Chapter 174: Gentle and Soft

"Humph, if she could handle it, how could she be captured by the bandits?" Someone began to question.

"I also heard that those bandits were disguised as the rebel Prince Yong, they were all soldiers, can our princess fight one against a hundred?" Someone had ill intentions.

"Well, then tell me, how did the princess escape?" Someone fanned the flames.

"The princess is extremely intelligent and keeps calm in times of danger, how could she not escape on her own?" Someone argued for Minglan.

"How could a woman break through the numerous checkpoints in the palace and rush out of the city alone? She must have colluded with the rebels, maybe she colluded with them the night she was captured."

"You are talking nonsense, if she colluded with the rebels, why did she ask for reinforcements? Isn't this a contradiction?" People outside started arguing.

"That... that means someone is helping her, maybe it's a spy from an enemy country, deliberately trying to disrupt our Song Dynasty. In any case, it's impossible for her to ask for reinforcements by herself."

"You stinky men just look down on women. The princess was personally conferred by the late emperor, but you are talking nonsense here!" This is an angry female voice, she is speaking up for Minglan.

"..."

For some reason, the carriage was moving very slowly, so the sounds outside kept coming into the carriage. Minglan closed her eyes and let these sounds fill her eardrums.

Xiaotao was angry when she heard it. She wanted to rush out of the car to argue with those people, but as the princess's personal maid, she knew that her every word and action was related to the princess's image, so she resisted the impulse and sat quietly in the car.

Xiao Tao's eyes were full of dissatisfaction and worry about the false rumors against Ming Lan. She stole a glance at Ming Lan and saw that her daughter had a calm face and closed her eyes, as if she was resting.

The carriage was still moving slowly, slowly passing through the bustling crowd. Xiao Tao wanted to cover the entire carriage tightly to isolate all the disturbances from the outside world and prevent the outside sounds from coming in.

Ming Lan suddenly opened her eyes and ordered Xiao Tao, "Xiao Tao, open all the curtains!"

Xiao Tao was shocked and puzzled, "Miss?"

Ming Lan smiled at her gently, as if to soothe her emotions, "It's okay, open it!"

Xiao Tao listened to Ming Lan and opened all the curtains. Instantly, Minglan's figure was exposed to everyone's eyes. It was not known whether it was an illusion or not, but the originally bustling street suddenly became quiet for a moment.

Minglan looked out the window with a dignified and gentle manner, and greeted the people naturally and generously. Her smile was warm and sincere, which made the pedestrians who were originally suspicious feel embarrassed and saluted her one after another. However, everyone who saw Minglan's face fell silent. And those who spread the rumors hurriedly retreated when Minglan's eyes swept over them, not daring to look directly at them. Minglan keenly noticed their actions.

Seeing this, Minglan's smile became more brilliant, and she already knew in her heart that there was really a driving force behind all this, and today's events were instigated by that person.

With Minglan's appearance, the crowd that had gathered around the carriage began to slowly disperse, leaving a passage for the carriage. However, Minglan was not in a hurry to leave. She whispered to the driver to let the carriage move at a slower speed.

When the carriage was about to drive out of Yu Street, Minglan told the driver to stop. The carriage slowly stopped, and Minglan walked out of the carriage calmly and stood on the step of the carriage. She stood tall and straight, like a pine tree standing proudly in the wind. She turned to face the people who were still standing, with a smile in her eyes.

"Everyone," Minglan's voice was gentle and steady, like the warm sunshine in spring, "Recently, there have been various rumors about me. I would like to clarify: they are all false. For this reason, I am willing to swear and make it clear to everyone that I have done things that are worthy of heaven, worthy of earth, worthy of the emperor, and even more worthy of the Song Dynasty!"

Every word of Minglan was full of power, and every word was like thunder, showing unparalleled firmness and determination. After speaking, Minglan glanced solemnly in the direction of the people behind her, then turned back to the carriage and told the driver to continue moving forward.

Minglan showed extraordinary frankness and fearlessness, coupled with her majesty as a princess, which not only shocked the people around her, but also established an indestructible image in her behavior. Her actions were like a gentle breeze that quietly calmed the doubts and rumors among the people. Instead, these false voices gradually dissipated under her righteous spirit, and also aroused more praise for Minglan's integrity and bravery.

Minglan sat back in the carriage. Xiaotao looked at her with admiration and excitement, "Miss, I was also shocked by your aura just now. You are so calm and righteous!"

Minglan smiled refreshingly when she heard it, and said patiently, "Xiaotao, remember, rumors always rise and fall like the tide, and it is difficult to distinguish between true and false. We don't need to be anxious to prove our innocence all the time, otherwise we will easily fall into the trap carefully set by others. Words can be like hidden arrows, hurting people without being visible; they can also be like spring breeze and rain, turning the world around."

Xiaotao looked at Minglan, listened to Minglan's teachings, and nodded constantly.

Rongchang Marquis Mansion

Rongchang Marquis walked into the mansion with a heavy heart. As he walked, he asked the housekeeper who followed him closely: "Did the young lady go out today?"

Upon hearing this, the housekeeper's face changed slightly, and he seemed quite embarrassed. He said softly: "Reporting to the Marquis, the young lady... the young lady actually just came back from outside the mansion." As soon as

these words came out, Rongchang Marquis's footsteps suddenly stopped, his face instantly darkened, and anger surged in his eyes. "How did you take care of the young lady? How could you let the young lady leave the mansion?" His voice was filled with dissatisfaction and reproach.

The housekeeper also had a hard time saying anything. Recalling that some time ago, when Rong Feiyan was abducted, there were rumors in the capital, but because Rong Feiyan returned safely and Minglan was honored as a princess, the rumors gradually subsided. Later, Rong Feiyan was betrothed, and Rongchanghou's mansion had been preparing her dowry. Today, Rong Feiyan wanted to personally choose her favorite jewelry, so she left the mansion. Moreover, Rongchanghou had never restricted Rong Feiyan from leaving the mansion. How could he, a housekeeper, stop his own girl?

The housekeeper couldn't defend himself, so he could only bow his head and admit his fault, allowing Rongchanghou to vent his anger by scolding him.

Rongchanghou led the housekeeper straight to Rong Feiyan's yard. Before they got close, they heard the heartbreaking sobbing, which made Rongchanghou heartbroken.

Rongchang Hou walked quickly to Rong Feiyan's door and whispered to the maid guarding the door, "My Lord, has the young lady been crying in this room since she came back?"

The maid guarding the door showed a worried look on her face and replied respectfully, "My Lord, the young lady has been crying since she came back. Sister Que'er is trying to comfort her in the room."

Upon hearing this, Rongchang Hou glanced at the maid with dissatisfaction, then walked forward lightly and knocked on the door, his voice soft and full of love, "Feiyan, Feiyan, it's daddy, can daddy come in?"