Chapter 52: Something nasty is brewing 2

If she was caught with a man alone in a secluded place like the garden, it would ruin not just her reputation but that of Zhu Fengyin and the Lu family. Zhu Fengyin wasn't on good terms with her mother-in-law, a scandal like this would ruin her chances.

Su Liya couldn't let that happen, she immediately took a step back and said "you have the wrong person young master. If there is nothing else I will take my leave".

She walked past him or attempted to but was held up when he held her arm "I have the wrong person? Do you think I am blind or that I don't recognize faces. If you are angry Xiao Liya, just a cold me don't pretend like you don't recognize me".

Su Liya swore silently as she heard the voices get closer "Damn it I have to get going before these women gets closer. Why can't this he give me a break". 

Her eyes darted to the pathway up ahead, the voices of the madams got closer. She bit her lips gently as she searched for a quick retreat. When she couldn't come out with any other options, Su Liya pulled her arm out of his hold with force. 

Frowning, Su Liya said with a tight expression "let go, You have the wrong person. I don't know you". She hissed and after straightening out the sleeves of her uniform, she straighten out her leg to continue forward.

When she was held back by a loud cold female voice "stop there! Where do you think you are going".

Su Liya stood backing the entrance, her attention focused on the trouble in front that she missed the danger behind her. During the time that she spends running around to get a fresh shawl for Zhu Fengyin, she had missed Zhu Feifei and the sixth Prince arrival.

Su Liya held the skirt of her gown tightly and counted till 3 with her eyes closed. When that didn't make the situation less annoying, she thought "Damn it! Why". Finally breathing in deeply and breathing out quickly, Su Liya turned around to see who it was that caught her.

She had a premonition of bad luck as she turned around but she dismissed that feeling until she was face to face with Zhu Feifei and Zhongshan Cheng. They stood a short distance away from her, they were both dressed in festive red.

The Sixth Prince smiled smugly, while Zhu Feifei looked irritated by her. Xu Jingting bowed at the couple and said "Your Highness, Princess consort".

His greeting reminded her of all the hours spent learning etiquette, Su Liya courtesied "Your highness" she looked down at the ground.

Zhu Feifei saw her husband's eyes brighten up as soon as he saw Su Liya and frowned. She could not deal with another concubine stuffed into her husband's side courtyard. She already had a lot on her plate dealing with all of those crafty wenches at the sixth prince's side courtyard.

If someone as beautiful as Su Liya got into her family, she would be completely sidelined. She would never let that happen, Zhu Feifei balled up her fist.

Zhongshan Cheng initially wished to avoid the Xu family banquet but was advised against it by his mother. Although the later generation of the Xu family were all useless to him, old master Xu was still a respected minister with a lot of influence on the government.

Zhongshan Cheng had to attend the banquet if only to give old master Xu some face. He didn't wish to stay longer and deliberately arrived a little later than usual. He was the most favoured son of the Emperor, the Xu family had no right to be offended by his lateness.

He couldn't attend the banquet alone, so to keep up with appearances, he brought his new wife along. This wife of his was quite an eyesore to him, she wasn't very smart yet she liked to pretend otherwise. He would have gotten rid of her a while ago if she wasn't the daughter of Minister Zhu.

Zhu Feifei was below Zhu Fengyin in everything from beauty to grace, they were worlds apart. In the five months that they had been married Zhu Feifei had turned his mansion upside down because of her temper multiple times. He was only tolerating her because she was pregnant with his child.

Once his child was born, he would put her in her place. His mother was banking on her giving birth to the Emperor's first grandson, which would make his father happy. He wasn't expected to run into such an interesting scene as soon as he arrived. It looked like the Xu family's heir Xu Jingting was meeting a maid in secret.

Xu Jingting was known to be obsessed with beauty so he was curious about the appearance of the maid. He never expected to be struck speechless by the exquisite features of this maid. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with exotic features.

Zhongshan Cheng was so enamoured by her presence that he didn't notice when he made the statement "Beautiful". Zhu Feifei was blinded by anger as soon as she heard that word.

"Su Liya! You sl*t how dare you try to seduce your better!".

Zhu Feifei had said it so loudly that Madam Xu and the other ladies heard it from afar. Su Liya fell to her knee, head bent low as she replied "this is a misunderstanding your highness. I went out to get a shawl for my madam and got lost. I was asking the young master for directions".

"Ha! who are you trying to lie to? I know your type of maid, you are just an opportunist!" Zhu Feifei spat out pointing at Su Liya.

"Your highness please don't misunderstand this servant, my young madam's shawl got stained. I was sent out to get her a fresh shawl" Su Liya repeated, maintaining the previous position. 

By this point Madam Xu and the other madams got closer, she looked from her son to the royal couple and back to the kneeling maid. Xu Jingting saluted his mother and the madams "mother, madams". 

Madam Xu nodded and then rushed forward to greet the sixth Prince and his princess consort. "your highness, welcome to my home", she said performing a graceful curtsy. 

Zhu Feifei let out some breaths and greeted their host. This was her first time meeting Madam Xu since she had gotten married, she wanted to make a good impression and not embarrass the sixth prince.

Madam Xu held her up before she could proceed with any greetings "please don't your highness, there is no need for that. I don't dare accept this, your highness. You are carrying a royal offspring".

Zhu Feifei smiled and acted shy, she forgot her previous anger immediately.

"Please don't say that Madam Xu, you are making me embarrassed".

Madam Xu caught Su Liya's eyes and waved her off, Su Liya nodes and keeping her head down rushed away and returned to the banquet hall.