TSWRLM -Chapter 336 Confrontation Face to Face

Princess Hengyang didn’t take Su Yang’s little episode to heart. Once she entered the residence and saw Chun Xi and Xiao Qinghe, her mood brightened again.

After chatting for a while, she noticed Feng Yinyin and asked curiously: “A-Xi, did you hire a new maid? She looks unfamiliar.”

Feng Yinyin was very nervous.

Before the Feng family’s downfall, she had been considered a well-bred young lady, but the highest-ranking person she had ever met was only a prefect’s wife. After her family’s misfortune, she had become a prisoner. If not for Chun Xi bringing her here, she would never in her life have met so many nobles.

Chun Xi replied gently, “She’s not a maid, but a pitiful young lady. Her name is Feng Yinyin. She’s only staying at my residence temporarily. I brought her here today so she could meet an old acquaintance.”

That clearly hinted at something.

Princess Hengyang immediately leaned in. “What is it? Tell me quickly!”

She moved closer, and Xiao Qingyue, who had been talking with Xiao Qinghe, also pricked up her ears. Chun Xi nodded at Feng Yinyin, who then recounted her experiences once again.

Princess Hengyang, fond of opera and having read many storybooks, could already tell halfway through that Su Yang was no good. Xiao Qingyue only realized it at the end.

Seeing Feng Yinyin crying so sorrowfully, Xiao Qingyue’s eyes grew moist as well. She said angrily: “This Su Yang is truly outrageous! Those were his own maternal grandfather and uncle. They kindly took him in, supported his studies, and even arranged his marriage. Yet he colluded with outsiders to harm them and seize their property—he’s worse than beasts!”

Princess Hengyang curled her lips in a cold smile: “There are plenty of heartless men in this world, but very few are ever punished.”

It was common for men to grow tired of the old and seek the new—at most, they’d be called unfaithful. But if a woman took even one wrong step, she would be condemned as immoral, even paraded in the streets or drowned as punishment.

This world had never been fair.

Already indignant for Feng Yinyin, Xiao Qingyue grew even more upset after hearing this.

Xiao Qinghe, however, remained calm. She softly asked Chun Xi: “Aunt, since you brought Miss Feng here today, are you planning to expose Su Yang in public? Do you need our help?”

Chun Xi’s eyes curved in a smile. “He’er truly is perceptive—you saw through my thoughts at once.”

After arriving at the men’s banquet area with Shen Qingyuan, Su Yang cast off his earlier embarrassment and straightened his back, putting on airs as he began mingling with the guests.

Over the past year, he had befriended some young nobles, but most of them were forced by their families to study and were more skilled at indulging in pleasures than anything useful.

Today’s guests, however, were either close to the Xiao family or powerful military officials. Befriending any one of them would benefit him greatly.

Su Yang felt excitement coursing through him.

Of course, he hadn’t forgotten Xiao Qinghe—or his intention to curry favor with the Xiao family.

After making rounds, Su Yang finally spotted Xiao’s father. Straightening his attire, he was about to step forward when a servant suddenly bumped into him.

Crash!

The wine jug fell and shattered, and Su Yang was splashed all over with wine. The surrounding guests turned to look.

“This servant deserves death—please forgive me, sir!”

The servant knelt and kowtowed. Though furious, Su Yang didn’t dare lash out in public and said mildly: “It’s fine. I wasn’t watching my step either. It’s not your fault. My clothes smell of wine—could you take me somewhere to clean up?”

The servant led him to a courtyard with a well and added deliberately: “This courtyard is close to the women’s quarters. Please clean up quickly and return with me—disturbing the ladies would not be appropriate.”

Hearing this, a thought stirred in Su Yang’s mind.

He could pretend to get lost and head toward the women’s quarters. If he managed to speak with the eldest Miss of the Xiao family, wouldn’t that prove they had a special connection?

With that in mind, he coldly ordered: “My outer robe is soaked. To remove the smell, I must wash it. In this weather, it won’t dry quickly. Go fetch me another set of clothes.”

“But…”

The servant hesitated.

Su Yang cut him off, “I’m a distinguished guest of your general. If I fall ill from the cold, can you bear the responsibility?”

“…Then please wait here, sir. Don’t wander around. I’ll fetch clothes for you and return shortly.”

Su Yang agreed, but the moment the servant left, he slipped out of the courtyard.

The male guests at the residence were all people of status, so naturally, the women present were equally distinguished. If a man suddenly intruded, they would likely panic. As Su Yang debated how best to make his appearance, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure.

Feng Yinyin?

Wasn’t she supposed to be serving her sentence in Yuzhou? How could she appear here?

Before he could process it, Feng Yinyin rushed up to him and slapped him hard.

“You beast!”

Carrying the weight of blood-deep hatred, she used all her strength. Caught off guard, Su Yang staggered backward.

His face burned with pain, and he finally realized he wasn’t mistaken—Feng Yinyin had truly come to the capital.

After the initial shock, Su Yang quickly regained composure. He couldn’t let her cause a scene here.

“Yinyin, why are you here?” he said with feigned surprise, reaching for her hand. “I passed the imperial exam. As soon as the results were announced, I wrote to uncle to share the good news. Did you come to the capital with uncle and aunt? Did grandfather come too? At his age, the journey must have been hard… and you’ve grown so thin.”

His voice was gentle, his gaze affectionate—every word filled with concern.

If Feng Yinyin hadn’t known the truth, hadn’t already seen his ugly side when he threatened Chun Xi, she might have been deceived.

How could there be such a shameless person in this world?

She wanted nothing more than to tear his face apart, but remembering Chun Xi’s instructions, she forced herself to endure and burst into loud sobs.

Su Yang hurried to cover her mouth. “Yinyin, if you have grievances, you can tell me—but you mustn’t disturb the honored guests.”

Feng Yinyin seized the chance and bit him hard.

Afraid of being seen entangled with her by the noble ladies, Su Yang endured the pain silently.

Feng Yinyin spat out a mouthful of blood and said coldly: “My grandfather was falsely accused of selling fake medicine and died from anger. My father and brother were beaten severely and died unjustly in prison. My mother fell gravely ill from grief and passed away two months ago. Before she died, she bribed the guards and sold me into servitude so I could come to the capital. Before all this happened, I wrote you a letter. You knew our family was in trouble, yet you did nothing. Why pretend to care now?”

Su Yang had indeed received that letter.

Precisely because everything had gone according to his plan, he felt secure enough to even threaten Chun Xi.

But he never expected that Feng Yinyin, a defenseless young woman, would make it all the way to the capital.

Cursing inwardly that the people in Yuzhou were useless, he said aloud: “What letter? I never received any reply from you. There must be some misunderstanding.”