A distinctly different voice of doubt immediately caused varied expressions among the onlookers.
The men, however, were indifferent.
To them, the Night King's consort was a mere spectacle, untouchable, and they had no way of knowing her true nature.
Many, consumed by jealousy, gazed at Yun Shu's face. While envy gnawed at them, they maliciously speculated that the rumors were true, that the Night King's consort was a promiscuous slut, and that the man beside her would one day regret being so infatuated.
What was the use of a woman having only good looks!
However…
Attention began to focus on the three children accompanying Yun Shu.
Those three children had inherited all of Yun Shu's strengths!
But…
Some felt that the three children bore a resemblance, more or less, to another person. That person was…
Some surreptitiously glanced towards Zhan Tian Ye, their gazes clearly conveying a question: how could these children look so much like His Highness Prince Jin of their Western Xia kingdom?
It was as if those three children were his offspring.
More and more people began to entertain this thought.
As they exchanged glances, they saw in each other's eyes the same idea.
Yun Shu sensed the shift in the surrounding gazes.
A Cha, by her side, mumbled, "What's wrong with these people?"
Zhan Xiao Li's small face was incredibly cold. He gently tugged Yun Shu's hand, "Many of them are saying bad things about Mother."
And what they were saying was particularly unpleasant.
Yun Shu said softly, "It's alright."
These people were insignificant, their words mere wind passing by her ears.
Though Yun Shu felt it was alright, Yun Xiao Jing and Zhan Xiao Feng were furious. They cherished their mother and wanted to protect her, yet these people slandered and insulted her. They were enraged!
Therefore, the consequences would be severe!
The three little ones' eyes darted around.
Zhan Xiao Li and Zhan Xiao Feng nodded at Yun Xiao Jing.
Then Yun Xiao Jing curved his lips into a smile, almost identical to Yun Shu's usual smile. Immediately, his little finger moved.
To dare to insult his mother, Yun Xiao Jing, hmph, they should just wait!
Silently.
Ants began to crawl in continuous streams from the ground.
The ants in Western Xia were rather large, but at this moment, no one could look down at the ground.
After Yun Shu and her party were seated, many more people arrived, including Princess Ning De and Zhen Lin, the Li De family, and a multitude of others took their seats.
Looking out, the place was teeming with people.
They almost completely filled the Imperial Garden.
Coupled with the palace servants attending them, the crowd was even larger.
Yu Le lowered her head and approached Yun Shu from behind, quietly relaying some of the news she had just heard.
After speaking, Yu Le's face was filled with indignation.
"What despicable behavior, to dare to spread such rumors. No wonder those people were muttering while looking at the King's consort just now. If they were jealous, they were jealous, but they had to resort to such disgusting actions. This insult is unbearable, consort. I've already told Jing Heng." Yu Le exclaimed indignantly.
Yun Shu chuckled upon hearing this, "Look at how angry you've made my Yu girl."
Yu Le was surprised that Yun Shu seemed unfazed, as if not angry at all. "It's like the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is."
Yet, she couldn't swallow her anger, which was stuck in her throat. "Anyway, Jing Heng said he'd go find Ruan Xi later. The two of them have a plan to make the people who spread rumors today regret it immensely!"
A Cha chimed in, "Indeed, they should be made to regret it, otherwise they'll think the King's consort is easy to bully and that lies come without consequence."
Qiu Lu, sitting beside them, also said, "Consort, they are right."
If they weren't in Western Xia, he would have drawn his sword just now.
Yun Chang Feng, seated to the side, smiled, "They do have a point." His beloved daughter, whom he cherished like a treasure, was being slandered and gossiped about by such short-sighted people. It was enough to ignite his anger.
Yun Shu observed how each person beside her became more and more agitated, and she gently advised, "Don't be angry. It's not worth getting angry over these people."
Behind these rumors, someone might be pulling the strings.
Just as Yun Shu was about to take a sip of tea to moisten her throat, she suddenly met a gaze.
That gaze held a deep sense of scrutiny.
It felt as if it was looking through her at something else.
Yun Shu narrowed her eyes slightly and scanned towards the source of the gaze.
Upon meeting Yun Shu's gaze, Qin Linglong's expression changed abruptly. The sharpness of that glance made her too afraid to look again.
When she first saw the Night King's consort, she, like everyone else, was stunned by her beauty. The Night King's consort's visage was unparalleled, even surpassing Princess Sheng Yue, the most beautiful woman in Western Xia in the past. Princess Ning De seemed ordinary in comparison.
She had also secretly observed Princess Ning De's expression when looking at the Night King's consort; it was extremely grim, clearly indicative of jealousy.
She hadn't expected that Princess Ning De, who appeared so noble and seemingly above it all, would also be jealous of the Night King's consort.
It wasn't surprising, though.
Who wouldn't want the Night King's consort's beauty?
However…
For some reason, she felt that the Night King's consort's eyes were very familiar, as if she had seen them somewhere before. Such a captivating face, if she had seen it, she would surely remember, yet for some reason, she had no impression at all.
"Even His Highness Prince Jin has been seduced by that Night King's consort. The rumors are true, this Night King's consort is truly a vixen! Qin Linglong, I advise you to give up any foolish hopes. Prince Jin has already broken off your engagement; he will never look at you again," Qin Lingyue said with a cold laugh.
Qin Linglong frowned and glanced at Yun Shu again. The doubt in her heart remained undiminished. She glared at Qin Lingyue, "Even if I was jilted, you won't stand a chance."
"How can you still be so arrogant? Don't you know that everyone in the capital mocks you?" Qin Lingyue was furious. If she were Qin Linglong, she would have already hanged herself out of shame.
Yet Qin Linglong was still here, and even attended the banquet today. Her skin was too thick!
Qin Linglong's face paled slightly, but she gritted her teeth and said, "Are you sure everyone mocks me? Or are they envious? Princess Ning De has already found me a good marriage, a good marriage that you will never have."
Although the person Princess Ning De found for her was far inferior to Prince Jin, it would allow her to escape the mire of the Ministry of Personnel.
Upon hearing this, Qin Lingyue's teeth gnashed in anger, "That's because Princess Ning De is kind and arranged a marriage for you out of pity! You still have the audacity to be pleased with yourself! Hmph!"
Qin Linglong's eyes flickered. Princess Ning De was kind?
She had thought so before.
But now…
She looked towards Princess Ning De.
She found Princess Ning De gazing intently at Prince Jin.
Prince Jin's gaze, however, was fixed on the Night King's consort.
It was a look of heart-stirring tenderness, as if…
Something suddenly flashed in her mind.