Chapter 361: Chapter 360: They Are Each Other’s Salvation
"It’s utterly ridiculous; it’s not my scandal. Should I, the Princely Heir, really have to cover for him?"
"Why are you defending him with such modesty? Ji Shimin, Wei Xiheng is engaged, are you perhaps pining for him? Just say the word, and Lady Yan could step aside for you."
His words caused everyone to freeze, and they turned their gazes toward Yan Mi as if by some unspoken agreement.
Yan Mi was standing amid the crowd, looking frail and slender.
In her hand, she held the handkerchief that Yingwu had stuffed into her hand not long ago, stained with chili water, watching as Wei Xiheng was carried away, longing to follow but not daring to do so. She happened to wipe her face with it, and soon her eyes were red and swollen.
She looked pitifully charming.
Who could see her and not feel a pang of sympathy?
The gentle breeze seemed as if it could blow her over in the next moment.
The Princess Consort Gong took a liking to her. She didn’t dare to think about the future, but under the present circumstances, she couldn’t help but consider, "If it’s like this, it may well be for the best."
She spoke softly, "My son has yet to take a wife. Even though he can be unreasonable and a scoundrel at times, today he has played the hero and saved the beauty. Lady Yan, if you are considering breaking off the engagement, perhaps you might want to consider Prince Gong Mansion."
Everyone: ...So mother and son are competing for the same person?
Ji Huo: ???
Is there such a good fortune?
Ji Shimin realized things were getting out of hand and immediately exclaimed, "What are you talking nonsense about!"
"Where am I talking nonsense?"
He couldn’t be bothered to argue with Ji Shimin anymore and quickly approached Li San.
"Are you Wei Xiheng’s lover?"
Li San was kneeling on the ground, not responding to Ji Huo’s question. From the corner of his eye, he spotted the palace maid he had seen before. A few words exchanged earlier had made him completely understand the situation.
It was the Princess who had hired him!
The Princess, hopelessly in love, fancied that ugly freak!
Yet, the ugly freak had an engagement with another girl.
Heartbroken by unrequited love, the Princess was so obsessed that she intended to destroy him if she couldn’t have him!
Li San had an epiphany!
He slumped on the ground, maintaining the posture he had before. It was a beautiful spring day, but his body was dripping with water and he was extremely cold, his lips turning somewhat white. Yet when he lifted his eyes, he did not forget to look resentfully at Yan Mi.
That! Was jealousy!
"If his family hadn’t pushed him, how could he have agreed to this marriage? What’s so good about you? How can you compare to me?"
"Do you know how many years of affection I’ve shared with him?"
"And yet, he wants to cut ties with me!"
Yan Mi remained silent.
The whole place fell quiet.
Ji Huo strode forward, considerately draping a garment over Li San, "Then he’s really a scoundrel!"
"To discard you after pursuing something new, how could he do this?"
Ji Huo was curious, "Between you two, who is the seme and who is the uke?"
Li San felt the disgust rising again.
But he forcefully swallowed it down. He was there to ruin someone’s reputation and promptly said, "Naturally, I was the one who cherished him."
The aristocratic ladies heard these indecent words, but not a single one left. They showed disgust on their faces, but all ears were pricked up to listen.
Meanwhile, the girls who had not yet married blushed with embarrassment. Ji Shimin, seizing the opportunity, hurried away.
Xie Xun timely covered Xie Yinong’s ears, sparing her from hearing any vulgar words, and then stepped forward.
"Heir Huo, may I be the one to ask the questions?"
————
When Zou Wei arrived, Granny Zou hurried up to greet him, "Father."
She then detailed the situation to him meticulously.
This matter was not something Zou Wei would blame himself for, only resenting Wei Xiheng for lacking self-restraint! To have a secret rendezvous in his residence! If it was with a girl, that might be one thing, but it was a man instead, adding to the ridicule!
"As long as no one is hurt, that’s good. Go to Duke Wei Mansion and ask them to come and take him away."
On the other hand, Ji Zhui had been waiting for a while.
When Ji Shimin returned, he put down the cup of tea in his hand, "You called me here; what is it for?"
Originally, he was in Zou Wei’s study. Upon learning that the Zou Residence’s servants had hurriedly reported the drowning incident, he intended to go over with Zou Wei. However, he was stopped on the way by one of Ji Shimin’s maids.
Upon seeing Ji Zhui, Ji Shimin finally felt somewhat relieved. She hurriedly spoke.
"The one who fell into the water was Xiheng."
She hurriedly stepped forward, not daring to hide much: "Brother, it had nothing to do with me, I clearly intended to harm Shen Hua, I really didn’t know how it turned out to be Xiheng."
"I already warned those people about this matter, and they won’t talk too much. But..."
Watching Ji Zhui’s face growing increasingly grim, Ji Shimin’s voice got smaller and smaller.
Ji Zhui scolded: "Nonsense!"
"You’ve turned the joyful banquet at your uncle’s house into chaos. He cherishes you so much, and yet you stir up trouble!"
"Miss Shen belongs to the Marquis Yangling Mansion, why must you pick fights with her!"
He indeed cherished Ji Shimin, but he also knew the importance of matters. The Wei Family was one of the first to show loyalty to him. Over the years, they had done much for him.
"In the past years, when you made mistakes, the Zou Family took the blame for you, but do you think the Zou Residence is still the same as it was in the past?"
Ji Shimin, with her head lowered in front of him, naturally didn’t dare to talk back.
Seeing her like this, Ji Zhui finally did not get angry: "Is Xiheng all right?"
Ji Shimin observed his expression: "He was rescued alive."
Ji Zhui finally breathed a sigh of relief: "As long as he is unharmed, that’s good."
He felt something off. How could Xiheng end up enjoying the view by the pond so coincidentally?
Before he could think further, he heard Ji Shimin continue.
"But he was... violated by the person I found."
Ji Zhui: ???
Violated?
His vision darkened.
"I didn’t know it was him who fell into the water, so I called someone over, and all the aristocratic ladies saw it— I’m afraid—"
"With Ji Huo taking the opportunity to interrogate, and Li San is certainly going to babble nonsense."
"But if Xiheng wakes up and insists on investigating, I’m afraid... Brother, you must protect me."
Ji Zhui no longer wished to listen to another word. The look in his eyes towards Ji Shimin gradually turned cold.
He couldn’t delay any longer and strode forward quickly.
But what he didn’t know was that as soon as he left, Ji Shimin and her servant were knocked unconscious.
Yingwu shouldered Ji Shimin and hurriedly went to find Shen Hua.
By the time Ji Zhui arrived, it was already Xie Xun’s domain. He wasn’t Ji Huo; his questioning was logical and well-founded, and even Zou Wei couldn’t interrupt.
Zou Wei also had no intention of interrupting. Either way, it was a disgrace for the Wei Family.
Xie Xun: "You are a servant from the Zou Residence?"
Instead of letting Li San respond, Madam Zou hurriedly said.
"Of course not. The Zou Family’s servants all signed a contract, and the government has it on record with official seals. There’s no forging that."
Xie Xun looked towards Li San.
"Not it."
"Then how did you manage to sneak into the Zou Residence?"
"I sneaked in with the vegetable vendors who were delivering supplies."
Li San swore an oath and cooperated fully in Xie Xun’s eyes: "I had no ill intentions when entering. I just knew he was there, and I missed him a lot."
Ji Zhui approached: "Xie Xun."
Xie Xun was as gentle and respectful as jade, bowing in greeting.
"This matter is full of doubts."
Xie Xun agreed: "Indeed, since the incident occurred, Heir Wei’s attendants have not been seen. I’ve sent someone to look for them. Without the attendants, it’s also unknown how Mr. Wei got here and ended up falling into the water?"
After speaking, he looked towards Yan Mi.
"Lady Yan has been accompanying Mr. Wei the whole time, what’s your view on this?"
Yan Mi’s voice was very soft: "Mr. Wei had drunk too much, and he personally ordered his attendants to move him away from the feast. As for the rest, I do not know."
Li San: "I know."
He tried very hard: "He must have seen me. He also wanted to see me!"
They! It was a mutual rush!
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