Rumors and gossip (1)
"Miss, I heard from the purchasing maid of the Yongchang Marquis's residence today that their third young master seemed to have seen Miss Su's carriage parked in a nearby alley at the Juxianlou poetry gathering a few days ago. However, he did not see Miss Su herself go upstairs to attend the poetry gathering. She left after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, acting all mysterious." Qiuju reported while massaging Jiang Wanzhi's legs.
Jiang Wanzhi was studying ancient cosmetics in front of a small mirror when she heard this and immediately sat up straight: "Juxianlou? Poetry gathering? She's here but not participating? This isn't like Su Yuyue."
Su Yuyue has always loved to showcase her talents in gatherings of talented people, so why would she turn down a door?
"Do you know which day it happened?" she asked hurriedly.
"It was the afternoon before yesterday."
Jiang Wanzhi immediately flipped through her precious little notebook, which she used to record information.
The day before yesterday afternoon... Su Yuyue told the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion that she went to Xuanqing Temple to burn incense; she lied to her family!
This discovery made Jiang Wanzhi's heart race, and a feeling of excitement, like touching the edge of a big fish, welled up inside her.
She felt as if she had touched a crucial thread!
"Chuntao!" She immediately summoned another maid. "Find a way to get close to that purchasing maid from the Yongchang Marquis's residence and see if you can find out more specific information about the time, or even details about the carriage, such as its color, decorations, and the coachman's appearance! It doesn't matter if it costs more money!"
"Yes, Miss!" Chun Tao accepted the order and left.
Jiang Wanzhi paced excitedly in the room, her mind already conjuring up all sorts of intrigue stories from novels.
A secret rendezvous with her lover? Impossible, Su Yuyue's target is the Ming Prince.
The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Was it a secret letter exchanged? A conspiracy being plotted?
However, her naive and almost transparent act of investigation had already caught the attention of various forces.
…………
Hengwang Mansion, Study
Yan Cheng presented a simple record to Zongzheng Hengyu: "Your Highness, our people have discovered that Miss Jiang seems to be inquiring about the whereabouts of Miss Su from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion through her maid recently."
The record briefly states that Jiang Wanzhi's maid recently encountered other maids in various shops and subtly inquired about Su Yuyue's whereabouts.
Zongzheng Hengyu put down the military report in his hand, glanced at the record, and his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
This investigative method, clumsy and amateurish, like children playing house, yet it exudes an indomitable tenacity and a frustratingly energetic spirit. It's definitely her style.
"No need to stop them, no need to interfere," he instructed calmly, his tone devoid of emotion.
"Let her do as she pleases. Send two more people to secretly follow her and her two maids, making sure they are safe and sound, lest these childish actions lead to their deaths." The last sentence carried a subtle warning.
"Yes." Yan Cheng accepted the order and added, "In addition, our informant within the Ming King's camp reported that the Night Hawk Pavilion seems to have intensified its surveillance of Miss Jiang, and their methods are more professional, more like they are assessing the target's value or looking for an opportunity to strike."
Zongzheng Hengyu's gaze suddenly sharpened, and he lightly tapped his fingertip on the desk: "It seems that my good brother is still up to his old tricks. Tell our men to be on high alert. If any Night Hawk Pavilion members dare to touch her, kill them on the spot without asking for permission, and wipe them out completely."
"Yes, sir!"
…………
Ming Prince's Mansion, Underground Secret Palace
"Your Highness, our people monitoring the Prime Minister's residence have reported that Jiang Wanzhi's maid seems to be inquiring about Miss Su's whereabouts recently, whether intentionally or unintentionally." Deputy Pavilion Master Ying Sha knelt on one knee, his voice low.
Zongzheng Mingchen was deep in thought, staring at an ancient mountain map, when he heard this. He looked up, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes: "Oh? I knew this woman was not as simple and ignorant as she seemed! Sure enough, she's starting to get restless! What is she asking about Yue'er for?"
"The specific purpose is still unclear, but the method... is quite naive, like a curious act by a young lady in her boudoir." Ying Sha carefully chose her words.
“Naive?” King Ming sneered, putting down his vermilion brush. “The more naive she seems, the more likely it is a disguise! Or perhaps someone is behind her, deliberately using this method to mislead us! Keep a close eye on her! Also, what has Yue’er been doing lately? Why has she attracted attention?”
Ying Sha hesitated for a moment, but still reported the truth: "Miss Su... the day before yesterday, under the pretext of offering incense, went to the vicinity of Juxian Tower in secret and had a brief contact with the Northern Di spies we had arranged. The purpose was to find out the specific situation after the defeat of Huyan Shuo, the Left Wise King."
"Nonsense!" King Ming slammed his hand on the table, making the map shake, his face contorted with rage.
"At such a critical juncture, she dares to contact the Northern Di people without authorization! What if she gets exposed?! The Northern Di are wolves in sheep's clothing, how can we treat them kindly? She's playing with fire! Immediately send her a message: without my order, she is not allowed to have any further contact with the Northern Di! Everything must be done with safety and secrecy as the top priority!"
"Yes!" Shadow Assassin sensed the King's anger and immediately accepted the order.
"As for Jiang Wanzhi..." Ming Wang's eyes flashed with cold light, "Since she's so curious, let her accidentally learn something she shouldn't know."
"Make arrangements to gather some 'clues' to lure her out of the city. Remember, make it look like an accident, so she discovers it herself and then investigates on her own. I want to see if she's truly stupid or just pretending!"
…………
Su Yuyue's mood was also in turmoil. She had indeed taken a great risk by secretly meeting with the Northern Di envoy that day.
She had hoped to share Mingchen's burdens and gather some information, but the other party was tight-lipped, only giving vague answers, saying that it required time and a lot of money, leaving her empty-handed, and almost having her carriage seen by the people of the Yongchang Marquis's mansion.
Upon her return, the Ming King sent someone to severely reprimand her, making her feel even more wronged and resentful.
She sat in front of her dressing table, looking at her beautiful but somewhat melancholy face in the mirror, and felt increasingly depressed.
All these misfortunes are because of Jiang Wanzhi!
Now, even her maidservants dare to inquire about her whereabouts?
A despicable thought began to take root in her mind. If open methods don't work, then she'll try covert ones!
She can't directly touch Jiang Wanzhi, but can't she at least cause her some trouble so that she won't have the energy to get in her way anymore?
She summoned her trusted maid, Cui'er, and whispered a few instructions. Upon hearing this, a hint of fear flashed across Cui'er's face, but she still nodded in agreement and hurriedly left.
…………
The following day, rumors suddenly began to circulate in several third-rate teahouses and cosmetic shops in the capital, places where people were always gossiping. These rumors were about the Prime Minister's daughter, Jiang Wanzhi.
The statement was veiled and malicious, implying that she had improper conduct, had private dealings with certain men of unknown identity, and even suggesting that there might be some unspeakable secret behind her being able to save Prince Heng.
The rumors were so convincingly crafted, with vague details about the time and place, that they were even more likely to fuel the imaginations of the ignorant.
These rumors are currently only whispered among lowly servants and common people, and have not yet reached the inner courtyards of wealthy families, but their malicious seeds have already been sown, waiting only for the right time to ferment.
Jiang Wanzhi was completely unaware of this and was still engrossed in her own detective game.
Chun Tao returned from outside, fuming, her eyes red, as if she had been arguing with someone.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Wanzhi asked curiously.
Chun Tao pouted and said aggrievedly, "It's nothing! It's just... just had a few words with someone!" She dared not tell her mistress those nasty and foul words.
Seeing that she wouldn't talk, Jiang Wanzhi didn't think much of it. Instead, she excitedly pulled her over and said, "Forget about that. Come and help me analyze this. Su Yuyue clearly went to Juxianlou, so why didn't she go up? What is she waiting for? Or is she meeting someone?"
Seeing her young mistress so innocent and completely absorbed in her work, Chun Tao felt both anxious and angry, but she could only swallow her grievances and reluctantly help analyze the situation.
However, although the rumors did not reach Jiang Wanzhi's ears, they had already reached the ears of the Prince Heng's mansion.
"Your Highness, slanderous words against Miss Jiang have suddenly appeared in the marketplace," Yan Cheng reported, his tone tinged with coldness. "The content is vile, and it seems someone is deliberately spreading it."
Zongzheng Hengyu was reviewing official documents when he heard this, his pen paused, and a drop of ink fell, staining the paper.
He raised his head, his eyes instantly turning as cold as knives: "Investigate. I need to know who's behind this."
"yes!"
The informants at Prince Heng's residence were operating efficiently. In less than half a day, the clues pointed to several local thugs who had been paid to spread rumors. Following the trail, they quickly traced it back to Cui'er, Su Yuyue's personal maid!
After listening to the report, Zongzheng Hengyu's eyes flashed with a chilling light.
"Su Yuyue... It seems I've been too lenient with her." His voice was calm, yet it contained a storm. "Since she enjoys stirring up trouble so much, let her taste the bitterness herself."
"Yan Cheng, go and 'invite' Su Boyuan, the eldest son of the Duke of Zhenguo's first wife, who is bedridden for many years and has been mistreated by Su Yuyue and her daughter, out for a visit."
"Find a few more censors and have them thoroughly investigate the accounts of this lady of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion in managing her family's businesses over the years."
Treat them as they treat you. Even more ruthless and thorough.
…………
Rumors circulating in the streets, like sewage, may seem insignificant, but they possess a strange, penetrating power.
Despite Chun Tao and Qiu Ju's desperate attempts to conceal the truth, the filthy rumors about Jiang Wan Zhi's improper behavior and secret meetings with other men still seeped into the Prime Minister's mansion, hidden deep within its high walls, like the stench of a sewer.
The first to notice the anomaly was Prime Minister Jiang, an old prime minister who had been in and out of power in the court for decades and had his own channels of information.
When the butler solemnly reported the rumors circulating in the city, his face instantly darkened, and he slammed his teacup heavily on the table!
"Absurd! Shameless!" Prime Minister Jiang's beard trembled with anger.
He naturally didn't believe these absurd claims, but gossip is a fearsome thing, especially slander against a woman's reputation, which is the most vicious and hard to guard against!
Zhi'er has been behaving herself lately, so why is she suddenly being slandered like this? There must be someone manipulating this behind the scenes!
He immediately ordered the household to strictly control the news, ensuring that these words did not reach Zhi'er's ears, and at the same time sent his capable retainers to secretly investigate the source of the rumors.
However, the rumors inevitably reached Wanzhi Pavilion.
A young maid responsible for washing clothes overheard a few words while chatting with a vegetable delivery woman outside. She turned pale with fright and whispered about it with her best friend when she returned home. Qiu Ju happened to overhear them.
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