Chapter 16: Gu Nanxi, the Peerless Beauty of the Mortal Realm

Having listened to a stomachful of gossip regarding her own mother, Su Yunyan could not sit still once she returned to the manor, as if nails had been driven into her seat.

"Should I go and ask Mother?" Su Yunyan plucked a petal from a chrysanthemum. "No. Mother definitely won't admit it."

Su Yunyan lifted her skirt, intending to run to Concubine Duan's courtyard.

In the past, she had been closest to Concubine Duan.

However, as soon as she stepped out, Su Yunyan changed course and turned toward her second brother Su Yunting's courtyard.

"Second Brother!" Su Yunyan caught Su Yunting right as he was attempting to sneak out the door.

Su Yunting climbed down from the perimeter wall with a sulky expression and said irritably, "What has happened in the manor now? Is the accounting messed up? Or is the warehouse inventory unclear?"

Seeing Su Yunting's sluggish movements as he tried to return to his room, Su Yunyan simply hoisted him onto her shoulders and ran back: "None of that matters!"

Being jolted about, Su Yunting felt his stomach churning. "There is a distinction between men and women! Put me down at once!"

Su Yunyan dropped Su Yunting heavily onto a chair, nearly splitting his backside open. "I have a secret to tell you."

Su Yunyan waved her hand, ordering the servants to leave, before saying mysteriously, "Did you know that Mother was once the childhood sweetheart of the late Emperor?"

Su Yunting rubbed his numb backside and shot Su Yunyan a sidelong glance. "That's it? I know. I heard Grandmother mention it before."

Su Yunyan's eyes widened. "Mother has re-entered the social scene and has all the various Marquises losing their minds over her—you knew about this too?"

Su Yunting motioned for Su Yunyan to sit down and asked with great interest, "What happened? Sister, tell me the details."

Su Yunyan said, "The news has spread throughout the capital. The Heir of the Duke of Ji, Imperial Scholar Li, the Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet Tang, and so on—they are all infatuated with Mother. A few days ago at a teahouse, they even came to blows because of her."

Su Yunting narrowed his eyes, lost in thought. "Each of those men is quite distinguished, possessing both literary and martial talents. Although they are nearly thirty and a bit old, they can barely be considered a match for Mother."

Su Yunyan looked shocked. "Second Brother! What kind of scandalous language are you using?!"

Finding the chair too hard, Su Yunting grabbed a soft cushion to place behind him. "Don't make such a fuss. Father hasn't been home for over ten years and has concubines attending to him at the border. Isn't it normal for Mother to have a few lovers of her own?"

Su Yunyan gasped, stammering, "Lo... lovers?!"

*Bang!*

The door was suddenly burst open. Su Xuanming, looking as if his features had been scrambled, felt as though he had fallen into a dream. "Mother has lovers? And several of them?!"

"Big Brother, keep your voice down!" Su Yunyan hurriedly closed the door.

Su Xuanming's worldview had suffered a massive shock. His mother, whose every move was considered the paragon of noble ladies, actually had lovers!

What kind of fantastical world was this?!

Su Yunting, who had always been at odds with his eldest brother Su Xuanming, asked irritably, "Why aren't you going to accompany your sweetheart? Why have you come to my courtyard?"

Still wearing an expression of "Who am I, where am I, and what is happening," Su Xuanming replied dizzily, "I wanted to see if Mother was angry. With you here, you can help me share the burden of her wrath."

Su Yunting sneered, his thin lips curling as he uttered a single word: "Get out."

On any other day, Su Xuanming would have certainly taught Su Yunting a lesson.

But today, Su Xuanming obediently returned to his own courtyard.

Jing Niang, who had long been putting on an act of being melancholy, had been waiting for a long time. When she saw that Su Xuanming had not come to coax her, she turned around to look.

Su Xuanming was sitting by the round table, looking soul-shattered, still muttering something under his breath.

"Master Su, what is wrong?" Jing Niang asked with concern, leaning against his side.

"Mother has lovers, and several of them!" Su Xuanming repeated the sentence like a broken record.

Jing Niang's head snapped back, and she clamped her hand tightly over her mouth.

The servants in the room all lowered their heads, wishing they could shrink into a ball.

Jing Niang gasped in horror. Could it be that the recent rumors were true?

That the Marchioness Gu Nanxi was once the late Emperor's beloved and had been pined for for over a decade—was that a fact?

So, as soon as the late Emperor passed, Gu Nanxi was able to find lovers in such a short amount of time!

Jing Niang clenched her fists tightly. It seemed she had still underestimated Gu Nanxi! To be so capable and yet endure for over ten years.

Would she truly have a good end if she continued to oppose her?

If Gu Nanxi truly hardened her heart and chose to ruin Su Xuanming just to deal with her...

Jing Niang couldn't help but shudder.

Secrets of the wealthy were naturally prone to sparking curiosity, let alone a scandal involving imperial power and romance.

Even though a recovered Su Xuanming strictly ordered the servants to keep their mouths shut and not speak of things they shouldn't, certain rumors still spread through the capital with explosive speed.

"The Marchioness of Yongchang actually has several lovers! And the lovers even fought among themselves."

"What? The Marchioness of Yongchang is involved with Imperial Scholar Li and the Duke's Heir? They came to blows in public?"

"Is it true? Has the Marchioness of Yongchang bewitched both the Inner Cabinet and the Emperor? Did they even fight in the imperial court?"

"Tsk tsk, the Marchioness of Yongchang was famous in the capital over ten years ago. Who knew her charm wouldn't fade with age!"

"Oh my, the Emperor is only twenty, young and strong, and he has the capital's number one beauty, Noble Consort Tong, by his side. If even he has fallen at the feet of the Marchioness of Yongchang, just how beautiful must she be?"

"She must be a celestial beauty!"

The phrase "The Peerless Beauty Gu Nanxi" spread through the capital instantly, showing signs of radiating outward to the surrounding regions.

Upon hearing the final version of the rumor, the Young Mistress of the Duke of Ji rushed back to her maiden home without pause: "Mother! Gu Nanxi has even brought the current Emperor into her web? Is she truly that terrifying?!"

The Old Madam frowned and scolded in a low voice, "Such fussfulness, where is your decorum?"

Seeing her mother's displeasure, the Young Mistress sat down obediently and said with a flattering smile, "I was just too shocked and lost my composure for a moment."

The Old Madam let out a long sigh and said worriedly, "You spend your days in foolish joy; what will become of you in the future? Since you have heard the rumors, why didn't you consider why such a massive matter would be spreading so widely?"

The Young Mistress was stunned. It was true; although the Emperor had a gentle temperament, the matter between him and Gu Nanxi would be improper if it were made public.

"Mo... Mother... what do you think of this matter?"

The Old Madam took a light sip of tea, her eyes gleaming with wisdom. "Whoever dared to stir this up must be someone of high status or someone with significant backing."

"It is impossible for the Empress Dowager to go against the Emperor, so we can rule her out."

"It could be the Emperor. He might want to claim the beauty legitimately and is intentionally spreading this so the Marquis of Yongchang will initiate a divorce."

"It could also be Noble Consort Tong, wanting to use public opinion to suppress Gu Nanxi."

"The most likely person is Gu Nanxi herself! She wants to make this matter public to force the Emperor to make a choice!"

The Young Mistress's breathing became increasingly rapid. A woman... dared to defy the superior and pressure the Emperor in such a way?!