Chapter 206

The smile on Zhou Jing'an's face froze instantly, and the color drained from his cheeks with a whoosh, leaving them utterly pale.

Zhou Jinhua first stared, then his face darkened, anger flared in his eyes, and he shouted sternly: "Who's spouting nonsense there! Slandering my son!"

Tuan Tuan showed no fear, pattering steps to the hall, lifted her little face: "Me!"

Upon seeing her, the faces of the Zhou father and son instantly turned black as a pot bottom.

Again, this little girl!

Tuan Tuan didn't care whether their faces were ugly or not, she walked straight up to Zhou Jing'an.

She looked curious: "Aren't you already married? You live in Huazhi Lane west of the city, right!"

How does she know? I hid it so well! Besides my mother, even my father doesn't know!

Zhou Jing'an forced himself to stay calm, vehemently denied: "Nonsense! I'm not married yet, where would a wife come from! Princess, you must have heard some villain's slander and misunderstood me!"

"No, huh," Tuan Tuan tilted her little head, "Didn't you just bring that person out of whatever Rongxiang Courtyard a few months ago?"

"Oh, right! You spent so much silver marrying her! Wow, your family is really rich, every time you take a wife you spend that much!"

As soon as the three words "Rongxiang Courtyard" were spoken, Zhou Jinhua's eyelid twitched violently—that's the famous entertainment house in Jingcheng! No wonder his son spends silver like flowing water; it turns out he's been using it to fill these places!

He gave his son a fierce glare.

Looking at his father's ashen face, Zhou Jing'an broke out in cold sweat, his voice sharpening: "It's not true! Even if you are the Princess, you can't just spout baseless accusations and tarnish someone's reputation!"

Tuan Tuan showed no mercy: "So you're marrying a wife while admiring Miss Shujun!"

Zhou Jing'an fell to his knees with a thud: "Father! Master Song! Don't believe the babbling of this yellow-mouthed brat! She's making this up out of thin air!"

"Absolutely not! What Rongxiang Courtyard? I keep myself pure, I've never gone to such a place!"

Tuan Tuan looked at his deathly pale face: "How can you be like this! You don't even want your own home! You don't want a wife—do you not want a son either?"

The entire hall was astonished.

"Ah!" Song Shujun couldn't hold back behind the screen, letting out a soft gasp, quickly raising her hand to cover her mouth.

Zhou Jing'an swayed on the verge of collapse—how does she know everything!

If it weren't for Liuyun bearing my child, my mother would never have agreed to bring her out and let me keep her in a golden house!

Seeing his son's appearance, Zhou Jinhua understood in his heart—it seems this is true.

Zhou Jing'an lifted his head to look at his father's dark-as-iron face, his vision went black, his body swayed, and he almost couldn't stay kneeling.

Zhou Jinhua trembled with rage.

Originally, it seemed a good match—although Song Jingxian holds no official post, his status is esteemed; if we could ally with the marquis household through marriage, it would greatly benefit the marquis's future.

Never did we expect this outcome.

Exposed on the spot, his son not only frequents brothels, he doesn't even have a proper wife, yet he first kept a concubine and even had a child!

He glared at Tuan Tuan, his breath caught in his chest, nearly spitting blood.

Song Jingxian spoke slowly: "Master Zhou, the Princess is young; surely she wouldn't fabricate names like Huazhi Lane and Rongxiang Courtyard out of thin air. What else do you have to say?"

"Master Song! I!" Zhou Jing'an opened his mouth to argue, cold sweat soaking his inner garments.

He wanted to deny, to make excuses, but verifying this matter would be as easy as turning over one's hand.

Can it be settled by mere verbal denial?

Zhou Jinhua, both angry and anxious, hastily rose and gave Song Jingxian a deep bow, trying to appease: "Master Song, please calm down! This must be some misunderstanding! My son is young and inexperienced; surely he's been led astray by some disreputable friends, momentarily confused..."

"Confused?" Song Jingxian lightly interrupted him, "Marquis, if the Princess's words are true, your son's conduct goes beyond youthful recklessness that can be excused."

"One side he has a concubine with children, the other he comes to seek marriage with my granddaughter. Marquis Jinghai, what do you regard my Song family as? What do you regard Shujun as?"

With each sentence he spoke, the heads of the Zhou father and son lowered another fraction.

"My granddaughter, Song Jingxian's, even if she is not of noble birth, I will not allow anyone to treat her so contemptuously and bully her!"

Song Jingxian's voice suddenly turned stern: "This marriage proposal need not be mentioned again! You two, please leave!"

He directly issued the order to expel guests.

Zhou Jinhua's face was ashen; he knew there was no room for redemption today—he had utterly lost face.

He glared fiercely at his worthless son, then forced a clasped-hand salute: "Yes, please calm your anger, Master Song; I, the marquis, take my leave."

Having said that, he dragged up the kneeling, soul-less Zhou Jing'an, and they fled in a sorry, embarrassed state.

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands happily, ran to Song Jingxian's front, and with an expectant look lifted her face: "Grandpa Song! I chased them away! Shujun sister doesn't have to marry that scoundrel!"

The frost on Song Jingxian's face melted away; he reached out, pulled Tuan Tuan close, and rubbed her head: "Tuan Tuan is right! Today I owe you much. Your sister Shujun truly ought to thank you properly."

Song Shujun led her brother out from behind the screen.

She gave Tuan Tuan a deep bow: "Little sister Tuan Tuan, thank you."

If it weren't for Tuan Tuan speaking up for justice, she would likely have truly been ruined in the hands of such hypocrites.

Song Zhulin lunged forward, hugging Tuan Tuan's arm, her little face flushed with excitement: "Tuan Tuan, you're amazing! A few words scared that scoundrel away!"

Tuan Tuan, praised by everyone, felt a bit embarrassed, smiling so hard her cheek dimples deepened.

Song Jingxian looked at her: "But Tuan Tuan, how do you know about the Jinghai Marquis household? I see Zhou Jinhua's appearance—he himself doesn't even know what good deeds his son has done."

Tuan Tuan thought for a moment: "I just know!"

Song Jingxian smiled faintly: "You really are a little lucky star!"

He waved his hand: "Go play! Tonight you'll eat at my place! After eating, I'll have them send you back to your residence."

Song Zhulin happily took Tuan Tuan's hand: "Great! Tuan Tuan, let's go back and keep playing!"

Song Shujun bowed to her grandfather: "Please, Grandfather, don't stay angry because of them; I'll take my leave."

Song Jingxian waved his hand: "Go ahead."

The waters of Jingcheng are really getting murkier and murkier.

The Zhou family's marriage proposal is a pretense; they truly want to use my title of Imperial Teacher to consolidate the Jinghai Marquis household's power.

But they plotted and schemed endlessly, never expecting to be toppled by a five-year-old child.

This Tuan Tuan is really not simple!

At the same time, Da Xia, Guoshi Residence.

A strong medicinal smell filled the bedroom.

Wu Luo slowly opened his eyes.

National Preceptor! You finally woke up!

Gongsun Zi lunged to the bedside, his face showing undisguised reliance and joy.

He had been by Wu Luo's side since childhood, having seen Wu Luo far more times than he had seen his father, Gongsun Chi.

He had doubted his own identity as a reincarnated Shen Tong, but he had never doubted the affection Wu Luo showed by staying by his side.

This time, Wu Luo remained unconscious, and Gongsun Zi kept vigil by his sickbed, anxious as fire.

The Daoist standing at the side helped Wu Luo up, letting him lean against the headboard.

Quick! Bring the medicine!

Another Daoist promptly brought a bowl of medicine; Gongsun Zi took it and held it before Wu Luo, saying, "It seems the medicine from the Imperial Medical Institute is still somewhat useful, National Preceptor—please drink it."

Wu Luo gazed at the dark brown liquid in the bowl, his heart jolted: "Get lost!"

He waved his hand violently.

Clang—!

The medicine bowl was violently knocked to the ground, the liquid and shards scattering in all directions.

Gongsun Zi stared in shock: "National Preceptor—what's wrong with you?"

Wu Luo closed his eyes: "Your Highness, please return; I'm fine now."

Gongsun Zi stood up dazedly, glanced at him, then turned and left.

Wu Luo looked out the window.

Long ago, it was also such an afternoon.

I watched you with my own eyes, heartbroken, as you jumped into the bottomless abyss, senior brother.