"Your Majesty." Upon hearing Jiang Mingyun's words, Xu Nian guessed that it was related to the famine escape incident. "This matter was all caused by me. General Gu was delayed because he was helping me to provide relief to the disaster victims. I am willing to accept the punishment."
"Your Majesty, this matter has nothing to do with the Princess of Fu'an County. It was my own willful act." Gu Zhan kowtowed and admitted his guilt, but in his heart, he felt a sweet satisfaction because of Xu Nian's protection.
Jiang Mingyun sat at the head of the table, watching the two exchange words, and snorted in annoyance.
He half-complained and half-advised to Eunuch Wang, "Look at the two of them. I haven't even said anything yet, and they've already started taking the blame for each other."
Eunuch Wang understood and stepped forward to help Xu Nian and the other up. "The county princess and General Gu have been friends through thick and thin, and they are very close. They both think more about each other."
The man at the head of the table snorted again; how could he not see the subtleties between the two?
Since Gu Zhan himself didn't say anything, he didn't ask. However, this matter still needed to be resolved, the rumors needed to be quelled, so that Gu Zhan could be exonerated in court.
"Gu Zhan neglected his duties and shirked orders. He is hereby ordered to reflect on his mistakes from today onwards. Military affairs will be temporarily handled by the deputy general."
The Emperor is about to let General Gu go.
[Isn't this punishment just a disguised vacation? This so-called "confinement" is just an old trick from the ancients.]
[After all, he's one of his own people, and General Gu must have already told him about these things.]
Xu Nian looked at this and then at that. After Jiang Mingyun had finished talking about Gu Zhan's punishment, she had no intention of saying anything more and waved her hand to dismiss them.
She opened her big eyes and asked blankly, "Your Majesty, then, what about me?"
Is there someone who's eager to be punished?
Jiang Mingyun looked at the girl's innocent and bewildered expression. He couldn't help but think of his own little princess, who was about the same age as Xu Nian, and a thought struck him. "You, you should just stay in your county princess's residence. If you're really bored, you can go to Anqing for a visit. Go back now, and stop bothering me."
"Who is Anqing?" On the way back in the carriage, Xu Nian slightly lifted the curtain and looked at the mansions they passed by, asking sincerely.
Passersby stared at her, many giving her strange looks, some with disdain and mockery. She pretended not to see them; after all, these people wouldn't dare to do anything to her.
Gu Zhan couldn't stand it any longer and lowered the carriage curtain. "Anqing is the Emperor's youngest daughter, and also his only daughter. She lives in the Princess's Mansion, which is not far from you."
Xu Nian nodded, but her mind was no longer on the matter.
Looking at her hand enveloped by the man's large hand, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she said in a soft, weak voice, "I...I understand. Gu Zhan, please let go of my hand first."
She hadn't felt anything before, but now, for some reason, every time she was alone with Gu Zhan, her cheeks felt incredibly hot.
She bit her lip, forcing herself not to look at it, but felt a strange sense of loss when Gu Zhan let go of her hand.
“If you want to go, I can have Miss Su show you the way later.” Gu Zhan coughed twice to change the subject. If you looked closely, you would notice that the tips of his ears were red. “I heard that she has a close personal relationship with Princess Anqing. You two can also exchange ideas when you have time.”
[Tsk tsk tsk, the stench of romance is overwhelming.]
When will the general confess his feelings? Nianbao'er, don't be a coward, go for it!
As rumors spread, no one dared to actually do anything in front of the county magistrate's mansion, or even General Gu's mansion. However, when people from the mansion went out to buy things, they were inevitably stopped and asked all sorts of questions.
The village chief and the villagers tried to explain to these people, but to little avail.
Apart from the small group of people at their workplace and those whose fortunes had been told by Xu Nian before, almost no one believed it.
It has even evolved into the perception that Xu Nian is a local tyrant who stole other people's food and only did so many good deeds on his way to the capital.
The little girl never went out, but people always brought her news, making her feel like she was becoming a fearsome shrew in the capital.
For the first time in a long time, she felt a strong thirst for knowledge.
Who exactly is spreading these rumors about her, and with such detailed and seemingly plausible evidence?
"Niannian." Just as she was thinking, Su Wanting pushed open the door and walked in. "Come on, Princess Anqing is going to fly kites at her villa in the suburbs of Beijing today. I'll take you with me. Don't get bored staying in the house."
Xu Nian touched her nose, wanting to agree, but then suddenly remembered her recent reputation, "I think I'd better not go. Otherwise you'll all be said to be birds of a feather, blind to talent."
Su Wanting glared at Xu Nian and tapped her forehead: "What are you saying? Do you think Anqing and I are the kind of people who would believe rumors? Let's go, the carriages are waiting outside the gate!"
"Pah! You big liar!"
"I really don't know how she has the nerve to show her face. Are the people in the Prime Minister's residence so blind?"
"The fact that the Su family is on good terms with such people shows that they are not a good family either!"
Unlike in TV dramas, there won't be impulsive people throwing rotten leaves or rotten eggs onto cars.
Regardless of the era, ordinary people, though emotional, mostly value their lives. Doing this will only lead to imprisonment, offering no benefit whatsoever.
But there are always some people who follow behind the carriage, using the denigration of high-ranking officials and nobles as a way to enhance their own sense of accomplishment.
"Niannian, don't listen to them. They're just a bunch of ordinary people who can't read much, so naturally they'll believe whatever others say." Su Wanting said with concern in her eyes, placing her hand on Xu Nian's hand to comfort her.
But the other person shook his head, seemingly unaffected, with only a serious look in his eyes. "Now I know why they've been spreading rumors about me like this."
"What?"
Xu Nian looked at Su Wanting and said, "It's common knowledge in the capital that I'm on good terms with your family and Gu Zhan. If my reputation is ruined, it will have far-reaching consequences. In the eyes of these people, you will be the same kind of people as me."
The person behind this is truly vicious!
If the Prime Minister's office and the Grand General lose the people's support, then it will be of no use who a prince marries in the future.
Gu Zhan was still able to turn the tide in the war, so what could the Prime Minister's Mansion rely on?
Doing too much will overshadow your superiors, while doing too little will be a thankless task, achieving nothing and potentially benefiting others!
"Niannian, Wanting, come quick! We've been waiting for you for so long!" Anqing exclaimed excitedly as he saw them, holding a kite that was soaring high in the sky.
She is the Crown Prince's biological younger sister, Jiang Rong, who has always favored her future sister-in-law, Su Wanting. She also greatly admires Xu Nian, her sister-in-law's savior.
Not to mention, Xu Nian also knows all sorts of little tricks that she has never seen before. These past few days, the three girls have been inseparable.
"Princess, do you have a more secluded room here?" Xu Nian had no time for fun anymore, so she grabbed An Qing's hand and walked towards the courtyard. "Let's go see something good."
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