Rumor 2

With Emerald Bamboo’s support, Ou Ruolan ascended the stairs to a private room on the second floor. Ou Ruolan curled her lips slightly. “Manager, bring out all your signature dishes, and brew a pot of your finest tea as well.”

“Yes, please wait a moment, ladies.” The manager smiled obsequiously, inwardly marveling at himself. After a lifetime in this trade, he could spot a true patron. Just look at the dishes they’d ordered—enough to cover the Kirin Restaurant’s expenses for a month even without business.

As the manager’s figure disappeared from view, Emerald Bamboo turned to Ou Ruolan. “Princess…”

Before long, the dishes arrived one by one. Ou Ruolan merely gazed at the food, making no move to pick up her chopsticks. “Emerald Bamboo, take it and eat.” Clearly, a princess so favored in the Dragon Empire had no interest in dishes from anywhere outside the palace.

“Thank you, Princess.” Emerald Bamboo eagerly picked up a plate of plump, tender shrimp dumplings and held them to her nose, inhaling deeply.

“Hmph, just look at you,” Ou Ruolan scoffed. “In a moment, go see what those commoners downstairs are discussing.” She closed her eyes, intending to say no more.

Emerald Bamboo, chopsticks poised over a shrimp dumpling, stole a glance at her mistress. She truly couldn’t fathom what scheme the princess was plotting. Why was she always being sent to crowded places to eavesdrop on the people’s gossip?

But there was no time to dwell on it. She quickly ate the shrimp dumpling, sampled a few bites of each dish, and, though reluctant to stop, set down her chopsticks and hurried off to do her mistress’s bidding.

It was noon, the busiest hour, and the restaurant bustled with patrons coming and going. Leaning over the railing at the turn of the second floor, Emerald Bamboo looked down at the ordinary folk below, shaking her head and sighing inwardly that entering the palace had indeed been a stroke of fortune. Though she couldn’t help comparing herself to those outside the palace, her eyes continued to scan the bustling scene. One table, in particular, caught her attention.

In the most secluded corner of the first floor, a crowd had gathered around a single table. Whatever they were discussing, no one seemed willing to give up their seat; they huddled close together, and just a moment ago, someone had even squeezed in to listen more closely. Emerald Bamboo descended the stairs.

“Hey, listen! I think the Third Princess has suffered enough!” one man declared indignantly, standing up for Ou Ruolan.

“That’s not fair,” another countered, “if you ask me, General Pan’s concubine deserves even more pity.”

“Why is that?”

“Yes, why? Tell us!” The crowd grew increasingly animated, each voice adding to the fervor. Pressed to the outer ring of the group, Emerald Bamboo couldn’t make out what was being said. With a frustrated stomp, she turned and went back upstairs.

“Prin—Miss,” she corrected herself just in time. Fortunately, Ou Ruolan remained seated with her eyes closed, her expression unchanged.

“It’s quite noisy downstairs. What’s going on?” Ou Ruolan rolled her neck slightly.

“Miss, the talk downstairs is all about General Pan’s household affairs.”

“Oh? What exactly are they saying?” Ou Ruolan’s interest was piqued.

“The common folk are gossiping about that wretched woman, and they’re even comparing the princess to… that woman.” Emerald Bamboo’s voice grew quieter and quieter as she spoke, sneaking a glance at Ou Ruolan, afraid she might fly into a rage and take it out on her.

But Ou Ruolan laughed instead, a most unusual sound that eased Emerald Bamboo’s taut nerves. “Heh… Mu Qianxue truly is clever.”

“Princess? What’s all this about?” Emerald Bamboo was more bewildered than ever. In the past, Ou Ruolan would never have allowed Yan’er, that despicable woman, to be mentioned in the same breath as herself. Emerald Bamboo ventured to ask, her tone cautious.

“I have reached a mutual goal with Mu Qianxue. This swirling rumor is just the first step. What happens next depends on her own ability. Today, I came out merely to see if she would actually act. Enough—let’s return.” Ou Ruolan rose, head held high, and strode from the private room.

Sudden understanding dawned on Emerald Bamboo. No wonder… So Mu Qianxue and Ou Ruolan had joined forces to bring down Yan’er, that little vixen. A smile played on Emerald Bamboo’s lips—she wondered how Yan’er would manage to withstand their combined assault this time.