Slander

For a moment, the banquet fell silent as a graveyard, every guest's gaze fixed squarely on the two of them.

Chu Song held his chopsticks suspended in midair, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg, utterly unaware that his pastry had fallen onto the table.

At a side table, Tang Yi'an froze with his mouth stuffed full, even forgetting to chew. Across from him, Tang Nan rolled his eyes at his foolish expression, then flashed Tang Yao a disdainful smile.

At that moment, the faint voices coming from the front hall sounded especially clear-

"Father, even if you beat me to death, I'm not going to Tang Yao's house!"

"Even Chu Xuanming is here! If he really joins forces with Tang Hua, how could we let that happen? Are you coming or not?"

Everyone: "..."

Sun Yuanshan coughed lightly. "Tang Yao! What are you doing?" With that, he rose angrily to his feet, the first to break the silence.

Tang Yao remained silent, lowering her head to look at Sun Yin in her arms. Her expression seemed to say, I sincerely offered to call the household physician for you, and you're actually scheming against me?

Sun Yin met her eyes, broke into a nervous sweat, and dared not look again, turning her head aside.

"I didn't do anything." Tang Yao wanted to push Sun Yin away but feared she might fall. She asked quietly, "How long are you going to keep acting?"

Sun Yin pleaded softly, "Just a little longer, please?"

Tang Yao: "..." No.

Tang Yao immediately signaled the maids over. Three maids promptly nodded and approached with quick, light steps, carefully helping Sun Yin up.

"Miss Sun probably hasn't rested enough. Help her back to her room."

Sun Yin instantly felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She really could not keep acting anymore. She glanced back gratefully at Tang Yao, her expression seeming to say, Sorry, Young Master Tang. I'm clocking out first.

Tang Yao: "..." Forget it.

After watching his granddaughter leave, Sun Yuanshan's face darkened. He strode furiously toward Tang Hua. "Patriarch Tang, I brought Yinyin here today to celebrate your birthday, but your son's behavior was utterly improper!"

Tang Hua offered an awkward, placating smile. He was not quite sure what had happened either, but Yao'er had a history of being a wastrel. He dared not vouch for her and could only offer some pleasant words first.

"Then what would you have us do, Patriarch Sun?"

Sun Yuanshan snorted coldly. "Your son was getting handsy with Yinyin in full view of everyone! What will people say if word gets out?"

"Your son is not yet betrothed. Why not arrange their engagement and have them become dao companions in the future? Then we can put this matter to rest!"

Tang Hua knitted his brows tightly, a trace of hesitation showing. "Well..."

Just then-

A snicker came from the banquet entrance. With a hint of a smile on his lips, Jiang Yueyan walked in wearing moon-white robes, gently waving his fan. His steps were unhurried, his hem falling like flowing water.

Had he known this was what awaited him inside, why would he have dawdled in the front hall for so long?

The middle-aged man beside him was just about to step inside when Jiang Yueyan stopped him. "Father, wait a moment. Let's watch the show first."

Jiang Chen frowned, looking Jiang Yueyan up and down. His son was usually very composed and had rarely given him cause to worry. Why did he seem to become a different person whenever he encountered that boy from the Tang Household?

"So now you're happy? Didn't you refuse to come in even when I tried dragging you just now?"

Jiang Yueyan: "..." That was then. This is now.

He was more than happy to watch Tang Yao make a fool of herself. Snapping his fan shut, he settled in to eat melon in earnest.

None of those in the banquet noticed the two members of the Jiang Household at the entrance, and they continued their discussions.

"I don't think that's very likely. Isn't the Tang Household's young master, well... a cut sleeve?" one guest whispered to the person beside him.

The man shook his head. "Not so, not so. Your news is clearly out of date! Word came out just two days ago that Tang Yao denied being a cut sleeve!" Then he sighed. "He was probably covering for his younger clan cousin all along. That cousin of his is the real cut sleeve."

Tang Yi'an: ?

Seated at the table in front of them, Tang Yi'an had been drinking water when he suddenly heard this. He instantly sprayed out a mouthful and coughed nonstop. Tang Nan was not spared either. Silently wiping the water sprayed all over his face, he wore a murderous look, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Looking troubled, Tang Hua turned an inquiring gaze toward Tang Yao. "Yao'er?"

Tang Yao silently wiped away her sweat. This old man certainly had a fine scheme, using everyone's eyes to pressure her into agreeing in public.

Unfortunately, she was not the man this old fellow imagined her to be.

"As for this matter..." Tang Yao looked at Sun Yuanshan and sighed. "I'm afraid I cannot comply."

Hearing this, Sun Yuanshan blazed with anger and turned to the guests. "All of you are prominent figures in the Eastern Continent. Judge this fairly!"

"The Tang Household's young master is far too arrogant! He treated Miss Sun like that in broad daylight and now refuses to take responsibility!"

"Miss Sun looks so frail that a gust of wind could knock her over. And now she's encountered something like this. Ah, poor thing."

"But none of us saw what happened. What if Young Master Tang didn't do anything?"

"Judging by Old Master Sun's reaction, it really feels as though Tang Yao did something. Ah! No matter how outstanding his abilities are, with such poor character, he probably won't get far on the path of cultivation."

"Tang Yao, why are you still like this? You treat people improperly, then wash your hands of them and pretend not to know them?" Leaning against the doorframe, Jiang Yueyan spoke coldly, looking somewhat displeased.

With a cold expression, the youth thought that Tang Yao had treated him the same way before.

After flirting with him, she had pretended not to know him.

Everyone followed the voice and only then discovered the youth holding a fan standing at the entrance, alongside the helpless-looking patriarch of the Jiang Household.

They were greatly surprised. Why had even the Jiang Household come?

The guests studied the youth beside him, and someone recognized him as the Jiang Household's young master. Since even he had spoken up to condemn Tang Yao, those who had intended to offer a few words in her defense now shut their mouths.

Everyone chimed in in agreement.

Tang Yao's stomach hurt a little. That was a personal grudge between the original owner and Jiang Yueyan. Could they please leave her out of it?

This was simply a calamity out of nowhere.

She wished she could shed her disguise on the spot!

Senior brother, take a look at me... It's me...

Tang Hua could no longer attend to anything else. He immediately rose to welcome Jiang Chen and escorted him to the main table. Chu Xuanming's arrival alone had been surprising enough. Why had even Jiang Chen come now?

Chuckling, Jiang Chen plopped himself right between Tang Hua and Chu Xuanming, physically separating the two. His expression seemed to say, Go on, keep talking. Let me see what you're talking about.

Chu Xuanming: "?" Wait, why was there suddenly a "wall" beside him?

After sitting down, Jiang Chen nodded at Chu Xuanming, wearing a kindly smile that promised to ruin his plans.

Early that morning, his subordinates had reported that these two were getting along splendidly and might form an alliance. The Chu Household ranked third, and the Jiang Household ranked second. If Chu Xuanming really secured this partnership, the Jiang Household's position as number two might well be shaken.

Now, seeing that even Jiang Chen had arrived, Sun Yuanshan laughed inwardly. Heaven was truly helping him. He immediately approached, oblivious to his unwelcome presence.

"Patriarch Jiang, you heard everything just now. Won't you judge this fairly?"