Chapter 724, Rumors
Every family received the news, and the emperor naturally also knew what happened at Princess Huijia's birthday party.
Eunuch An vividly described to the emperor what Daohua had said to the two wives of the Jiang family.
After hearing this, the Emperor shook his head and laughed, "This girl and Ye Yang are really like family. Neither of them is willing to suffer a loss!"
Eunuch An carefully examined the Emperor and, seeing that he showed no displeasure, he said with a smile, "Otherwise, why do you say that the young prince and the Princess of Shengping are destined to be together?"
The emperor smiled, thinking of his nephew's experiences since childhood, and sighed, "It's quite a fate." As he spoke, his eyes fixed, "What are the rumors about Ye Yang and Yan girl now?"
Eunuch An glanced at the emperor's expression and replied cautiously, "Most of them say that Princess Shengping seduced the young prince and behaved indecently."
The emperor snorted, threw the memorial on the imperial desk, and said with a sneer, "This is really the usual style of the Jiang family. If it doesn't go their way, they will just destroy it."
The emperor was not at all displeased with Daohua confronting the Jiang family. On the contrary, he would have been angry and disappointed if Daohua had bowed her head in front of the Jiang family.
How could my uncle's apprentice be afraid of the Jiang family?
Eunuch An didn't dare to respond. He stood there with his head down, looking at his nose and his heart.
The emperor thought of his uncle who lived in Four Seasons Villa. If the old man knew that his apprentice's reputation was tarnished by the Jiang family, he would be very angry. After a moment of silence, he said, "Go and summon Prince Ping to the palace."
Originally, he had planned to wait until the Western Liao Dynasty had paid homage and there were fewer things to do before issuing an edict to grant marriages to the two children. But now that the Jiang family was so arrogant and had made the matter of the two children public, he might as well grant their marriage.
Eunuch An quickly withdrew and ordered someone to go out of the palace to invite Prince Ping.
The Emperor had just finished drafting the imperial decree granting the marriage when Eunuch An came in with a frown on his face: "What's wrong?"
Eunuch An: "Your Majesty, the prince is not at home. They say that the flowers for making rouge on the farm have all bloomed, so the prince is busy collecting rouge paste."
After hearing this, the emperor frowned subconsciously.
When Xiaojiu was in his teens, he killed the empress dowager's pet cat because of his playfulness. The empress dowager was very angry. In order to please the empress dowager, Xiaojiu listened to the advice of Prince Jiang and made a box of rouge for her himself. Since then, Xiaojiu has been obsessed with making rouge.
Today, the largest rouge shop in the capital is run by Prince Ping’s Mansion.
Although Prince Ping was not doing his job properly, the emperor did not say anything. Because of the relationship with the Jiang family, if Xiao Jiu was more capable, he would be worried: "When he comes back, let him enter the palace immediately!"
Yan Mansion.
After returning from the Princess's Mansion, although the family didn't say anything, when Daohua saw the sadness on the faces of Old Lady Yan and Madam Li, as well as the reluctance to speak of Han Xinran and others, she knew that her family had been affected by the rumors outside.
After the rumor spread, Old Lady Yan became anxious and angry. It was she who agreed to the relationship between her granddaughter and Ye Yang. She was already anxious because the marriages of the two children had not been settled yet. Now someone was throwing dirty water on her granddaughter, and she really couldn't sit still.
Madam Li and Yan Zhigao were summoned. Old Lady Yan said directly, "Back then, the matter between Daohua and Yeyang was decided by Sister Gu, Mr. Gu, and me. Now that things have gotten this far, prepare a car for me. I'm going to Four Seasons Villa to find Mr. Gu and ask him to give me an explanation."
Hearing this, Yan Zhigao was startled and quickly stepped forward to comfort his anxious mother: "Mom, don't worry. This royal marriage involves many things, and it's not something that Grandpa Gu can decide. Even if you go to him, it probably won't be of any use."
Old Lady Yan frowned. "What should we do? Are we just going to do nothing and let others talk nonsense about my granddaughter?"
Yan Zhigao was silent for a moment, then said, "I'd better ask Ye Yang about this first."
Old Lady Yan: "What are you waiting for? Call them over quickly."
Yan Zhigao: "Yeyang has been out on business for the past two days. When he comes back, I will send someone to call him over immediately."
Old Madam Yan sighed, "What kind of thing is this? What did my good granddaughter do to anyone?"
Yan Zhigao and Madam Li looked at each other, feeling helpless.
The capital city is a chessboard centered on interests. From the moment they entered the capital, they became chess pieces on the chessboard. Here, the interests of all parties are intertwined. Even if they do nothing, they will be involved in the contest of others.
People's emotions can be contagious. Seeing her family worried, Daohua also felt very upset. However, her marriage with Xiao Yeyang was in the hands of the emperor, and their family could not urge the emperor to come.
Daohua was in a bad mood and didn't want to tell her family about her worries. After thinking about it, she asked Wang Maner to prepare some medicinal herbs and daily necessities, changed into men's clothes, and went to see Dong Yuanyao again.
Daohua took a horse-drawn carriage directly to the entrance of the alley where the Dong family's courtyard was located in the south city. After getting off the carriage, she took Wang Man'er and Bishi and walked towards the Dong family.
During this time, the three noticed the sound of an argument coming from the end of the alley.
South City was in chaos, and Daohua had no intention of interfering. However, when she was about to knock on Dong's door, a female voice suddenly rose in pitch and with obvious anger reached her ears.
"Miss, it sounds like Miss Dong's voice." Wang Maner said immediately.
Daohua frowned and waved to the bald man and Zhuzi who were guarding the carriage.
South City is a mixed crowd, so she doesn't dare to be careless when she comes here. Every time she comes here, she will call Baldy and Zhuzi who are good at martial arts.
After the two people came over, Daohua walked quickly towards the end of the alley.
"Yuan Yao, is that you?"
When they were still some distance away from the end of the alley, Daohua asked loudly.
The people at the end of the alley stopped arguing when they saw Daohua and his companions. Before Daohua could walk in, a young man in brocade clothes came out from the corner, glanced at Daohua and his companions, and left with his men.
As soon as those people left, Daohua hurried over and saw Dong Yuanyao and her maid Hongying at the corner.
At this moment, Dong Yuanyao's face still had obvious shame and anger.
Daohua quickly asked, "Yuanyao, are you okay?"
Dong Yuanyao shook her head and forced a smile: "I'm fine."
Daohua didn't ask anything immediately, but took Dong Yuanyao away first.
The two of them found a teahouse and sat down. Daohua then asked, "Who was that person just now?"
Dong Yuanyao had calmed down by now, but she still spoke with some irritation: "He is Luo Hongyuan."
A look of surprise crossed Daohua's face. "Luo Hongyuan? Is he the man you were engaged to from the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion?"
Dong Yuanyao nodded with a serious face.
Daohua frowned: "You two have already called off the engagement, why would he come to you?"
Dong Yuanyao pursed her lips and didn't answer, looking embarrassed to speak.
Hongying, who was standing by, couldn't help but grit her teeth and said, "That Third Young Master Luo is such a piece of shit! Seeing that the Dong family has fallen, he actually wants my daughter to be his concubine!"
Upon hearing this, Daohua also became angry.
She had also heard from her eldest brother about the matter between Yuan Yao and Mr. Luo San. Before the Dong family got into trouble, the Weiguo Mansion had received the news in advance, but the Luo family did not remind the Dong family. Instead, they hurriedly broke off the engagement.
This is already disheartening enough, and now they want Yuan Yao to be a concubine. Isn't this a sincere bullying?
Seeing the shame and anger on Dong Yuanyao's face, Daohua asked worriedly, "Does Third Young Master Luo often come to harass you?"
Dong Yuanyao shook her head. "Not before, but recently the Luo family arranged another marriage for him, and he didn't seem very happy about it. I don't know what's wrong with him, but he actually thought of me again."
Speaking of this, Dong Yuanyao was very angry. What did Luo Hongyuan think of her?
Daohua put down the teacup in her hand with a thud. "Asshole!" she said, looking at Dong Yuanyao worriedly. "Do my aunt and the others know about this?"
Dong Yuanyao shook her head. "Things at home are already worrying them enough, so I didn't tell them."
Daohua: "But if Third Young Master Luo keeps pestering you, it won't work in the long run!" Especially now that the gap in status between the Luo family and the Dong family is too big, if Third Young Master Luo really wants to force his way in, the Dong family might not be able to withstand it.
Dong Yuanyao was silent for a moment and looked at Daohua: "Don't worry, I can handle it myself."
Daohua thought for a moment and said, "How about you stay at my farm for a while and take shelter?"
Dong Yuanyao hesitated: "Let me think about it."
Daohua didn't rush her, but simply said, "Yuanyao, there's no need for politeness between you and me. You don't have to worry about anything. Back when we were in Zhongzhou, you helped me a lot, didn't you?"
Dong Yuanyao smiled and said, "I'm not being polite with you. I'm just thinking about how to tell my family."
Daohua said nothing more: "Then think about it quickly, and when you have made up your mind, have Hongying come to Yan's house and tell me."
Dong Yuanyao took Daohua's hand and said, "Yiyi, thank you."
Daohua smiled and shook her head: "I told you not to be so polite with me."
Dong Yuanyao changed the subject: "How about you, have you been doing well these days?"
Daohua looked at Dong Yuanyao, feeling somewhat helpless: "Have you also heard the rumors about Xiao Yeyang and me?"
Dong Yuanyao nodded.
Daohua snorted: "The Jiang family is really capable!"
Dong Yuanyao sighed, "Yiyi, I know the young prince treats you very well, but you must not underestimate the Jiang family because of this. You know, in the capital, the Jiang family was once known as the 'Jiang Half Dynasty'. Not to mention the Empress Dowager and Empress in the palace, there are also many powerful ministers and officials in the court who are dependent on the Jiang family."
"It was only in recent years that the Emperor gradually consolidated his power and eliminated the Eight Princes and their faction that the title 'Jiang Banchao' gradually fell out of use. But even so, compared to the Jiang family, the young prince's foundation is still too weak."
Daohua was stunned. Jiang Bandhao? This was the first time she had heard of him.
No wonder the emperor is so wary of the Jiang family. If this happened to her, she wouldn't be able to tolerate it either!
Dong Yuanyao continued, "The Jiang family has always been overbearing. You and I both know Jiang Wanying's feelings for the young prince. You must be extremely careful. This capital may appear prosperous on the surface, but behind the scenes it is filled with all sorts of dirty and secretive affairs."
Daohua nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, I will be careful."
After chatting with Dong Yuanyao for a while, Daohua saw that she was not in good spirits, so she went back home.
(End of this chapter)
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