Chapter 201

Chapter 204: The Appearance (Part 2)

In the evening, Lord Xu returned: "I heard that Fifth Aunt came over. Was there anything important?"

"Welcome back, Marquis!" Eleventh Miss smiled and stepped forward to take his cloak, noticing a faint scent of wine on him. "Fifth Brother-in-law also heard about the child and specifically asked Fifth Aunt to come and inquire. She had lunch at the elder madam's residence, stayed for a short while, and then left."

Lord Xu nodded, went to the bathroom to wash up and change, then came out.

"What did you have for dinner?" he asked as he took off his shoes and sat on the large heated bed by the window.

"We had lamb hotpot," Eleventh Miss replied, taking a cup of tea from a maid and handing it to Lord Xu. "There was a type of dried wild vegetable called wild mountain amaranth, which was cooked in the hotpot. It was delicious." She then smiled and asked, "Did you drink today, Marquis?"

Lord Xu took a sip of the hot tea and leaned back comfortably on the large pillow: "Wang Li stopped by, and we had a few drinks."

Eleventh Miss smiled and went to prepare the bed.

But Lord Xu took her hand: "Let's sit for a while!"

Eleventh Miss sat down as he asked.

Lord Xu let out a long sigh: "I've never been in such an embarrassing situation in my life." He gave a bitter smile to Eleventh Miss, "People are saying all sorts of things. Truly, there's nothing you can imagine that hasn't been said."

Eleventh Miss laughed: "That's how rumors are!" The public has an insatiable curiosity about the secrets of noble families and royalty, especially with the Qu Clan stirring the pot.

"I originally wanted to explain, but seeing them all with their mischievous looks, it was clear they were here to watch the spectacle. If I didn't explain, it might have been better, but the more I explained, the more they would have pushed me further. So I decided to say nothing." Lord Xu smiled helplessly, but there was no anger in his expression, clearly not taking the antics of his friends to heart.

"Rumors die with the wise," Eleventh Miss still offered comforting words, "It will pass in a few days."

Lord Xu nodded: "As it happens, the Minister of Works' family is embroiled in a scandal where the wife killed her husband and seized his estate. I've already sent people to spread the news. Once everyone hears about this new scandal, our matter will gradually be forgotten in a couple of days."

Rather than exhaust oneself trying to quell rumors, it's better to replace them with other events, shifting people's attention and allowing them to gradually forget.

While the couple was discussing how to downplay major issues and dismiss minor ones, the Emperor, smiling, went to the Kun Ning Palace.

The Crown Prince had just returned to the palace yesterday, and the Empress had questioned his maids. Upon hearing the eunuch's report, she hurried out to greet him.

The Emperor took the Empress's hand and entered the inner chamber.

The maids served tea and silently withdrew.

The Emperor smiled: "This afternoon, while discussing Fujian's defense with several ministers, I heard something interesting."

The Empress was startled, thinking of the Qu Clan.

"If Your Majesty finds it intriguing, it must be quite remarkable. Please tell me, Your Majesty."

The Emperor laughed and said, "It's said that the Yongping Marquis brought back a female chieftain from Miaojiang three years ago and housed her in Horse Trading Alley in the west of the city. Now, the child is already three years old."

"How is that possible?" The Empress was visibly shocked, "How could the Marquis act so imprudently?"

It must be remembered that the pacification of Miaojiang was the first military campaign after the Emperor's ascension, and to demonstrate the might of Da Zhou, all captured chieftains were executed... Bringing back a female chieftain was akin to secretly freeing a prisoner of war. If the censors caught wind of it and pursued the matter, it could escalate to the level of "colluding with the enemy and treason." This could result in the extermination of nine generations!

"This must be a rumor!" The Empress looked anxious, with fine beads of sweat at her temples.

"I know," the Emperor said, looking down and brushing the tender leaves in his teacup, not noticing the Empress's unease. "Old Fourth has always been cautious. Even if such a thing happened, he wouldn't let it become public knowledge." He looked up, a sharpness fleeting in his eyes,

"However, Minister Liang spoke as if he had seen it with his own eyes, even describing the child's appearance in detail. This matter might not be so simple. I think you should arrange as soon as possible to invite Lady Yongping to the palace for a gathering—tomorrow is the sealing of the edicts, so the censors' memorials won't be able to come in for a while, but by the third day of the new year when the seals are opened..."

By then, the impeachment memorials might come flying in like snowflakes!

"I understand, Your Majesty," the Empress hastily responded, then tactfully suggested, "However, Lady Yongping is quite young. I fear she might not be able to explain clearly. Perhaps it would be better to invite the elder madam into the palace..."

"Let’s invite Lady Yongping," the Emperor pondered, "The elder madam is quite old, and the younger generation often keeps things from her. If she gets upset, it would be awkward." The Empress felt a cold pang in her heart.

The Emperor had heard the news in the afternoon and only informed her now, after the palace gates were locked, and he specifically asked for young Eleven Miss to come to the palace... Time flies; her former husband was now her sovereign!

But thinking of her beautiful and intelligent sister-in-law, she felt somewhat reassured.

"Your Majesty is right," she agreed, "I’ll call Lady Yongping first thing tomorrow to ask."

The Emperor nodded and instructed the eunuch beside him, "You may all withdraw."

He planned to stay the night.

Turning to the Empress with a smile, he said, "The 'Bone-in Abalone' you made last time was amazing. Let’s have that for supper tonight!"

The Empress smiled and agreed. While she called for the maid to prepare supper, she secretly pondered: Is he still uneasy? Afraid I’d tip off Lady Yongping, wanting to see how I handle the eunuchs himself?

The next morning, she indeed summoned Eleven Miss into the palace in the Emperor’s presence.

"...They say he brought a female chieftain to Yanjing and is keeping her in Horse Trading Alley. They even say the child has phoenix eyes. What on earth is going on?"

The room was silent; the Empress frowned, her expression serious, her tone sharp.

Eleven Miss was taken aback.

Though there was no warning, and she’d been rushed to the palace, Lord Xu and Eleven Miss had carefully considered many possibilities, including the palace hearing about Feng Qing and sending someone to inquire, the Qu Clan exploiting the situation politically to attack Lord Xu, or even the Empress summoning Eleven Miss to reprimand her upon hearing the rumors... But they hadn’t expected the Empress’s manner—alone with her, yet still regal, wearing the phoenix crown with nine dragons and four phoenixes, dressed in a deep blue ceremonial robe with twelve pheasant patterns, seated on the phoenix throne.

Her thoughts raced.

From their few meetings, it was clear the Empress wasn’t cold or rigid. Moreover, they were discussing matters crucial to the Xu family’s survival; how could she appear so stern and severe... Could it be fear of eavesdroppers? But this was the Empress’s palace—who’d dare spy?

The thought flashed by, and her clothes were already soaked with sweat.

In this palace, the only one who could truly make the Empress wary was the Emperor!

She gasped, but her heart stayed as still as an ancient well.

"Your Majesty," Eleven Miss raised her sleeve to cover her face, "This is a terrible injustice. The Marquis is honorable and direct; how could he do this?" As she spoke, she blinked, hoping the tears would fall quickly.

"Who would spread such rumors? If the Emperor hears this, would the Marquis even survive? Your Majesty, you must stand up for the Marquis! This is clearly someone trying to frame him! Someone wants to harm the Marquis!" Her eyes moistened, "Poor Marquis, after a lifetime of battle, now disabled and unable to walk, finally finding peace, and now these rumors... What can we do?" She looked completely pitiful and helpless.

The Empress first felt joy, then surprise, and then a fleeting smile crossed her lips.

She was glad she’d said nothing, yet her brother was ready—otherwise, how could Eleven Miss speak like this? She was surprised by Eleven Miss’s demeanor, crying without restraint, like a naive young girl, but recalling her advice that day, it was likely deliberate. She hadn’t expected her to risk her reputation for the Xu family, and she felt comforted that her brother had such a companion, unable to suppress a smile. But thinking of the Emperor resting in the inner chamber, who could clearly hear everything, her smile quickly vanished.

"Don’t cry," her voice carried a gentleness she hadn’t noticed, "Sit down and speak." She pointed to a stool on her right.

Hearing the Empress’s calm voice, Eleven Miss knew she had done the right thing.

She breathed a sigh of relief, took out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, but inwardly fretted about not being able to cry, pretending to sob as she sat on the stool.

"Tell me, have you heard these rumors?" Though the Empress trusted her brother, with the ministers speaking so confidently, she felt uncertain. "I have," Eleven Miss sobbed, "Not only have I heard, but the child is kept in Half Moon Bay!"

"Ah!" The Empress’s face changed dramatically.

Eleven Miss, however, pricked up her ears, hearing faint movements from the inner chamber.

It seemed the Emperor was listening in.

"So the Marquis is truly wronged!" Before the empress could speak, she immediately said, "That child is not the Marquis's at all, but Fifth Lord's."

"What?" The empress's expression changed dramatically.

She had not expected there to be a child.

Eleven Lady, who had been paying close attention to the inner chamber, heard very faint footsteps stopping at the curtain.

"As for the details, I am not entirely sure," she carefully recounted the events of that day to the empress: "...Suddenly, rumors started spreading. They said this child was born to the Marquis and a camp prostitute. They even said my sister was intolerant and wouldn't allow the Marquis to bring the child home." As she spoke, she began to cry, "Your Majesty, these people are truly despicable. They won't even spare the deceased. Your Majesty, what should I do? The Marquis would never explain, and without his consent, I haven't breathed a word in front of the elder madam..."

The empress was deeply troubled.

Although the child was not Lord Xu's, it was still a child of the Xu family.

To defend Lord Xu would inevitably bring Xu Lingkuan into it, then Lady Dan, and Xu Lingkuan's father-in-law, the Marquis of Dingnan. But if they didn't defend Lord Xu, the weight of this accusation would be too much for the Xu family to bear.

It was like choosing between the palm and the back of the hand—though the palm is thicker, hitting either hurts just as much.

She instinctively glanced toward the inner chamber's curtain.

After all, they had been married for over a decade, and in times of crisis, she still instinctively hoped that he would help solve the problem.

Eleven Lady, who had been observing the empress discreetly, couldn't help but sigh inwardly. There were things she had to say—nothing pleases a ruler more than seeing a capable minister show weakness.

"The Marquis hasn't had a good night's sleep in two days. If he speaks out, what will happen to Fifth Lord? His wife is still pregnant. If he doesn't speak, the rumors outside are unbearable. The Marquis fears tarnishing the reputation of the Yongping Marquis Estate, and even more so, bringing shame to Your Majesties. He is truly in a difficult position..."