Chapter 179: Rumors in the Palace Revealed, Xie Yao Fights Back
Sang Ruo still remembered that seven years ago, when Nanny Su was old, the lady prepared some money for her to return to her hometown to spend her remaining years.
During that period, Nanny Su was always worried.
On the day she left the house, Aunt Sun suddenly arrested her on the pretext that she had dirty hands.
A few days later, the lady and she only saw a corpse that was unrecognizable.
"Madam, Aunt Sun said that it was Earl Wenchang and Old Madam Xie who killed Nanny Su. She was just taking the blame and she has no idea why Earl Wenchang wanted to arrest Nanny Su."
"She also said that after interrogating Nanny Su personally, Earl Wenchang became furious and wanted her to hire assassins to go to the northern border... and kill the princess. However, due to the long distance, they were unable to reach her, so they ultimately gave up on the plan."
Chengyuan.
Sang Ruo relayed Aunt Sun's words to Xu Susu.
"Xie Mingan, you actually thought about killing Ayao."
When Xu Susu heard this, her breathing suddenly became heavier and her clenched fists trembled.
Before Xie Yao returned to Beijing, Xie Mingan also threatened her with his daughter's life.
Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs. Every little thing proves that this man didn't treat Xie Yao as his daughter at all.
But Ayao, isn’t she his biological daughter?
unless……
Sang Ruo said, "Madam, Aunt Sun can't even take care of herself now. She'd rather be dead than alive. She didn't have to lie to me. It seems that Nanny Su was killed by Marquis Wenchang. However, I can't understand why Marquis Wenchang wanted to kill her."
Nanny Su died seven years ago in such a miserable way that Xu Susu couldn't bear to recall the memory.
Seven years ago, Xie Ming'an asked Qiu Shui, who had been hiding in the Xu family for many years, whether she had had close relationships with other men before marrying Xie Ming'an.
Why did he ask Qiu Shui this question?
Xu Susu frowned and her eyes grew darker.
She gave birth to Ayao in the meditation room of Chengfo Temple. The child was born prematurely and only Nanny Su was by her side.
During the delivery, she was exhausted and unconscious for half an hour.
An unbelievable guess gradually emerged in Xu Susu's mind.
But no matter what...
Xie Yao, they are all her daughters.
*
On the other side, Xie Yao had someone collect Qiu Shui's body. As soon as she returned to the palace, Nanny Qi came up to her with an anxious look on her face.
"Princess, you are back."
Nanny Qi lowered her voice and said, "In the past few days, the prince has not lived in Fuguangyuan. The servants in the palace have been talking about it. They all say that you are not favored, and they also say..."
Xie Yao took the tea from Tang Xin, her eyes indifferent: "What else do you want to say?"
Madam Qi said, "They say you and the prince haven't consummated your marriage yet. If this continues, the servants in the courtyard will probably neglect you."
Xie Yao took a sip of tea and rubbed the rim of the cup with her fingertips.
The fish she hooked was caught.
These rumors may seem to be just gossip among the lower classes, but in fact they must be deliberately spread by someone.
The purpose was to make her unable to hold her head up high in the mansion and become bullied by everyone.
The source of the rumor was in Fuguangyuan, otherwise, no one would know that she and Xiao Yizi had not consummated their marriage.
Xie Yao looked at Tang Xin: "You speak."
Tang Xin thought, "That day, Xiao Yun was slapped by me. The princess told me to keep a close eye on her and the other maids. I saw with my own eyes that she was talking to Qi'er, the maid in Madam Zhou's courtyard."
Her face was as gloomy as water. Even though Qi'er had been like a sister to her in the past, she didn't dare to hide it since it was something the princess had instructed her to do.
But she didn't want to exaggerate, and instead added very tactfully, "Also, Xiaoyun went to the Third House's courtyard for two consecutive days and didn't talk to Qi'er. I guess she leaked the rumors about Fuguang Courtyard and the private affairs of the prince and princess to the Third House."
Third wife? Madam Zhou?
This was a surprise to Xie Yao.
Speak of the devil, and here he is. Outside the courtyard, a familiar maid asked to see him.
"Princess, I have something important to report!"
Qi'er, the maidservant beside Madam Zhou, pursed her lips and knelt down in front of Xie Yao as soon as she entered the room.
"The rumors in the mansion were not spread by our lady!"
"A few days ago, I tried to comfort Xiaoyun, your maid, but I discovered that she was dissatisfied with the princess. Later, I discovered that Xiaoyun had gone to see Madam Xiao Zhou. My wife was afraid that Madam Xiao Zhou would frame her again, so she specifically asked me to inform the princess."
Early this morning, Mrs. Zhou also heard the rumors in the palace. When she heard Qi'er talking about this matter, she suddenly realized that she was going to be framed by her daughter-in-law again.
She quickly asked Qi'er to come over to clarify.
Xie Yao looked at Qi'er's flustered and serious expression, and understood.
"I see."
Qi'er quickly asked, "My wife also asked if she could come to Fuguangyuan tomorrow to learn martial arts from you?"
Xie Yao curled the corners of her lips.
Although she was deeply mired in rumors of having fallen out of favor, Madam Zhou took the initiative to come forward and make friends with him. This was to tell others that no matter how the prince treated her, her third aunt still recognized her as the princess.
It's not like providing timely help, but it's also a good intention.
"Go back and tell Third Auntie that I understand her feelings and won't misunderstand her."
"Yes, thank you for your consideration, Princess." Qi'er breathed a sigh of relief and walked out.
Aunt Qi: "I will pull Xiaoyun out right away!"
Tang Xin also agreed: "Princess, Madam Xiao Zhou has gone too far. We can't let this go."
"Of course not."
Xie Yao stood up and straightened her skirt: "Let's go see the old lady."
She took Tang Xin to Ninghui Courtyard.
The courtyard was very quiet, with only Nanny Luo waiting in the corridor.
Seeing her, Nanny Luo bowed respectfully and said, "Princess, the old lady knew you would come and has already prepared dinner. Please come in and enjoy it together."
The dinner in the inner room had been set, and the table was filled with her favorite dishes. Old Madam Xiao sat at the main seat: "Little A'yao, sit down and have a meal with grandma."
In the past, Xie Yao had never had a meal with Old Madam Xie, because when Old Madam Xie saw her, she would only ridicule and show annoyance.
Old Madam Xiao looked at her, but her eyes were gentle.
"This snow pear soup is sweet and delicious. Little Ayao, please try it." Old Madam Xiao said, and asked Nanny Luo to serve it to her.
Aunt Luo: "You want to drink it yourself, right?"
Madam Xiao: “Oh, who doesn’t like to drink something sweet.”
"Then I'll drink one cup and leave one for grandma." Xie Yao said with a curved eye.
She accompanied Old Madam Xiao and finished her dinner.
The old lady didn't say a word about whether she and Xiao Yizi had consummated their marriage.
Old Lady Xiao had heard about the Xie family's affairs these days. She knew that Xie Yao's father, the Earl of Wenchang, favored his concubine over his wife, preferred his concubine's daughter, and embezzled the dowry from the Xu family. She felt heartbroken when she thought about it.
She said, "Little A'yao, you came to me to ask me to deal with the rumors in the mansion? If so, I will hand over Nanny Luo to you. Whoever spreads the rumors will be punished with fifty strokes of the cane and sold out without mercy. Don't blame me for being cruel if you dare to bully my granddaughter-in-law."
Xie Yao: "Grandmother, I'm not asking you to come forward, but I want to know, when you asked the Emperor to grant the prince a marriage, besides the fact that the prince was indeed ready to marry, was there any other reason?"
Madam Xiao was startled, then suddenly smiled: "Good, good boy, you have courage."
Tang Xin behind him looked confused, not knowing what the old lady meant.
Madam Xiao: "I knew that little A'yao was very smart and could understand my thoughts."
Tang Xin was even more confused.
Madam Xiao got straight to the point: "Little Zhou is pregnant. In the past, she did the ridiculous thing of raising A Rong as a boy. I know that if she gives birth to a third legitimate son, she will be even more restless. That's why I came to the palace to ask the emperor to arrange a marriage for Yizhi."
"Yizhi's health is not good, and it is our Xiao family's blessing to marry a good daughter-in-law like you."
Xie Yao lowered her eyes. The reason why Old Lady Xiao asked the prince for permission to marry her was the same as what she thought.
Between the deceased old marquis of the Xiao family and the living third son, Old Madam Xiao did not show any bias and firmly chose the eldest son.
Worried that the eldest branch of the family would decline and the third branch would become too powerful, she went to the palace in person to find a princess for the prince.
As for the prince...
Xie Yao's eyes darkened.
Although she still doubted the relationship between Xiao Yizi and the house on Nanhuai Street, she was his princess.
"Grandma, if that's the case, then I won't be polite."
Madam Xiao looked at her with trust in her eyes and a smile: "The key to the palace is given to you. From now on, you don't have to worry about anyone, including me, when it comes to matters in the backyard."
Xie Yao stood up and bowed deeply to Old Madam Xiao: "Granddaughter-in-law understands."
Since she is in charge of the palace's backyard, it's time to completely change the name to hers.
Back at Fuguang Courtyard, Xie Yao called Tang Xin and Aunt Qi over. "Doesn't my cousin's wife like to spread rumors? Go, find a few of the most gossipy maids and spread the news that Yan Fang, the second young master's servant, and the cousin of the Jiang family were hanging out in the back garden."
Mrs. Xiao Zhou's cousin was originally invited by Mrs. Xiao Zhou to live in the palace and be a concubine for her cousin Xiao Wenyuan.
As a result, before she even entered the door, she and the prince happened upon a live sex scene in the back garden.
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