The third person also had a tale of woe. He was an actor, and it was said actors were heartless, merely playing games with life.
But now, he was the one being toyed with.
"Oh, I know him. Isn't that Boss Qiu from Pear Blossom Garden? I can't believe he's ended up like this.
The last time I saw him perform at my eldest brother-in-law's second aunt's house, he was such a dashing figure. How long has it been?"
Some sighed, some were indignant, and some were simply enjoying the spectacle.
Su Xiaoqi, hearing the whispers about Boss Qiu, couldn't help but cast a few more glances his way.
Indeed, though gaunt, the vestiges of his former charm were still visible.
The fourth person did not reveal his identity, but he too had a story written in blood and tears.
Observing his bearing and demeanor, Su Xiaoqi began to guess his background.
Just then, Shen Yun leaned in and whispered in her ear, "He's an official posted outside the capital, just back to report his duties."
Su Xiaoqi nodded, confirming her suspicion.
Despite his dejected expression, the inherent aura of someone in a position of authority remained, impossible to conceal or feign.
This was not what surprised her, however. Su Xiaoqi was curious as to how Shen Yun had managed to enlist his help.
But with so many people present, it wasn't the time to ask. She would have to wait until they returned.
He was a scholar, not well-known, Su Xiaoqi mused silently, trying to recall the plot. She didn't recognize him.
However, her intuition told her his identity was likely not simple, otherwise, Fang Gu wouldn't have taken notice of him.
The fifth was also a scholar from the current imperial examinations, and a familiar face at that – Xi Jianzhi.
Su Xiaoqi looked at him in surprise. He was such a shrewd man, yet he had fallen prey to Fang Gu's schemes.
It seemed Fang Gu was indeed formidable.
If Shen Yun couldn't control himself for a moment, would he too end up like them in the near future?
Her gaze involuntarily swung like a pendulum between Shen Yun and Fang Gu.
Perhaps sensing the complete lack of concealment in her gaze, Shen Yun immediately understood her thoughts. He playfully tickled her palm, feigning a wounded expression.
"My heart belongs only to my wife, and no one else can occupy my eyes. How can my wife bear to think such thoughts of me?"
His expression was a mixture of truth and pretense, which Su Xiaoqi found immensely amusing, declaring that his acting skills were no less than Fang Gu's.
One by one, the people stepped forward to recount Fang Gu's wicked deeds. Those who had come to watch and had spoken out were all hurling curses at Fang Gu.
Su Xiaoqi glanced sideways at Fang Gu.
It seemed she had exhausted all her notoriety for this lifetime today.
Fang Gu herself had not anticipated this.
Her careful selection and searching were all to find a wealthy man whom she wouldn't tire of and with whom she wished to spend her life.
A wave of annoyance washed over her. She no longer bothered to conceal her true nature. With a slight parting of her cherry lips, she declared directly, "The reason they were abandoned is simply that their conditions did not meet my requirements and expectations. We parted amicably, that's all.
Hmph, when we were together, I spared no effort in serving them, treating them like true lords. I used all eighteen skills.
I made sure they were comfortable and content. Later, I grew tired of it, weary, and no longer wished to serve, so naturally, I sent them away. What wrong did I do?"
Fang Gu placed her hands on her hips. It was a decidedly commanding gesture, yet the way she did it was so delicate and charming, it inspired a desire to protect her.
"You say I'm fickle and inconstant, but aren't all you men like that?
You have wives and concubines at home, yet still seek pleasure in pleasure houses outside.
If you men can have many women, why can't I have ten or eight men?"
Fang Gu's expression was cold. Moreover, she maintained professional integrity and did not seek them out simultaneously.
Therefore, in her eyes, this was simply human nature.
Why should she be subjected to such harsh treatment?
Su Xiaoqi listened to her words and couldn't help but smile. If she hadn't targeted Shen Yun, and repeatedly provoked her, drawing her into this situation,
In fact, based on her forward-thinking and somewhat rebellious ideas, Su Xiaoqi might have given her a thumbs-up.
It was a pity, though. With her capabilities, she could have wreaked havoc on ten or eight men in the capital.
But now, she was going to fall at Shen Yun's hands.
Shen Yun had always been like this. He wouldn't act unless necessary, but once he did, it was a decisive blow.
This time was no exception. He had long been aware of Fang Gu's true nature.
Just as Su Xiaoqi thought, he initially felt Fang Gu's actions had nothing to do with him and did not intend to expose her methods or find those she had wronged to reveal her behavior.
However, she had pushed him too far, dared to confront him, and repeatedly showed up at his home to harass him.
There was no alternative. If one of their reputations had to be tarnished, it might as well be hers.
The outcome proved to be as expected. Shen Yun successfully defeated Fang Gu with the collective tales of woe from five men.
Now, no matter what she said, whether true or false, no one would believe her.
Everyone was vowing to go back and inform their relatives and friends to be wary of this woman named Fang Gu.
Too ruthless, sucking money, blood, and essence.
Fang Gu finally realized the tide had turned against her.
She ceased offering any further defenses. After all, no one would believe anything she said, and it would only draw more scorn.
She simply asked Shen Yun what it would take for him to let her go.
Shen Yun scanned the crowd, seeing everyone's gaze fixed on them. He said calmly, "Setting aside everything else, you came to my doorstep today, cursed at me, slandered my wife, and insulted my reputation. This is truly detestable. How about you offer a sincere apology to my wife and me here, in front of everyone?"
Fang Gu hesitated for a moment. Was an apology that simple?
Shen Yun cast a faint glance at her. A tremor ran through her, and she bowed respectfully to apologize.
If Su Xiaoqi hadn't been watching her eyes, and had only heard her voice, she would have believed her to be incredibly sincere.
She even voluntarily offered to compensate Su Xiaoqi, as an apology for the disturbance.
Su Xiaoqi waved her hand, declining. She said that as long as Fang Gu stopped bothering her, she would be grateful.
The grand show concluded, and as everyone had had their fill of the drama, they dispersed one by one.
The five young men, who had arrived mysteriously, departed just as mysteriously.
Fang Gu stood frozen, no longer crying, but fixing a cold gaze on Su Xiaoqi.
It was all her fault. If not for her, Yun Lang wouldn't have treated her this way.
As she was inwardly cursing, she was suddenly met with Su Xiaoqi's sharp, piercing gaze. She remembered that this woman, without saying a word, had summoned Shen Yun to deal with her. A shiver went through her; she had likely been wrong from the very beginning, underestimating her!
She quickly lowered her head and murmured like a mosquito, "Yun Lang..."
"Silence. If you still haven't learned, I don't mind finding a few more people. Next time, we'll discuss it properly in the grand hall of the Capital Prefecture."
Shen Yun was truly weary of hearing her voice. He issued a stern warning once more.
Fang Gu dared not say another word. She shot Shen Yun a look, then immediately lowered her head. Still unwilling to yield, she turned back and asked, "Why, why, we clearly..."
Su Xiaoqi couldn't help but chuckle. She looked at Fang Gu and said word by word:
"You're truly amusing. You don't understand why? Perhaps you should ask yourself."
Did she truly have no clue about what she had done?
Was she really this overconfident?
Su Xiaoqi felt that encountering someone like Fang Gu had indeed added a thick, colorful stroke to her life experiences.
She was a truly peculiar individual.
Of course, Su Xiaoqi didn't know then that in the future, she would encounter many more people like Fang Gu, even more eccentric ones.
But that was a story for another time.
The most important thing now was to make Fang Gu completely give up and leave.
"You, you are truly heartless. You clearly smiled at me then, speaking so gently to me..." Fang Gu's attempt to rally public opinion had not only failed to help her but had also damaged her reputation.
She was now beyond caring about appearances, speaking whatever came to mind.
She simply didn't want Su Xiaoqi to have an easy time. Even if she couldn't have Yun Lang, she wanted to disgust Su Xiaoqi and ruin their relationship.