Hua Jing barely had ti to open her mouth to retort when a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Well, well, well... what do we have here?"
A nobleman, dressed in fine robes and a belly that suggested he enjoyed more than his fair share of feasts, strode toward them. His gaze flickered between Hua Jing and Zhao Yan, sharp with judgnt.
His eyes settled on Hua Jing, and a look of utter disgust contorted his face.
"Seventh Consort," he spat, his tone dripping with disdain, "I thought you had so sha, but I see now I was gravely mistaken!"
Hua Jing blinked.
What?
The nobleman sneered. "To think that the honored Seventh Consort would be sneaking around in the dark with so man—without even a hint of remorse! Shaless! Utterly shaless!"
They were now calling her a honorable consort because she was now a part of royalty but when she was still staying here they all looked down on her for being an illegitimate daughter!
Talk about switching sides!
Hua Jing’s mouth fell open.
Excuse ?
Zhao Yan, standing beside her, remained impassive.
But, darkness was pulling slowly and slowly inside his eyes and no one could see it.
His Jaws clenched tightly
The nobleman wasn’t finished.
He turned his glare to Zhao Yan, his eyes narrowing. "And you! Have you no sha, parading around with a married woman? You dare seduce the Seventh Consort under the very noses of the imperial family?"
Zhao Yan’s lips twitched upward—just barely—but he said nothing.
Hua Jing, on the other hand, was this close to losing it.
Sing that Zhao Yan was being yelled at da very happy but then the statent of that man was still quite derogatory.
She wondered what was going on inside Zhao Yan’s mins at this very mont!
"I—"
The nobleman cut her off.
"And don’t think I didn’t see how you were looking at Scholar Jiang Lei earlier in the banquet hall! You think we are all fools? Your love-filled gaze was shaless! Shaless, I say!"
Hua Jing choked.
Love-filled what now?
Her? Looking at Jiang Lei with love-filled eyes?
What in the peacock was this man talking about?!
Xia Lin covered her mouth, holding back a laugh.
Zhao Yan on the other hand quickly turned to face Hua Jing. His face was full of a questioning glare but Hua Jing could still see the hints of jealousy inside of them
Hua Jing’s eye twitched violently.
Before she could get a single word in, more people began stepping out from the banquet hall, drawn by the commotion.
"What’s going on?"
"The Seventh Consort is with another man?"
"Isn’t she married to the prince?"
"The nerve! What a disgrace!"
Hua Jing was speechless.
Absolutely speechless.
Of all the things she had expected tonight—being publicly accused of being so shaless seductress was not on the list.
She took a deep breath.
Okay.
Fine.
Perhaps she could still salvage this.
She turned to Zhao Yan, hoping, praying, that he would open his mouth and clear things up.
He didn’t.
In fact—
He was enjoying this.
That bastard!
His arms were crossed, his lips curved into sothing that was not quite a smirk, but his eyes—those dark, knowing eyes—held unmistakable amusent.
She wanted to strangle him.
Just as she opened her mouth, the nobleman pointed at her, cutting her off again.
"I always knew there was sothing off about you!" he bellowed. "An illegitimate daughter climbing to royalty? Hah! You must have seduced the prince as well, just as you’re doing now with this man! Tell us, do you lure all n in with that pitiful act?"
Gasps filled the air.
Hua Jing’s fingers twitched.
Xia Lin took a cautious step back.
Soone was about to die.
And it wouldn’t be her mistress.
But before Hua Jing could even process her rage, another nobleman’s voice chid in, confused yet intrigued.
"Wait a mont... this man..." The nobleman scrutinized Zhao Yan closely, eyes narrowing.
And then, like a bolt of lightning, realization struck him.
"Isn’t he one of those flower boys from the pleasure houses?"
A hush fell over the crowd.
Hua Jing froze.
Oh no.
No, no, no.
Not this.
She turned slowly to look at Zhao Yan—who was still infuriatingly calm—but his eyes darkened ever so slightly.
It was true that almost no one had seen Zhao Yan’s real face. The prince was known to always wear a mask, and even his closest advisors rarely caught a glimpse of his features.
And now, standing under the soft lantern glow, with his absurdly handso face revealed, his refined yet dangerously seductive aura did resemble those n from the fad pleasure houses—gigolos who catered to noblewon.
Hua Jing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Zhao Yan?
A gigolo?
This was beyond ridiculous!
But the nobleman, clearly feeling very confident in his assessnt, scoffed and folded his arms.
"I knew sothing was off! Look at him! The delicate features, the charming presence, the way he just stands there all mysterious—he’s definitely one of those n who sell their beauty for coin!"
More murmurs erupted among the crowd.
A gigolo?
Was the Seventh Consort really sneaking around with a gigolo?
"Oh heavens, the disgrace..."
"How could she embarrass the prince like this?"
"The imperial family will never forgive her for this."
Hua Jing clenched her fists.
Oh, now she was mad.
Not because of the scandal.
Not because of the absurdity.
But because she could feel Zhao Yan’s amusent radiating off of him in waves.
This bastard was enjoying himself.
She could see it—his shoulders were just a little too relaxed, his eyes just a little too entertained.
This man was perfectly content letting them believe he was a pleasure house gigolo!
Her rage skyrocketed.
She was about to explode.
But before she could—
Another noblewoman suddenly gasped.
"Wait... if he’s a gigolo, then doesn’t that an the Seventh Consort is paying for his company?"
Hua Jing: ...
Zhao Yan: ...
Xia Lin: Oh, this is getting good.
The scandal had officially spiraled out of control!
Just then, a soft voice spoken softly, "What is going on here?"
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