“It was His Highness who kept pestering Minister Song’s fiancée. When Minister Song tried to reason with him politely, he was provoked, and they ended up fighting. His Highness thought he would prevail, but he was no match for Minister Song. After losing, he still sought trouble—truly lacking in magnanimity.”
The speaker was a burly man with a stubbled face who downed half a bowl of wine in one gulp and said indignantly, “If someone harassed my wife, I wouldn’t stay calm either! How is this Minister Song overstepping his bounds? This is clearly standing up to power!”
“Well said,” his drinking companion agreed. “Moreover, Minister Song’s fiancée, Jiang Da Xiaojie, was originally handpicked by Yi Taifei to be Prince Yi’s future princess. But Prince Yi ignored his mother’s arrangement and ended up with Jiang Second Miss instead—this is truly unfilial.”
“Jiang Da Xiaojie has a good temper, quietly yielding the position of princess to her younger sister. The reason she later ended up with Minister Song was because he saved her life. Isn’t it natural to repay a life-saving grace with marriage? Prince Yi was the one who wronged her first, so of course she had to choose another husband. But then Prince Yi couldn’t accept it—he couldn’t stand seeing Jiang Da Xiaojie with Minister Song, so he went to make trouble.”
These words astonished everyone nearby.
“There’s such a story?”
“So you mean Prince Yi not only abandoned his fiancée but also forbade her from marrying someone else? Since when does such tyranny exist in this world?”
“Jiang Da Xiaojie is truly unfortunate. If you ask me, Jiang Second Miss doesn’t seem like a good person either—otherwise, why would the Imperial Concubine have chosen her elder sister instead of her?”
As everyone was heatedly discussing, a sharp rebuke came from the next table—
“What nonsense are you spouting? It was clearly Minister Song who injured His Highness—how did he become the righteous one? Where did you hear such rubbish?”
“Why is what we heard nonsense while what you heard is right? My information came from the Guogong Residence!” The stubbled man turned around and snorted at the man shouting from the opposite table.
“You don’t believe me? If you have connections at the Guogong Residence, go ask around properly—was it Prince Yi who showed up uninvited to cause trouble and provoked Minister Song? You claim Minister Song is a bully, but did Prince Yi abide by etiquette and laws? He clearly abused his royal status to do as he pleased.”
“Exactly! Even as a prince, he shouldn’t covet another man’s fiancée. If someone coveted your wife, wouldn’t you be angry?”
“…”
Inside Yi Wang Manor, Jun Tianyi lay on his bed and learned about the latest developments in the rumors from his subordinate, his brows furrowing tightly.
Public opinion can melt metals; three people spreading rumors can create a tiger—the power of rumors should never be underestimated.
Originally, his mother had ordered rumors to be spread to deal with Song Yun Chu, intending to thoroughly tarnish his already poor reputation. As long as everyone believed he was notorious, officials would jointly petition for his impeachment, and the emperor might dismiss Song Yun Chu from his post under the pressure of public opinion.
But Song Yun Chu had played a dirty trick too—using rumors to counter rumors, dragging him into the mud as well.
Now, many voices outside claimed he had broken off the engagement, been unfaithful, and relied on his family background to bully others. Song Yun Chu’s beating him instead seemed justified and without fault.
What bastardry!
Jiang Yuxi sat by the bedside holding a medicine bowl, her face already stiff. “Wang Ye, our marriage was bestowed by His Majesty! How has it become you being unfaithful and me destroying someone else’s marriage?”
“Song Yun Chu has always been cunning and deceitful, otherwise how could he have gained His Majesty’s trust and reliance? I long advised my mother not to act rashly, yet she still underestimated the enemy… cough! cough!”
As Jun Tianyi spoke with agitation, he faintly felt a congestion of qi and blood in his chest, which triggered several violent coughs.
It had been a long time since he had suffered injuries of this severity. He would remember that kick from Song Yun Chu and repay it doubly in the future!
“Wang Ye, please do not agitate yourself. Excessive anger harms the body.”
Jiang Yuxi reached out to pat Jun Tianyi’s back, then a tearful expression appeared on her face. “Wang Ye, upon careful reflection, I do have my faults. It is true that my elder sister had the prior engagement with you, and my arrival caused the two of you to separate. For others to question my virtue is somewhat understandable…”
“Do not speak nonsense.”
Seeing Jiang Yuxi blame herself, Jun Tianyi quickly refuted her. “Our marriage was bestowed by His Majesty; it was not something you deliberately sought. What fault is there of yours? That scoundrel Song Yun Chu—if he had only targeted me, it would be one thing, but how dare he drag you into this? Truly despicable!”
As he spoke, Jun Tianyi covered Jiang Yuxi’s hand with his own. “You need not distress yourself over some unpleasant rumors. As long as I know what kind of person you are, that is enough.”
The sorrow on Jiang Yuxi’s face remained undispersed. “Does Wang Ye truly not feel reluctant to part with my sister? If you are unwilling…”
Hearing her mention Jiang Rumin, a cold light flickered in Jun Tianyi’s eyes. “Even if I was reluctant before, I must let go now. From my injury until now, she has not come to visit. It is clear that I hold little weight in her heart! Moreover… I see she does not reject Song Yun Chu either.”
He was injured because of her, yet he did not even receive a single word of comfort from her. It was truly not worth it.
He had only himself to blame for being bewitched—rushing to the Guogong Residence for her sake and causing such a scene. Not only was he injured by Song Yun Chu, but he also lost face.
That scoundrel Song Yun Chu’s martial skills were indeed as profound and unfathomable as the rumors said. The final kick left him completely defenseless.
He felt some regret, but it also ignited his fighting spirit. He must become stronger so that in the future he can rise above that scoundrel Song!
…
Outside the Song Xiangfu, a dense crowd still stood.
At the edge of the crowd, an ornate carriage was parked. The dazzling pearls and jades hanging from the four corners of the carriage roof gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.
“Your Highness, Minister Song is not showing himself. Should we continue this stalemate? The momentum of the rumors has shifted, and it does not seem favorable for our manor.”
Inside the carriage, Yi Taifei sat upright, slowly turning a string of sandalwood prayer beads with her right hand. Though her expression was calm, a chill lurked in her eyes.
She had ordered the spread of rumors but never expected Song Yun Chu to retaliate in the same manner. Though the tactics were identical, the impact on Yi Wang Manor was clearly greater.
Song Yun Chu already had a notorious reputation, and adding the charge of assaulting a royal family member only made people curse his arrogance, yet they didn’t find it particularly surprising that such an incident would involve him. In contrast, Yi Wang Manor had always enjoyed a good reputation. But now, with rumors spreading that Prince Yi was heartless and fickle, pestering Minister Song’s fiancée, which led to the beating, people were utterly astonished. They could hardly believe that the seemingly elegant and peerless Prince Yi would be so immoral and discourteous, naturally sparking widespread discussion.
“If we retreat now, what do you think others will say? I’m afraid they’ll assume we have a guilty conscience. If we have nothing to be ashamed of, how could mere gossip shake us? I insist on waiting for Minister Song to come out and have it out with him!”