Chapter 206 - The New Imperial Concubine 3

Old master Tong's side hall

"These past few days, I have been trying to keep it contained as best I could. I think that we should have her married before it spread wide. I can look into it and find someone suitable for her".

"Then, I will have to trouble you", Zhongshan Ling replied frowning slightly. He glanced at the quiet young girl seated on the sear next to him, he thought they could avoid this but it seem like they couldn't. He glanced at his grandfather, " please let me know once you have found any candidate. I feel a little responsible for her since I was the one that found her so I should ensure that we do right by her".

"I understand, your Highness. I will draft a list and send it down to you", old master Tong replied.

Zhongshan Ling waved his hand signalling Fu Lang that he was done here and was about to leave. Zhongshan Ling wheeled himself forward with Fu Lang following him close. Fu Lang caught old master Tong's eye as he followed the Crown Prince outside. Old master Tong and his two elderly sons saw the Crown Prince out to the gates while Chen Yao was left seated in the side hall.

Chen Yao barely notice anything after old master Tong mentioned that the news of her missing was leaked. It was like she was struck by lightning, she couldn't get her mind out of the past. Nothing good happens once a young noble lady's reputation was destroyed. No one cared that it wasn't her fault, yet she was forced to pay. 

She had been glad to get a second chance at life but this would put a dent in her huge plans. Her reputation was now damaged, it would be difficult finding a prestigious family that would marry her. Given the Tong family's declining position and Chen Yao's even lower social standing and wealth. Whoever she married wouldn't be of high rank, Chen Yao felt like throwing herself off a cliff.

'What a load of bad luck! Why did I have to get stuck in such a low-level noble lady's body' Chen Yao thought balling up her first behind her handkerchief.

She glanced towards the entrance of the room as she heard the door being pulled open from outside. Chen Yao watched as the grey-haired man that she had learned to be old master Tong, the retired former royal Secretary walk into the room alone. The two middle-aged men that had followed him previously were absent.

Old master Tong stopped a few steps away from her and turned around, he glanced at the shivery maid behind her and snorted. The maid already had two lines of tears running down her eye to her chin and even took a step back at his stare. He moved his gaze to the hooded girl, "get rid of that outrageous hood! It is not like much mystery is needed for someone like you with her reputation in tatters!"

Chen Yao's hand resting on her lap shook as she heard that, she let go of the handkerchief she previously held on her lap and pulled the hood off her head. 

Old master Tong glanced at her and sighed, "well at least you are attractive although not a beauty" he glanced at the wimpy maid standing behind her and said, "get out, I don't have patients for crybabies".

"Yes," Liang muttered, bowed and retreated. 

Old master Tong went to the high seat usually occupied by the master of the house and sat straight. He poured a fresh cup of tea for himself and took a sip eyes locked on Chen Yao who sat stiffly on her seat.

"You seem like a smart girl so I wouldn't mince my words and will jump right to the situation at hand. Your reputation is in the line and while the news of your "abduction" isn't well known. It will be in no time. You have only two options to choose from, either you follow my lead and do as I say or you stay back and marry an old widower looking for a fresh new wife to give him a son or worse a near do well. Those are the only people that will accept someone like you with a ruined reputation. The decision is yours to make".

"I will take your lead" She replied quickly without many thoughts, not that she needed to think much. To Chen Yao joining hands with him was better than marrying a low-level nobleman who might not even be wealthy enough to give her the life she felt that she deserved.

"Good, you are smart. It is good that you got His highness attention, at least we won't have to do much to let him fall for our plan. I will make sure that the news of your abduction is made public. That would put your godmother on edge especially with her daughter's upcoming wedding to the Lu Family's third young master. I know how women like her think, she is bound to make you take all the blame and once she does that. Our plan will get in full swing, don't worry I won't let you. You are my granddaughter, I will personally take care of your marriage".

***********

Two days later news of Chen Yao running away from home was spread. The weather was gradually getting colder as they got closer to winter. The war coupled with the sixth prince's rebellion but a dent to the usually active social calendar of the noble families in the capital. Which meant that most noblewomen had few activities to keep them occupied. 

As soon as a juicy scandal like this broke, they all held on tightly, many other possibilities began to spread with each "truth" juicier than the other. No matter how hard Zhongshan Ling and the Lu family tried to suppress the new continued to spread. Zhongshan Ling was in a carriage on his way to take part in morning court when his carriage was stopped by a maid who cried out to speak with him.

"Wait! Please hold on! I must speak with his highness the Crown Prince! Your highness, please spare me some time, it is an emergency! The life of my poor young miss is on the line, your highness please save her for old times sake. I am afraid that she has done something drastic!"

Zhongshan Ling frowned and raised the curtain. He paused when he saw that it was the little maid that followed his cousins Chen Yao. He raised his hands to the roof and slapped the roof loudly, signalling to his driver to stop. Fu Lang rushed to the window as soon as his name was called. After exchanging a few words with the Crown Prince he rand to Liang who knelt fearful at the side of the road and brought her over to the window. 

She bowed as she saw the Crown Prince, she immediately ratted on, "Your Highness please save my young mistress. She has been acting out of character for days, this morning she she"

"Slow down, I don't understand what is going on. What happened to your Mistress?" Zhongshan Ling asked.

Liang whipped her eyes with her damp handkerchief, her lower lips shaking badly. "You_ Your Highness... my mistress.... she_ I think that she is going to try to take her own life. You have to talk sense into her. I tried to do that but she is not listening, this morning caught her trying two yards of white clothes together"

"what?" He said eyes wide. 

"Don't worry I took the clothes away but am scared she will do something worse"

"Tell the driver head straight to Tong mansion m" he instructed Fu Lan who nodded and ran to the driver. Then to Liang, he said, "get in front".

The maid crying out to the Crow prince had occurred on one of the busiest streets in the capital and attracted a lot of attention. Before long the identity of the maid was discovered, soon a new set of rumours began to spread. The rumours claimed that Chen Yao had run away from the Jiang mansion to elope with the crown prince. 

The rumour was brought up at morning court not long after it began by an official on the fifth prince's camp following a petition submitted at court.

An hour before the petition was reported at court, at Tong mansion, Zhongshan Ling arrived in full-on chaos. As soon as he walked into the compound a courtyard maid stationed at Chen Yao's pavilion rushed forward. The maid reported to the steward that she found the oldest young mistress with her wrist slit. 

Liang rushed to the Pavillion to check on her mistress while Zhongshan Ling and Fu Lang followed at a slower rate. The Imperial doctor arrived not long later, 45 minutes later he came out and reported that Chen Yao was now stable.. Zhongshan sat at old master Tong's side hall as he waited for Chen Yao to wake up.