Ziteng argued desperately, “You’ve misunderstood! We don’t know this person at all. You lecher, have you mistaken her for someone else? Why don’t you let go immediately!”

The onlookers didn’t believe her clarification at all. “What kind of place is this? Anyone who wants to cause trouble here should consider whether their status is sufficient. If you don’t know him, why would he act like this?”

The man held Qin Shuying, who was desperately protecting her veil, with one arm and said, “What these opera enthusiasts say is right. This humble one and the young lady are lovers, but I failed to please the young lady, so she’s angry with me and acting petulant.”

A man shook his head and said, “Only petty men and women are hard to handle! Brother, this is your fault. Knowing that women’s minds are unpredictable, why didn’t you properly appease her? This commotion disturbs our elegant mood—truly disappointing!”

…

Chattering and discussing, people said all sorts of things. Ziteng and Lu Ye were anxious and helpless, trying to snatch Qin Shuying back, but the man was strong, and Ziteng and Lu Ye had to prevent Qin Shuying’s veil from falling and her clothes from being torn, so they were constrained everywhere and couldn’t compete with him.

Suddenly, a shocked exclamation interrupted people’s discussions—

“Sister Shuying, what’s wrong with you?”

The newcomer was Liu Sujiang. She stared with terrified eyes, and due to extreme shock, covered her mouth with both hands, her expression like she had seen a ghost.

Seeing Liu Sujiang, Ziteng was also extremely frightened and hurried to explain, so agitated her face turned completely red. “Miss Liu, listen to me, it’s not what you see. We don’t know this lecher at all. Hey! You lecher, why don’t you let go quickly!”

The man paid no attention and said, “I only want to go inside and talk with my lover. You’re not allowed to interfere!”

Speaking thus, he lifted his foot to enter the private room.

How could Lu Ye let him succeed? She pounced and hit his arm.

The man dodged and snorted, saying to Qin Shuying, “Young lady, I’ve apologized and spoken my piece. You should tell your maids to speak properly!”

Qin Shuying trembled all over, struggling hard but not making a sound.

Just then, Liu Sujiang, who had been standing dazed in place, heard a middle-aged woman’s voice, “What’s wrong? Jiang’er?”

Subsequently, people saw a middle-aged woman flanked by two maids walking to Liu Sujiang’s side.

“Mother, that, that, that person is Sister Qin. This…”

Seeing such a situation, Liu Sujiang didn’t know how to describe it for a moment.

Madam Liu looked toward the veiled Qin Shuying. The figure was indistinct, but judging by her build and bearing, plus the information just reported, the trembling young lady before her should undoubtedly be Qin Shuying.

“Seventh Miss Qin?” Madam Liu frowned, both surprised and angry. “How can you be entangled with a man like this? What kind of behavior is this! Come here immediately!”

Ziteng hurriedly said, “Madam Liu, please listen to me. That lecher has mistaken her for someone else!”

The man snorted and said, “I’m just trying to talk with my lover. What do you all want to do? Get lost!”

Madam Liu also snorted, “I don’t care who you are, but I recognize the young lady beside you. Let her go immediately!”

Madam Liu’s righteousness moved Lu Ye to tears of excitement. She seemed to gain sudden courage, pointing at the man, “Do you know that this madam is the mother of this year’s top scholar Liu Junqing, Madam Liu! She says you’ve mistaken the person, so you have mistaken her. Why don’t you let go!”

Madam Liu raised her head, looking at the man fearlessly.

The man looked at Madam Liu suspiciously, “So what? Can she meddle in my affairs?”

Madam Liu said, “Why is it not my affair? Even if I didn’t know this young lady, any clear-eyed person can see that this young lady is completely unwilling to go in with you. Moreover, her maids have said they don’t know you at all, yet you’re still so audacious. In my view, you’re simply not a good person! In broad daylight, what exactly do you intend? In our Great Zhou’s bright and clear world, we cannot tolerate scoundrels like you committing evil!”

Madam Liu’s words were forceful and righteous, winning applause from the onlookers.

“Exactly! This madam speaks the truth!”

“This Madam Liu truly has discerning eyes!”

“Madam Liu is truly a woman who doesn’t yield to men!”

…

Seeing the situation turning bad, the man said to Qin Shuying, “Say something!”

Qin Shuying still kept her head down and remained silent. Liu Sujiang stamped her foot anxiously and said, “Sister Shuying, things have come to this point—at least say something! Are you really going to let Mother lose face? Although you’re my brother’s fiancée who hasn’t yet married into the family, as long as you prove you have no relationship with this man and were coerced, Mother will also keep it from Brother. She won’t let Brother know you’ve been so unchaste, won’t let him know you’ve already lost your purity… Mother and I both know you had no choice!”

Qin Shuying still made no sound, only grabbing Ziteng’s arm as if overcome with grief, extremely panicked, not daring to face her future mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

The crowd immediately erupted.

“What? This, this young lady is actually Madam Liu’s future daughter-in-law?”

“Her purity is already gone, yet Madam Liu can still be so magnanimous? Such a mother-in-law is truly one in a thousand!”

“Who did they say she was just now? It’s the top scholar Liu Junqing! I know him—he’s the first sixteen-year-old to become top scholar in our Great Zhou dynasty! Truly young and accomplished!”

“No wonder Madam Liu is so righteous—it comes from family tradition. To be able to raise such an outstanding son and still have such magnanimity, this young lady is truly blessed beyond measure!”

“I heard that Scholar Liu is not only profoundly learned but also extremely handsome, comparable to an immortal! Graceful and elegant, a rare beautiful man!”

“Is this true? What ability does this young lady have to be able to marry such a good man?”

“I do know—she’s Imperial Concubine Lianpin’s cousin, said to be an orphan.”

“I also know something—I heard she shows her face publicly doing business, reeking of money. How can she be worthy of someone like Scholar Liu?”

“Today she’s even been touched by someone—her purity is gone. If I had such a woman in my family, I’d definitely send her to the family temple and never let her come out again to cause trouble and bring shame!”

“Exactly! That young lady, you’ve seen how Madam Liu protects you everywhere—you should also think of others. The Liu family is such a prestigious household. If you still dare to marry into it, aren’t you afraid of shortening your life?”

“Right! Scholar Liu is so young and accomplished—if you marry him, you’ll ruin him! Now that your reputation is ruined, which official family’s wives would be willing to associate with you?”

“You should go home and call off the engagement immediately!”

“Call off the engagement! If Miss Qin has even a bit of conscience, she should call off the engagement!”

If words could kill, Qin Shuying would probably have died by slow slicing!