Yu Mingyue knew that the Sage summoning her likely meant he had questions. She had been worried when he asked if she had come of age, fearing he might impulsively arrange a marriage for her.
That was why she had said what she did earlier. Seeing the Sage's pleasant expression, not one of anger, had somewhat eased her mind.
But before she could fully relax, another challenge awaited her.
The difficulty lay in her uncertainty about the Sage's stance.
No one else had been present when she confessed her feelings to Jia Yan Ge Ge, and Jia Yan Ge Ge would certainly not tell anyone. It was unlikely the matter was related to that.
"Replying to Your Sage Majesty, this subject's daughter and Scholar Xie are neighbors, and Scholar Xie's second uncle was once this subject's daughter's teacher for a year. This subject's daughter and Scholar Xie are indeed very familiar."
"Is that all?" If anyone else had asked this, it would have been presumptuous, but since it was the Sage, she could only answer truthfully, even if she preferred not to.
"Yes." Yu Mingyue looked up at the Sage with a puzzled expression.
She had failed in her confession and had not discussed marriage, so of course, they were just very familiar.
The Sage shifted his prayer beads from his right hand to his left and flicked them twice casually. "I heard that he exchanged the iron ore map to save a young servant in your courtyard?"
Yu Mingyue disliked dredging up the past, and she disliked others dredging it up, even the Sage.
The mention of it still irked her. Who would have thought that Ye Feisheng, the sect leader of Lijingmen, was her unfortunate fifth uncle?
It wasn't just the iron ore map; it was also several boxes of her jewelry. Although he had people return them later after she left the capital, she was still very angry.
He had clearly known she was his own niece at the time. That matter could have been resolved easily, but he insisted on bringing it before the Sage.
She suspected that her fifth uncle was the one who had informed the Sage about her and Xie Jia Yan.
When Jia Yan Ge Ge and she had saved the Cui family, he had tried to stop them. It was only when Jia Yan Ge Ge had Hua Chaofei destroy the Wuji Sect and cut off its retreat that the Cui family was saved from being destroyed by the incensed populace.
She was certain the Sage had long known that Ye Feisheng was the fifth master of the Yu family, and he probably relished seeing the Yu family brothers at odds.
"Replying to Your Sage Majesty, that iron ore map was originally intended for Your Sage Majesty by Lord Xie. However, at the time, lives were at stake and the situation was urgent, so he borrowed the assistance of Lijingmen. Furthermore, this subject's daughter unhesitatingly lent Scholar Xie five hundred books at the time. And this time, this subject's daughter has also lent all the books gifted by her maternal grandfather to Lord Xie for the establishment of the official school. There is a house of gold within books. This subject's daughter believes her books are more precious than iron ore. Of course, this is also reciprocity. One must be gracious and righteous, not like..."
Yu Mingyue stopped abruptly, as if she had suddenly remembered something.
Her exaggerated reaction instead piqued the Sage's curiosity. "Not like what?"
Yu Mingyue shook her head dejectedly. "It's just some sordid affairs of the Yu family, which might offend Your Sage Majesty's ears."
"This makes me even more curious," the Sage raised an eyebrow.
"Never mind. Although family shame should not be spread, Your Sage Majesty will not tell others if you hear it. Your Sage Majesty may not know that the sect leader of Lijingmen is actually this subject's daughter's own uncle. Last time, my young servant trespassed into the backyard of a fireworks shop and was captured by people from Lijingmen. Upon learning he was a young servant of the Yu family, they became even more relentless, fabricating baseless charges. Your Sage Majesty, isn't this ungratefulness? And bullying a junior like myself. This subject truly disdains it!"