Seeing that she was out of breath, Li Ying quickly poured a cup of hot tea.
"Sister, go out and have a look quickly. There's chaos outside. Everyone's spreading the rumor that you're getting married while pregnant and have no proper status!"
She opened her mouth, but still managed to retain some sense and swallowed back the words that were about to slip out.
Li Ying remained calm, only asking indifferently, "If I'm not mistaken, they've said something even more offensive?"
A Man nodded honestly. She held back words like "shameless" and "indulging in lust" and didn't mention them.
"Sister, are we just going to let these ignorant commoners spout nonsense?"
Li Ying felt helpless. Even though she rarely left the Li Mansion, she had heard a bit of these gossips.
Seeing that Li Ying just remained silent in thought, A Man asked again, "Sister, even some female entertainers asked me today what kind of seductive tricks you used. They wondered if you were trying to use the baby in your belly to manipulate the Lu family and marry into a wealthy family!"
"Brother-in-law Lu hasn't been seen for several days. Sister, in my opinion, we should drag him out and clarify this matter openly. It's better than being in the dark and letting people gossip about you!"
Li Ying frowned.
After thinking it over, the only one who spread the rumor that her waist had thickened and she might be pregnant and about to have a happy event was the shopkeeper of the Lu family's silk store. If this person hadn't been fueling the fire, the little scandal about her would have died down long ago.
But now, the rumor was getting worse and worse. There was only one possibility left.
The originator of this rumor was still wantonly spreading lies about her.
Her reputation was important. Lu Xunguang couldn't keep such a servant who couldn't tell right from wrong and just spouted nonsense. Otherwise, they might suffer in the end.
Li Ying nodded and patted A Man on the shoulder.
"A Man, don't worry. I understand the seriousness of this matter. I'll go to the Lu family now and ask Lu Xunguang for an explanation."
Only then did A Man feel relieved. After arguing with others for a while, she felt extremely thirsty. She quickly found a seat and gulped down water.
Li Ying changed into a well - fitting dress that accentuated her slender waist. She strolled out of the door leisurely and headed straight for the Lu Mansion.
"Miss Li, the young master isn't at home right now. How about you go to the bank and take a look?"
The steward of the Lu Mansion had also heard the rumors in the neighborhood. Seeing her come, he thought she was coming to hold them accountable and apologized carefully.
Li Ying remained calm. She just nodded and asked him to send some newly made refreshments to the master of the family to pay respects. Then she didn't stay any longer and went straight to the Ping'an Bank.
"Miss Li, the young master has been away from the capital for several days. Please calm down. If there's anything urgent, you might as well leave a message. I'll convey it for you."
Li Ying never expected that Lu Xunguang would suddenly leave the capital without saying a word. She couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.
She waved her hand and said it was okay. After chatting with the clerk for a while, she walked out of the red - lacquered gate of the bank. Just then, she heard a few women chatting on the side of the road. They sized her up contemptuously.
"Isn't this the so - called young mistress of the Lu family?"
"What young mistress? She has no proper status. She just wants to soar to high positions by having a baby in her belly. I think she's just a mistress!"
"Keep your voice down! She's the apple of the Lu family's eye now. Be careful that these sarcastic remarks might get back to her. You won't end up well!"
"Pfft, that shameless little whore. She does such shameful things and still doesn't allow others to talk? Besides, what's there to be afraid of? This matter has been spreading for so many days, and the young master of the Lu family hasn't even shown his face. In my opinion, he must have come to his senses and abandoned this little hussy who throws herself at him!"
Li Ying just smiled and said nothing. She stood behind the woman. The other women had already seen her, but they didn't know her background well and didn't dare to chime in. They could only keep winking at the talkative one.
But the gossiping woman got more and more excited. She put her hands on her hips and shouted.
"What? Are you afraid to admit it? Don't say the little hussy isn't here. Even if she were standing right in front of me, I'd still scold her to her face!"
She turned around and faced Li Ying's smiling face. She looked a bit embarrassed, but still held on to her pride and glared at her, "What are you looking at, little whore? In our capital, every family is well - educated and pays attention to propriety. We won't tolerate you!"
This woman looked like she was being "kind - hearted" and seemed to be trying to persuade Li Ying to "reform" and "turn back from the wrong path". Li Ying couldn't help but laugh as she listened.
"Spouting filthy words and believing rumors easily. Is this your sense of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame?"
"Lord Yan Lianzhi is my friend regardless of age difference. The newly - appointed top scholar, Lord Su, is my close friend. Lord Xu from the Supreme Court of Judicature is my guest. They're all well - educated and famous scholars, yet they haven't criticized my character. Who do you think you are, a shrew from the market, to have the nerve to lecture me?"
"I, Li Ying, make a living in the capital with my excellent cooking skills. There might even be the potato vermicelli, kelp shreds, potato chunks, and canned fish I sold in your pot! You eat my food and then scold me. How 'proper' you are!"
"Auntie, you seem to be full of benevolence and morality. I wonder what kind of achievements your son has made? What books is he reading now? What kind of properties does your family own? You haven't even sorted out your own life. It's better for you not to act like a know - it - all!"
Li Ying's series of scolding left the woman speechless. She blushed and it took her a long time to finally squeeze out a sentence, "Little whore, don't be too smug! The master of the Lu family doesn't want to protect you. Without a backer, I'd like to see how long you can be so arrogant!"
Before Li Ying could say a word, A Man suddenly rushed out from somewhere. She raised her hand and slapped the woman hard on the face.
"Your mouth stinks!"
A Man puffed out her chest and shielded Li Ying behind her without hesitation. She grabbed the woman's hair tightly, making her howl like a pig being slaughtered.
"As long as I, A Man, am here, I'd like to see who dares to bully my sister!"
She had stayed in Xikang for several months, and the wildness of a foreign girl in her had been fully developed. With a "swish", she took out a curved short dagger from her boot, looking like she wouldn't let it go easily.
"Lawless! They're going to kill someone in broad daylight!"
The other women were so scared that their legs were trembling. They cried and shouted. Fortunately, Shihu was afraid that A Man would get into trouble and stayed by her and Li Ying's side all the time. Even if the women wanted to rush forward together, they couldn't find a chance.
Ruyi quickly pulled A Man back and persuaded her for a long time. A Man finally calmed down and kicked the woman who had been speaking rudely.
"Remember, my sister has me! I, A Man, have no power or influence, but if anyone dares to bully my sister, I'll fight to the death with them!"
When she got angry, the women ran away in a hurry, muttering "crazy barbarian" but not daring to say anything more. They scurried away with their tails between their legs.