Chapter 41: Rumors (Extra Chapter)

On the day of Shen Ruo and Feng Bai Wei’s grand wedding, Wei Jing Mo had sent his congratulatory gifts early.

When Shen Ruo received them, he was sitting in front of the dressing mirror, surrounded by attendants arranging his appearance.

He’er and Lian’er entered with several servants, instructing them to set down the items they were carrying before approaching Shen Ruo’s side.

“Young Master!”

Shen Ruo waved away the people around him and stood up, looking at the boxes on the ground, he asked, “What are these?”

He’er pointed to the gift box on the left and softly replied, “This is from the young master’s cousin.”

Hearing this, Shen Ruo walked to the box and opened it.

Inside the exquisite wooden case was a set of gold-inlaid jade and ruby necklace, with matching jade bracelets and earrings. The red jade was crystal clear, without a trace of impurity, obviously a priceless treasure.

Shen Ruo reached out and gently touched the jade, loving this set of jewelry immensely. He immediately instructed He’er beside him to put it away carefully.

“What about this wooden box?”

Then, he pointed to the dark-colored box beside and asked.

Lian’er, who was waiting on the side, immediately replied, “Young Master, this is sent from the Southern Yi region.”

Hearing this, Shen Ruo’s gaze paused, and he murmured softly, “Then it must be from Second Elder Sister…”

“Young Master, do you want to open it and take a look?”

Lian’er asked quietly again.

Shen Ruo paused for a moment, then nodded, “Open it.”

The wooden box was very heavy, and it took three people together to lift the lid.

Shen Ruo looked down and saw that the somewhat old wooden box was filled with many high-quality furs. The fur was soft and delicate, with pure colors. It must have taken a lot of effort for the person who collected them.

Lian’er, standing nearby, couldn’t help but be surprised when she saw the furs in the box: “It’s only July now, I wonder how the General managed to collect so many high-quality furs!”

Shen Ruo fell silent after seeing these furs.

After a long while, he instructed Lian’er to have someone put them away.

“Oh my! My young master! How come the makeup isn’t done yet? The Fifth Princess is about to arrive at the Grand Tutor’s mansion.”

The matchmaker walked in and saw that Shen Ruo’s hair and makeup were not yet done. She hurriedly instructed the people nearby to groom and dress him.

Just as the bridal veil was placed over his head, they heard someone shouting outside, “The Fifth Princess has arrived at the Grand Tutor’s mansion!”

Hearing this, everyone hurriedly supported Shen Ruo as they walked outside.

——

Northern Garrison Prince’s Mansion

Dong Gua ran all the way into the Wan Yue Pavilion, only to find that neither Wei Jing Mo nor Dong Qing were inside.

Thinking that the young master must be in the embroidery room, he quickly ran towards that direction.

When he entered the embroidery room, he indeed saw Wei Jing Mo sitting on the embroidery stool, head lowered as he carefully embroidered with gold thread.

Dong Qing and the embroidery master were sitting behind him.

Seeing Dong Gua running in, Dong Qing frowned at him: “Where have you been running off to again? You’re always running around aimlessly!”

“I asked him to go out to buy some things,” Wei Jing Mo said, stopping his needlework and turning to look at Dong Gua, “Did you buy the things?”

Hearing this, Dong Gua immediately handed over what he had been carrying in his sleeve.

In a place where Wei Jing Mo couldn’t see, he stuck out his tongue at Dong Qing.

Seeing Dong Qing glare at him, he sat back down in the chair and finally withdrew his gaze.

Remembering the rumors he had heard outside, Dong Gua excitedly began to speak, “Young Master, do you know? When I was in the market earlier, I heard many rumors about your cousin!”

“Oh?”

Wei Jing Mo raised his head upon hearing news about Shen Ruo.

“What happened to Cousin?”

He had been oblivious to the outside world these days, knowing nothing about the happenings in Phoenix Feather City.

Dong Gua immediately said, “Don’t worry, Young Master! It’s not bad rumors! On the contrary, everyone is discussing how much the Fifth Princess dotes on your cousin.”

“I heard that the Fifth Princess originally had two bedchamber attendants. But when she left the palace to establish her own residence, she didn’t bring them along, leaving them directly in the palace instead. Everyone is envying your cousin! They say the Fifth Princess did this all for your cousin.”

“And that’s not all…”

Dong Gua blurted out all the rumors he had heard, “They say that after the wedding, the Fifth Princess specially asked for a day off, just to stay at home and accompany your cousin. When it was time to visit the bride’s family, she personally escorted your cousin to the Grand Tutor’s mansion gate, entered to greet them before leaving.”

According to custom, the princesses of Phoenix Feather Country were not required to accompany their husbands when visiting the bride’s family.

No wonder people were talking about it so much!

Dong Gua spoke with some envy, gaining a new understanding of the Fifth Princess Feng Bai Wei! At the same time, he was secretly happy for the cousin who married her.

After hearing this, Wei Jing Mo was naturally happy for Shen Ruo as well.

But because of his previous impressions of Feng Bai Wei, he was still vaguely worried.

He hoped that everything this Fifth Princess did was sincere and that she wouldn’t betray Shen Ruo’s affections!

“Oh right, Young Master,” Dong Gua suddenly seemed to remember something else, his voice lowering, “I heard some other things…”

Seeing his suddenly cautious demeanor, Wei Jing Mo spoke flatly, “What are they pitying me for now?”

Hearing this, Dong Gua rubbed his nose and said weakly, “They say that you and your cousin are known as the Twin Pearls of Phoenix Feather City, and your reputation even surpasses your cousin’s. Now your cousin has married the Fifth Princess who treats him like a precious jewel, while you’ve been promised to the notorious Seventh Princess. Then those people started saying sympathetic things again. They keep comparing you with your cousin!”

Dong Gua’s voice got lower and lower as he spoke, not daring to look at Wei Jing Mo’s expression.

These people were really going too far!

If they didn’t all know that the Seventh Princess wasn’t actually as rumored, wouldn’t the young master develop a rift with his cousin after hearing these rumors? And it might even affect his feelings towards the Seventh Princess!

They were clearly trying to sow discord!

After Dong Gua finished speaking, Wei Jing Mo indeed couldn’t help but frown.

He asked in a slightly cold voice, “Are there many people discussing these rumors?”

Dong Gua nodded, “As I walked along, quite a few people were talking about these things.”

Hearing this, a trace of coldness flashed through Wei Jing Mo’s clear ink-black eyes.

He felt that these rumors seemed somewhat deliberate, as if they were specifically targeting him.

——

Qing Feng Palace in the Imperial Palace

Cong Bai was also telling Feng Bai Su about these rumors at this time.

“Your Highness, these people are really too idle! How come they keep fixating on you and Young Master Wei! Now even the affairs of the Fifth Princess and her primary husband can be mixed up with you and Young Master Wei.”

Cong Bai was really frustrated, “You and Young Master Wei have been engaged for so long, how come these people are still so passionate about the two of you!”

Rumors usually only sustain heat for a short time! After people discuss it a few times, it gradually dissipates.

But several months had passed, and the rumors between the two were still spreading like wildfire. No matter what happened in Phoenix Feather City, they could always be linked to it.

This was really quite suspicious!

Feng Bai Su herself didn’t care about these false rumors, but if someone was deliberately doing this, then it couldn’t be ignored.

Her peach blossom eyes narrowed dangerously as she instructed Cong Bai, “Have someone investigate how these rumors are spreading, and find the source for me.”

Hearing this, Cong Bai immediately responded, “Yes, Your Highness.”

——

Northern Garrison Prince’s Mansion

Jin Hua Pavilion

Just as Wei Jing Mo was about to leave with Dong Qing and Dong Gua, he was called back by Shen Ke: “Mo’er, wait a moment.”

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo turned around and looked at Shen Ke, saying, “Father, is there something wrong?”

Shen Ke looked at him silently for a moment, and finally spoke, “Do you know about the rumors circulating in Phoenix Feather City these days?”

“Tell Father,”

His expression was somewhat serious, “Do you really want to marry the Seventh Princess?”

“Your wedding day is approaching! But as long as it hasn’t arrived, you still have a chance to turn back. Are you really not regretting it?”

Shen Ke didn’t understand the interactions between the two after their engagement.

It’s just that the rumors outside seemed too real, and as a father, how could he not worry?

Wei Jing Mo saw the deep concern hidden in Shen Ke’s eyes beneath his solemn expression.

He smiled reassuringly at him, but his voice was firm, “Father, I have never regretted it! And you don’t need to pay attention to those rumors outside, they’re just hearsay!”

“Actually… I’ve interacted with the Seventh Princess, and she’s not at all like what others say.”

Wei Jing Mo’s jade-like face was tinged with a hint of red, obviously feeling a bit embarrassed to say these things in front of Shen Ke.

Seeing his rare shy appearance, Shen Ke felt much less worried.

He couldn’t help but smile lightly, “Since you say so, Father won’t ask any more questions!”

“However,” his tone changed, his voice becoming slightly heavy, “We can’t let those rumors outside continue unchecked! Your wedding with the Seventh Princess is approaching, and it might have a negative impact by then. I need to discuss this matter thoroughly with your mother.”

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo immediately nodded, “Thank you for your concern, Father.”

——

Not long after Wei Jing Mo’s conversation with Shen Ke, suddenly one day, all the rumors about the two of them in Phoenix Feather City disappeared!

Wei Jing Mo thought it was Shen Ke’s doing, and he specifically asked about it when he went to pay his respects, but saw that he was also somewhat surprised.

A few days later, those who had been spreading rumors were suddenly arrested!

It was said that the people from the Capital Prefecture directly went to arrest them.

After hearing about these things, Wei Jing Mo immediately guessed that the person who took action must be Feng Bai Su.

He hadn’t expected that she would care about these things, after all, with her casual nature, she didn’t seem like someone who would pay attention to such matters. Moreover, her actions were so swift and decisive, in just a few days she had suppressed all those rumors. She even had those rumor-mongers arrested.

Because of this, the stone that had been weighing on his heart these days was finally lifted.

Capital Prefecture

In the dark and damp dungeon, Feng Bai Su leaned lazily against the chair, looking at the few people tied to the pillar and asked, “Well? Can you remember now who was behind instigating you?”

The few people were covered in blood, their clothes tattered and torn by whips, the scene looking very bloody.

Feng Bai Su, however, looked at the dying few with an expressionless face, her peach blossom eyes filled with coldness.

One of them finally raised her head. The expression on her face was somewhat numb, as if she couldn’t feel pain. Her eyes were pitch black, full of emptiness and deadness.

Suddenly, a strange smile appeared on her face. Before the people around could react, she suddenly vomited a large mouthful of black blood, her head falling heavily to one side.

The others beside her were the same, all of them losing their breath.

Cong Bai stepped forward to take a closer look, then turned to look at Feng Bai Su and said, “Your Highness, they’ve all stopped breathing. Such decisive methods don’t seem like those of ordinary people, more like specially trained death soldiers.”

Death soldiers were something that almost all noble families would cultivate. After all, some things couldn’t be dealt with openly, and at such times, special people were needed to resolve these matters.

“Open their clothes and see if there are any marks on their bodies.”

Usually, death soldiers would have a soldier’s mark branded on their shoulders or hidden parts of their body, representing their identity.

Hearing this, Cong Bai examined their bodies again, shaking her head, “There’s nothing.”

Seeing this, Feng Bai Su raised an eyebrow, “Never mind.”

She slowly stood up and walked towards the outside, “Those who don’t want Our marriage with the Northern Garrison Prince’s Mansion to succeed are just those few people. At this time, she must be even angrier than Us!”

Fifth Princess’s Mansion

In the dim study, Feng Bai Wei’s handsome face flickered in the candlelight, her gaze deep, “Is there any movement from the Northern Garrison Prince’s Mansion?”

The black shadow kneeling below immediately replied, “In response to the master, there’s no movement for now. Moreover—”

Her voice paused, then continued, “Those few people have now fallen into the Seventh Princess’s hands.”

In the quiet night, the candle on the desk made a “crack” sound.

Feng Bai Wei’s black eyes were deep and unfathomable, her voice indiscernible, “It seems that Our Seventh Imperial Sister is indeed not simple, We’ve misjudged her before.”

She raised her hand and pressed her forehead somewhat tiredly, “Well, this time it wasn’t entirely fruitless, at least We know that Our Seventh Imperial Sister is indeed not as simple as she appears on the surface.”

“You may go.”

The black shadow’s figure flashed and immediately left the room.

The study immediately fell silent.

Not long after, a soft inquiry came from outside the door, “Your Highness? Your primary husband has sent someone to ask if you want to return to Yin Shuang Pavilion to rest?”

“Tell my primary husband that I’m busy with government affairs today and won’t return to Yin Shuang Pavilion. Tell him to rest early.”

Feng Bai Wei’s black eyes showed no fluctuation, her expression almost cold.

If someone were here, they would find it hard to connect her with the rumors outside about her excessive doting on her husband.

The person outside the door, hearing Feng Bai Wei’s words, immediately respectfully replied, “Yes, Your Highness.”