Hearing what Han Yongsheng said, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao stopped in their tracks and turned around, sensing that his words held a deeper meaning.
"Master Han, do you know something?" Xiaoxiao asked outright.
Han Yongsheng shook his head, unaware of the specifics of their conflict, but he felt a reminder was necessary, "That person is very cunning and deceitful, everyone should be careful, it’s always good."
Xiaoxiao felt that even if there had been a minor incident at Dongfeng Restaurant just now, Han Yongsheng wouldn’t act without a reason. Either Wang Xiangxiang had told him something, or he guessed something, so she said, "Master Han, we are very worried about my sister, if you know anything, please tell us."
Han Yongsheng thought it would be inappropriate for him to speak about such matters, but to help her was better than to let her say it herself. After all, it would pain her every time she mentioned it, so he said, "That person is the one who originally hired thugs to violate her."
Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were not surprised, as it matched their suspicions—she must have known, which was why she acted that way.
But what Han Yongsheng said next shocked both Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming.
"That person is still using the fact that she has lost her chastity to threaten her, which is why Miss Wang was so afraid of him today at Dongfeng Restaurant. She fears he will expose the matter."
"What?" Xiaoxiao was truly startled by this revelation, having not considered the consequences of Li Fuyou knowing about Wang Xiangxiang’s loss of chastity.
Han Yongsheng continued, "As you know, if a woman is not yet married and loses her chastity, she would be scorned by society if it became known. Otherwise, why would she have chosen to try to end her life back then?"
"Husband, let’s go." Xiaoxiao pulled Yang Ming toward Wang Mansion, unable to remain composed. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Wang Xiangxiang’s current state, convinced that she must be suffering.
"Thank you for the information, Master Han. We shall take our leave now." Yang Ming, being pulled along, did not forget to bid farewell to Han Yongsheng.
Just as Han Yongsheng was about to say something, he swallowed it back, helplessly shaking his head. Surely they wouldn’t be foolish enough to directly say he was the one who told them.
Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao had unrestricted access to Wang Mansion, and as soon as they entered the courtyard, Xiaoxiao began shouting, "Sister, sister!"
Wang Xiangxiang had just entered the courtyard when the house servant told her about Xiaoxiao and the others’ visit. She regretted returning late but did not expect them to come back again so soon.
She hastily adjusted her downcast mood, ran out, and smiling, said, "Why have you two come? Is there something wrong at home?"
"Nothing is wrong. We were just in County to buy some things, and we thought we’d stop by to see you on the way," Xiaoxiao replied, seeing that Wang Xiangxiang seemed alright. She simply couldn’t bear to bring up the painful topic again, to rub salt into the wound.
The group naturally avoided the troubling issue and instead, they sat together chatting about household matters, what they had bought that day, when they would return after setting out the next day, how much the lingerie had sold for, and so on...
Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming still had a lot to buy and silver to exchange because they had been occupied with following up on the case, so after a while, they left.
"Husband, what do you think about this matter?"
"Losing her chastity before marriage, this matter will likely be hard to keep under wraps. The best solution would be for Brother Chu to marry her as soon as possible."
"..." It was exactly what she had thought, but when exactly would Chu Lian return?