Upon arriving at Wuxing Temple, one should follow local customs and dine with the monks in the main kitchen. However, these young noblemen and ladies from the capital city have more privileges. They usually send their attendants and maids to the main kitchen to bring them their meals, and mostly eat in their own rooms.
The Five Elements Temple has east and west wing rooms for believers to live in, and several rooms form a small courtyard. Ouyang Yue, Ouyang Rou, and Rui Yuhuan are from the General's Mansion, so they naturally live together. Li Rushuang is on good terms with Ouyang Yue and came together with her. She also asked for a courtyard. Li Rushuang had dinner with Ouyang Yue and chatted for a while before returning to her room. This time, Ouyang Yue did not bring Chuncao with her, so all the tasks of packing and carrying fell on Dongxue's shoulders.
Ouyang Yue had probably come out out of boredom, so she brought a few books. She was half-reclining on the bed, flipping through them, when the door opened. Ouyang Yue didn't pay any attention, figuring Dongxue should be back soon after collecting the dishes. But when the person came to her bedside and looked at her, she realized something was wrong. She immediately flung the book at the person's head. The person blocked the book, but Ouyang Yue had already jumped up from the bed and was kicking him in the nose.
The man stumbled back two steps, then reached out and grabbed Ouyang Yue's leg, which she couldn't retract in time. Ouyang Yue glared at him, saying resentfully, "Seventh Prince, do you think it's the act of a gentleman to trespass into Miss's private quarters? As a prince, you should understand how much this will damage your reputation if word gets out. I really don't know what you're doing in my room." As she spoke, Ouyang Yue maintained her kicking motion, but Baili Chen smiled, released her hand, and pulled Ouyang Yue up, helping her sit on the bed. He then turned around and sat down himself.
"Yue'er reacted so quickly. I didn't even have time to look at you a few times before you attacked. If I had been any slower, I would have been badly injured," Baili Chen said with lingering fear.
Ouyang Yue stared at him coldly: "Since you know this, why did you still do such a thing, Seventh Prince? If your face is disfigured, countless women in the world will be heartbroken."
Baili Chen looked at Ouyang Yue, his eyes seeming to brighten a bit more: "Yue'er, are you jealous? Don't worry about it. I absolutely look down on that Rui or whatever. In my opinion, none of them are as good as Yue'er."
Ouyang Yue stared at him speechlessly: "That's not what I meant. Besides, where did you get the idea that I'm jealous? Why would I be jealous?"
Bai Lichen's lips curled into a perfect arc, and his eyes sparkled: "Of course it's because Yue'er likes me a little, so she's jealous."
Ouyang Yue glared at him, really not wanting to continue the topic: "If the Seventh Prince has nothing else to say, he may return now. I am a little tired, so I will not keep you company any longer. Please, Seventh Prince."
Baili Chen shook his head: "That's not good. I heard that lying down right after a meal is bad for your health. I came here specifically to take you to a place with a rare night view of the Five Elements Temple. Let's go take a look."
Ouyang Yue snorted and lay down on the bed: "Thank you for your kindness, Seventh Prince, but I am used to lying down immediately after meals. I feel comfortable, and it is none of anyone else's business. Seventh Prince, please go ahead. I will not see you off. If Seventh Prince is in the mood for the night, please find someone else to accompany you. This humble woman respectfully sees Seventh Prince off."
Baili Chen stood at the head of the bed, watching Ouyang Yue turn over and turn her back to him. He pursed his lips and suddenly said to the outside, "Leng Sha, go and tie up Li Rushuang. The night view is nice tonight. Let's enjoy the scenery while she's tied up. Let's go." He turned to leave, but Ouyang Yue frowned and didn't get up. However, her keen hearing suddenly picked up a faint whimpering sound outside. An ordinary person would probably not have been able to make sense of it, but she knew it. She suddenly sat up. Baili Chen turned back to look at Ouyang Yue and smiled. Then he rummaged through the small luggage Ouyang Yue had brought and took out a cloak. "Yue'er, let's go. It's chilly outside. Put this on first."
Ouyang Yue coldly stared at him, then turned and walked out. Baili Chen didn't care about Ouyang Yue's anger and followed with a smile. Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue quickly met up with Li Rushuang, who was being gagged by Leng Sha outside. Then the four of them left the courtyard. Dong Xue had just returned and was stunned when she saw this situation. She also quickly followed.
The path still led to the back mountain, but after stepping onto it, Baili Chen made a turn, passed through a patch of grass, and then made two more turns, arriving at another clearing. This was clearly a completely different world compared to the flat area he had just stepped onto on the back mountain. The ground here, paved with something, shimmered with starlight, reflecting the stars in the sky. Standing there, it felt as if one were immersed in the starry heavens, instantly lifting one's spirits. At this moment, Leng Sha finally removed the gag from Li Rushuang's mouth. He had deliberately gagged her to prevent her from asking too many questions on the way and attracting attention. Now that the gag was removed, Li Rushuang stared wide-eyed, completely absorbed, unable to utter a single word.
She stared in amazement for a while before pulling Ouyang Yue along excitedly, saying, "Yue'er, this place is so beautiful!"
Ouyang Yue gave a faint reply, glanced at Baili Chen, and then smiled slightly. Her face seemed to be studded with stars, sparkling and captivating. Ouyang Yue turned her head away. Could Baili Chen be any more devilishly handsome? It really was…
Li Rushuang was already happily twirling around, looking incredibly pleased. Baili Chen pursed his lips, a hint of displeasure in his eyes. Originally, he only wanted to bring Yue'er, but he couldn't persuade her, and he couldn't use force to kidnap her, as that would provoke an even stronger reaction. So, he had to change his plans, using Li Rushuang as a hostage to force Yue'er to comply. His Yue'er did indeed comply, but unfortunately, there was now this spoilsport, hindering his efforts to cultivate a relationship with Yue'er. Baili Chen gazed at Li Rushuang, his eyes flickering, his thoughts unreadable.
Ouyang Yue, noticing the man staring intently at Li Rushuang, narrowed her eyes and said, "What do you want to do? Let me tell you, if you dare do anything to Rushuang, I will never forgive you, no matter who you are." Ouyang Yue and Li Rushuang hadn't known each other for long, but Li Rushuang treated her sincerely, and Ouyang Yue wasn't cold-blooded, so she showed her some concern for Li Rushuang. Li Rushuang was simple and straightforward, and Ouyang Yue didn't want her to suffer any harm because of her. She couldn't understand Baili Chen, so she couldn't give him the opportunity to harm Li Rushuang.
Baili Chen blinked: "In your eyes, am I someone who kills innocent people indiscriminately? I didn't intend to do anything to Miss Li. She is the daughter of the Minister of War. Do you think I would impulsively do anything to her?" Ouyang Yue just stared at him. Baili Chen smiled, "But seeing how much you care about her, I'll have to think about how to treat Miss Li in the future."
Ouyang Yue raised an eyebrow and sneered, "She's a good friend to me, but do you think it's possible for me to abandon some of my principles for her?" Baili Chen blinked but didn't speak. Ouyang Yue suddenly stared at him, scrutinizing him closely. Bathed in moonlight, Baili Chen's face was as translucent as jade, his features seemingly radiating a certain light—truly indescribably handsome. His red lips curved slightly, carrying an alluring arc. Ouyang Yue smiled meaningfully, "Speaking of which, the Seventh Prince has always seemed very mysterious to me. One reason is that the Seventh Prince used to be so frail, his face always pale with a sickly air, but in these last two meetings, I've found him to be perfectly healthy. Seventh Prince, could you tell me whether your illness is real or feigned?"
A dark glint flashed in Baili Chen's eyes, a brewing emotion seemingly about to erupt. Ouyang Yue was certain it wasn't happiness, but anger. However, Baili Chen suppressed this emotion the next moment, smiling at Ouyang Yue, his red lips curving into an even more alluring smile: "This isn't something I can't talk about, but because it's a secret, I can only tell my closest person. This closest person, naturally, refers to my future wife. I'm willing to tell you anytime, Yue'er, if you want to hear it."
Ouyang Yue turned her head away from him: "If the Seventh Prince wants to speak, how can I stop you? If you don't want to speak, I naturally can't pry your mouth open for you to speak. This is the Seventh Prince's prerogative, but I have no power to control it."
Baili Chen sighed, "If only you were as straightforward as Li Rushuang." Ouyang Yue ignored her, and Baili Chen was speechless for a moment. The two stood side by side, watching Li Rushuang play like a child under the moonlight.
Dongxue stood behind, watching Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue, only their backs visible, yet her heart trembled slightly. Baili Chen appeared slender, but he was tall and slender, with broad shoulders and a straight back, making him seem very imposing from behind. Her mistress, though possessing an extraordinary air, appeared much shorter than Baili Chen, looking petite and delicate. Standing behind her, she inevitably overheard their conversation, and thought to herself, "The Seventh Prince and my mistress are truly a good match. But their status..."
After finishing her vegetarian meal in the side room, Rui Yuhuan couldn't calm down. She hadn't brought Pink Butterfly with her this time, only Bean Sprout. Bean Sprout was Rui Yuhuan's person, whom she trusted, but Bean Sprout came from an ordinary family and, aside from taking good care of her, was actually of little use to Rui Yuhuan. She paced back and forth in the room, frowning, while Bean Sprout stood silently beside her with her head down.
Rui Yuhuan felt extremely frustrated and resentful. Her mind kept replaying the way Baili Chen had smiled at Ouyang Yue on the back mountain earlier that day. The more she thought about it, the more indignant she became. Why? She was talented and beautiful; aside from her slightly lower social status, in what way was she inferior to Ouyang Yue? Ouyang Yue acted without thinking, often making foolish mistakes, and had recently led a group to vandalize Consort Ming's courtyard—something the Seventh Prince couldn't possibly be unaware of. Shouldn't any man despise and loathe such shrewish behavior? On the contrary, she was gentle and kind, the one who should win men's hearts the most. Just like today, when she first arrived, didn't all the young men present admire her? Even after Ouyang Rou's words caused her status to drop, the number of admirers didn't decrease much. No matter how you looked at it, she was far more charming than Ouyang Yue; the Seventh Prince couldn't possibly not see that.
Rui Yuhuan grew increasingly frustrated, gritting her teeth slightly. It was definitely because Ouyang Yue came from a general's family; given Ouyang Zhide's achievements, the Seventh Prince favored her. How hateful that her father had died so ignominiously! She had cooperated with the man in black to enhance her own status and value. The man in black promised her some medicine that would make her father, Rui Huaicheng, fight bravely on the battlefield, achieve extraordinary feats, and be promoted. Initially, the medicine Rui Yuhuan gave Rui Huaicheng did indeed make him more courageous in battle, repeatedly gaining Ouyang Zhide's favor. Rui Yuhuan was overjoyed, eagerly anticipating when Rui Huaicheng would surpass Ouyang Zhide, at which point she would also be the daughter of a second-rank official. Who knew that her father would die so uselessly in battle? Although he ultimately saved Ouyang Zhide's life, making him feel guilty and treat her well, Rui Yuhuan, who had initially felt she had gotten a good deal, now felt extremely resentful.
She wondered why her father had taken the fatal blow for Ouyang Zhide. If Ouyang Zhide had died and the war had been won, her father could have taken Ouyang Zhide's position. She wouldn't be an orphan without parents, and her fate would be reversed with Ouyang Yue's. She would be the praised and fawned daughter of a military family, while Ouyang Yue would be nothing more than a puddle of mud on the ground, trampled upon at her mercy.
How hateful!
Now, seeing Ouyang Yue receive the Seventh Prince's favor every day made her feel nauseous, like she'd swallowed a fly. Why? Ouyang Yue's happiness was stolen from her; everything Ouyang Yue had should have been hers. Why did Ouyang Yue gain the Seventh Prince's attention because of this, while she was looked down upon and avoided by him? If she and Ouyang Yue had switched identities, perhaps the Seventh Prince would already be enjoying romantic moments with her, pledging their lives to each other. Damn Ouyang Yue! Everything she had was stolen from her; she absolutely could not forgive her!
The more Rui Yuhuan thought about it, the more unsettled she became. Finally, a strange light flashed in her eyes, she narrowed them slightly, smiled, and turned to leave the room. Douya immediately followed, but Rui Yuhuan turned back and said, "I'm going out for a walk. Don't follow me. Go back to your room and rest. If I don't come back in half an hour, come find me again."
Douya didn't understand Rui Yuhuan's meaning. If she wasn't going to let her go see the First Miss, why would she come back in half an hour? But Douya didn't say anything, just responded and went back to her room. Rui Yuhuan's eyes flickered. If open methods didn't work, she could always use covert ones. Every method could be used indirectly. She would absolutely not let go of the Seventh Prince.
The Five Elements Temple is divided into east and west wing rooms. The east wing is the main residence for male guests, while the west wing is naturally for female guests. At this moment, Rui Yuhuan left her courtyard, looked around, and then carefully approached the east wing. She didn't go there immediately but instead observed from among the low bushes by the roadside. It was already quite dark, and there was hardly anyone around. Rui Yuhuan smiled and headed straight for the innermost part of the east wing. The further in, the more distinguished the guest's status; that must be where Baili Chen was.
The night sky was cold and still, but Rui Yuhuan's heart was pounding. Her face was flushed, and her body felt hot. She arrived at Baili Chen's courtyard, and the moment she stepped inside, a gleaming white sword flashed before her eyes. Startled, Rui Yuhuan recoiled, but the sword was already aimed at her throat. She felt her blood rush back, and her face turned deathly pale. The sword stopped half a palm's width from her throat, and then a man coldly said, "Who dares trespass on the Seventh Prince's residence!"
Rui Yuhuan took a deep breath and looked over. She saw a man in a guard's uniform staring at her coldly. Rui Yuhuan breathed a slight sigh of relief and said softly, "Brother Guard, please forgive me. I am a young lady from an official family who came to the Five Elements Temple to participate in the Buddhist ceremony. I have an appointment with the Seventh Prince in the back mountain during the day. Please let me in."
The guard's gaze turned even colder as he looked at Rui Yuhuan. "You have an appointment with the Seventh Prince? Hmph, get out!" With that, he waved his hand, pushing Rui Yuhuan out of the courtyard gate. He was about to close the gate when Rui Yuhuan reached out urgently, saying, "It's true, I have an appointment with the Seventh Prince. Just go and inform him." Rui Yuhuan's heart was pounding. She had only dared to rush in after observing that no one was around, but she hadn't expected to be stopped. However, now that she was here, she couldn't go back. She was determined to see the Seventh Prince. She was confident that once this night was over, she would be the Seventh Prince's woman.
The guard smiled coldly, his eyes full of mockery: "It was agreed that you wouldn't know the Seventh Prince isn't in the courtyard right now. Where did this infatuated girl come from? Get out of here, or don't blame me for being merciless with my sword."
Rui Yuhuan was taken aback: "Huh, the Seventh Prince isn't in the room, but... where did he go? He clearly made an appointment with me here." The guard was slightly surprised. He had initially thought Rui Yuhuan was just a woman infatuated with the Seventh Prince's appearance, but seeing that she was being reprimanded yet still claimed to have an appointment with him, it didn't seem like she was faking it, so he fell silent. Seeing that the guard had softened his tone, Rui Yuhuan said gently, "Brother Guard, I'm telling the truth. I made an appointment with the Seventh Prince. Perhaps he's out for a walk and doesn't know I'm here. Please tell me where he is; I can't keep him waiting."
The guard, however, was now truly convinced. He had just been intimidating, frightening, and mocking her; a woman with a guilty conscience would have left long ago. This woman's persistence suggested she had indeed made an appointment with the Seventh Prince. Royal family members were pampered and often acted on impulse; it wasn't impossible for the Seventh Prince to suddenly change his mind and leave. He, however, had no idea how shameless Rui Yuhuan was, daring to say anything. The guard simply assumed the Seventh Prince had taken a liking to Rui Yuhuan and wanted to continue their affair that night, after all, he considered her quite beautiful.
"The Seventh Prince left after finishing his meal. He had inquired about the back mountain beforehand, so he probably went there."
Rui Yuhuan's eyes flickered slightly. Wouldn't her chances be even greater if she went to the back mountain? She couldn't hide her joy and smiled, "Then thank you, Brother Guard. I'll go see the Seventh Prince now." But then she looked at the guard with some hesitation, "However, the Seventh Prince originally asked me to come see him secretly. I think it's best if you pretend you don't know anything. This is also for your own good."
The guard thought for a moment and knew what was going on. He certainly didn't want outsiders to pry into the internal affairs of the royal family: "Thank you for reminding me, Miss. I understand now."
Rui Yuhuan smiled gently at him, turned around and left the east wing, heading towards the backyard. But as soon as she left the east wing, she saw a group of people walking towards her. Rui Yuhuan was about to turn around and leave, but her path was blocked.
Ouyang Rou emerged from the shadows: "Miss Rui, what are you doing out so late? You and Third Sister, if something happens to you here, how am I supposed to explain to Grandmother and Father when I get back?" Ouyang Rou was quite annoyed. She had gone to find Rui Yuhuan earlier but found no one in her room. She then went to Ouyang Yue's room, but found no one there either. This wasn't home, and Ouyang Rou was afraid something might happen. Although she had a plan to deal with Ouyang Yue, if something happened here, she wouldn't even need to deal with Ouyang Yue when she got back; her father would be furious with her first. So she could only pretend to be looking for someone.
Rui Yuhuan was taken aback by Ouyang Rou's words: "You mean the Third Miss isn't in the room either?" Her face immediately darkened. How could it be such a coincidence? The Seventh Prince wasn't in the room, and neither was Ouyang Yue. A thought involuntarily flashed through her mind about the events of the day, and a bad premonition rose in her heart. Could it be that the Seventh Prince was with Ouyang Yue? Damn it, that bitch Ouyang Yue had beaten her to it, ruining her plans again.
"Miss Rui, what do you mean by that? Do you know who isn't in their room?" At that moment, another person emerged from the shadows. Even in the night, the person's bright red clothes were visible—it was none other than Fu Meier, accompanied by Mu Cuiwei. The two women hadn't come out of goodwill after hearing that Ouyang Yue was missing, and seeing Rui Yuhuan made Fu Meier's expression even worse.
Rui Yuhuan hadn't noticed Ouyang Rou was followed by others before, but when she saw Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei appear, she was taken aback. However, an idea immediately flashed through her mind. Ouyang Yue and the Seventh Prince weren't in her room, and she instinctively felt they were together, which fueled her intense jealousy. She immediately conceived a plan to take revenge on Ouyang Yue. However, she was unsure what to do. Seeing Fu Meier appear, a new idea suddenly formed in her mind. She knew Fu Meier was also interested in the Seventh Prince, but Fu Meier was just a merchant's daughter. No matter how wealthy her family was, her background was always inferior. Even though her parents were deceased, she was still the daughter of an official, and she believed she was no less capable than Fu Meier. She hadn't taken Fu Meier seriously, but at this moment, Fu Meier could be very useful.
Rui Yuhuan hesitated in her heart: "This is probably just my imagination. I saw the Seventh Prince go to the back mountain with someone before. Could it be with Miss Ouyang? That's unlikely, isn't it?" Rui Yuhuan showed a surprised and uncertain expression.
Upon hearing this, Fu Meier's face darkened. "Are you serious? You didn't see wrong?" It's so late; what could Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen possibly be up to? Even if nothing happened, unmarried men and women going out together would inevitably lead to misunderstandings. Fu Meier didn't care about the damage to Ouyang Yue's reputation, but the crucial issue now was that Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen were involved. If word got out, would the Seventh Prince just marry Ouyang Yue like that? Wouldn't that be too easy for Ouyang Yue? What right did Ouyang Yue have to compete with her for the Seventh Prince?
Rui Yuhuan's eyes flashed with coldness, but her expression changed. She shook her head and said, "I can't be sure. I must have seen wrong. That shouldn't be Miss Ouyang's back. The Seventh Prince just left with his entourage. Please don't misunderstand. Miss Ouyang couldn't possibly be such a shameless person."
Fu Meier snorted coldly, her face darkening. "She even managed to ruin her own sister's marriage and was dumped by her fiancé. Her reputation is already ruined. If she could get close to the Seventh Prince, what face would she need? She's dreaming. Does she even deserve him?" Fu Meier was furious. She and Mu Cuiwei had come with Ouyang Rou to watch the show, hoping to stir up some trouble and maybe get a better look at the Seventh Prince. But instead, this had turned into something else entirely, ruining their mood for watching the drama.
"Let's go to the back mountain and see how shameless Ouyang Yue is. I want to see if she dares to show her despicable and shameless side in front of so many people." He then gave a look to the maid beside him, who immediately understood and shouted, "Heavens! How dare she! The third young lady of the Ouyang family dares to meet a man in secret at night! Go and see!"
Upon hearing her cry, Mu Cuiwei gave a look to the maid behind her, who immediately echoed, "The Third Miss of the Ouyang family is having a secret rendezvous with a man at night!"
The shouts immediately attracted the attention of the guests in the east and west wing rooms. Listening closely, they realized they were talking about the young lady from General Ouyang's mansion, one of the three ugliest women in the capital. What foolish thing had Ouyang Yue done this time? A proper young lady from a prestigious family, engaging in premarital rendezvous with a man—utterly shameless and despicable! While cursing, they moved with surprising speed, rushing out of their rooms to see for themselves just how shameless this third young lady of the General's mansion truly was.
Rui Yuhuan sneered. "Ouyang Yue, you're no match for me. If I see you with the Seventh Prince, your reputation will be ruined. You'll be nothing more than a despicable woman who willingly stooped to such a lowly status. If this drags the Seventh Prince down with him, he'll surely despise you. Then, without her having to do anything, the Seventh Prince will definitely hate Ouyang Yue. Not only will Ouyang Yue be disliked by everyone, but she'll also be scorned by all. No matter how thick-skinned a woman is, she can't stand having her reputation tarnished, and Ouyang Yue is no exception. If she could destroy herself or commit suicide because of this, that would be even better."
Fu Meier, Mu Cuiwei, Rui Yuhuan, Ouyang Rou, and others led their group towards the back mountain with great momentum. Before they had gone far, they saw three figures approaching from the front. Rui Yuhuan immediately narrowed her eyes and said, "Look, that's the third young lady of the Ouyang family."
"What?! It really is the third young lady of the Ouyang family! How shameless! She actually had a secret rendezvous with a man at night! How despicable!" A woman in the crowd immediately rebuked.
"That's right, but this Miss Ouyang has no reputation to begin with, so she can't get married at all. So she's just throwing caution to the wind and trying to force the issue so that the unfortunate man can't deny it. She's utterly shameless!"
"I've never seen such a shameless person. They've completely disgraced the young ladies of the capital. They're so despicable!" The crowd began to curse, while Rui Yuhuan wore a cold smile.
It was late at night, so the crowd could only see three figures. One of them was a slender figure. A taller person was carefully helping her walk, and another person was also slightly taller than her. The two walked side by side. The scene looked like a woman meeting two men in the middle of the night. The crowd was furious and cursed Ouyang Yue with words that were simply unbearable to read!
At this moment, the three figures gradually approached and became clearer, but when everyone recognized who they were, a look of surprise flashed across their faces: "What... what's going on? Wasn't it Miss Ouyang having a secret rendezvous with a man at night? How could this be..."
☆、088, let's smear each other!
Emerging from the shadows were none other than Li Rushuang, who was walking alongside Ouyang Yue, and Dongxue, who was supporting Ouyang Yue. There was no man in sight. Rui Yu's expression changed slightly, but just then, laughter came from behind.
"Seventh Prince, come quickly! I heard there's something exciting to see here. If you're late, you'll miss it." It was hard to mistake that frivolous voice for Leng Caiwen's. And when everyone turned around, the person following closely behind him was none other than the Seventh Prince, Baili Chen.
Rui Yuhuan's expression changed instantly. Didn't the Seventh Prince go to the back mountain? How did he come out from behind them? And how come Ouyang Yue is with Li Rushuang? Could it be that she was wrong?
Upon seeing this, Fu Meier's face darkened, and she stared coldly at Rui Yuhuan. How dare this bitch lie to her!
As Baili Chen walked over, the crowd automatically parted. Baili Chen, Leng Caiwen, Dai Yu, and Leng Sha walked slowly over. At this moment, Ouyang Yue, Li Rushuang, and Dong Xue also came over. Leng Caiwen smiled and said, "I heard there's something interesting to see?"
Baili Chen frowned: "Where are so many people going? This is a quiet Buddhist place. Why are you making such a racket here? It's not proper."
Everyone immediately fell silent, especially Rui Yuhuan and Fu Meier. Leng Caiwen turned to look at Ouyang Yue and asked in confusion, "Hey, didn't I hear that Miss Ouyang was having a secret rendezvous with a man in the back mountain? Why did she come back so quickly? I didn't even get to see the excitement."
Ouyang Yue paused, coldly staring at Leng Caiwen: "Young Master Leng, what do you mean by having a secret rendezvous with a man? Did you see it with your own eyes? How can you slander my innocence? I thought Young Master Leng had some misunderstanding about me, but I didn't expect you to be so disgusted as to frame me."
Leng Caiwen immediately cried out in protest: "Miss Ouyang, you've misunderstood. I have a million reasons not to believe you would do such a thing. I was just in my courtyard when I heard shouts outside, saying that I saw you having a secret rendezvous with a man in the back mountain. I came here to stand up for Miss Ouyang. Look, it was a misunderstanding after all. Isn't Miss Ouyang with Miss Li?"
Ouyang Yue's face was cold and stern: "Of course I was with Ru Shuang. During the day, I went to the back mountain to enjoy the scenery and found it pleasant. In the evening, after dinner, I went there for a walk. Does leaving for a short while necessarily mean I was having a secret rendezvous with a man? Where does this logic come from? Who is so vicious as to frame me like this? They are utterly heartless! If I had returned a little later, wouldn't that have solidified the slander?" Ouyang Yue was extremely angry, her face blazing with fury. When her gaze swept over them, those who had been loudly criticizing her, those who had come out of curiosity to watch the spectacle, and those who had maliciously slandered her reputation all lowered their heads, their faces filled with scorn.
Ouyang Yue's face was cold and aloof. Under the bright moonlight, it seemed as if it were covered with a layer of sharp frost, making people's hearts tremble slightly. However, this group of people were in the wrong to begin with.
A young lady immediately pointed at Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei and accused them, "It was Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei's maids who shouted just now. We only came out to see what was going on. We didn't believe that Miss Ouyang would do such a thing, so we came here to stand up for Miss Ouyang. Now it seems that someone has indeed made up something out of nothing and maliciously framed us. They clearly have ill intentions."
"Yes, yes, I was just curious and followed along. It's not that I believe Miss Ouyang is morally corrupt. Miss Ouyang is straightforward, but she knows her limits. How could she possibly meet with a man in secret?"
"Yes, yes, we trust Miss Ouyang and absolutely do not believe she would do such a thing." The other young masters and ladies explained one after another. Although Ouyang Yue's reputation was very bad before, so bad that they frowned just thinking about her, it did not mean that they could maliciously slander a woman's innocence. Besides, Ouyang Zhide, as a father, was known for doting on his daughter. It was fine when he was not in the capital, but now that Ouyang Yue had returned to complain, they did not want to be like Hong Wantang and Hong Yicheng, who were blocked outside the mansion and had excrement thrown at them. Of course, they wanted to stay as far away as possible. Some even praised Ouyang Yue against their will, completely different from the indignant people they had just been.
Ouyang Yue coldly stared at Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei: "So it's Miss Fu and Miss Mu. I really didn't expect you two ladies to have such refined tastes. After dinner, in order to aid digestion, you like to make a ruckus and create trouble in this sacred Buddhist place? However, you two should refrain from catching adulterers. After all, you turn your backs to Buddha. If you do too many dirty things, Buddha will see it all and send someone to enlighten you sooner or later. Amitabha, good, good. How about I recite Buddhist scriptures a hundred times for you two tonight to help you pass on to the Pure Land? Hopefully, it will be of some use."
Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei were so humiliated by Ouyang Yue that their faces turned purple, their chests heaved, and they almost fainted from anger.
Ouyang Yue didn't reprimand them as sternly as usual, but her words were even more chilling. First, she accused them of making a scene in a sacred Buddhist sanctuary, disrespecting the Buddha. Second, she accused them of maliciously slandering someone else's innocence, revealing their wicked hearts, and that the presence of such a powerful figure in a Buddhist sanctuary meant that the Buddhas would eventually send someone to deal with their venomous nature. What angered them most was Ouyang Yue's last sentence: those chanting Buddhist scriptures to pray for the deceased were all dead, people who had committed countless evil deeds in life and whose resentment lingered even after death. Ouyang Yue not only cursed them to die but also mocked their many sins.
Seeing the sudden change in Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei's expressions, the young masters and ladies who had come with them couldn't help but feel a little regretful. After all, they had come with a degree of malice towards Ouyang Yue, and her words made them feel uneasy and uneasy all over. They couldn't help but feel a sense of awe, wondering if Buddha would really be angry. But better safe than sorry, they quietly recited Buddhist verses, hoping Buddha wouldn't blame them, while inwardly cursing Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei again—those two were really just looking for trouble.
These young masters and ladies were quite familiar with Hong Yicheng and Fu Meier, so many of them went to the Ning family's birthday banquet. Naturally, they also knew that Mu Cuiwei had a falling out with Ouyang Yue when she was at the Ning family's residence, and the two were not friendly. Now that they thought about it, Mu Cuiwei must still hold a grudge about what happened back then. She deliberately caused trouble for Ouyang Yue, but she didn't know how to choose a good place. Now she has even implicated them. It's really too hateful! Looking at Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei, their expressions were very unfriendly.
Fu Meier's expression changed rapidly, and she pointed at Rui Yuhuan: "It wasn't me. It was Miss Rui who said she saw the Seventh Prince and Miss Ouyang heading towards the back mountain. My maid was so surprised that she shouted. It wasn't my intention."
Mu Cuiwei nodded immediately. Being surrounded by a group of people and stared at by several pairs of eyes with annoyance was a chilling feeling. She explained, "Yes, it was Miss Rui who said it. I can testify. She said she saw it with her own eyes. We also doubted the possibility of this, so we wanted to see for ourselves. In the end, it's because Miss Rui is ungrateful and intentionally framed Miss Ouyang. It has nothing to do with us."
The others were unaware of the details, but upon hearing Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei's explanation, they immediately glared coldly at Rui Yuhuan.
Rui Yuhuan is the orphaned daughter of a military general. Ouyang Zhide took pity on her and brought her back to the capital to stay temporarily in the general's mansion. She now lives and eats in the general's mansion and is protected by it. No matter who in this world resents the general's mansion and wants to cause trouble for it, that person should not be Rui Yuhuan.
Few people are unaware of Ouyang Zhide's doting affection for Ouyang Yue. For Rui Yuhuan to fabricate such malicious accusations against Ouyang Zhide's most beloved daughter reveals the depths of her depravity; such a beastly act is chilling even to outsiders. Rui Yuhuan's heart is more venomous than a snake; she is an ungrateful wretch.
Rui Yuhuan's face paled, and her heart skipped a beat. She had been so certain before because she thought this Buddhist monastery was incredibly boring; most people would stay in their rooms after their meal. It was highly unlikely that Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen would both be absent. Furthermore, she had been blinded by jealousy; her mind was preoccupied with Baili Chen's smile at Ouyang Yue, preventing her from thinking clearly. Therefore, she planned to exploit Fu Meier's similar jealousy to catch them in the act, ensuring the Seventh Prince would thoroughly despise Ouyang Yue. If the Seventh Prince severely punished Ouyang Yue as a result, all the better.
Who knew that while the Seventh Prince did leave, he didn't go to the back mountain as the guard had said. Instead, he mingled with Leng Caiwen and Dai Yu, and emerged from behind them, clearly not having gone far—still in the side room. Everything she had told Fu Meier earlier seemed like a lie. Moreover, she was staying at the General's Mansion; if she were to implicate Ouyang Yue in an unjust situation because of this, it would surely attract criticism, which would affect her future prospects. She absolutely couldn't let such a bad reputation spread.
This absolutely cannot be done.
Rui Yuhuan was anxious, but suddenly a thought flashed through her mind. She frowned and looked at Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei: "Miss Fu, Miss Mu, I have no idea what you two are talking about. After I finished my meal, I went for a walk and then I met the Second Miss, who was about to go back. It was you who suddenly shouted that you saw the Third Miss meeting with a man and heading towards the back mountain. The Second Miss and I were just worried about the Third Miss, so we went with you to check. How could you blame everything on me in the end?" Rui Yuhuan sighed, "I didn't say anything at all. Besides, the Seventh Prince clearly didn't go to the back mountain. How could I say that he was with the Third Miss? And the one who was yelling was your and Miss Mu's maids. Do you think I have such great power that I can make them spread rumors? Miss Fu, Miss Mu, although I am an orphan with no parents, I am not someone that everyone can bully. You insulted the Third Miss first, then maliciously tried to ruin my relationship with the Third Miss, and in the end, you still won't let me go, making me an innocent scapegoat?"
Rui Yuhuan immediately pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, crying with great sorrow. Her soft sobs added a touch of desolation to the night. The more vulnerable and easily bullied Rui Yuhuan appeared, the more despicable and shameless Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei seemed. They were clearly looking for someone to bully, picking on the weak. Knowing that Rui Yuhuan was a helpless orphan, they deliberately accused her of being hostile to the young lady of the General's Mansion who had fostered her. This was pushing Rui Yuhuan to the brink of death. Compared to maliciously framing Ouyang Yue for having an affair with a man, this was even more vicious.
Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei were furious when Rui Yuhuan denied everything. Their faces flushed and turned pale with rage, their eyes filled with hatred as they wanted to tear Rui Yuhuan apart. They never expected this despicable woman to be such a good actress, shifting all the blame onto them. Ouyang Rou had only brought one maid with her when she came to find Rui Yuhuan, while Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei had brought their two personal maids. However, these were still their own people, and the previous scuffle was Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei's mistake, causing their servants to shout. Now, Rui Yuhuan had seized on this to clear her name—it was utterly despicable! They had a lot to say in protest, but Rui Yuhuan's crying immediately silenced them.
Rui Yuhuan's excuse had already left them speechless and earned them a reputation for bullying. If they were to refute and accuse Rui Yuhuan now, it would only make them look even worse and solidify their vicious reputation. With so many noble young men and women here, especially in this important Buddhist place, if word got out, Fu Meier's reputation would be damaged, and it was uncertain whether she could even retain her reputation as one of the "Three Beauties." Mu Cuiwei's reputation as one of the "Three Uglies" would naturally spread even more widely.
The two gritted their teeth, but knew that it would be useless to argue back at this time. Mu Cuiwei suddenly reached out and slapped the maid next to her hard: "You useless thing, you made a mistake and even caused me to wrongly accuse Miss Ouyang. It would not be too much to beat you to death."
"Slap! Slap! Slap!" Mu Cuiwei slapped her maid several times, trying to pin the blame on the innocent maid. However, this was the best way for Mu Cuiwei to exonerate herself. Fu Meier narrowed her eyes, turned around and looked at her maid. The maid was startled, gritted her teeth and immediately begged for mercy, "Miss, please forgive me. It's already dark. I've been seeing things wrong. Not only has it damaged Miss Ouyang's reputation, but it has also caused you to be misunderstood. I deserve to die."
"Slap slap slap!" The maid stretched out her hands and began to slap herself repeatedly.
Fu Meier's eyes flickered, and she sighed softly, "You're always so good to me, taking care of me in every way, except that you speak too quickly. You never think things through before you speak, causing such a mess. How can I help you?" She looked helplessly at Ouyang Yue, "Miss Ouyang, I'm truly sorry. My maidservant was blind and made a mistake, resulting in this embarrassing situation. I apologize on her behalf. I hope you'll be magnanimous and not hold a grudge against a servant like her. This is a sacred Buddhist site; let's try to maintain harmony."