Fang Ruotang was as difficult to hold down as a pig during the Lunar New Year. The Crown Prince had to use both hands to firmly hold her in his arms. Seeing her struggle until her face turned red, he was both annoyed and amused.
"This is, after all, their family matter, and it's not appropriate for us to interfere."
"Does marrying him mean I have to endure his humiliation?"
Fang Ruotang was dissatisfied with the Crown Prince's inaction.
The Crown Prince gently rubbed the back of Fang Ruotang's neck to comfort her, and led her aside. "Tell me what you want to do, and I'll take care of it."
Fang Ruotang is, after all, an unmarried girl, and it is not appropriate for her to get involved in these matters. It would be too easy for her to attract gossip from others, and she might even be blamed.
“Miss Tan is innocent. Young Master Shao must publicly admit his mistake and seek her forgiveness. We cannot wrong her reputation.”
The Crown Prince raised his hand and gently stroked the corner of Xia Ruotang's reddened eyes, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
"Okay, don't be angry, I'll take care of it."
The Crown Prince was naturally ascetic and didn't care about his own affairs, much less interfere in other people's business.
But seeing how angry Fang Ruotang is, it's clear she's taking her anger out on him.
However, figuring out how to handle it is a bit tricky, as he is not as naive and ignorant as Xiao Liu.
Ultimately, how this matter will be resolved depends on Tan Yuyao's thoughts. As long as she continues to live in the Xuanping Marquis's residence, this matter can only be handled lightly.
Fortunately, Lord Tan arrived quickly.
Lord Tan had a handsome face and a commanding presence. Having held a high position for a long time, he first paid his respects to the Crown Prince and the Grand Preceptor, then went directly to Prince Shao and kicked him without saying a word.
"Father."
Tan Yuyao exclaimed in surprise, took a few steps forward, her face showing apprehension and worry.
The prince lowered his gaze as he looked at the little girl, whose eyes were still sparkling, whom he held tightly in his arms.
"Let's go! It's not convenient for us to stay here and watch what happens next."
Let's take another look!
Fang Ruotang didn't want to leave. The scene had just reached its climax, and Lord Tan's kick was so cool; she wanted to watch it a little longer.
The Crown Prince half-carried Fang Ruotang out of the Xuanping Marquis's residence, not because he wanted to spoil her mood, but because he was afraid she would be disappointed if she stayed until the end.
"After Tan Yuyao gets a divorce, I'll have Xiao Jingzi choose a good husband for her, a man with a normal mind who will respect his wife." Fang Ruotang was still thinking about this even as they approached the Prime Minister's residence.
Seeing that she had already foreseen the outcome, the Crown Prince was even less willing to tell her his guess about the ending.
Unexpectedly, rumors began to circulate in the capital the next day.
The reason was that the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion did not completely suppress what happened yesterday. After all, there were so many people present at the time, and many people heard the noisy ramblings of the young master Shao and his group on their way back to the mansion. Inevitably, some busybodies inquired about what happened next.
The fact that Fang Ruotang's hymen was originally broken also spread, which aroused opposition from many old scholars and old-fashioned people. They even blamed her for yesterday's events and focused their attacks on her.
These people took the opportunity to smear Fang Ruotang, even saying that she was promiscuous and that this whole thing was just an excuse for her to have affairs with men in the future.
They also said that she had ill intentions and encouraged women to divorce everywhere. First there was Cao Yuedi, then the five sisters-in-law of the Wan family, and now there is Tan Yuyao. With so many women like her covered in stigma, it will be less noticeable if she continues to associate with men.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince was prepared. In order to promote Fang Ruotang's good reputation, he kept a close eye on public opinion. Before these slanderous remarks about Fang Ruotang could spread, they were already controlled by the Crown Prince's people, and those people were arrested immediately.
The Crown Prince did not let the law go unpunished just because there were many people spreading the rumors. He beheaded all those who led the trouble, and even those who followed the rumors and whose actions were not serious were all given thirty strokes of the cane. No one involved had a good ending. His ruthless methods silenced many men who originally disliked Fang Ruotang.
It was at this time that the Crown Prince made a major decision and had new information released.
The next day, the rumors circulating on the streets changed.
As a celestial envoy, what's wrong with Fang Ruotang having a few people serve her?
Which immortal doesn't have several young boys and girls under his command? Fang Ruotang only has six, so what's wrong with that?
The crown prince listened to his subordinates' report with a dark expression. At that moment, the subordinates felt that the crown prince was like a giant.
But for some reason, I also felt a pang of pity.
Several days later, the matter reached Fang Ruotang's ears. By then, the people had accepted this explanation, after all, the ruling class had been adept at using the art of keeping the people ignorant since ancient times.
Most ordinary people lack independent thinking ability; they listen to whatever those in power want them to listen to and watch whatever they want them to watch.
The common people at the bottom of society don't think much; they just want to survive, and how they survive isn't important.
Furthermore, the grain that Fang Ruotang provided had already reached the hands of farmers around the capital, and those who were quick had already planted it in the fields. Therefore, in a male-dominated dynasty, the Crown Prince's remarks were implemented very smoothly.
However, he himself was not happy.
The atmosphere in the Eastern Palace had been oppressive for several days. The palace servants acted with extreme caution, fearing that they might offend the Crown Prince and be dragged out and beheaded.
On the other hand, Fang Ruotang was beaming with joy.
[The Crown Prince is so enamored!]
[Standard procedure, you'll get used to it.]
Xiao Jingzi remained calm; if circumstances allowed, he would have even considered smoking a cigarette afterward.
Then I must treat the Crown Prince better from now on.
[You should just appoint him as your Grand Tutor. After all, with his magnanimity, if he's not the highest-ranking official, who is?]
Fang Ruotang covered her flushed face, feeling a little happy.
Fang Shengtang rolled her eyes, poked Fang Ruotang's forehead with her slender finger, and said in a light reproach, "I came here not to watch you swoon. The Crown Prince is really disregarding my life. You don't know that I went out today and actually met two young ladies who subtly expressed to me that they were willing to serve me for the rest of my life."
"And what's with all this talk about how we're all immortals descended to earth and shouldn't be treated differently? It's ridiculous that I shouldn't monopolize the rest of my life and should learn from the Crown Prince!"
Fang Shengtang has striking features and an aggressive beauty. When she goes out, she always lowers her head and pretends to be dignified and virtuous. But in front of Fang Ruotang, she raises her chin high, like a blooming thorny rose.
"Hmm!"
Fang Ruotang covered her forehead, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Fang Shengtang. She grinned, unable to hide her joy, and said, "Big sister, don't be unhappy. I'll definitely talk to the Crown Prince later."
"Look at you grinning like an idiot." Fang Shengtang gave his sister a reproachful look, but he was actually happy for her too.
She doesn't care whether her younger sister finds one or several partners, as long as her sister is happy.
In her eyes, etiquette and rules were not even a fraction as important as her sister's smile.
After all, their Prime Minister's Mansion has been unconventional for quite some time. Otherwise, they wouldn't have decided to keep Fang Ruotang in the mansion as a young lady just because of her heart ailment, disregarding the opinions of the world and forbidding her from marrying anyone else.
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