The personal guard looked somewhat troubled.
He raised his head and glanced at Li Jing. Seeing that Li Jing did not seem to be feigning it, he could only steel himself and say:
"General, when I went to Chaoge this time... I learned that the Third Prince had acquired the nickname 'Third Prince.' His residence was as grand as those of the two princes!"
"And... ever since Madam entered the palace to pay her respects to the Great King, she has never come out. She has been living in the Royal Palace all this time..."
The more the personal guard spoke, the lower he hung his head.
His voice grew softer and softer, and he did not dare look up at Li Jing. But since he had already said this much, there was nothing left to hide. He simply spilled all the gossip circulating among the common folk of Chaoge:
"The common folk all say that the General and Madam have long been at odds... and that the Third Prince was originally the Great King's son. This time, they were summoned back to Chaoge so he could acknowledge his ancestry..."
Before he could finish.
Li Jing suddenly shouted:
"Shut up!"
"What utter nonsense!"
With that furious roar, the personal guard was cut off mid-sentence. His words came to an abrupt halt. He raised his head innocently to look at Li Jing, and seeing the General's furious expression and face flushed with all manner of colors, he could not help feeling wronged:
I already said it wasn't appropriate...
You insisted that I speak!
And now that I've said it, General, you're angry again.
Besides... how is this nonsense? Everyone in Chaoge knows about it! Otherwise, how could the Third Prince receive treatment comparable to a prince?
*And why has Madam not