The gossip-hungry crowd murmured about a "red-furred fox" as they surged into the Outer Study in a great mass, nearly bursting the room at its seams.
Marquis Wuyang and Gao Shan were startled by the people suddenly charging into the study. Gao Shan, in particular, went paler than the plaster on the walls.
The Marquise stood before the Arhat Bed, silently staring at the two people on it.
Coming to his senses, Marquis Wuyang grabbed the outer robe draped over the edge of the bed and covered Gao Shan from head to toe.
Wrapped in the robe, Gao Shan took the opportunity to burrow beneath the quilt.
"Zixin, why did you bring all these people in?!" Once Gao Shan was hidden, the panic vanished from Marquis Wuyang's eyes, and he roared at his wife.
-Zixin was the name of Marquis Wuyang's wife.
"What is the meaning of this nonsense? Take the guests outside at once!"
In Great Xia, it was perfectly normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines and indulge in a little dalliance. Marquis Wuyang usually slept in the outer courtyard, where maids were assigned to attend him.
But no matter how much Marquis Wuyang fooled around, getting involved with Gao Shan was out of the question.
Seeing how utterly shameless he was, the Marquise snapped, "Marquis, how could you do this?! What is Xu supposed to do now?!"
-Li Xu was the Heir of Marquis Wuyang.
"What does this have to do with Xu?!" Marquis Wuyang pointed at the person hidden beneath the quilt. "This is a maid from my Outer Study! Zixin, we have so many guests today. Don't go spouting nonsense!"
Everything Marquis Wuyang said hinted that, with so many guests present, his wife needed to swallow her words even if the