100 The Victim

Hearing the servant's words, Xiao Lou knew that it was the signal she was waiting for. She had been planning everything ever for a month and finally, everything was starting to happen according to plan.

"What are you saying? Impudent! Don't you know, that by saying those things, you are tarnishing your Da XiaoJie's reputation?"

Xiao Lou slammed her hand on the table and stood up. She appeared quite angered by the servant. Her chest was moving up and down heavily as if in any moment, she would faint due to anger. Looking at Xiao Lou's angered face, the Furens could not help but nod. Indeed, the servant's behavior was a bit atrocious. The servant was lacking any sense of propriety which made Xiao Lou reprimand her in front of the Furens and Young Maidens. If something went wrong, it would not only tarnish Eldest Lady Xuan's innocence, but it would also bring shame to the Prime Minister's Residence.Some Furens could not help but reassess Xiao Lou's attitude. Xiao Lou looked like she genuinely cared for XuanRong.

Xiao Lou looked at the Furens and Young Misses present and lowered her head. "Please forgive this Madam for making you see this kind of problem. It is this Madam's fault for not properly managing our courtyard and being unable to teach our servants correctly, allowing you to witness such shame. Please do not think deeply and continue enjoying the rest of the evening. Rong'er must be playing pranks and is only hiding somewhere. Ai. This naughty child."

Xiao Lou's words made the rest of the guests agree with her.

"Xuan Furen, that is normal for children. Although Eldest Lady Xuan was now a fully-grown woman, she was still a child by heart." Ji Furen was the wife of a second rank official. Ji Furen liked to curry favor with Xiao Lou and would sometimes indirectly ask her to help her husband's career a couple of times. Whatever Xiao Lou would say, she would blindly show her support.

That kind of person, how could Xiao Lou not know her intention? But Xiao Lou never rebuked her and would even allow Ji Furen to ride her coattail[1]. It was not bad to have someone who was willing to be used.

"Indeed, Rong'er is still a child. Too bad, although I was the one who raised her, it seems like in that child's heart, I do not occupy a single place. She must have thought that I was trying to steal her mother's position and my over indulgence towards her was only a pretense... but I only truly hoped that she would grow up happy."

Ji Furen opened her mouth and consoled Xiao Lou.

"Xuan Furen, please do not think that way. Eldest Young Miss is still a child. This Madam knows that someday, Eldest Young Miss will understand Xuan Furen's thought."

"Ai. I do hope so." Xiao Lou sighed. She counted lowered her eyes and counted the time when the servant arrived at the hall.She thoughtthat it should be enough. Xiao Lou then glanced at the servant who was kneeling on the floor.

"Why are you still here? Someone!! Why is nobody dragging this servant away and beat her senseless? Grab her and beat her ten times using a wooden paddle." Xiao Lou waved and signaled the mama behind her to bring the servant away.

"Yes,this old servant will immediately bring her away. May Furen quell your anger."

When the servant saw that one of Xiao Lou's mama started walking towards her, she knew that it was the time for her to act and ask forgiveness. When the mama arrived in front of her,trying to grab her hand, the servant tried to escape from the mama's grip and kowtowed.

"This servantis begging for forgiveness but this servant was only speaking due to this servant's anxiety. When Third Young Miss left,leaving this servant and Da XiaoJie inside the room , this servant suddenly felt bloated and asked Da XiaoJie to excuse this servant. This servant went to the bathroom but when this servant returned, Da XiaoJie was already missing.

Furen,when this servant was walking back,this servant heard someone talking, saying that they saw Da XiaoJie walking towards His Highness' asigned room. This servant does not know but it seemed like Da XiaoJie was planning to visit His Highness the Crown Prince. This servant could not help but be anxious and started searching for Da XiaoJie. This servant saw Third Young Miss walking back to the room and immediately asked for Third Young Miss' help. When Third Young Miss learned that Da XiaoJie was missing,she ordered this servant to inform Furen while she went to His Highness the Crown Prince's room to look for Da XiaoJie."

"What?! What nonsense are you saying?!"

Xiao Lou's voice was very loud. She raised her hand and pointed her forefinger towards the servant girl. "Nonsense!! Do you not want your head anymore? You are clearly trying to tarnish your Da XiaoJie's name and even want to drag your Third Young Miss in this mess! How dare you! Anyone---"

"Furen! This servant is not lying. Third Young Miss really went to His Highness courtyard because she feared that Da XiaoJie might be in trouble."

When the Furens and Young Misses heard the servant's words, all of then could not help but gasp.

If what the servant said was true, it would only mean that the Eldest Lady Xuan was aiming to be come a phoenix by trying to climb at His Highness the Crown Prince's bed. For sure, once it happened, it would become the greatest scandal in the entire Qian Zou. Even if the Prime Minister's residence and the Chen family tried to hide everything, it would be impossible since almost all of the Furens and Young Misses already heard everything. Without any other choice, in order to clarify Eldest Lady Xuan's name, the XiangFu had to make sure that they would give a proper explanation.

Ji Furen sighed and opened her mouth to speak.

"Xuan Furen, this Madam knows that this Madam does not have the right to interfere and meddle in the affairs of your inner courtyard but this Madam could not help but be anxious not only because Eldest Lady Xuan was missing but also because Third Young Miss went to the Crown Prince's room. The Crown Prince was very drunk and this Madam could not help but think that we must not let a young maiden like Third Young Miss enter the vicinity of His Highness' room. It would certainly affect her reputation."

Xiao Lou knew all of it that was why she used XuanRong's name and reputation. Her plan was not really dealing with XuanRong, rather,she wanted to use XuanRong's name. Ever since that time when XuanRong arrived in the capital, stealing XuanFei's birthday banquet, Xiao Lou already noticed that something was different. XuanRong no longer viewed her and XuanFei as her dear family and started trying to antagonize them. When she saw that the Crown Prince was smitten by XuanRong, Xiao Lou knew that XuanFei would not be able to contend against her. Thus, she wanted to use XuanRong as XuaFei's stepping stone. Her plan was to forcefully make the Crown Prince accept XuanFei but her problem would be XuanFei's reputation. Xiao Lou racked her brain for the entire month before she was able to create a perfect plan.

In order to make sure that her daughter would not suffer from being labeled as a promiscous woman, she had to find someone to shoulder the blame, and XuanRong was the perfect scape goat. Even if someone found XuanFei and Xu Ji An together inside the room, Xiao Lou could say that Xu Ji An forced himself on her daughter. If someone questioned why XuanFei was at Xu Ji An's designated room, she would use XuanRong's name, telling other people that XuanFei was only trying to search XuanRong who was seen making her way towards the Crown Prince's place. She was only a victim and not the proprietor. Even if XuanRong found out,it would be too late to explain everything and even if she would open her mouth to defend herself,claiming that she was innocent, no one would think that she was telling the truth.She alreadythought all of it thoroughly. Xiao Lou was planning to create lies, stating that XuanRong did not want to marry the idiotic prince,Xu Fei Yi because she fancied Xu Ji An and tried to seduce him by making him inhale aphrodisiac, but her plan went awry and escaped for the fear of being reprimanded heavily. Once people learned everything, even if they saw XuanFei and Xu Ji An together, they would only feel pity towards her for being a victim of XuanRong's nasty scheme and once the emperor learnedthat XuanRong humiliated the Royal Family, he would definitely punish her. Xiao Lou exhaled and massaged her forehead. She stared at the servant girl and spoke. "Fine! if what you said is true, this Madam promises that I will not punish you,but if this Madam finds out that you are lying, this Madam will kill you."Xiao Lou pulled her dress up and walked away. Come, let us leave and search for my daughters.To the Thousand Li courtyard!"

[PLEASE ADOPT ME \(T^T)/ and DONATE @ paypal.me/sayurihyuuga and ko-fi.com/sayurihyuuga]

-------[1]. To increase one's reputation through connections to someone with a better reputation.

[Unedited Chapter]