Miss and farmhand

Shen Yurui's biggest mistake was not secretly sending people to look for Luo Shutao after discovering she was missing.

She was so annoyed by her cousin that she didn't even want to bother with her anymore. She considered her a nuisance and just wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible.

Luo Shutao has a criminal record; the mess she made before was all for the sake of finding Zhu Xiaoxu. Shen Yurui thought she was unwilling to go to the temple and wanted to make one last attempt.

She spat lightly, "You little bitch."

The old woman comforted her, "Yes, Miss Cousin is just being disrespectful. Now no one can blame Madam anymore. Madam treated her so well, and even after causing such a mess, Madam still kindly took her in and took care of her. When she was sick, Madam even got her such a good doctor and such good medicine. But look at her, she's heartless! Even animals know who treats them well, but Miss Cousin doesn't know how to be grateful at all. Running away once wasn't enough, she did it a second time. Madam shouldn't have bothered with her; instead of getting any credit, she's only gotten herself into trouble."

Shen Yurui sneered, "Since she doesn't want to go to the nunnery and feels I'm being unfair to her, then let everyone judge for themselves. Let's see who loses face in the end!"

So they began a large-scale search for people.

Instead of sending people directly to the academy, she deliberately caused trouble at Huang Chu's house first.

Shen Yurui harbored resentment towards her sister's family. It was as if she blamed all the previous misfortunes on her sister's family—after all, it was their family's garden, their family's academy, their family's male students. Moreover, there was the hidden story that Shen Xuying hadn't died of illness, and that the Luo San girl she had introduced had made a wasted trip and failed to become a second wife.

Shen Yurui harbored resentment. Of course, she knew she couldn't openly say that she blamed her sister for not dying, causing her to lose face and fail to become a matchmaker, ultimately leading to Luo San's series of scandals. But she was certain she held a grudge.

Shen Xuying knew nothing about it; it was already night, and she hurriedly came out to greet them.

Shen Yurui's tone was not good. She immediately said, "My good sister, no matter how good-natured you are, you can't let your cousin run wild! What time is it? After what happened, you still haven't learned your lesson. Quickly call your cousin out so I can take her back. That's what's truly for her good."

Shen Xuying couldn't understand a word she said. "What's wrong, elder sister? Where are you going to call for Miss Cousin? Isn't she going to the nunnery tomorrow?"

Shen Yurui narrowed her eyes. "If you say that again, then even you are becoming immature. Be careful that if something else happens, you won't be implicated!"

"What nonsense are you spouting, Madam!"

He Mama, who was standing next to Shen Xuying, quickly stepped in to protect her and hurriedly asked her to clarify the matter.

"Madam, you've misunderstood our mistress. Our cousin has been ill and staying at your residence, and has never had any contact with our mistress. Now that she's gone missing, finding her is the priority. How can you blame our mistress?"

Shen Xuying was also startled. "Big sister, I really don't know anything about this. Why has my cousin disappeared again?"

"What else could it be? If you hadn't been the go-between, she wouldn't have even considered this. Hurry up and send people to search your garden and the academy mountain, lest something terrible happens. Otherwise, it'll be your own place that gets dirty," Shen Yurui mocked.

Shen Xuying had a hundred excuses but couldn't come up with them. Finding someone was the priority, so she quickly called the servant to ask him questions.

Unexpectedly, the gatekeeper's son immediately replied, "Madam, Miss Cousin did come by this afternoon. She said she wanted to say goodbye to Miss Eldest. They are very close, and I'm afraid we won't see each other again, so I let her in."

Shen Xuying and He's mother's faces turned pale instantly.

Shen Yurui stood to the side, sneering, "I knew I couldn't have wronged you. Quickly call your eldest daughter out and ask her. An unmarried girl, not worrying about her own marriage, getting involved in other people's dirty business all day long, where is the upbringing of a scholarly family?"

"My mother wouldn't do such a thing. There must be some misunderstanding!"

Shen Xuying blushed and tried to defend herself. She didn't care if she was wronged, but when it came to Huang Chu's reputation, she absolutely had to argue her case.

But Shen Yurui didn't care about her love for her son at all. As if she had the biggest handle on him, Shen Yurui swaggered into the main seat of the main hall.

When Huang Chu and Huang Xingtong arrived after hearing the news, they saw Shen Xuying standing in front of her sister like a maid, head down and face red as she was being scolded.

Upon hearing the news from both sides, Huang Chu was shocked. She had not heard anything about her aunt coming to see her today.

"You really don't know?"

"Why would I tell this lie to deceive my aunt? I'm also worried about my aunt's disappearance, what good would it do me to cover for her?"

Shen Yurui squinted at Huang Chu, her eyes narrowed, and sneered, "I have no idea about that."

Before Huang Chu could explain, Shen Yurui waved her hand, "Fine, if she's not at your home, then it can only be at the academy. You should quickly send someone to find that Young Master Zhu and have him send his cousin back. We can understand his youthful impetuosity, but playing around is fine, but if he takes it seriously and it causes trouble, he'll have to explain to his parents!" She curled her lips, "Or perhaps it will just be as our resourceful cousin wishes, and he'll marry her."

"Aunt, watch your words!" Huang Chu exclaimed in alarm. "The person hasn't even been found yet, and you're already making such a definitive judgment. If we're wrong in the end, my aunt's reputation won't be able to withstand such slander!"

Shen Yurui scoffed, "You're quite the smooth talker, speaking to your elders like that! Do you think I have the right to slander your aunt's reputation? Everyone in this house knows who she'll run off to if she deserts! Let me tell you clearly, I came here specifically to avoid going directly to the academy. First, I'm giving your father, the headmaster, face—it's his place, his students, I won't interfere; second, I'm here to warn you and your mother that it's your lenient and indulgent attitude that allowed your aunt to commit such grave mistakes! Don't try to shirk your responsibility for these past few days!"

Huang Chu's eyes widened in disbelief. He never imagined that Shen Yurui could speak so eloquently, twisting the truth and making it sound so convincing.

The atmosphere in the hall was terribly tense.

Huang Xingtong had already sent people up the mountain to the academy to look for her. While waiting, Shen Xuying and Han Mama pulled Huang Chu aside, afraid that she would quarrel with Shen Yurui again. Shen Yurui also turned her back and remained silent, showing her anger and disdain. She came today to vent her anger from her moral high ground; the main course hadn't even been served yet, and she didn't want to get angry over a trivial snack.

In the almost suffocating air, hurried footsteps finally approached from afar.

Everyone turned their heads and saw Zhu Xiaoxu, his clothes disheveled and his hair slightly loose, hurriedly entering the hall with a boy. His face was pale and ashen, and he looked extremely embarrassed.

Looking at him like this, what else could he not understand?

Shen Yurui felt a surge of pleasure.

This confirmed the scandal and tore off the hypocritical mask of her sister's family!

Unable to contain her malice, she sneered, "Young Master Zhu, did you just get up? You didn't go to bed so early, did you?"

Zhu Xiaoxu glanced at her with a complicated expression, cupped his hands in a gesture of apology, and said, "I am truly ashamed. This afternoon, I was having fun with my fellow disciples, posing and solving riddles for each other, and we drank a little wine. I did not expect to be summoned by my elders. I have been very impolite."

"You've been drinking? That clarifies things. Alcohol can lead to mistakes, but that's none of your business, is that what you mean?"

Zhu Xiaoxu couldn't answer and looked at Huang Xingtong awkwardly.

Huang Xingtong was also anxious, rubbing his hands and saying, "Changyi, don't talk about anything else, is Miss Luo with you?"

Zhu Xiaoxu paused, "...Miss Luo is not in the student affairs office."

"Heh," Shen Yurui scoffed, "Since the matter has come to light, don't say things that are so easily exposed. Do you dare say you didn't see Miss Luo today?"

"...This junior dares not presume. I did indeed...meet Miss Luo today."

"Then what excuse do you have left!"

Zhu Xiaoxu's expression was strange, as if he had something he couldn't say. He didn't dare to answer Shen Yurui directly, so he took two steps back to Huang Xingtong's side, his voice low, but still audible to everyone.

"This afternoon, my fellow students and I were playing a problem-solving game. We couldn't agree on a key point from the Four Books, so we all went to ask Master Huang for advice. This is quite common. Master Huang always likes to discuss problem-solving methods with us, and since most of my fellow students are young, the rules are a bit lax. When we arrived at Master Huang's study, we didn't see any messengers, so we just pushed the door open and crowded around him inside... Then we saw Miss Luo and Master Huang lying on the couch, their clothes disheveled."