Chapter 607: It’s Miss Shen

Chapter 607: It's Miss Shen

Banxia waited at the garden entrance for a while, hearing some commotion inside but no one came out for a while. She smirked and ran back to report the news.

Soon after, a group of noblewomen arrived together.

"Madam Yu, I apologize sincerely. That girl accidentally spilled water on your dress. I will certainly reprimand her when I return and compensate you with a new set of clothes."

Dou Shi wasn't bothered by it. With so many guests mingling at the banquet, such mishaps were bound to occur now and then. Otherwise, there wouldn't be designated rooms at every banquet for changing clothes.

Dou Shi was generally well-liked, and now she was in the company of three noblewomen, not to mention the maids and servants accompanying them.

As they approached the garden entrance, they couldn't help but murmur.

"Why isn't there a single palace maid to assist us?"

Despite their complaints, they had their own servants. One of the maids stepped forward to push the door open but abruptly halted, her face froze as she turned to her mistress.

"What's wrong?" the noblewoman asked suspiciously.

Dou Shi was startled and glanced at the tightly shut door. After a moment, her expression abruptly shifted.

The noises from inside the room were unmistakably...

Could it be a palace guard and a maid?

Dou Shi knew that such an indiscretion in the palace would be a capital offense. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to usher the other women away first, but just as they were about to depart, more guests arrived at the garden entrance.

"Madam Yu, Madam Hu, Madam Liu, Madam Hong, why are you all here?"

Lady Ding'an inquired in surprise. She was accompanied by a large entourage, including Meng Zhiyi, Lady Lu, Madam Fang, and several eunuchs and palace maids guiding them.

Now Dou Shi realized she couldn't leave so easily. She discreetly signaled the maid beside her, who quickly went over to Lady Ding'an and the others and whispered a few words.

"What?" Lady Ding'an exclaimed. "At such a grand palace banquet, someone dares to do such a filthy deed? You all, break down the door and drag those adulterers before the Emperor to be severely punished!"

The eunuchs and palace maids were also dumbfounded, not knowing how such a thing could happen, but they had no choice but to brace themselves and act.

Madam Fang spoke up, "Such a sordid matter shouldn't be brought before everyone. Moreover, this is a place for distinguished guests to change clothes. What if it's a young lady from some family? The situation could escalate."

"Which family's young lady would do such a disgraceful thing? You're just too kind-hearted, sister," Lady Ding'an said, seemingly helpless. "Now that so many people have seen it, are we supposed to cover up for those adulterers? Can we even cover it up?"

Madam Fang sighed and shook her head, apparently deciding not to persuade further.

Upon hearing this, the eunuchs no longer delayed. They kicked the door open and rushed in, while some palace maids quickly left to spread the news.

The noblewomen waited outside, the atmosphere tense and anxious.

After a while, the eunuchs suddenly retreated, the leader hesitating, "Madam, inside..."

"What's inside? Speak the truth!" Lady Ding'an demanded angrily. "Such a major event, who are you trying to hide it from?"

The eunuch had no choice but to tell the truth, "Inside, it's not someone from our palace. It seems to be a young master and lady attending tonight's banquet. The young master appears to be from the Fang family, brought by Lady Lu. As for the young lady, she has hidden under the bed. We are afraid of dirtying her body and dare not drag her out forcibly."

"This..." Dou Shi's heart sank upon hearing this.

She had initially thought it was a bold palace guard and maid sneaking around, and such a scandal wouldn't matter much. But if it involved tonight's guests, the trouble would be immense.

With such a disgraceful incident involving two powerful families, wouldn't it cause a huge uproar?

How could tonight's events be so coincidental? Could it be that I am also a pawn in someone's plan?

Dou Shi was frantic with worry, but she knew this matter couldn't be swept under the rug and she could only wait and see how things unfolded.

Upon hearing this, Lady Ding'an immediately berated, "How dare she pull off such a scandalous act at the palace banquet! If her parents were here, they'd probably strangle her on the spot!"

Lady Lu, however, went pale with anger.

Ever since Fang Li stirred up trouble at Duke Yuwen's residence, she had been furious with her nephew. If it weren't for his parents begging her to bring him to this banquet to meet people, thinking his marriage prospects were ruined after the incident, she wouldn't have brought him.

Who would've guessed he'd stir up such a mess again!

If Duke Yuwen finds out, who knows what he'll think of me!

Lady Lu shuddered at the thought and now genuinely felt like strangling Fang Li. Blinded by rage, she stormed in and yanked Fang Li out.

"Auntie... Auntie... it hurts..." Fang Li cried out in pain.

"You little rascal, I was wondering where you'd vanished to earlier. I didn't expect you to sneak off and pull such a scandalous stunt with someone else. I'll beat you to death today!"

Blinded by fury, Lady Lu started thrashing Fang Li without a care. Those nearby tried to intervene but failed, nearly getting caught in the fray, so they could only watch from a safe distance.

As Lady Lu continued to thrash Fang Li, others who'd heard the news hurried over, and soon a crowd of onlookers gathered at the garden entrance.

When they learned that the scandal involved the young master of the Fang family and some young lady, they were all stunned. This is the palace! Have they lost their minds?

This is practically spitting in the emperor's face! They must have a death wish!

If the Fang family were here now, they'd probably be prostrate with fear!

And who was the other young lady? Which family did she belong to?

With no one in charge from the palace present, they didn't dare to take matters into their own hands and drag the people out, but they were burning with curiosity, so they looked around to see which young lady was missing.

Finally, Emperor Xuanming, Prince Bei, and others who had just received the news hurried over.

At this point, Lady Ding'an finally had someone pull Lady Lu away and sternly questioned Fang Li, "Fang Li, you better confess honestly. Who is the one inside with you?"

"I... I didn't commit adultery..." Seeing such a large crowd, even Fang Li, as foolish as he was, knew he was doomed and could only desperately defend himself, "It was the wine I drank that was tampered with. Someone drugged it and brought me here. If you don't believe me, go and check!"

Perhaps in this critical moment, Fang Li's mind became unusually clear, and he quickly pieced together what had happened today.

But Lady Ding'an acted as if she hadn't heard him and became even more severe, "You still won't confess honestly? Committing such a disgraceful act in the palace and refusing to confess who is inside with you—do you want to lose your head along with her?"

Hearing that he might lose his head, Fang Li was terrified and immediately shook his head repeatedly, "No... the one inside is... is Miss Shen!"