These words were spoken with sincere earnestness and reasonable logic. The crowd’s doubts were stirred by his speech. Thinking back to how Qin Shuying had said very little earlier while the maid had been shouting loudly – how very improper indeed. Could she truly be ill?

Qin Shuying slowly raised her head, her eyes sparkling brightly as they met the crowd’s suspicious gazes.

Lu Changxuan was indeed a master, wasn’t he?

With just a few words, he could make things develop in the direction most favorable to him.

Nanny Liu also came to her senses, thinking that the son-in-law truly had methods – with just a few words, he could turn the tide.

Just as she was about to speak, she saw Qin Shuying smile gracefully. Nanny Liu’s heart skipped a beat – she was going to—

Indeed, as soon as Qin Shuying opened her mouth, Nanny Liu was terrified.

“Physician Lu, Lady Zhao and Lady Zhong are both ladies who know and observe propriety. Today was your son’s full-month celebration, and they originally brought valuable gifts, yet they left in such haste without even eating. If they hadn’t seen something they shouldn’t have seen or heard something they shouldn’t have heard, why would it come to this? What’s this – there’s nothing wrong with Physician Lu privately associating with people, so why didn’t the two ladies dare to listen or look? Everyone present knows about court affairs – do you think you can fool them with this? Or does Physician Lu think everyone present are fools to be deceived and manipulated at will? Physician Lu has grand ambitions and has boarded some ship or other, so he no longer puts the people of Chongde Lane in his eyes! Physician Lu is an in-law of Noble Consort Lianpin, and Noble Consort Lianpin has always been gentle, virtuous, proper, and self-respecting. She would naturally never look down on the people of Chongde Ward. From this perspective, Physician Lu must have an even more substantial backing!”

Lu Changxuan’s brow twitched as he recalled Qin Feifei’s occasional complaints that this cousin would dare say anything. He originally hadn’t paid much attention – what could a small boudoir maiden say? At most some sharp, sarcastic remarks.

Who knew she would dare to hint at even court matters!

And she spoke so rapidly that he couldn’t get a word in.

This statement was truly killing two birds with one stone!

Lu Changxuan was shocked in his heart, thousands of thoughts flashing through his mind in an instant. Qin Shuying was right – he indeed had other schemes. Noble Consort Lianpin hadn’t accomplished any major affairs for him in all these years, always saying she had to consider Sixth Prince’s reputation…

But he said with a pained expression, “Seventh Sister, I know you resent me for not sending word to Young Master Liu to come see you, so you harbor resentment toward me and speak rudely. Seventh Sister, though you and Young Master Liu have a marriage contract, you haven’t wed yet – private correspondence is absolutely improper. Mother-in-law has advised you several times, but you wouldn’t listen. Now you’re making such a scene again – you’re really being too childish! What am I to say! Come, let’s go inside. I won’t hold your mischief against you.”

Qin Shuying smiled slightly. Lu Changxuan – now this was a formidable person.

Fortunately, she had planned and considered today’s events multiple times. Otherwise, with just this one statement from him, her reputation would be completely ruined, and she’d never be able to establish herself in the capital again!

Indeed, the increasingly crowded mob erupted, everyone discussing animatedly.

Many people showed no courtesy to Qin Shuying, saying she didn’t observe womanly virtue.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man said loudly, “I find it strange – why is it that we never hear of ladies having trysts with men in other households, yet in your household, first your wife had a tryst with someone, then your wife’s sister had a tryst with someone at Duke Chu’s residence, and now this young lady is having trysts with men. Next, will all the female relatives in your residence be having trysts with people? Old Madam Lu must be nearly fifty now – if she were to have a tryst with someone, wouldn’t that frighten people to death!”

“Pfft!”

Several people couldn’t help but burst into laughter, and immediately everyone was laughing, their contempt for the Lu residence unmistakable.

Most of them were servants from the powerful households of Chongde Ward, naturally unafraid of a mere fifth-rank physician.

Lu Changxuan clenched his fingers, looking up to see more and more people walking over from the street. Even many small vendors had come, swarming in this direction.

Before he could say anything, the man continued, “Physician Lu, this young lady is your wife’s sister, yet in front of so many people, you’ve ruined this young lady’s reputation with just a few words. This isn’t how in-laws behave – this is how enemies act. Are you trying to force this young lady to go back and hang herself with a white silk rope? This is clearly how enemies behave. It seems this young lady was right – the Lu family has long coveted her possessions. If this young lady dies, the Lu family can fish in troubled waters and obtain quite a few things.”

This statement immediately gained everyone’s agreement: “Exactly, exactly.”

The people present weren’t fools. On the contrary, since they could serve in powerful households, they were all shrewd. With the man’s explanation, their instinctive disdain for Qin Shuying immediately transformed into another kind of feeling.

Lu Changxuan looked warily at the man, but unfortunately, the man had a full beard covering his face, making it impossible to see clearly.

The servant had already brought the calling card over. Seeing the situation, he dared not say much, much less request instructions from Lu Changxuan.

Someone else said, “You really do take us for fools, thinking everyone would believe your vague words and look down on this young lady? This is at the feet of the Son of Heaven – someone who grew up in Jing’an Ward dares to run wild in Chongde Ward. He truly doesn’t know his place! Our Chongde Ward’s reputation is being ruined by people like you! Ignoring all rules, speaking wildly!”

Another person said, “Your wife – wasn’t she calculated against like this by you and then burned to death? You wouldn’t even spare your own son – truly vicious!”

“His son fell ill, and Physician Lu wouldn’t let anyone treat him. That child died in agony!”

“What? It was like that? Truly unworthy to be a father!”

“That’s not all – his wife was burned to death by him!”

“Why was that?”

“Why? Didn’t he have an affair with that widowed sister-in-law? That widowed sister-in-law was a legitimate daughter, while his wife was a concubine’s daughter! He originally favored the legitimate daughter, but back then the Lu family was dirt poor, and her family looked down on him, so he had to settle for marrying the concubine’s daughter. When he became successful, he had an affair with the legitimate daughter, so the concubine’s daughter became an eyesore, didn’t she?”

“If that’s the case, wasn’t his wife’s affair with the steward a frame-up?”

“How could it be false? Nine times out of ten, she fell into Physician Lu’s trap! Look at him – he casually opens his mouth and pins the crime of having trysts with men on his in-law. Setting up a trap for his wife would have been child’s play for him!”

The crowd grew indignant, and more and more people gathered at the gate, actually occupying most of the street.

“Such a heartless and ungrateful person truly brings shame to all officials!”

“Go back to Jing’an Ward! You’re really disgracing Chongde Ward!”

“Such heartless and ungrateful people ruin our Chongde Ward’s reputation!”

“Get out!”

“Get out!”