At the Ninth Prince’s residence.
When Xiao Yu woke up, she had no idea that rumors about her were already spreading like wildfire outside.
“Why am I here?”
It was only then that she remembered throwing herself in front of Gu Jiuci to block the hidden weapon meant for him.
“You took control of my body again, didn’t you?”
Xiao Yu was furious.
Gu Jiuci really knew how to create trouble for her!
He had clearly been the one controlling her body when she rushed forward to protect him. But now that it had happened, who would believe her if she tried to explain?
Everyone would only say that Xiao Yu had risked her life to save the Ninth Imperial Uncle.
The gossip alone would be enough to drown her!
How was she supposed to face anyone after this?
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Gu Jiuci remained silent inside her for a long time, almost as though he knew he had caused Xiao Yu a great deal of trouble this time.
“You were injured, but so was I. I’m not feeling any better than you.”
Hearing his weak and exhausted voice, Xiao Yu could no longer bring herself to blame him.
What was done was done.
All they could do now was find a way to deal with the consequences.
Just then, Anxiang entered carrying a bowl of medicine, her eyes red from crying.
“Miss, you’re awake!”
She wiped away her tears, both surprised and delighted. After putting down the medicine, she hurried over to help Xiao Yu sit up.
“His Highness came to take you back, but the Ninth Imperial Uncle refused to let you leave.”
Anxiang deliberately lowered her voice. After speaking, she cautiously glanced toward the door, afraid someone might overhear.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s attitude toward her mistress went far beyond how one would normally treat a mere lifesaver.
Seeing Anxiang’s expression, Xiao Yu knew the girl must have been worried sick. She was so anxious that she hadn’t even thought the situation through properly.
“Oh. That’s good.”
Anxiang stared at her in surprise.
Why did her mistress also think that not returning to Prince Rui’s residence was a good thing?
Xiao Yu immediately noticed her confusion.
“Silly girl. If I went back, what do you think Xie Jin would do to me?”
Anxiang lowered her head and thought for a moment.
Then realization dawned on her.
She had been so worried about Xiao Yu’s safety—and so wary of the Ninth Imperial Uncle—that she had completely overlooked that point.
Once she understood, Anxiang suddenly felt that the Ninth Prince’s residence might actually be the safest place for Xiao Yu.
She then began telling Xiao Yu everything that had happened in the residence, recounting every detail without leaving anything out.
After drinking her medicine, Xiao Yu was too exhausted to think any further.
Her body felt heavy and weak, and before long, she fell asleep again.
What Xiao Yu didn’t know was that outside the residence, people had already embellished her story beyond recognition.
Rumors were spreading throughout the capital.
Some claimed that Xiao Yu had already lost her chastity before marriage and that Prince Rui had caught her in the act.
Yet Prince Rui, being a man of deep affection and loyalty, had still honored the wishes of their late mothers and married her, preserving her dignity.
Everyone had assumed that Xiao Yu would behave herself after marriage.
Who would have imagined that not only had she refused to repent, but she had even become involved with the Ninth Imperial Uncle?
Others whispered that the so-called “wild man” Xiao Yu had been involved with before marriage was probably the Ninth Imperial Uncle himself.
They claimed that because he and Prince Rui were uncle and nephew, the two had been forced to conduct their affair in secret.
And, as some shameless gossipers put it, what man didn’t know that secret affairs were the most exciting?
There were even people who claimed to have inside information.
According to them, Princess Consort Rui was currently staying at the Ninth Prince’s residence. Prince Rui had personally gone there to demand his wife back, only to be driven away.
The Ninth Imperial Uncle had openly refused to release her and had even declared that from now on, Princess Consort Rui would live permanently in his residence!
A dignified imperial prince couldn’t even protect his own wife and had suffered such an unbearable humiliation.
Naturally, countless people began expressing sympathy and outrage on his behalf.
And so, the story gradually evolved into an even more outrageous version:
The Ninth Imperial Uncle, relying on his overwhelming power and influence, cared nothing for either the emperor or Prince Rui and had forcibly taken possession of his own nephew’s wife.
For a time, the entire capital was drowning in rumors.
As for the three people directly involved…
Prince Rui remained secluded inside his residence and refused to receive visitors.
The gates of the Ninth Prince’s residence remained firmly shut, and the Ninth Imperial Uncle refused to see anyone.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yu herself still had no idea what was happening.
Their relatives and friends, however, were nearly frantic with worry.
Even the Xiao family had underestimated just how irresistible such scandalous gossip could be.
Since early morning, the Xiao residence had already received several groups of visitors.
At first, Madam Qin had been completely confused.
Fortunately, her sister-in-law from her maiden family arrived soon afterward and told her what was happening.
Only then did Madam Qin realize why all those visitors had been probing her with carefully worded questions.
Unable to contain herself, Madam Qin immediately began cursing furiously.
Xiao Yu’s two younger sisters were even more humiliated. They cursed Xiao Yu for being nothing but trouble and wished they could drag her home and give her a thorough beating.
Xiao Wang and Madam Liu were also deeply worried.
But they had no way to find Xiao Yu, so all they could do was anxiously wait for news.
Finally, Grand Secretary Xiao gave a direct order:
The gates were to be closed, and no visitors would be received!
“What do you think about all this?”
After Fufeng vividly recounted every scandalous rumor circulating throughout the capital, he stared at the two people involved with great interest.
“Gu Lin said that after Prince Rui left the residence that day, he immediately headed for the imperial palace. He must have gone there to complain. I wonder whether these rumors are his doing… or that person’s.”
Xiao Yu was completely dumbfounded.
She had only been injured for two days.
How had so many ridiculous rumors managed to spread in such a short time?
Gu Jiuci remained expressionless as he leaned against the cushioned couch.
The charcoal fire inside the room burned warmly, bringing a faint flush of color to his otherwise pale face.
“One is willing to strike, while the other is willing to be struck.”
Xiao Yu immediately became anxious.
What did he mean by that?
She certainly hadn’t deliberately chosen to save him!
But how could she possibly say that aloud?
Gu Jiuci raised his eyes and glanced at her.
It was as though he had seen straight through her thoughts, and his gaze turned cold.
“I wasn’t talking about you.”
At the same time, the person inside Xiao Yu’s mind explained what Gu Jiuci meant.
“He means Xie Jin is using this incident to curry favor with Emperor An, while Emperor An is using it to test Gu Jiuci.
“If the plan succeeds, Xie Jin gets a new secondary consort, earns himself a good reputation, and gains the emperor’s trust. Three benefits with one move.
“If it fails, neither of them loses much. At worst, a few officials will submit memorials criticizing them.”
“I understand now. Xie Jin must already know about that list of candidates for the imperial selection.”
Xiao Yu finally connected the pieces.
She couldn’t help thinking that Emperor An truly had no affection whatsoever for Gu Jiuci.
He and Xie Jin really were brothers.
They were equally shameless.
“Hey! Xiao Yu! Will it work or not? At least say something!”
Fufeng’s bright red sleeve waved repeatedly in front of Xiao Yu’s face until she finally snapped back to reality.
“What will work?”
“The proposal I just made!”
“What proposal?”
Xiao Yu looked utterly confused.
Had they discussed some sort of plan while she had been communicating with the person inside her mind?
Fufeng sighed helplessly and repeated his suggestion.
“No!”
Xiao Yu became so agitated that she abruptly sat upright.
A sharp wave of pain immediately tore through her body, nearly causing cold sweat to break out across her forehead.
“How could that possibly work? Didn’t you swear that you would never marry for the rest of your life?!”
The moment those words left her mouth, Fufeng looked immensely proud.
He even raised his eyebrows at Gu Jiuci as though saying, See? I told you I wasn’t lying.
Gu Jiuci’s expression, however, changed slightly.
Those were words he had spoken before the late emperor on his deathbed.
Other than Emperor An, the only person he had ever told about that vow was Fufeng!
How did Xiao Yu know?
Seeing neither of them speak, Fufeng assumed there was still hope for his proposal and eagerly continued explaining.
“Actually, I think this plan is pretty good! The two of you don’t have to become a real couple.
“Since Prince Rui doesn’t want you, why bother holding onto the position of his Princess Consort? You might as well dump him and marry into the Ninth Prince’s residence instead.
“That would make everything much more convenient for everyone!”
Convenient, my foot!
Xiao Yu and Gu Jiuci simultaneously shot him a vicious glare.
“Gu Lin said he has already uncovered the truth about what Xie Jin and Jinniang supposedly saw back then.
“The woman they saw looks about eighty percent like you. Her name is Cuihong. From a distance, it would indeed be difficult to tell the two of you apart.
“According to her, Jinniang paid her to put on that performance.
“You don’t need to meet her personally, but we can certainly use her to our advantage. Since someone has already made a move against us, we naturally have to respond.”
Gu Jiuci continued calmly.
“Send some people out to spread rumors among the common folk as well. Then have Cuihong appear publicly and put on another performance.
“We’ll give Xie Jin a harsh wake-up call and see exactly how much affection he still has left for you.”
Affection?
Xiao Yu suspected there was none left at all.
“As for Jinniang, I suspect she still has some secrets.
“A woman capable of coming up with so many unusual ideas still has some value, so we’ll leave her alone for now.
“Xie Jin won’t let go of her until he has squeezed every last bit of usefulness out of her.
“All we need to do is sit back and reap the benefits.”
After finishing, Gu Jiuci glanced sideways at Fufeng.
Fufeng was resting his chin on his hand, staring at Gu Jiuci with sparkling eyes filled with admiration.
“I knew it! You were sitting there looking so calm because you already had a way to turn the situation around. And you still kept it to yourself! How annoying!”
Gu Jiuci picked up a teacup and tossed it at him.
Fufeng casually caught it with one hand.
“Since you have so much free time, why don’t you disguise yourself and go take part in the performance? With you watching her, that woman won’t dare play any tricks.”
“Hey, hey! I don’t know how to act! I only know how to do things for real!”
Fufeng was speechless.
How had admiring someone somehow turned into being assigned more work?
It seemed he was simply destined to do all the hard labor!