Chapter 324: Jealousy (1/2)

The third young mistress led Jun Huang away. Jun Huang was befuddled by her enthusiasm, but quickly realized what was going on when she was led to a young man.

She knew the third young mistress had a fiance. Jun Huang was just here so that the young mistress could spend time with him.

The third young mistress introduced them and chatted giddily with her fiance, her cheeks flushed. Jun Huang quietly sat by their sides. She seemed untouchable and detached from the hubbub of noises around her. It was difficult to now be drawn to her.

The young man stared at Jun Huang, ignoring his future wife. “Have you found a husband yet?” he asked.

The third young mistress huffed when she caught him staring. Jun Huang's aloof expression did nothing to quell her growing resentment.

“Why?” asked the third young mistress, barely containing her fury. “Have you set your eyes on my sister?”

“Third sister misunderstood,” Jun Huang spoke up. “Brother-in-law obviously loves you. I won't be a bother to you. Please excuse me.”

She rose and walked away.

Perhaps she isn't so bad, thought the third young mistress, but then she noticed that her fiance was still staring at Jun Huang. She shot to her feet and snapped at him before storming away.

Her fiance was a scion from an important family. He didn't care if the third young mistress was angry. He huffed and left her go.

Jun Huang took a stroll outside, bored. She didn't like how the man had looked at her. She couldn't help thinking of Nan Xun.

“My lady, the mistress is leaving for the manor,” her maid came up to her and said. “Are you going with her?”

Jun Huang nodded and followed her to the coach parked outside. The mistress helped her in and asked, “Have you met anyone you like? I can make arrangements for you.”

“Mother is very kind, but there's no such person,” admitted Jun Huang.

The other young mistresses had arrived at the manor at about the same time. Jun Huang had planned to return straight to her residence, but she was stopped by the third young mistress.

Before she could say anything, the third young mistress pointed at her and shouted, “Shameless girl! How dare you do that to me?! I introduced you to the other guests out of kindness, and yet you openly seduced my fiance!”

“That's right. Do you even know any shame?!” The second young mistress had always disliked Jun Huang. She grew even more resentful of her hearing her sister's story.

Jun Huang scoffed. She might be naturally calm, but no one would be happy being subjected to such insults. She suppressed her anger since the mistress was here and put on a smile. “You've misunderstood, sisters. I haven't done anything of that sorts.”

“You dare talk back?!” snapped the third young mistress. “I wouldn't have fought with him if not for you! I was just introducing you! Who knows you'd stoop so low as to try stealing my husband?!”

She'd gotten so obsessed that she refused to listen to reason. She raised her hand to slap Jun Huang.

The mistress had been silent, but she caught her daughter's hand and slapped her, stunning everyone, especially the third young mistress and Jun Huang.

Jun Huang didn't expect the mistress to go that far for her, and the young mistress couldn't believe her mother would hit her for an outsider. She covered her face and sobbed. “Mother, she's not part of - ”

“Shut up!” the mistress snapped, her voice calm but steely. “Have you not done enough to embarra.s.s yourself? Go back to your room and don't come out without my permission.”

The third young mistress didn't dare talk back at her mother despite her ire. She stormed away without a word.

The other girls shot Jun Huang a venomous glare and left as well. Jun Huang frowned. She didn't expect things to go this way.

“You must be tired, child. Go back and rest.” The mistress patted Jun Huang's shoulder, her scowl replaced by a faint, comforting smile.

Jun Huang masked her emotions and made an a.s.senting noise with her eyes lowered. She turned to leave, but realized that she shouldn't walk away without saying anything. After some deliberation, she said, “Don't be too concerned, mother. I have nothing to do with that man, and I don't want anything to do with him. Third sister lost her calm because she loves that man too much. I'm not too bothered by what she said. Mother shouldn't be too angry.”

The mistress smiled and gave her an apologetic look. After seeing Jun Huang off, she made her way to the back of the manor to deal with what had happened.

Jun Huang noted the flash of guilt in the woman's eyes. It made her even more curious about her ident.i.ty.