It began with whispers.
Soft. Careless. Deadly.
"Did you hear?"
"About the princess?"
"They say she cried after embarrassing herself…"
"No, it's worse than that."
The rumors twisted, growing sharper with each retelling.
"She clung to Lord Gu after the banquet."
"Clung? I heard she begged him not to leave her."
"Shameless…"
By morning—
The entire palace knew.
—
Xueying stood still as the voices reached her.
Her fingers tightened around the sleeve of her robe.
"…Is it true?" one maid asked quietly behind her.
"She really did that?"
Xueying closed her eyes briefly.
"No," she said.
But her voice—
It didn't carry far enough.
Because lies—
Always traveled faster than truth.
—
In her chamber, Zhao Meilin sat calmly as her attendants spoke.
"The rumors are everywhere now, Miss."
Meilin smiled faintly.
"Good."
"But… what if His Majesty finds out?"
"He will," she said lightly.
Her eyes flickered.
"But by then… it won't matter."
She leaned back slightly.
"Reputation is like glass."
Her lips curved.
"Once it cracks… it never returns to what it was."
—
Meanwhile—
Gu Yichen stood in the courtyard, his expression darker than usual.
"I trust you've heard the rumors," a nobleman said beside him.
Yichen didn't respond.
"They're saying the princess—"
"I know what they're saying."
His tone was cold.
Sharp enough to end the conversation immediately.
The man fell silent.
Yichen's gaze shifted toward the inner palace.
Unmoving.
Uncertain.
Because this time
It wasn't just about what he believed.
It was about what the world believed.
And that
Was far more dangerous.