Lu Yu looked towards the sound and saw A Fu's father, Wang Tian, emerge.
Seeing Wang Tian rush out of the courtyard, panting, A Fu instantly clenched his fists, his body tensing. He stared fixedly at Wang Tian, afraid he would continue to frame Shen Xuan.
Wang Tian also noticed the look in A Fu's eyes and felt a slight pang of discomfort.
"Everyone, please don't leave yet, I have something more to say!" Wang Tian, who had come out in a hurry, shouted at the dispersing crowd.
"My wife and Young Master Shen Xuan's father were merely in a master-servant relationship. Young Master Shen Xuan's father never wronged the Shen family head. The two of them were innocent."
A Fu's hand, which had been gripping Wang Tian's sleeve out of nervousness that Wang Tian would cause trouble, suddenly stopped. He looked at Wang Tian in confusion, not understanding why he was suddenly helping the young master again.
Wang Tian had heard everything Shen Jia and Zhao Liu had said inside the house. He now knew that Zhao Liu had orchestrated the incident where Young Master Li Ning and his own wife were trapped in a room for a night, intending to frame them for an affair. The claims that Shen Xuan was Wei Han's son had also been spread by Zhao Liu.
As for why Li Ning gave birth to Shen Xuan nine months after conception, Zhao Liu had also tampered with things.
Li Ning had been pregnant for a month before the incident. However, to frame the child as an illegitimate son of Li Ning and Wei Han, Zhao Liu had invited Zhao Ran from Zhao's Medical Hall to examine Li Ning.
Zhao Ran was a renowned doctor, and such a simple pulse-taking matter was trusted by everyone. Yet, she had deliberately misstated Li Ning's pregnancy by a month, making Madam Shen mistakenly believe that the child was conceived that very night between Li Ning and Wei Han. This had also deceived Wang Tian himself.
This was why he had resented Shen Xuan and Li Ning for taking his wife for so many years. He had actually known for a long time that Wei Han secretly liked Li Ning, but Li Ning's heart already belonged to someone else back then.
Furthermore, with the marriage bestowed by the Li family head, the two had naturally gotten together.
However, upon hearing that Shen Xuan was Li Ning and Wei Han's child, his emotions could no longer be contained, and he poured all his hatred onto Shen Xuan.
When Wang Tian learned the full story, he felt all his strength drain away. He had been a joke for so many years, completely fooled by those who framed the young master and child and his wife. He had even helped them to harm the young master's child, causing Shen Xuan to suffer the reputation of losing her virginity before marriage.
Although he was greatly shocked, he did not become dejected. He resolved to make amends for his mistakes and had rushed here to prove it to everyone.
In reality, his words would not have much effect. The town mayor had already forbidden further discussion of the matter, so the common people naturally dared not speak of it. Moreover, who would believe the words of a servant?
The common people heard Wang Tian's words as if they hadn't, turning to leave. His statement caused no ripple in the crowd.
However, this was also Wang Tian's opportunity for atonement.
Feeling A Fu relax beside him, Wang Tian was suddenly filled with a deep sense of self-reproach. He realized that he had established such a spoiled and vicious image for A Fu over the years.
But this was his own doing. Looking at Shen Xuan, who stood there without even glancing at him, Wang Tian could only offer a deep apology in his heart.
"Since everything is settled, let A Fu accompany you home," Lu Yu said, stepping towards Shen Xuan, who was wearing a veiled hat, ignoring Wang Tian standing beside them.
Her voice was not as gentle as usual, as if she were speaking to someone she barely knew, devoid of warmth. Yet, Shen Xuan could sense a chilling coldness in it.
"Wife, what about you?"
"I won't be going back yet." Lu Yu did not engage in much conversation with Shen Xuan, then turned to instruct A Fu, "Take your young master back to the manor and take good care of him."
Shen Xuan, gazing at Lu Yu's receding figure through the veil of her hat, felt her heart being twisted as if by a knife. Tears blurred her vision and fell onto the cold ground with a "plop," merging with it.
She must be angry. If it were in the past, she would definitely have told me where she was going. But she should be angry. I didn't listen to her and stayed home; instead, I came out and ruined her original plan.
Shen Xuan bit her lip fiercely, trying to hold back her tears. But the more she restrained herself, the more tears flowed, unceasingly, quickly covering her face.
"Young Master, let's go back. The family head has already left." A Fu saw Shen Xuan standing there without moving and guessed that Shen Xuan was sad. He stepped forward, supported Shen Xuan's arm, and gently comforted her.
"A Fu, do you think I really did wrong? I shouldn't have come. My wife was already trying to help me, but I disappointed her." Shen Xuan's eyes were vacant as she walked back into the manor with A Fu and sat by the bed, leaning against the railing.
"Young Master, you didn't know the family head would come over," A Fu had never seen Shen Xuan react like this, as if she had lost her soul.
"She said she would help me, but I didn't believe her, didn't listen to her." Shen Xuan's voice choked, and she could say no more, her tears flowing uncontrollably down her face.
"Young Master, please don't be like this. The family head will worry if she knows." A Fu had never seen Shen Xuan like this and was extremely worried, constantly trying to persuade her.
The room was quiet, and A Fu stopped speaking. For a moment, only Shen Xuan's sobbing could be heard in the room.
Shen Xuan gradually calmed her emotions and asked with a trembling voice, "A Fu, do you know where my wife went?"
Her tone was filled with bewilderment and helplessness, as if she would collapse from fragility at any moment.
"Young Master..." A Fu looked at Shen Xuan in this state and didn't know how to answer.
"Never mind, you can go out. I want to be alone." Shen Xuan mechanically wiped the tears from her face with both hands and instructed A Fu.
A Fu dared not say anything more, silently withdrew from the room, and ran to the manor gate, constantly looking out, hoping Lu Yu would return quickly to comfort the young master.
At this time, Lu Yu was drinking alone in the medical hall. Gu Yitong, not knowing what to say, pulled Zheng Yu along to accompany Lu Yu in drinking.
As they drank, all three became somewhat drunk.
The sky outside had completely darkened, and Lu Yu was already quite insensible from drinking. This was the first time she had drunk so unrestrainedly since her transmigration.
"I need to send Lu Yu back. You, you guys stay here obediently." Gu Yitong swayed as she stood up and bent down to help Lu Yu up.
Wu Shao quickly held Gu Yitong back. "Miss Gu, let me send my master home. I'll be going home directly afterward."
Seeing that Gu Yitong was also tipsy, Wu Shao dared not let her send Lu Yu, otherwise, both of them would get lost.
"Young Master Gu, I think Town Mayor Zheng is also quite drunk. Let her stay at the medical hall for the night. I'll trouble you to take care of them," Wu Shao said, seeing that all three were quite drunk and had to arrange things.
"Then please send Miss Lu back. I'll take care of them here." Gu Yi and A Fu helped Gu Yitong onto the bed. Seeing A Fu about to take Lu Yu away, he stopped him.
"Oh, right. Please give Xuan'er a message, tell her that Miss Lu is very sad because he didn't trust her, and ask him to communicate properly with Miss Lu."
"Don't worry, I'll definitely deliver it."