"So you, Mrs. Su, do know that this has nothing to do with you. Then what's with your sarcasm?"
Qiao Lan seized the opportunity and pressed on step by step.
"Because I can't stand to see someone occupying a position without doing their job. I'm truly worried about the court."
Su Hele suddenly took it to a higher level, catching Qiao Lan off guard. How did it suddenly involve the court?
Su Nansheng suddenly looked cold: "Don't make random remarks about the court."
Saying that, she got up and bowed to Feng Qingyun:
"Miss Feng, don't take offense. She was sick a couple of days ago and hasn't fully recovered yet."
Su Hele still wanted to step forward, but was blocked by Bi Tao.
"She doesn't know that the Director of the Imperial College has been secretly subsidizing poor students all along."
Saying that, Su Nansheng turned to the young ladies who were all looking at her:
"The Director of the Imperial College has also built three schools. In the name of the schools, he provides accommodation and food for those students and gives them books. When he's not on duty, he even corrects the homework papers of students who can't enter the Imperial College and writes comments.
He is so dedicated and tireless in teaching. He truly deserves to be a model for teachers."
Her voice was high - pitched and clear. Hearing it made people feel refreshed.
After she finished speaking, someone outside the room laughed:
"Aunt Su has over - praised me."
Everyone turned their heads and saw Mrs. Feng walking in front, followed by other ladies like Chen Wanrong.
Aunt Li walked at the end, her face as dark as coal, showing no sign of light.
"Mother."
Feng Qingyun immediately stepped forward to greet her, her voice tinged with grievance. Mrs. Feng patted her hand and said to Su Nansheng:
"My husband does things with a clear conscience and doesn't like to publicize such things. I didn't expect Aunt Su to know about them."
Su Nansheng curtsied and said gently:
"The Director of the Imperial College's actions are pure and without any selfish motives. He asks for no return. But I can't bear to let such a sincere heart go cold. Of course, I have to spread the things that the students have been talking about."
Sooner or later, this matter would spread. Instead of letting it spread slowly in the streets, it was better for her to add fuel to the fire. The effect of the ladies present spreading it would be a hundred times better than that of the common people.
Mrs. Feng was a very shrewd woman. She immediately understood what Su Nansheng meant and said with a smile:
"Then I'd like to thank Aunt Su for clearing my husband's name."
Then, she turned to Su Hele and said coldly:
"When I first met you, I thought Mrs. Su was a person of noble character. But I didn't expect you to be as vulgar and gossiping as those country women. Do you know that rumors can kill? Making wild speculations without any evidence is no different from murder!"
Being scolded in front of so many people, Su Hele was naturally unwilling. She argued:
"That coral tree is truly priceless. It's not something you should have. Where's the lack of evidence?"
"Still dare to talk nonsense!"
Aunt Li suddenly rushed to Su Hele's side and pulled her away from Mrs. Feng. The force was so great that Su Hele almost fell to the ground.
Hearing this, Mrs. Feng sneered and said loudly:
"What's in my mansion is not up to you to comment on. You're not qualified to point fingers at this coral tree either, because it was bestowed by the Emperor. Tell me, should we have it?"
As soon as these words were said, Su Hele's back went cold in an instant, and her hair stood on end.
A gift from the Emperor? Then why did they just casually put it here!
"This coral tree was a casual gift from the Emperor. So my husband didn't want to publicize it and just enshrined it here. But I didn't expect it to become the evidence for your slander. I wonder what the Emperor would think if he knew about this."
Mrs. Feng's cold voice was like a horn from hell, making Su Hele hold her breath.
She felt so cold all over that it seemed even her blood had frozen, and her mind was completely blank.
"Kneel down and apologize to Mrs. Feng right now!"
Aunt Li's voice was like a thunderclap in Su Hele's ear, making her ears ring. But it also brought her back to her senses.
She looked up at Mrs. Feng and saw that she was staring at her, with the disdain and mockery on her face clearly visible.
"What are you standing there for? Kneel down quickly!"
Aunt Li pushed her.
But before Su Hele could react, Mrs. Feng said:
"There's no need to kneel. I don't want someone to say that I'm bullying others with my power. But this Feng Mansion doesn't welcome you. Don't come here again in the future. Someone, show the guest out."
Immediately, a little maid reached out her hand to Su Hele, indicating for her to follow her out of the mansion.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Su Hele's originally pale face suddenly turned red. Then she stole a glance at Aunt Li.
Aunt Li looked at Chen Wanrong.
"Come on, let's go listen to the music. Don't let this fool spoil our fun."
Mrs. Feng grabbed Chen Wanrong's hand. Her attitude was even more eager than before. Then she looked at Su Nansheng:
"Aunt Su, you must stay here and have a good time. Qing'er, you should accompany her well. Aunt Su is our honored guest."
After saying that, she smiled and motioned for the others to follow her back to the Qinglang Garden.
Throughout the whole process, she didn't look at Su Hele again, as if she didn't exist at all.
"Mrs. Su, please."
The maid urged impatiently.
Su Hele gritted her teeth and walked out quickly.
Behind her, Aunt Li gritted her teeth so hard that they made a clicking sound.
...
As soon as they got out of the Feng Mansion's gate, Aunt Li slapped Su Hele across the face:
"You're the only one who thinks you're high and mighty, you're the only one who thinks you're so great. If you're so great, don't let people kick you out."
Being kicked out of the mansion in front of so many noble ladies, how could she save face? How could she hold her head up in front of those noble ladies in the future!
This slap was clear and resounding, immediately attracting the attention of the people on the street. They all stared at them with wide eyes and even stopped walking.
Su Hele didn't expect Aunt Li to make a scene in public. Her face, which had just calmed down, turned red again.
She covered her face and looked at the crowd. Then she turned around with her back to them and said coldly:
"Aunt, how can you hit someone without knowing the whole story? It was clearly them who bullied me first. And Mrs. Feng used the Emperor's name to suppress me."
Aunt Li laughed out of anger:
"You still don't know you're wrong and are still arguing here. Then why didn't you say anything just now, huh?"
Hearing this, Su Hele bit her lip and said in a low voice:
"I was just afraid that Mrs. Feng would be unreasonable and implicate innocent people in the Marquis's Mansion. Aunt, aren't you afraid of losing the face of our Marquis's Mansion by hitting someone in public!"
"Humph, now you know it's embarrassing. What were you doing earlier? Swaggering around in someone else's mansion. I think you don't care about your face at all. I even hit you too lightly."
Saying that, Aunt Li stepped forward and wanted to hit her again.
"Aunt, please calm down. There are so many people watching."
Su Mo quickly stepped forward to stop her, but unexpectedly got slapped as well.
"Now you show up. Where were you before? She's stupid and doesn't know the rules. Why didn't you stop her?"
Aunt Li got angrier and angrier as she scolded, and more and more people gathered around.
Nanny Wang finally spoke up to comfort her:
"Aunt, don't be angry. Let's go back to the mansion first."
Aunt Li gave Su Hele a fierce look:
"I'll teach you a lesson when we get back!"
Saying that, she got into the carriage and drove away in a hurry.