Chapter 56 Information Warfare

Chapter 56: The Battle of Public Opinion

Late at night, as the wind finally began to die down, Jiang Wang had finally fallen asleep only to be awakened again by a clamor.

Reluctantly, he crawled out from under the covers, squinting his eyes and trying to smooth down his messy hair before getting out of bed in irritation and heading toward the source of the sound outside.

He vowed his tent would never again be anywhere near Xiao Yan's—he couldn't even rest properly! The farther away, the better!

Jiang Wang lifted the tent flap to see layers upon layers of imperial guards gathered outside, their torches illuminating half the sky.

What was going on? Such a grand spectacle?

Suddenly, a moment of clarity pierced through his groggy mind.

They must be arresting someone.

Considering Xiao Yan's character, even though he had avoided the "sedative incense's effects," that didn't mean he wouldn't retaliate.

Moreover, Fang Fengshi was the one making the arrest now. Xiao Yan himself was currently "drunk and sleeping." What did it have to do with him?

By now, all sleepiness had completely vanished. Jiang Wang made his way through the layers of guards to the front, wanting to see exactly who Chang Wenji had sent as the "lovely wife or beautiful concubine."

However, upon seeing the person in question, he couldn't help but gape.

Wasn't this Chang Ying?! Chang Wenji's only daughter!

Had Chang Wenji really invested such a huge stake, planning to send his own daughter to Xiao Yan's side through this method?!

Chang Ying, perhaps affected by the "sedative incense," seemed completely out of sorts.

She didn't seem to know what she was doing, her body limp as she leaned against the imperial guard holding her, exuding an air of seduction from head to toe.

Her collar was wide open, and her hands restlessly roamed over the guard holding her, making the latter somewhat flustered and helpless as he looked at Fang Fengshi.

Fang Fengshi was equally shocked. He truly hadn't expected the person to be Chang Ying.

If it had been an ordinary dancer or singer, he could have given the order immediately. But since it was Chang Ying... it was a bit tricky.

After all, the Chang family's power network was deeply entrenched, and Chang Ying was of noble status. Making a rash decision now would be unwise. It was better to detain her first, discuss it with Xiao Yan, and then decide.

Just as Fang Fengshi was about to do so, Chang Wenji arrived.

Chang Wenji's clothes were somewhat disheveled, his belt not even properly fastened, as if he had rushed over.

As soon as he arrived, he pulled Chang Ying back. Faced with the Prime Minister, the imperial guard dared not detain her and had to let go.

Perhaps Chang Wenji was too anxious and didn't control his strength, causing Chang Ying, still in her dazed state, to whimper softly in pain.

Chang Wenji took a cloak and covered Chang Ying from head to toe, then walked over to Fang Fengshi with a practiced smile.

"Commander Fang, my daughter had a quarrel with me and went out for a walk at night to clear her head. She must have gotten lost and ended up near the Emperor's tent, causing you trouble. I'll take her away now."

"Wait."

Fang Fengshi raised his hand to stop him.

This whole farce was their doing, and now they thought they could just leave? It wouldn't be that easy.

"Prime Minister, do you know why the Lady looks flushed and her eyes are dazed?"

A flash of ferocity rose in Chang Wenji's eyes but quickly vanished, replaced once again by his previous smile.

"My daughter is unwell. I'll call for a doctor to examine her as soon as I return. There's no need for Commander Fang to trouble himself."

"Why must you insist on returning, Elder Chang? The imperial physician is right here on standby. I'll have him examine the Lady immediately. What doctor could be more skilled than the imperial physician?"

Seeing that Fang Fengshi refused to let them go and Chang Wenji was unwilling to hand over his daughter, the crowd of onlookers swelled, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Suddenly, amidst the clamor, a few soft cuckoo calls could be heard.

Jiang Wang was silently observing from a front-row corner, wondering which side would gain the upper hand, when he heard the familiar bird calls.

They were exactly the same as the ones he had heard at the Imperial Medical Bureau—a secret communication signal within the imperial guards.

So, was this a covert message being passed to Fang Fengshi?

Jiang Wang shifted his gaze to Fang Fengshi and indeed saw the latter visibly startle before suddenly crying out, "Ouch, ouch!"

Fang Fengshi clutched his stomach, his body curling up like a shrimp.

He closed his eyes and furrowed his brows, putting on an act of severe abdominal pain and extreme discomfort.

Watching Fang Fengshi's "agonized" expression, Jiang Wang almost felt it himself, unconsciously grimacing.

In the end, Fang Fengshi seemed unable to bear it any longer. He left behind a "Keep an eye on them" and hurried off clutching his stomach, as if he desperately needed to find a latrine.

With their leader gone, only a group of imperial guards remained, looking at each other in confusion.

Commander Fang had ordered ordinary soldiers like them to watch the Prime Minister. It was like ants trying to move an elephant—quite a daunting task.

Seeing Fang Fengshi leave, Chang Wenji grew even bolder. Without another word, he took Chang Ying and left directly.

With the main players gone, the onlookers also found it uninteresting and gradually dispersed.

Only Jiang Wang remained in his little corner, still savoring the drama.

He quickly concluded that Fang Fengshi's stomachache had definitely been an act.

He looked around and, sure enough, spotted Fang Fengshi quietly crouching behind a tree.

Jiang Wang intended to sneak up and startle him, but Fang Fengshi noticed him first and promptly led him to an unfamiliar tent.

Inside that tent, Jiang Wang saw Xiao Yan.

As soon as he saw Xiao Yan, Fang Fengshi was the first to complain: "I almost had Chang Ying detained just now. Why did you call me back?"

"Because even if you detained Chang Ying, there's nothing you could do to her. It would just be a futile effort."

"What do you mean?"

Jiang Wang was also curious. He perked up his ears to listen carefully but ended up sneezing loudly.

Even though it was already spring, the nights were still a bit chilly. Jiang Wang had rushed out in a hurry wearing only a thin inner garment, so it was possible he had caught a chill.

Jiang Wang didn't pay it much mind, just rubbed his nose, still looking eager for the gossip.

Xiao Yan casually picked up a blanket from the bed and handed it to Jiang Wang, then continued: "You suspect Chang Ying, but you have no concrete evidence. Moreover, Chang Ying is of noble status. Without evidence, there's simply nothing you can do to her."

When dealing with someone like Chang Wenji, you must strike a fatal blow. If he catches wind of anything, there won't be another chance later.

"Huh?" Jiang Wang was both frustrated and furious. "So everything we did tonight was for nothing?"

He'd been worried about this outcome for a while.

"No," Xiao Yan straightened the wrinkled blanket on Jiang Wang's shoulders. "Although Chang Ying was taken away, her face has already been seen by many people."

Xiao Yan gave a meaningful smile.

"Sometimes, words are a sharper blade."

"Oh!"

Jiang Wang understood: Xiao Yan wanted to wage a war of public opinion.

Even if they detained Chang Ying, Chang Wenji would eventually get her out.

And public opinion is the hardest thing to silence.

Tonight's farce was sure to become a topic of gossip among the onlookers. Not only would Chang Ying lose face, but the entire Chang family would be humiliated.

For Chang Wenji, who had always strived to maintain a perfect image among the people, this would undoubtedly be a blow.

Clever, very clever.

But to spread the news faster, Jiang Wang thought that elusive shadow guard could be put to work.

Since Ling Hai had given him a scare, it was only fair to give Ling Hai something to do.

"Your Majesty, why not have Ling Hai put in a little extra effort and spread this news in Zhaojing as well? With his skills, he could probably get there before dawn."

Jiang Wang's eyes sparkled with a sly, fox-like grin.

*

Around noon the next day, Chang Ying opened her eyes, rubbing her throbbing head.

She felt weak all over, achy and uncomfortable everywhere.

As for what happened last night, she couldn't quite remember.

Some fragmented memories hinted that she had gone to the Emperor's tent, but why was she lying in her own bed now?

Chang Ying wanted to summon her maid, Xiao Tao, to ask, but she saw her father first.

Her father's face was livid, none of his usual doting expression remained. He strode toward her, and she felt a spike of fear.

"Father?" Chang Ying's voice trembled slightly. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"What happened? You have the nerve to ask me what happened!"

Chang Wenji slapped her across the face, leaving a clear mark.

Having been spoiled her whole life, Chang Ying had never seen her father so furious before. She was both scared and wronged, tears uncontrollably streaming down her face.

She covered her swollen cheek. "Why did you hit me!"

"You still dare ask why!"

Chang Wenji raised his hand again, about to strike once more, but seeing the tears on Chang Ying's face, his heart softened.

"Sigh!" Chang Wenji lowered his hand in frustration. "I clearly sent a few lowly dancers to the Emperor's tent. How did you end up going instead?! Speak! Explain this clearly!"

At this, Chang Ying lost her nerve.

She had feelings for Xiao Yan and didn't want any other woman to touch him, not even those arranged by her father.

Last night, she'd tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't listen.

If a woman had to approach Xiao Yan, she might as well be the one.

After a night together, the deed was done. Given her status and position, Xiao Yan would surely accept her.

Even if she couldn't become Empress, she would be happy enough as a consort.

Then, all her female friends would have to bow to her, and she could freely enter the imperial gardens.

In the entire palace—no, in all of Zhaojing—no one could stop her.

"Your daughter just..."

But she had been willful and disobeyed her father. Chang Ying stammered, too guilty to speak.

"You fool! Do you know that your seductive appearance outside the Emperor's tent last night was already seen by others?! Even all of Zhaojing knows about it now! They're calling you a seductress who tried to lure the Emperor!"

Chang Wenji's voice grew hoarse from shouting, filled with a sense of "mourning her misfortune and anger at her lack of ambition."

"Wh-what?!"

Chang Ying was stunned. How was this different from what she had imagined?

Her radiant appearance had been seen by others? Did that mean she wasn't in the Emperor's tent last night?

How could the news spread so fast in just one night, reaching all of Zhaojing?

Before Xiao Yan's spring outing, she had boasted to her female friends about having the chance to travel with the Emperor. How could everything change in just one night...

How could she ever show her face again?

Her friends would surely laugh at her to death.

"Waaah, Father, what should I do?" Chang Ying panicked. "My reputation is completely ruined!"

She sobbed uncontrollably, heartbroken. Having never encountered such a situation before, she was utterly lost and frantic.

Suddenly, as if making a decision, she got out of bed and rushed forcefully toward a nearby pillar.

Author's Note:

Our Jiang Wang is also a little fox.