Chapter 126 Rumors Run Rampant

Chapter 126: Rumors Spread

"In these years, whether Prince Ye went out to lead troops in battle or lay paralyzed in bed, she served him tirelessly without complaint, never thinking of leaving the Prince Ye’s Mansion, nor harboring any resentment."

"This Princess Ye married into the mansion for only a short while, yet she has already taken away the authority to manage the household from this nanny. That might be forgivable, since she is the princess and the mansion now has a mistress who should indeed manage the household. But this Princess Ye shows no regard for the nanny’s kindness, driving the mother and daughter from the side quarters to a woodshed, and beating the daughter half to death."

"What they have tied up with a rope now is the nanny who saved Prince Ye’s life. At her age, to be humiliated like this by the Princess Ye—if Prince Ye knew his savior was treated so by his princess, wouldn’t he be furious enough to spit blood?"

"Marrying such a venomous, brutish, and rude princess—what a tragedy!"

Wang Sheng: "..."

He had no idea that in the eyes of the people of Dongchen Kingdom, his princess was like this?

Venomous, brutish, rude... If Ji Yuntang could be linked to these words, then what about Nanny Xu, who falsely took credit for saving Prince Ye and tormented him for so many years?

Besides, their princess’s handling of Nanny Xu was known and approved by Prince Ye. How could the commoners assume that Luo Junhe, the person involved, would be unaware?

Wang Sheng sensed something was amiss. After a moment’s thought, he deliberately asked, "Auntie, may I ask where you heard this gossip?"

The woman glanced at him and said haughtily, "Do I need to hear them?"

"By now, it’s spread through every street and alley of Dongchen. This Princess Ye is crude and vicious—truly worthy of coming from a remote village. Prince Ye marrying her will surely bring endless trouble to his mansion."

Wang Sheng’s eyes turned cold, anger rising on his refined face.

"Auntie, trouble comes from the mouth. Discussing the prince and princess in such a manner is a grave offense in Dongchen. Please mind your words."

The woman, scolded by Wang Sheng, immediately soured.

"Young man, you look nice, but you’re a bit dim-witted. That Princess Ye is so malicious. If she dares to do it, why can’t we commoners talk about it?"

"If all officials’ wives were like her, who would ever dare to work as servants in noble households? Isn’t that asking for trouble?"

"Unreasonable!" Wang Sheng’s face turned livid. He knew reasoning with these city folk was pointless.

It was hard to please everyone, and his words carried little weight.

Hidden among the crowd, Ji Qingqing and Ji Qingfeng listened to the insults against Ji Yuntang, and Ji Qingqing was so pleased she nearly burst out laughing.

She hadn’t expected that spending just a little silver to hire a dozen street thugs to spread the message would have such an effect.

Ji Qingqing’s eyes flickered. Her sinister gaze fell on the woman in white ahead, and a cold sneer curled on her lips.

Ji Yuntang, Ji Yuntang, you never saw this coming, did you?

You truly brought this on yourself, and even Heaven is helping her.

Withdrawing her gaze, Ji Qingqing said softly to Ji Qingfeng, "Second brother, after today, if these rumors crush Ji Yuntang, she will have no chance to recover. It will also vent the anger for our Yongning Marquis Manor."

"Qing Qing, well done!" Ji Qingfeng praised her as always. "This is all Ji Yuntang’s own fault, that bitch."

"She has brought so much harm to our manor. It’s time she tasted being buried in the spittle of the commoners."

The siblings exchanged a smile, seeing the light of victory in each other’s eyes.

It seemed they had already seen Ji Yuntang’s inevitable defeat.

Wang Sheng finished his inquiries and returned to report everything he had heard and seen to Ji Yuntang.

He expected her to be angry, but she merely curled her lips, unconcerned. "Let them stir. Let them stir all they want. Only when this matter blows up will it hurt more when I slap some people’s faces."

After all, she had the account book as evidence and the sachet as proof. What was there to fear?

Even if it went to the Dali Temple, these two items would be enough to drive Nanny Xu into the ground.

However, Ji Yuntang caught something in Wang Sheng’s words, frowned, and asked.

"Wang Sheng, you said these slanders against me suddenly became popular in the capital about half an hour ago?"

"Yes, Princess. I asked several commoners, and they all said the same." Wang Sheng answered truthfully.

He also found it strange. When they left the mansion, everything was peaceful. Though they had attracted some attention from passersby, there was no talk against Ji Yuntang.

In just two quarters of an hour, the rumors had spread across the capital, spreading rapidly from one person to ten, and then to a hundred, gaining momentum.

Now all the people were cursing Ji Yuntang.

Ji Yuntang rubbed her chin and decided, "Since the time is so short, this news must have been deliberately released by someone targeting me. And there must be quite a few spreading it."

"Wang Sheng, take some silver and go to crowded places like taverns and teahouses. Make some inquiries and find out where this news originated."

The reason she sent Wang Sheng was because his fair, young scholar's face was highly deceptive, making people reluctant to refuse him.

Moreover, Wang Sheng was gentle, not impulsive, and sharp-minded—the best choice for this task.

Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng immediately replied respectfully, "Yes, Princess. I’ll go investigate now."

This was the first task Ji Yuntang had assigned him. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t happy.

Wang Sheng silently vowed to uncover the rumormongers and relieve the princess of her worries.

Wang Sheng left. Ji Yuntang and Chen Hu led Nanny Xu onward toward the Dali Temple.

Many commoners followed, pointing and whispering behind them. Ji Yuntang paid them no mind.

After all, they only dared to mutter behind her back. If she so much as glanced at them, they would instantly shut up and pretend not to have seen her.

Ji Yuntang curled her lips disdainfully. With such courage, they dared to spread rumors about her?

No one dared to speak to her face. If anyone did, Ji Yuntang would make sure they couldn’t even crawl back up with one slap.

Nanny Xu’s eyes were venomous. Her mouth was stuffed with a smelly sock, preventing her from speaking. Throughout the journey, she had been trying to loosen the ropes on her wrists, and now there was finally a bit of slack.

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