Chapter 77: Rumors - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 77: Rumors

"But you're already a few ranks ahead. Even if Father climbs fast, from third rank to first rank, it'll still take at least ten years. Do you think Ninth Prince would wait for you for ten years?"

With just one sentence, Liang Gongzi shattered the dreams in Liang Luo's heart, and she began to cry bitterly, hands covering her face.

"What am I supposed to do then? Just when Sister Wei from the Wei family is no longer marrying him, do I still have no chance at all?"

Liang Gongzi stepped forward, patting her sister's shoulder consolingly.

The pain at this moment was intense, but if it could awaken her, it was just a matter of crying and grieving for a few days.

But if she insisted, her remaining years might be filled with unhappiness.

Thus, steeling her heart, he said to Liang Luo,

"Blame it on fate, sister. Rest more at home these days. After the New Year, everything will get better. By then, Father and I will surely find a suitable husband for you. You'll live happily ever after. Isn't that a good thing?"

Liang Luo didn't respond, consumed by her own outpouring of sadness.

The entire afternoon, Liang Luo locked herself in her room, neither eating nor drinking nor seeing anyone.

As the sun set, a soft golden orange enveloped the entire Dongdu City, warming the winter chill.

The maids heated the dinner again and again, but couldn't get her to open the door.

"Let her be. When she comes to her senses, she'll come out herself." Liang Gongzi instructed the maids in the courtyard.

"Yes."

Just as Jin Xiu was about to take the dinner downstairs, Liang Luo pushed open the door.

Her face no longer showed the earlier sorrow. Though her eyes were red, she seemed as if she had unloaded a heavy burden, gently saying, "Bring it in. I'm hungry."

"Okay." Jin Xiu was overjoyed. As long as Miss was willing to eat, everything else was negotiable. She carried the food in, with Liang Gongzi following behind.

After eating just a small portion of her meal, a breathless maid rushed in, her face pale.

"Miss, something bad has happened. Everyone outside is spreading rumors that you caused trouble at the Fahua Temple, not only disrespecting the Xu family but also showing contempt for the Feng family. They're saying..."

"They're saying what..." Liang Luo had already suppressed her anger, but now it surged back. "What are they saying!" She yelled loudly.

The maid knelt down in fear, trembling as she said, "They say you lack manners, and they also say... they say you dislike Miss Xu, so you plotted for Master and Miss Wei to be together."

As she spoke, her voice grew quieter, almost a whisper, but Liang Luo heard every word clearly.

With a snap, she broke a pair of chopsticks in half, her gaze towards her brother no longer filled with the trust of the past, but rather tinged with resentment.

"Nonsense! What does this have to do with you? Can you find out where this rumor started?"

"I don't know either. It was a woman from the second gate who came back from buying vegetables and told me. She said it's spreading all over Dongdu City. She heard it from a street vendor."

Liang Luo, in irritation, overturned the food in front of her, her face contorted with hatred.

"Don't ask anymore. Who else could it be? The Xu family and us have long been mortal enemies. They've been trying to step on us for quite some time. If this rumor isn't spread by them, who else could it be!"

She had already convinced herself that it was deliberate sabotage by Xu Mingyue, her hatred towards her reaching an irreconcilable level.

However, Liang Gongzi felt there might be a misunderstanding. The Xu family were known for stirring up trouble behind people's backs; perhaps there were others scheming in secret as well...

Just as the Liang family was besieged by rumors, back at the Wen residence, Wen Yuwei was busy painting.

A landscape painting of blue mountains, bright moon, and pine trees leapt onto the paper, with smooth brushstrokes and distant imagery. Wen Yuwei looked at it and, satisfied, put down her brush.

"After the ink dries, find someone to mount it. In a few days, accompany it with a gift and send it to father to celebrate his birthday."

Xia Lu didn't appreciate art but couldn't stop praising her mistress.

"Master will surely love it. The paintings hanging on the study walls at home are all made by Miss."

Indeed, when mentioning her own biological father, Wen Yuwei revealed a rare tenderness.

"What about the message I asked you to spread?"

"Don't worry, Miss. I found new faces and started spreading from the market. It's spreading fast among the lower class people. I just heard those kitchen maids gossiping in the kitchen."

"Good. Be careful not to give anyone a handle on you."

"I'm cautious, Miss."

Wen Yuwei nodded in satisfaction, took the freshly brewed hot tea, and watched the tea leaves float up and down. The calculating smile on her lips sent chills down people's spines.

Soon, the Feng, Xu, and Bai families also got wind of the news.

As the sky darkened, Xu Mingyue and Bai Siruo came to visit Feng Jinyao.

Without much ado, they laid out the matter.

"Ah Yao, this wasn't done by Mingyue."

"I know."

"But everyone outside is badmouthing the Liang family. Everyone is pointing fingers at Mingyue again. We've just managed to calm down after the broken engagement scandal. How did we get embroiled in this again? I always said there's not a single good person in the Liang family; they're just born to clash with Mingyue."

Bai Siruo was very annoyed but didn't know how to help her dear friend clear her name.

Feng Jinyao served tea, put down the book she had just started reading, and comforted the impatient Bai Siruo. At the same time, she looked at Xu Mingyue with a faint smile.

"Has Miss Xu already found a way for the Xu family to get out of this storm?"

Xu Mingyue looked at her appreciatively. "Young as you are, you are quite perceptive."

The words were not explicit, but the two exchanged a smile, and from each other's eyes, they saw admiration. On the other hand, Bai Siruo looked more and more bewildered; were these two keeping secrets?

"Don't worry, cousin. Miss Xu has her own way. Right now, all you need to do is keep quiet. No matter who asks, just say you don't know."

Her frown deepened. "Why?"

"You'll know in a couple of days." Xu Mingyue also hinted at this matter.

With this said, Bai Siruo was even more confused. Could it be that she was being foolish? How did she not see what these two were planning?

Fearing Bai Siruo would continue to question, Feng Jinyao changed the subject.

"As for the cousin from the Bai family, why hasn't she been making trouble these days?"

"She is in the backyard taking care of Aunt San. Last time, she was disciplined by Aunt Da, and she is still lying there moaning." She held great contempt for the Shen family mother and daughter.

It was Feng Jinyao who remembered an event from her past life. The Bai family was not prosperous, and there were only two granddaughters beneath their knees. If married, the Bai family would be empty, and without grandchildren, even if the paternal grandfather and several uncles were to support the household, it would only be a fleeting appearance.

Frightening, she needed to find that person.

But if she wanted to find him, she could probably only start from the Shen family and Bai Sihan.

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