Little cleverness… Was that praise or mockery?

But as soon as this thought arose, Fu Tingyun’s mind went blank at his mention of “adultery.” It took her a moment to recover.

“What did you say?” Her legs weakened, and she collapsed into the master chair behind her.

It was exposed… it was exposed… paper could never wrap up fire after all… now everyone knew… The Fu family had only so many people, and sooner or later they would guess this matter was connected to her… How could she face anyone then!

What should she do?

What could she do now?

Fu Tingyun’s hands and feet turned ice cold.

How could this happen?

Where were the elders of her family?

Such matters would only worsen with delay—a principle she understood well. How could the elders not know this? Why would they let it drag on without resolution?

She was the daughter of the Fifth Branch, confined in Biyun Temple, yet those watching over her were her First Aunt’s people… Bobo was her mother’s trusted servant, yet she had disappeared without anyone in the household noticing… Her First Uncle had been a county magistrate, handling numerous cases and investigating many injustices. How could he fail to deal with someone like Zuo Junjie, allowing rumors to spread? Didn’t he understand how damaging this was to the Fu family?

The more Fu Tingyun thought, the more alarmed and disheartened she became. Thoughts she had been avoiding began to surface again.

The man across from her was saying something, his lips moving, but she couldn’t hear a word.

He knocked “thump-thump” on the tea table, like beating a drum, startling her back to awareness.

She looked at him in bewilderment.

“I found out another piece of news,” he said, his eyes cold as he gazed at her. “The Yu family from Fengle Ward in Nanjing will send people next month to set the wedding date. The Fu family is busy cleaning the courtyards and arranging decorations for this…”

The Yu family was coming to set the wedding date!

Fu Tingyun felt a chill run through her entire body. If they learned about her entanglement with Zuo Junjie, they would certainly break off the engagement.

By then, her reputation would be ruined—even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn’t cleanse her name…

“We had an agreement. You would help me locate the granary, and I would help deliver a letter to your mother.” His face was stern, his expression rather severe. “Since you have fulfilled your promise, I am not one to go back on my word.” His dark eyes were sharp, like the edge of a knife passing close to the ear, making one’s blood run cold. “I think there are some matters the Ninth Young Lady should explain to me. Otherwise, I cannot deliver this letter, and wouldn’t that make me an untrustworthy person!”

What could she say?

That she had been falsely accused of having an affair?

Would he believe her?

Chen Mama had even said, “Flies don’t land on eggs without cracks”… If she spoke up, wouldn’t she just be humiliating herself?

Fu Tingyun’s face flushed red, and her throat felt as if something was blocking it.

He remained silent, just sitting there quietly watching her.

The air slowly solidified, pressing on Fu Tingyun until she could hardly breathe.

“If you wanted me to deliver a letter to your father, I would have ways to do that,” he spoke, breaking the stalemate. “But men and women should be separate, and delivering a letter to your mother under these unclear circumstances—I’m afraid I’m willing but unable. Perhaps you should ask me to help with something else…”

Without him, she couldn’t take a single step forward.

Seeing him about to back out, Fu Tingyun grew anxious.

“No!” Her voice was unprecedentedly shrill. “I’ll tell you… I’ll tell you…”

Her eyes began to moisten.

She lowered her head, not wanting to let her tears fall, and even less wanting to see contempt in his eyes.

“My eldest sister-in-law’s younger brother, who grew up in our household…” Her voice was like a stagnant river, slow and lifeless.

He listened without interruption. After she finished, he remained silent for a moment, then said: “You suspect your First Uncle?” His voice was as calm and flat as ever, as casual as if he were asking if she had eaten.

Fu Tingyun looked up, staring at him in astonishment.

He frowned: “If something happened to you, how would that benefit him? How would it benefit the Fu family? I think that Zuo Junjie is the one with serious problems…”

He not only didn’t doubt her, but was helping her analyze the situation…

She stared at him woodenly, not knowing what to say.

Then he asked: “Can you draw?”

She nodded blankly.

“Good, draw me a layout of the Fu mansion,” he said, “so I won’t get lost when the time comes.”

Was he planning to enter the mansion to gather information?

Fu Tingyun quickly brought out brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Collecting her thoughts, she focused on drawing a layout of the mansion.

He pointed to various places in the drawing and asked: “Is this where your grandmother lives? And this is where your First Uncle lives…”

She nodded to each question.

He stood up: “I’ll come back at midnight!”

Fu Tingyun wanted to grab his sleeve but felt it would be improper, so she withdrew her hand and reminded him: “The layout map!”

“I’ve already memorized it,” he said casually, leaping onto a ceiling beam.

“Brave sir!” Fu Tingyun called up to him.

He looked down at her.

She took a deep breath: “I… I have been wronged!”

He nodded and flipped onto the roof.

The roof tiles were replaced one by one, blocking the sunlight from outside. The room darkened, blurring her silhouette.

Whether from fear of the inevitable developments, anger at the exaggerated rumors, the injustice of being falsely accused, or gratitude that he hadn’t questioned her claims, her tears could no longer be held back. She fell onto the bed and wept silently.

Chen Mama knocked at the outer door: “Ninth Young Lady, Ninth Young Lady…”

She didn’t want to see or deal with anyone.

“I heard a scream… and it sounded like someone was saying something…” That was Fan Mama’s voice, with an uneasy tone.

“Break down the door!” After a long silence, Chen Mama ordered. “We can’t let anything happen!”

The people outside responded and began ramming the door with heavy thuds.

Fu Tingyun lay motionless.

With a loud “bang,” the door fell to the ground.

Chen Mama saw her lying on the bed and rushed over.

“Get out!” Fu Tingyun remained still, heavily uttering just two words.

Chen Mama was quite surprised. Her brow relaxed, and she made a gesture toward Fan Mama and the others, quietly retreating while leaving two people to repair the door.

…

There were many things to deal with in the coming days, so she needed to conserve her energy.

Fu Tingyun reminded herself of this and slept through the entire afternoon.

After dinner, she went to check on Han Yan, then returned to her room to wait for him while reading “Miscellaneous Items.”

But she couldn’t focus on a single word.

Who was he?

Why hadn’t he questioned her when he heard about Zuo Junjie producing such evidence?

Did he think it was none of his business and thus ignore it? Or did he truly believe she had been wronged?

He was still willing to deliver a letter to her mother, so perhaps he believed her more?

Or maybe he was just fulfilling his promise?

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, small pebbles fell from the roof.

She quickly put down her book and blew out the lamp.

Outside came a series of sounds—Chen Mama and the others were also retiring for the night.

In the darkness, she retrieved several vegetable buns and a bowl of white rice porridge from behind her bed: “Have you eaten, brave sir? I saved these from my dinner… Please make do with them!”

He didn’t stand on ceremony but sat in the master chair and began eating.

Fu Tingyun poured a cup of tea and sat opposite him.

They talked as he ate.

“…When I reached your mother’s quarters, it was already the second watch, so I didn’t disturb her.” his voice was low and flat, yet reassuring to her. “In the rear courtyard of your First Uncle’s residence lives a young man about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, tall and handsome, though with a somewhat prominent nose and thin lips, giving him an arrogant appearance…”

“That must be Zuo Junjie!” Fu Tingyun also lowered her voice.

“Zuo Junjie seems to be confined as well,” he said. “Two burly men are guarding his door, and all the windows in the back courtyard have been sealed with wooden strips.”

“I never expected First Uncle would confine him in the house…” Fu Tingyun’s feelings were mixed.

She had suspected her First Uncle all along… clearly she was wrong… but why had things still developed to such an unmanageable state?

A strange expression crossed her face.

Two people at odds with each other, one in the city and one outside it, yet sharing the same fate.

“I questioned several Fu household servants about your family’s situation. No one had heard of anything unusual with your mother. One servant even said that two days ago, he saw your mother talking with your Third Aunt under the eaves of your grandmother’s residence.”

“When asked about the rumors in town, they all became agitated, saying someone was trying to frame the Fu family. They insisted that the Fu family’s reputation was spotless—no adult male enters the inner quarters, and female servants must travel in pairs when leaving the inner quarters. They said any talk of adultery was pure fabrication.”

“As for that country estate where your household staff is being held, I went there too. Both the people around and those at the estate firmly believe they have an epidemic. It’s said that some people who caught the disease are still bedridden to this day.” He pondered, “I suspect these rumors didn’t originate from within your household.”

She was amazed that in just one afternoon, he had discovered so much.

Fu Tingyun looked at him in surprise.

“You say my mother is well?”

“At least that’s what I found out!” he replied steadily.

Let’s hope so!

Fu Tingyun sighed in relief, then after a moment asked: “You suspect someone is framing the Fu family?”

“It’s hard to say!” he said thoughtfully. “In this world, people bustle about for fame and toil for profit. There must be a reason… If only we could ask your family elders!”

Fu Tingyun understood his meaning and recalled: “Our family has lived in Huayin for generations, always being kind to others, distributing porridge and repairing roads, never shirking our responsibilities. Our relatives by marriage are also close and affectionate. I’ve never heard of any feuds with other families…” Thinking of Zuo Junjie, she asked, “Could it be him?”

“That’s what I can’t figure out,” he frowned. “If he wants to marry you, he wouldn’t want to make a big scandal. Otherwise, even if the marriage were to happen, it would be a laughingstock, making him unable to hold his head up for life. After all, he’s a scholar and should understand propriety better than most. You’re already engaged to the Yu family—how could that engagement be broken without reason? Does he think that with this scandal, the two families would quietly break off the engagement? Besides, the Yu family’s ancestors were known for their generosity, creating much goodwill. He’s studied hard for ten years—isn’t it all for the chance to be listed on the golden roll and become an official? How would offending the Yu family benefit him? The Fu family’s Eleventh and Twelfth Young Ladies, both legitimate daughters two years younger than you, aren’t engaged yet and would have substantial dowries. Why would he set his sights specifically on you?”

As he spoke, he glanced casually at Fu Tingyun.

The light from the large red lantern on the eaves shone through the window, casting a dim glow. Her jet-black hair contrasted with her snow-white skin. Her oval face was graced with almond-shaped eyes that sparkled like rippling water, radiant with every glance. She was more vibrant than peonies and more delicate than crabapple blossoms.

His heart stirred.

Perhaps Zuo Junjie had been captivated by her beauty!

She stared at him with wide eyes, making her lovely eyes appear even more clear and bright, enchantingly beautiful.