"Really?! Prince Chen is dead?!"
"That's a messenger! Is it true? But how could Prince Chen have died so suddenly?" Because this messenger had been rampaging through the streets of the capital, many people were alarmed when he arrived at Prince Chen's residence and came to see what was going on. But they didn't expect to hear such news. Many people stood there in shock, speechless for a long time, staring unblinkingly at the messenger on the ground.
"What nonsense are you spouting!" The servant from Prince Chen's mansion, who had been supporting the messenger, shoved him away in anger.
The messenger hurriedly reported, "News has come from Linzhou Prefecture! A letter from Prefect Xue Heng: Prince Chen has perished!"
Upon hearing the news at Prince Chen's residence, Ouyang Yue's expression changed drastically: "What?! Quickly summon that messenger into the residence! I, the Princess Consort, want to question him thoroughly!" Ouyang Yue couldn't help but feel worried and nervous, because ever since Mei Ju entered the residence, she hadn't heard from Baili Chen. To suddenly receive this news, especially an official letter from Linzhou Prefecture, was almost certainly not fake!
☆、274、The Great Catastrophe、Heretical
The messenger was practically dragged into Prince Chen's mansion. As soon as he entered, all the servants looked at him with eyes that seemed to want to devour him. The messenger was terrified and turned pale. He was just a messenger on orders. Would this letter he was delivering today be lost forever? His heart was pounding wildly.
"Bang!" The messenger was immediately pinned to the ground by two men. When he looked up, he saw a stunningly beautiful young woman in a gold-embroidered dress staring coldly at him. He was so frightened that he immediately kowtowed and said, "This humble servant greets Princess Consort Chen."
"You sent a message saying the prince has died, what happened?!" Ouyang Yue ignored the man's fear and asked anxiously.
"This humble servant...this humble servant received an order from Prefect Xue Heng of Linzhou to deliver a letter. The details are...in this letter." The messenger immediately took out a letter from the gag strap tied to his bosom and handed it over.
"Bring it here quickly." Ouyang Yue hurriedly received the letter, opened it, and her expression grew increasingly somber. Everyone in the hall fell silent. After a while, Ouyang Yue, with a somber expression, calmly said, "This letter is only for the Prince Chen's residence."
"There are two letters, one sent to the palace and the other sent back to Prince Chen's residence." This is the usual job of a messenger. It's not a state secret. It's just that it's Baili Chen. Otherwise, if a normal family encountered this, the news would be sent to their own residence first.
"Chuncao, take him away. He must be exhausted from rushing back this time. Take good care of him."
Chuncao immediately responded. The messenger was still somewhat dazed when Chuncao and the others took him away.
Dongxue asked anxiously, "Your Highness, has something really happened to the Prince...?"
Ouyang Yue's expression was uncertain: "The message above said that when the prince went missing, they found two corpses in the midst of a fight. Their faces were somewhat mutilated, but they could identify the prince from details such as his body shape."
"Your face is disfigured?" Dongxue immediately sensed something was wrong.
Ouyang Yue's voice was somewhat low: "We cannot give up. Send people to search for the prince as soon as possible. No matter where he is, I need to know if he is safe first. We don't need to make any conclusions yet; let's wait and see."
First, rumors spread that Baili Chen had a confidante in Lin City, and Mei Ju arrived not long after. Then, various suspicious points arose regarding Baili Chen's disappearance, and now rumors have spread that he is dead. Whatever the person behind this is up to, it is clear that they are after the Chen Prince's Mansion. As long as she has not seen Baili Chen's body with her own eyes, she will not believe that he is dead. At this time, she must not lose her composure, otherwise wouldn't she be giving Xiao Xiaoke an opportunity? Perhaps the person behind this is waiting for her to panic and make some other vicious move!
Baili Su reached out his soft little hand and took Ouyang Yue's hand: "Mother, don't worry, Father will be alright, he will definitely be alright!"
"Hmm! I know. Are you tired? Do you want to go and rest for a nap?" Ouyang Yue smiled and patted his head.
Baili Su shook his head: "I'm not sleepy."
Ouyang Yue patted Baili Su's little head and said to happy Mama beside her, "happy Mama, take the two of them and inform Meiju, the messenger."
Granny Xi's eyes flickered slightly, and she understood Ouyang Yue's meaning. Then she picked two more clever-looking maids and left.
The Chen Prince's Mansion is the same as other prince's mansions. The back residence is arranged with several courtyards according to rank, such as the Princess Consort, the Concubine, and the Noble Concubine. Since only Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen live in the Chen Prince's Mansion, the layout was slightly modified. The back residence didn't have as many courtyards, but there were still quite a few. Moreover, since Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen live together, the back courtyards are almost all empty. However, Mei Ju is now nameless and has no status, so she lives in the middle section. If she dares to live in the front courtyard, Mei Ju would be courting death.
When Madam Xi arrived with her entourage, Meiju was still arranging flowers in a vase with great care. Seeing Madam Xi enter, she smiled and said, "So it's Madam Xi. Is there anything the Princess needs from you?"
This madam Xi was married into the Prince Chen's mansion along with Ouyang Yue. You could still offend the former head steward of the Prince Chen's mansion, but if you dared to offend the people around Ouyang Yue, you would be even more unlucky than the head steward. Although Mei Ju had only been there for a few days, the main people in the Prince Chen's mansion had already figured it out, so they smiled very kindly at madam Xi.
Madam Xi had no liking for Meiju. She twitched her face slightly in response and said bluntly, "Miss Meiju, I have some bad news to tell you. A messenger just came to report that Lord Xue Heng, the Prefect of Linzhou Prefecture, personally wrote a letter saying that Prince Chen has passed away."
“…Huh? What?” Meiju was stunned: “Mama Xi, what are you saying? How can you curse the prince? Do you know what the punishment is?”
Madam Xi also said with a face full of grief and pain: "This is a message from the messenger. I didn't dare to believe it at first, but... sigh... Miss Meiju, you are still young. Perhaps you should think about your future. The princess is kind and benevolent. Even if you want to leave, the princess will give you some money to settle down. You can rest assured about that."
Upon hearing this, Meiju's eyes suddenly turned, and she hurriedly shook her head, saying, "No...no, I don't believe it, I don't believe the Prince is dead like this. I want to stay in the Prince Chen's residence, I want to stay and wait for news of the Prince. I won't leave...I must wait for the Prince..."
With a "plop," Meiju knelt down, grabbing Xi Mama and saying, "Please, Xi Mama, say a word for me. I don't want to leave. Please, Your Highness, let me stay. Even just having something to remember you by is enough. I would never betray Your Highness. I will never leave no matter what."
Madam Xi looked at Meiju with some sympathy: "Since this is Meiju's choice, I can't persuade you anymore. I'll go back and report to the Princess." Because Meiju didn't have any official title yet, Madam Xi was reluctant to lower her status and always referred to herself as "I".
Meiju's shoulders trembled, and she knelt on the ground with her head down, refusing to get up. Before leaving, Mama Xi took a special look at Meiju.
"You can all leave now. I need to be alone for a while," Meiju said to the two servants beside her. The two servants were also from the Prince Chen's mansion and looked down on Meiju. They were happy to leave when Meiju said that, and soon the room was empty.
Meiju, supporting herself on a chair, gently brushed the dust off her clothes and stood up. Her face was calm, but her eyes flickered with uncertainty, and she was greatly surprised. Could it be that Prince Chen was really dead?!
Mama Xi has already reported to Ouyang Yue: "When I mentioned it, Meiju was indeed very surprised, but it was just a bit of astonishment, not worry or sadness. I think she was quite afraid to leave the Prince Chen's mansion."
Ouyang Yue said "Oh," and narrowed her eyes: "I understand. Send someone to keep an eye on her secretly, but don't be too restrained. Let her do whatever she wants in the mansion, don't stop her."
Although Mama Xi didn't understand why, she had already sensed that something was wrong with Meiju, so she nodded in agreement.
In the following days, Ouyang Yue sent Baili Su directly to Princess Shuangxia for care. After returning to the Chen Prince's Mansion, she stayed indoors and ate breakfast, lunch and dinner in her room. Apart from a few close attendants, even the servants of the Chen Prince's Mansion could not see her. Chuncao, Dongxue, and Xi Mama handled everything. A low-pressure atmosphere permeated the Chen Prince's Mansion.
Inside the room, Ouyang Yue leaned against the soft couch, gently stirring the tea leaves in her teacup. She stared at the slightly murky liquid for a moment, then put the teacup back down. Just then, she heard voices outside. A moment later, Chuncao entered: "What is it?"
"It's the principal and concubine of Prince Sheng's mansion. They just happened to run into Princess Jiang Xuan outside. They were about to ask to see the princess. The princess and the concubine clearly have ill intentions. Do you want to see them?" Chuncao looked at Ouyang Yue nervously. Ouyang Yue noticed that Chuncao's face was very pale, her lips were a little dry, and although she covered her dark circles with powder, they could still be vaguely seen. Her eyes were also not as bright as usual and were a little red.
Yes, those two corpses mentioned in the letter were Baili Chen and Leng Sha's. Chuncao, that maid, was always so quiet, probably crying behind her back, yet she had always done her best for her and was still thinking of her now. Ouyang Yue was a little touched. She waved to Chuncao, who came over. Ouyang Yue said, "Chuncao, how much do you like Leng Sha?"
Chuncao's body stiffened, she trembled, and tears finally streamed down her face. She bit her lip to stop herself from crying out loud. Ouyang Yue gently touched her hand to comfort her: "Chuncao, I will definitely make you happy. Our Chuncao is so good, she will definitely be happy."
Chuncao sobbed, "I...I...I only want Leng Sha, I don't want anyone else, I will follow...follow the Princess...Chuncao will never marry again."
Ouyang Yue held Chuncao's waist, her eyes darkening slightly: "Chuncao is a good girl. If Leng Sha knew, he would be very happy. If he can't come back alive, he doesn't deserve your love. No matter what, I will ensure your lifelong peace and happiness."
Chuncao sobbed, afraid of upsetting Ouyang Yue, and nodded vigorously, saying, "Yes, yes, the prince and the others will definitely come back. Those letters are all lies. Chuncao... Chuncao doesn't believe them either... Your Highness, don't be sad. You still have the young prince."
Ouyang Yue has already sent Baili Su away, which shows how much this has affected her. She is even unable to raise her own son. Chuncao complained to herself, "Why did I have to ask the princess to comfort me just because I'm sad? The princess should be the one who is the saddest right now."
"Yes, I know. Go ahead and take them to the hall. I'll go see them." Ouyang Yue got up and stepped off the couch.
Chuncao was startled: "Ah? The princess still wants to see them, but they clearly came to watch the show, why bother..."
“There’s no way to avoid this, go and invite them.” Ouyang Yue patted Chuncao’s hand and said. Chuncao didn’t quite agree with Ouyang Yue’s approach, but she hated the three women outside.
Ouyang Yue sat down in front of the dressing mirror and said to Dongxue, "Put on a simple bun and make your face whiter." Although Dongxue wasn't as good at these things as Chuncao and Qiuyue, she still had no problem with a simple bun. However, Ouyang Yue wore a simple bun with two pairs of gold hairpins, two ruby tassels, and a set of jade jewelry. Compared to her previous simple attire, this was far too grand and luxurious. However, when she appeared in the hall with Dongxue by the hand, Ning Xishan and Jiang Xuan immediately beamed with joy when they saw Ouyang Yue's outfit.
Look at Ouyang Yue's attire, as luxurious as possible, and she's even wearing makeup. But that deathly pale complexion can't be faked by makeup. Hmph, that's right. Baili Chen is dead, so the Chen Prince's Mansion is just an empty shell. What can a woman like Ouyang Yue do? This is just a pretense of composure.
“Waaah…” Ning Xishan wrung out her handkerchief and burst into tears: “How could this be? Prince Chen is dead! When I heard about this, my heart sank instantly. It’s been so many days before I dared to come to the manor to see Princess Chen. Prince Chen is gone just like that. It must be a huge blow to Princess Chen.”
Ouyang Yue looked at Ning Xishan calmly and said, "Thank you for your concern, Princess Sheng. I am doing well."
"How could things possibly get better? Prince Chen is the pillar of the Chen Prince's Mansion. If he dies like this, how can this huge Chen Prince's Mansion be supported? The Prince Chen's son is so young, he will only have his mother to teach him from now on. It's heartbreaking to think about an orphan and a widow." Jiang Xuan shook her head and sighed. The sight of the two of them made all the servants in the Chen Prince's Mansion very angry and resentful.
These people aren't here to visit; they're clearly here to kick someone when they're down and add fuel to the fire. Every word they say is aimed at putting down the princess. They're truly despicable.
"Regardless of what the prince is really like, even if something were to happen to him, this princess consort would certainly shoulder the responsibility of taking care of the young master. Thank you for your concern, I appreciate it." Ouyang Yue said calmly, seemingly unaffected by their words.
Ning Xishan and Jiang Xuan exchanged a glance and both sneered. Ning Xishan wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, her voice filled with bitterness as she said, "I understand that Princess Consort Chen is in a bad mood right now, but you must cheer up. You still have the Chen Prince's Mansion and the young prince to take care of. I know that at this time, all I can do is advise you to think more positively. Otherwise, if you ruin your health, Prince Chen won't be at ease watching from heaven. I've prepared some things, and I hope Princess Consort Chen will like them."
"Oh, speaking of things, that's what I came here for. I almost forgot. Someone, bring the things up."
Soon, several servants came in carrying two large boxes and a small box. Jiang Xuan smiled coldly and said, "Open them and see if Princess Chen likes them."
The sound of the boxes being opened was followed by a flash of white. The two boxes were filled with white cloth, white banners, incense, candles, and paper money, all of which were prepared for the dead. If such things were brought to a family holding a funeral, it would be considered an insult, and they would surely be kicked out.
However, the small box that Leng Caidie brought was full of bird's nest supplements, clearly intended for Ouyang Yue to improve her health, showing that she had put some thought into it.
Jiang Xuan said with a beaming smile, "Princess Consort Chen likes these things. I imagine Princess Consort Chen is currently in great pain and must not be in the mood to prepare for Prince Chen's funeral. I have already prepared the funeral arrangements, which will save Princess Consort Chen a lot of trouble. If Princess Consort Chen doesn't mind, I am willing to take care of the funeral arrangements for you. You only need to show up when receiving guests. Since Princess Consort Chen is in a bad mood right now, I'm afraid she would be powerless to do it even if she wanted to." Her smile contained hatred and a hint of satisfaction.
Ouyang Yue, your time of misfortune has finally come! You hurt me so badly before, and now look at you! This is karma! All your honor and glory came from this Princess Consort Chen. What will you have left after Prince Chen dies? A royal widow with a tiny little prince, won't she be devoured to the bone in this cannibalistic royal family? Haha, great! So satisfying! Compared to Ouyang Yue, she is much luckier now. With such an opportunity to strike her hard, how could Jiang Xuan miss it?
“Yes, if Princess Consort Chen needs anything, I can help you. After all, we are all family, so there’s no need to be polite at a time like this. The Ning family has also handled funerals before, so I have some experience in this area,” Ning Xishan suggested with a smile.
With Baili Chen's death, the Empress position is highly likely to fall to Baili Mao. Baili Chen was already the biggest competitor, and although he has offspring, there's still a generation gap. Even if Emperor Mingxian treats Baili Su well, he wouldn't easily allow a grandson from a lower generation to inherit the throne. With Baili Chen dead, the throne is practically Baili Mao's. How could Ning Xishan not be excited? Leng Caidie, though still holding the title of Princess Consort of Sheng, is a cripple. No empress in history has ever been disabled; Leng Caidie is no match for her. Besides, while Emperor Mingxian guaranteed her the position of Princess Consort, he didn't guarantee her the Empress position. While Baili Mao has many women in his household, he greatly favors Ning Xishan. With the Ning family's support, she's already looking forward to her future as Empress, a thought that excites her greatly.
The servants of the Prince Chen's mansion were glaring at Jiang Xuan and Ning Xishan with eyes blazing with fury, wishing they could pounce on them and devour them. However, the two of them were actually enjoying this feeling. So what if they were angry and resentful? What could these people do to them?
"Chuncao, take these things and store them in the storeroom. When Princess Jiangxuan and Consort Ning need them in the future, they won't need to buy any more. Just bundle them up and send them over. Oh, and don't forget to label them with Princess Jiangxuan and Consort Ning's names. Here, bring me paper and a pen." Chuncao immediately ran over and soon brought paper and a pen. Ouyang Yue wrote on two slips of paper and pointed, saying, "Go and stick them on. Don't make a mistake later."
However, when they saw what was written on it, Ning Xishan and Jiang Xuan turned green. The two boxes were labeled "Ning Xishan's Sacrifice" and "Princess Jiang Xuan's Sacrifice," respectively, and were pasted directly on the boxes containing the funeral offerings. It felt rather creepy, as if these were the offerings they were using.
"Princess Consort Chen, what do you mean by this? Are you cursing me?!" Jiang Xuan immediately rebuked.
Ouyang Yue smiled gently and said, "Princess Jiang Xuan, you misunderstand. That's not what I meant. It's just that your name is written on it so it's easy to identify. The character '祭' (sacrifice) also represents a sacrificial offering. The Chen Prince's warehouse is very large. Without a note, it would be difficult to find."
"The hidden meaning here is too great. It looks like an insult to this princess. I'm telling you to take that note away." Jiang Xuan snorted coldly.
Ouyang Yue said calmly, "That won't do. Since Princess Jiang Xuan has given this gift, it belongs to my Chen Prince's Mansion. Princess Jiang Xuan doesn't need to worry about things belonging to my Chen Prince's Mansion. Chuncao, have someone carry it away."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Chuncao glanced at Ning Xishan and Jiang Xuan with a cold smile, then beckoned to two servants and pushed past Ning Xishan and Jiang Xuan's servants to carry the boxes.
"No, take that note down first!" Jiang Xuan was very concerned about it. The thought of this funeral item with her name on it made her feel terrified. As soon as the two servants she brought saw it, they immediately ran over to snatch it. But Chuncao's people were not to be trifled with either. They pulled and struggled to keep it from being given up. Before long, the maids were entangled together, one grabbing the other's head, another tugging at the other's clothes.
"Stop right now, all of you!" Ouyang Yue suddenly shouted, and everyone in the hall was stunned and fell silent.
“Princess Jiang Xuan, what do you mean by this? If you’re reluctant to part with something bought with such a small amount of money, just say so. This thing has already been sent over, and the Chen Prince’s Mansion isn’t short of money to reciprocate. What’s the meaning of this fuss? Since Princess Jiang Xuan likes this so much, then this Princess Consort naturally won’t take what belongs to her. If Princess Jiang Xuan needs this, this Princess Consort will not accept it.” Ouyang Yue’s expression was extremely calm, but Jiang Xuan was quite angry: “Who needs this? Who needs something from a dead person? This is most suitable for you, a widow whose husband has died! Who needs it!”
Ouyang Yue looked at Jiang Xuan calmly and smiled, "Since that's the case, I, the Princess Consort, don't mind. Why is Princess Jiang Xuan still fighting over it? Chuncao, take the things away. Princess Jiang Xuan seems to know a lot about these things. Look at all these supplies, they're all good things, and they're all useful for funerals. Princess Jiang Xuan, have you ever organized funerals before? Consort Ning's family has organized funerals, so they're naturally skilled. They won't recommend holding too many. Chuncao, remember this. Next time Consort Ning needs these things, you must send double the amount. Our Prince Chen's Mansion has never been stingy."
Upon hearing this, Chuncao immediately exclaimed, "Your Highness, please rest assured, this servant will definitely remember to put names around this box. This will ensure that Princess Jiangxuan and Consort Ning won't be caught off guard when they need it. Our Prince Chen's mansion can cover everything then."
"What dare you say, you lowly servant!" Ning Xishan roared, raising her hand to slap Chuncao, but Chuncao dodged. Ouyang Yue sneered, "Why is Consort Ning arguing with a maid? Besides, my maid is quite clever and quick-witted. Consort Ning and Princess Jiang Xuan exchanged gifts; it was just a matter of courtesy. She didn't say anything wrong. Why is Consort Ning so angry? It's truly baffling."
"You!" Ning Xishan was furious, but Leng Caidie spoke coldly: "Princess Consort Chen, you should also take care of your health. You still have the young prince."
"Thank you for your kindness, Princess Consort Xie. I appreciate your thoughtfulness." Ouyang Yue glanced at Leng Caidie, her eyes flickering slightly. Leng Caidie seemed to have changed somewhat.
After Leng Caidie finished speaking, she turned and left. Ning Xishan and Jiang Xuan were now caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to stay or leave. Jiang Xuan said directly, "Take this note down."
Ouyang Yue waved her hand and said, "Chuncao, take away the things that Princess Jiangxuan and Consort Ning brought. Our Prince Chen's mansion has money, and we are not at the point of being unable to afford these things. Since Princess Jiangxuan has just given gifts and is making things difficult for us, we might as well not accept them."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan's expression darkened: "How can this be? These are items for Prince Chen's funeral; how can we just take them back?"
Ouyang Yue sneered, "Princess Jiang Xuan, if you have such intentions, you can burn all these things for the Prince in a secluded place to express your gratitude. If the Prince is truly dead and becomes a ghost, he will naturally see you and express his thanks. After all, Princess Jiang Xuan is not easily swayed." Ouyang Yue's words were full of hidden meaning, and Jiang Xuan was furious. "Don't talk nonsense! Quickly take these things away and leave!" The implication was that Jiang Xuan had originally requested Emperor Mingxian's decree to marry Baili Chen. Now, she was sending these things, which, although seemingly a sarcastic gesture, still showed her true feelings to outsiders. Although Jiang Xuan looked down on Sun Quan, it wouldn't do her any good to have such a reputation before marriage.
However, as soon as the items left the Prince Chen's residence, Jiang Xuan and Ning Xishan threw them in front of the residence. The glaring funeral items were extremely unlucky to look at. Ouyang Yue sneered and ordered the servants to burn them outside the Prince Chen's residence. No matter who asked, they would tell the truth: Jiang Xuan and Ning Xishan had delivered funeral items and then interfered with the Prince Chen's residence. The Princess Chen was so annoyed that she returned the items, and this person threw them here. To show respect to Jiang Xuan and Ning Xishan, these items could not be thrown away, so they were naturally given to the two of them!
Upon hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines, sensing something eerie. When Jiang Xuan and Ning Xishan returned and heard the news, they were naturally furious, but that's a story for another time.
Ouyang Yue sat in the hall, coldly watching Jiang Xuan and Ning Xishan leave: "How can the joke of my Chen Prince's Mansion be so amusing!"
But the matter did not end there. This time, the one who caused a great stir was not Baili Chen, but Baili Su, who also came from the Chen Prince's Mansion.
Suddenly, rumors began to circulate in the capital. When Baili Su was celebrating his first birthday, a radiant glow appeared in the sky, causing Princess Lin to faint. However, the withering of flowers and plants in the palace of the Empress Dowager, Empress, and Consort Sun was considered an ominous sign. Furthermore, Baili Su's disruption of the celebration had taken a toll on the Empress, and the Empress Dowager's health had also declined. Baili Chen, who had previously been safe while on official business, was now rumored to be dead. This Prince Chen was considered a jinx, capable of bringing misfortune to his family; Baili Chen was a prime example. Others believed Baili Su was a reincarnation of a demon star, sent to wreak havoc on humanity, hence his malevolent actions. Many secretly felt a ritual should be performed for Baili Su, a ritual similar to the cruel sacrifices of ancient villages, such as burning young boys and girls during rainmaking rituals. Still others thought Baili Su should be sent to a temple or Taoist monastery to have his body cleansed by Buddha.
Opinions varied, with many people leaning towards the idea that Baili Su was an unlucky person. Just then, another incident occurred, making the situation even worse!
That was when a sudden flood struck Yuezhou City. The flood was extremely fierce, affecting three villages in the surrounding area. Not only was the harvest completely lost, but more than fifty people were swept away and drowned. Immediately, the flood victims from four or five affected villages in Yuezhou Prefecture all flocked to the capital, causing the capital to become overcrowded. The rumors that Baili Su was a harbinger of disaster intensified, and many officials in the court began to petition that even if Baili Su was not imprisoned or executed, he should be sent far away to the border or to a temple. Although Emperor Mingxian had been suppressing the rumors, as more and more flood victims poured into the capital, some people in the palace began to take the opportunity to stir up trouble. Baili Su's reputation as a harbinger of disaster spread far and wide, and people kept clamoring for his punishment.
Fortunately, Ouyang Yue had sent Baili Su to Princess Shuangxia early on. With Princess Shuangxia's prestige, no one dared to go there to demand his return. However, if this matter continued to develop, it would definitely be very dangerous.
Ouyang Yue was indeed troubled. There was still no news from Baili Chen, and now Baili Su had been pushed to the forefront of the storm. As long as the higher-ups gave an order, Baili Su could be ruthlessly eliminated. Ouyang Yue knew very well how superstitious ancient people were about these things. Even if it was just something made up, they wouldn't care as long as it put their minds at ease.
Although Emperor Mingxian had been suppressing the issue, he couldn't withstand the daily petitions from the inner palace and the court, which required him to handle it. For the first time, Ouyang Yue felt that she was not invincible, and there were some things that she was powerless to change. She had used her exceptional ability to influence public opinion, but now she was also being persecuted by it. For the first time, she felt confused and lost.