Chapter 203 Misunderstanding

"You're right. A bastard with no name or status and a mother of unclean origin has no right to inherit the throne. Even the royal family will not agree to it."

"Okay, you all go back first. The Fourth Prince and I have some important matters to discuss."

Seeing that everyone was getting excited and about to talk non-stop, Ling Chenyi immediately stopped them and ordered people to send everyone out through the back door.

Then he turned and went to the study.

The winter sun shone through the window lattice into the house. In front of the window lattice, Xiao Yuan, dressed in a dark brocade robe, stood there, gazing at the scenery in the courtyard. His clear, cold and hard outline was enveloped in the darkness.

Can't tell his expression.

Ling Chenyi walked silently to his side and looked outside with him.

"The adults have already left."

"Yeah." He responded lightly from his throat, without any emotional ups and downs.

Ling Chenyi suddenly felt uncomfortable, a sharp pain.

"That maid must be talking nonsense. Madam Shufei is definitely not that kind of person. Don't take it to heart."

"All of this is the Emperor's attempt to pave the way for that person. Xiao Yuan, don't let those conspiracies and intrigues affect your judgment of the situation."

Xiao Yuan lowered his eyes.

Ling Chenyi thought he would remain silent, but he suddenly said, "Chenyi, tell me, why can father and son be so heartless?"

"Fathers are not like fathers, sons are not like sons, and they kill each other for a position."

Ling Chenyi was speechless.

"Born in the palace, with few relatives, this should be the case."

"But - he could plan step by step for the sake of that woman's son until all his other sons had a miserable end. Xiao Ze died, and I, a chess piece, became a useless piece."

He let out a derisive laugh.

Now that this chess piece of his was in the way, he had to get rid of it for the sake of his beloved son.

Even Xiao Ze's death did not show any ripple on his majestic face, as if only a cat or dog had died.

Ling Chenyi was silent, not knowing what to say to give Xiao Yuan the slightest comfort.

Often, the betrayal of a loved one is always more difficult to accept.

To the extent that he now doesn't even dare to mention the name Shen Anan.

If those rumors were really spread by her, it would be a fatal blow to Xiao Yuan.

Not to mention Ling Chenyi, even Xiao Yuan couldn't be sure. He didn't have the confidence to be sure that he was more important in her heart than the deceased Madam Shen.

So he didn't dare to mention it, didn't dare to say it, in fact, he didn't dare to face it.

It didn't take long for what happened at the palace banquet to spread throughout the streets and alleys, and even children's songs began to be sung in the streets and alleys.

There are various versions, all of which talk about Xiao Yuan's life experience and Concubine Shu's romantic life.

The Fourth Prince's Mansion, which was once highly respected by the people, suddenly became the target of public criticism, and Xiao Yuan also became the topic of conversation among the people.

In the past few days, even the servants of the Fourth Prince's Mansion would be pointed at and scolded when they went out. The strange looks from the people and the slander on the streets were like knives, stabbing every person in the Fourth Prince's Mansion.

And Xiao Yuan had not attended the morning court for three days in a row.

"Did you really listen to that nonsense?" Ling Chenyi was so angry.

Xiao Yuan stood behind the desk, marking and drawing.

There was a thick pile of paintings beside him, all of which were outlines of women. If you looked closely, you could tell that they were all of the same person.

Ling Chenyi strode forward and snatched the pen from his hand, "Shen Anan is coming back soon, why are you still looking at these paintings?"

Xiao Yuan remained silent, and Ling Chenyi became even angrier.

"What on earth do you want to do? Do you want to stay in the study and be decadent forever? Do you still want to achieve your great cause?"

He thought Xiao Yuan would not be affected by these things.

But he neglected that one was his father and the other was his beloved woman. Together they dealt him a fatal blow. He was also a human being. How could he not be sad and upset?

"Do you know what the outside world is saying now? Even if it's not for yourself, you should also do it for the reputation of the deceased Concubine Shu, and you shouldn't just sit there and do nothing!!"

Xiao Yuan's calm eyes finally changed. He slowly raised his head and looked outside, then said.

"She should be back tomorrow."

“…”

"Just continue to act crazy and wait for the emperor to purge your followers."

Ling Chenyi flicked his sleeves and left.

——

After several days of travel, we finally arrived at Langyue Lake.

I don’t know if it was the severed finger that worked, but Shin Yunbai didn’t appear again and the journey was relatively smooth.

The closer they got to the capital, the more uneasy Shen Anan felt. Her heart was in knots and she felt uncomfortable. Maybe it was because of Hua Sheng, or maybe it was because of something else.

But she couldn't tell.

"We should set off at daybreak and be able to reach the city before nightfall."

Qi Jinping nodded, but still sat beside the carriage motionless.

Shen Anan frowned, "You should set off back."

"kindness."

It was still just a word that was as precious as gold, and Shen Anan was a little confused about him.

If he had any feelings for Hua Sheng, his face showed no joy or anger, and he did not look like someone who had lost his beloved. If he did not have any feelings for Hua Sheng, he would have followed Hua Sheng's coffin closely all the way, not leaving its side.

"I haven't told the princess and Ling Chenyi about Hua Sheng yet." Shen Anan looked depressed.

She didn't know how to start, let alone how to explain.

"It has nothing to do with you," Qi Jinping looked towards the capital, "She died in front of me. It was my fault that I failed to protect her. I will bring her back to the Yongning Marquis' Mansion and personally apologize to Chen Yi and the Princess."

“…”

Although Qi Jinping was the main reason why Hua Sheng left Beijing, he was not at fault for Hua Sheng's death.

"You feel guilty because of her feelings, right?"

Qi Jinping said nothing.

"You'd better go back. I will personally explain to the princess. The capital is in turmoil right now. You can't go back."

"It's only half a day, there won't be any problem." Qi Jinping was very stubborn and remained unmoved no matter what Shen Anan said. Shen Anan had no choice but to let him go.

But he was still disguised.

The capital city was right before their eyes, but no one could be happy at all. What followed was a deeper sense of heaviness than the one they had experienced on the road.

At night, Li Huaiyan sat on the roof, drinking heavily, "Hua Sheng is gone, how can I explain to Ling Chenyi!!"

Qi Jinping remained guarding the coffin all night.

Qingfeng stood on the roof, watching Li Huaiyan drink in silence.

After holding it in all the way, I finally returned to the capital safely, and the pain that I had been enduring in my heart for a long time was finally relieved.

Even Qi Jinping, who was very frugal with words, drank a pot of wine.

Someone heard him talking to the coffin, but no one knows what they said exactly.

Shen Anan stood in front of the window until the cock crowed, then opened the door and continued on her journey.

No one rested that night.

The carriage left Langyue Lake and got onto the official road.

The branches that were bare when I left have now sprouted spring buds, dotted with little green, and have a bit of vitality.

A ballad suddenly came into my ears.

Shen Anan's closed eyes suddenly opened, "Uncle Zhong, stop the car."

She lifted the curtain and looked out, then ordered, "Call the child who was singing just now over here. I have something to ask you."

Uncle Zhong went there immediately, but as soon as he approached, the children scattered like birds and beasts and ran away without a trace.

"Girl, those kids are all gone."

Shen Anan frowned, her almond eyes were cold and solemn.

"Well, let's go back to Beijing."

The closer you get to the capital, the more similar nursery rhymes you hear, and even in roadside taverns and teahouses you can occasionally hear a few conversations.

Shen Anan’s face became uglier.

She was sure that everyone who happened that night was dead and the matter had never been spread out, so what were these nursery rhymes about now?

Li Huaiyan's face was serious. "Could there be a spy among us?"

But after thinking about it, I felt that it was unlikely. Those secret guards were all Xiao Yuan's men and there was no way they would betray their master.

“No,” Shen An’an’s face was gloomy, “Tianshui City was planned by the emperor. In addition to those who have died, the emperor also knew what Cao Pei would say before he died.”

"You mean, these rumors were spread by the emperor?" Li Huaiyan was incredulous.

The emperor cheated on himself and was willing to bear the ridiculous reputation of raising someone else's son, just to get rid of Xiao Yuan. How much does he hate his son! !

"It seems that the situation in the capital is much more serious than we thought!!"

The struggle between Xiao Yuan and the emperor has completely unfolded, and at the moment, it seems that Xiao Yuan does not have the upper hand.

She suddenly felt anxious and wanted to return home quickly.

The emperor really kills people and destroys their hearts! !

What Xiao Yuan cares about most is Concubine Shu. He has always been aloof and proud, but the emperor humiliates him in this way! !

Did he fight back?

The discussion in the teahouse continued.

"That's impossible. The Fourth Prince is famous for his bravery and is highly regarded by the Emperor. How could he not be a prince?"

"How could it be false? I have a relative who works for a powerful family and told me personally that this matter was discovered by the Fourth Prince's wife in Jiangnan. It was said by a relative of the man that Concubine Shu committed adultery. The Fourth Prince is not the heir to the throne, but the son of the man that Concubine Shu committed adultery with."

"What are you talking about?" The cold voice was mixed with anger. Qingfeng's cold eyes made the two men shiver.

"Let's... talk about the rumors that are spreading in the capital now. Do you... do you want to listen to them?"

"Who spread the rumor just now?"

When the man saw that Qingfeng was interested in the rumor, he immediately relaxed and said, "Oh, you're talking about this."

"Of course it's the Fourth Prince's wife. She and the Fourth Prince are husband and wife. How could it be false if she found out personally?"

"Now the news has spread all over the capital. The Fourth Prince's wife went to Jiangnan to investigate the case. She found a relative of the man that Concubine Shu committed adultery with. This matter was revealed by that relative."

He lowered his voice and approached Qingfeng, "It is said that the fourth prince is not the heir to the throne, but a bastard!!!"

Qingfeng's face turned pale and the hand holding the knife trembled slightly.

The man realized something was wrong and immediately shrank back, pulling the man next to him and running away.

"This is absolute nonsense." Qingfeng followed all the way and knew very well that this matter had absolutely nothing to do with his own princess.

In order to prevent Cao Pei's words from spreading, the prince's wife even massacred the entire government office.

The carriage was not far from the teahouse, and Shen Anan listened to everything the two said, without changing his expression at all.

"Qingfeng, let's go."

The curtains were lowered and the team set off again.

Shen Anan leaned against the wall of the car with half her eyes closed.

She was thinking that the emperor would use her to take the blame, to add credibility to the rumors and to silence the people. Xiao Yuan must know about it, but what about him? Do you doubt her too?

Or do you hate her so much that you think she must have done it?

It's not surprising. If she were Xiao Yuan, she would definitely doubt herself. After all, her grandmother was between them.

If she announced to the world that the emperor killed Concubine Shen and her grandmother in order to hide such a secret, it would indeed bring justice to her grandmother, but it would also harm Xiao Yuan.

She didn't want this to happen, but she never imagined that the emperor would be so heartless as to abandon the dignity and respect of the royal family in order to depose Xiao Yuan! !

Mo Xiangtou finally poked his head back from the window, pursed his lips and said in disappointment, "Miss, your uncle didn't come to pick you up."

"Um."

Her voice was very faint.

——

The Fourth Prince’s Mansion.

Xiao Yuan hadn't left the study for several days, and he looked a little depressed. His beard had grown, his clothes were a little wrinkled, and he looked very haggard.

A thick pile of drawing paper has been piled up on the desk, and the contours of the woman's facial features are becoming more and more vivid, especially when she is smiling with her lips curled.

He put down his pen, raised his head and looked out the window, a hint of confusion flashing across his eyes.

Qing'an pushed the door open.

"You're back?"

Qing'an shook his head, not quite understanding what his master was thinking.

It was obvious that he missed the prince's wife very much, but he did not go to greet her.

Prince Ling said that his master was hit hard, but he had been with his master for several years, and seeing how idle his master had been these past few days, he didn't look heartbroken or hit at all.

It clearly seems like he has a plan.

Xiao Yuan's eyes darkened again.

He lowered his head and looked at the clothes on his body, and began to feel conflicted.

He wanted to appear in front of her in his most handsome appearance, but this would greatly reduce his plan.

Which one should I choose?

In the end, he chose not to change his clothes. Since he wanted to make her feel distressed, he had to follow through to the end.

We should have arrived this afternoon, but we waited until the lights came on.

Qing'an felt sore for his master's neck. He turned his head 1,821 times in two hours. Unfortunately, he failed to bring the prince's wife back.

He knew the rumors outside and was as skeptical as Prince Ling, but since his master seemed to trust the princess, he was willing to believe it.