Chapter 1

At the Empress's flower-viewing banquet, a notorious rake from the capital suddenly rose to his feet.

"Some time ago, the eldest Miss Xie and I shared a night together. We pledged to spend our lives as husband and wife. I beg Your Majesty to grant us this marriage!"

He sounded utterly certain. He even produced a close-fitting undergarment of mine as proof.

The room erupted.

I was astonished too—and thoroughly bewildered.

The day before, I'd plainly been on a boat drinking tea with my fiancé.

I was about to rise and explain when lines of text suddenly appeared before my eyes.

[The second the supporting girl tries to explain, the male lead will deny everything and dump the blame on her!]

[After all, the one who spent the night with that scumbag was the male lead's sister. Frame the supporting girl to protect his sister, break the engagement, and marry the heroine. Our precious boy is so clever~]

[Exactly. Who told her to take up the spot as his fiancée? Our boy had no choice!]

[Then she'll marry that rake, have two children in three years, and die of misery. That's her ending. Serves her right!]

I immediately changed what I was going to say.

"The other day, I saw someone sharing an intimate encounter with Young Master Hong."

"I'm afraid he's deliberately accusing me to protect that person."

1

Silence fell.

People glanced between Hong Jingxing and me, apparently weighing which of us was telling the truth.

He looked me up and down with a lecherous gaze.

"I have your undergarment, and you still claim it was someone else?"

"Eldest Miss Xie, aren't you being a little too shy?"

"It's all right. I understand. That's precisely why I've come to ask Her Majesty to bring us together."

Hong Jingxing was infamous in the capital.

He had achieved nothing in letters or arms. He spent his days in brothels.

He'd never taken a principal wife, but kept countless beautiful concubines.

His reputation was appalling.

No girl from a respectable family would marry him.

Naturally, I could never admit to this.

I steadied myself and spoke slowly.

"What does an undergarment prove?"

"If having my name embroidered on it makes it mine, wouldn't framing someone be absurdly easy?"

"Learn any noblewoman's name, stitch it onto a garment, and take it out in public. Wouldn't that let anyone destroy her reputation?"

The noblewomen around us looked distinctly unhappy.

Even the Empress's expression darkened.

Hong Jingxing's face changed. He hastily raised his voice.

"That night, Miss Xie burst into the brothel. I happened to be there."

"She began undressing in front of me, saying she was hot. I've always been tender toward beautiful women, so one thing naturally led to another."

"If you don't believe me, summon the madam and the attendant from that night. Ask them!"

"That night?"

I immediately seized the flaw.

"You mean I came after dark?"

He nodded.

I thought for a moment, then asked,

"Were any lamps lit in the room?"

He considered.

"No."

"I was holding another woman and about to go to sleep."

"But when you offered yourself, naturally, I couldn't refuse."

"If it was dark, how could you be certain it was me?"

His eyes shifted.

"Of course you told me your name. At first, you wouldn't say it. I had to use a few tricks before you…"

"The sounds you made that night were really…"

His leering gaze swept over me again.

Several unmarried ladies flushed.

I angrily rebuked him for his filthy nonsense.

From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Pei Wanzhi, my fiancé Pei Lang's younger sister.

She was deathly pale.

Cold sweat slid down her forehead. Her eyes darted about before she suddenly spoke.

"Sister Xie, I know you're upset. But Young Master Hong even has your undergarment. If there were no truth in it, would he dare say this before Her Majesty?"

"You… perhaps you should admit it. Her Majesty is kind. She'll surely grant your marriage."

Fury surged through me.

Had we not been in public, I could have slapped her then and there.

Because of Pei Lang, I'd extended my affection to her and always treated her warmly.

Whenever a new fabric or piece of jewelry became fashionable in the capital, I immediately bought one for her too.

Even the jade bracelet on her wrist today was a gift I'd bought at the Treasure Pavilion.

When she'd been younger, she'd loved storybooks. Sometimes she would tug me aside and urge,

"Sister Xie, have you ever been to a brothel?"

"In the stories I read, young ladies and gentlemen always meet in a brothel and quarrel before falling in love. It's so interesting!"

"Do you think I'd meet my true love if I went…?"

She pressed her lips together, her eyes actually shining with anticipation.

The idea struck me as utterly absurd. I hurried to warn her.

"They write that precisely because it doesn't happen in real life!"

"Don't be foolish. If noblewomen like us are discovered visiting a brothel, it won't just destroy our reputations. It'll implicate our entire families!"

Pei Wanzhi pouted, quite unconcerned.

"You're so old-fashioned, Sister Xie. I was only talking. Must you make it so serious?"

"I'm not talking to you anymore. You're no fun."

I'd thought she was young and said no more.

But judging by this…

The fool might really have gone.

And something had happened between her and Hong Jingxing.

If the accusation against me stood, my reputation would be ruined. I would have no choice but to marry him. My sisters and female cousins would suffer too.

I would never allow it.

2

Whispers began around us.

"Pei Wanzhi and Miss Xie are usually as close as sisters. If even she says that, has she noticed something? Could Miss Xie really…?"

"Who knows what these noblewomen enjoy…"

I swept my gaze around the room and spoke clearly.

"Miss Pei, you may be careless about what you eat. You cannot be careless about what you say."

"If a few words from a libertine can become fact and ruin any noblewoman's good name, what need does the court have for the Court of Judicial Review?"

"You're a woman too. How would you feel if I said you were the one who spent the night with Hong Jingxing?"

Shame at being struck where it hurt mingled with anger.

"I… of course I didn't!"

"Sister Xie, I was only trying to advise you out of kindness…"

"I don't need your kindness."

Her face went from green to white. I'd shut her down so completely that she couldn't speak.

Pei Lang, seated beside her—my own fiancé—rose.

"Your Majesty, this concerns Miss Xie's reputation. It isn't my place to say too much."

"My sister is young and spoke thoughtlessly. I apologize to Miss Xie on her behalf."

"However…"

He paused, as though carefully choosing each word.

"There is indeed something about the other day I haven't understood."

"I invited Miss Xie to visit an estate, but she never came."

"Now that I've heard Young Master Hong's account, I wouldn't presume to guess where she went."

"But if she did meet him afterward, then… even as her fiancé, I can hardly object. We aren't married yet. Naturally, she has her freedom."

"I only ask Your Majesty to investigate fairly. Don't let Miss Xie suffer an injustice, but don't wrong Young Master Hong either."

He hadn't explicitly said whether I'd gone to see Hong Jingxing.

He'd merely left everyone ample room to imagine it.

Pain wound itself around my heart.

This was my fiancé.

At last, I knew the comments had been telling the truth.

Pei Lang himself had invited me out that day. He'd said he had a surprise and asked me not to bring many people.

I'd trusted him and taken only my personal maid.

Among the greenery on an island in the lake, he'd prepared fine wine and food.

With a gentle smile, he'd invited me to exchange poems and drink with him.

I'd found it a little strange. But for the sake of our many years together, I'd stayed until dusk.

He'd even wanted me to stay overnight. I'd firmly refused.

And today he could say this!

It seemed I'd truly misjudged him.

Looking straight into his eyes, I spoke each word distinctly.

"Pei Lang, we grew up together. We've known each other since childhood. I've never done anything to wrong you. Why must you insinuate such things and humiliate me in public?"

He was about to speak. I cut him off.

"Anyone here who heard what you just said could only conclude that Young Master Hong and I are having an affair."

When arguing with someone, the most important thing was not to give them another chance to speak.

"Very well. Since that's what you say."

"I can only tell everyone the truth. I did intend to keep our appointment. But on the way, I saw Pei Lang sneaking out. Suspicious, I secretly followed him."

"To my surprise, he went to a brothel to meet Young Master Hong!"

"I said nothing before because of our long attachment. I wanted to preserve the last shred of his dignity."

"I never imagined…"

"That the two of you were having an affair!"