Chapter 255: Rumors Spread

Within two days, rumors spread throughout the imperial city. Some said that the eldest princess was the emperor of heaven, shouldering a sacred mission and would bring Xiqi to a prosperous era.

Some said that the eldest princess was a goddess who was born, noble and domineering, and was destined to become the emperor of Xiqi.

Others said that the eldest princess was ambitious, had ambitions comparable to those of men, and had extraordinary courage that several princes of Xiqi could not match.

"Who says women are inferior to men? Her Royal Highness the Princess is a woman, but she can do many things that men can't do! It's really admirable."

"That's right! Corrupt officials are rampant in Xiqi, and the censors have become decorations. If it weren't for Her Royal Highness the Princess's thundering methods, how could she bring all the corrupt officials to justice?"

"The Princess is the auspicious sign of Xiqi, the female master who came to the world, and she must rule the country and live forever!"

I don't know who spread the rumor first, but one person spread it to ten people, ten people spread it to a hundred people, and it spread like wildfire in the fastest time. Soon, it swept the entire imperial city like a gust of wind, and it reached the ears of civil and military officials, and even the harem was swept by this rumor.

Queen Qin sat on the phoenix chair, her expression as cold as ice: "Have you found out who spread the rumor?"

"Not yet." Nanny Gu lowered her head, "Could it be the eldest princess..."

"Is she stupid?" The queen frowned, "Spreading such rumors at this time will do her more harm than good, and there is no benefit."

However, even if there is no benefit, such rumors are definitely not what she likes to hear. The phrases "Emperor Phoenix of Heaven's Destiny" and "Goddess of the World" are like thorns that pierce her heart. She was already dissatisfied because Chu Qinghuang was difficult to win over, and now such absurd rumors have spread. How can she be happy?

The position of the crown prince must be Tian Kuo, and no one else can even think about it!

"Empress." Nanny Gu guessed cautiously, "In my opinion, if it's not the eldest princess who spread the rumor, then some prince is trying to stir up suspicion and hostility towards the eldest princess. You must keep calm at this time."

The queen narrowed her eyes slowly: "You are right, someone must be trying to stir up trouble."

However, although she said so, she couldn't help but think about Chu Qinghuang's recent behavior. Things that she didn't think about and couldn't think about, once someone started it, it was as if someone forced her to think about it.

Which princess in the past could be as gifted as Chu Qinghuang, with a stronger force than men?

Which princess in the past could be as rebellious as Chu Qinghuang, taking male favorites into the mansion one after another, and completely ignoring secular ethics?

Which princess in the past could openly lead troops to search the homes of ministers, and even kill them first and report later?

The queen wanted to stop thinking too much, but her mind was out of control. She kept thinking about Chu Qinghuang's ambitions. The more she thought about it, the worse she felt. She couldn't help but order: "I haven't been feeling well these past two days. Let Princess Xuan come over to have lunch with me at noon."

Gu Ma nodded: "Yes."

"Tell everyone in Changchun Palace to keep their mouths shut for the next two days. No one is allowed to go out and talk nonsense." The queen forced herself to calm down. "Rumors are spreading so quickly. The civil and military officials in the court should care more about it than I do. I'm just waiting to see how the emperor will react after hearing these rumors."

At this time in the Yugan Palace, the emperor did hear the rumors.

"What did you say, my dear ministers?" His Majesty raised his head and frowned at several important officials in the court who came together, including Qin Guojiu and the King of Zhenbei. "Emperor Phoenix? Goddess?"

"Reporting to the emperor." Qin Guojiu bowed, "Now the rumors in the imperial city are fermenting very quickly, and they are getting more and more intense. On the streets and alleys, young and old are praising Her Royal Highness the Princess, saying that the Princess is a goddess incarnate, and is the emperor of destiny... It makes people suspect that someone is behind the scenes."

The emperor was thoughtful. Is this the prophecy that Qinghuang asked people to spread?

"Your Majesty, the rumormonger must have ulterior motives and is trying to disturb the people's hearts and the country. I beg Your Majesty to order a strict investigation!" Yan Yushi, who is from the Queen's party, said fiercely, "If the rumormonger is found, he must be severely punished."

"I beg Your Majesty to order a strict investigation!"

The emperor was silent for a moment: "Zhenbei King, what do you think?"

"Reporting to the emperor, my thoughts are the same as Yan Yushi." Zhenbei King said, "Even if the eldest princess is really ambitious, she can't be the emperor. There has never been a precedent for a princess to be an emperor. Such rumors are ridiculous and nonsense!"

The emperor frowned and was a little displeased for a moment.

Ridiculous, nonsense?

Is the Zhenbei King pretending to be stupid with him, or is he deliberately pretending to be stupid? There has never been an empress in the history of Xiqi, but it doesn't mean that other countries have no use for it. Isn't this "never before" too loose?

However, the positions of the important ministers who came today are clear. They all support the queen and her son openly and secretly. He is too lazy to listen to their nonsense.

"Chen Hai." The emperor made a prompt decision, "Immediately summon Prince Rong, the eldest princess, Chu Xuanyi and the Dali Temple Minister to the palace to see the emperor."

Chen Hai accepted the order: "I will go right away."

At this moment, Chu Qinghuang was leaning against the railing of the flower hall, listening leisurely to Chu Lingchuan talking about the rumors in the imperial city. He looked calm and lazy while drinking tea: "Do you want to guess who is the mastermind behind this rumor?"

Shen Zhongjin said: "It's either Prince Zhenbei or Chu Tianyin."

"Do you still need to guess?" Hongyu said, "Anyway, there are not many smart people in the Xiqi royal family, and most of them are brainless. Just treat them as the masterminds."

"Xiao Yu'er's scope is too broad, and it seems perfunctory." Qi Ling shook his head, "I guess it might be Chu Tiankuo."

"Neither." Fu Cang spoke coldly, and there was no emotion in his tone, "It was the eunuch of Renshou Palace."

When this was said, everyone else was stunned, and then Shen Zhongjin frowned: "Queen Mother?"

"I know!" Hong Yu clapped his hands suddenly, as if he had discovered a new world, "She deliberately spread this rumor to make the Queen and Prince Xuan hostile and wary of my Highness, so that Prince Xuan and His Highness would kill each other and both would suffer losses, and she would take the opportunity to give Chu Tianyin a chance to recuperate. This old witch is so cunning!"