, “Framing! Who would frame him—what kind of thing is he! If he were truly innocent and blameless, why would he deliberately get involved with his sister’s maid? He’s a shameless thing!”

The First Madam’s tears fell uncontrollably, “Master, he is our eldest son. How can you not believe him—”

“Believe him? My own eyes saw everything! Of all times to lose face, he had to do such things when everyone was present. Simply scandalous conduct!” Li Xiaoran heavily kicked Li Minfeng again.

Li Minfeng suddenly twisted his head, his blood-red eyes staring at Li Weiyang, “You wretched woman! You’re the one who incited that maid—”

Li Weiyang looked at Li Xiaoran with grievance, “Father, Eldest Brother blames everything on me.”

Li Xiaoran was already at the height of his anger. Pointing at Li Minfeng, he said, “Someone, confine the eldest son to the ancestral hall to reflect on his errors for a hundred days!”

The First Madam’s face instantly turned deathly pale. She suddenly turned around, staring at Li Weiyang with eyes so vicious it was as if she wanted to devour her. Li Weiyang, however, smiled slightly and walked past Li Changle, who had been standing in place the whole time unable to speak, “Eldest Sister, I’m tired and need to return to my room first. Please make way.”

The way Li Changle looked at Li Weiyang was as if she were seeing an evil ghost crawling up from hell. She involuntarily retreated a step.