After Prince Qi left, the capital fell into a brief period of peace.
Following the onset of winter, several snowfalls occurred in succession. The accumulated snow outside the window had not melted despite two consecutive days of sunshine, freezing into a rock-hard layer.
Inside the room, the charcoal fire burned a bright red. Floral tea was brewing on an iron stand, filling the entire room with its fragrance.
Fushun respectfully handed a list to Song Jinzhao.
"To answer the County Princess, the managers of the various shops have all been properly arranged. They are all veterans who have been with us for two years."
Song Jinzhao picked up the list and scanned it; they were all familiar names.
"With you staying in the capital, I can rest easy. Before the new year, go spend a few more days at the manor. Lanxi will hand over the matters regarding the essential oil and perfume factory to you."
Fushun bowed his head and, with a face full of loyalty, promised, "This servant understands. I will certainly not disappoint the County Princess's expectations."
Just as his voice faded, Qingshuang, who had just returned from outside, walked up to Song Jinzhao and whispered, "County Princess, today the whole city is spreading rumors about Princess Shuwan, especially regarding her biological mother."
"Many commoners are discussing it, saying that Princess Shuwan was no longer a maiden when she married Prince Ying."
Song Jinzhao raised her eyes, a trace of surprise flashing through them.
"Who started the rumor?"
Qingshuang replied, "It was the merchant caravan from the Shuobei Kingdom. It seems Gong Linjue is behind it."
Song Jinzhao pondered for a few seconds before curling the corners of her lips, though there was no warmth in her eyes.
"It seems they did this on purpose. As early as when they were selecting a candidate, they wanted to use this to humiliate the Dongzhao Kingdom, even at the cost of exposing their own family scandal."
Qingshuang said, "Prince Chu'an is not highly regarded in the Shuobei Kingdom, so he probably had no say in the matter."
Song Jinzhao asked, "Is there any movement from Prince Ying's estate?"
Qingshuang replied, "They must have heard about it by now."
An exquisite multi-colored ceramic cup smashed a large hole through the window. The servants passing by the corridor were so frightened that they fell to their knees, not daring to make a sound.
The next second, Xiao Rongyan stormed out of the room in a towering rage, breathing heavily through his nostrils, his dark pupils looking like two bottomless pits.
No man could accept that the woman he married was not pure, let alone coming from a filthy place like a brothel.
Even if Xiao Rongyan wanted to use He Shuwan to get the Shuobei Kingdom to help him seize the throne, he could not stand being made a cuckold.
The door was forcefully pushed open from the outside, revealing He Shuwan sitting on the couch, embroidering a fragrant sachet.
Seeing that it was Xiao Rongyan who had entered, she happily rushed forward, wanting to hug his arm.
"Your Highness, quickly take a look. Is the sachet your concubine embroidered for you beautiful?"
Xiao Rongyan, his face dark and gloomy, shook off her hand and said sternly, "Everyone, get out."
The servants attending in the room froze for a moment before all withdrawing from the room.
He Shuwan looked at Xiao Rongyan with feigned innocence, acting as if she were completely unaware and had been wronged.
"Your Highness, what is wrong?"
Xiao Rongyan took a step forward, closing in on He Shuwan. His fierce expression frightened her into backing up continuously.
"There is a widespread rumor in the capital that your mother was a brothel woman. Is it true?"
He Shuwan blinked, her expression turning slightly panicked.
Tears slid down the corners of her eyes. "It is true that my mother was a brothel woman, but she was forced into it."
In that instant, Xiao Rongyan's heart died. Looking at the stunningly beautiful and gracefully figured woman before him, he only felt a wave of disgust.
He continued to press in disbelief, "So it is also true that you grew up in a brothel and were only brought back by Prince Chu'an at the age of fifteen?"
He Shuwan slid to her knees on the floor. Desperately clinging to Xiao Rongyan's hand, she cried and explained, "Although I grew up in a brothel, my mother always protected me very well. Did Your Highness not know this on our wedding night?"
Xiao Rongyan's eyes flickered with sudden realization.
Right, the virgin blood was real; she was indeed pure.
But despite this, Xiao Rongyan still could not accept it.
He originally thought he had married a princess, or at the very least someone of a county princess's birth. Who would have thought she grew up in a brothel?
No wonder she was so skilled in bed; it must have been due to what she saw and heard growing up.
Shaking off He Shuwan's hand, Xiao Rongyan took two steps back.
So what if she was pure? Outsiders would still mock him for marrying a brothel princess. How could he face anyone in the future?
His mind felt like a jumbled mess. With lifeless eyes, he turned and walked away.
"Your Highness—" He Shuwan stretched out her arms, lying on the floor and crying out, but the sorrow and despair in her voice were all faked.
Everything was developing according to plan. What happened next would depend on her own methods.
Outside the Tinglan Courtyard, watching Xiao Rongyan walk away briskly, the Princess Consort Ying, standing behind the rockery, curled her lips in a smug smile.
Ever since He Shuwan entered the estate, the Prince had constantly favored her, not even taking her, the official Princess Consort, seriously.
Now it was perfect. With a brothel woman for a biological mother and such a lowly status, let's see how she could swagger around in the future.
The rumors in the capital intensified and soon reached the palace.
During the morning court session the next day, everyone was secretly observing Xiao Rongyan.
With his face looking that dark, it had to be true.
In the history of the Dongzhao Kingdom, there had never been a prince whose secondary consort came from a brothel. Under normal circumstances, she would have long been cursed to death by the imperial censors.
But unfortunately, this person was a princess sent for a political marriage from the Shuobei Kingdom, and the marriage was personally bestowed by the Emperor himself. There was nowhere to even reason about it.
