The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 7: The True Prince

"Indeed, Sister Shan is not only the jewel of the Yun Wangfu but also the beloved of the Empress. We wouldn't dare bully her; it would be a blessing if she chose to ignore us! Just a few days ago, a distant cousin of mine offended her on the street, and she had him beaten so badly that he's still stuck in bed!" The girl in pink finally broke her gaze from the Crown Prince and added with a gleeful tone.

"Sister Lan is right. Just yesterday, it was said in my household that Shan brought people to the bustling Wangchun Tower and set it ablaze! She even ordered everyone inside not to escape. It's a pity for the hundreds trapped in there—some are dead, some are injured. This incident has caused quite a stir; I hear many officials are writing memorials to denounce her!" The girl in green chimed in, her voice dripping with schadenfreude.

"Is that true?" The Empress appeared unusually shocked as she turned to look at Li Yun.

Hearing the girls talk so seriously about her alleged crimes, Li Yun frowned subtly, feeling a twinge of dismay. She hadn't realized that the original owner of this body had been involved in such extreme antics. Initially thinking her temper was merely bad, it now seemed she had been acting with complete impunity—hitting people and setting fires was simply... outrageous.

"Of course, it's true. The entire capital is buzzing about it. I suppose the Empress has been too busy preparing for the poetry gathering to have heard about it yet. However, no matter how much the Emperor tries to protect Shan, he can't silence the voices of the officials and the gossip of the populace. This time, she's really gone too far. The old Duke Yun has reportedly fallen ill from anger over it," Princess Qingwan added, her tone brimming with delight.

The Empress remained silent for a moment, unable to discern Li Yun's feelings. Surprised that her niece seemed unusually composed today, she shifted her gaze to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince maintained his expressionless demeanor, glancing at Li Yun with indifference. "It's true that such an incident has occurred, but the Emperor did not attend court today. I'm not aware of how he plans to handle the memorials sent to the imperial study. However, it is true that Duke Yun has fallen ill due to anger."

"Is he seriously unwell?" The Empress's expression darkened at the news.

The Crown Prince nodded, finally showing a hint of concern. "There's no need for you to worry, Mother. Doctor Zhang has already been sent to diagnose him, and it's said to be a matter of blood and Qi. He has prescribed some medicine, advising that he avoid anger and take time to recuperate. He likely won't be able to leave his bed for ten days or so."

"The situation is that dire?" The Empress seemed taken aback.

The Crown Prince nodded. "But there's no need to fret. With Doctor Zhang's expertise, and with the Emperor sending plenty of good medicine to the Yun residence, he will be fine."

The Empress finally relaxed a little, nodding. She then turned her gaze back to Li Yun, her expression hardening. "Yun'er, it's one thing to get into a brawl on the streets, but to set fire to Wangchun Tower? That's simply outrageous!"

Li Yun had no way to defend herself; she had no clue what had happened yesterday and remained silent.

"Mother, you're only hearing one side of this. I know the full story, and it's really not all Shan's fault." After a long pause, the Fourth Prince finally spoke up. "From what I gather, Shan was incited by someone who told her the Crown Prince was at Wangchun Tower, which led her to confront them. Those at the tower were truly despicable—they refused to speak reasonably and even attempted to report her. In a fit of anger, Shan set the place on fire."

The Fourth Prince continued, purposefully stating, "As you know, Shan has her heart set on the Crown Prince. How could she tolerate hearing he was in such a place? It's only natural she would want to vent her anger by burning down Wangchun Tower. There's nothing wrong with that. How could the Crown Prince let himself be seduced by those lecherous women?"

"Is that so?" The Empress frowned, glancing at the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince shot a cold glance at the Fourth Prince, his expression unreadable.

The Fourth Prince seemed unfazed, turning to Li Yun. "Though I wasn't present, I've heard the whole story. Is that how it went, Sister Yun?"

The words from those around her had given Li Yun ample time to think. As she heard the Fourth Prince's question, she looked at him, then at the Empress, finally resting her gaze on the Crown Prince. Her previously expressionless face suddenly transformed, displaying a mix of grievance and defiance, tears welling in her eyes, threatening to spill over, yet she stubbornly held them back. After a moment, she averted her gaze once more, saying nothing, but her silent expression spoke volumes.

The Crown Prince was taken aback.

Seeing Li Yun's expression of helplessness and frustration, the Empress instantly believed the Fourth Prince's account. Everyone knew what kind of extreme measures her niece could resort to if she felt wronged. It was no surprise she had burned down Wangchun Tower. With this thought, she frowned disapprovingly at the Crown Prince, scolding, "What nonsense! As the Crown Prince, how could you go to such a place? Don't you care about your reputation?"

Li Yun felt relieved that the Empress was no longer focused on her but rather directing her ire toward the Crown Prince. She had grown accustomed to being the one in charge, often reprimanding subordinates, but now found it disorienting to be on the receiving end of criticism. Regardless of the Fourth Prince's intentions in helping her, she would remember this favor. Wangchun Tower, as its name suggested, was hardly a respectable place; it was likely an ancient brothel. For a prince of the realm to visit such an establishment not only risked his reputation but, if looked at seriously, reflected poorly on his character.