The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 73: Yuan Changan Isn’t So Perfect
Yuan Changan checked everything and found no issues.
He returned to the banquet.
He gently shook his head at Mingzhu, "When soldiers come, a general counteracts; when water floods, earth retains. Don’t worry too much."
Mingzhu knew how reckless Xie Yunzhen could be, so how could she be at ease?
She bit her lip, hesitating whether to call Xie Yunzhen away and feign weakness for once.
No matter what, the banquet must conclude successfully.
If she embarrassed the Yuan Family, she would feel guilty.
As if sensing her thoughts, Yuan Changan squeezed Mingzhu’s hand, "Don’t pay attention to him, I’ve got everything under control."
Suddenly, a cold and sharp gaze fell upon them, carrying a murderous intent.
Yuan Changan turned his head and met a pair of unfathomable black eyes.
Their eyes locked, one calm and composed, the other filled with fury.
Xie Yunzhen gritted his teeth to curb the urge to strike Yuan Changan.
The pale hand was held by the man, not letting go despite his gaze.
This deeply provoked Xie Yunzhen.
That was his Mingzhu; no one else was allowed to touch her!
His rationality was being swallowed bit by bit, the calmness he once prided himself on vanished entirely at this moment.
Xie Yunzhen suddenly stood up and walked over to Mingzhu.
His tone was harsh, "Come with me."
Before Mingzhu could react, her wrist was seized by the man, yanking her out of her seat.
Yuan Changan quickly tightened his grip on the hand of his beloved.
They both pulled Mingzhu from opposite sides, and the air instantly froze.
On stage, the opera was still playing "Farewell My Concubine," but all eyes were on them.
The awkward situation still unfolded; Mingzhu’s head buzzed loudly.
She didn’t look at the guests’ expressions nor listen to what they were saying.
But the malice from the pointing and whispering was suffocating.
All she wanted was to leave this place.
"Let go."
Her voice was very soft, completely different from her previously thorny demeanor.
Yuan Changan was startled, and his grip loosened.
Xie Yunzhen took the opportunity to pull her into his arms.
Just like that, in full view of everyone, he tightly wrapped his arms around Mingzhu’s waist.
He didn’t allow Yuan Changan to approach her.
His attitude suggested he wanted to hide her away, not allowing anyone to covet her.
The spectators were in an uproar.
Men and women are supposed to keep a proper distance, yet the Young Master held Miss Ji in his arms...
So intimate, who would believe there was nothing between them?
For a moment, the eyes of the crowd were filled with excitement and pity.
Regardless of whether the engagement was finalized, now Mingzhu was practically Yuan Changan’s fiancée.
But she openly embraced a man, wasn’t that equivalent to giving Yuan Changan a slap in the face?
Mingzhu’s mind was dazed, her limbs felt cold and weak, as if she was being pulled back to her past life.
She and Xie Yunzhen were caught on a bed together.
Those looks, whether mocking or sneering... fell on her like knives.
The guests’ stares at this moment were the same!
All the color drained from Mingzhu’s face, as if she had suddenly come down with a serious illness.
Yuan Changan’s face was as dark as iron, "Xie Yunzhen, this is the Yuan Family, you have no right to cause a scene here!"
The faces of several elders weren’t looking good, either.
The old lady silently recited a few Buddhist scriptures, trying to suppress the urge to lash out.
"Young Master Xie must be drunk, kindly release Mingzhu."
Xie Yunzhen held Mingzhu’s nape with one hand and her waist with the other, preventing her from falling.
He sneered, "Young Master Yuan has many confidants; why contend with me for my beloved?"
"When have I had any confidants? Xie Yunzhen, stop slandering me!"
Yuan Changan anxiously looked at Mingzhu, attempting to explain and also trying to rescue her.
Xie Yunzhen’s hidden guards moved, not allowing anyone to approach.
The tense scene almost drove the old lady to faint.
Knowing Xie Yunzhen was trouble, in hindsight they should never have entertained him at the estate.
Dignity can’t be eaten!
This is truly unfortunate!
"What’s happening, why is it so lively?"
A man swung an ornate fan as he leisurely walked in, followed by a young woman.
The weather hadn’t warmed yet, but the woman wore only a red gauzy dress, her exposed skin reddened by the cold.
Seeing the newcomer, Yuan Changan’s face darkened.
Finally, he understood Xie Yunzhen’s scheme.
The newcomer was the magistrate’s son, second in line, notorious in Yangzhou City for being a profligate.
Drinking with courtesans, visiting prostitutes was business as usual for him.
Following him was the oiran from the brothel.
Respectable families don’t invite someone like Yang Er, nor girls from the brothel.
Even if some entertain without selling their bodies, they are not fit for polite company.
Yang Er casually found an empty seat, sitting down with a grin, glancing at the girl beside him.
"I heard you were bullied the other day, and Young Master Yuan saved you, Mian Mian. Why don’t you go thank Young Master Yuan?"
The woman said nothing, only lowered her head, kneeling at the table to serve Yang Er tea.
"What, my words carry no weight now?"
"Young Master Yang, my task today is to serve you, others are irrelevant to me."
Yang Er pulled out a silver note from his sleeve, "Oh, turns out it wasn’t enough silver."
With that, he stuffed it into the woman’s neckline.
"Is it enough now?"
"Young Master Yang..."
Yang Er patted her face, interrupting her, "He’s your benefactor, not even a word of thanks, Mian Mian, how can I take you out next time?"
The guests whispered among themselves.
"Mr. Yuan is known for his integrity, how could he be involved with an oiran?"
"No matter how upright, he’s still a man; maybe he drank too much and ended up in bed with a woman."
"If that’s true, he’s quite the actor."
"Don’t jump to conclusions, let’s see what’s actually going on..."
Seeing the situation getting more complicated, Yuan Changan’s expression turned heavy.
"Enough!"
He quickly went over to help the woman up, then ordered someone to fetch a cloak to drape over her.
Lady Yuan exclaimed, "Changan!"
With so many eyes watching, getting involved with an oiran, even if they were innocent, no one would believe it.
In the future, even jumping into a river wouldn’t wash it clean!
On one side, her son’s reputation was harmed, on the other, her future daughter-in-law was being harassed by a madman.
Lady Yuan felt lightheaded, and if not for being supported by a maid, she might have collapsed to the ground.
Xie Yunzhen smirked, pressing Mingzhu to sit in a chair.
"See, I wasn’t lying to you; Yuan Changan is not as good as you imagine."
Unlike him, who had no woman by his side and never visited a brothel.
He was clean.
Xie Yunzhen silently added in his mind.
Mingzhu looked at the woman, only feeling that she wasn’t much different from her.
Weren’t both forced into doing things they didn’t wish to do?
Her eyes stung painfully, but no tears came out.
Her mind was empty; she stopped thinking.
"Is this what you wanted?"
Mingzhu smirked, "Then you’re destined for disappointment. It’s nothing more than meeting a lady; such a trivial matter, why make a grand proclamation..."
