The consequences of this matter were so far-reaching, even Weichi Kong, who was traveling afar, and Old Master Shao were informed. They immediately ordered their disciples to lead the followers of Youming Palace and Saber Rattling Villa to exterminate, at any cost, the rumor-mongers.
Qing’an Country.
Emperor Xuanwen and Meng Jingqi were incensed upon receiving secret reports and promptly issued an edict to all under Heaven that Yang Mengchen is the Princess Yong’an of Qing’an Country. Whoever dared to slander Princess Yong’an was opposing Qing’an Country, and even if they escaped to heaven or earth, Qing’an Country would see them executed!
Prince De and Meng Jinghui, furiously shouting, rushed to the Imperial Palace in succession, requesting Emperor Xuanwen to allow them to lead troops to Dong Chu to protect Yang Mengchen.
Emperor Xuanwen was slightly tempted, but still sent a message via carrier pigeon to the Emperor of Dong Chu.
Long Xuanmo refused without a second thought. He would protect his wife by himself and didn’t need outsiders meddling.
Emperor Xuanwen showed the reply to Prince De and Meng Jinghui. The two appeared to cease their clamor on the surface but promptly turned around and headed for Dong Chu with their personal guards—Emperor Xuanwen and Meng Jingqi pretending to be unaware, secretly ordered the commanders along the route not to hinder them.
The Emperors of Nanping and Beiyue sternly ordered their citizens not to believe the rumors.
The Emperor of Xiliang did want to take advantage of the situation to invade Dong Chu, but unfortunately he was internally thwarted by Qi Zongyu’s mediation. With Nanping and Beiyue closely watching and Dong Chu’s army prepared for battle, and coupled with Emperor Xuanwen of Qing’an’s resounding proclamation, he could only sigh in frustration at the missed opportunity.
Meanwhile, Old Man Wuwei of Purple Cloud Mountain personally stepped forward to clarify the facts: "My beloved disciple is naturally intelligent, surpassing others. Even with temporary folly, she remembers everything she sees, able to infer other things from one fact. I have imparted all my lifelong learning to my disciple, and she has already surpassed me. Those who slander her as a demon are clearly motivated by jealousy and fear that once she applies her learning to lead Dong Chu to prosperity and strength, ensuring the country’s peace and the people’s security, these malicious schemers will not be able to destabilize the nation or profit from it. Their sinister intentions are as clear as day!"
Doctor Luo, Yao Chuanbai, Zhang Duheng, and others with extraordinary medical skills, along with Old Hai, Song Bochao, and other scholars of exceptional talent—especially Old Man Wuwei, who was capable of anything, deeply respected and esteemed by all under heaven, even treated deferentially by the emperors of various countries—naturally, no one dared to question their words.
At the same time, Yang Mengchen led the construction of the Martyr Shrine to commemorate the fallen soldiers and spent a vast sum to establish academies where people were taught literacy and various skills. She painstakingly grew four types of crops for the benefit of the people, properly resettled retired soldiers and the widows and orphans they left behind, risked personal danger to treat those infected with smallpox in the sick areas, developed vaccines to spare the population from the threat of disease, founded the Royal Charity to assist the poor, and in international festivals, won glory for Dong Chu and reclaimed five cities that had been lost... All these great achievements were being proclaimed by people everywhere.
The citizens of Dong Chu could not help but feel immense admiration, on the one hand praising Yang Mengchen’s benevolent and forgiving nature, her concern for the whole world, and on the other hand denouncing the treacherous slanderers for their absurd and insidious intentions.
Especially the soldiers—besides building temples to worship the heroic spirits and settling retired soldiers and their bereaved families, the Crown Princess Consort also developed antiseptic medicine and other drugs to reduce casualties among the soldiers (which Luo Jingrui deliberately publicized). She also led the people of Yangliu village to sew cotton clothes and quilts for the border guards. After marrying the Crown Prince, the soldiers’ pay was never overdue, and they also got holidays to return home to their families... and so on, ensuring the soldiers’ lives were secure and free from worries.
Being soldiers accustomed to seeing life and death, they did not believe those groundless arguments. Even if the Crown Princess Consort really was a demon, so what? They would wish for more demons like her—who worked for the country and the people—and thus staunchly supported the Crown Princess Consort to the end.
The situation was clearly tipping to one side.
At the Crown Prince Mansion.
Shen Qiulan and the other ladies surrounded Yang Mengchen, vocally rebuking the rebels, while at the same time gently comforting her to take care of herself and not to mind the nonsense of the traitors.
After Fu Chuyan and the others left, Yang Mengchen looked at Shen Qiulan who had specifically stayed behind. Hidden in the depths of her eyes were worry and unease: "Mother..."
"You are my daughter, forever my daughter, and no one shall tear us apart!" Shen Qiulan held Yang Mengchen’s hand tightly, her face filled with affection and determination.
Jiujiu was her child; with just a look, she knew what Jiujiu was thinking.
Soon after Jiujiu had awakened, although she tried to hide it, Shen Qiulan could still clearly feel that Jiujiu was somewhat different, as if she had become another person entirely.
Over time, she was certain that the person before her was not her Jiujiu. It was no wonder she knew so many things; she had been replaced by someone else entirely. But where had her Jiujiu gone, and who was this person before her now?
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