After receiving the imperial decree, Duchess Chu and the Mo family dies returned to chat with the female guests for a while. Eventually, Madam Ma led the group on a stroll through the garden.

  Though it was winter, the paths were well-swept, and the scenery held a unique charm. The atmosphere was lively, but the older dies chose to remain in the banquet hall, leaving mostly young women and mistresses to join the walk.

  The sheer number of attendees meant only some followed Madam Ma on the stroll, while the young women quickly broke into small groups, enjoying themselves freely.

  As they walked, Madam Xu spotted Nanny Liu nodding at her from a distance. Suppressing a smile, she casually pointed to a small path and asked Madam Ma, “Madam, where does that path lead? It has such a serene, secluded charm.”

  Madam Ma smiled and expined, leading the group toward the path while chatting. Soon, they arrived at the house.

  Everyone walked leisurely past the building when Madam Xu, feigning curiosity, remarked, “Madam, there aren’t many buildings in this area, yet this one with its curved eaves and eborate brackets is quite unique. It has a Southern charm to it, doesn’t it?”

  Her comment drew everyone’s attention to the house. By this time, the lock on the door had mysteriously disappeared.

  “You have a keen eye, Madam. This house was designed in the Huizhou architectural style, with furnishings inside to match. Would you like to take a look?”

  Naturally, no one objected. Someone stepped forward to push the door open. Madam Ma led the way inside, followed by the others in small groups.

  As they entered, a screen blocked the immediate view, but before they could proceed further, strange sounds reached their ears—heavy breathing from a man and soft moans from a woman.

  Many of the married women instantly recognized what was happening, exchanging awkward gnces. None dared to imagine who might be inside.

  Madam Ma’s expression darkened. Who could be so audacious? Whatever the case, such a scandalous scene was not something the guests could witness.

  She was about to retreat when Madam Xu, as if completely oblivious to the noises, walked straight ahead. After a few steps, she suddenly shrieked, “Seventh Girl! You—you…”

  At that, the situation could no longer be concealed. A curious daughter-in-w had already stepped inside, and seeing her, the rest of the married women followed. The unmarried young dies, however, stayed outside.

  Inside the house, a man and a woman were tangled together on a bed, their pale bodies intertwined in a disgraceful scene.

  Madam Xu’s scream did not disrupt the man’s actions. The scene was so unsightly that the women only took a quick gnce before retreating, unable to see the man’s face clearly.

  The woman had turned her face to the side, further obscuring her identity.

  However, Madam Xu’s loud cry had stirred curiosity. Quiet whispers among the women confirmed what many suspected—the woman was none other than the famed Seventh Miss of the Qin family, Qin Shuying, who had recently gained fame in the capital for her sudden wealth through sugar sales.

  Madam Xu, clutching someone’s arm, turned away while covering her face, crying, “How am I supposed to expin this to the Old Madam? Seventh Girl, Shuying…”

  The women exchanged gnces, barely able to contain their excitement.

  Madam Ma, her face flushed with anger, felt her head pounding. How could such a scandal occur on a day meant for celebration? Still, as the matron of a powerful family, she made a swift decision. “Someone! Go to the front courtyard and fetch the eldest young master!”

  If it had only involved women, she could have handled it herself. But since a man was involved, the matter required the family’s male authority. With her father-in-w and husband stationed at the border, the man in charge was her son, Mo Yiting.

  A servant quickly ran off, while Madam Ma’s face remained stormy. She called two older servant women and commanded, “Go inside and tie that man up! How dare he act so brazenly in Duke Chu’s residence? Does he have no sense of propriety?”

  Madam Ma stayed outside with the guests. At this point, there was little she could do but endure their ridicule.

  Madam Xu, sobbing, wiped her tears, menting, “This child… My husband and I have always been extra kind to her, knowing she lost her parents at a young age and was left all alone. We treated her better than our own daughters, fearing she might feel neglected. But to think she would grow so willful and reckless, disregarding all decorum. It’s my fault! How will I ever face my te third brother and sister-in-w?”

  No one doubted the woman inside was Seventh Miss Qin anymore.

  Before long, the servant women dragged the man out, his hands bound. He was still drunkenly shouting, “What are you doing? I was just getting into the mood! Let me go! Let me finish…”

  The scandalous nature of his words left everyone stunned.

  Madam Ma’s face turned red with fury as she finally recognized the man. It took all her strength to steady herself as she pointed at him, almost too enraged to speak. Wasn’t this Sun Qingping, the younger brother of Mo Wuren’s wife, Sun Shi?

  Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have recognized him, but Sun Qingping was notorious as a drunkard, much like her husband’s illegitimate son, Mo Wuren. Several times, he had been brought home in a drunken stupor, and Madam Ma had dealt with the situation, seeing him once or twice.

  Moreover, Sun Qingping bore a strong resembnce to Sun Shi, Mo Wuren’s concubine-born wife, sharing seven or eight simir features. Standing face to face like this, there was little doubt that the man was Sun Qingping.

  Madam Ma was already on poor terms with Concubine Jin and often the target of her husband’s suspicions. If she dealt with Sun Qingping too harshly today, Sun Shi would undoubtedly report the matter to Concubine Jin. Though Madam Ma wasn’t afraid of such a confrontation, the thought of it was infuriating.

  This connection brings me nothing but humiliation and trouble! Madam Ma gritted her teeth in frustration but found herself at a loss. On top of that, Madam Xu was still sobbing theatrically nearby, and Madam Ma couldn’t simply ignore the situation. She was caught in a dilemma.

  Madam Xu, still dabbing her tears, cried dramatically about Qin Shuying’s disgrace. “Seventh Girl, how could you? How am I supposed to answer to your te parents? You… you’ve completely disregarded the Qin family’s reputation! Your Fifth Sister, Sixth Sister, and Eighth Sister will all be implicated because of you…”

  The women in the room gnced toward the back, eager to catch a glimpse of this “Qin Shuying.”

  Some noblewomen, however, were unimpressed by Madam Xu’s behavior. Most would try to cover up such a scandal, but Madam Xu had chosen to make a scene. Did she not care about her own daughters’ reputations being tarnished by association?

  Madam Ma, maintaining composure, quickly ordered the servant women to dress Sun Qingping, gag him, and drag him outside.

  As the servants busied themselves, a clear female voice suddenly rang out, “Madam Xu, what’s going on?”

  Startled, Madam Xu jerked her head up, her eyes widening as if she’d seen a ghost. “Qin Shuying?!”

  The others also turned to stare in shock at the girl who had spoken.

  Earlier, Madam Xu had gone to great lengths to introduce Qin Shuying to everyone, funting her as a shining example of her “kindness.” As a result, most people recognized her now.

  Qin Shuying leaned slightly on Ziteng, limping as she took a few steps forward. She touched her head, then her face, her expression full of confusion. “What’s going on? Ziteng, is there something on me? Why is everyone staring at me? Oh… my leg. It’s unsightly, isn’t it? I twisted it earlier.”

  Her calm demeanor left the room stunned, and murmurs began to spread among the guests.