101 A Mother (1/2)
The Furens and Young Maidens were staying at left side of the residence hall which was connected to the gazebo near the man-made lake. Thus, when the female servant arrived, the only ones who were able to hear her news were the Furens and the Young Maidens. All the male guests who were busy talking inside were oblivious to the issue. When the Furens and Young Maidens started leaving with Xiao Lou at the front leading them, XuanLi and the other male guests only thought that the females wanted to visit the garden. They did not think that something was wrong and continued chatting with each other. XuanLi was very busy at the moment. He only took a glimpse of his wife who was leaving before returning his attention to the court official who was talking with him.
At first, the Furens wanted to leave their daughters inside the hall because they were afraid that they might witness an improper scene, but Xiao Lou told them that everything was a misunderstanding. Xiao Lou even said that she believed that XuanRong would never do that kind of thing and in order to clarify the issue and to avoid tarnishing XuanRong's reputation, those who heard the female servant's report must also witness the truth. Xiao Lou totally convinced the Furens to bring their daughters. Thus, a large group was currently traveling towards the Thousand Li courtyard in a hurry.
”Speak! Where did your Third Young Miss and Eldest Young Miss go?”
Xiao Lou's words were full of anger while she glared at the servant who was being dragged by a mama. The female servant who was forcefully being pulled raised her head. Her face was pale like she was soaked in a vinegar.
”This servant heard someone spoke that they saw Eldest Young Miss went to the Crown Prince's designated room. When this servant saw Third Young Miss, this servant told Third Young Miss everything that this servant heard. Third Young Miss ordered this servant to inform Furen while Third Young Miss went to the Crown Prince's designated room to save Eldest Young Miss.”
The servant once again lowered her head after she was done talking. None of the Furens realized that every time the female servant recounted the entire situation, she would always emphasize that XuanFei only went to the Crown Prince's room in order to find her eldest sister and did not wander inside because of any personal reason. In short, The Furens only thought that XuanFei was only trying to save her eldest sister and nothing else.
”So, you are saying that the Eldest Young Miss went to the Crown Prince's designated room and the Third Young Miss followed her?”
The female servant nodded her head.
Xiao Lou bit her lips and stopped walking. She swayed and almost fell on the ground. If not for the help of one of the Furens near her, she would have fallen on the floor.
The Furens saw Xiao Lou's face aged and felt pity towards her. They knew that Xiao Lou was being torn apart between her status as a wife of an official and as the mother of the two young ladies. Even if she was the host of the evening and the place where the Crown Prince was staying was still in the Prime Minister's residence, she could not just barge in and order someone to search the entire premises. The Crown Prince was one of the members of the Imperial Family and the next Emperor of Qian Zou. How could a lowly wife of a court official dare to act atrocious in front of him? Thus, the Furens knew why Xiao Lou stopped walking.
Ji Furen saw that Xuan Furen had been placed in a terrible situation. She walked towards Xiao Lou and opened her mouth.
”Xuan Furen, please get a hold of yourself. You are also a mother. You must also consider that you are a mother first before a wife of an official. No matter what happens, you must think for the best. In order to avoid tarnishing your two daughters' reputation, we must do this even if it would anger the Crown Prince.”
”Ji Furen is correct, Xuan Furen. Besides, if something really happened, the Crown Prince is a noble man. He would certainly bear responsibility.”
”That's right!”
”Indeed! Xuan Furen, please get a grip.”
Since Ji Furen's words were all correct, the rest of the Furens could not help but follow and voice out their opinion. The Young Maidens who were also with them did not have any right to join the conversation of the Furens and could only close their mouth. Some of them where thinking that both the Xuan sisters were very lucky. Even if it was found out that the scandal was indeed true, for sure, the Crown Prince would take responsibility and marry whoever was caught together with him. Whether it was the Third Young Miss or the Eldest Young Miss, one of them would certainly become the future master of the Crown Prince's courtyard. It made the young maidens envious of XuanRong and XuanFei's luck.
Xiao Lou raised her hand and wiped her nonexistent tears using her yellow handkerchief. She took a deep breath and nodded her head.