Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 863 - 839: Return to the Capital

Fengyu was furious, and intended to support the Fang Family, but their power couldn’t outweigh the rumors. She understood that it’s better to channel than to block, as blocking only leads to more discussions, which cannot be stopped.

Even with their worldly power, Fengyu and Xie Xun had no means to quell the gossip, nor the feelings of those wishing to revel in the spectacle. It is human nature to delight in dragging deities down and stamp dirty marks on their sacred robes.

After Mrs. Fang fell ill, Fengyu sent Qiuxiang to personally visit the Fang Family with many gifts to demonstrate the palace’s stance. Without such gestures, others would still know the palace’s stance, since the other protagonist of the rumors is Xie Jue.

The Duchess Marquis An Yuan and Su Yuejiao visited the Fang Family to comfort Mrs. Fang every other day, demonstrating no intention of being spectators. While surprised, they collectively refrained from discussing the matter and forbade their families from gossiping. The news came from Sannan, regardless of its truth; even if true, it concerns just the Fang and Xie Families. The emperor’s attitude is evident: whatever my Second Brother does is justified, and anyone daring to comment will lose their head. With the Fang Family’s stance unclear, their close acquaintances naturally understood how to proceed with caution.

Mrs. Fang was grateful for the two ladies for their help in distress, but she knew there’s no smoke without fire. Perhaps the rumors were true; her sorrow lay not in the rumors themselves, but in never seeing her son again, realizing the cruel fate of a parent losing a child.

Before the envoy departed, Mrs. Fang had sensed something amiss due to Fang Chuning’s several attempts to confide in her, only to restrain himself. Mrs. Fang too had loved others before, and recognized the look in her son’s eyes when he glanced at Xie Jue. She dared not dwell on it, chose to avoid probing, even wished for Fang Chuning to abandon the mission to follow her to Jiangnan. Upon hearing the rumors, she knew trouble was ahead, surely due to Fang Chuning and Xie Jue’s matters being exposed. Initially, it was said that Fang Chuning and Xie Jue sought pleasure at a palace banquet. Mrs. Fang, disappointed, first reacted with anger at why they had to do this so publicly, inviting trouble.

Concerned about her son’s reputation, she wished for him not to bear such infamy. Once tainted, he would be critically condemned and scorned.

Yet, when she received the news of Fang Chuning’s death, Mrs. Fang was shattered overnight. Reputation and rumors ceased to matter; all she cared about was whether her son was alive. She hoped for a letter from the marshal, a message saying it was false, that Fang Chuning was merely injured. But after days of futile waiting, in the face of the army’s border pressure and with the envoy under siege, the Sannan High Priest seized power in a coup, and Fang Chuning perished protecting Xie Jue.

Mrs. Fang’s spirit seemed to vanish overnight. She was lost in sorrow all day, and Fang Lingjun was deeply fearful of losing her mother while already having lost her brother.

In the Capital City, the unpleasant gossip was overwhelming; even with tightly shut doors, it was audible. Once Mrs. Fang fell ill, Fang Lingjun ordered everyone out, forbidding rumors from entering and reaching her mother’s ears.

Besides the Duchess Marquis An Yuan and Su Yuejiao, a few handkerchief friends also came to console her. They were sensible, perhaps discussing the matter privately in whispers given its shockingly scandalous nature, but they refrained from prying into Fang Chuning’s private affairs during Fang Lingjun’s grief. Since Fang Lingjun avoided meeting people, they sent letters of comfort, offering her some courage.

The Princess Consort Jingbei and several concubines from her family came to visit Mrs. Fang and Fang Lingjun. Before Dugu Jing led his troops to war, their families had reached a tacit understanding, with no formal exchange of betrothal gifts yet, but generally approved.

The incident with Fang Chuning was surely blemishing the family, as taints spread to its womenfolk. The Beining clan’s discussion of marriage with Fang Lingjun was presumably retracted, as they don’t intend to pile on yet would not wish for a woman from such a family either. Yet, the Princess Consort Jingbei and her concubines maintained normal interactions, with the Princess even gifting many unique Beiman medicinal herbs, comforting Mrs. Fang to mind less about others and focus on her own life, not letting rumors affect her; for they too would remain unaffected.

This matter was scandalous even among the Beiman, but not unheard of.

The Princess Consort Jingbei said, "Madam, pay no mind to what others say. The Eldest Young Master and Prince have military achievements; calling it a contribution to the country is not an exaggeration. This is merely private affection, not theft or arson, nor harm to anyone. If others gossip, let them be. True or not, it doesn’t matter; focus on maintaining your health as we look forward to celebrating Xiao Jiu and Miss Fang’s wedding together."

The Princess Consort paid no heed to the rumors and didn’t intend to break the engagement, which confirmed her sincerity towards Fang Lingjun. Despite Fang Chuning being the backbone of the Fang Family, with Xiaoqi being young and his future uncertain, without Fang Chuning, the Fang Family would naturally falter, yet Prince Jingbei still chose them over any other.

First, Prince Jingbei had a penchant for marrying into families of military generals; second, the Beiman honored promises and were not prone to lying, with agreed matters never retracted; third, Dugu Jing and Fang Lingjun both accepted the marriage, and their wishes were crucial.

This matter was the sole comfort to Mrs. Fang during her illness.

Just as the rumors intensified in the capital, Xie Jue returned with the envoy, accompanied by Han Ziqi and others, to the Capital City. Xie Xun intended to welcome them at the city gate but was stopped by Lin Helin as it was against the protocol, thus Xie Xun restrained his eagerness. He had no interest in seeing Han Ziqi; people from Honglu Temple arranged Han Ziqi and others at the posthouse, while Xie Xun summoned Xie Jue into the palace.

Unexpectedly, Xie Jue did not enter the palace but returned to Prince Manor.

Xie Xun had sent Zhang Boxi to invite him. Zhang Boxi knew his priorities, returned to the palace to report as Prince returned to the manor. Xie Xun was not upset upon hearing this, but just sighed that his Second Brother must be exhausted, urging him to rest well.

"Your Majesty, when will you summon Han Ziqi?" Lin Helin asked. He was uninterested in the rumors, though surprised, he was focused solely on state affairs, ignoring any scandalous tales both at home and in court, which did not alter his view and respect for Xie Jue and Fang Chuning.

"Let them wait three days; no hurry," Xie Xun scoffed. Having barely arrived at Mudan City, they were put on hold, so now he followed suit.

Lin Helin paused in silence; indeed, with the situation fixed, there’s no urgency!

After court, Xie Xun summoned Ruyi, saying with a grin, "Ruyi, when you see your father later, make sure to sweet-talk, tell him how much you missed him, couldn’t sleep or eat well, and have become skinny from longing."

Fengyu observed the slightly chubbier Ruyi, lost in thought.

Zhixu ah, Second Brother was merely lovesick, not blind, surely he notices Ruyi looks more plump than before his departure from the capital.