In the days that followed, Xin Jiuwei traveled between the Marquis of Anguo's residence, the Lin residence, various businesses, and charitable organizations.

With the prestige of Princess Rongchang and the old lady of the Marquis of Anguo, coupled with her own newly established good reputation and the weighty identity of "future sixth prince's wife," her appeal was beyond imagination.

When Lady Anguo called upon the Marquis, the call was met with overwhelming support. Noble ladies and noblewomen throughout the capital generously donated money and goods, and some even personally organized their household servants to make winter clothes and sew medicine pouches.

Lin Jingshu persuaded her father, and the Lin family business took the lead in selling grain at a low price. They also joined forces with several other large merchants to form a large caravan, preparing to transport the first batch of collected grain and medicinal herbs to Yingzhou.

The West Garden of the Sixth Prince's residence was quickly cleared out, and simple sheds were set up to receive the first batch of refugees fleeing from Yingzhou. The prefectural doctor and the nannies who knew some medical knowledge transferred from the orphanage were busy day and night.

Xin Jiuwei slept only two or three hours a day, coordinating with all parties, checking supplies, comforting refugees, and handling emergencies. Her beautiful face showed signs of exhaustion, but her eyes shone ever brighter—a light that burned itself to illuminate others. Her composure, competence, fairness, and heartfelt compassion earned her the respect of more and more people. Even some of the upright officials who initially had doubts about her couldn't help but nod in approval after witnessing her actions.

However, the winds of change are relentless. Just as Xin Jiuwei was busy with disaster relief efforts, a sinister wind was quietly blowing in certain corners of the capital.

"Have you heard? That Miss Xin is using disaster relief as a pretext to line her own pocket!"

"Really? It doesn't look like it?"

"You can know a person's face but not their heart! Think about it, when the Sixth Prince's mansion opened its granaries to distribute grain, she handled so much money, food, and supplies. Even a little bit of it slipped through her fingers would be enough for an ordinary person to live on for several lifetimes! Otherwise, how could a young lady from a declining family have such great ability to mobilize so many resources? Isn't it just because she's taking advantage of the Sixth Prince's power to amass wealth?"

"Exactly! And another thing, I heard that she forced those merchants to sell grain at 'flat prices,' but in reality, she was using her power to intimidate them and coerce them into buying and selling. Many merchants dared not speak out against her!"

"Tsk tsk, people's hearts are truly unpredictable! Those poor disaster victims, they still think of her as a living saint..."

These rumors, like the forked tongue of a venomous snake, began to spread among the people. Their origins were unclear, yet they spread extremely quickly, clearly indicating that someone was stirring things up behind the scenes. Their target was Xin Jiuwei's reputation, aiming to completely destroy the image she had painstakingly built, and even more importantly, to sabotage the disaster relief efforts!

Xin Kui immediately reported the rumors to Xin Jiuwei. At that time, Xin Jiuwei was at the Xiyuan temporary shelter, personally feeding medicine to a little girl with a high fever. Upon hearing Xin Kui's soft report, her hand paused only slightly before steadily feeding the medicine into the little girl's mouth, gently wiping away the medicine stains from the corners of the child's mouth with a handkerchief, her movements still gentle.

"I understand." Her voice was calm and even, without even looking up. "Clowns, all they do is hide in the gutter and shoot arrows. Let them say what they want."

"Miss!" A hint of ferocity flashed in Xin Kui's eyes. "These scumbags! Let me investigate! I must find the source of their gossip and cut off their tongues!" She came from humble beginnings and had seen the darkest side of human nature in the brothels, so her methods were always direct and ruthless.

“No need.” Xin Jiuwei finally raised her head and looked at Xin Kui. Her eyes were clear and firm, carrying a sense of maturity that came with experience. “The innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty. If we were to launch a major investigation now, it would only make us appear guilty and play right into their hands. Disaster relief is like putting out a fire; we don’t have time to waste on verbal disputes.”

She stood up, straightened her slightly wrinkled clothes, and glanced at the emaciated, bewildered disaster victims in the shacks. Her voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority: "Xin Kui, convey my message: From this day forward, a detailed list of all relief supplies entering and leaving the palace will be posted outside the palace gates at noon every day! It will be open to the scrutiny of the entire city! Anyone with questions may raise them, and I, Xin Jiuwei, will answer them personally! As for those merchants…"

A cold, sharp smile curved her lips: "Didn't Sister Lin contact several merchants to form a caravan? Tell Sister Lin to spread the word that the names of the merchants who participated in selling grain at fair prices, donating supplies, and joining the disaster relief caravan will be presented to the Emperor along with the letters of thanks from the Sixth Prince's residence and the Marquis of Anguo's residence! The court may not be able to provide the money and grain immediately, but this reputation as 'righteous merchants' for the country and its people, this merit that reaches the ears of the Emperor, is more valuable than gold!"

Xin Kui's eyes lit up: "Miss is brilliant!" This is an open strategy! Using the public announcement that the innocent will clear themselves of the rumors, using the historically renowned "righteous merchant" label to silence the gossip, and cleverly shifting the pressure back to those who are secretly causing trouble! If anyone dares to spread rumors again, those merchants who have benefited from the fame will be the first to object!

The rumors didn't immediately disappear because of Xin Jiuwei's response, but once the public notice was posted, detailing the whereabouts of every penny, every grain of rice, and every inch of cloth, the people's doubts were largely dispelled. Those merchants who participated in the disaster relief, having received the promise of being "righteous merchants," stood up straight and proactively stepped forward to refute the rumors, even subtly forming a force to protect Xin Jiuwei.

Xin Jiuwei remained busy, as if the malicious slander had never existed. Only in the quiet of the night would she occasionally stand by the window, gazing in the direction of Yingzhou, silently praying: Father, sister, brother-in-law, you must hold on! Wei'er is here, giving it her all!

Just as the disaster relief efforts in the capital were progressing with difficulty and the rumors had not yet completely subsided, the battle report from the northern border exploded like a thunderclap!

"Urgent dispatch! The Northern Rong have launched a massive invasion! Yunzhou has fallen! The garrison commander... the garrison commander has betrayed his country and defected to the enemy!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!