"Hey, did you hear? General Tao's beloved is someone else."
"Don't spout nonsense. Weren't people saying all along that the couple was deeply devoted?"
"Latest news, my second uncle's cousin works in the General's mansion. I heard the General's wife had a big fight with the General's wife before the General's accident."
"Oh, there's such a thing." The people around gathered, listening to the gossip.
"Old Ma, continue. Who is the General's beloved?"
"I'll scare you to death if I tell you." Everyone looked at her expectantly. Entertainment was scarce in this era, and everyone was happy to listen to gossip.
Let alone gossip from high society, whoever got the first-hand news could brag about it for three days and three nights.
After building up the suspense, Old Ma finally said, "It's that child raised in the General's mansion, Zheng Wan'er."
"Aren't you ruining that girl's reputation? I know this girl is only 12 years old and not yet betrothed. General Tao rescued her from the Jurchen's blades and brought her back to the capital to be raised. Although she doesn't have a formal title, Madame Tao treats her like her own daughter."
"That's right, that's right. Old Ma, where did you hear such nonsense? Be careful the General's mansion doesn't trouble you. There's a full 20-year age gap between them."
"Oh, if I've told a single lie, may I be struck by lightning. There's no shortage of such May-December romances."
"What evidence do you have?"
"My niece works in that young lady's courtyard. Once, he overheard the girl directly calling General Tao 'Qianmian Gege'." Saying this, Old Ma made a face as if she had goosebumps all over.
"If their relationship wasn't ambiguous, would they be calling each other like that so openly?"
"Tsk," everyone shook their heads.
"These two are too much! How can they do this to the General's wife?"
"Yes, yes. The General's wife is still kept in the dark. How pitiful."
...
As much as they envied Jun Jiuli a while ago, they pitied her even more now. With so many people present, the matter fermented within two days.
Tao Chuzhuo had been having a very difficult time these past few days. The number of people in his courtyard had decreased, and even getting someone to run an errand was inconvenient. Everything had to be done personally by his two trusted confidantes.
Also, his mother was too ruthless. She had even cleared out all his hidden private savings. The stationery he used to use were all fine quality.
Now, the brushes started to split after not much use, the writing paper was coarse and yellowed, and even the quality of the food had declined.
Before, he could just instruct the kitchen on whatever he wanted to eat. Now, he had a strict meal of one meat and two vegetables, only porridge in the morning, and no heavy meat at night. After just a few days, he had lost a lot of weight.
Now he only received two taels of silver per month, and he hadn't attended any of the gatherings with his classmates recently. Thinking of his father, who was still bedridden, it was truly unlucky.
If he had been attacked a little later, he could have changed his surname to Tao. He had lost so much, but the benefits had not yet materialized. It was truly infuriating.
At this moment, a classmate bumped his arm. This person was the son of Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Revenue, known for his overbearing nature in the capital. His sister was a Consort Xian in the palace.
"Jiang Chuzhuo, I heard your father doesn't like your mother. Instead, he likes Miss Zheng, who is being raised in the Tao family."
His words caused the surrounding scholars to burst into laughter, showing expressions of schadenfreude.
Tao Chuzhuo found these words extremely displeasing, as if he wasn't part of the Tao family. He paused his hand holding the scroll and said indifferently,
"A bunch of gossiping women repeating hearsay. Young Master Zhao actually believes it. My parents have a very good relationship, and there's no need for Young Master Zhao and all the classmates to worry. If you have that much idle time, you might as well read a few more books."
Young Master Zhao was most displeased with his elegant and detached demeanor, as if nothing could disturb his composure. He seemed out of place among these sons of noble families. He enjoyed seeing Tao Chuzhuo's annoyed yet helpless expression the most.
"Hmph, Young Master Jiang is so aloof. Having a lowly background, one must resort to unscrupulous means to climb up."
"My father is a first-rank official, and my mother is a legitimate second-rank wife personally enfeoffed by His Majesty. I am the eldest legitimate son of the General's mansion. No matter whose name I follow, my future prospects will not be your concern, Young Master Zhao."
"Well said. That's more like a student of our Fanqie Academy."
The speaker was Feng Tong, the院长 of the academy. He was born into a poor farming family and grew up on charity. He later achieved triple crowns, served as a minister in three dynasties, and was the imperial tutor for two emperors, with countless students all over the world. Currently, one-third of the civil officials in the court had been taught by him and regarded him as a mentor.
"Child, birth cannot determine the height a person can reach in the future. Do not let others' words disturb your state of mind. Your future is boundless."
"Thank you for your guidance, Dean." Tao Chuzhuo bowed.
The other students returned to their seats like quails.
"The opportunity to study at the academy is not easy. Do not waste your time. You should all take care of yourselves." With that, he left.
Young Master Zhao rolled his eyes angrily. This hypocrite was good at deceiving people. Now even the dean had been fooled by him. It was truly infuriating. What was even more infuriating was that he had provided him with the stepping stone.
Tao Chuzhuo ignored his childish behavior and focused on reading, waiting for the teacher to arrive. He couldn't bear the way people looked at him all day at the academy. Finally, when school ended, he hurried home and went straight to Jun Jiuli's courtyard.
"Mother, I have something to tell you."
"You may all withdraw."
"Mother, the outside world is buzzing with rumors about Zheng Wan'er and Father. Won't you step in to stop it? The General's mansion's reputation is being trampled on. They say Father... they say Father..."
"Oh, what are they saying?"
"They say Father is immoral and old. Mother, don't you really know?"
"What should I know? It's just outsiders gossiping. Don't you know your father's character? Or is what's being said outside not false?"
"Son dares not speak presumptuously." Saying this, he knelt before Jun Jiuli.
"It was my son's slip of the tongue, but if this matter continues to spread like this, it will be detrimental to the reputation of our General's mansion."
"You don't need to worry. Mother has her ways. Return to your courtyard."
"Yes."
Tao Chuzhuo couldn't bear the shame. He decided to wait for his mother to clarify the matter, and after the storm passed, he would return to the academy. He would have his confidante request a sick leave for him.