The Prince Consort Is Also Pretending To Be Affectionate Today - Chapter 30

30

The quiet room fell silent for a long time after those words were spoken.

Shen Zhuwan’s gaze settled on the young girl’s resentful and dissatisfied expression. She lowered her eyelashes slightly and asked, “Why does the Consort say such a thing?”

Ji Rongjin, visibly frustrated, replied, “Not only did he publicly sow discord, but he’s also been stirring trouble in private.”

“If the Consort ignores him, that should suffice,” Shen Zhuwan said, slowly closing her eyes. “Why get so angry over it?”

Ji Rongjin paused, momentarily confused by the question. Yes, why was she so upset when she could simply ignore him?

Frowning, she thought it over carefully. Perhaps it was because, although Prince Ning’s words were meant to drive a wedge, they held some truth. Shen Zhuwan had indeed married the original host for the sake of gaining influence in the court.

By that logic, she shouldn’t be angry at all. Yet, the more she thought about it, the more it gnawed at her.

His words made it seem as though her relationship with Shen Zhuwan was purely transactional, devoid of any emotion or bond. But clearly, she and Shen Zhuwan got along well—surely they could be considered friends, at the very least?

The word “friends” didn’t feel quite right to Ji Rongjin, so she added a qualifier: good friends.

Satisfied with the term, she grew more convinced of its accuracy the more she thought about it.

So, she replied matter-of-factly, “Because Prince Ning’s words make it sound like there’s only a transactional exchange between us. But you and I, Princess, are clearly good friends already.”

Her words, tinged with a hint of joy, drifted softly to Shen Zhuwan’s ears.

In the darkness, Shen Zhuwan’s closed eyes slowly opened. She looked at the girl’s earnest expression, seeking affirmation, and her gaze softened slightly. “How many good friends does the Consort have?” she asked faintly.

Ji Rongjin paused, then began counting on her fingers. “Jiang Nanyu, Dongmei, and Lord Chang, I suppose…”

She frowned, realizing that was all she could come up with for now, plus the Princess.

As she spoke, she noticed Shen Zhuwan had fallen silent. After a moment’s hesitation, Ji Rongjin ventured, “Princess, have you fallen asleep?”

After a long pause, Shen Zhuwan’s voice came faintly, “It seems the Consort has quite a few friends.”

Ji Rongjin immediately grew alert. “Of course, but the Princess is the best among them.”

Shen Zhuwan gave her a faint, almost mocking glance before closing her eyes again. “The Consort should rest. It’s getting late.”

With that, she turned over, leaving Ji Rongjin with only the sight of the back of her head.

Ji Rongjin’s eyelashes fluttered as she cheerfully said, “Goodnight, Your Highness.”

“Hm.”

Rumors spread faster than Ji Rongjin had anticipated. In just one night, they swept through the capital like wildfire.

The talk was that the heavens were angry, ready to punish the people of Daqian, causing widespread panic.

At the morning court, the ministers were in an uproar, each stepping forward to voice their opinions.

“Your Majesty, the people are saying that the incident at the sacrificial ceremony is a warning from the heavens. If women continue to govern, greater calamities may follow. I believe there’s truth to this, and I urge Your Majesty to reconsider,” said an official from He Li’s faction. They had always opposed women in politics, and now, with this incident, they were quick to pin the blame on Shen Zhuwan.

But they didn’t dare confront Shen Zhuwan directly, so they addressed the five-year-old Emperor Shen Chi, hoping to pressure him into making a decision.

“Hah, you’re getting more foolish with age,” came a retort. “How can you be sure the incident at the ceremony was because of women in power and not due to the moral failings of those involved, incurring the heavens’ wrath?”

Ji Rongjin nodded enthusiastically in agreement. Stepping forward, she cleared her throat, glanced at the official, and added, “Besides, if the heavens were truly displeased, why didn’t they send punishment in the first year of the Princess’s rule? Why wait until now?”

“And another thing,” Ji Rongjin continued, pausing for effect. “Rumors among the people are often unreliable and easily manipulated. To draw conclusions based solely on hearsay is, frankly, quite brainless.”

“You…” The official choked on his words, fuming. “Rumors don’t come from nowhere. There must be some truth to them.”

“Fair enough,” Ji Rongjin shrugged. Before he could gloat, she added, “The incident at the sacrificial ceremony did happen, after all.”

The official stammered, unable to muster a coherent response, and finally huffed, “The incident at the ceremony is the fault of the Ministry of Rites. I move to impeach the Minister of Rites for negligence!”

Ji Rongjin fell silent, her forehead twitching. The old man was clever, redirecting the blame to Chang Qingshan when his own argument faltered.

Chang Qingshan’s face paled as he stepped forward from the crowd and kowtowed. “This subject is guilty. I await Your Highness’s punishment.”

Ji Rongjin sighed inwardly. Regardless of the truth, Chang Qingshan would inevitably be implicated.

As the court buzzed with discussion, a sharp cry of “Silence!” from the eunuch quieted the room.

Shen Zhuwan’s voice followed, calm and measured. “This matter is still under investigation. Once the results are clear, I will give the court an explanation.”

The word “investigation” unsettled some.

“This is the will of the heavens. Why investigate further? Are we to provoke the heavens’ wrath?” one minister protested.

Another, sensing something amiss, said, “Could there be someone behind this? That would be truly despicable!”

“Silence!” The eunuch’s shrill voice rang out again.

Shen Zhuwan’s tone grew colder, carrying an undeniable authority. “I said I will give you an explanation.”

“If there’s nothing else, court is dismissed.”

Her voice remained calm, but the slight emphasis in her tone silenced any further objections.

This was the first time Ji Rongjin felt the weight of Shen Zhuwan’s presence. Looking at the ministers, who wanted to speak but dared not, she felt a strange pang of sympathy.

Shen Zhuwan’s tone never wavered, yet somehow, no one dared to openly challenge her.

For now, the matter was set aside.

Chang Qingshan remained in his post, though under scrutiny, living in daily anxiety.

After court, Ji Rongjin hurried back to the Princess’s residence.

That afternoon, she began the first step of her plan. She found Shadow Two, whom Shen Zhuwan had assigned to her the previous day after hearing her strategy, praising Shadow Two’s exceptional disguise skills.

Shadow Two quickly disguised them both as planned.

By evening, in a village near the capital, a middle-aged couple caught a basket of fish by the river, sold it to a local fishmonger, and left quietly.

That night, a merchant’s household erupted in gasps of shock.

“Master, something’s happened! A piece of divine script was found inside a fish’s belly in the kitchen!”

The merchant rushed to the kitchen and indeed found a bl00d-stained scroll of divine script inside the fish.

Though the characters differed slightly from Daqian’s script, the merchant, somewhat educated, could read it. It proclaimed: A woman in power, a century of prosperity.

Shocked, the merchant recalled the recent rumors. Terrified, he summoned a close friend to discuss the matter by candlelight.

After all, discovering a bl00d-stained script about state affairs alone meant certain death. Bringing a friend along made it a heroic sacrifice.

The friend, upon reading the script, teared up. “You old fool, dragging me down with you!”

They debated through the night and decided to spread the word. After all, the law doesn’t punish a crowd.

By dawn, the news had spread like wildfire through the marketplace.

“A scroll from a fish’s belly?” an oil vendor said, pouring oil deftly while chatting with an old man selling a cow. “That’s incredible. If the scroll is real, what does the incident at the ceremony even mean?”

The old man’s eyes flickered. “You young fool, don’t speak recklessly. If the heavens sent a decree, it means the ceremony’s incident has another explanation.”

The oil vendor chuckled, shaking his head. “Old man, you may not know what happened at the ceremony, but you’ve heard the rumors these past two days, right? One day, they say the heavens are angry about a woman ruling. The next, a scroll appears in a fish’s belly. Doesn’t that seem odd?”

“Exactly,” the old man replied, trembling as he led his cow. “It shows the heavens found the rumors absurd and sent a decree the very next day.”

The oil vendor pondered, then nodded. “You might have a point there, old man.”

Changing the subject, he glanced at the cow. “Is something wrong at home? Why are you selling your cow?”

The old man touched the cow’s head with a mix of affection and sorrow. “There’s been some trouble at home.”

Just then, a young man approached, eyeing the cow. “Is this cow male or female? How much?”

As he spoke, he reached to check the cow’s rear.

He was promptly kicked far away by the cow.

The old man—Ji Rongjin in disguise—nearly burst out laughing but held it in. She pulled the “cow” closer and whispered, “Shadow Two, your turn.”

Shadow Two, fuming from the man’s actions, muttered, “I can’t cry.”

Ji Rongjin’s eyes darted to the young man, now storming back angrily. Suddenly, she hugged the cow and wailed, tears streaming down her face. “Old cow, I can’t bear to part with you…”

As she spoke, her hand mercilessly pinched the cow’s flank.

Moments later, as the oil vendor was still marveling, he saw the old cow’s eyes well up with tears. In the next second, it spoke in a human voice: “Heaven’s daughter prospers, the people thrive.”

The young man, still smarting from the kick and rallying the crowd for justice, froze when he heard this. Before he could react, the crowd erupted, “It’s the will of the heavens!”

Some even began crying, hugging the cow’s legs louder than Ji Rongjin.

Fearing Shadow Two might kick someone else in frustration, Ji Rongjin, still sobbing, pulled the cow away, shouting, “Not selling! Not selling! Old cow, let’s go home.”

After they left, the oil vendor stood dazed, oil spilling unnoticed from his jar. Could the scroll’s words be true?

As expected, the market incident spread quickly.

First a scroll from a fish’s belly, then a cow speaking human words. The capital’s rumors split into two factions.

One clung to the belief that the ceremony’s incident showed the heavens’ disapproval of women in power, while a smaller group began to waver.

Overall, the ceremony, a grand annual event watched by the entire nation, carried more weight.

The rumors inevitably affected Shen Zhuwan.

Looking at the visibly thinner woman behind the desk, Ji Rongjin cautiously asked, “Princess, any progress on the investigation into the ceremony?”

Shen Zhuwan, looking weary, shook her head. “Not yet.”

Ji Rongjin nodded, her heart aching at the sight of Shen Zhuwan tirelessly working. She sighed softly. “Princess, take care of yourself. Don’t pay too much mind to the rumors. This will pass soon.”

Shen Zhuwan gave a soft “hm” without looking up, still writing.

Ji Rongjin returned to her quarters and discussed the night’s and next day’s plans with Shadow Two.

Shadow Two hesitated. “If we do this and the heavens truly get angry, what then?”

Ji Rongjin glanced toward Shen Zhuwan’s study and smiled faintly. “If there’s divine punishment for my plan, let it fall on me alone.”

That night, households that fervently believed the rumors received divine punishment—one broke a leg, another bashed their head. Each time, words appeared at the site of their fall: Those who spread rumors shall face heaven’s wrath.

The next day, in the capital’s largest temple, Guoan Temple, a divine statue spoke in a godly voice: “Those who spread rumors shall face heaven’s wrath.”

Guoan Temple, where a quarter of the capital’s population offered incense daily, erupted in chaos. Worshippers dropped their incense in shock.

One person cried out, trembling, recounting their experience from the previous night.

The temple filled with the sound of kowtowing, and no one dared speak further. The news spread rapidly, and the capital’s rumors quieted significantly.

Behind the temple, a tall, elegant woman looked puzzledly at another woman standing under an ancient tree. “Master, why not let me expose that person?”

The woman under the tree, dressed in white with an ethereal air, had her eyes covered by a long silk ribbon, suggesting blindness. “All things in this world follow a predetermined path. She is entangled with your junior sister’s fate.”

Coughing heavily, she said no more. The other woman quickly supported her, lowering her eyes to hide her emotions. “This disciple understands.”

Ji Rongjin’s days of tireless effort paid off, significantly reducing the rumors. Still, the ceremony’s impact lingered.

Shen Zhuwan remained burdened with worry, and Ji Rongjin spent days trying to cheer her up.

That day, she bought a pig-shaped mask from a vendor, planning to surprise Shen Zhuwan.

It was still early, so she hid behind a bookshelf in Shen Zhuwan’s study, waiting to jump out and surprise her.

Ji Rongjin tucked herself behind the books, completely concealed.

Soon, the study door opened.

Ji Rongjin held her breath, waiting for Shen Zhuwan to approach the bookshelf.

But Shen Zhuwan didn’t. She sat at her desk, rubbing her temples, and asked Shadow Two, “How is it going?”

Shadow Two reported, “The Consort’s methods have been effective. The rumors in the capital have diminished by more than half.”

Shen Zhuwan raised her eyebrows slightly.

Shadow Two continued, “Princess, can we release the prepared statements now?”

“Yes,” Shen Zhuwan said softly. “What about that Lian Xia?”

“No abnormalities, Your Highness.”

Shen Zhuwan frowned slightly. No abnormalities was the greatest abnormality. “Keep watching her. Switch back to Shadow One.”

“Yes.”

“Any movement from the Chancellor?”

“None. Likely because the pillar at the ceremony fell in an unexpected direction, so he hasn’t dared to act.”

Shen Zhuwan lowered her gaze, picking up her brush. “Have all traces been cleaned up?”

“Yes, Your Highness. My traces are gone. What remains is their evidence.”

After a brief silence, Shen Zhuwan said, “You may leave.”

Shadow Two was about to go but hesitated. “Your Highness, even without the Consort’s plan, you could have turned the rumors around. Why did you…”

She stopped mid-sentence, taking a deep breath and kneeling. “This subordinate knows her mistake.”

As a “Shadow,” she shouldn’t question her master’s decisions, only follow orders. Asking such a question was a grave error.

She cautiously glanced at Shen Zhuwan, who remained impassive, showing no intent to punish her.

“Go.” Shen Zhuwan said.

Shadow Two, slightly stunned, thanked her and asked before leaving, “Your Highness, should we inform the Consort of this?”

Shen Zhuwan finally looked up. “No. Do what you’re supposed to.”

Clearly, she was annoyed.

Shadow Two sheepishly acknowledged and was about to leave when a noise came from behind the bookshelf.

Her eyes sharpened, and she darted to the bookshelf, ready to strike. But she froze, stammering, “C-Consort?”

Shadow Two: QAQ I’m done for.