After speaking, Yun Changfeng was enveloped in an aura of anger and headed towards the reception hall.
Seeing Yun Changfeng's protectiveness, Yun Shu felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
"Master, they have a superior number of people," Jing Heng reminded her.
"Do they think they can bully my father and me with their numbers? Tsk, let's go take a look," Yun Shu chuckled lightly and walked away.
At this moment, the reception hall was filled with people.
Four families had arrived in full force.
The servants of the General's Mansion were astonished by the sheer number of people. They served tea, but dared not linger in the reception hall, quickly leaving to stand guard outside.
The four families gathered, radiating an imposing aura.
Their arrogance soared.
"Today, the General's Mansion must give us an explanation! This is too outrageous! To dare to strike such a venomous blow!"
"If the General's Mansion doesn't give us an explanation today, we will go to the palace tomorrow and speak with His Majesty!"
"My daughter, Jiaojiao's face… it's truly unbearable to look at!"
"My daughter is the same! She's about to get married, and now look, how can she possibly show her face?"
"Therefore, the General's Mansion must hand over Yun Shu. I want to ask Yun Shu why she was so cruel? What poison did she give them?"
Outside the door, Yun Dezhi and Madam Yang, who had arrived earlier, exchanged glances.
Madam Yang whispered, "My Lord, it seems Yun Shu has caused quite a bit of trouble."
"Mm, I'll go in first and inquire about the situation," Yun Dezhi nodded, his expression grim.
Madam Yang added, "They are all demanding an explanation from the General's Mansion. My Lord should indeed step forward."
Yun Dezhi's eyes flickered, and he nodded discreetly before walking directly inside.
The people in the reception hall were slightly surprised when Yun Dezhi entered. They had expected Yun Changfeng to be the one to arrive.
Considering Yun Dezhi's current standing with the Emperor, and the fact that he had been holding up the General's Mansion in recent years, their furious expressions softened slightly.
"Please, everyone, take your time and inform this official of the entire matter," Yun Dezhi said in a deep voice.
His deliberately displayed general's bearing was quite intimidating.
Not long after.
Yun Changfeng walked in.
The moment Yun Changfeng entered, he heard Madam Wang say, "Since the General has promised to give us an account, we shall trust the General."
"Rest assured, Yun Shu will be here shortly. This official will question her thoroughly. If it is indeed her doing, she will certainly be made to give you an explanation," Yun Dezhi stated gravely.
Upon hearing this, Yun Changfeng narrowed his cold eyes and strode in.
"What you speak of has nothing to do with Shu'er!"
"Second brother, you've finally arrived. I just heard their accounts, and this matter is not as simple as it seems. Let Yun Shu come over for a proper questioning. After all, they fell ill not long after leaving the General's Mansion. If this isn't clarified, it will tarnish the reputation of our General's Mansion," Yun Dezhi said to Yun Changfeng, his voice deep.
These words clearly implied that Yun Shu was at fault.
Yun Changfeng merely glanced at Yun Dezhi.
His heart grew cold.
When he was fighting on the battlefield, Yun Dezhi had promised to treat Shu'er like his own daughter and take good care of her. Was this how he treated her like his own daughter?
If he truly considered her his own daughter and protected her, he would never allow others to slander her!
He suddenly remembered how neglected and isolated Shu'er had been all those years!
His face, as cold as frost, looked at the four families. "Do you have any evidence to prove that Shu'er is responsible?"
This question carried a powerful aura.
It was also quite intimidating.
This was the Zhennan Great General who commanded respect on the battlefield!
With just a look, he could make souls tremble.
Even with another general in the room, the difference was clear. Anyone could see who possessed the greater presence! Thinking about it, Yun Dezhi seemed to have won few battles on the frontier in recent years.
Yun Dezhi was also taken aback, his face immediately turning grim.
"The evidence is this: Yue'e and the other three came to the General's Mansion as guests, parted ways unhappily after meeting Yun Shu, and shortly after leaving the General's Mansion, they began showing symptoms of poisoning! Only Yun Shu had the opportunity and the motive to administer the poison. You know the Great General has just reunited with his daughter, but you cannot disregard the evidence so carelessly!" Master Li, though shaken, spoke up.
Madam Qu wept, "Great General, you haven't seen what has become of our daughters. Their once delicate faces are now disfigured, their former appearances completely unrecognizable! We desperately want to ask your daughter what grievances she holds to be so cruel!"
As Madam Qu cried, the other three ladies joined in.
Instantly, the entire room was filled with uncontrollable weeping.
Yun Dezhi was already annoyed by their address of "Great General" and "General," and the crying made his expression even more somber.
"Ladies, please stop crying for now. This matter will be handled properly," Madam Yang, seeing the situation, knew it was her turn to step in.
She then addressed Yun Changfeng, as an elder sister-in-law, "Second brother, as your sister-in-law and Shu'er's paternal aunt, I too wish to defend Shu'er and even believe that Shu'er is incapable of harming anyone. However, if only one person were accusing Shu'er, then it might be a false accusation. But now, all four families are accusing Shu'er, which proves that Shu'er is indeed involved in this matter to some extent."
"Of course, I don't believe Shu'er is entirely innocent."
Madam Yang managed to say everything, both pleasant and unpleasant, logical and illogical, in a way that left no room for fault.
She even made herself appear as a good aunt.
Yun Shu, who had stopped at the doorway and not yet entered, heard Madam Yang's words.
The corners of her red lips curved into a faint arc.
There was a hint of nonchalance in her expression.
"I ask again, do you have evidence? If you cannot produce evidence, then you are suspected of framing this General's daughter," Yun Changfeng remained unmoved, as if he hadn't heard Madam Yang's words.
Madam Yang felt a pang of embarrassment.
The four families had not expected Yun Changfeng to be so resolute.
Evidence?
They claimed poisoning and attempted murder, but the doctors could not diagnose any poison.
Therefore, there was no evidence.
Just as they were about to continue their unreasonable demands and seek justice for their daughters.
A graceful figure appeared before them.
Seeing the eyes of everyone turn towards her, Yun Changfeng looked back and saw Yun Shu.
He immediately became displeased, "Shu'er, didn't I tell you not to come? This is a trivial matter; your father can handle it."
"Father, they are slandering me, so naturally I must come to prove my innocence," Yun Shu explained with a smile.
As residents of the capital, especially those from distinguished families, they had all seen Yun Shu five years ago, knew how foolish she was, and how she had disgraced the General's Mansion.
They had never imagined that five years later, Yun Shu would be radiating such brilliance, speaking with such clarity, and her eyes would be so clear and bright, showing no trace of foolishness.
The next moment.
Yun Shu asked them, "Did they commit so many wrongdoings that they are now facing retribution? Otherwise, how could they suddenly fall ill without reason? And how could they have attracted thousands upon thousands of rats that have made them unable to eat for days?"