Chapter 12: Qin Xuan Entertains the Nobles in Jing City with a Scandal

Zhou Huajin, basking in the adulation of others, looked as if she were slightly drunk. Her cheeks were flushed, and she seemed to be floating on air.

At the sudden outcry, however, her smile froze instantly.

For a moment, there was complete silence, followed by a growing murmur of speculation.

Turning her stiff neck toward the commotion, she saw a woman kneeling on the ground, clutching Fang Xuze’s robe. Zhou Huajin snapped out of her daze and shouted sharply:

“Where did this lowly woman come from? Stop spouting nonsense and tarnishing Xuze’s reputation!”

Qin Xuan quickly stepped forward and whispered in her ear, “Mother Jin, so many people are watching. Mind your words.”

Qin Xuan’s reminder was purely to protect herself from any association with the scandal.

Zhou Huajin anxiously glanced around. People at the entrance had stopped in their tracks, those who had left were tugging their companions back, and others already in their carriages were pulling aside curtains to peer out.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Zhou Huajin turned her head and asked, “Xuze, do you know this woman?”

Fang Xuze impatiently pulled his robe from the woman’s grasp, barely sparing her a glance. “I don’t know her,” he replied dismissively.

The kneeling woman, Hua Niang, cradled her stomach and immediately began to wail. “Erlang, how could you be so heartless? You promised to redeem me and take me home!”

“A courtesan?!” someone exclaimed in shock.

Whispers and pointing erupted among the crowd. Some noblewomen sneered, their faces filled with disdain.

Fang Xuze glanced around nervously, stepping back in panic. “Don’t spout nonsense! I’ve never seen you before!”

Hua Niang’s tears streamed down her face. “You’re the one spouting nonsense! I even know about the birthmark on your backside!”

Zhou Huajin glared at her son, biting her lip and gripping her handkerchief tightly.

Fang Xuze’s face turned pale, and he looked down guiltily.

At that moment, another young woman stepped forward from the crowd. Her belly was even more swollen than Hua Niang’s, and she cried pitifully.

“Erlang abandoned Mei’er for someone new!” she wailed.

Hua Niang looked at her in disbelief, as though her entire world had shattered.

“So Erlang didn’t just have me as his confidante,” she murmured, shaking her head as tears fell like broken pearls. “No wonder he pretended not to know me.”

Zhou Huajin, now truly panicking, shouted loudly, “Who sent you here to ruin my Xuze’s reputation?!”

Mei’er wiped away her tears and pulled out a jade pendant from her robe. “This is the token of love Erlang gave me. Everyone, take a good look! I swear on my life, the child in my belly belongs to Fang Xuze!”

A curious noblewoman leaned forward for a better look, then stirred the pot with glee. “This does seem to resemble the Fang family’s jade pendant.”

Not to be outdone, Hua Niang quickly took out her own jade pendant and held it up toward Zhou Huajin. “I have one too! This was also given to me by Fang Xuze!”

Qin Xuan immediately instructed Hong Xiang to step forward and take the jade pendants for inspection.

After carefully examining both sides of the pendants, her expression grew stern as she locked eyes with Zhou Huajin.

Zhou Huajin swallowed hard, sweat forming on her brow. She forced herself to remain calm and argued, “My son’s jade pendants have gone missing several times. Someone must have picked them up with ill intent and sent you here to ruin the Fang family’s reputation!”

At that moment, the crowd near the entrance shifted, making way for a heavily pregnant maid to step forward.

“Second Madam! You must seek justice for Xinghua!”

She cried bitterly, “Second Young Master forced himself on me! I carry his child and dared not act without permission, but I’m about to give birth and had no other choice but to speak out!”

The onlookers were mostly stunned speechless, while a few others laughed as though watching an entertaining drama, ready to grab a handful of melon seeds to enjoy the show.

Those in carriages, initially peeking out through lifted curtains, were now stepping down, standing on the edges of their carriages for a better view, unwilling to miss anything.

Zhou Huajin turned to look at the maid in disbelief.

If she remembered correctly, this maid was from that wretched Concubine Wei’s quarters.

Concubine Wei must have been hiding her all this time!

How could the pregnancy have progressed so far without her knowing?

Today’s mess was undoubtedly connected to Concubine Wei!

The appearance of Xinghua cemented the matter, leaving Zhou Huajin’s arguments futile.

A surge of fury rose in her chest. Clutching her heart, she nearly fainted on the spot.

Her maids and servants rushed to support her.

Someone in the crowd remarked, “Even if this were a setup, it’s impossible to gather so many pregnant women in such a short time!”

“Exactly! The Fang family only sent out invitations three days ago.”

A playboy in the crowd joked, “Why not have the Second Young Master remove his pants and show everyone whether he has a birthmark on his backside?”

The people nearby burst into laughter.

Mei’er added softly, “I also know he has a mole… down there.” Her face turned red with embarrassment as she spoke.

This made the group of playboys laugh even harder.

Zhou Huajin nearly spat blood. Clinging to the hand of the nanny beside her, she barely managed to stay upright.

Qin Xuan whispered from the side, “Mother Jin, you must disperse the crowd quickly. If someone else shows up, this will spiral completely out of control.”

“If this isn’t handled properly, the Fang family’s reputation will be ruined, and our children’s marriage arrangements will fall apart. Don’t forget, Prince of Qi is here today.”

Zhou Huajin paled completely at this reminder.

Prince of Qi’s mother, Concubine Liang, had always been lukewarm about this marriage proposal.

She couldn’t let them find an excuse to call off the engagement.

Panicked and desperate, Zhou Huajin made a swift decision.

She raised her voice to the crowd. “The Fang family will never let our bloodline wander outside! Apologies for the spectacle today. Surely everyone has other matters to attend to—please disperse.”

To mitigate the damage, she resolved to endure this humiliation, presenting the Fang family as responsible to minimize the scandal’s impact on their reputation.

She instructed her nanny, “Redeem the courtesans immediately. Bring them inside and stop making a public scene!”

Then, she turned and slapped Fang Xuze hard across the face.

Her breath came heavy, with a faint taste of blood in her mouth.

It was clear now that Fang Xuze could no longer marry a respectable young lady from a good family.

At such a young age, he had impregnated multiple women from brothels. Now they would have to bring them into the household, tarnishing his character and jeopardizing his future career.

Qin Xuan addressed the crowd, “We apologize for the poor hospitality today and ask for your understanding.”

A troublemaker responded, “The hospitality was excellent, but who knew the real show would start after the banquet ended?”

The crowd erupted in uncontrollable laughter.

Hearing this, Zhou Huajin’s anger surged, and she fainted on the spot.

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Inside the Fang Estate

Fang Kun, the Second Master, was chatting leisurely with Prince of Qi, He Chengjin.

A servant rushed in with news from the front gate but hesitated, unsure whether to interrupt.

He Chengjin, with his extraordinary bearing, carried himself gracefully and treated Fang Kun with courtesy, giving him plenty of face.

Noticing the troubled expression on the servant, He Chengjin said, “Second General Fang, it’s getting late. I’ll take my leave now.”

Fang Kun stood and made a gesture of invitation. “Your Highness is welcome anytime. I will be honored to host you again.”

He Chengjin nodded. “It seems you have other matters to handle. There’s no need to see me off—I’ll leave on my own.”

Fang Kun, sensing the urgency of the servant, did not insist. He watched as He Chengjin left with his guards.

Having visited the Fang family many times, He Chengjin was familiar with the estate and didn’t need a guide.

As he walked through the covered corridor, he noticed a young girl in red crouched by a tree, drawing something on the ground with a stick.

Recalling the rumors about Fang Shuer’s mysterious recovery, his curiosity was piqued, and he approached.

“Are you Fang Shuer, or someone else?”

He wasn’t familiar with any of the Fang family’s children besides Fang Xunli and had only heard that Fang Shuer’s condition had somewhat improved.

The girl ignored him and continued drawing.

He Chengjin moved closer, and the pattern on the ground became clear to him.

A faint warmth crossed his usually calm expression as he smiled. “This is the jade pendant I gave your sister Zhenzhen when we were young.”

Fang Yuean stood up without looking at him. As though dismissing something unlucky, she smudged the pattern with her foot, threw down the stick, and walked away.

He Chengjin was left standing there, puzzled.