Resisting the Wind and Splendor

"I'll go and meet the people in the palace." Chu Yueli stuffed the box into Chu Xiaohe's hand. "Brother, I'll trouble you to go to the Mo Prince's mansion in person and tell him... that I, this unlucky person who was rejected in the engagement, am not good enough for him."

"You weren't rejected at all; you clearly didn't want Prince Jin!" How could Chu Xiaohe agree to his sister being called an unlucky person?

It hurts to hear these words!

"This is the only excuse I can think of, brother, time is of the essence, hurry!" Chu Yueli gave him a push.

Chu Xiaohe knew the situation was urgent, and for now, this was the only option.

He carefully put the wooden box away and immediately went out.

Chu Yueli then hurried to the front yard, only to find that the person who came was none other than Xiu Mama, who served Consort Rui.

He is not one of the Emperor's men!

Chu Yueli breathed a sigh of relief and slowly walked over to greet her: "Granny, what auspicious day it is that you have come to my residence in person?"

With a smile, Granny Xiu said, "Miss, my mistress has recently acquired some fine tea and would like to invite you to the palace to taste it together. Look, my mistress has even prepared a carriage for you, which shows how much she misses you."

Without giving Chu Yueli any chance to refuse, Granny Xiu continued, "Her Highness has been waiting for a long time. Miss Li, please come in!"

……

Inside Chunhe Palace, a wisp of smoke rises gently from the incense burner.

In Ruifei's hand, she held a delicate white porcelain cup.

"Ah Li, you've been back in the capital for so long, yet you haven't come to speak with me at all. Have you forgotten about me?"

Chu Yueli leaned forward and said, "Ali wouldn't dare. It's just that my grandfather's health hasn't been good lately, and I've been busy taking care of him, so I haven't been able to come to the palace to pay my respects to Your Majesty. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"Oh, is the Duke unwell again?" Consort Rui seemed concerned, but then changed the subject, saying, "I thought Ali was taking care of General Chu. After all, General Chu was injured so badly that he probably won't recover for the rest of his life."

Chu Yueli's eyes darkened slightly.

Consort Rui pretended not to see it and continued to comfort him, "I'm really afraid that General Chu won't be able to handle this shock. Ali, you have to comfort him properly. Don't worry, even if the Duke's mansion is destroyed in the future, as long as Jin'er and I are alive, we will never let you two siblings suffer any injustice!"

Chu Yueli lowered her eyes, concealing all the emotions in them.

She said calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, but my engagement with Prince Jin has been cancelled. To avoid misunderstandings and gossip, my elder brother and I will handle the affairs of the Duke's Mansion ourselves from now on, so there is no need for Your Highness and Your Highness to worry about it."

"What are you saying, Ali?" Consort Rui looked at her, her smile growing even more kind: "You and Jin'er have become so close, which soldier in the army doesn't know that you two sleep together every night? With things like this, how can this engagement be canceled so easily?"

"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words!" Chu Yueli's expression changed slightly, and a flash of anger appeared in her eyes: "Your Majesty, although I was once engaged to Prince Jin, I have always been careful with my words and deeds and have never overstepped my bounds! Please, Your Majesty, see the truth."

"Is that so?" Consort Rui picked up the cup, her bright red nail polish slowly tracing a line down the rim.

She laughed and said, "These things have spread throughout the army. Which palace maid or eunuch in our palace doesn't know? I'm afraid the entire capital knows. If Ali doesn't believe me, just go out and listen to what everyone is saying. Oh, there's no need to go to the main street. Ali can just take a walk around the palace and he should know."

Chu Yueli's face flushed red with anger.

"My relationship with Prince Jin has indeed been completely innocent for many years. I don't know which wicked woman is so bored as to spread these rumors outside and try to ruin my reputation!"

Consort Rui's face darkened, and she almost couldn't contain her anger.

Granny Xiu secretly tugged at her sleeve before looking at Chu Yueli and saying with a smile, "Miss Li, it's not that we palace servants are being nosy, it's just that people outside are talking so vividly about you and our prince making love in the tent... Oh dear, it's so embarrassing! Everyone's saying it, we can't not listen!"

"They also said they could hear your voice from afar... Tell me, with the news spreading like this, if you insist on canceling the engagement with our prince, how will you face people in the future?"