Chapter 470: Chapter 472: Sorry, the General is Not a Gentleman!
Their nation wielded the mightiest army, and no one dared to insult it lightly.
Their Emperor, no matter what, would always protect his common people!
This was trust—the trust of a dynasty in its monarch, the trust in their holand!
Watching columns of soldiers pass by, the entire Capital City seed invigorated, with cries that shook the heavens.
Upon the city walls, Zhao Junyao could only muster a bitter smile.
"Xia Tingfeng, all of this should have belonged to you!"
"You damned fool, if you don’t co back soon, I will have to bestow your rewards on soone else!"
As he thought, the young Emperor’s eyes reddened.
...
The bandits were completely eradicated by the Imperial Court, and the people’s lives returned to peace.
No one noticed that there was one less guard by the Emperor’s side.
Nor did anyone notice that the unremarkable Xia Family was missing one of its children born of concubines.
Everything reverted to its most ordinary state. However, one cannot wrap up fire with paper!
Zhao Junyao dispatched team after team of Hidden Guards to search, but they found no trace.
And in the Capital City, whispers gradually began to surface.
「In a certain teahouse.」
A group of people were leaning in close, discussing gossip.
"Hey, hey, hey, have you heard? Miss Ni from the Fourth Rank General’s Mansion—her fiancé, the one who served as a guard in the palace—he’s gone!"
"What?"
"Is it that guard, the one with a sister who’s a Favored Consort in the palace?"
"Yes, yes, that’s right!"
"Which Miss Ni?"
"It’s Miss Ni from the Fourth Rank General’s Mansion. They say she’s both beautiful and virtuous, with a gentle character, just... a bit too selective!"
"She’s already eighteen and only just discussing marriage arrangents. After finally finding a suitable family, for such a thing to happen!"
"The guard is gone? Is he dead or what?"
"It’s said that he drowned in the river during a bandit extermination a while back!"
After saying this, the person lowered their voice and continued, "They say his body still hasn’t been found!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present felt a shocked sadness.
"Ah, what a pity!"
"Truly a pity. Such a well-matched couple, how could they just..."
"Exactly!"
The news spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred.
In just a few days, it was the talk of the Capital City.
So people were kind. They rely lanted that the young general was ill-fated and that Miss Ni was also unlucky, having just arranged a marriage when this tragedy occurred.
Others would simply sigh, "Life is unpredictable, and fate mocks us," and say no more. These people were naturally good-hearted.
But there were others who were incredibly malicious.
They spoke as if their mouths were full of venom, their words lethal upon utterance.
One mont they would discuss how Miss Ni was cursed with a hard fate, capable of dooming her husband before even crossing his threshold.
The next, they would speculate that the guard was too stupid. Why else would he be the only one to et with disaster while others were fine?
It clearly showed his martial skills were lacking.
Gradually, the flas of gossip even reached inside the palace.
It was said that this Guard Xia possessed no real ability. He had supposedly climbed the ranks only through his sister’s connections at court.
After all, his sister was a Favored Consort, and he himself was the Prince’s maternal uncle.
The Emperor’s partiality was thus understandable.
Rumors ran wild, spreading exponentially, eventually becoming detailed and vivid.
Even those who were initially clear-sighted began to believe and waver.
The so-called fear of public opinion is precisely this. Truly, slander wounds like a chill in June!
...
Communication between the palace and the outside world was cut off. Coupled with Zhao Junyao’s deliberate concealnt, the Harem remained untouched by rumors and gossip for the ti being.
Xia Ruqing was completely unaware of events in the outside world, much less her brother’s situation.
She was well-protected.
All the gossip, malice, and rumors couldn’t hurt her.
By May, the weather had grown quite hot.
She couldn’t even be bothered to step outside her door, preferring to spend her ti in the palace accompanying Little Bun, reading picture books, and recounting stories.
In her free ti, she practiced calligraphy or joined Zi Yue and the others to learn needlework.
Her days were quiet and carefree.
Xia Ruqing was completely unaware that she had beco entangled in such venomous talk.
Of course, Zhao Junyao wouldn’t tell her.
However, another woman, Ni Manxue, was not so fortunate. She had shut herself in her room for days on end.
Not speaking, nor crying, she just clutched a jade pendant, constantly looking at it, constantly touching it.
She gazed at it while eating and held onto it while sleeping. No one could persuade her otherwise.
Lady Ni had cried her eyes red but still had to muster the strength to co and console her daughter.
"Manxue, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Why tornt yourself and ruin your health?"
"We can only say that our two families were not fated to be!"
Upon hearing this, Ni Manxue suddenly turned, her gaze firm.
"Mother, he’s not dead!"
"I know for sure he hasn’t died!"
"Didn’t they say that even his body wasn’t found?"
With no body found, it ans he’s rely missing. How could he be dead?
Lady Ni burst into tears again, hugging her daughter and crying so hard she could barely breathe.
"Daughter, don’t be foolish. Wake up! Please, don’t scare your mother!"
Ni Manxue glanced at Lady Ni, then at her own reflection in the mirror, her face filled with confusion.
"Mother, I’ve always been lucid!"
"Unless I see his body right now, I’ll never believe he’s dead!"
"Otherwise, I won’t believe anyone!"
After speaking, she continued looking at the jade pendant in her hand.
It was enclosed with the letter he had written to her before he left.
He had one, and she had one. Put together, they ford a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water.
That was the first ti she had received a letter from him.
As a sheltered young lady receiving a letter from a man, even her future husband, she was overco with shyness. Her cheeks flushed repeatedly, and it took two whole days before she dared to open the envelope and read it.
That letter was still pressed under her pillow.
No one knew; it was their secret.
Thinking of this, her cheeks reddened again.
Xia Tingfeng, I... I will always wait for you to co back. I know you’re not dead!
She didn’t understand why she had fallen head over heels for a man at first sight, but regardless, she was willing.
Seeing that she couldn’t be persuaded, Lady Ni simply stopped trying.
Every day, she personally watched over her daughter.
Firstly, she feared her daughter might despair and do sothing foolish.
Secondly, she personally kept watch, ensuring no one told her daughter about the malicious words circulating outside, nor allowed anyone to gossip carelessly in her presence.
And so, she persisted for several days.
As May was drawing to a close and June approached, the rumors and gossip outside only grew worse instead of subsiding.
Lady Ni felt despair welling up from the depths of her heart.
One day, she knelt in the small Buddhist hall, tearfully praying and beseeching Buddha.
She was about to make so vow, praying for Buddha’s blessing and protection.
But before she could finish her prayer, a young maid ca rushing in.
"It’s terrible, Madam! Miss Ni has disappeared!"
Lady Ni was stunned, instantly panicked.
"What did you say?"
Not bothering with questions or further thought, Lady Ni lifted her skirts and hurried out in a frantic rush.
"Manxue..."
"Manxue!"
She opened the door to the boudoir to find it utterly empty.
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