Chapter 356 - 357: Seeking Justice for My Sister
Chapter 356: Chapter 357: Seeking Justice for My Sister
"Yes," Xiao Shi Yu said. Seeing the eunuch speak up for her, she quietly sighed in relief and quickly led her people from the main hall.
"You need to have your wife teach this daughter-in-law of yours some manners. How could such a major blunder happen in her own home?"
Gold looked at his family with a face full of disgust. ’They’re all a bunch of lost causes.’ If he didn’t work harder at his machinations, the Huang family would disappear from the circles of Shangjing’s elite before long.
"And all of you... utterly useless in both scholarship and combat..."
Just then, a sudden, sharp shout made Gold frown. "What is all this commotion?"
"Father, should we send someone to check it out?" Huang Zhengyong asked, his face etched with worry. "Are there any other officials still lingering in the residence?"
Gold’s expression changed. He thought of the officials who were already drunk. Without another word from Huang Zhengyong, he strode outside.
Following the uproar, they found Xiao Shi Yu standing outside a room, her face a mask of distress.
"What was all that shouting about?" Huang Zhengzhi asked a young steward standing nearby. In his heart, his dislike for his niece-in-law grew.
’She was audacious enough to steal my seal to send out invitations, and then deny everything completely afterward. Just as my wife said, she’s nothing but trouble.’
"Reporting to the Eldest Master, something has happened inside," the young steward said, cautiously glancing up at them. He was extremely anxious, as he was usually in charge of this courtyard.
"Which official is inside?" Huang Zhengzhi asked in a low voice, seeing his father’s grim expression.
"I do not know, sir. This room is rather secluded. It was tidied up to serve as a temporary resting place for the event.
But today, everyone was guiding guests to the east wing. No one should have come over to this west wing.
I only ran over because I heard a loud commotion coming from the Third Young Madam’s direction. I haven’t had a chance to ask what happened."
"Enough nonsense! Go and get a clear answer," Huang Zhengzhi snapped, kicking the steward in the shin. "And tell them to stop all this racket. We still have guests in the residence!"
Just then, Huang Tong ran to Xiao Shi Yu’s side. She shot him a meaningful glance, and he, taking the cue, asked, "You all just went in? What happened?"
Xiao Shi Yu covered her face and wept. "My poor sister... How is she ever going to live this down?"
"What does this have to do with your sister? Is she in there?" Huang Tong asked, moving to push the door open. "Then just take her home. What’s the point of making such a scene here?"
Xiao Shi Yu grabbed his robes. "You can’t go in."
"This is my own family’s residence. Is there anywhere I can’t go?" Huang Tong’s expression shifted instantly. "Or is there something in there that shouldn’t be seen?"
Xiao Shi Yu looked at the members of the Huang Family with a troubled expression. "My... my sister... she was violated in there."
A gasp went through the crowd. Gold stepped forward. "Which official is it?"
Xiao Shi Yu shook her head. "I’m just a woman. How would I recognize any of those officials?
The moment I saw what was happening, I brought my people back out.
I implore you, my elders, to seek justice for my poor sister."
Huang Zhengzhi was speechless.
Gold raised a hand, signaling his personal attendants to clear the area. Then he summoned a few old matrons to enter with candles. ’Let’s see who’s so audacious as to cause trouble in my own residence.’
Once it was confirmed that things inside were... presentable, Gold finally stepped into the room with his two sons.
Xiao Wanyu was now fully dressed and huddled in a far corner, clutching her arms. She glared fiercely at the man standing by the bed.
"Don’t look at me like that. I don’t know what happened either," Ning Yuchen said. He knew he’d been set up the moment he awoke. He didn’t understand how the perfectly laid plan had gone so wrong.
Although he’d been drugged and groggily did... what was done, he distinctly remembered that the woman before him had been highly cooperative.
"Who are you?" When Xiao Wanyu opened her eyes and realized the man she’d spent a passionate night with wasn’t Ancient Wen Heng, her heart began to pound with anxiety.
Before she could figure out what to do, her elder sister had burst in with a group of people. But before she could even speak, they had all rushed out again just as quickly, closing the door behind them.
Listening to the commotion outside and glancing at the windows, she knew there was no way out. ’I can only pray this man isn’t some low-ranking nobody, or this will be a complete disaster.’
"I..."
Just then, the door was pushed open from the outside. A few matrons peered in at them, and soon a crowd of people pushed their way in. No matter how shameless Xiao Wanyu was, she quickly hid her face.
Gold stared at Ning Yuchen for a long moment. "And you are?"
"Your subordinate, Ning Yuchen, greets Lord Huang."
"Ning Yuchen?" Gold repeated, the name not ringing a bell.
"Father, he was this year’s runner-up in the imperial examination. He’s now serving in the Hanlin Academy," Huang Zhengzhi quietly reminded him.
"Ah, so it’s him," Gold said, glancing at Xiao Wanyu hiding in the corner. "And is that Huang Tong’s wife’s sister?"
"Yes, she is," Huang Tong quickly stepped forward to reply.
"Lord Ning, what exactly happened here?" Gold demanded, his eyes fixed on Ning Yuchen.
Ning Yuchen looked up at Huang Tong. Seeing him give a slight shake of his head, Ning Yuchen braced himself and said, "I do not know either, my lord. I was feeling dizzy from drinking in the front courtyard and was accompanied here by Mr. Gu to clear my head. When I awoke, it was already... like this."
With so many worldly people present, the scent in the air upon entering the room told them exactly what had transpired.
Seeing Ning Yuchen try to gloss over the matter so casually, they couldn’t help but shoot him contemptuous glances.
"But my sister’s reputation is ruined! How is she supposed to live now?" By now, Xiao Shi Yu had also realized something was wrong. ’How did it go from Mr. Gu to Lord Ning?’
But what was done was done. Based on the introduction, this man was at least a runner-up. ’While his starting point might not be as high as Ancient Wen Heng’s, he still has a promising future.’
Hearing her sister’s words, Xiao Wanyu immediately understood her intention. She was trying to make the best of this mistake.
Although she had her own reservations, it wasn’t the time for her to speak. She could only continue to hide her face and weep.
"I am already married," Ning Yuchen stated. "However, I admit fault in this matter. I am willing to offer some silver to compensate this youn—" Noticing her married woman’s hairstyle, he awkwardly corrected himself, "—to compensate this lady."
"Can this truly be settled with silver?" Xiao Shi Yu interjected before the Huang Family could speak. "My sister may be a widow, but she is still part of an official family. How can she be expected to endure such a disgrace?"
"Well..." Ning Yuchen had only intended to watch Ancient Wen Heng’s downfall. Now that the fire was burning him, it was far from ideal. "I... truly have no other solution. Please, Lord Huang, forgive me."
"Have you not considered taking responsibility for your actions?" Gold asked, narrowing his eyes at Ning Yuchen. "You cannot simply use drunkenness as an excuse to shrug everything off."