"Don't worry!" Xie Fengran pushed a cup of herbal tea over. "Apart from the vegetarian snacks in the Protector of the Nation Temple, this herbal tea is truly extraordinary. The monks in the temple sent it over this morning. Have a taste to cool off your temper."
"It's this critical moment, and you're still so unhurried. Aren't you afraid of becoming a victim in the end?"
Despite saying so, Sun Yuelan didn't refuse. She snatched the teacup over in annoyance and gulped it down in one go.
While wiping the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, she said, "In my opinion, you should just become my sister - in - law. Forget about the crown prince and the prince. You know my brother's feelings for you."
"Yuelan, what you're saying is trampling on your brother's feelings."
"Alright, alright. I won't say it anymore."
Seeing that Xie Fengran was about to launch into a long - winded lecture, Sun Yuelan quickly pleaded for mercy. "Let's talk about this matter. If the emperor really bestows a marriage, it will damage your reputation. By then, the crown prince may not even marry you. Have you thought about what to do in the end?"
"I never counted on a man to save myself. Moreover, reputation is something that others say, not necessarily what you've done. It's the least valuable thing. If a man looks down on you and abandons you because of such a thing, why should you be attached to such a man?"
Sun Yuelan blinked her eyes and didn't know how to react for a moment.
They had known each other for quite a while, and she had never seen her close female friend have such a somewhat rebellious thought.
Women had always valued reputation highly, but she said it was the least valuable thing!
Seeing Sun Yuelan's confused expression, Xie Fengran smiled. "Naturally, if someone deliberately slurs your name, you can't just let them pour dirt on you. Don't worry. Although Prime Minister Zhang is the emperor's confidant, the marriage of that prince isn't a problem that can be solved by an imperial edict. Otherwise, the emperor would have solved it long ago."
Sun Yuelan was about to ask more questions, but Xie Fengran didn't want to continue. "Your father, Scholar Sun, has always been dedicated to learning. You mustn't get involved because of me. Otherwise, how will Scholar Sun manage the women's academy in the future?"
"Fine! Since you don't want me to ask, I won't. But we're friends. If you have any difficulties, you must tell me!"
"Of course." Xie Fengran gave a bright smile, stood up, and pulled Sun Yuelan. "Come on. The Protector of the Nation Temple has beautiful scenery. It's really worth a visit. They just made some vegetarian snacks in the temple today. I'll ask Lanfang to see if there are any left. You can't go back empty - handed after coming here."
"Humph!" Sun Yuelan pretended to be angry. "What a way to curry favor with someone else's things. You have no sincerity at all."
Xie Fengran spread her hands. "It's not my place here!"
If the abbot hadn't felt guilty in front of her, she wouldn't have been so unceremonious about taking and eating!
Sun Yuelan stayed in the temple for an afternoon and then set off back to the mansion.
In the following days, the rumors in the capital were raging. Even what happened to Xie Fengran at the palace banquet was dug out. Some said she was trying to get close to Prince Qin on purpose; others said she was hooking up with the crown prince while also having something with Prince Qin and was shameless.
Xie Yi heard these rumors and didn't dare to complain to the old lady Xie. Instead, he went to Yun's place and vented his anger.
Yun immediately sent someone to the Protector of the Nation Temple to deliver a message asking Xie Fengran to come back, but the message was intercepted by the old lady Xie before it even left the mansion.
Yun was then punished to kneel again, and this time, Concubine Yuan was also punished with her.
Seeing his wife and concubine being punished by his mother, Xie Yi didn't dare to say a word.
For the time being, with the old lady Xie suppressing things in the mansion, there were no major disturbances, but outside, it wasn't so peaceful.
First, some censors impeached the Xie family for having lax family morals and failing to educate their daughters properly. They asked the emperor to severely punish Xie Yi to rectify the atmosphere.
The emperor naturally wouldn't severely punish Xie Yi for such baseless things. He just sent the memorials to the Marquis's Mansion for Xie Yi to defend himself.
Prime Minister Zhang seized this opportunity and mentioned the matter of the emperor bestowing a marriage again.
Prime Minister Zhang was an important official of the emperor, so the emperor had to consider his request.
However, the emperor couldn't decide on Qin Junxing's marriage. After thinking about it, the emperor simply summoned Qin Junxing.
"My subject, you know the temper of the eldest princess. I can't decide on Junxing's marriage. But if he himself agrees, there won't be any problem with the eldest princess. I've summoned him today. How about you talk to him face - to - face?"
"... This, isn't it inappropriate?" Prime Minister Zhang had the idea of asking the emperor to make the decision for him. He also knew that Qin Junxing would never marry his daughter.
He never expected that the emperor wanted him to form a marriage alliance with the mansion of the eldest princess but was unwilling to put in the effort!
The emperor also understood what Prime Minister Zhang meant. He coughed lightly and evaded the issue. "Prime Minister Zhang is overthinking."
In his heart, he was a bit annoyed. The Zhang family's daughter had been chasing after Qin Junxing for so long but still couldn't win him over, and she even wanted him to bestow a marriage. There was no way!
When Qin Junxing came, he noticed that the atmosphere between the emperor and the official was a bit strange. Looking at Prime Minister Zhang's expression, he had an idea.
After performing the proper salutations, the emperor spoke first. "Junxing, I heard from Prime Minister Zhang that you and Miss Zhang have mutual feelings for each other. Is there such a thing?"
"Mutual feelings?" Qin Junxing raised his eyebrows and glanced at Prime Minister Zhang. "Your Majesty, I really can't understand what Prime Minister Zhang means by mutual feelings."
Prime Minister Zhang felt uncertain under Qin Junxing's glance, and then he heard Qin Junxing say.
"A few days ago, I was listening to stories in a teahouse in the south of the city. A girl who claimed to be the daughter of the prime minister pestered me in public. To protect my innocence, I had to avoid her. A few days ago, I also heard that this Miss Zhang rolled off a carriage with a man outside the city. Your Majesty, I'm really not blessed enough to marry such a girl, let alone have mutual feelings with her!"
"This... Prime Minister Zhang, what's going on?"
Prime Minister Zhang, who had been an official for many years, had never been so embarrassed. He was annoyed at Qin Junxing for being so unforgiving.
However, as a prime minister of the dynasty, he still had good psychological qualities. He immediately pleaded guilty to the emperor. "Your Majesty, this is all a misunderstanding. My daughter has always admired the prince, so she was a bit excited. I also implore the prince to forgive my daughter's unintentional mistakes for the sake of her infatuation. As for what the prince said about her rolling off the carriage with a man, it's simply nonsense. I really don't know where the prince heard such a rumor."
"Where did I hear it?" Qin Junxing looked at Prime Minister Zhang with a half - smile. He turned around and bowed to the emperor. "Your Majesty, if Prime Minister Zhang says there's no such thing, then there isn't. Maybe I really heard it wrong."
The emperor's eyes swept between the two of them, and he asked again, "So, it seems that Miss Zhang also admires Junxing. She's the only daughter of Prime Minister Zhang, and her status is a suitable match for Junxing. How about..."