Chapter 131: Rumors

Chapter 131: Rumors

Fan Xueyao had originally intended to avoid the matter, but trouble isn't something you can avoid simply by wanting to.

Although Zhang Yiyun’s demotion had nothing to do with her, there were envious schemers in the palace who intentionally connected the incident to Fan Xueyao.

A rumor began to spread, seemingly from nowhere, claiming that although Zhang Yiyun was at fault for using her prince to compete for favor, the root cause actually lay with Fan Xueyao having set the precedent. By always using the first prince to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, Fan Xueyao had set an example for Zhang Yiyun to follow. If not for Fan Xueyao’s actions, Zhang Yiyun wouldn’t have used her own young prince to vie for favor, which led to his illness.

With the instigation of these scheming individuals, the rumor soon spread among certain palace servants. However, the rumor did not spread as widely as these people had hoped.

This was because the servants in the palace already held Fan Xueyao in high regard and gratitude due to her previous request to Empress Dowager Wei to allow some palace maids to leave the palace. Those who hadn’t benefited directly from her kindness neither believed nor spread the rumors. Those who had benefited from her kindness not only refused to believe the rumors but also defended her against those spreading them.

The Spreading Fragrance Hall soon became aware of this rumor, and Chuntao promptly reported it to Fan Xueyao.

Upon hearing this, Fan Xueyao couldn’t help but furrow her brows.

Seeing her reaction, Huaping felt a pang of anxiety. “My lady, this matter needs to be addressed as soon as possible. If we let these rumors spread, it will become a case of 'three men make a tiger'—where falsehoods become truth through repetition. If that happens, even if you are innocent, it will be hard to prove your innocence.” The more Huaping spoke, the more frightened she became, wishing she could tear the mouths of those spreading lies about her mistress.

After a moment of consideration, Fan Xueyao nodded. “We can’t allow them to slander us indiscriminately, but we also can’t punish every person who spreads rumors. If we do, I’ll gain a reputation for being harsh and heartless.”

“Then what should we do?” Huaping asked anxiously.

Fan Xueyao relaxed her brows and smiled slightly. “There’s no need to rush. Rumors are like floodwaters; damming them up is less effective than guiding their flow. Let the emperor and the Empress Dowager deal with this matter.”

If she wanted to become empress and have her son, Xu’er, become the crown prince, she needed to make sure that everyone recognized her virtue and dignity. She couldn’t allow her image to be tarnished by rumors of scheming and desperation.

That opportunity soon presented itself.

Meng Changniang, a lesser concubine who received little favor, had few servants and little money to bribe palace staff, so her information was not current.

She only noticed something was amiss when she greeted the higher-ranking concubines and received strange reactions. Normally, because of her friendship with Zhaoyi, although Jie Yu looked down on her as a mere Cai-nv, she was still polite and would engage her in conversation for a while. But in the last two days, Zhang Jieyu’s attitude had changed, becoming much cooler.

Meng Changniang was perplexed. She sent her maid to ask the servants attending to Zhang Jieyu, but only received ambiguous replies, which deepened her confusion.

The next morning, when she went to greet Zhang Jieyu, the concubine suddenly brought up Fan Xueyao in a tone that was neither sarcastic nor genuine. “Zhaoyi was once unrivaled in splendor, but it seems those days may be gone.” Considering the emperor’s character, he would likely distance himself from Fan Xueyao to protect his reputation and honor.

There were so many beautiful and young concubines in the palace. If Fan Xueyao stepped aside, others would vie for her favor. If she was lucky, she might retain some affection due to the first prince, but if not, she could easily fade into obscurity amidst the new concubines.

Zhang Jieyu thought indifferently: No matter how proud you were before, Fan Xueyao, when I visited you with good intentions, you looked down on me and even supported a lowly Cai-nv from my palace to step on me. When I was of lower status, I endured humiliation and pretended to get along with you. Now that you’re about to fall from grace, what does a small figure like Meng Cai-nv matter?

Feeling pleased, her elegant face showed more satisfaction, and her eyes gleamed with smugness. Temporary glory meant nothing in the palace; the real winner was the one who lasted the longest.

Meng Changniang’s face turned pale. She wanted to rush to the Spreading Fragrance Hall immediately but dared not offend Zhang Jieyu by leaving abruptly. She forced a smile and endured the conversation, feeling as if she were being roasted over a fire. Strangely, Zhang Jieyu, who usually didn’t talk much, seemed to have endless topics today, and Meng Changniang had no choice but to stay.

Seeing that Meng Changniang was fidgeting in discomfort, Zhang Jieyu pretended not to notice and continued with small talk for a while, drinking an entire pot of tea. Finally, having run out of topics and needing to relieve herself, Zhang Jieyu spoke reluctantly, “This one is feeling tired and needs to rest on the bed. You may do as you wish.”

As soon as Meng Changniang left Zhang Jieyu’s quarters, she instructed the maids to lead her to the Spreading Fragrance Hall.

After Meng Changniang left, Zhang Jieyu’s eyes flickered, and she called her personal maid to follow Meng Changniang discreetly.

The personal maid returned shortly and reported, “Meng Cai-nv didn’t go back to her pavilion. I saw her leave the hall and head east.”

Hearing this, Zhang Jieyu smiled. The Spreading Fragrance Hall was to the east, so Meng Changniang must be heading there.

Meng Changniang went straight to the Spreading Fragrance Hall, where Chuntao and the others first received her before Chuntao went inside to inform Fan Xueyao. After a short while, Meng Changniang was invited inside.

Meng Changniang entered the rear hall and saw Fan Xueyao wearing loose attire, sitting on a couch doing needlework leisurely with several palace maids. She felt a sense of relief but then wondered if Fan Xueyao had not yet heard about the rumors. Otherwise, how could she seem so at ease? These rumors were no small matter.

Fan Xueyao was in the middle of sewing the waistband of a skirt when she motioned for Meng Changniang to sit beside her on the couch. She then instructed Huaping, "Prepare some tea and snacks. Changniang likes kumquats, so make kumquat tea for her."

Meng Changniang exchanged pleasantries and quickly sat beside her on the couch, leaning closer to Fan Xueyao. She whispered, "Honored Zhaoyi, have you heard about the recent rumors outside?"

Fan Xueyao was startled by her demeanor and paused her handwork, looking puzzled. "What rumors are you referring to?"

"Jie Yu Zhang told me that the palace has been buzzing with discussions, sparked by the demoted lady. They say her recklessness, which caused the prince's illness, was because she was imitating you, Sister." Meng Changniang, who had been feeling anxious, now felt a sense of fear.

These rumors couldn't have arisen without cause. The palace was a place of strict rules. How could the palace maids dare to openly criticize a consort like this? And the person being discussed was a Zhaoyi, who was raising the first prince and deeply favored by the emperor.

It just didn't add up.

Fan Xueyao's expression darkened slightly as she asked Meng Changniang for more details about the rumors. However, Meng Changniang only knew what she had heard from Jie Yu Zhang. She knew the palace was abuzz with these rumors but didn't have more details.

"I'm really useless..." Meng Changniang, regretting her lack of thoroughness, held her forehead. She should have spent more time with Jie Yu Zhang to gather more information instead of rushing over so hastily.

Although Fan Xueyao felt unsettled inside, she managed a gentle smile. "You've already helped me greatly by informing me of this. Honestly, I only learned about these rumors now. Ever since I entered the palace, there have been continuous invitations for plays, songs, flower viewings, and banquets. But when something happens, no one bothers to inform me. Even a message from a palace maid would have been appreciated. It's clear that there are many who flatter when things are good, but few who offer help in times of need. Although I knew this, it still doesn't feel good. So, thank you, Changniang."

Meng Changniang was deeply touched, realizing that life in the palace was not as simple as it seemed. Even someone as favored as Zhaoyi, who seemed to have everything going well, had her struggles. A single incident could stir up trouble and drag her into it.

Imperial favor, though desired by many, was not without its burdens.

After lunch, with nothing pressing to attend to in the afternoon, Chu Nan ordered his carriage to be prepared to go to Spreading Fragrance Hall. He planned to take an afternoon nap with Fan Xueyao and then return to his palace in the evening.

Upon arriving at Spreading Fragrance Hall, Chu Nan intercepted the maid who was about to announce his arrival and entered the hall. As he approached the rear courtyard, he saw through the bamboo curtains flickering shadows and heard the noise inside.

Chu Nan stepped closer, surprised that the maids who usually stood at the door to draw the curtains were not there. He lifted the bamboo curtain and stepped inside. He was surprised to find the room filled with maids standing around the couch, all talking at once. "My lady, please stop crying. You must be careful not to hurt your eyes. A pregnant woman shouldn't cry so much..."

Chu Nan's expression changed at the sight. He quickened his pace, pushing through the crowd of maids. What met his eyes was Fan Xueyao, head buried on the couch, sobbing. Her pale blue clothes had turned dark from her tears, indicating how long she had been crying.

Chu Nan hastily asked, "Why are you crying so much? What happened?"

Hearing his voice, Fan Xueyao looked up instinctively, revealing a face red from crying, with tears streaming down.

Seeing him, Fan Xueyao, as if a drowning person had found a lifeline, grabbed his arm tightly. Her large, charming eyes were filled with tears. Her pink lips, now purple from biting, hoarsely called out, "Emperor..." With just that word, it was as if she had used all her strength, half of her weight hanging on Chu Nan's arm.

Chu Nan felt a pang in his heart and hugged her tightly, his hand gently brushing away the wet strands of hair stuck to her face from either sweat or tears. He kissed her forehead lovingly, heartbroken. "Why are you crying like this? Tell me what's wrong. Is there any difficulty I can't solve? Or is there any grievance I can't address to make you happy? Crying like this is like tearing my heart apart."

As he spoke, he wiped away the tears on her face. She, who was always so gentle and smiling, had never cried like this before. Even when she gave birth to Chu Xu, she hadn't been this disheveled. Her face, usually fair, was now red from crying, which wasn't a pretty sight. But to him, she was only filled with love and tenderness, and he wished he could protect her forever.

Fan Xueyao sobbed harder, tears flowing even more as she clung to his shoulders, burying her face in his neck. In no time, Chu Nan's shoulder was soaked with her tears.

Chu Nan's heart ached even more as he gently comforted her. "Yao Niang? Are you feeling unwell? Let me see. Are your eyes swollen?"

Fan Xueyao refused to let go, burying herself in his neck. Seeing her like this, so uncharacteristically willful, Chu Nan was anxious but didn't dare to force her. Carefully holding her waist, he adjusted to a more comfortable position so she could lie on him.

The maids were still standing around, and Chu Nan, worried that Fan Xueyao might feel embarrassed later, waved them away. Huaping understood and led the maids out. Through the door, they could faintly hear Chu Nan's gentle voice, dripping with affection as he continued to console Fan Xueyao.

After a long wait, when things finally quieted down inside, the door curtain lifted, and Huaping, Chun Die, and the others quickly looked up. They saw the emperor tiptoeing out, and in the brief moment the door curtain fell back, Huaping caught a glimpse of their lady lying still on the couch, covered with a silver-red embroidered quilt, presumably asleep from exhaustion.

Huaping, Chun Die, Zhuzhu, and Tiao'er stood with their heads bowed in silence as Chu Nan walked a few steps away, ensuring he wouldn't disturb what was inside.

In a deep voice, he asked, "What exactly happened to make your lady cry so much?"

Huaping and the others immediately knelt. After a brief silence, Huaping said, "This matter concerns the demoted Lady Zhang."

Chu Nan didn't immediately recall who Lady Zhang was and thought she might be some noble lady from outside the palace. He assumed it was possible that some noble lady, not understanding her place, had offended Fan Xueyao. While some high-born people might see Fan Xueyao, despite his favor and her role as the mother of the first prince, as merely a concubine, to him, Fan Xueyao was not just a concubine; she was his beloved. He would not allow anyone to make her so sad.

Zhang Furen was demoted for her failure to care diligently for the prince. However, rumors began to spread that the reason Zhang Furen had caused the prince to fall ill was because she had seen Lady Zhaoyi regularly taking the first prince to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager. The rumors claimed that Lady Zhaoyi was using the prince to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, making the Empress Dowager fond of both the prince and herself. These rumors spread rapidly throughout the palace. It was even said that if Zhang Furen was to be punished, then Lady Zhaoyi deserved even more punishment. These malicious rumors continued to circulate, implying that Lady Zhaoyi was benefiting from her son’s status, but the prince was unfortunate to have such an ambitious mother. Lady Zhaoyi, being pregnant, hadn't left her quarters recently, so she was unaware of these rumors until today, when Meng Cai-nv heard about them and rushed to inform her, worried about Lady Zhaoyi's situation. In front of Meng Cai-nv, Lady Zhaoyi forced a smile, but after Meng Cai-nv left, she broke down in tears. No matter how much we tried to console her, it was useless... Huaping recounted the events rapidly, her words becoming somewhat incoherent towards the end, and she even choked up.

"These rumors are truly malicious, but Your Majesty is wise. Lady Zhaoyi often mentions that the Empress Dowager’s health is poor, and she rarely leaves her quarters, which may cause her mood to darken and affect her health. Having her grandson by her side would lift her spirits. Lady Zhaoyi’s intentions are to show filial respect to the Empress Dowager. I dare say... Lady Zhaoyi loves the prince more than anyone. Whenever the prince is unwell, she always cares for him personally, never passing the task to others, until he recovers. Although there are wet nurses, they only feed him. Lady Zhaoyi always says that the wet nurses are hired with money, and they have left their own children to feed someone else’s, so their hearts are naturally inclined towards wealth and status. How could they possibly be as devoted as a natural mother? Therefore, Lady Zhaoyi handles the prince’s daily needs herself. All of this stems from a mother’s love for her child. Lady Zhaoyi is definitely not someone who covets power and neglects her child!"

Chu Nan listened silently to the explanation and then instructed the kneeling maidservants to get up. "You may retreat. Your lady has fallen asleep and should not be disturbed." He then entered the room, passing through the decorative screen to the eastern annex, where Lingxiang, Sanhua, and the wet nurse were playing with Chu Xu using several toys. Earlier, when Fan Xueyao had cried, they had moved Chu Xu elsewhere, fearing he might be frightened.

They had intended to put him to sleep, but his routine was already set, and he couldn’t fall asleep at that time. So, they stayed with him, playing to keep him from being startled by the noise outside.

As Chu Nan entered, the maidservants and wet nurse curtsied in greeting. Chu Xu, seeing his father, stretched out his little hand, reaching out to be held.

Chu Nan had intended to just check on his son, but now he had no choice but to pick him up, patiently engaging in a simple conversation. Chu Xu, who usually spent most of his time with Fan Xueyao, was now nestled in his father’s arms, unwilling to be put down.

Chu Nan rarely played with him, usually just teasing him. But today, due to the situation, his heart was filled with affection, overcoming his usual formality and reserve. He awkwardly picked up a cat doll that Fan Xueyao had handmade, playing house with Chu Xu.

Fan Xueyao, having cried her heart out, was truly exhausted and fell into a daze-like sleep. When she woke up and opened her eyes, she heard "Woof woof woof" and "Meow meow meow" coming from somewhere. For a moment, she was confused, wondering where the cat and dog sounds were coming from in her palace. Fortunately, she soon realized it was someone mimicking the sounds. She got up, slippers shuffling, and followed the sounds to find Chu Nan holding a white cotton and wool cat doll in one hand and a black silk dog doll in the other, barking and meowing at the wolf doll in Chu Xu's hands.

After playing the role of a guard dog for a while, Chu Nan, bending over to accommodate the small height of Chu Xu, felt his back and waist ache. He straightened up to stretch, only to inadvertently meet the gaze of a pink-clad woman leaning against the decorative partition, her face powdered with a smile. Chu Nan, feeling his face flush, awkwardly put down the dolls. "This child insisted on playing house with these dolls. He would cry if I didn’t join in. I couldn’t bear his pleading..."

Fan Xueyao didn’t call out his excuse but walked over and sat down on the bed with Chu Nan. Chu Xu had already thrown the wolf doll aside and pounced over, "Mother, hold me~" His voice was as sweet as honey, much more enthusiastic than when he had seen his father earlier.

Chu Nan thought about how Chu Xu had always been exceptionally close to Fan Xueyao, always asking for her and refusing to be held by the wet nurses or maidservants. This kind of behavior couldn’t be seen with the prince in Fanyue Palace. Or rather, that son seemed to be closer to the wet nurse. Sometimes, when he visited, Zhang Yiyun would always have the little prince in her arms, and the little prince would be crying. He had watched her struggle to calm the child, but the high-pitched wails only irritated him. Over time, he visited less frequently.

Now, thinking back, it was probably because the little prince wasn’t comfortable being held by Zhang Yiyun, as he wasn’t close to her. His wet nurse had been the primary caregiver.

Realizing that Zhang Yiyun had been pretending to be a loving mother to gain favor, Chu Nan felt a mix of anger and disgust welling up inside him.

Fan Xueyao glanced outside the window and saw that it was getting dark. Her plain face, now free from the loss of composure from crying in the afternoon, had returned to its usual gentle and graceful demeanor. However, the tear stains and lingering redness on her face revealed how much she had cried earlier.

"It's getting late. I usually have my dinner early, so the kitchen should be about ready. Why don't you stay for dinner in the Spreading Fragrance Hall, Sire?" she suggested. Because she was pregnant, Chu Nan could not stay overnight. Sometimes, he would leave before the palace gates were locked, or even before having dinner.

Chu Nan nodded. "Since I’m dining here, please inform the Imperial Kitchen that there’s no need for extravagance. There’s no need to prepare the dinner according to the usual protocol. I’ll just have what’s already prepared."

Fan Xueyao then sent Hua Ping to the front hall to relay the message. The palace attendants and eunuchs accompanying Chu Nan were resting in the front hall. After Hua Ping relayed the message, she returned to the back hall. Someone from their group would notify the Imperial Kitchen, so Fan Xueyao had added her part; there was no need for a maid serving in the Spreading Fragrance Hall to worry about the follow-up.

Chu Nan dined in the Spreading Fragrance Hall too often and too frequently, and often used the private kitchen instead of the Imperial Kitchen, so the Imperial Kitchen had grown accustomed to this. Upon receiving the message, they halted the dinner preparation tasks. Ingredients that hadn’t been used were set aside, and those that had been processed were discarded, as it was unacceptable to serve the emperor anything less than fresh.

Chu Nan was aware of these protocols, which is why he had someone inform the Imperial Kitchen to minimize waste. What couldn’t be avoided was left at that.

Chu Nan dined with Fan Xueyao. Usually, she would serve him, but when she rose to do so today, Chu Nan stopped her. "Rest a bit. I'll serve myself. You should eat too, and there’s no need to serve me." He then took Fan Xueyao's bowl and filled it with some ham, tofu, and mushroom soup. "Too much joy harms the heart, and too much sorrow harms the lungs. You’ve truly harmed your vitality today by crying so much. Eat more to nourish your body."

Fan Xueyao, her face slightly flushed, took the bowl and began to eat slowly.

"I failed to protect you, so you have every right to blame or resent me. But don’t cry like that again. What good does it do, other than harming your body and the child in your womb? No matter how urgent the matter or how wronged you feel, I can resolve it and make you happy. Don’t take everything to heart, and always let me know. I’ll always protect you."

Chu Nan spoke gently and casually, occasionally adding more food to her bowl. The dishes on the table were all their favorites, and every choice was to their taste. His gentle demeanor and warm words made everything else fade away, leaving only a desire to lean on and depend on him.

Fan Xueyao gradually felt more at ease. Chu Xu, sitting nearby, was eating a meal prepared especially for him with less salt and light seasoning, occasionally saying some childish words in his clear, tender voice, adding warmth to the table.

After dinner, Chu Nan had the maids assist Fan Xueyao with washing up, then carried her to the bed. He covered her fragrant shoulders with a quilt embroidered with magnolias and begonias. By candlelight, he appeared so composed, yet his expression was so gentle, his eyes filled with love and tenderness. "Sleep well and sweetly. Tomorrow, when you wake up, you won’t hear anything that distresses you."

Fan Xueyao turned her head to look at him, her peach blossom eyes moist with affection, and nodded softly. Her black, lustrous hair cascaded over her shoulders, moving one to pity.

Chu Nan gently touched her cheek, his movements so light as if he were afraid of causing her pain. "Sleep."

After coaxing Fan Xueyao to close her eyes, Chu Nan lowered the bed curtain, went to check on Chu Xu in the east side room, and then came out. He waved to stop the maids who were about to escort him out and commanded, "Take good care of your mistress." Hua Ping, Zhuzhu, Qiaoqiao, Yue Chan, and Suo all knelt down to receive the order.

Chu Nan left in a hurry, and that night, the palace was bound to be turbulent.