Chapter 77: Rumors Part 1

After Xun Changqing returned to the mansion, not only did her injuries fail to improve, but they worsened day by day. Zi Jin had summoned imperial physicians from the palace, yet the medicines still showed little effect. Meanwhile, Xun Yi was occupied with court affairs and rarely returned home, occasionally sending someone to inquire after her.

Yun Shen had waited several days and planned to leave, but seeing that Xun Changqing seemed to be getting even sicker, she didn’t dare return to Ji Province. If Wei Lingci asked, she wouldn’t know what to say—after all, it was her negligence on the road that had failed to care for Xun Changqing properly. Moreover, with the reinforcements already dispatched, there was no rush for a day or two, so she simply waited for Xun Changqing to recover before going back.

She gradually discovered that the Imperial Capital was nothing like the tranquility of Ji Province. The streets and alleys here were places teeming with all sorts of people—merchants from various regions, wandering martial artists, even imperial relatives and nobles. People of every shape and form could be seen. She enjoyed mingling in such places and thus dragged Xian Yu along to wander the streets.

In any case, the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion had strict rules; one had to pay respects to the Heir Apparent’s Consort upon entering, and sometimes they weren’t even allowed inside. After being turned away too many times, she grew too lazy to go. She quietly stayed at the County Princess Mansion, played around the Imperial Capital for a few days, bought some little trinkets unavailable in Ji Province City to bring back for Shang Hong and the others, and figured that wouldn’t betray the little princess’s good intentions.

Yet beneath the lively streets lurked undercurrents of foul winds and bloody rains.

Yun Shen loved eating the wontons sold on the streets and went out every other day for a bowl, listening to everyone’s unrefined jokes—like whose son had gotten married to a wife as beautiful as a fairy, or which young lad had aced the exams and was surely destined for a bright future. Some even gossiped about the brothels, how the courtesan queen was so stunning and fragrant.

All sorts of bizarre tales abounded. Xian Yu wasn’t a quiet type to begin with, and now that she’d met her match, the two of them ate wontons while devouring stories.

She overheard whispers from the next table. “I heard something strange.”

The person nearby saw the speaker’s odd expression and immediately leaned in, nudging his right hand that held the wontons. “What strange thing? Tell us! Did some noble house have a backyard fire? Oh, those are the juiciest—spill it quick!”

His voice was loud, drawing a crowd. Yun Shen swallowed the last wonton in her bowl and sidled over to that table to listen to the little tale.

Seeing everyone’s interest, the man cleared his throat, glanced outside to ensure no bigwigs were around, and then said, “I… heard the story about Princess Xiang’an. Turns out she’s not legitimately born—not from that missing borderlands princess consort. She’s from an outside lover, not even a concubine’s daughter, since her mother never even entered the household.”

His words stirred a storm in the room. Yun Shen clenched her fist, raising her hand to strike, but Xian Yu pulled her back, signaling her to keep listening. There was no smoke without fire in worldly affairs; there had to be a reason.

The man was Wang Wu, a streetwise rogue whose news was always spot-on. Everyone listened in stunned silence. He took a sip of tea and continued, “It’s true—an old retainer from the prince’s mansion said it. She’s ancient, on the verge of the coffin, before spilling it. She said that borderlands princess consort never got pregnant; the child was brought in from outside, and the prince ordered a gag to claim it was the consort’s.”

Someone chimed in, “So you saying it might not even be the Pingnan Prince’s seed? Women outside aren’t as proper as those in the house.”

“Who knows… outside women are all fickle as water… might not be… haha…”

Yun Shen was so furious her fists tightened, veins bulging on her forehead. She broke free from Xian Yu, stepped forward, and punched the man, cursing, “That’s an imperial princess—gold branch and jade leaf! You can’t just spout nonsense. Watch out for the yamen’s flogging.”

Wang Wu took the punch out of nowhere; half his face swelled. He crawled on the ground for a bit before standing, spewing curses. “What’s it got to do with me? I was just telling a joke! Hitting people lands you in the yamen too…”

After cursing a few more lines, he realized the attacker had long fled. He spat bloody saliva and snarled, “Damn it, lucky you ran fast, or I’d have broken your legs…”

Wang Wu kept muttering profanities, but by then Xian Yu had dragged Yun Shen several li away. Yun Shen shook off her arm, glaring back with fury in her eyes. “Why’d you pull me? That guy deserved a beating. A few punches and he’d behave.”

Xian Yu shot her a glare, fanning her sleeves in the heat. “Beating him does nothing—he shuts up, someone else talks. This isn’t Ji Province; casually hitting people in the Imperial Capital gets you jailed. I think this rumor targets the little princess. You go back first; I’ll inform her so she can prepare.”

Yun Shen realized she’d been impulsive and shouldn’t cause trouble, so she returned to the mansion first to await Xian Yu’s news. But she memorized the man’s face, planning to deal with him later when the chance arose. Baseless talk deserved a thrashing.

Ever since returning to the mansion, Xun Changqing hadn’t left her courtyard, living detached from worldly strife. Yet she faintly sensed the mansion’s people growing increasingly unfriendly. The Heir Apparent’s Consort, Qin Jingyu, seemed to particularly dislike her. She treated servants from other courtyards kindly but was cold toward those in Xun Changqing’s.

Over time, even a fool could see the issue. The mansion’s servants shunned her—after all, the Heir Apparent’s Consort now managed the household, holding their fates in her hands. Sycophancy was rife.

When Xian Yu arrived at the mansion, she was stopped at the gate as usual. She stomped her foot but didn’t dare force her way in, waiting half a day under the blazing sun. Fortunately, she spotted Zi Jin heading out on errands and grabbed her, wiping sweat from her brow while complaining, “This prince’s mansion is too hard to enter. How does the little princess endure it? My lady said if there’s trouble, go to the palace to see Her Ladyship—no need to put up with this.”

Zi Jin pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat and smiled. “Trifles—Master doesn’t mind. Making a fuss would only shame the mansion. Anyway, urgent business? You’re in such a hurry to see Master.”

Like master, like servant—Xun Changqing’s laid-back nature extended to Zi Jin. Xian Yu knew she couldn’t persuade them, so she recounted the day’s events. The rumors were just starting; if they couldn’t be contained later, it’d be major trouble.