Chapter 228 can be considered a friendship.
Upon entering the study, Li Zhong cautiously glanced at Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu noticed and said, "I'm fine, don't worry about me."
Li Zhong nodded quickly and said, "The news came out in the last two days, and this old servant has already started investigating."
“Alright, we must keep a close eye on things at home and not let the old Duke know about this,” Jiang Yu said.
Li Zhongying agreed, and Jiang Yu waved him away, then got up to take a bath and prepare to rest. Lying in the warm bath, she continued to think about the matter.
How would the emperor react if he found out about this?
If the rumors intensify and the slogan "a hen crowing at dawn" is uttered, what will the emperor do? How will she respond?
The incident has already happened. Finding the person who spread the rumors is important, but resolving the current crisis is even more important.
She had been soaking in the bath for quite a while when Dongxue, who was serving her, whispered a reminder, "Your Highness, soaking for too long is not good for your health."
Jiang Yu snapped out of her reverie and took the blanket Dongxue handed her, wrapping it around herself. Dongxue, accompanied by several maids, came to help and soon emerged from the bathroom. Back in her room, Jiang Yu smelled a delicate fragrance and asked, "What's that scent?"
Xia He smiled and said, "This is calming incense that Madam sent over to help you sleep."
Jiang Yu nodded, took off her shoes, got into bed, picked up a book, and leaned against the headboard to read. Actually, she couldn't concentrate. Being the subject of false rumors would anger any woman, and she was no exception. It's just that she didn't like to show her emotions.
...
Prince An's Mansion
Prince An leaned back in his chair, listening to his subordinates' reports:
"The rumors started circulating yesterday. I investigated the source of the rumors, and it's... Yichunlou."
After the Imperial Guard finished speaking, he cautiously glanced at Prince An. Everyone in the Imperial Guard knew that their prince was very concerned about the Duke of Chu's affairs. Now that such rumors were circulating, their prince was sure to be angry.
Prince An was indeed very angry. His face was calm, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes.
After a while, he said, "Catch the madam."
"Yes," the Imperial Guard replied immediately.
After the Imperial Guard left, Prince An picked up a pen, wrote a letter, put it away, and handed it to another Imperial Guard, saying, "To the Duke of Chu."
After the Imperial Guard left, Prince An was left alone in the room.
The night was deep and the room was silent. Prince An sat there with his eyes closed. He didn't know how the emperor would react when he learned of the rumors.
Is he furious and investigating who spread the rumors?
Or should we take this opportunity to bring Jiang Yu into the palace?
He was a man, so he naturally knew how attractive a woman like Jiang Yu was to men. The emperor was also a man; even if he hadn't had any feelings for Jiang Yu before, what happened after such rumors spread?
From an emperor's perspective, Jiang Yu, the Duke of Chu, was exceptionally capable, and bringing her into the palace would not be the act of a wise ruler. As for the current emperor, regardless of how he treats his princes, he is not a foolish ruler.
But what if something unexpected happens? There's always a chance of something going wrong. Prince An feared that the Emperor might be blinded by lust and do something foolish. However, as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he had to inform the Emperor of this rumor.
He wrote to Jiang Yu to find out how she planned to respond, so he could perhaps offer some assistance.
........
Jiang Yu leaned against the headboard with a book in his hand for a while, lost in thought, before Xia He came to remind him, "Your Excellency, it's time to rest."
Jiang Yu snapped out of her reverie, put down the book, lay flat on the bed, and closed her eyes. She wouldn't be able to fall asleep anytime soon, but she needed to try and drift off. Sufficient sleep was essential to ensure she was energetic the next day; she had so many things to face.
After counting countless sheep, sleepiness gradually crept in. Just then, Xia He's voice rang out, "Lord Duke, Prince An has sent a message."
Jiang Yu sat up, and Xia He lifted the bed curtains and handed her a letter. Jiang Yu took it, tore it open, and held it up to the lamp to read.
Prince An told her that the rumors originated from Yichun Brothel, and that he would interrogate the brothel's madam that night. Furthermore, he should inform the Emperor about the rumors tomorrow, but if she had any plans, he could postpone it for a day or two.
Jiang Yu closed the letter and asked Xia He to prepare paper and pen. He wrote a reply to Prince An, firstly to express his gratitude, and secondly to tell him that he should simply report the matter to the Emperor as normal. She would handle the rumors as they arose.
In this situation, she could only improvise. As for Prince An's fear that the emperor would take her into the palace, she hadn't even considered it. She felt that the current emperor wouldn't do something so foolish. Clearly, serving as an official in the court was more beneficial to the emperor than becoming a concubine in the harem.
Moreover, if she were to enter the harem, the risk to the emperor would be considerable.
She had Xia He deliver the letter to the Imperial Guards, then lay back down. She hadn't expected Prince An to help her so readily; she had always assumed her relationship with him was based on mutual benefit. Reflecting on their interactions, in a way, they could be considered friends.
She remembered Prince An's help this time, and she would lend a hand if Prince An ever needed her help in the future.
After a few more moments of trying to fall asleep, she soon drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile, Prince An, having received Jiang Yu's letter, got up and went to Yichun Tower.
As dusk settled, Yichun Tower was bustling with activity. The air was filled with the sounds of singing and dancing, and the constant flow of customers. But in a room on the third floor, the madam, Xu Manniang, knelt on the floor, trembling as she looked at several Imperial Guards in their flying fish robes.
"Gentlemen, I abide by the law and conduct business honestly. I have never done anything illegal."
Several Imperial Guards glanced at him, but remained silent. Xu Manniang grew anxious and said, "My lords, if I have made any mistake or broken any rules, please let me know. If I cannot resolve it myself, I can find someone to help me."
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Guards laughed. He was implying she had powerful backers. Without connections and influence, who could run a brothel in the capital? But was there anyone in the capital that the Imperial Guards dared not arrest or interrogate?
"Just wait. When the prince arrives, tell him who's behind you," a member of the Imperial Guard said with a smile.
Xu Manniang immediately fell silent. She had thought she had offended some leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but it turned out to be Prince An. She collapsed to the ground; if it was Prince An, no one could save him.
Just then, the door was pushed open, and a tall man dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold pythons walked in. Xu Manniang cautiously looked over, but upon meeting the gaze of the man in the video chat, she immediately prostrated herself on the ground and kowtowed, no longer daring to look up.
Prince An walked to the central armchair and sat down, looking down at Xu Manniang kneeling on the ground, and asked, "Are you the madam here?"
"Yes, this servant is Xu Manniang," Xu Manniang replied cautiously.
"Who is your employer?" Prince An asked again.
Xu Manniang did not expect that Prince An would ask this question right away, but at this moment she had to answer, "The Zou family, I usually go to the Seventh Young Master Zou when I have something to do."
"The Zou family, who supply tea to the palace?" Prince An asked.
"Yes...yes."
After thinking for a while, Prince An said, "The Zou family has a daughter who married the second son of Wei Dongchen, the Chamberlain of the Secretariat."
Xu Manniang trembled and remained silent. If it were anyone else, mentioning Attendant-in-Ordinary Wei Dongchen might have worked, but it would be absolutely useless in front of Prince An.
"I have something to ask you. Should I call Wei Dongchen to listen in?" Prince An asked.
Xu Manniang was so frightened that she kowtowed again, "No...no need, Your Highness, please ask, I will tell you everything I know."
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