When asked about this, Yan Wenjing immediately pressed his lips together and fell silent.
Madam Li said with distress, "Wenjing, your grandfather was a great general skilled in warfare, and your father was a heroic man of action. You must not bring harm to others and disgrace their illustrious names!"
Yan Wenjing raised his voice, "I haven’t disgraced the Yan Family’s name! Qi Rui and the others deserved this!"
"Oh? And why did they deserve it?" Chu Ruoyan interjected, but the boy glanced at her and shut his mouth again.
Chu Ruoyan arched a brow slightly. "It has something to do with me, doesn’t it?"
A flicker of surprise flashed in Yan Wenjing’s eyes before she mused further, "If it were only about me, you wouldn’t have gone to such lengths. So… it also involves your Third Uncle?"
At this, his eyes widened in shock. "How did you know?!"
Chu Ruoyan curved her lips, confirming her guess.
This little schemer was clever, but still young and inexperienced.
Yan Wenjing no longer held back. "It’s that bastard Qi Rui! He’s been spreading vile rumors about you, claiming you’ve cuckolded Third Uncle…"
"Cuckolded?" Chu Ruoyan stiffened, while Madam Li’s expression turned grave.
A woman’s reputation was paramount, and such slander could ruin her forever.
Yan Wenjing clenched his small fists. "Yes! That’s exactly what he said! At first, when Xue Baiqing told me, I didn’t believe it. But then they ganged up on him, accused him of snitching to me, stripped him naked, and threw him into a cesspit, nearly drowning him… That’s why I had to teach them a lesson!"
The Xue Baiqing he mentioned was none other than Xue Baiqing himself.
The Earl of Pingxi’s Manor had grown far too brazen. First, they bullied the nephew of Consort Xue—though that was somewhat understandable, given Consort Xue’s fall from grace and the loss of her imperial son, leaving the Xue family in decline. But how dare they set their sights on the Chief Grand Secretary?
Was this retaliation for the Feng Yun incident?
Or were they being manipulated by someone else?
Chu Ruoyan fell into deep thought until the coachman suddenly spoke up, "Madam, look outside…"
She lifted the carriage curtain and saw crowds lining the streets, all pointing and whispering about her.
"Is that her?"
"I think so…"
"How shameless!"
"Keep your voice down, don’t let her hear…"
Taking in the scene and Wenjing’s earlier words, Chu Ruoyan pieced things together and said firmly, "Coachman, first take Second Sister-in-law and Wenjing home. Then head to the entertainment quarter."
After dropping off Madam Li and Yan Wenjing, the carriage soon arrived at the largest entertainment quarter in the capital.
No sooner had she entered than she heard the city’s most famous storyteller, Liu Chunrong, slam his gavel.
"Now, this Yan lord thought he had found a virtuous match, little knowing that the red apricot had already strayed over the wall… This Chu woman pretended to acknowledge a sworn brother, all for the sake of secret rendezvous with her lover… In broad daylight, they indulged in passion right in the tavern—Ahh!!"
A walnut shot out from the shadows and flew straight into Liu Chunrong’s mouth.
Clutching his mouth, Liu Chunrong coughed violently as chaos erupted in the hall.
Chu Ruoyan narrowed her eyes. "Shopkeeper Du…"
The one who had thrown the walnut was unmistakably the portly shopkeeper from Young Master Lang’s entourage.
Spotting her, the man smiled and gestured for her to follow.
Once outside, Shopkeeper Du cupped his hands. "My apologies for the distress, County Princess. This slander involves our Pavilion Master, and the Bai Xiao Pavilion will eradicate it within days. Please rest assured."
Chu Ruoyan, however, asked, "Does Young Master Lang know about this?"
A flicker of hesitation crossed Shopkeeper Du’s face before she nodded. "As I thought. His injuries haven’t healed, so you haven’t dared to tell him, have you?"
Shopkeeper Du was stunned by her perceptiveness but admitted, "Indeed. The Pavilion Master and Old Divine Doctor Qin are still in seclusion… But this matter doesn’t require his intervention. We’ll handle it for him."
The very idea of the Pavilion Master learning that someone dared spread rumors about his sister…
The capital would run red with blood.
Chu Ruoyan shook her head. "Shopkeeper Du, it’s not that I doubt your capabilities, but the mastermind behind this is targeting me and Yan Zheng. There’s no reason for you to intervene. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll visit Lucky Tavern tomorrow at noon. Please ensure this news spreads, especially to the Earl of Pingxi’s Manor and the General of Zhenbei’s residence."
"County Princess! This isn’t wise!"
If she and the Pavilion Master, being blood relatives, were seen together, others would surely notice the resemblance!
Yet Chu Ruoyan reassured him, "Don’t worry. This won’t disturb the Pavilion Master. Just prepare a discreet private room for me. Yan Zheng and I will handle the rest."
Her voice was calm, carrying an unshakable confidence.
Shopkeeper Du found himself agreeing. "Very well. We’ll follow your arrangements."
By evening, Yan Zheng returned from court in a foul mood.
Meng Yang cautiously asked, "Madam… you didn’t leave the mansion today, did you?"
Chu Ruoyan knew immediately that the rumors had reached the imperial court. "I did."
Meng Yang’s face fell as his master scoffed coldly. "My wife conducts herself with integrity. Why should she fear gossip?" His eyes turned icy as he loosened his collar. "It seems my leniency has made people forget my methods. Summon Shadow!"
Meng Yang dropped to his knees in fright. "My lord, you mustn’t! You already berated the Ministry of Rites in court today and angered Old Censor Yu into fainting. If lives are lost now, it’ll only harm your standing!"
He turned to Chu Ruoyan pleadingly. "Madam, please talk sense into him! Because of the rumors, the Censorate and the Ministry of Rites have petitioned the Emperor to investigate your relationship with Young Master Lang. My lord and the Duke of Chu have already clashed with them!"
Chu Ruoyan hadn’t expected the situation to escalate so far. But then again, if even the children at the Imperial Academy knew, how could it not?
She quickly took Yan Zheng’s hand and said softly, "Yan Zheng, don’t be angry."
The man’s fury eased slightly, but his gaze remained frosty.
The mastermind was clearly targeting her and Yun Lang…
The Duke of Chu’s Mansion had just been rocked by the scandal of Chu Ruoyin’s origins, leaving all its young ladies vulnerable.
If her connection to Yun Lang were exposed…
As a descendant of the previous dynasty’s imperial family, she would have no place left in the world.
How could he not be enraged?
"Execute those who spread the rumors, but leave one alive for questioning. Arrest those who repeated them. If the city jail can’t hold them, send them to the Ministry of Justice. If that’s not enough, the Ministry of Punishments will take them. I’ll answer to the Emperor myself."
Meng Yang trembled at the severity.
With such ruthless measures, not a single whisper about Madam and Young Master Lang would remain in the capital by tomorrow.
Chu Ruoyan pursed her lips before suddenly wrapping her arms around his neck. "Yan Zheng, don’t you want to hear my plan?"
Her eyes were clear and brimming with cunning.
His tension eased slightly. "What brilliant scheme does my lady propose?"
Chu Ruoyan smiled. "Simple. Lure them into a trap."
Yan Zheng paused before understanding. "Clever. But isn’t it too much trouble?"
In his view, silencing them directly was far simpler.
Yet Chu Ruoyan didn’t want him criticized. She rose on her toes to brush his lips. "Indulge me, husband. Play this act with me?"
Seeing her determination, Yan Zheng relented. "Very well. But I’ll handle the aftermath."
His Ruoyan was still a woman, after all.
Her hands need not be stained with blood.
Chu Ruoyan smiled and agreed.
