Steward Zhou followed in silence. Before long, he reached the inner courtyard and entered the reception hall, where he discovered that he was not the only one summoned. More than a dozen others were there: serving women and maids who attended the various selected attendants, as well as stewards close to them.
Prince Lu looked rather gloomy. He stood with his hands behind his back, studying a painting on the wall. Only after everyone had arrived did he turn and sit down. Without a word, he leisurely lifted his tea and drank.
Steward Zhou scarcely dared to breathe as he waited with the others to be questioned.
After a long while, Prince Lu gave a meaningful glance, and the head steward frowned. "You've all heard the rumors outside, haven't you? You serve the various selected attendants. Tell us, one by one, who went to the Water Cloud Shrine, who accompanied them, exactly how long they stayed, and whether you truly remained with them the entire time."
Hearing this, Steward Zhou realized that the very thing he feared had happened. The prince had indeed begun to doubt the selected attendants' chastity. His heart pounded wildly, and beneath the prince's seemingly indifferent gaze, he even felt a chill.
The weather had already grown warm, yet he felt so cold inside that he nearly began to shiver. He hurriedly suppressed the urge, trying to look normal.
"Selected Attendant Gao first."
Everyone looked toward a few of those present. An older serving woman hastily bowed. "Your Highness, we servants all know the rules. Selected Attendant Gao did visit the Water Cloud Shrine, but she was always accompanied by at least two people. On the seventh day of the fourth month, we reported it to Your Highness beforehand. I remember it perfectly clearly: we left