"Do you think he came to see you out of past affection?"
"Men never remember the past. Only women are cursed to never forget."
These words from Su Mengyu, casually spoken at yesterday's tea gathering,
were vague enough for plausible deniability—
but everyone knew exactly who she meant.
And just a few days after Wen Yichen had visited Hualan Pavilion,
rumors began to spread.
"The Fourth Princess summoned Young Lord Wen late at night."
"They say soft zither music could be heard from her pavilion even after curfew."
"Perhaps she's seeking an unbound man… since the Southern Yan Crown Prince has yet to show clear intentions?"
⸻
Xianlan heard all of it—
quietly, without flinching,
as she sat reviewing reports from her maids.
Her expression remained still.
She merely set her chrysanthemum tea down lightly on the jade table.
"Rumors are like dry grass,"
"If the wind is strong enough… they catch fire."
But she remained composed.
"And I also know… those who strike the spark always leave behind a trace."
⸻
That day, a subcommittee of noble ladies was held in the inner court hall.
The topic: designing auspicious patterned silk for the upcoming Heaven Worship Festival.
Su Mengyu arrived first, accompanied by her close maid, Xiao Ru.
Xianlan arrived later, dressed plainly, save for a single accessory—
a bamboo pin gifted to her by Wen Yichen.
Eyes turned the moment she entered.
And at the wrong moment—when the room had gone quiet—
Xiao Ru let out a startled whisper:
"Oh… that bamboo pin—that's the one Young Lord Wen was wearing the other day!"
Silence.
Su Mengyu's head snapped around.
Xiao Ru's face paled instantly.
"I— I meant the color! Not that—"
Xianlan gave a faint smile.
Then turned to Xiao Ru and asked gently:
"And how would you know it's his?"
"Unless you saw him… remove it and give it to me?"
The room froze.
Xiao Ru fell silent, blood draining from her face.
Su Mengyu clenched her jaw, unable to scold her maid further without losing even more ground.
⸻
After the meeting, Wen Yichen approached Xianlan quietly.
He studied her face for a moment, then said softly:
"I think I should keep my distance for a while."
"Not because I'm afraid…"
"But because I don't want you to suffer from accusations made against me."
Xianlan looked at him, unblinking.
"Do you think I'm afraid?"
"I've already been falsely accused of worse—accused to the point of death."
Wen Yichen gave a bittersweet smile.
"But back then… I wasn't there."
"This time, I am—whether you allow me to stand in the light… or in your shadow."
⸻
That evening, a confidential report from the front palace was delivered to the Emperor.
"The Grand Eunuch has discovered that rumors about the Fourth Princess originated from whispers among inner court maids…"
"Their connections trace back to a servant within Noble Consort Su's residence."
Emperor Li Sichen furrowed his brow.
His eyes were calm—but laced with unease.
"Who is it… that dares try to tarnish the blood of my house to this extent?"
⸻
That same night, in the Consort's Palace,
Su Mengyu's face hardened the moment she heard her maid report:
"A eunuch from the front palace has come to inspect the private correspondence."
"So she dares move the board all the way to His Majesty now…"
Her eyes dropped to the sandalwood fan in her hand.
She whispered:
"If you want to play the game of 'honor'…"
"Then I'll play the game of 'morality'—and leave you with no place left in this palace."