Chapter 160: Shizun, Do You Remember the Voice-Changing Spell from the Inn Back Then?

At this, scorn surfaced on many of the guests' faces. Their gazes darted between Ye Wangxi, Nangong Si, and Song Qiutong.

 "What a scumbag…" someone said softly.

 "Why isn't Nangong-gongzi angry yet?"

 "If Miss Song really didn't have a choice, then… Ah, for a girl like

 her to be caught between these two formidable gongzi, it's no wonder—

 what could she have done?"

 As the man in black let these murmurs swell, posture indifferent,

 Tianwen lashed out and caught him off guard. Fortunately, he managed to

 jump swiftly out of the way. But though he wasn't ensnared nor seriously

 injured, Tianwen had managed to rip his cloak, sending blood into the air.

 He stifled a cry of pain and avoided Chu Wanning's willow vine with

 renewed diligence as he continued to besmear Ye Wangxi.

 "Ye-gongzi, Miss Song won't confess because she's worried she'll

 damage the friendship between you and Nangong-gongzi. But you can't

 deceive the heavens. Have you really not an ounce of shame in your heart?

 Will you not bow your head and apologize for your wrongdoings?"

 Incensed as Ye Wangxi was, he found this, too, ridiculous. "I have

 committed no wrong," he replied.

 "You haven't? So you're saying the blame lies entirely with Miss

 Song? Perhaps she didn't resist you because you threatened her. Are you

trying to say it was she who seduced you? And not you who forced yourself

 on her?"

 Nangong Si, who had remained silent all this time, turned and looked

 down at Song Qiutong, extending a hand to help her up.

 But Song Qiutong thought he was reaching down to check the

 chastity mark on her wrist. When she had woken that morning, she'd

 discovered the cinnabar had vanished from her skin. She'd immediately

 panicked—but she had no way to explain it, and any attempt would only

 make matters worse. She had imagined that since she was about to be wed

 to Nangong Si and the cinnabar would fade anyway, it would be safe to say

 nothing for the next few days and avoid any misunderstanding.

 Who could've guessed that someone would come to ruin her…

 She thought about how Ye Wangxi had indeed saved her, and how

 she had served as Ye Wangxi's handmaiden. She also thought how the

 cinnabar had disappeared, and how the man had clearly identified the red

 birthmark on her leg. She had nothing with which to defend herself. Her

 mind filled with a buzzing blankness; she found herself cornered.

 Amidst the chaos, she raised teary eyes and took in the teeming

 crowd, their gazes filled with scorn and pity as they whispered among

 themselves. She saw Ye Wangxi standing alone, the guests peering at his

 solemn visage with disdain.

 Chu-zongshi's willow vine was still chasing the black-garbed man

 across the hall. It didn't stop the man from continuing to shout:

 "Ye Wangxi! The grudges between us run deep! Today I'll expose you for

 the hypocrite you are! You had an affair with the young master's wife and

forced yourself on an innocent young lady—how vicious, how

 reprehensible!"

 As Song Qiutong stared, she saw, in a flash, her way out. Clearing

 her name now would be impossible. But the man in black sounded like he

 had a score to settle with Ye Wangxi and was willing to go to any length to

 destroy his honorable reputation. She couldn't shoulder the crime of

 adultery—but if she went along with this tale and claimed Ye Wangxi had

 forced himself on her, then at least…

 "That's right, it was him!" she cried hysterically.

 Nangong Si's hand froze in midair. Standing stock-still and stupefied,

 he looked at her in astonishment, as if he couldn't believe his father's right

hand man would actually tarnish his fiancée.

 Hiding her face in her hands, Song Qiutong choked with sobs. "It—it

 was Ye-gongzi who humiliated me, he…he forced me… I never agreed to

 it…"

 Nangong Si stared at Song Qiutong beneath the flickering

 candlelight, his gaze likewise flashing bright and dark. After a long

 moment, he dropped the hand he'd offered back to his side. "Do you know

 what you're saying?" he asked, voice hoarse and full of sparks.

 When she saw his fury, Song Qiutong grew only more anxious.

 "Gongzi, I'm sorry…" she wept. "I was afraid you wouldn't forgive me…

 so…I didn't dare say anything all this time… I was so scared that you and

 Ye-gongzi would fall out if I said something. The sect leader values him so

 much; what good would it do Rufeng Sect if you two became enemies?"

 She prostrated herself as she spoke, her long sleeves sweeping over the

 ground as her narrow shoulders shivered, dejected and pitiable.

"Qiutong really didn't know what to do… I didn't dare bring this up

 to the sect leader, so no matter how I was humiliated, I tried to hide it…

 Gongzi, I'm too ashamed to face you, but…but I've always been sincere

 with you…"

 But Nangong Si, now deathly pale, took a step back, shaking his head

 as he repeated, "Do you know… Do you know what you're saying?"

 Song Qiutong's fine, dark locks cascaded over her beautiful

 shoulders, bending the light from the lanterns like silk. Like this, she looked

 all the more heartrendingly lovely. "Qiutong was wrong," she sobbed

 miserably. "I shouldn't have hidden it from you, but I was so alone, I…"

 Nangong Si cut her off with a ferocious snarl. "Do you have any idea

 what you're saying!"

 "I…" Song Qiutong shuddered and raised her head. Her perfect

 features were damp, her delicate cheeks streaked with tears, her lips

 trembling. "I…"

 "How could you? How could you dare… How could you bring

 yourself to do something like this?"

 Everyone wrinkled their brows and exchanged glances. One of the

 guests murmured, "I'd heard Rufeng Sect favors men at the expense of

 women, but I never thought Nangong Si would blame Miss Song, an

 innocent victim, instead of Ye Wangxi. How disappointing."

 "I'll say. He really doesn't know right from wrong."

 Chu Wanning had recalled Tianwen upon hearing Song Qiutong's

 admission and now watched the scene in the center of the hall. Nangong

 Si's reaction bewildered him. In his memory, Nangong Si was willful and

 headstrong, but his conduct was always proper, and he wasn't an

unreasonable person. If this story was true and worthy of investigation, then

 the target of that investigation should be Ye Wangxi, not Song Qiutong.

 And yet all of Nangong Si's anger was directed at Song Qiutong alone…

 Why?

 In all the crowd, Mei Hanxue was the only guest sitting calmly in his

 seat, drinking his wine and watching the furor. Had Xue Meng been there,

 he would've seen that this Mei Hanxue was nothing like the man he'd run

 into earlier. The rakish personality from Peach Blossom Springs had

 returned—contained in his eyes was all the dancing merriment of spring,

 and there was a smooth charm to his every move.

 Song Qiutong continued to weep and push all the blame for the

 scandal onto Ye Wangxi. Ye Wangxi, too shocked by her accusations to

 speak, stared wide-eyed at the woman he'd saved from Xuanyuan Pavilion.

 "Qiutong was weak and frightened in the face of Ye-gongzi's

 mistreatment. I would give my life to prove my innocence. Qiutong is but

 drifting duckweed; Gongzi gave me everything, and now…I know my

 mistakes… I…will accept any punishment…"

 After hearing her tearful confession, Nangong Si jerked his head up

 and closed his eyes. The lantern light, warm and lively, now illuminated the

 dark and stormy shadows on his face. His lashes quivered as if he were

 struggling to hold himself back. His hands were balled into fists, and his

 throat bobbed like the raging waves in his heart. As he stood silent, his

 cheekbones jutted sharply and the veins in his temples bulged; his bones

 shuddered, and his blood blazed through his body.

 He restrained himself until he could bear it no more. With a furious

 cry, he unsheathed his sword and cleaved the table in front of Song Qiutong

in two. Cups and dishes scattered. "Song Qiutong, did you know…the thing

 I've always hated the very, very most, the thing I will never tolerate, is

 lying!" He abruptly yelled, "Ye Wangxi!"

 "…Young master."

 "Ye Wangxi, get over here!"

 Ye Wangxi didn't move, nor did he speak.

 Nangong Si turned his head, his eyes wet and red. "Come here!"

 Ye Wangxi came to him at last. Those watching expected Nangong Si

 might plunge his sword into Ye Wangxi's chest, opening the belly of this

 duplicitous beast in order to rip out his heart and throw it to the ground.

 They watched the scene unfold with bated breath.

 Chest heaving, Nangong Si stared at Ye Wangxi. At length he said,

 voice rough, "Remove the voice-changing spell."

 "Voice-changing spell?" The guests looked at each other in shock.

 "What does this have to do with a voice-changing spell?"

 "No clue. How odd—why would Ye Wangxi use a voice-changing

 spell? Is his real voice so awful it will scare people off? Or is it somehow

 embarrassing?"

 Ye Wangxi dropped his gaze to the floor. "Young master, I can no

 longer remove it."

 Nangong Si stared at him blankly. "What did you say?"

 "I've used the voice-changing spell since I was thirteen. It's been ten

 years—the spell has penetrated my spiritual core." Ye Wangxi paused, then

 continued calmly, "I can never recover my original voice."

Nangong Si took a step back in astonishment. After a long moment,

 he turned his eyes on the inscrutable man occupying the sect leader's seat of

 honor. "Father?" A murmured question.

 Nangong Liu spoke at last. "Si-er, it really is a pity, but…Ye Wangxi

 used the voice-changing spell of his own volition. This turn of events has

 been unexpected. Don't take it to heart."

 "But…"

 Nangong Liu stepped down from the platform to stand behind the

 assembled guards with his hands behind his back. "Your father knows that

 you and Ye Wangxi are childhood friends. I have appreciated his loyalty

 these recent years. Regardless…he has sullied Song Qiutong, forgotten his

 station, and deceived his superiors—these are crimes punishable by death."

 Against all expectations, Nangong Si's response was to exclaim in

 shock: "Father!"

 Nangong Liu waved his hand and a ray of blue light shot out to

 enclose Nangong Si in a restraining barrier. Nangong Si stood frozen for a

 moment, then began to howl furiously and pound against the barrier. But it

 was to no avail—this was Rufeng Sect's Admonishment Barrier, a

 technique passed down through the sect over generations.

 Rufeng Sect had an unfortunate history of usurpation via patricide,

 and thus the sons of sect leaders all signed a blood oath with their fathers in

 their youth. This barrier specifically allowed fathers to confine their sons

 and would stand firm for up to an hour. However powerful Nangong Si was,

 this barrier was impossible for him to escape. His words, too, were sealed

 within; whatsoever Nangong Si yelled, there was no way for those without

 to hear it…

Though things had come to this point, it was still preferable to admit

 to an affair between Ye Wangxi and Song Qiutong than to reveal other

 secrets of Rufeng Sect. Nangong Liu approached the man in black and

 cupped his hands in greeting. "This humble one has no knowledge of what's

 passed between you and Ye Wangxi, but I am grateful for your reminders

 today. Otherwise, misfortune would have befallen my family."

 "Nangong-zhangmen is too courteous," the man in black said

 blandly.

 "Guards! Arrest Ye Wangxi at once! Detain him—"

 "Hold it."

 Nangong Liu grew immediately uneasy. His face creased in an

 indefatigable smile. "Sir, do you have more advice to offer?"

 "I was just thinking that your esteemed son only said a few words

 about a voice-changing spell. Sect Leader, why are you in such a rush to

 lock up Ye-gongzi?"

 "Ahem, this is a private matter for Rufeng Sect, so I'm afraid I can't

 divulge details…"

 The man in black's voice held a smile. "When it comes to Rufeng

 Sect's reputation, the esteemed sect leader certainly doesn't hesitate to

 sacrifice a pawn to save a rook. Poor Miss Ye, who has risked life and limb

 in service of your sect for more than a decade. Today she is framed despite

 her innocence, all to preserve your family's dignity."

 Before the rest had time to process these words, Nangong Liu's

 expression changed.

 Mei Hanxue chuckled softly where he sat. He filled his cup with

 wine, drained it, and set it back down.

In the glow of the lanternlight, Nangong Liu's face was a waxy

 yellow. Finally he asked with an insincere smile, "Miss Ye? Sir, you…"

 The black-clad man's eyes were bright, and his voice echoed clear

 through the great hall. He slowly said, "Ye Wangxi isn't a man at all."