The hall fell completely silent. Everyone stared with wide eyes in astonishment.
Cheng Yong stood there, his mouth agape, his eyes dull. It seemed as if he couldn't quite react to the shocking information conveyed by Cheng Simian's words.
Lady Rong had been feeling uneasy all along. Once Cheng Simian asked that question, she was completely at ease.
Her tense back relaxed, and the look in her eyes when she glanced at Liang Yuchuan was filled with more hatred and amusement.
Liang Yuchuan's smile froze on his face, and his heart pounded like a drum.
He forced himself to suppress the panic in his heart, coughed awkwardly a few times, and his mouth felt dry.
At this moment, he was in the spotlight, but he was like a monkey with its red buttocks exposed, being surrounded and ridiculed by people.
"Such a thing never happened! Young lady, who did you hear this from? It must be someone outside who is jealous that I'm about to be made the heir apparent. They're using dirty words to smear me!"
Cheng Simian looked at his indignant expression with disdain in her heart. A meaningful sneer curled up on her lips.
"I suppose so," she nodded slowly, seemingly in full agreement with Liang Yuchuan's excuse. "Young Master Liang is as noble as the bright moon in the sky and has such high moral integrity. He would never do something as incestuous as having an affair with his sister - in - law."
Liang Yuchuan swallowed hard. He was extremely guilty, but still tried to put on an innocent and upright look.
"Please, young lady, don't believe those rumors!"
In his mind, he started to think quickly. He and Yu Huiyan had always been very secretive. Even Princess Jiahe, who lived with Yu Huiyan, had no idea. Who on earth had leaked the information?
Cheng Simian's affectionate look made him feel a bit proud.
He didn't blame Cheng Simian for being outspoken. He thought that she must be very fond of him, which was why she couldn't help but ask in front of everyone. She just wanted to get a promise from him.
"I, of course, don't really believe it. Logically speaking, as a young girl, I shouldn't even hear such dirty words. But the people outside are so detailed in their descriptions. I was just afraid that there might be some problems with our marriage, so I asked this question out of turn."
Cheng Simian still had a smile on her face, gentle and dignified. No one could detect anything amiss.
But in the depths of her eyes, there was already a coldness.
Dirty words?
Liang Yuchuan couldn't stand such words being used to describe himself.
It must be Yu Huiyan. She had seduced him, dreaming of becoming the heir apparent's wife. After her dream was shattered and she was unwilling to be a concubine, she deliberately leaked the news, hoping to make Cheng Simian hate him.
His fists tightened in his sleeves, and a killing intent rose in his heart.
He would never allow that shameless woman to ruin his marriage with Cheng Simian!
"I spoke out of turn and made Young Master Liang embarrassed. I hope you won't blame me, Young Master Liang?"
Cheng Simian stole a timid glance at him, as if she was really guilty and scared for having done something wrong.
Liang Yuchuan patted his chest and vowed, "The Marquis values me, and I also respect the Marquis. Young lady, I can solemnly promise that after you marry into my family, you will be the mistress of the Duke's Mansion. You will be the only legal wife in my household."
He stared affectionately at that extremely beautiful face. "With such a wonderful wife, I, Liang Yuchuan, won't need any concubines or maids for my pleasure!"
"Liang Yuchuan, you heartless scoundrel, you hypocritical villain!"
The quiet banquet was suddenly broken by a woman's shrill scream.
Yu Huiyan rushed in from somewhere.
Gritting her teeth, she was full of anger. She walked quickly, pounced on Liang Yuchuan, and kicked and punched him.
Cheng Simian pretended to be shocked and frightened. She hid in Lady Rong's arms.
She also cast a tearful glance at Cheng Yong.
"Father, what's going on?"
Cheng Yong was also stunned.
It took him a long time to come to his senses. He roared at the servants, "Are you all dead? Why don't you pull this crazy woman away!"
The servants covered their mouths, trying not to laugh as they watched the show. They quickly pulled Yu Huiyan off Liang Yuchuan.
Liang Yuchuan's robe was torn. His face and neck were full of bloodstains. A few strands of his hair were scattered on his forehead. He looked extremely embarrassed.
Yu Huiyan was held down on the ground by the servants. She kept struggling and screaming.
The words she cursed were as ugly as they could be.
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Hey, isn't this Miss Yu Huiyan, who has always regarded herself as the second wife of the Duke's Mansion?"
Since the Duke's Mansion had never officially recognized Yu Huiyan's status, outsiders didn't call her the Second Lady Liang. Instead, they still called her Miss Yu as before.
Liang Yuchuan's words of loyalty to Cheng Simian had stimulated Yu Huiyan. She went crazy and didn't care about anything. With the determination to drag Liang Yuchuan down with her, she made a big scene.
Out of breath, she stared at Liang Yuchuan with venomous and vicious eyes.
"Everyone, look! This is the future heir apparent, my elder brother - in - law. He forced himself on me, made me submit, and promised me the position of a noble concubine. But now he's denying everything! I've never seen such a hypocritical and disgusting person!"
"Slut, you're talking nonsense! It was clearly you who deliberately seduced me, dreaming of becoming the heir apparent's wife overnight. I was just tricked by you!"
Liang Yuchuan was furious. His already embarrassed face became even more hideous.
After saying that, he quickly cast a panicked glance at Cheng Simian.
Cheng Simian hid in Lady Rong's arms, crying like a delicate flower in the rain. She looked extremely aggrieved.
"Young Master Liang, I respected you and believed in your character. But how could you do such a thing?"
Lady Rong didn't hide the disgust on her face at all. She sternly questioned, "You kept saying that you only wanted my daughter. But what's this all about now? My daughter hasn't even married into your family yet, and she's already suffering such humiliation. If she really marries you, won't she become the biggest laughingstock in the capital?"
Cheng Yong was now in a complete mess. He just wanted to calm things down quickly. Hearing Lady Rong's words, his eyebrows knitted into a knot.
According to Lady Rong's tone, was this marriage going to fall through?
Just as he was about to deny Lady Rong's words, Cheng Simian sobbed and said, "Young Master Liang, although my father has been dismissed from office, he is still from the Marquis of Wude's Mansion. He loves me and chose what he thought was the best marriage for me. But you've done such a thing. Isn't it like stepping on my father's face? How could my father let me marry a hypocrite like you who has no moral integrity and disregards ethics?"
Cheng Simian's words "flattered" Cheng Yong and put him on the spot.
She had put a high - hat of being a loving father on him, and he couldn't refute it.
Cheng Yong felt a lump of anger in his chest. He could only vent it on the servants. "Hurry up and throw this crazy woman out!"
When Yu Huiyan was being dragged away, she went crazy and laughed hysterically.
"Liang Yuchuan, if you dare to betray me, neither of us will have a good ending!"
The venom in her eyes made Liang Yuchuan tremble with fear.
The banquet fell silent again. Only Cheng Simian's heart - broken sobs could be heard.
Lady Rong stood up with a cold face, tightly holding her daughter's hand.
"Mianmian, let's go!"
Cheng Yong opened his mouth, but felt that whatever he said would be like getting slapped in the face.
He could only watch helplessly as Lady Rong and Cheng Simian walked away.
He didn't want this marriage to fall through. After all, which man didn't have a few romantic affairs!
But first, Cheng Simian had asked about the incest rumor in front of everyone. Then she had shown that she was very fond of this marriage and put a high - hat of high moral character on Liang Yuchuan.
After Yu Huiyan made such a scene, all the scandals were exposed, and Liang Yuchuan was confirmed to be a hypocrite worse than a beast.
If he stopped Cheng Simian and still forced her to agree to this marriage, then he would be the one who couldn't recognize people clearly, only wanted to curry favor with the powerful, and didn't care about his daughter's dignity!
He wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, not knowing how to end this mess.
Cheng Siyi, who had been silent and observing secretly, slowly stood up.