Chapter 7: The Imperial Capital's People Love Gossip

"Qing'er." Early the next morning, after stretching and finishing her breakfast, Xiao Qianyin called out.

Qing'er was her personal maid, loyal to a fault. She remembered that when she had first woken up, the little girl had held her and cried uncontrollably; clearly, Xiao Qianyin's reputation on the outside was not good, yet she was extremely kind to her own maid.

Yesterday, while practicing her swordsmanship, she had felt a wave of refreshment, and the grogginess of the past few days had vanished without a trace. She planned to go out and take a look. After all, aside from recovering from her illness, she hadn't been out at all; she needed to understand the situation outside to avoid being like a frog at the bottom of a well.

"Miss, do you have any instructions?" Qing'er ran up to her, asking with a smile in her voice.

"I have rested in the manor for a long time and wish to go for a walk. Ask the old housekeeper to prepare some things."

"Ah? Miss, you want to go out? This... I'm afraid that might not be good?" Qing'er showed a look of difficulty. This... her young mistress's reputation wasn't great; going out would inevitably lead to her being mistreated!

"What's not good about it? Grandfather hasn't forbidden me from going out. Are you planning to stop me?"

Xiao Qianyin raised an eyebrow. Although she was smiling, her words contained a subtle pressure and a daunting aura that gave Qing'er quite a shock; she even felt as if she were losing control of herself.

This was the Longevity Formula of Shushan. A cultivator's aura would grow stronger with each advancement; the higher one's swordsmanship, the more one possessed a pride that looked down upon the world, transcending all things between longevity and heaven and earth.

"Is Qing'er worried that I will hear things I shouldn't and be in a bad mood?"

Hearing this, Qing'er nodded and said, "Those people outside do not understand you, Miss. The current Miss is not a useless fool, but is incredibly formidable—you even gave the Southern Tang Crown Prince's messenger a beating. In the past, Miss was willful and capricious, and you were very fawning toward the people around the Southern Tang Crown Prince, so they loved to strike at you."

"Mouths grow on other people's bodies; what does that have to do with me? Let them talk. Is your mistress someone who is easily influenced?"

Xiao Qianyin stood with her hands behind her back, turned her head, and smiled. "Qing'er, your mistress will not be bullied easily!"

This smile was exceptionally bright; amidst the movement of her eyes, there was actually an air of noble dignity.

"Yes, Qing'er will immediately order someone to prepare a carriage. The peach blossoms in the suburbs have bloomed these past few days; Miss might as well go take a look."

Because she had ordered an inconspicuous carriage for the journey, no one recognized that the person sitting inside was none other than the "useless miss" of the Marquis of Dingguo's manor. The Imperial Capital had been in an uproar these past few days, all because of the incident where the attendant sent by the Southern Tang Crown Prince was brutally beaten by Xiao Qianyin and then chased out with clubs, leaving everyone jaw-dropped.

One had to know that the "useless miss" used to be madly in love with the Southern Tang Crown Prince. How could she suddenly act so out of character and beat the Prince's man until he was bruised and battered and thrown out? This news spread through every street and alley. As the saying goes, where there are people, there is gossip; all sorts of speculations were freshly baked.

Some said it was love turning into hate, some said it was playing hard to get, some said the useless miss had risen to her potential, and some said it was the Marquis's intention. In short, all kinds of theories were flying everywhere.

Xiao Qianyin heard many versions along the way—some were the "deluxe edition," some the "luxury edition," and some the "realistic edition." She clicked her tongue, unable to help but admire the gossiping spirit of the Imperial Capital's citizens; if this were modern times, they would definitely be qualified paparazzi!

Qing'er wanted to laugh but held it back. However, when she heard someone say that the Miss was just putting on an act or playing games, if it weren't for the inappropriate setting, she would have wanted to rush forward and give them a good beating. How could her mistress be so pathetic?