Chapter 7 – Rumors

Just as Li Wu had expected, the rumors in the capital concerning her, He Zhiyu, and Xi Mingzhong quickly spread into the palace.

When she brought Li Wan to visit her sister-in-law, Empress Lu Shuangyun, Lu Shuangyun had already heard of them.

Rumors about Li Wu in the capital had never been few.

Even during the years when Li Wu had not been in the capital, there had still been whispers and idle gossip about her.

Having been married to Li Shen for many years, Lu Shuangyun understood Li Wu’s nature somewhat. She also knew that many of the things said about Li Wu outside were nothing but nonsense.

Therefore, she did not believe them now either.

However, Li Wu appearing calm and composed, openly and confidently bringing her two-year-old daughter before her—this situation still exceeded Lu Shuangyun’s expectations. She looked at the adorable little girl, whose features somewhat resembled Li Wu’s, and was momentarily stunned.

Meanwhile, little Wanwan, entering the palace for the first time, was wide-eyed with curiosity, gazing all around at the grand hall of Fengyang Palace.

Everything in the magnificent, dazzling palace was new and fascinating to her.

Li Wu, her expression serene, looked at Lu Shuangyun. After offering a respectful greeting, she took Li Wan from Qing Zhi’s arms, smiled, and introduced her:

“Elder sister-in-law, this is my daughter. I named her Li Wan. She is two years old this year.” Then she lowered her head slightly, her tone gentle as she spoke to the little girl in her arms: “Wanwan, greet your aunt.”

Lu Shuangyun snapped out of her daze at Li Wu’s words.

Her gaze fell on Wanwan, who looked up with curved brows and eyes and obediently called her “Aunt.”

Li Wu said, “Since she is my child, she naturally carries my surname. She should call my elder brother ‘Uncle’ and call you ‘Aunt.’ That is how I have taught her.”

Suppressing the emotions in her heart, Lu Shuangyun did not voice any objection.

Her brows smoothed slightly, and she smiled as she praised, “Wanwan is such a good girl.” Then she beckoned with her hand, speaking gently, “Come here, to Aunt.”

Li Wu placed Wanwan on the floor.

Wanwan looked up at her mother, and under Li Wu’s encouraging gaze, she walked over to Lu Shuangyun.

The closer she came, the clearer her appearance became.

Lu Shuangyun carefully observed Wanwan. The only thing she could confirm was that the child did indeed look somewhat like Li Wu.

In fact, her features also bore a slight resemblance to Li Shen.

But since Li Shen and Li Wu were siblings, both resembling their late father—and so had the late Crown Prince…

Ah Wu’s child?

If she said she didn’t believe it, that wouldn’t be true. But the matter had come so suddenly, without the slightest sign, that it was difficult not to be shocked.

Lu Shuangyun lifted Wanwan, who had walked up to her, and seated her beside her on the Luohan couch. She then slipped off a gold-and-jade bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Wanwan to play with.

Receiving the gift, Wanwan happily thanked her.

Seeing her obedient and adorable manner, Lu Shuangyun couldn’t help but smile.

Li Wu let her play with Wanwan for a while before instructing Qing Zhi to take Wanwan away.

“Ah Wu, come sit.”

The palace maids had already served hot tea, pastries, and fruits. Lu Shuangyun beckoned Li Wu, then dismissed all attendants, leaving only the two of them to speak.

Li Wu stepped forward and sat on the Luohan couch.

Lu Shuangyun sighed softly. “I truly envy you for having such a lovely daughter.”

“You will have good news too, elder sister-in-law,” Li Wu comforted her.

Lu Shuangyun had been married to Li Shen for many years yet had not conceived, and it weighed heavily on her heart.

Hearing Li Wu’s words, Lu Shuangyun smiled faintly, choosing not to linger on that matter. Instead, she asked, “Ah Wu, have you told His Majesty about Wanwan?”

“No.”

“I feared elder brother would be angry. I haven’t found a proper chance.”

Li Wu answered honestly, then after a pause added, “But it must be said eventually. That’s why I’ll need your help, elder sister-in-law. If my brother becomes angry, you’ll have to persuade him for me.”

Helplessly, Lu Shuangyun said, “Something this serious should never have been concealed. How can the child already be two years old before we’re told?” She looked at Li Wu, hesitated, then asked in a lower voice, “And the child’s father?”

Li Wu replied carelessly, with a teasing smile: “Still looking.”

Lu Shuangyun choked on her words and glared at her. “If you ever dare say that to His Majesty, you’ll send him into a rage and make him ill! Ah Wu, such things are no laughing matter.”

Scolding her yet analyzing at the same time, Lu Shuangyun continued: “You just said Wanwan is two years old. That means you conceived her three years ago. At that time…”

She thought of He Zhiyu, and also of the recent rumors surrounding him and Li Wu.

“Elder sister-in-law, Lord He is busy thinking of how to send me off to the Tatars for a political marriage,” Li Wu said with a smile, seeing what Lu Shuangyun was thinking. “Besides, it may not even be his child. Perhaps I conceived at the border.”

Lu Shuangyun laughed lightly. “I don’t believe that.”

Slowly lifting her teacup, her smile faded somewhat. “Ah Wu, others may not know, but I do—you’re not a frivolous person.”

Having a child is no trivial matter, and Lu Shuangyun did not believe Li Wu would be reckless.

In the eyes of others, Li Wu was arrogant and wanton, unrestrained and unruly. But how many men had truly caught her eye?

Li Wu propped her chin in her hands, smiling as she gazed at Lu Shuangyun.

“So elder sister-in-law believes in me after all.”

Lu Shuangyun nodded. “Yes. I don’t believe those rumors outside.”

Li Wu smiled again. “Things will only grow more lively from now on.”

“These rumors came in a strange way,” Lu Shuangyun said, frowning slightly. “General Xi had only just returned to the capital, and yet the stories spread like this?”

Li Wu replied flippantly, “Maybe it was one of my old lovers, like Lord He, seizing the chance for revenge.”

Seeing her so unconcerned, Lu Shuangyun could only feel helpless.

As the two of them were speaking, Lu Shuangyun’s chief maid came in to announce that Princess Yun’an requested an audience.

Hearing this, Lu Shuangyun glanced at Li Wu.

Li Wu smiled. “It’s been a long time since I saw Yun’an. Today is a good chance to catch up here with you.”

“Let Yun’an come in,” Lu Shuangyun instructed.

She understood at once and gave the order.

“Since Yun’an calls me elder sister, she is naturally Wanwan’s elder as well.”

Li Wu lowered her eyes as she refilled Lu Shuangyun’s tea cup. “I don’t want to hide Wanwan away. She will have to be seen sooner or later.”

But in Lu Shuangyun’s view, how could it be that simple?

Even though Li Wu was Princess of Pingyang, unmarried, having such a grown child already…

In this world, things were always difficult for women.

She herself had been criticized endlessly for failing to conceive. For Li Wu, to have a child without a husband, the censure would be far worse.

Lu Shuangyun could only feel heartache for her.

At this moment, Princess Yun’an, Li Yingxi, was led into the hall by the maid.

She paid her respects to both Lu Shuangyun and Li Wu, then, after sitting, smiled at Lu Shuangyun.

“Elder sister-in-law, when I came in just now, I saw a little girl outside the hall. Whose child is she?”

Without looking at Li Yingxi, Li Wu smiled and answered, “Didn’t you notice she looks like me? Naturally, she’s mine.”

Wanwan was in Qing Zhi’s care, and since Qing Zhi always followed Li Wu, even if Li Yingxi didn’t know Wanwan, she would recognize Qing Zhi’s identity.

Li Wu knew Li Yingxi had already guessed, only wanting confirmation.

Indeed, Li Yingxi had guessed the child was Li Wu’s.

Moreover, she had just asked Qing Zhi outside what the child’s name was.

But Li Wu admitted it so calmly, with no hint of shame on her face, that it left Li Yingxi frustrated. Of all the girls she had met, none were ever like Li Wu—always composed, always unruffled, never fearing the eyes of others.

Li Yingxi secretly pouted.

She couldn’t help recalling the other day when she went to find He Zhiyu.

This child…

A little girl of about two or three years old, Li Wu’s child… counting back two or three years…

A thought flashed through Li Yingxi’s mind.

The thought became clearer and clearer, and in an instant left her pale with shock.

She couldn’t conceal her fear as she looked at Li Wu, trembling as she asked: “Is—is… who is her father?”

Li Wu’s lips curved in a mischievous smile. “Who does Yun’an hope he is?”

Li Yingxi shivered.

She lifted her hand to cover her lips, turning her body slightly to avoid Li Wu’s gaze, trying hard to calm herself.

So that was it.

No wonder Lord He denied those rumors!

In that moment, Li Yingxi suddenly understood.

But understanding only left her more dejected—three years had passed, and once again, Li Wu had bested her.

She feared she would never surpass Li Wu in this lifetime.

---

The rumors about Princess Pingyang, Li Wu, rose one after another, wave after wave.

Just as people were still trying to make sense of her situation with He Zhiyu and Xi Mingzhong, a two-year-old daughter suddenly appeared.

Speculation abounded over who the child’s father truly was.

And how to handle the proposed marriage alliance with the Tatars became an even greater headache.

Inevitably, the news also reached Li Shen.

With Lu Shuangyun’s persuasion at his side, Li Shen restrained his anger. That anger melted away completely when little Wanwan sweetly called him “Uncle.”

Looking at the little girl who somewhat resembled his sister, only two years old, he simply could not lose his temper.

Yet as her elder brother, he was equally concerned about who her father was.

“Elder brother, I don’t think it matters.”

Facing Li Shen, Li Wu grew more serious on this point. She said, “Wanwan is my child. That is enough.”

Li Shen pressed his brow with his hand, silent for a moment, before asking: “Is it Lord He?”

“No,” Li Wu said with a smile, shaking her head.

Li Shen gave her a sidelong glance. “Did you not once tell me you had true feelings for him?”

“Elder brother, that is between me and He Zhiyu,” Li Wu answered playfully. “If Lord He were willing to claim her, then even if she isn’t his, she could be.”

After leaving the palace, Li Wu had Qing Zhi take Wanwan back to the Princess’ Residence by carriage.

Qing Zhi asked, “Your Highness, aren’t you returning?”

Li Wu accepted the veiled hat a young eunuch handed her, put it on, and mounted her horse.

Sitting in the saddle, reins in hand, she looked at Qing Zhi through the gauzy veil and smiled faintly. “I have to see someone.”

---

Li Wu’s scandal, entangled with He Zhiyu and Xi Mingzhong, had become the talk of the whole city.

The rumors naturally reached the entire household of Marquis Xuanping as well.

At home resting, He Zhiyu was summoned to the marquis’ study by order of Marquis He Xian.

He Xian sat behind his desk, furious, the veins bulging faintly at his temples.

“That child of the Princess—does she have anything to do with you?” He Xian asked bluntly, his voice low and heavy, as if in earnest persuasion. “If she has nothing to do with you, then make that clear immediately. From now on, you must not be entangled with her again.

“You are now the heir of Marquis Xuanping’s household, and His Majesty favors you. A fine marriage will come your way in time.

“Those foolish things from the past are already gone. Gather your mind, stop opposing the Princess, lest she put this child’s matter on your head.”

He Zhiyu listened coldly to his words.

After a while, he lifted his eyes slightly and asked calmly, “Was this how Marquis He comforted himself back then, when he abandoned me and my mother with such ease?”

Marquis Xuanping froze, completely caught off guard by his words. When he came to his senses, his fury only deepened. He shot to his feet, his chest heaving violently, his face turning ashen with rage.

“Unfilial son! Who gave you leave to speak to me like this?!”

He pointed at He Zhiyu, his finger trembling with anger.

Expressionless, He Zhiyu said, “The only one who could let go of the past was you, Marquis. My mother never did.”

The two of them faced each other across the desk.

The air between them grew taut, like drawn swords.

At that moment, the study door was suddenly pushed open from outside.

A familiar voice to He Zhiyu drifted in.

“Marquis Xuanping, you think to act the strict father now? Don’t you find it far too late?”

Li Wu’s lips curled into a smile as she stepped inside.

Walking to He Zhiyu’s side, her eyes fixed only on He Xian as she laughed: “Or does the Marquis truly believe that Lord He rose to the top of the exams thanks to your guidance?”

He Zhiyu frowned, turning his head toward Li Wu.

She finally looked at him, her lips curved in a deep smile. Then, right in front of the marquis, with practiced ease and casual naturalness, she seized He Zhiyu’s wrist and, with a graceful turn, led him out together.