Speaking of Xie Xizhu, Rong Ning paused for a moment, tapping her fingers lightly on the table. After thinking for a while, she continued, "It doesn't matter. If she can't find a good home because of this, I'll take responsibility!"
There's always a way!
"Get the spies in the Prime Minister's residence moving. Say that Xie Xizhu may have betrayed the Prime Minister's residence and sided with me... The rumor doesn't need to be too specific; vagueness will make those who are interested think more."
People tend to do a lot of stupid things when they overthink.
"I understand, I'll arrange it right away..." Ah Ying readily agreed, but after a pause, she voiced her concerns, "But if this rumor spreads in the Prime Minister's residence, Miss Xie might not be able to go back. The people in the Prime Minister's residence will not tolerate her, and she will have no way out in the future!"
Rong Ning paused...
She frowned and remained silent for a while before slowly saying, "The Prime Minister's residence was never Xie Xizhu's way out. If the Prime Minister's residence becomes her way out, it means we have failed. I will not allow that to happen."
Ah Ying understood, shut her mouth, and went out to take care of her business in silence.
She was always reliable in her work. The next day, rumors about Rong Ning and Xie Xizhu were everywhere in Nanyang City. Some busybodies even made up nursery rhymes and spread them throughout the streets and alleys. The Prime Minister's mansion was also slowly being boiled like a frog in warm water.
However, Xie Xizhu was unaware of all this.
She didn't leave the princess's residence, and Rong Ning didn't restrict her personal freedom, but she didn't seem very willing to go out on her own. The people serving her were very tight-lipped and wouldn't let these words reach her ears.
Rong Ning didn't leave the princess's residence either. She handled some matters there and took Xie Xizhu for a few laps around the large training ground of the princess's residence. The day passed quickly.
After having dinner with Rong Ning, Xie Xizhu got up to say goodbye and returned to her own courtyard. Rong Ning also had things to do, so she didn't keep her and turned to go to the study with A Ying.
I waited in the study until late at night, feeling slightly sleepy, before Mo'er finally arrived under the moonlight.
Aying led her into the study and then left to stand guard outside. Rong Ningqi took the cloak from her and hung it up, asking, "Why are you so late?"
"I didn't want to either!" Mo'er said, somewhat annoyed. "But the person today was a bit difficult to deal with. It took me a lot of effort to get him into a deep sleep. I have to get back before he wakes up. If others find out that I came to the princess's residence late at night, it will be troublesome!"
Upon hearing this, Rong Ning immediately put on a fawning smile, hooked her arm and lured her to sit down, saying, "I know our Mo'er has been working hard, come... quickly have some tea to soothe her, A-Ying just brewed it, it's just right."
Mo'er rolled her eyes. "You have such a sweet tongue. Is this how you tricked that Xie family girl?"
"What deception? How could you say that!"
"You've already done it, and you're still afraid of what people will say? You're the one who spread rumors all over the city, and now you're afraid to admit it, Your Highness..."
Mo'er paused, looking Rong Ning up and down, "You don't actually like girls, do you?"
Upon hearing this, Rong Ning slapped her thigh and burst into laughter. "The last time my elder brother asked me this was when I spent the night at your Red Lotus Pavilion. He asked me in the same serious tone whether I liked women."
"What did you answer?"
“I like it… I like anything that looks good…” Rong Ning leaned closer again, “Just like I like Mo’er.”
Mo'er frowned and pushed her away. "Get lost! The way you are reminds me of those sickeningly sweet men in the Red Lotus Pavilion. It's disgusting."
Rong Ning, “………………”
"Don't waste time, let's get down to business..." Mo'er brought the topic back, "The Zhu family, the prefect you asked me to investigate, is showing some promise."
"oh??"
Rong Ning sat up straight. "What do you mean?"
How to put it...
Um...
Mo'er hesitated for a moment before slowly recounting what she had found out in the past few days.
"Prefect Zhu has a son born out of wedlock, who is the seventh in his family. His mother is of low status and is not favored. He has little presence in the mansion."
His older brothers were all quite successful, so it wasn't his place to carry the family business. He didn't have any ambitions; he was content to be a wealthy young master.
But no matter how much he was out of favor, he was still a member of the Zhu family. He was never short of money and lived a comfortable life, frequently visiting brothels.
A few years ago, this seventh young master of the Zhu family was a well-known figure in the brothels of Nanyang City. He was easy to work for, rich, and handsome. He was generally good-looking, so much so that the girls who worked with him all liked him and would be extra charming when they saw him, so that he would be unable to leave and stay.
But two years ago, the seventh young master of the Zhu family suddenly changed his ways and disappeared in a brothel, never to be seen again.
At that time, the sisters in the same group inquired about it among themselves, but there was no real explanation. The rumors were that it was because this Seventh Young Master Zhu had married a woman from a good family who was very strict and kept him under her thumb, but none of this could be confirmed.
People come and go in the pleasure quarters. At first, some people still had their eyes on Young Master Zhu, but gradually no one mentioned him anymore.
Over time, nobody cares anymore.
Later, it was said that Young Master Zhu and his wife were very loving and were a rare couple.
Before the Zhu family was imprisoned, the wife of the third son of the Zhu family heard rumors and, not wanting her daughter to die, and also fearing that her family would be implicated, asked for a divorce agreement for her daughter, severing ties with the Zhu family. It is said that the wife of the seventh son also asked for a divorce agreement for her daughter, but she herself did not want to abandon her husband and children to live alone, and was eventually imprisoned along with them.
He's currently locked up in the Ministry of Justice's prison.
Mo'er paused for a moment at this point...
Having a dry mouth is one thing, but feeling choked up inside is another. Taking a sip of tea helped clear my head.
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