Chapter 49: Smeared with Mud

Chapter 49

Smeared with Mud

After putting Bao Bao to bed, the wet nurse offered to watch over him while Xiao Tong and the other wet nurse took a rest. When the triplets were asleep, they were like little angels. Their tiny eyes were closed, their long lashes curled perfectly, and their innocent faces exuded a charming tranquility. While the wet nurse was so absorbed in watching over them, she felt like something was tapping her back, and she fell unconscious.

Song Qilin’s tall figure stepped quietly into the room, with Feng Ying nervously keeping watch outside.

This kind of covert intrusion was not something a soldier like him was used to. And this was the mansion of the Lady Boss who owned the Lü Cui tea! Weren’t you here to ask for help? What the General planned to do if they were caught!?

Feng Ying shouted silently in his mind, so the General couldn’t hear.

Song Qilin bent down to gaze at the three children sleeping soundly on their small mattress. Each one of them was round and fair, with adorable faces. Bao Bao, the mischievous one, looked innocent and peaceful while asleep, his expression as pure as that of an angel. The second boy was similar to Bao Bao but had a gentler face, resembling their mother. Song Qilin’s eyes then moved to the youngest, the baby girl.

Even in sleep, her beauty was striking—delicate eyebrows, long, curled lashes, and a perfectly shaped nose and mouth. This was little Shuang Shuang... Song Qilin’s heart swelled with happiness. There was no doubt now...these were his children. His triplets. His emotions overwhelmed him, and he nearly shed tears.

His large, rough hands gently brushed against the little girl’s tiny cheek, his touch tender and full of affection. Although Xiao Hua Hua had been in a deep sleep, the slightest touch stirred her awake. Slowly, her big, round eyes fluttered open. Still drowsy, she glanced around before focusing on the unfamiliar man leaning over her. Her lips quivered, and she looked like she might burst into tears. Song Qilin, unsure of what to do, awkwardly scooped her up into his arms.

“Shh, don’t cry, my dear. It’s alright. Daddy’s here.”

He felt awkward and uncertain, swaying her gently in his arms as he couldn’t do anything else.

"General, are you managing alright in there?"

Feng Ying whispered after hearing the sound from inside, poking his head into the room. Song Qilin was sweating, staring at the little girl who was crying softly. He had no experience with children! And Feng Ying, clearly, was no help either! Left with no choice, Song Qilin could only stand up and pace back and forth in the room.

When Xiao Hua Hua calmed down and stopped crying, she placed a chubby finger into her mouth and gazed curiously at the man who held her. Song Qilin lowered his head and met her eyes, seeing that her eyes reminded him so much of her mother, filling his heart with warmth. His daughter was beautiful like her, and was a perfect blend of her and him. Song Qilin felt an indescribable joy, the kind that he could float.

The little girl, a naturally cheerful child, soon broke into a smile. Her smile was enchanting like an angel, as bright and lovely as her mother’s. Her big, round eyes twinkled, and Song Qilin found his heart melting. He would do anything for her, even bring down the stars if she asked.

He hugged her tightly, kissed her chubby cheeks, and lifted her up, swinging her playfully. Xiao Hua Hua’s laughter filled the room while father and daughter played together in pure delight. However, Feng Ying had to interrupt the moment of happiness, poking his head inside and whispered.

"Someone’s coming."

Song Qilin set Xiao Hua Hua back down onto her mattress gently, trying to hide his disappointment, wanting to spend more time with her. He gently unlocked the wet nurse from the pressure point that had knocked her out, and then, the two intruders slipped quietly out of the room.

Xiao Tong walked into the room and was surprised to see the young lady awake while the wet nurse was still fast asleep.

"Miss, you’re awake? And you didn’t even cry. I thought I heard you playing with someone earlier."

She gently shook the sleeping wet nurse awake.

"How strange. How did I fall asleep?"

The wet nurse scratched her head. A moment ago, she had been watching over the children, but suddenly she fell unconscious. Perhaps the heat was too much.

The General had sent a message to Kang Wang, saying that he would leave early, but in truth, he had hidden himself near the children’s room, unwilling to leave. He stayed to observe the triplets as they dozed off, woke up, and played with Xiao Tong and the wet nurses. Upon seeing Xiao Tong, it further confirmed his belief that this had to be Shuang Shuang. He was determined to wait for her here, not even bothering to change out of his clothes that were stained with his son’s urine.

Meanwhile, Nie Shuang was facing off with Ding Tao at the tea house. Ding Tao had gathered a large crowd outside, and the townsfolk had come to watch with great interest.

"Such a scandal has never happened in our Huangjing City before! The Lady Boss and that pale-faced head manager are involved in an illicit affair. Who would want to step foot in such a filthy establishment? It’s no better than a brothel. Or perhaps..." Ding Tao sneered maliciously. "The reason you only hire young women is because there’s an illicit business going on behind the scenes? Tsk tsk tsk, Lady Boss, it seems your establishment is located on the wrong street. It would be better to move to the alley at the end of the city."

The alley at the end of the city he referred to was infamous for illicit activities. Ding Tao had initially wanted to slander Nie Shuang and Kang Wang, but the latter had too much power. He feared that if he directly offended Kang Wang, it would not only fail to destroy Nie Shuang but also force him out of the city. So instead, he accused her of having an affair with her handsome head manager. If Kang Wang heard of it, he might grow suspicious and distance himself from her. Without powerful backing, it would be much easier to crush her.

Most women would be ashamed and retreat in the face of such accusations. She would likely be forced to leave Huangjing City, or worse, take her own life. Ding Tao was pleased with himself as he scanned the faces of the people who were crowding around him in doubt.

Wang Dongpo was indeed a handsome young man—no one could deny that. And since Lady Boss had moved to the city, no one had ever seen her husband, fueling further suspicion. Ding Tao seized this moment to strike while the iron was hot[1].

"To top it off, her past was so mysterious. She even hides her name. She arrived here, threw around large sums of money, bought a mansion, and started a business. Let’s all think about it. Look at her beauty—who’s to say she wasn’t a famous courtesan at some brothel before some rich man paid her debt and helped her start a new life?"

At this point, the crowd began be swayed. Ding Tao had been making these claims for a while now, and Nie Shuang had just arrived. Moments ago, someone from the tea house had informed her that Ding Tao had brought along a man who claimed to have witnessed her and Wang Dongpo having an affair by the river.

"Well, Lady Boss, what do you have to say for yourself!? You’re not even going to defend yourself? This city has never had a scandal like this before. If you can’t prove your innocence regarding you and this head manager, you’d better leave our city at once!"

Ding Tao spoke with smug confidence, and the henchmen he brought along shouted in wild support. The front of the tea house became chaotic, filled with calls for her to leave. Customers inside the tea house peeked out with curiosity, while the more conservative scholars distanced themselves from the scandal.

Nie Shuang had faced various underhanded business tactics before, but for someone to slander her with an affair was the lowest. She remained calm as Ding Tao continued his tirade, waiting until she saw Da Shi arrive with the authorities. Only then did she speak up.

"Please, Boss Ding, gather your thoughts and repeat what you just said,"

Nie Shuang’s voice was firm and resonant.

"If you can’t recall, I’m sure everyone here can testify to what you’ve accused me of. I’ve brought the government officials to record the accusations that Boss Ding has against me. If I can prove my innocence, you’ll be held responsible for all the lost income from today, the damage to the reputation of Xiangyun Tea House, and to my personal name. My accountant will calculate every coin—down to the very last tael."

Her expression was calm but terrifying, far more intimidating than if she had raised her voice in protest. Ding Tao couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine.

Shouldn’t she be crying and shouting to prove her innocence? Any other woman would be pleading for justice by now, yet here she was, threatening him with money instead.

"Why are you asking me for compensation? He’s the one who saw it!"

He had to defend himself first. With her demeanor, if she could prove her innocence and it turned out that he was at fault, wouldn’t he be the one paying her a fortune?

The false witness he brought, seeing Ding Tao shifting blame onto him, was not about to take the fall.

"Boss Ding!"

Ding Tao waved at him and then approached him to whisper,

"Don’t worry, just stick to your story. She’s only trying to scare us. What can she really do?"

Seeing that, Nie Shuang turned to the witness, her expression sharp and commanding, scarier than any grown man.

"You say you saw me and the head manager together in an illicit relationship? If it’s a lie, you’ll have to bear all the responsibility. If it’s true, tell us everything in detail—when did you see it, what time, where exactly, and what were we wearing? You’d better show the location, too."

The false witness paled. How could he know? What if he pointed to the wrong place or gave the wrong time, and she had witnesses to prove otherwise? He had helped Ding Tao frame many people before, but never had he been in such a tight spot.

He couldn’t take it anymore...

"It was Boss Ding who forced me to falsely accuse you!"

The witness nearly burst into tears, leaving the onlookers shaking their heads in disgust.

What a despicable act. Both master and servant were rotten to the core. Everyone in the city already knew about Ding Tao’s dirty business tactics, but this was beyond shameful. Several of the merchants in the crowd couldn’t hold back any longer and started shouting insults.

"Ding Tao, you’re worse than an animal!"

"It’s you who should leave this city, not her!" And so on.

Ding Tao panicked, unable to handle how quickly the situation had turned against him. Nie Shuang stepped forward to face him directly."Boss Ding, don’t think this will end easily. I always stand by my words! You’d better start preparing the compensation you’ll owe me!"

[1] Strike while the iron is hot (idiom), means to take advantage of an opportunity as soon as it exists, in case the opportunity goes away and does not return.