Yun Xi had already been suffering from a splitting headache. Upon suddenly learning this news, she was filled with rage.
Without hesitation, she threw the cup to the ground and roared,
"Which bastard spread this rumor!? Brother has been dedicated for all these years. Hasn't he done enough for the Great Yin Dynasty!?"
"Brother did foresee the natural disaster. It was the local officials who embezzled funds and refused to do their jobs properly, which led to the failure of disaster relief and the flight of refugees. What does this have to do with Brother!?"
"How could anyone believe such an obvious attempt to sow discord? Have they lost their minds?"
After venting her anger in a long string of scolding, Yun Xi felt a bit relieved. Only then did she notice the strange looks from her parents. Blushing slightly, she stammered,
"Uh... I've lost my composure."
"It's just that I was really angry when I first heard this. I wonder if this rumor has reached the palace? I just came back from the palace, but I didn't notice. And His Majesty... "
Perhaps doubting Emperor Zhaohuan, when mentioning Yi Qu, a hint of impatience flashed across Yun Xi's eyes. She continued,
"What's his attitude?"
Parents know their children best.
Yun Weisheng and his wife clearly noticed Yun Xi's unusual emotions. They exchanged a tacit look and unanimously chose not to ask. Only Liu Jingyue replied,
"The rumor emerged suddenly. Your father has already sent your elder brother to investigate the person behind it. As for whether it has reached the palace, we don't know for the time being."
"Um..."
Yun Xi frowned, her mind becoming even more chaotic. She then asked,
"Has A Ning come back?"
Just as her voice faded, Jiang Ning's voice came from outside the door,
"I'm back. I've also heard about A Yuan's matter."
Everyone was stunned.
Turning around, they saw Jiang Ning in a very strange state.
Yun Xi stepped forward worriedly and comforted her,
"Don't worry too much. Brother is guarding the palace. There's no one else in the Great Yin Dynasty with such profound Taoist magic as him. His Majesty won't do anything to him."
"At least... before Lian Yi rises, Brother will be safe. It's just that we may need to give the common people an explanation."
There was deep exhaustion in Jiang Ning's eyes. Hearing this, she forced a smile and said,
"I know."
"I came back with an imperial edict. His Majesty said that A Yuan is injured and should just stay in the palace to recuperate and guide Lian Yi during this period. He is not suitable to travel around anymore. His Majesty also personally ordered that I be defrocked tomorrow. He has prepared a congratulatory gift for me and promised that he will come in person to drink a toast at my wedding in a few days."
"This... this is a great honor,"
Although she was talking about a happy event, Jiang Ning's eyes were dull and lifeless, as if she was just an empty shell, mechanically saying things that were not from her heart,
"I'm just a commoner, but I can have the emperor come in person to celebrate. Others will surely be green with envy. Not to mention that my husband's family will never dare to bully or look down on me in the future. Even the county magistrate will have to respect me. It's so good. This... is something I can brag about for a lifetime."
A smile curled up on her lips, but suddenly tears welled up in Jiang Ning's eyes.
"Only... only your identity as Man Ping may not be used in the future. Xiao Xi, I'm really... sorry..."
Yun Xi felt a lump in her throat. She quickly stepped forward and hugged Jiang Ning, gently patting her on the back and saying softly,
"Don't say such silly things. If it can't be used, then so be it. Anyway, the Shen family and Zongzheng Fengyi and others all know that it's me who can read minds and tell fortunes. The identity of Man Ping is just a way to deceive others. It's useless to keep it."
"But you..."
Yun Xi said carefully,
"About your marriage, are you really... going to get married like this?"
Gently wiping away the tears on her face with her slender fingers, Jiang Ning nodded firmly,
"I should have gotten married more than a year ago. It was my willfulness that made me run away by myself. I made my parents worry and even implicated A Yuan."
"I've been willful enough. It's time for me to do what I should do. Xiao Xi, you don't know how lucky I am."
"In my life, I was almost dead when I was a child, but I met A Yuan, who saved my life. My father and mother never gave up looking for me. After they brought me home, they doted on me. Later, as a weak woman, I traveled all the way to the capital, and nothing bad happened to me on the way. When I arrived in the capital, I met you right away."
"I've been lucky enough. It's time for me to do some things that I don't really like. Whether it's for A Yuan or for my father and mother, I must get married as soon as possible."
Looking at Yun Xi somewhat shyly, Jiang Ning continued,
"At that time, I'm afraid I'll have to borrow your two - courtyard mansion to show the world my wedding."
Yun Xi naturally wouldn't refuse. She immediately said,
"What's the big deal? Xining Cloth Store has always relied on you. I said I'd give you that mansion, and I really will. It's yours. It doesn't matter if you don't live there. You can just rent it out and collect the rent every year."
"However, judging from His Majesty's intention, it seems that he wants you to hold the wedding banquet in a few days. With such a short time, I'm afraid there won't be enough time to prepare many things."
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Ning didn't seem to care,
"What does it matter? Anyway, I'm not marrying..."
She suddenly stopped talking. Jiang Ning pulled the corner of her mouth bitterly,
"Anyway, my parents should be able to arrive in the capital tonight. My future husband is also on the same journey with them. We just need to go through the ceremony here. None of our relatives are here. Just hang up some red silk as a formality."
"It's just that you all have to attend a rather shabby wedding banquet."
As soon as she said this, Yun Xi and Liu Jingyue both immediately denied it.
They talked for a while and decided to ask Liu Jingyue to help Jiang Ning's parents prepare for the wedding.
Just as they were talking, Yi Yuan and Yun Qi came back from outside.
And behind them was - Shen Zhou!?
What kind of combination was this?
Yun Xi and the others were all extremely confused.
Yi Yuan obviously saw their confusion and was about to explain, but Yun Qi spoke first,
"Father, Mother, little sister, I've found out that the person behind the rumor is Zongzheng Fengyi, that national teacher, and his men."
"But it's very difficult to find evidence for such oral rumors. I had to send someone to keep an eye on them first. However, the prince seems to have discovered their secret."
Yi Yuan nodded and continued,
"The people from Qirizhuang reported that something has been transported from Shuozhou in recent days and secretly sent into the village at night. The people in Shuozhou also said that things have often been transported out of that mansion recently."
"Moreover, there are often inexplicable increases and decreases in the number of people in Qirizhuang, but no one is seen entering or leaving through the main gate. It seems that there should be a secret passage there."
As Yun Xi listened, her eyes were fixed on Shen Zhou.
After all, leaving Qirizhuang aside, Shuozhou was really related to the Shen family.
If Prime Minister Shen knew that Shen Zhou swaggered into her Yun Mansion like this, he would surely make things difficult for him.
Seeing the obvious doubt in Yun Xi's eyes, Shen Zhou smiled and said,
"Don't look at me like that, Yingying. I'm not here to betray the Shen family. I'm just here to reach a cooperation."