Chapter 32: Who Is Being Shameless?

Even with mental preparation, Nan Yan was trembling with rage, her fingernails digging into her palms.

Bie Zhi and Mama Su were even more furious, cursing openly.

"This Meng family really is adept at throwing filth and ruining a person's reputation. Every single one of them has a heart as venomous as a snake—"

"It was clearly Meng Boji who carried on an affair with Xia Qingfei and betrayed our lady, so how did it turn into our lady's fault?!"

Even Li Zhong could not help but curse, "We accompanied our lady in the Meng household for three years. We all saw how she strictly observed the virtues of a wife and managed the household with wisdom. I, an old servant, naturally do not believe such rumors, but those who don't know the truth are saying such truly hideous things!"

Having escaped the men in black last night, she had ultimately failed to avoid their poison, leading to the twist of fate that resulted in a night with Jiang Li. Now, facing this bucket of filth, Nan Yan could not help but feel a twinge of guilt.

Recalling the scene Meng Boji had put on at the ruined temple last night, she seemed to understand. The guest room she had tricked Meng Boji into entering was the one reserved year-round at Baohua Temple by the Lady of Zhenguo, the elder sister of the current Imperial Consort. Nan Yan often went to Baohua Temple to burn incense and pray, and having dealt with these noblewomen, she knew her well. The Lady of Zhenguo, relying on her sister, the favored Consort, was extremely arrogant and overbearing; she had been married to several husbands, and without exception, they had all run away. That was why she frequented Baohua Temple to pray for a good marriage, and her temper had only grown more volatile over time.

Nan Yan had intended to use the Lady's hand to teach Meng Boji a lesson, but it seemed the lesson had been severe, causing him great distress. Coupled with the fact that the men in black last night had targeted Mama Su and Bie Zhi with lethal intent, it was clear how desperate the Meng family was to have her dead.

Nan Yan felt a chill in her heart and quickly asked Li Zhong, "Has the Meng family found Young Master Jiang?"

"No! They have sought help from the authorities and are still searching everywhere!"

"They actually reported this to the officials?!"

"Yes! They claim that since you, my lady, produced no heirs in three years, it was already benevolent of them to divorce you without demanding you leave your dowry, but..."

"But because you were not virtuous and had an affair with a man, they could no longer tolerate it and are accusing you of adultery with that Young Master Jiang—"

Nan Yan’s beautiful eyes widened. What a masterful reversal of blame. She had not accused Meng Boji and Xia Qingfei of adultery, yet the Meng family was accusing her and Jiang Li? To distort the truth and invert black and white like this was shameless to the extreme!

"So that is why they are searching everywhere for Jiang Li?"

"Yes!"

Bie Zhi was already clenching her fists in frustration. "That Young Master Jiang was brought back by Meng Boji himself; what does that have to do with our lady—"

"Once this filth is splashed on her, won't our lady be condemned by everyone?!"

Mama Su’s face turned pale. "My lady, we cannot let this matter slide! Otherwise, even the Duke’s Mansion will be implicated!"

How could Nan Yan not know? This would severely damage the reputation of the Duke’s Mansion, and the mastermind behind the framing of her father and brother would seize this opportunity to make a grand display, further cementing the false charges against them!

"Don't worry!" Nan Yan took a deep breath. "I will never let them destroy my reputation!"

Just then, a servant hurried in to report, "My lady, the Meng family has arrived with the officials!"

Nan Yan widened her eyes. They had come so quickly? They truly thought she was easy to bully! Despite the presence of the authorities, the Meng family was held at the gate by the guards of the Duke’s Mansion.

Old Madam Meng, leaning on her dragon-headed cane, stood at the very front, clamoring arrogantly.

"The Duke’s Mansion certainly has high airs. We were once kin, yet you won't even let an old woman like me through the door?!"

"Fine! I, too, disdain to step into such a filthy and corrupt place. Tell that shameless harlot to come out and see me—"

She had been shrieking at the top of her lungs for quite some time, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

"Exactly who is the shameless one—"

Nan Yan’s sharp reprimand rang out as she stepped through the gate, and the whispering crowd instantly fell silent.

"Meng Boji schemed for the power and status of my Duke’s Mansion to marry me, kneeling at this gate for three days and three nights, swearing to the heavens—"

"He vowed that if he married me, he would never abandon me, we would live and die together, that I would be his only wife in this life, and he would never fail me in the slightest!"

"Yet today, he has cast aside his first wife just to bring in a mistress he has kept hidden for two years—"

"Old Madam! You tell me, who is the shameless one?!"

Old Madam Meng slammed her cane down. "You still have the face to mention the past?!"

"Back then, my grandson suffered great humiliation from your Nan family just to marry you. A dignified top scholar kneeling here for three days and three nights."

"After you entered the household, he was obedient and submissive to your every whim, yet you were carrying on behind his back—"

It was truly a masterful skill to distort the truth and invert black and white.

Nan Yan sneered, "Old Madam Meng, do you dare to tell everyone truthfully why Meng Boji was so desperate to marry me back then?"

"What is there that I dare not say?!"

Even with a fierce mouth, a flash of guilt crossed Old Madam Meng’s eyes, but she quickly steadied herself.

"My grandson was young then, and it was precisely because he was seduced and tempted by a harlot like you that he became so infatuated he had to marry you!"

"Otherwise, as a top scholar, why would he have needed to kneel here for three days and three nights, suffering all your insults?!"

An old shrew of her age certainly possessed great skill; she didn't even blink while spinning such lies.

Nan Yan lifted her chin and took a step forward.

"Three years ago, during the Dragon Boat Festival, I went to Baohua Temple to fulfill a vow. I met Meng Boji there; it was he who chased after me, asking for my name and my family background."

"Afterward, it was he who wrote letters to me, he who invited me to go on outings, and he who poured out his heart to me."

"If you do not believe me, Madam, you can ask the Second Lady of the Duke of Zhongyong’s family; she was there three years ago during the Dragon Boat Festival."

"Also present were the daughter of the Minister, the General’s wife, the Matriarch of the Marquis of Yongchang, and even Princess Huihua!"

With every sentence, Nan Yan took a step forward, forcing Old Madam Meng to turn shades of blue and white.

Nan Yan smiled. "Does Old Madam Meng need me to invite them here to testify one by one?"

Old Madam Meng’s mouth twitched. "..."

Nan Yan turned and said loudly for all to hear, "It was Meng Boji who fell in love with me, it was Meng Boji who constantly wrote letters to me, and it was Meng Boji who insisted on having me. I never once tempted or seduced him!"

"And you, the Meng family... you harbored evil intentions from the start, plotting in the shadows—"

Turning back, Nan Yan pointed directly at Old Madam Meng’s face.

The old woman, stung by her own shame, slammed her cane against the ground with a rhythmic thud. "You are spouting nonsense—"

"Am I spouting nonsense? A fleeting glance three years ago, a brush of shoulders, and Meng Boji became infatuated with me—was that not an intention born of lust?"

"He pursued me for my name and family background, knowing I was the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s Mansion, and then used letters to constantly entice me—was that not a secret scheme?"

"I blame my own youth and ignorance for being deceived by him, thinking he was a man of great learning and talent whose ambitions were thwarted, even gifting him gold to help him study for his exams..."

"He did indeed return as a top scholar, and the vows he made kneeling for three days and three nights at the gate of the Duke’s Mansion are known to all in the capital as his own words. I never coerced him in the slightest!"