After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 76 A Joyous Day (Part Two)

The guest, who was being pointed at and reprimanded, also jumped up, saying, "I didn't make false accusations. Everyone sitting here just now knows that, don't you think?"

Seeing this, the other guests all lowered their heads. They couldn't afford to follow this kid from the Pei family's lead. The Pei family had influence in the capital, which was incomparable to the local gentry and clans they were just dealing with in the county. It wasn't worth offending Meng Zhan.

Seeing that everyone was afraid of Meng Zhan, Young Master Pei's stubbornness flared up. "You cowards, you don't even dare to speak the truth, you're all cowards!" Young Master Pei said loudly, his face full of resentment. He didn't know how Du Huan knew this person. He had passed the imperial examination by relying on his ex-wife's dowry. What was there to be proud of?

Especially since he only got this official position by sleeping with Liu Qianjin, and now he's pretending to be a decent person here. Bah, he doesn't deserve it. The Pei family has always looked down on such dirty tricks, so Young Master Pei naturally looks down on Meng Zhan as well.

Meng Zhan's face turned red with anger. How could he allow this person to ruin his official reputation? So the two of them started arguing back and forth.

All the guests simply watched quietly, no one speaking, waiting to see how this farce would end.

Logically, the Du family should have sent someone to mediate by now, since this is the Du family's wedding banquet. But strangely, the Du family has been slow to act.

This made Meng Zhan, who was losing the argument, frown. He glanced around and saw that the Du family members were still busy and seemed not to have seen the dispute. This made him feel a little embarrassed.

However, the reason why no one from the Du family stepped forward was not because the relatives in charge of the Du family were unreasonable, but because Du Huan had someone stop them just as they were about to take action.

"Cousin, are we really not going to do anything about this? What if the two sides start fighting later? Our feast will become the laughing stock of Huai'an County tomorrow." Du Huan's cousin looked at the situation at the feast with some anxiety.

Master Du frowned and found his son, "Huan'er, you're married now, you can't be so willful anymore. Go up and discipline him with your cousin, do you want to make our Du family's banquet a laughing stock?"

Du Huan didn't intend to listen to either Master Du's words or his cousin's words. He just agreed on the surface, but didn't step forward to stop them.

Seeing that Meng Zhan and Young Master Pei had driven each other to the brink of despair, Du Huan finally arrived late. However, Young Master Pei had already hurled all the harsh words he wanted to say, and Meng Zhan, being arrogant and self-important, was unwilling to stoop to the level of a drunken playboy. So, in the end, it was Meng Zhan who suffered the loss.

"Young Master Pei, Lord Meng, please calm down. Today is my wedding banquet. Please give the Du family some face and stop arguing," Du Huan said with a smile.

Meng Zhan naturally hoped to end this farce as soon as possible. After all, there was no evidence, and even if Pei Ming talked until the end, it would all be speculation. He would just treat it as being bitten by a dog and bite back later.

Young Master Pei had a good relationship with the Du family, so he naturally gave Du Huan face. Moreover, after arguing for so long, he had sobered up a bit and quickly clasped his hands in apology to Du Huan: "I'm sorry, Brother Du, I misspoke. It's all in the past! Let's not talk about it anymore!"

After Young Master Pei apologized, Meng Zhan's expression improved. However, before he could even sit down, Master Luo, who had been invited to the banquet, jumped in to join the fun, "Lord Meng, you've suffered such a great injustice, are you just going to accept it like this?"

Meng Zhan didn't recognize Master Luo. He thought he was some old geezer, but then he realized that wasn't right. Anyone who could be a guest of honor in the Du family must be someone of some importance. Meng Zhan's expression was unpredictable. Huang, the wealthy man next to Master Luo, was still enjoying himself. He squinted at the two of them and started stringing beads.

"Old man, this matter is completely unfounded. I am a magnanimous person, and today is Brother Du's wedding day. I will give Brother Du face and suffer a little grievance." Meng Zhan spoke nicely, but in reality, he was also feeling guilty! He should have known better than to bring Liu Feifei on this trip. Who told her to insist on coming? Now, everyone is staring at her belly. What can he do? Meng Zhan could only swallow his anger.

Grandmaster Keluo said, "If it is truly a baseless matter, then Lord Meng is indeed helpless. However, I can clear your name in this matter. Would you be willing?"

Master Huang and Du Huan immediately understood what Doctor Luo meant. Meng Zhan was also confused, but with so many people watching, if he didn't agree, others would only think he was guilty. But if he did agree...
"Uncle, this is probably too much trouble for you," Meng Zhan tried to decline.

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all. As long as you can clear your name, it's just a small matter for me." When Master Luo spoke, he was upright and righteous. If Du Huan hadn't known his thoughts, he probably wouldn't have guessed that this was a trap.

Seeing that Du Huan was not angry about the matter and did not stop the old man from speaking, Pei Ming joined in the commotion, "Yes! Lord Meng, if this old man can prove it, that would be wonderful. If it turns out that I have wronged you, I will apologize to you. Our Pei family always keeps its word." Pei Ming said loudly.

Meng Zhan was so embarrassed he almost bit his back teeth off. He looked to Du Huan for help, but Du Huan remained smiling and showed no intention of stopping him.

He glanced at the old man beside him and whispered in his ear, "I am the Assistant Magistrate of Huaizhou. If you help me, I will remember it forever." After saying that, Meng Zhan looked at Doctor Luo, who nodded slightly at him. He felt relieved and said, "Then it would be best if you could clear up this rumor for me, sir."

Master Luo laughed and then said to him, "That's for sure. I guarantee with my reputation that I will tell you the truth."

Afterwards, Du Huan informed Madam Du, who was greeting the female guests, about the matter. Madam Du frowned upon hearing this. "Isn't this inappropriate? If word gets out, our Du family's banquet will be seen as a gathering of wolves and tigers. Who would come then?" "Aunt Wanqing is Furong's elder sister. Even Master Luo couldn't stand it anymore. Can't you lend a hand a little?" Du Huan pleaded with a smile. Madam Du, of course, sided with her own family.

"Alright, alright, how about this, I'll have someone invite Madam Meng to this side hall so that Physician Luo can take her pulse with thread, is that alright?" Madam Du asked.

"Alright! It's settled then." Du Huan ran to the front hall with a smile and told everyone about it. In an instant, both male and female guests were intrigued.

When Liu Feifei heard that someone was going to take her pulse, she was terrified. "No, no!"

Anyone with eyes could see her resistance, and it was only after Meng Zhan called her out and comforted her that she finally agreed.

Liu Feifei cautiously entered the side hall. Master Luo ordered someone to tie a red rope around her wrist, and then he placed his hand on the red rope. Everyone held their breath and dared not speak, for fear of affecting the old doctor's judgment.

Master Luo didn't take much time; in the blink of an eye, he stood up. His gaze towards Meng Zhan was somewhat unfriendly, and his expression was much worse. Meng Zhan thought that something had happened to Liu Feifei's health, and for a moment he became anxious. "Uncle, what have you noticed?"

"Is something wrong with my wife and children?"

Master Luo shouted, "The lady is over six months pregnant, and both mother and child are safe. There is no need for you to worry."

More than six months? This was bad news not only for Meng Zhan and Liu Feifei behind the screen, but also for many others who gasped and whispered among themselves.

"So, the Meng family was already having an affair with the Liu family's daughter before they even divorced the Bai family!"

"Who says otherwise? It's only been five months since he divorced the Bai family."

"I remember that old lady from the Meng family once said that it was the Bai family's daughter who was unfilial, which was why she wanted to divorce the Bai family's young lady. So it seems..."

"The Meng family used the Bai family and then climbed up to the Liu family. Tsk tsk tsk, what a disgrace to civilization! What a disgrace to civilization!"

Meng Zhan was still in shock, while Liu Feifei was already in tears. Neither of them could stay at the banquet any longer, so they left the Du family's house in a sorry state without even saying goodbye to the host.

The commotion outside also alerted Furong, who was waiting in the backyard.

"Baoyue, did you hear the noise outside? It sounds like something's happened!" Furong said, stuffing a piece of poria cocos cake into her mouth. She had been manipulated all day and realized that getting married was not easy at all. She was so tired and hungry.

Bao Yue also found it strange. Just then, Du Huan sneaked in. "Young Master, why are you back at this time? The guests have all left."

It's understandable that Baoyue found it strange, because the matchmaker hadn't come in to let Du Huan and her young lady drink the nuptial wine, nor had the veil been lifted yet.

Du Huan smiled and walked over to Furong, telling her what had happened in the front hall.

"So this Lord Meng is really that wicked! Aren't they bullying my eldest sister?" Furong immediately became annoyed. She only knew that her eldest sister had returned from the Meng family, but she didn't know that it was because of this.

"Madam, don't be angry. We've just taught him a lesson, haven't we?" Du Huan had hoped his wife would praise him, but he didn't expect to upset Furong.

Furong laughed happily after being teased by him, "That's right! We avenged our eldest sister."

The next day, when Bai Wanqing went out again, she saw some sympathetic looks from her neighbors. It turned out that her neighbor, Aunt Zhang, who hadn't spoken to her much since the divorce, was now grabbing her hand and saying, "It's all in the past. That family was so heartless. From now on, Wanqing, you'll have a good life."

This left Bai Wanqing somewhat puzzled, yet she didn't dislike the feeling.
(End of this chapter)