WT 30 - Used another person’s knife to attack someone

 

If Wan Ting was still eating, she would have ignored their rude request. But she had finished her meal and it was not considered to be improper of them to disturb her. She shifted her position until she faced them, her body language expresses her willingness to listen to them. 

 

She made no move to ask anything, as she does not know them, nor worried about whether they were someone above her position. In addition, she was no longer an official’s daughter and does not need to care much about the nobility’s circle. 

 

However, that does not excuse her behavior either. The sole reason she acted this way was due to noticing one of the females having a faint hostility towards her, even if she was not the one that led the group.

 

Another woman that used another person’s knife to attack someone?

 

The one that previously took the lead to speak to Wan Ting was implicitly agreed as their group’s spokesperson. “Miss Wan, do you have a relationship with Sir Liu Bing?”

 

Wan Ting narrowed her eyes, her momentum was great even when she was sitting down with others looking down at her. “Please define what do you mean by ‘relationship’. How can I answer you properly with your vague words?”

 

Being answered this way, the assumed leader was annoyed. Her originally narrow eyes become slits as she said unpleasantly. “Naturally, I meant the relationship between lovers. We want to know if you have any intention to marry Sir Liu Bing.”

 

Wan Ting’s reaction upon hearing the meaning of the clarified ‘relationship’ was baffled with a hint of rejection. It was that rejection that eased the animosity from the group of ladies that were sensitive to another woman’s feelings when it came to the topic of love. 

 

“Not at all,” Wan Ting’s tone was calm when she answered, without her initial rejection in sight. “We barely spoke to each other, much less able to claim as being friends.”

 

“Sorry, we just want to know because Song Xiu’s family intend to propose a marriage for her and Sir Liu Bing,” the spokesperson apologized without a heavy heart. 

 

“Then Miss Song and her family can do as they wish, there is no need to involve an unrelated person. May I ask what prompt you to ask me that question?” Wan Ting had hardly interacted with Sir Liu Bing so why would they think they have an ambiguous relationship?

 

Should they not first doubt her and Prince Heng? She felt a little disappointed. 

 

The spokesperson hesitated. It was the woman that had originally shown hostility to her spoke up, likely to be Miss Song. “It’s because of the rumors we heard.”

 

“Rumors?”

 

“That’s what I want to talk to you about later,” Huang Qian slipped in with a worried look.

 

Perhaps Wan Ting’s expression was truly one of confusion, which had most people in the dining hall believe that she truly does not know what happened. 

 

“It was really outrageous!” Huang Qian could not contain her boiling emotions as she relays what she heard. “Someone is spreading words about you dressed inadequately with loose hair as you attempt to seduce the innocent scholar… and how you are desperate to get the man this time after the first failure…”

 

Huang Qian’s tone was originally strong, but it became as weak as a mosquito when it reached the end. 

 

“It’s spread all over the place. How could you not have heard of it?” The spoke person asked incredulity. Few nodded in agreement of that question with doubt coloring their gazes. 

 

Despite feeling strong waves in her heart, Wan Ting was still able to calmly say, “Today is the first day I left home. I have sustained heavy injuries and needed rest, which Owner Yu had kindly granted me leave from work.”

 

“Or the truth is she was actually hiding from embarrassment?” A man’s voice was not low, but in the dining hall where everyone had quiet down to listen to the group’s conversation, his voice could be heard clearly.

 

Huang Tao recognized that man was one of his co-workers that had spoken degrading stuff about Wan Ting earlier. Displeased with his words, Huang Tao had stood up for Wan Ting and their relationship became tense. 

 

When that co-worker did not learn his lesson, Huang Tao once again stood up for Wan Ting, because he believes she was not that kind of person like the rumors said. He had also long ago found him an eyesore, liking to grab credits from other people’s work. “Speaking ill of someone without proof again? People like you are why ugly rumors like this appear to destroy a good person’s reputation.”

 

“Proof? Hah, can Miss Wan also proof her words are the truth?” That man countered with a sneer. 

 

Wan Ting could see at least a quarter of the people in the dining hall were siding with that man after he said that sentence. If she did not make things clear today and right here, her reputation will not be able to wash cleanly. She finally understood why she was stared at in a strange manner when she headed to work today, but it was good that no one had stopped her in the streets. 

 

“You can stop by my house and take a look.” Wan Ting eyed that man with a cold gaze. “You will notice it is in a bad state. On the days I’ve not come to work, I’m also busy with moving to a new house while recuperating. As for how the rumors came, I could only think it’s likely because of that day when my house was attacked by a group of thieves. Strangely, they did not steal anything-” Other than her. “- But killed my servants and thrashed my house. My family had not harmed anyone and we do not know where they came from. Sir Liu Bing happened to know of our troubles and offered my family to stay for one night in his residence out of kindness, which is also Prince Heng’s residence.”

 

Most female employees started to believe nothing happened, as they all knew how Prince Heng’s attitude was towards any females other than the Empress Dowager. Plus, some of them had seen that Wan’s house was indeed in a ragged state similar to being attacked.

 

“Then how do you explain about your appearance?” Someone asked rudely, not willing to let go easily. “If Sir Liu Bing saved your family out of kindness, your intention in accepting it could be improper, isn’t it?”

 

Huang Qian glared at the female worker hiding behind the crowd like a coward yet dared to speak maliciously.

 

“The rumor of me looking improperly dressed… Do you think anyone could still look clean after fighting with a group of barbaric people, which the attack happened to be during my resting time? Resting early after a tiring day at work is not strange, isn’t it?” Wan Ting scorned, her eyes holding onto that accuser’s without a hint of cowardice until she could no longer hold her gaze and looked away.  

 

“Yeah, what’s wrong with that? I need to carry heavy boxes around the shop… why doesn’t my wife understand me? She always scolded me every time I went home and headed straight to bed,” A guy complained with grievance and it started a chain of similar responses.

 

Wan Ting sighed in relief when she saw they did not notice the loopholes in her words. It would be troublesome if they asked how exactly did Sir Liu Bing found out her family was in trouble and why would he be so kind as to offer his home to them. She had yet to think of a good reason for that unless she had to pull Owner Yu’s name into the rumor. 

 

She refused to have Prince Heng get involved with the rumor any more than this. That was why she never mentioned much about him even if he could solve most of the misunderstanding. She said she will not have him ‘responsible’ for her, and she meant it. 

 

“Wan Ting, how are your injuries?” Huang Qian asked, her eyes lingering around her body to look for injuries.

 

Huang Qian’s gaze was a little similar to her parents, which touched Wan Ting’s heart. She was also delighted that the Huang cousins had chosen to trust her instead of the rumors, and even defended her. 

 

“If they are not better, I won’t have come to work yet,” Wan Ting teased. 

 

After the verbal clarification, the group dispersed and she does not know how many people would believe in her words. Wan Ting had made it clear to the majority of the people in Fruity Herb dining hall, which only normal employees dined there. At that time of the incident, most of them had already left, and some that were still there were ushered away by the sect disciples. 

 

So none of them knew that Wan Ting was kidnapped except for the sect disciples.