The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Chunxi looked at Yunjin in disbelief, stepped forward and touched Yunjin's forehead, then touched her own, her face full of confusion: "Miss, you don't have a fever, why are you talking nonsense? Have you been confused by those rumors?"

Yun Jin couldn't help but laugh: "You silly girl, your young lady is perfectly sober."

"But... Miss, why..." Chunxi hesitated, unsure how to ask.

Dongxue couldn't hold back any longer and asked anxiously, "Miss, why won't you let me investigate? I don't understand, they're slandering you so viciously, how can you still say it's good? Those people are clearly trying to smear you, are we just going to put up with it?"

Yun Jin sighed helplessly. If she didn't explain it clearly, these two girls probably wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

Instead of answering, she asked, "I ask you, how can the death of a concubine's child have anything to do with me?"

Chunxi shook her head, and Dongxue also shook her head, their tone firm: "Of course it has nothing to do with us. Miss hadn't even arrived in the capital yet, she had absolutely no connection with the palace."

Yun Jin then asked, "Let me ask you again: the ice cannons of Daning Prefecture fifteen years ago, the plague in the south ten years ago, and this year's cold winter—which of these has anything to do with me?"

Dongxue shook her head as well: "How could it possibly have anything to do with Miss? Fifteen years ago, Miss wasn't in Daning Prefecture, and she wasn't there during the plague ten years ago either. These things naturally have nothing to do with Miss. Besides, this year's cold winter is nationwide, so it's even less likely to be related to Miss."

Yun Jin smiled slightly, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and put it down. She said unhurriedly, "That's right. If the previous rumors could still be somewhat related to me, even though they were all nonsense, the later ones are just outrageous. These things have absolutely nothing to do with me. Do you think people outside will still believe them? Do you think those people outside will still believe them?"

Chunxi paused for a moment, then blinked: "What does Miss mean...?"

Dongxue also frowned, pondering her words.

Yun Jin didn't give them much time to think and continued, "Rumors are easier to debunk the more outrageous they are. At first, people believed it when it was said that I was a jinx, bringing misfortune to my father and mother. But if it's said that I'm a cursed star, bringing misfortune to heaven, earth, and even the air, and even the children of the empresses in the palace, then that's going too far. Once something goes too far, no one will believe it anymore."

Chunxi's mouth dropped open, and after a long pause, she stammered, "Miss, is this your move? You...your move is too...too amazing!"

Yun Jin smiled without saying a word.

She didn't ask people to spread rumors, but rather had Shi Yong and Zhao Tiezhu add fuel to the fire of the existing rumors.

They add fuel to the fire, muddy the waters, and turn what was originally a plausible rumor into something absurd and full of loopholes.

When the public realizes that those rumors are so outrageous as to be unbelievable, the original rumors that were "somewhat believable" will naturally no longer be believed by anyone.

Dongxue understood and clasped her hands in a fist salute, saying, "Miss is brilliant."

Yun Jin waved her hand, dismissing Chunxi, and then gave Dongxue a few instructions, asking her to help find Ling Feng and to investigate the people who disappeared from Chu Wanqing's life during childbirth.

The winter snow departed as promised.

All that's left is to wait for news.

Meanwhile, at the Fifth Prince's residence.

"Fool!" Xiao Yifan couldn't contain his anger and smashed the teacup in his hand. "A perfectly good game of chess, ruined like this. I even had someone tamper with the sedan chair at Yunhe Pavilion. What a waste of my efforts."

Mr. Songzhu did not rush to reply. Instead, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then slowly said, "Your Highness, there is something strange about this matter. I'm afraid those rumors that followed were not the work of Consort Zheng."

Xiao Yifan was taken aback, his brows furrowing: "Not her? Then who else could it be?"

Mr. Songzhu stroked his beard, his gaze deep and unfathomable: "Your Highness, think about it. The earlier rumors, though malicious, at least had some credibility. But the later ones are just too outrageous. So outrageous that no normal person would believe them. This doesn't seem like harming people; it's more like..."

"Where are you?" Xiao Yifan pressed.

Mr. Songzhu said, word by word, "Stir up the water."

Xiao Yifan's fingers suddenly paused on the table, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "You mean, someone deliberately spread the rumors more and more outrageous, making everyone think those rumors are unbelievable, thereby breaking the deadlock?"

Mr. Songzhu nodded, his expression grave: "Your Highness is wise. This move is brilliant, it breaks the deadlock directly. Although the earlier rumors were malicious, they still had some credibility. But with these later rumors, the earlier ones have also become suspicious. The people's mouths are the easiest to be swayed, and also the easiest to backfire on. They feel they've been tricked, so they won't believe those rumors anymore."

Xiao Yifan stood up, paced back and forth in the room a few times, then suddenly stopped and looked at Mr. Songzhu, his voice tinged with uncertainty: "You mean, this was done by the adopted daughter of the Yun family? Or by Prince Yu?"

Mr. Songzhu shook his head and analyzed, "The adopted daughter of the Yun family is only fifteen years old. She shouldn't have such deep scheming. Prince Yu is in Daning Prefecture, a thousand miles away. He probably won't know the news so quickly, let alone have time to make arrangements."

Xiao Yifan thought for a moment, then asked, "Is that Madam Yun?"

Mr. Songzhu shook his head again: "If Madam Yun were so cunning, she wouldn't have been deceived by Yun Heting for fifteen years. It shouldn't be her."

Xiao Yifan's face darkened, and he frowned as he asked, "You mean, she has someone backing her? Someone is giving her advice?"

Mr. Songzhu was silent for a moment before speaking: "Your Highness, think about it, how did she manage to survive when she was transferred to Qingping County, a remote little place? How did she find out about her background? And how did she make her way from Qingping County to the capital? A peasant girl like her probably didn't have that kind of ability."

Xiao Yifan frowned as he looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Mr. Songzhu continued, "Furthermore, Your Highness, don't you find it strange? She's lived in Qingping County all her life, suffering oppression from a young age, going hungry and cold, and barely literate. Yet look at her demeanor, her speech, her bearing—does she seem like an ordinary peasant girl? Does she seem like a wild girl who grew up in the countryside?"

Xiao Yifan stood up, paced back and forth in the room a few times, carefully pondered Mr. Songzhu's words, and after a long while said, "Now that you mention it, there are indeed some doubts. There must be someone behind her."

He suddenly stopped, turned around, and called out towards the door, "Someone come here!"

A dark figure appeared silently in the doorway and knelt on one knee: "Your Highness."

Xiao Yifan said in a deep voice, "Go to Qingping County and investigate. Investigate everything about that adopted daughter of the Yun family, down to the smallest detail. Who did she contact in Qingping County? How did she learn to read? How did she know her background? How did she come to the capital? I need to know every single thing."

He paused, then added, "We need to especially investigate the people she usually comes into contact with. We can't miss a single one."

The dark figure responded, stood up, and disappeared into the night.