MCSCPM -Chapter 145 Rumors Spread

Outside the palace, the calm of old was gone.

Both ministers in the court and the common people were talking about the plague in Jiangnan. They claimed it was the Third Prince’s incompetence that caused the outbreak. It was a disaster for the people, and a disaster for Xize.

The teahouses in the capital were always crowded and noisy, often gathering unruly youths and gossipmongers.

“Everyone, gather around! Listen to me! This Jiangnan plague… it’s not the Third Prince’s fault! It’s Xize’s destiny!” A man in black sat at a table, banging his chopsticks and bowls to draw attention.

Soon, a crowd gathered around him.

“Brother, be careful! If the Emperor hears you say that, you could lose your head!” the waiter said anxiously. Although teahouses were for chatting, some words were too dangerous to speak lightly.

“Ah, you don’t understand! Before, the Emperor had the diviner observe the heavens, and then called for a blood offering of a hundred beauties. Do you think that’s a lie?” The man’s lips curved in a faint, cold smile. This was only the beginning.

“That part is true, but what does it have to do with the Third Prince?” the waiter asked, puzzled.

“Today I’m not talking about the Third Prince. The plague has broken out—blaming the Third Prince is useless. Only by controlling the plague quickly can the root problem be solved!”

As the black-clad man spoke, the crowd nodded. His reasoning seemed sound.

“Brother, if you’re speaking reason today, this meal’s on me!” One man squeezed through the crowd and sat opposite the man in black.

“Big brother, your generosity is impressive. But today I want to talk about the Empress’s fainting,” the man in black said, eyes half-closed. Now the real topic began.

“What? The Empress fainted? Are you crazy? From the moment you walked into this teahouse, you’ve been spouting nonsense and talking palace affairs. If this reaches the Emperor, we’ll all be in trouble!” Some in the crowd protested. After all, even outside the palace, the Emperor’s spies were everywhere; discovery could mean death.

“Brother, you can eat freely, but don’t speak recklessly!” a few others laughed from the side.

Teahouse crowds loved gossip. Though lowly in status, their tongues were sharp.

“Fine. Today, if I don’t reveal the truth, I’ll pay for everyone’s drinks myself!” the man in black said with a smile.

“Good!” The crowd cheered. Free drinks were never to be missed.

“Listen carefully. The Empress—previously she had been poisoned and unconscious. The divine physician revived her, and she woke… but now she’s fainted again. Don’t you find that strange?”

The man’s words drew attention. Palace affairs were always shrouded in mystery, and this was a topic everyone cared about.

“How do you mean? The Empress fainted—what’s so strange about that?”

“You don’t understand. The previous poisoning was real, the fainting was real—but this time, the fainting is fake.” The black-clad man’s smile widened as the crowd grew.

“You’re not a palace physician. How could you know so clearly? I think you’re just a charlatan,” some doubted. In this teahouse, strange stories appeared daily—but this was the first time they’d heard such claims.

Though the teahouse was a gathering of rabble, it was the fastest and most accurate source of information. Anyone revealing a noteworthy matter could earn a free drink. Many came daily—not just for the drink, but for news.

“Brother, you’re speaking recklessly. My relative is a palace physician. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be saying this here. Death is a real risk!”

“You have a point,” another said.

“Enough talk—tell us! Is the Empress really fainting or not?”

The black-clad man’s lips curled in a fleeting cold smile.

“The Empress’s fainting? It’s fake. The previous instance was real, but this time, it’s not.”

In the teahouse, everyone knew the rules: lies could have severe consequences.

“Brother, you understand the rules here, right?” A large man, the owner’s enforcer, slowly approached. His heavy flesh trembled with each step. Anyone spreading rumors risked death.

“Of course I understand. If my words are false, I accept any punishment.”

The crowd gasped. No one had ever spoken so boldly in this teahouse. If the information were unreliable, he would never dare.

“Today, everyone, let this prove it: the Empress fainting this time is indeed false.”

The man slammed his cup on the floor. His plan was almost complete.

“Entering the palace isn’t so easy,” someone mocked. “He’s just one person; once he leaves, he can’t verify it. Death leaves no witnesses.”

“Since I’ve said it, I’ll stand by it. I’m leaving my address in this teahouse. I act openly and honorably. Wait for me!”

With that, a slip of paper landed on the table. The man in black disappeared.

“Where did he go?!” The crowd looked anxious. The man had been right there moments ago—now vanished.

“Could this be Xize’s prophecy? Are all bad things about to happen?” someone murmured.

Nearby, the man in black observed quietly. From the start, he had chosen this teahouse—it had the fastest news circulation and high credibility. If the old master hadn’t stressed urgency, he wouldn’t have acted so quickly.

As he left, the teahouse descended into chaos. Everyone discussed whether the Empress’s fainting was real. It concerned the palace’s reputation—and Xize’s destiny.

The Jiangnan plague had already unsettled people; now this. Loyalty among Xize’s people was crumbling.

“How’s the old master’s instruction going?”

“It’s done. Within a few hours, this news will spread like wildfire. Even if it doesn’t reach the Emperor directly, it will be hard to hide.” The man’s lips curved in a cold smile.

“Good. Go back now. Don’t get discovered. This is the old master’s reward for you,” another said with a smile.

“Yes.”

In a narrow alley, two people exchanged words and then vanished.

Outside the capital, beyond the Emperor’s sight, there were naturally many powerful figures. Some had complicated connections to the palace.

In a mansion in the suburbs, a plaque read: “Wan Residence.” An elderly man gazed toward the palace, worry etched on his face.

“Old master, don’t worry too much. Mo’er—she’ll be fine.”

“She’s always fine in the palace, but this time… how can I not worry?” he coughed. Time was running out, and he could do little now.

This was Consort De’s father. Though once obscure, he still held influence. For decades, they remained quiet, even moving their mansion to the suburbs.

“Go check if Steward Li has returned.”

“Yes, master.”

He waited outside, watching the palace. His daughter had never sought conflict; if not for her son, she wouldn’t have acted this way.

“Master, Steward Li is back,” said a woman beside him, plump with age lines, faintly resembling Consort De.

“Master, it’s done. Within a few hours, the whole capital will be talking about this,” Li Gong said, sharpness in his eyes from years of managing the Wan family’s affairs.

“Good. Dismissed.” He sighed, hoping this would help his daughter. If it failed, there was nothing more he could do.

Rumors spread fastest. Inside the palace, yes—but outside? Even faster.

Soon, the capital buzzed with the Empress’s supposed fainting. People claimed it affected the stability of Xize.

The Empress, mother of the nation, fainting so seriously—surely heaven would be angered, and Xize would suffer.

“Have you heard? The Empress fainting is fake!” Several guards gathered outside the palace gate.

“What? I hadn’t heard! Even the commoners outside are talking about it. The whole city is abuzz,” the guards said nervously.

The Emperor believed in divination, and the people’s discussion might involve heaven’s favor. The guards feared they too might be implicated.

“You lot, stop loafing! Why are you all gathered here?”

“R-Reporting, leader!” the guards stammered.

“Leader, the people outside are gossiping about the Empress’s fake fainting. We were discussing it here too, and then you arrived,” one whispered.

“There’s a plague in Jiangnan! You’re supposed to be on duty, yet here you are gossiping about the Empress. Looks like it’s time to head to Jiangnan for support!” The guard leader scolded.

Not long ago, the Emperor had scolded him for failing to find the person who poisoned the Empress. Now this rumor again—it seemed the Empress’s affairs never ended.

“We wouldn’t dare!”

“Good. Do your jobs properly. Don’t waste time here. If anything happens, don’t blame me,” the leader said, smiling.

Rumors never arise without reason. If someone hadn’t orchestrated it, the Empress’s fake fainting wouldn’t spread so quickly. Now that the guards were talking about it, something suspicious was surely afoot.

Thinking this, the guard leader hurried toward the Imperial Study.