The crowd nodded: This matter is indeed very thorny.
"Chenchen, you’re pregnant now, so don’t forget and get upset over unrelated people," Lady Luo advised softly.
"I’m not upset," Yang Mengchen said with a smile. "Wende said he would handle it, so I’ll just take care of myself and the baby with peace of mind."
Finally, everyone felt relieved upon hearing her words. They were shocked and worried when they heard the rumors; the elders and young masters at home had urged them to hurry over to check on her, fearing that something might have happened to Yang Mengchen. Fortunately, she didn’t mind, and everyone else was reassured as well.
As the family was still waiting for news, the crowd did not stay any longer. After reminding Yang Mengchen a few more times, they took their leave.
Not long after, Prince De and Meng Jinghui arrived in haste. The two of them had been out for leisure but rushed back immediately upon hearing the news.
Only after Yang Mengchen repeatedly assured them that she was fine did Prince De and Meng Jinghui return to the house next door, feeling extremely dissatisfied with Long Xuanmo.
Pressure from the fetus sometimes made breathing difficult for Yang Mengchen; she often felt sore all over, especially in her back. Whether sitting or lying down for too long, it was uncomfortable. Now that she had been half-reclining on the soft couch for so long, she clearly felt some discomfort. Thus, she walked slowly around the room for half an hour with the support of Hai Tang and Mo Mei, feeling better before sitting down on a chair padded with soft cushions.
Hai Tang and Mo Mei sat by her side, gently massaging her legs.
After taking a sip of the fruit juice passed by Shan Cha, Yang Mengchen’s brows furrowed slightly: "Mo Lan, Mu Zhu, go take care of Liao Zhiyan at the inn. There must not be the slightest mishap."
Although doubtful, Mo Lan and Mu Zhu respectfully agreed and left.
"Mo Mei, quickly investigate and clarify all matters related to Liao Zhiyan from her childhood to the present."
In truth, Yang Mengchen could have asked the Dragon Guards to investigate, as their abilities were somewhat stronger than the Hidden Guard’s, but Long Xuanmo had already given the Dragon Guards to her, indicating that they were a force exclusively for her use. If it turned out Liao Zhiyan had issues, it could unavoidably cause some gossip.
Since Mo Mei was one of Long Xuanmo’s Hidden Guards, her loyalty to Long Xuanmo was certain, so Yang Mengchen asked her to conduct the verification.
"Crown Princess Consort, is there something wrong with Liao Zhiyan?" Mo Mei was very sharp.
The others looked at Yang Mengchen with puzzlement.
Yang Mengchen wore a frosty expression, and a forbiddingly sharp glint flashed in her pitch-black eyes: "I find this matter extremely peculiar. First, according to the Crown Prince, Liao Zhiyan was greatly adored by Sir Liao and his wife. Even if they initially wanted to avoid the chaos of war, how could they possibly let Liao Zhiyan, who was only seven or eight years old at the time, go with servants to such a remote villa alone?
Second, the Crown Prince never made a marriage promise, so why is Liao Zhiyan insisting he did? Isn’t she afraid of the Crown Prince exposing her, thus she being accused of smearing the Crown Prince’s name?
Third, the Crown Prince has been at the frontier for several years and has been back in The Capital for more than eight years; during this period, why didn’t the Liao family seek the Crown Prince to fulfill the marriage agreement? Why now, all of a sudden? Isn’t that too strange?
Fourth, Hanba Prefecture is several thousand miles away from The Capital, how did Liao Zhiyan, a fragile woman, manage to arrive safely in The Capital?
Fifth, sister said there were many onlookers and quite a few commoners. It’s well known that apart from us, the rest of Jingling Alley is inhabited by noble families; ordinary commoners rarely pass through this alley, so why were there so many commoners watching today?
Sixth, if Liao Zhiyan really wanted the Crown Prince to honor the marriage agreement, she shouldn’t have gone to the entrance of the Crown Prince Mansion and tarnish the Crown Prince’s reputation in public. As the legitimate daughter of the official family, she should be well aware that with such a stigma, how would the Crown Prince face the ministers and citizens of the entire country, and how would he govern the country in the future?"
Everyone’s expression grew solemn.
Mo Mei abruptly stood up, a bloodthirsty aura erupting from her: "I will investigate this matter immediately." If Liao Zhiyan indeed harbored any ill intentions, she would not let her off easily! ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Long Xuanmo sent Mo Yun to see Liao Zhiyan, making it clear that in consideration of her act of saving his life, he could request the Emperor to grant her the title of County Lord and provide her with a better marriage arrangement. Long Xuanmo would prepare a generous dowry for her. He hadn’t gone to see her even once himself.
This matter stirred up a lot of talk in The Capital, especially after Long Xuanmo’s words spread. Some agreed with Long Xuanmo’s actions while others thought his approach was inappropriate.
Most people felt sympathy for Liao Zhiyan; after all, she had stood by her promise and remained unmarried well into her twenties. Now that Long Xuanmo had reneged on his word and even wanted Liao Zhiyan to marry someone else—forcing her to miss out on the best years of her youth—was deemed exceedingly cruel and heartless.
Mo Lan and Mu Zhu reported to Yang Mengchen daily about Liao Zhiyan.
Liao Zhiyan stayed in the inn all along, neither going out nor contacting or meeting with anyone. Yang Mengchen’s frown deepened; could she have guessed wrong? Seeing that Liao Zhiyan disagreed with Long Xuanmo’s proposal and insisted on marrying him, even willing to become a concubine, her thoughts churned endlessly.
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