Chapter 254: Awakening from the Great Dream

"Fart!"

Xia Zhimeng, at some point having slipped into the crowd, picked up a stone at her feet and hurled it fiercely at that Mingyue Fang servant.

She knew that man was Ling Qingwu's lackey, so she showed no mercy, smashing his forehead until it bled profusely.

"You saw it with your own eyes? If you dare keep slandering my sister Ye Qingran, I will wipe out your entire clan!"

The servant was clearly shaken by Xia Zhimeng's aura, his face showing fear, his gaze subtly shifting toward the direction of the sword sect disciples; after receiving some tacit approval, his courage swelled.

He covered his forehead, which Xia Zhimeng had smashed, and firmly said, "Yes, I saw it with my own eyes!"

Ye Qingran, are you really in this room?

All around, murmurs of gossip from those present rose.

Especially the voices arranged by Mu Qingrou and her cohorts were the loudest and most grating.

"Oh my god, is Ye Qingran consorting with a Wild Man? This is Mingyue Fang! And it's daytime! This is just too lecherous!"

"Heh, this isn't Ye Qingran's first time; as the saying goes, once is new, twice is familiar—she's already well‑versed. Her past behavior even made me rethink her, but a dog can't stop eating dung, a gilded exterior hides rotten cotton; deep down she's depraved and low, and she'll never change in this life!"

"Honestly, Ye Qingran is truly fond of illicit affairs! Six years ago it was like this, now it's the same, and there were probably countless times in between we don't know about…"

…

As the gossip continued, mocking and sneering voices rose from the crowd, all ridiculing and despising Ye Qingran.

At this moment, some people stood up to defend Ye Qingran.

"Hearing is Void, Seeing is Reality— the truth hasn't surfaced yet. To slander like this, isn't that unkind?"

"Exactly, based on a single word from that servant, you start cursing Ye Qingran—that's excessive!"

"Illicit liaisons tarnish a woman's reputation; if you have no evidence, don't recklessly spew false accusations!"

…

Xia Zhimeng stared blankly at those defending Ye Qingran, then a light smile appeared on her face.

"Sister Qingran, look— as you gradually reveal your true self, you're beginning to earn some people's trust and support."

Believe it, it won't be long before they're all won over by you!

More and more people arrived at this secluded Courtyard.

The sounds from the room seeped through the door, extremely intense, making many blush.

Ling Qingwu stared at the room's door, a smug smile blooming in her beautiful eyes, a hint of mockery curling at her lips.

"Ye Qingran, what if you win in swordsmanship? What if you win in poetry? You'll still end up in my hands, becoming a scorned harlot for all to point at, won't you?"

"Aren't you relying on National Master's favoritism toward you?"

"Once your body has been ogled by so many men, I'll see whether National Master still favors you!"

Ling Qingwu, thinking, gave a signal to that Mingyue Fang servant, who hurried to open the door.

Seeing the servant about to open the door, Mu Qingrou's eyes filled with delight.

Once the door opens, Ye Qingran's disgrace will be seen by everyone, and all will know she is a filthy thing fit for any man!

Suddenly—

"Yo, so lively! What are you all gathered here for?"

A clear, resonant voice rang out from the Courtyard entrance.

"Of course we're waiting to see Ye…"

Mu Qingrou's smile froze, and mechanically she turned her head, seeing an unmistakably familiar face.

She instantly widened her eyes, as if she'd seen a terrifying specter.

She gasped, "Ye Qingran, why are you here?!"

Shouldn't she be in the room consorting with the Fourth Prince?

Ling Qingwu's cold visage stiffened at the sound, and when she turned to see Ye Qingran, it cracked like fissures.

Ye Qingran, at an unknown moment, appeared at the Courtyard gate, cradling a kitten that she stroked intermittently. The kitten's fur was newly sprouted, short yet of excellent quality.

Mu Qingrou was left dumbfounded.

Ye Qingran is outside; then who is the woman inside the room?

Ye Qingran curled a frosty smile, "Tsk tsk, it seems my appearing here disappoints you? So, you wanted me inside?"

Ling Qingwu's expression turned as grim as possible.

Creak~

The door opened.

Hearing the door creak, Mu Qingrou's heart sank like a lead weight dropping to the valley floor.

Everything inside the room became clear once light poured in. Countless gazes rushed eagerly inside.

A scene of utter mess.

Beyond the chaos lay a vista of dazzling beauty.

The crowd froze instantly.

Pairs of eyes reflected boundless spring scenery.

After seeing the protagonist's face clearly, their gazes froze, unsure how to react.

Inside, crumpled bedding lay on the floor, two stark naked bodies tangled together, entwined to the extreme.

They were intoxicated, as if in a dream and waking.

The woman kept her eyes closed, her face the epitome of pleasure; the man strained intensely, his flesh trembling.

Only when the door opened, a gust of cold wind swept in, jolting them awake.

Ye Huanhuan's eyes slowly opened, the scene before her hazy; the man's warmth and low moan on her body gave her a hint of reality.

How wonderful, she and her Crown Prince brother are finally united!

She couldn't help but reveal a satisfied smile.

However, the strong light outside made her feel glare; turning her head, she saw a crowd of people, and the noise was deafening.

Three seconds later…

"Ah!!"

Realizing what had happened, Ye Huanhuan screamed, scrambling to pick up the clothes on the ground to cover herself.

But the clothes were torn to shreds, useless for cover! The blanket was pressed down by the Fourth Prince, and she couldn't pull it up.

"Crown Prince Brother, how could this be!" she cried, scrambling onto the man, shouting in fear, yet feeling little shame, more excitement and delight.

Everyone had personally witnessed her and the Crown Prince's intimate, lingering scene; thus, her relationship with the Crown Prince could never be completely severed from now on!

This is fine too!

However, Ye Huanhuan suddenly felt something was off.

The Crown Prince's frame is slender and hard all over—how could it feel so soft?

She pinched and felt a handful of greasy fat; her pupils shrank instantly, and when she jerked her head up, she saw a familiar yet strange face!

Fourth Prince!

How could it be him?!

Shouldn't she be entwined with the Crown Prince?

How did it become the Fourth Prince?!

Countless thoughts flashed through Ye Huanhuan's mind.

Her face gradually turned pale…

……

After a brief silence, the people outside burst into a terrible clamor.

The scene in that room simply shattered their worldviews.

"Good heavens, what did I do wrong to have to see this?"

"They said the person inside was Ye Qingran—how did it become Second Miss Ye Huanhuan's joy?"

"Second Miss Ye Huanhuan, who always kept herself pure—how could she do such a thing?"

"Tsk tsk, even if it were just daytime indecency, she also shows an expression of extreme enjoyment—hard to imagine alongside her usual pretentious aloofness."

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe Ye Huanhuan is that kind of person!"

……

All kinds of vulgar sounds reached Ye Huanhuan's ears.

Ye Huanhuan looked at the man before her with his fat head and big ears; waking from a great dream, all her fantasies shattered…