mesbooks Chapter 369 Rumors Fly
Chapter 369 Rumors Fly
The next day.
The old lady of Guanyong Marquis's mansion came in person to discuss the arrangements for the plum blossom viewing banquet with Old Lady Chu.
In order to allow Cui and Chu Qianxue to stay in prison for a longer period of time, the banquet was specially scheduled for ten days later.
Two days later, rumors about Shen Li suddenly spread outside.
It was said that there was something unclear between her and Yuan Zhilin, the prince of Duke Wei. Yuan Zhilin had once been engaged to her, and although the engagement was later broken off, their feelings for each other remained, so they kept in touch and exchanged letters.
Yuan Zhilin did write a letter to Shen Li, but it was only to ask her for medicine.
He had heard that the Queen Mother and the old wife of the Marquis of Guanyong had both recovered from their heart diseases with Shen Li's medicine. He also had a good friend in the military camp who had the same disease, and each attack was getting more and more serious. So he wanted to ask Shen Li if he could give him some medicine, no matter how much money he paid.
Such a letter was actually distorted by the outside world.
The most important thing is, who spread the news that Shen Li received a letter from Yuan Zhilin?
Before this matter was investigated, another incident came to light.
Someone came back from the manor where Shen Li grew up, saying that Shen Li had been dull since childhood, a weak girl who couldn't take care of herself, completely different from the one who appeared in the capital.
Remembering that there was news that she was a spy from the enemy country, some people began to suspect her.
This suspicion is not a big deal, as many unreasonable things will gradually surface.
Some people say that Shen Li is a monster. She can call the wind and rain, disappear in an instant, and kill people without being seen.
The rumors intensified.
Xiao Chenze sat in the main hall with a sullen face, listening to Xu Yang's report one by one. "People outside also say that Miss Shen is a spy for either the Western Qiang or the Northern Di. Even though the Western Qiang and Northern Di are now at war, neither family poses a threat to the Great Zhou, but..."
Xu Yang looked at Xiao Chenze and said, "But that doesn't mean she won't pose a threat in the future. Having such a spy from an enemy country become the prince's consort, and even becoming the crown princess or empress in the future, is terrifying just to think about. Some people have already joined forces with the scholars in the academy to jointly petition the emperor to revoke the imperial decree granting the marriage, thoroughly investigate Miss Shen's true identity, and give an explanation to the court officials and the people."
Xiao Chenze's face was filled with murderous intent. He asked coldly, "Have you sent anyone to the manor?"
"I've sent them. They'll be back in three or four days at most," Xu Yang said. "Master, the Fang family army has had a tough time these past few days."
Xiao Chenze moved.
This matter spread like wildfire, and Fang's army was indeed affected.
When someone goes out to do something, they will ask questions when they see that they are from the Fang family. "Is the cousin of your general's family really a cousin? Some people say that the real cousin is dead, and this one is a fake."
"Don't talk nonsense. If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will be rude to you."
The man was displeased when he heard this and said, "I'm not the only one saying this. Everyone else says this. If you have the guts, just kill them all and see who can be silenced. Besides, someone has already gone to the place where she grew up to ask about it. The original cousin was nothing, but this cousin is so capable now. Even a fool can see that they are not the same person. Why don't you admit it? Why can't you admit it? Aren't you, the Fang Family Army, afraid that spies from the enemy country will take advantage of you? Or are you colluding with the spies?"
Less than a day later, another rumor was added.
In order to avoid being criticized, no one in Fang Yao's Fang family army dared to tell the truth even though they knew that Miss Shen was a spy in disguise.
The rumors spread from Shen Li's love affairs to Fang Jiajun's sheltering of spies, and the situation became increasingly serious.
Even the Queen Mother was alarmed by this matter.
The Queen Mother summoned the Emperor to her palace and, upon meeting him, she spoke directly, "I'm sure the Emperor has heard the rumors outside. I'd like to ask what you think of them."
The Emperor ordered Eunuch Chang to place the bundle he was carrying in front of the Empress Dowager. After dismissing his attendants, he opened the bundle mysteriously and asked, "Mother, what is this?"
The Queen Mother looked at the two seals in front of her with confusion, "This is..."
"Mother, take a look." The emperor said mysteriously.
The Queen Mother picked up a seal, turned it over, and stood up suddenly, "This..."
She quickly picked up another piece and turned it over. "Oh my God, this is... the national seal."
"Yes, mother, this is the national seal, the national seal of the Western Qiang and Northern Di," the emperor sighed, "Fang Yao and Miss Shen went out this time and brought back more than just gold and silver treasures, they also took back other people's national seals."
"But...will this cause...Oh my God, didn't the Western Qiang and Northern Di realize that their national seals are missing?" The Queen Mother was so shocked that she didn't know what to say.
"How could they not have discovered it?" The emperor was in a good mood and smiled. "Even if they did, what would happen? Would they dare to go out and tell everyone about it? Once this matter gets out, their court will collapse even faster. Now each family thinks the other stole it, so let them misunderstand it for now. For now, these two treasures must be hidden. It's not time to show them yet."
The Queen Mother took the two national seals in her hands and looked at them over and over again. As she looked at them, she couldn't help but sigh, "Fang Yao's loyalty to the emperor is evident to all. Your Majesty, our Xiao family must not let him down."
"I understand," the Emperor said. "I showed these two imperial seals to you, Queen Mother, to tell you that no matter how many rumors spread, I don't care. As for the rumor that Miss Shen is a spy, that's completely absurd. Miss Shen has repeatedly helped the Great Zhou turn the tide at critical moments. If it weren't for her, we might be fighting the Northern Di right now, and that evil Third Brother might have killed his king and father, along with all his brothers, with the help of the Western Qiang. If she's a spy, then we should have more spies like her."
After hearing this, the Queen Mother couldn't help but nodded, "You are right."
After a brief pause, she continued, "I always feel that the rumors have spread like this, as if someone is pushing them from behind."
"I think so too," the emperor said. "Chen'er has already sent people to investigate this matter. They will get to the bottom of it. Your Majesty, there is no need to worry."
The Queen Mother nodded, and suddenly asked, "And what about that kid from the Yuan family? What's going on with him?"
The Emperor gestured to Eunuch Chang to put away the imperial seal, then sat down to take a sip of tea and said to the Empress Dowager, "When the news about the young man from the Yuan family first broke out, my son thought it was Miss Shen herself trying to use public opinion to force us to cancel the engagement. After all, she has never agreed to marry into the royal family."
"My son specifically called Fang Yao into the palace, and Fang Yao brought in a letter from the Yuan family boy to Miss Shen. It wasn't some lingering connection; it was from the Yuan family boy, asking for heart medicine for his fellow soldiers."
"Later, other rumors about Miss Shen started circulating. Chen'er said that these rumors were clearly directed at Miss Shen, and there were many suspicious points."