Chapter Fifty-Nine
Bai Ren heard the rumors while at the Prince's residence and immediately changed expression. Qi Xiao frowned. "Where did this talk originate?"
Jiang Deqing shook his head. "That's something I truly cannot say. The palace has too many ears—we can only hear the gossip but have no way to trace who started it... In the inner palace, how could one possibly investigate?"
Bai Ren gritted his teeth. "The engagement ceremony for Roujia is the day after tomorrow. What if the He household hears about this..."
"Rest easy." Qi Xiao gently patted the back of Bai Ren's hand, speaking softly. "Zichen is not the type to jump to conclusions based on rumors. Moreover, Roujia has been staying at the Princess's residence these past days. Kang Tai's reputation being ruined has nothing to do with her."
For maiden ladies, the most taboo thing was having such romantic scandals spread about them. Those stories of love at first sight and second-meeting engagements were fine as theatrical tales, but if they played out in one's own family, they became scandals. And unfortunately, the reputations of maiden ladies were interconnected—a single disgrace brought down everyone. Once one girl's name was tainted, it became exponentially harder for the others to find suitable matches. Fortunately, Roujia was already engaged, and people in the imperial capital generally understood the legitimate-illegitimate power struggle within the Lingnan Prince's mansion, knowing that Roujia and Kang Tai had not been raised together. So the impact wouldn't be too severe.
Even so, Bai Ren's face had gone pale with fury. Qi Xiao signaled for Jiang Deqing to withdraw, then pulled Bai Ren to sit on the couch, speaking gently. "The He household hasn't said anything yet, yet here you are getting anxious first. Anger harms the body—drink some tea..."
Bai Ren's brow remained furrowed. "They haven't said anything, but how do we know they aren't disgusted in their hearts? I knew she wouldn't bring anything good when Kang Tai arrived. If I discover that this matter has caused Roujia to fall out of favor with the He household, I will certainly—"
"Enough." Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "It's not just me trying to comfort you—the He madam absolutely adores your sister. She considers her a blessing. I'll have someone investigate quietly to see if this was aimed at Roujia... but I doubt it. Everyone knows that both sides were more than willing for Roujia and the He family to marry. This trivial matter couldn't possibly make the He family change their minds at the last moment. In my view... some people simply cannot hold back any longer. Roujia's situation is just collateral damage."
Bai Ren pressed his lips together, thinking it over carefully before realization dawned. "Are you saying... Empress Feng spread this rumor?"
Qi Xiao neither confirmed nor denied, simply smiling faintly. "All I know is that with this rumor spreading, Kang Tai will find it difficult to seek another match. And using the marriage between Qi Hua and your household to revive the Feng family is precisely what Empress Feng desires. She invited Kang Tai into the palace before and went to great lengths to arrange a meeting between Kang Tai and Qi Hua—wasn't all this for that purpose?"
Bai Ren understood completely now. "So convincing Kang Tai was a pretense, but luring her into the palace and ruining her reputation to force her into marrying Qi Hua was the true intention. Empress Feng... this is truly vicious."
Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "Desperation makes people do desperate things. Though this plan probably won't work either."
Bai Ren looked at Qi Xiao with puzzlement. "Why won't it work? With such rumors floating about, to silence the gossip and protect the reputations of both the Second Prince and Kang Tai, the best solution would be to make the fiction a reality."
Qi Xiao shook his head. "I told you the day before yesterday—no matter what schemes they harbor, in the end it will all be for nothing."
"First, the Emperor still harbors disgust toward Qi Hua because of the palace maid incident, and he has grown suspicious of the Feng household. Why would he want to help the Feng family rise again? With just a word that the rumors are baseless, refusing to grant the marriage, the Feng family currently has no leverage whatsoever to negotiate with the Emperor. Empress Feng can only watch helplessly. Not only will she gain nothing from this, but the Emperor will likely thoroughly abandon Qi Hua after this... Using such tactics against an innocent maiden from another household—what use is such a person?"
Qi Xiao comforted him with a smile. "So in the end, Empress Feng will be the one to suffer. As for Kang Tai... she'll just have to accept her misfortune."
Qi Xiao's analysis was logical and reasonable. Bai Ren could find no flaws in it, so he nodded. "It should be as you say... I don't care what happens to them. I only care that Roujia is safe. She'll be fine, won't she?"
Bai Ren's mind was filled with thoughts of Roujia, worried sick that she might be dragged down by Kang Tai. He had no energy to dwell on anything else. Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "When have I ever deceived you? She's definitely fine."
Bai Ren felt somewhat better. After a pause, he apologized. "I sent someone to fetch Roujia. Her engagement ceremony is imminent—staying at the Princess's residence indefinitely isn't proper. I... I'll be going back soon. I can't rest easy leaving her alone in the mansion."
Qi Xiao sighed softly. "You worry about her, but do you trust me?"
Bai Ren couldn't help but laugh. "You're the one who doesn't bully others—that would be news. Do I need to worry about you being bullied? When... when the engagement ceremony is over, I'll come back. Alright?"
Qi Xiao continued to look at him with that knowing half-smile. Bai Ren had no choice but to lean in and kiss Qi Xiao at the corner of his lips, whispering, "I'll come back early."
Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow with a smile. "You said that yourself... Jiang Deqing, have Shunzi prepare the carriage, and wrap up that golden kirin walnut cracker as well. The young master is to take it with him."
In the Fenghua Palace, the Emperor dismissed all attendants and let out a long sigh. "Consort... are you framing Kang Tai, or are you framing me?"
Empress Feng's face went pale. She勉强稳住心神, steadying her nerves with effort, and said quietly, "Your Majesty... the rumors outside, I truly did not spread them. I am so bored here in the palace every day, and I like Kang Tai so much, so I invited her to the palace to enjoy the flowers and keep me company. I didn't expect that Qi Hua would正好 come to pay his respects to me. This... this was merely coincidence. I don't know which ill-fated person spread that kind of talk. I am already investigating. Once I—"
"Consort." The Emperor was impatient with Empress Feng's rambling and frowned. "I came today without any attendants and dismissed your people specifically because I wanted to hear some truth from you..."
Empress Feng laughed bitterly, her voice catching. "Truth... I'm afraid whatever I say now, Your Majesty won't believe a word of it."
Since the palace maid incident, Empress Feng had suddenly aged considerably. Her former radiance was gone; only dimness remained in her eyes. Seeing his wife in such a state stirred some compassion in the Emperor's heart, but the thought of all the things she had done made his anger flare. The Emperor closed his eyes briefly. "Tell me... the meeting between Kang Tai and Qi Hua in your palace—was that not arranged by you?"
Empress Feng faltered and nodded helplessly. The Emperor continued, "And planning to marry Kang Tai to Qi Hua was something you had long scheme for, wasn't it?"
Two clear tears rolled down Empress Feng's cheeks as she nodded again. The Emperor laughed bitterly. "Since you feared I would not agree, you deliberately spread these rumors to force the Lingnan Prince's mansion into accepting this marriage. And naturally, to preserve everyone's face, I would also have to consent. Isn't that right?"
"No!" Empress Feng suddenly widened her eyes and shouted. "I did not spread those rumors! Someone is clearly trying to frame me. It was... it was that wicked Concubine Xue. She can't stand seeing me regain favor... Or maybe it was Kang Tai herself! Looking at how things went that day, she was willing too. Yes, it must have been them..."
The little remnant of old affection that had stirred in the Emperor's heart was shattered completely by Empress Feng's shriek. The Emperor waved his hand wearily. "I didn't come today to interrogate you. I originally intended to... Never mind. What's done is done."
The Emperor rose. He cast a pitying glance at Empress Feng and said quietly, "Out of consideration for our years as husband and wife, I have been patient with you on many matters. I did not expect you to go from bad to worse and become more and more improper. I am telling you clearly today—I have plans for Qi Hua's marriage. Kang Tai is no suitable match. Drop this idea." Afraid that Empress Feng would continue to make a scene, the Emperor frowned and left first.
Empress Feng stared blankly as the Emperor walked away, unable to回过神来 for a long time. When the rumors had first spread, she had actually felt a secret thrill inside—thinking that this would force Kang Tai's hand, making the impossible possible. She never imagined the Emperor would be so ruthless, caring nothing for face or sentiment.
"Your Highness... Your Highness?" Empress Feng's personal maid forcefully helped her up,苦涩地劝道. "Your Highness must not grieve. When the Emperor's anger subsides, Your Highness can reason with him again..."
Empress Feng laughed bitterly. "It's no use. Now... I have suffered a complete defeat..."
In the study of the Crown Prince's residence, Qi Xiao was delicately fondling a jade pendant in his hand, speaking with a light laugh. "She really said that?"
Jiang Deqing nodded. "Before the Emperor could even speak, she immediately cursed Concubine Xue head-on, insisting it was all Concubine Xue's doing, or else that young lady Kang Tai had spread the rumors herself. The Emperor couldn't be bothered to say anything more at that point."
Qi Xiao lightly rubbed the inscriptions on the jade pendant, smiling faintly. "This situation... anyone would suspect Empress Feng. Her constant denial will only make the Emperor despise her even more... foolish."
Jiang Deqing smiled. "Indeed. Who could have imagined that it was actually Your Highness who spread those rumors? This way, you not only crush Empress Feng so she can never rise again, but also destroy young lady Kang Tai's reputation—avenging the young master. Two birds with one stone. Your Highness is truly brilliant."
Qi Xiao gave Jiang Deqing a reproachful look. Jiang Deqing knew he had misspoke and hastily slapped his own face, smiling apologetically. "The young master hasn't been here for two days, so this old servant let his guard down. It's nothing serious... Your Highness didn't intentionally harm young lady Roujia's reputation either. It was merely to punish those people—unavoidable, that's all."
Qi Xiao scoffed. "Unavoidable? If it weren't for Bai Ren's sake, what would Kang Tai's fate matter to me?... Be careful. If Bai Ren ever finds out about this, no matter how perfectly everything was executed, it would all be for nothing."
Jiang Deqing hastily nodded. "Your Highness can rest assured."
Qi Xiao glanced at the water clock and frowned. "It's already the Hour of the Dog—why hasn't anyone arrived yet? It's just an engagement ceremony. How much work could there possibly be?"
"This really isn't the young master's fault." Jiang Deqing smiled. "Your Highness didn't go, so you don't know. The servant who delivered the congratulatory gifts to the prince's mansion reported that the Lingnan Prince's residence was absolutely bustling today. For one engagement ceremony, so many people came. The young master handled things outside while the Eldest Princess managed things inside—both of them were overwhelmed with hospitality. The guests came and went in an endless stream. And young master He Zichen really spared no expense—the betrothal gifts filled half the courtyard. According to the He household's servants... their madam and young master said, the worse those vulgar rumors outside became, the more they would respectfully honor young lady Roujia. It seems... the He household are people of understanding."
Qi Xiao nodded and looked outside again. "Have the kitchen prepare some food first. He's been busy all day—he must be hungry by now."
Jiang Deqing acknowledged. "Already given the order. That day the young master casually mentioned he wanted wontons, so this old servant had the kitchen prepare them. The chicken soup for the wontons was simmered since noon—a young hen that had just started laying, stewed together with ginseng and astragalus for over two full hours. Rich and nourishing. When the wontons are cooked in this soup, you wouldn't even need to add any other seasonings. The young master is sure to love it."
Just as he finished speaking, a servant announced the young master's arrival outside. Qi Xiao smiled. "All this talk has made me hungry too. Quickly, have them prepare everything."