Chapter 127 Rumors
"Girl, the Fourth Prince has gone far away."
The maid reminded her in a low voice, and Duan Mengmeng finally reacted. She lifted her skirt and chased after him. As a girl, how could she possibly keep up with the pace of an adult man who had practiced martial arts for many years?
By the time we caught up with them, they had already reached the top of the mountain.
Xiao Yuan walked past the main hall and headed towards the backyard of the temple without looking back.
Duan Mengmeng was stunned and wanted to ask him where he was going, but it was a quiet place and she didn't want to make loud noises.
Fortunately, Qing'an stayed and came over to her and said, "The master has something important to do and needs to go see Master Wenyin first. Miss Duan San should go to the main hall to chant sutras and pray for blessings as originally agreed."
After saying this, he ignored Duan Mengmeng's ugly expression and hurriedly followed Xiao Yuan's departing footsteps.
The bamboo forest is still there, but it is already bare at this time of year, covered with a thin layer of white frost. Now that it sees the sun, it has turned into water droplets and is dripping down.
Wen Yin was sitting in the Zen room chanting scriptures. When she saw Xiao Yuan, a look of helpless melancholy suddenly filled her face, which usually had no expression.
"donor."
"I have brought the person here." Xiao Yuan said calmly.
Wen Yin sat on the cushion, obviously unwilling to move, "Monks do not tell lies."
Xiao Yuan just glanced at him coldly, walked over and took out a tablet from behind the table where the statue of Guanyin was placed.
There was no name written on the tablet.
Wen Yin's face immediately changed color and she stood up, "Fourth Prince, that is the tablet of Lao Na's old friend."
Xiao Yuan wiped off the speck of dust on the tablet and put it back, "Master, don't call me a donor anymore."
He turned around and looked at Wen Yin, standing with his hands behind his back, "Leaving the tablet of an old friend, it seems that the master is not empty-handed."
Wen Yin stared at Xiao Yuan deeply for a moment, and finally sighed heavily, "Amitabha, Lao Na will go with you."
——
In less than half a day, the entire capital knew that the Fourth Prince and the future Fourth Prince's wife had gone to Xiangjue Temple hand in hand to pray and chant sutras for Old Man Duan and the people of Xuzhou.
For a while, people could hear endless praises for Duan Mengmeng's beauty and kindness.
Naturally, this kind of talk was only spread among the common people. When officials in the mansions heard this, they had different thoughts in their minds. They all felt that the Duan family was cunning and had started to put on airs and win people's hearts before they even married into the royal family.
The most despised of them all was the Second Prince's wife, Zhou. She had been very happy these days since the death of that favored bitch.
At the banquet at the Minister of Personnel's residence, Zhou, who heard about this, was very disgusted with the Duan family's behavior.
Naturally, Duan Yingying who attended the banquet was bound to suffer injustice and bullying.
She was originally talking to the daughter and son of the Minister of Personnel, and they were getting along well, but Zhou's sarcasm ruined the whole thing and made her extremely embarrassed.
Finally, he left the Minister of Personnel's Mansion in embarrassment and despair.
She knew that this marriage was completely ruined.
She cried all the way, and her hatred for Duan Mengmeng reached its peak.
Why should she be implicated even though she has become the prince's consort? Without the marriage at the Shangshu Mansion, would she really go to Xuzhou to be a concubine?
What’s more, there is a flood in Xuzhou right now and we can hardly protect ourselves! !
Of course, this matter became just a joke after the banquet.
The next day, when Mo Xiang was helping Shen Anan wash and change her clothes, he told her the story as a joke.
"You mean, the news that Duan Mengmeng went to the temple to chant sutras and pray for Xuzhou was spread by the Duan family?"
Mo Xiang nodded, pouting, "Girls from official families all say she's hypocritical and pretentious."
Shen Anan held the hairpin in her hand and was absent-minded for a long time, until Mo Xiang called her and she came back to her senses.
"Girl, what's wrong with you?"
"It's okay." Shen Anan shook his head slightly.
She just felt that this matter seemed to be helped by God, and it was too smooth and lucky.
Duan Mengmeng also knew about the flood in Xuzhou, and took the initiative to pray and recite scriptures, and spread the news?
For a moment she even wondered if someone had already known her plan.
It's really an incredible coincidence.
"Miss Duan San has gained a good reputation among the people. It's a pity that Miss Duan Er was implicated for nothing and was embarrassed by the Second Prince's wife at the banquet. She lost all her face."
Although she was pitiful, Mo Xiang's face was full of gloating.
Duan Mengmeng is annoying, and Duan Yingying is not popular either.
Shen Anan curled the corners of his lips perfunctorily and said nothing more.
After finishing washing up, Mo Ran hurriedly pushed the door open and entered the room, then immediately closed it behind him. He looked as if something huge had happened.
"What's wrong?" Shen Anan asked.
Mo Ran walked to the dressing table and squatted down, his voice anxious and worried, "Miss, something happened."
"Yesterday, Miss Duan San went to Xiangjue Temple to chant sutras and pray for blessings. Today, there are new rumors. It is said...it is said..."
"What?" Shen Anan didn't care.
Mo Ran lowered his head, bit his lip and said, "It is said that she cares about the world and is the lucky star of Daliang. Some people even made up a ballad, something like... There is a phoenix tree in the courtyard, which attracts phoenixes to roost. It is her destiny that brings blessings to Daliang."
Shen Anan's eyes flickered, and she smiled without saying anything.
Mo Xiang was shocked and said, "The Duan family is too shameless. They just went to recite scriptures and pray for blessings. Can it solve the flood in Xuzhou and stop God from raining? How dare they say something like Wutong Phoenix and God's Destiny Girl."
Mo Ran nodded in agreement, "Nowadays, people outside are praising Third Miss Duan one after another. It is obvious that they really think she is a lucky star."
Shen Anan said nothing, and listened quietly to the two maids' discussion.
After staying in the house for most of the day, Shen Changhe suddenly came to find her. Shen Anan was stunned for a moment and seemed to sigh softly.
She had someone lead him to the front hall, and after fixing her makeup and dress, she went over as well.
Shen Changhe was sitting in the living room drinking tea. He didn't say anything when he saw her coming. He lowered his head and stared at the teacup, wondering what he was thinking about.
The atmosphere was somewhat stagnant.
Shen Anan sat down beside him and fell silent. Time passed bit by bit. After a long while, Shen Changhe suddenly spoke.
"Have you heard the rumors outside?"
"Well, I heard a few words from the two maids."
Shen Changhe turned his head to stare at her face, his deep eyes filled with turmoil.
"An An, if you have any problem, you can tell big brother, big brother can help you."
Shen Anan looked up, her almond eyes were innocent and beautiful, "There's nothing I need your help with, brother. It's just a folk rumor. I just treat it as a joke."
"That's not what I'm talking about." Shen Changhe exhaled a breath of turbid air and asked her, "Did you know about this in advance?"
Shen Anan raised her eyebrows slightly, smiled ambiguously, and said nothing, but Shen Changhe understood immediately.
"An An, you are taking too much risk. The emperor is not so easy to fool."
She would not change her mind because of some rumors, especially at this critical juncture. He would only be suspicious. If he continued to investigate, there was no guarantee that she would be able to escape unscathed.
"Don't worry, big brother. Since I dare to do it, I have a foolproof plan. Besides, apart from those few lines of the ballad, the rest has nothing to do with me, so I am not afraid of the emperor's investigation."
She knew that Duan Mengmeng and Xiao Yuan went to Xiangjue Temple, so she made a fuss about it. However, she was surprised that Duan Mengmeng prayed for the people of Xuzhou and the Duan family publicized it.
But it is undeniable that it is a timely help and a coincidence for her plan.
She even suspected that someone or a god was helping her.
Shen Changhe frowned when he heard this, "Really?"
"When have I ever lied to Big Brother? Besides, it's easy to find out what the Duan family did. Even if I have great ability, I can't reach out to the Duan Mansion."
Shen Changhe was half-believing and half-doubting, but after thinking about it for a while, he finally felt relieved, "This is also a coincidence, but it has helped you a lot."
Shen Anan did not comment.
"An An, I don't object to your fighting, but you are a woman, even if you are smart, you don't have anyone to help you. If necessary, I can help you."
Shen Changhe said earnestly.
Ever since his brother and sister had a conversation in the yard that night, he knew that An Anding would take action to avenge her grandmother. He didn't stop her, he just wanted to help her.
"We brothers and sisters will protect the Shen family together."
Shen Anan's eyes were sore and hot, she looked up at Shen Changhe with a smile on her face.
Said "OK."
The brother and sister talked for a long time in the hall. Mo Xiang stood outside and didn't let anyone get close, so he had no idea what they talked about.
The rumors in the capital seemed to be growing more and more intense, and even the emperor had heard of them.
From a lucky star at the beginning, she has now become the girl of destiny.
Some people even confirmed that there was indeed a paulownia tree in the Fourth Prince's courtyard, and even the courtyard was named Wutong Garden, where the queen lived.
That phoenix tree was planted by Concubine Shu in the early years. That was why the emperor gave this house to the fourth prince Xiao Yuan.
The next day at court, an imperial censor brought up the matter. The emperor was extremely disdainful and even scolded the censor.
It's sheer nonsense. It's ridiculous for a woman to talk about blessing Daliang.
He once suspected that Xiao Yuan and the Duan family were conspiring to win people's hearts, but then he suddenly remembered that Xiao Yuan was not fond of the girl from the Duan family.
Suspicious, he sent someone to investigate.
Only then did they learn that the person who uttered those words was actually a wandering Taoist priest, who had long since disappeared.
The previous rumor praising the kindness of the Duan family girl did come from the Duan Mansion, but there was no evidence in the song to prove that it was related to the Duan family.
Although none of the civil and military officials believed it, it was undeniable that this incident caused quite a stir in the capital.
The emperor had no choice but to suppress it. He was in good health. If the rumors were true, wouldn't it mean that Xiao Yuan would be the next true dragon emperor?
Duan Mengmeng was originally very proud of herself, dreaming of becoming the queen and being admired by everyone in the palace.
Only Duan Yingying hid in her boudoir and had not shown up for several days. She originally wanted to show off, but unexpectedly received an imperial edict.
I thought it was a compliment, but it turned out to be a rebuke. The general meaning was to rebuke the Duan family for seeking fame and reputation and deliberately making things mysterious, which led to rumors spreading.
Not long after Mr. Duan passed away, the Duan family was reprimanded in such a way, which was a complete disgrace to them.
And as the nominal consort of the Fourth Prince, she was also slapping Xiao Yuan in the face, a clear warning!
Duan Mengmeng took the imperial edict with a pale face. The feeling of being thrown from heaven to hell made her unable to recover for a while and her body trembled.
Madam Duan felt dizzy, but fortunately she was supported by Mrs. Duan and did not fall down.
"How could this happen?" She hurriedly pulled the nanny beside her over and said, "Hurry up and go to the Fourth Prince's Mansion."
The Fourth Prince clearly said that he would make the Duan family’s status in Daliang outstanding and would definitely not be lower than when the old man was alive. How come it has become like this now?
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