That Fair-Faced 'Sage' {Completed}

96. Shuǐ Family Scandal 2

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By that evening,

"Did you know?" A footman discussed with another one of the Shuǐ manor suppliers, who was loading leftover grain, onto his wagon. He leaned over to the footman, so he could whisper something into his ears...

"The Great Eastern Dragon is alive?!!"

"Shhhh!!! Lower your voice!" He glanced around, before continuing in a harsh whisper. "I heard it myself! During Clan Leader Shuǐ's emergency meeting with the western Clan Leaders, earlier today!

"It was even confirmed right there, that Zhao LanFeng is indeed a woman! Apparently, Lord Zhao told Clan Leader Shuǐ himself, after he returned from the grave!

"All those years ago, he himself had cast a Yin seal on his daughter! Apparently he suspected his daughter would suffer a lot at the hands of the evil Lord and Lady Zhao, her own uncle and aunt!

"Wouldn't Zhao LanFeng's suffering have been worse, if they knew she was a woman?"

"Good Heavens!" The supplier exclaimed, amazed at how much wondrous news he had just acquired!

He ran off with his cart, but as he supplied the next household, "Hey! Have you heard...?"

And that was how word had spread again, far and wide, worming it's way through the busy night streets of Jade City, and once more flying over wind and cloud, up to the most secluded towers and to the Shuǐ training grounds again!

With the confirmation of Zhao LanFeng's gender, the ladies wailed some more...

Before Zhao LanFeng had arrived, they had all idolized Fènghuáng-Jun.

But now, according to the many rumours of the past few days, they had lost both Zhao LanFeng and Shuǐ ChénLín!

Meanwhile, Chao Zhi Hong and his usual cronies sat silently, staring into space...

It was bad enough that someone as tiny as Disciple Zhao, had humiliated and defeated them so easily, all year...

'She was a lady?!'

It was fortunate that Shuǐ JunHo, Shuǐ ChunJu and Meng ZhuLi, who were notably the closest to Zhao LanFeng, were currently in secluded cultivation, with the other graduates...

It might have been an immeasurable shock to them!

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Back at the Shuǐ Manor, there was a different aura...

Though it was late, several seamstresses strode into the household with tons of fabrics, varying in shades of every colour LanFen could identify.

She was now dressed in a set of oversized house robes, and had drawn her brows into a scowl, as several of the seamstresses surrounded her.

They twittered like geese as they grabbed here and there, measuring, pinning and prodding there and here...

A lot of them were excited about the buzz around Zhao LanFeng, and the fact that Clan Leader Shuǐ had promised them no small amount of gold pieces, depending on how fast they could get the robes ready!

By the time they were done, another set of maids were waiting, most with frosty expressions on their faces. "Young Master Zh-. Ah! Oh my!" One of the maids hastily put a hand to her mouth.

Their leader, the same maid LanFen had 'flirted' with so long ago, quickly stepped in and bowed. "Miss Zhao, our apologies. Please permit us to take care of you."

But LanFen forgot her annoyance, and responded with a formal bow, which drew gasps from them. "It is I, who owe an apology. Though I had my personal reasons, there is no denying that I deceived you all."