I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?-Chapter 82: Deadly Rumors Spread
Two days passed. Xiang Mingli had been beaten so badly that his howls could still be heard outside the second branch’s courtyard. Although the Old Madam was furious, she didn’t dare go to Yuehua Small Building.
She was mostly worried that Si Yan wouldn’t be able to get into Lou Mountain Academy. However, on the afternoon of the second day, the Old Madam received a student token delivered from the academy and was instantly so overjoyed that all her ailments vanished.
Xiang Mingli and Mrs. Wang were also ecstatic holding the student token. Graduates of Lou Mountain Academy were destined to become high-ranking officials, and its female students would marry into prominent, wealthy households, or even become relatives of the imperial family.
The Old Madam immediately decided that they must host a banquet to celebrate the boy’s admission to Lou Mountain.
The General’s Residence sprang to life. That very day, invitations were sent to the residences of families on good terms with them, as well as to the Xiang family’s own kin.
Xiang Siyan was unbelievably smug. He went around proclaiming everywhere that Lou Mountain Academy had made an exception to accept him as a student. He boasted that the academy wouldn’t even accept a Prince who missed the entrance exam, yet he had been admitted directly without needing to take one at all.
The Capital City was a melting pot of influential figures, and talk like this quickly spread among the powerful and noble. The ladies in the inner courts of the aristocracy were certainly not lacking in competitiveness or vanity.
Upon hearing this, some families whose children had failed the entrance exams began to resent the General’s Residence. They even whispered poison in their masters’ ears, suggesting that Lou Mountain Academy was flouting the rules established by the late emperor and admitting students without proper cause.
The rumors spread like wildfire, and the tide of public opinion began to turn in an increasingly ominous direction.
Early that morning, Xiang Minghou was summoned to the palace by the emperor. Seeing the odd look in the eyes of the eunuch delivering the decree, Ye Qianning had a bad feeling. ’Something’s up.’
When she learned about the rumors spreading through the streets, even someone as level-headed as her felt a pang of anger in her chest. ’They’re really determined to cause trouble, aren’t they? It’s like they won’t stop until they’ve completely ruined my father.’
’If these rumors are allowed to continue, the General’s Residence will be thrown into the heart of the storm.’
Ye Qianning caught a few insects and birds, then sought out the large family of yellow weasels living on the estate. "Gather all the animals you can muster," she instructed them. "Go to the various residences and scout for information, especially the homes of those whose children failed to get into Lou Mountain Academy. I want their family secrets—the more detailed, the better."
"You got it! Just you wait and see. We’ll have it done for you within two days. Besides, it’s been a while since we’ve visited our relatives. We can say hello and do a little snooping for you at the same time."
"Should I get you a few chickens?" Ye Qianning asked.
The weasel rubbed its little paws together, thinking, ’If we ask for chickens, will she doubt the sincerity of our friendship?’
"We’re friends..." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
"I’ll have the kitchen prepare a dozen or so. If that’s not enough, I’ll buy more for you later."
"Deal!" The weasel’s eyes lit up.
Ye Qianning felt a pang of guilt for the poor chickens, but there was nothing to be done. ’It’s the circle of life.’
After dealing with these rumors, she decided she needed to keep some dirt on all the powerful families in the Capital City going forward. If anyone dared to drag the General’s Residence through the mud, she’d drag their family’s secrets out into the open.
’And if anyone dares to report my father to the emperor, I’ll make sure their names are infamous for centuries to come.’
Just as Ye Qianning finished making her arrangements, she heard the sound of gongs, drums, and firecrackers outside. Her brow furrowed. ’It’s not enough to just deal with other families’ problems,’ she thought. ’I need to clean up my own house, too.’
The main gate of the General’s Residence was a scene of great commotion. A dozen strings of firecrackers had been set off alone. Besides the Xiang family’s own relatives, several noble ladies were at the entrance, offering their congratulations.
The Old Madam’s neck was still wrapped in gauze, but she was grinning from ear to ear.
Xiang Mingli was still too badly beaten to get out of bed, so he naturally did not make an appearance. It was Mrs. Wang who stood at the gate with Xiang Siyan and Zhenzhu, welcoming the guests.
"Everyone, please come inside. Come in."
"Congratulations, congratulations! To have both the young master and young miss of your residence accepted into Lou Mountain Academy—Old Madam Xiang, you are truly blessed."
"Truly blessed indeed."
The ladies chuckled, lavishing her with praise.
