Rumors were rife outside, and the Rong family was in turmoil. In the case of Rong Sui's incident that day, the main culprit was directly pointed at the remaining members of the Dong family. Now, the emperor was so enraged that he fell ill in bed. The eldest prince was repeatedly reprimanded, while the crown prince put aside the memorials and waited for the emperor to wake up before making any arrangements.
As a result, there were dissenting voices saying that the Dong family was already on its last legs. How could they have caused such a big stir? It was clearly a ruse by the Rong family. They used Rong Sui's injury and Shi Ning'an's reputation to help the crown prince consolidate his power.
When this news spread, Rong Heng was so angry that he was itching to go out and fight those rumor - mongers.
Fortunately, the entire Rong family had basically changed their ways. They closed the door tightly, rarely went out, and ignored these groundless rumors.
Meanwhile, the case was still under investigation, and there were faint rumors that it was related to the newly - appointed General Weibeng.
Although General Weibeng accompanied the prince of Northern Qi into the palace to pay homage that day, some people said that his attendant was seen in the royal villa, and his younger sister, Wei Xia, was shopping on a nearby street. Sometimes, shopping might just be a guise.
The incident last year when Wei Hongmiao tried to slander Shi Ning'an with a letter was still fresh in people's minds. Looking at the situation now, some people guessed that Wei Hongmiao had failed in his pursuit and turned to hatred out of love, so he came up with such a despicable scheme.
The day after the news spread, Mrs. Wei and Wei Xia went out openly to buy wedding items.
The Wei family was a prominent family. Many noble people came to inquire and learned that it was Wei Hongmiao who was going to get married, and his bride - to - be was none other than Shi Qingmei, the former No. 1 talented woman in the capital.
Mrs. Wei was always outspoken. Her words implied that her son and the No. 1 talented woman in the capital had long understood and cherished each other. It was just that a real legitimate daughter of the Shi family had come in between.
"Let's not mention last year's incident. Anyway, it was my son's fault. He was muddled - headed and was blinded by someone, which made a good girl like Qingmei disappointed."
These words were rather ambiguous. The ladies present exchanged glances and felt that they had discovered a lot of secrets. For example, was there really no relationship between the County Mistress Zhonghui and Wei Hongmiao back then? At that time, the Shi family and the Wei family were quite close. The County Mistress Zhonghui first suppressed the Wei family and then broke off relations with the Shi family, and the Shi family immediately declined.
Moreover, such an incident happened to Shi Yongtang and Shi Qingmei, the fake father - daughter pair, at the palace banquet last year. Shi Qingmei completely lost her reputation, but now she could marry the newly - appointed General Weibeng? Even Mrs. Wei, whom everyone knew well, praised Shi Qingmei as a good girl.
There were simply too many things to guess.
So those who had always looked down on Shi Ning'an were now chattering even more. They said that a girl raised in a rural area of Nanling had only been back in the capital for a year, but she had already obtained the title of county mistress and become the fiancée of the third young master of the Rong family. She was really something.
Shi Ning'an heard these words but pretended not to. She also told those around her not to cause any trouble because of this. Especially the indignant Yingtao was to stay at home and not go anywhere these days.
However, a few days later, the four doctors of the Zeng family were very capable. They diagnosed the illness and administered medicine, and actually saved the emperor whom the imperial physicians had declared hopeless.
It was reported that the emperor and the empress dowager wanted to reward the Zeng family, but the Zeng family refused. Not only that, they also insisted not to join the imperial medical bureau. Even the second master of the Zeng family said something about equality among all people in the world.
These words were originally heretical, but the emperor was not angry at all. Instead, he highly commended them and said that the medical circle in the world should take the Zeng family as an example.
As a result, the Zeng family became even more famous.
Seeing that the Zeng family refused the reward and hearing that the County Mistress Zhonghui was raised by the old lady of the Zeng family, the emperor waved his hand and promoted the County Mistress Zhonghui to the title of princess.
This made the noble people in the capital remember that Shi Ning'an was not raised in a small rural family in Nanling, but in the famous Zeng family of the medical - fragrance heritage. It was said that the Zeng family was most indifferent to fame and fortune. How could a girl from the Zeng family be someone who chased after fame and fortune and tried every means to step on others to climb up?
Shi Ning'an was sitting at home. Before she could react, her title had changed from county mistress to princess. When she got the news, she was so stunned that she couldn't react.
It was Zeng Ruoyun, who had received the reward on her behalf, who came in and tickled her, saying with a smile, "Oh, now our Ning'an is really something. She has become a princess!"
Shi Ning'an dodged and said irritably, "What princess? It should have been you who became the princess."
Zeng Ruoyun quickly waved her hand. "No way, no way. The emperor and the empress dowager said at that time that they wanted to give me a reward and even wanted to keep me in the palace. I don't want that. You know me. I only want to treat the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty in this lifetime. I don't want to stay in the palace as a useless and showy princess."
It turned out that Zeng Ruoyun didn't want to be a princess herself. She told the empress dowager and the emperor about growing up with Shi Ning'an under their grandmother's knees when they were young. Maybe the emperor thought that the Rong family had encountered trouble and might have taken the disaster for the crown prince, so he simply bestowed the reward on Shi Ning'an.
Shi Ning'an stamped her feet. "Cousin, haven't you heard the rumors in the capital? I'm already on the hot seat, and you're adding fuel to the fire?"
Zeng Ruoyun had stayed in the palace for a full ten days. How could she hear the outside voices? Now that she knew, she didn't care. She waved her hand and said, "What adding fuel to the fire? Anyway, you're already a target even if you don't become a princess. It doesn't matter if you add one more title."
Before Shi Ning'an could think of a retort, she heard the voice of a maid outside.
"Fourth Young Master, you can't go in. Fourth Young Master..."
However, Rong Heng had already strode in and shouted, "Ruoyun..."
Zeng Ruoyun rolled her eyes so hard that they seemed to fly to the sky. She simply got into Shi Ning'an's bed.
Rong Heng was usually careless, but he also knew that he couldn't go near a girl's bed. He could only stand there awkwardly outside the screen and look at Shi Ning'an for help.
Shi Ning'an coughed twice, rolled her eyes, and asked softly, "Has cousin's injury on his back healed?"
Sure enough, Zeng Ruoyun in the bed immediately perked up her ears when she heard the voice.
Rong Heng quickly replied, "It's healed. Such a small injury is nothing to me."
Shi Ning'an just felt speechless. She walked over helplessly, pressed her cousin to sit down, pulled at his collar to take a look, and pretended to be surprised. "Oh, cousin, why do I think your injury seems a bit..."
Rong Heng waved his hand. "It's okay. There's just a little mark. The military doctor said before that my skin is like this. It's easy to leave scars when I'm injured, but it's actually healed."
Shi Ning'an irritably threw down his hair and went to lean on the chaise lounge, ignoring him.
Rong Heng was confused. He scratched his head and called out "Ruoyun" again and again, but Zeng Ruoyun buried her head and pretended not to hear.
Shi Ning'an said coolly, "Cousin, don't call anymore. Now that I'm engaged to your elder brother, if you come to my boudoir and make a ruckus, if it gets out, it won't matter to you, but my reputation will be ruined."
Rong Heng was stunned for a long time. He quickly retreated to the door of the room and hesitated, not knowing what to do. He could only look at Shi Ning'an pleadingly. "Cousin... please help me."
Shi Ning'an rolled her eyes to the sky. Finally, she said helplessly, "Cousin, at least you should make it clear to my cousin, right?"
Zeng Ruoyun angrily threw off the quilt, walked out, put her hands on her hips, and asked, "What's there to say? I've made it clear that day. It was just an accidental physical contact. How many patients have I treated since I was a child? All kinds of people, men, women, old and young. That's how we Zeng family are. We don't need to follow those vulgar rituals."
Rong Heng blushed and stammered, "But... but it's different in our Rong family. It... it was my first time..."
Zeng Ruoyun was so angry that she casually picked up a vase beside her and was about to throw it at Rong Heng.
Shi Ning'an quickly got out of the bed and shouted, "Cousin, that vase is from the previous dynasty and is very valuable. Don't break it for me!"
Zeng Ruoyun put down the vase and picked up the teacup on the table.
Shi Ning'an continued to shout, "Cousin, that's a tribute jade teapot. It's not an ordinary thing. If you break it, the price is the second thing. It will be impossible to find a matching set!"
Zeng Ruoyun had to put down the teacup. She put her hands on her hips, her chest heaving. "Rong Heng, can you just get out of here as far as possible? Are you here today for me to take responsibility for you?"
Rong Heng shook his head nervously. "No, no, no. I... I'm here to take responsibility for you... I'm a man. Since I've done such a thing, of course..."
Zeng Ruoyun couldn't bear it anymore. She walked to Shi Ning'an's chaise lounge, picked up the pillow on it. Before Shi Ning'an could say anything, she shouted, "You shut up too. This pillow is filled with cassia seeds, and the pillowcase is just Su embroidery. With your financial resources, you can afford to buy and match it!"
With that, the pillow hit Rong Heng on the head.
Although it didn't hurt, Rong Heng didn't expect Zeng Ruoyun to really throw it. He staggered a bit and looked at Zeng Ruoyun aggrievedly.
Zeng Ruoyun gritted her teeth. "Get out of here as far as possible!"
Shi Ning'an thought that if Rong Heng stayed here, her cousin might really smash all the furnishings in her room. So she quickly walked to the door in her slippers and pushed Rong Heng out. While pushing, she whispered, "What's wrong with you? Didn't I tell you to go to the two aunts and let them make the decision?"
Rong Heng said distressedly, "These days, they've been busy with your affairs. No one cares about me..."
Shi Ning'an rolled her eyes. "Now you have time. Go quickly."
Rong Heng held onto the door frame and refused to go out. "I won't go. It's too late. I heard that the second master of the Zeng family will take them back in two days."
Shi Ning'an didn't get this news. She was stunned for a moment and frowned. "So what do you want to do? Do you still want to come here and make it a done deal?"
Rong Heng was still trying to figure out what "a done deal" meant when he heard a loud cough at the door.
He turned around and saw his elder brother sitting in a wheelchair on the corridor, looking at the two of them unkindly.