The days leading up to the Kingdom Gathering were a whirlwind of tension and intrigue, and for Prince Zhen, they were filled with one particular thought: Lady Yanli. He had heard the whispers, the gossip that filled the halls of the palace, and though he had initially dismissed them as idle court talk, the rumors were growing too loud to ignore. The accusations were damaging, not just to her reputation, but to his own. The rumors about her supposed affair with Prince Hanyu, about her supposed betrayal of his trust—he couldn't stand them.
But what troubled him most was the implication that Lady Yanli had somehow entangled herself in the web of Lady Ying Yue, a woman he knew only too well. He had been avoiding the truth for as long as he could, but now, with the whispers growing louder by the day, he had to confront it head-on. He couldn't allow his name, or Lady Yanli's, to be tarnished by lies, especially ones that originated from those he'd once trusted.
As the court chatter grew more fervent, Zhen sought answers. He knew where the rumors had come from, but he needed to hear the truth directly from Lady Yanli. His mind raced with questions: Why had she kept her distance from him? Why hadn't she come to him for help? Was she truly involved in this scheme with Lady Ying Yue, as some of the court were suggesting?
That evening, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, Zhen made his decision. He would visit Lady Yanli. He couldn't afford to wait any longer. It was time for him to clear the air and set the record straight. His heart raced with a mix of frustration and determination. He couldn't let the rumors destroy her—he couldn't let them destroy him either.
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Lady Yanli's courtyard was serene, as always. The delicate scent of jasmine hung in the air, and the soft rustle of leaves in the wind brought a sense of calm. But for Lady Yanli, this calm was fleeting. She could feel the weight of the rumors pressing down on her, her every move under scrutiny. She had heard nothing from Prince Zhen, and yet the silence had been more deafening than words. She didn't know what to expect from him, but she was certain of one thing: he was the key to resolving this mess.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door.
"Lady Yanli," came the voice of her maid, "Prince Zhen has arrived."
Lady Yanli's heart skipped a beat. She had expected him to come, but now that the moment had arrived, she wasn't sure what to say. She had made her decision to marry him, but the weight of that decision had yet to fully sink in. She wasn't ready for confrontation—especially not with the rumors swirling around them. But she knew this conversation was inevitable. There could be no more running from the truth.
"Show him in," she said, her voice steady despite the racing of her heart.
The door opened, and there he stood—Prince Zhen, his expression serious, his eyes intense. He stepped inside, his presence commanding the room. The tension was palpable as they locked eyes for a moment before Zhen spoke.
"Lady Yanli," he began, his tone respectful yet tinged with a quiet urgency. "We need to talk."
Lady Yanli gestured for him to sit, and they both took their places across from each other, the silence hanging heavy between them. She knew what this was about—the rumors, the accusations, the whispers about her supposed relationship with Prince Hanyu. But she needed to hear it from him, needed to understand where he stood in all of this.
"Why haven't you come to me sooner?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration. "The rumors... they're everywhere. You must know what they're saying about us."
Zhen's face softened, and he leaned forward slightly. "I know, Lady Yanli. And I wish I had acted sooner. But I didn't want to burden you with more drama. I thought you would handle things as you always do—calmly and with grace. But now, I see that I was wrong."
Lady Yanli's gaze narrowed. "And what exactly did you think I would handle, Prince Zhen? The rumors about me and Prince Hanyu? Or about my supposed involvement with Lady Ying Yue? Is that what you believe?"
Zhen's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Lady Ying Yue, but he quickly recovered. "I don't believe any of the rumors, Lady Yanli. And I certainly don't believe you're involved with Prince Hanyu in the way they're suggesting. But..."
"But?" Lady Yanli pressed.
Zhen sighed, his hands clasped in his lap. "But the truth is, I've been hearing these rumors from too many sources to ignore. And it seems they all point to one thing: Lady Ying Yue."
Lady Yanli's heart sank. She had feared this. Lady Ying Yue, the woman who had always harbored her own ambitions, had once again manipulated the court's gossip to her advantage. Zhen's words stung, but she held her ground.
"You believe that I've somehow been involved with Lady Ying Yue?" she asked, her voice carefully controlled.
"No," Zhen replied quickly. "But I believe she's behind a lot of this. She's been trying to drive a wedge between us. I've seen it, and I know she's involved in these rumors."
Lady Yanli's mind raced as she processed his words. "Then you know where this is coming from."
Zhen nodded. "Yes. And I want to make it clear that I have no relationship with Lady Ying Yue. She lived in my residence for a time, but that was a matter of duty. Her father died protecting me, and I promised to care for her until she could stand on her own. But she's no longer in my residence, and I plan to send her away for good."
Lady Yanli's brow furrowed. "You're sure about this?"
Zhen met her gaze steadily. "I am. Lady Ying Yue has overstepped, and I won't allow her to use my name or our relationship for her own gain. If she's trying to use this to drive a wedge between us, I will make sure it ends now."
Lady Yanli nodded slowly, her mind racing as she considered his words. She appreciated his honesty, but there was still so much to untangle. "Then why hasn't this been dealt with already?" she asked, the frustration creeping into her voice again. "Why didn't you come to me when the rumors first started?"
Zhen's expression softened, and he reached out, his hand resting on the table between them. "I didn't want to add to your burdens, Lady Yanli. I thought I could handle this on my own. But now, I see that I was wrong. I'm here now because I want to make things right. I want to protect you, protect us."
Lady Yanli looked down at his hand for a moment before meeting his gaze again. She felt the sincerity in his words, but there was still so much she needed to process. "And what about the court? What about the Kingdom Gathering? The rumors are only going to get worse. What will you do then?"
Zhen paused for a long moment, his eyes filled with determination. "We'll face it together," he said. "I'll speak to the Emperor, and I'll make sure that the truth is known. We'll put an end to the rumors once and for all. And if the court tries to use this against us, we'll turn it into an opportunity. I will marry you, Lady Yanli. Publicly, and with no shame. We will show the court that these rumors have no power over us."
Lady Yanli's breath caught in her throat. The weight of his words was heavy, but in that moment, she felt a sense of clarity. Perhaps this was the answer. Perhaps this was the way forward.
As Zhen stood to leave, his hand brushing hers briefly in a gesture of reassurance, Lady Yanli felt a quiet sense of resolve settle within her. The battle was far from over, but for the first time in a long while, she felt she had someone by her side who was willing to fight for her. And for the first time, she felt ready to fight for herself.
The stage was set, the pieces in motion. The court would soon know the truth, and Lady Yanli would stand by Prince Zhen's side—not as a pawn, but as a force in her own right.
And nothing would stand in their way.