Chapter 0209: So the Source of the Rumor Was Actually Me
Xie Chengze could hardly imagine what the rumor would eventually become if it continued to spread unchecked.
Just as everyone was echoing the same opinion, someone suddenly shook their head and denied the claim. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh?” The others couldn’t help but ask, “What is your esteemed opinion, sir?”
“Have you all forgotten? Three years ago, during the imperial examination, the Tanhualang was beheaded at the Noon Gate for writing a love poem that offended the Prince Regent.”
The man took a sip of tea and spoke unhurriedly, “This incident once caused the Prince Regent to face criticism among scholars, and it was even rumored that he discriminated against Long Yang’s Preference, which clearly hindered his efforts to gain the support and allegiance of scholars. Now, the rumor of his mutual affection with Lord Shen is likely an attempt to mitigate the impact of the Tanhualang’s execution, shifting all the blame onto the Tanhualang.”
Upon hearing this, the crowd nodded in agreement. “Your reasoning is ingenious, sir. We admire your insight!”
“Thinking about it this way, it’s indeed possible, as you said, that this is the Prince Regent’s plan to clear his name. Otherwise, why would the rumor of their private relationship surface at this critical moment, rather than earlier or later?”
“Perhaps the private relationship is false, but winning over scholars is the real goal.”
“Or perhaps the two truly share a deep bond. To support the Prince Regent, Lord Shen is even willing to tarnish his own reputation to restore the Prince Regent’s standing…”
“Tsk.” Xie Chengze was displeased. Why was he part of a scheme to clear someone’s name, while Shen Yuan was sacrificing his reputation?
“These people are too good at making wild guesses,” Zhu Xiaobiao couldn’t help but say. “Indeed, when three people say there’s a tiger, even nothing can be turned into something. Your Highness, should I go and stop them from spreading rumors?”
“No need. With so many mouths, it’s impossible to silence them all.” Xie Chengze shook his head. He cleared his throat and turned to the table to ask, “So, according to this gentleman, to win over the scholars, the Prince Regent will surely attend the Peach Blossom Banquet today with Shen Shilang?”
His voice was naturally soft and delicate, making it hard to distinguish his gender if one didn’t listen carefully. Hearing an outsider interject, the group turned and saw a graceful “woman” in peach-colored robes facing them. Even the veil couldn’t conceal her noble aura, and the faintly visible bright, captivating eyes beneath the veil were as mesmerizing as whirlpools.
“Why is this young lady in the male guests’ area?” someone whispered, while another teased, “What’s a young lady doing inquiring about such matters? The Peach Blossom Banquet hasn’t started yet. You should go to the female guests’ area, or you might attract some pesky flies!”
“If pesky flies come, there’s always a flyswatter to deal with them. But you all, relying on hearsay, can fabricate so many assumptions. I wonder what Lord Shen would think if he heard this.”
Xie Chengze’s voice was filled with anger as he rebuked, “Everyone in Jingcheng knows that Shen Shilang is upright, noble, and aboveboard. How could he lower himself to aid and abet a mere Prince Regent? Is the Prince Regent even worthy?”
Shen Yuan, who was nearby serving tea, paused his movements and raised an eyebrow slightly at these words.
Was he… defending his reputation?
Zhu Xiaobiao anxiously craned his neck.
His Highness wasn’t even trying to clear his own name—why was he adding fuel to the fire instead?
“Hey! I won’t stand for such words!” The scholar claiming to be from Liaozhou seemed angered, immediately retorting loudly, “What do you mean by ‘mere Prince Regent’? Do you know what the Prince Regent has sacrificed for us common folk of Liaozhou? You have no understanding of His Highness the Prince Regent’s charm! The Prince Regent is perfectly matched with Shen Shilang—it’s a pairing made in heaven!”
His voice drew the attention of many scholars nearby who were engaged in lively discussions. They gathered around to see what the commotion was about.
“Oh? How come I’ve never heard of the Prince Regent possessing such charm?” Xie Chengze crossed his arms, looking disdainfully at the scholar. “You’re not some hired promoter bought by the Prince Regent, are you?”
“You!” The Liaozhou scholar pointed at Xie Chengze, finding him utterly unreasonable. “Ignorant fool! Not only did the Prince Regent observe celestial phenomena to predict a once-in-a-century snow disaster, allowing Liaozhou to take preventive measures and provide disaster relief in advance, but he also invented heated brick beds for warmth and discovered long-burning coal, enabling the people of Liaozhou to survive the harsh winters comfortably!”
He listed the Prince Regent’s great achievements one by one. “Moreover, he initiated the Ice Sculpture Festival to boost Liaozhou’s economy, creating numerous job opportunities for its people. Now coal is being transported to both northern and southern regions, exchanged for cattle and sheep with the Xiongnu tribe from the grasslands, and for fine rice and river fish with southern merchants!”
“Tell me, with such wisdom and dedication to the people, why shouldn’t a Prince Regent of such caliber be worthy of Shen Shilang’s unwavering loyalty?!” The Liaozhou scholar snorted heavily. “Not to mention the retreat of the Xiongnu army—His Highness the Prince Regent played a role in that too! You outsiders probably didn’t know that, did you?”
The surrounding scholars indeed had no idea. Hailing from various regions, their information wasn’t as updated, and they attended various tea gatherings precisely to learn more about affairs in the capital. Thus, when the Liaozhou scholar recounted the Prince Regent’s accomplishments, they were all stunned.
“So the heated beds that reached our Lanzhou were actually invented by His Highness the Prince Regent?”
“The newly popular coal sold in major inns lately, which burns exceptionally long—was that also discovered by the Prince Regent?”
“The local gentry in our city have all switched to fur coats, heard they were bought in Liaozhou. Could that be related to the Prince Regent as well?”
“Brother! Please tell us more!” someone urged impatiently. “And what about the Xiongnu retreat? How did that happen?”
Everyone expressed curiosity, eager to hear the specific details. The Liaozhou scholar didn’t hesitate at all, launching into an animated narration starting from the Prince Regent charging alone into the bandits’ den. At thrilling moments, he elicited cheers and applause; at perilous turns, gasps of alarm arose. Especially when they heard about the Prince Regent collapsing from exhaustion, many sentimental scholars shed tears, exclaiming, “The Prince Regent is truly a living Buddha!”
No one paid any further attention to the “scandal” between the Prince Regent and Shen Shilang.
Zhu Xiaobiao gazed at Xie Chengze with sparkling eyes.
His Highness was truly remarkable! With just a few words, he had turned the Peach Blossom Banquet into a showcase of the Prince Regent’s achievements, transforming all these scholars into the Prince Regent’s “devoted admirers”!
He had naively thought His Highness was genuinely concerned about Lord Shen’s reputation! Turns out he had other plans!
Xie Chengze sat down with a smile. “Shen Shilang shouldn’t mind, right?”
Shen Yuan gently swirled the tea in his cup, a trace of indulgent amusement flashing in his eyes. “Slightly dissatisfied?”
I was hoping to hear more of their gossip.
“Hmph! Keep your dissatisfaction to yourself!” Xie Chengze lifted the veil partially covering his face and took a sip of tea. “Who exactly is spreading these rumors anyway? If someone wanted to tarnish my reputation, there are plenty of methods. Why choose the least damaging one?”
As he spoke, a commotion arose nearby. Several people emerged from the side gate of Hanshan Temple, and someone called out, “Everyone, the Peach Blossom Banquet is about to begin! Please take your seats!”
“The host of this Peach Blossom Banquet finally shows themselves.”
While speaking, Xie Chengze looked up, his fingers lightly brushing the veil as he gazed toward the group. The next moment, he froze.
“Why are they here?”
Shen Yuan calmly glanced over before understandingly withdrawing his gaze.
Seeing Shen Yuan’s composed reaction, Xie Chengze narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “You already guessed this?!”
“Your Highness’s heart is truly cold and unfeeling.” Shen Yuan set down his teacup, his handsome face adopting a pitiful expression of sorrow as his tone filled with accusation. “Back in Yi Province, you affectionately called me your husband before everyone. Now you deny it outright and cast me aside like worn shoes.”
Xie Chengze: “…”
Xie Chengze vaguely recalled that he might, indeed, have actually called Shen Yuan his husband in front of the common people in Yi Province…
The news must have spread from ten to hundreds, with many commoners taking it seriously. Then it reached the scholars’ ears, leading to the misunderstanding that the two had privately married.
Xie Chengze covered his forehead and said helplessly, “So the source of these rumors… was actually me?!”