Chu Ruoyan gave a start.
She had nearly forgotten the lie she’d fabricated earlier to get close to him.
Now, with Yan Zheng’s gaze cold as frost—as if he’d tear the world apart if she dared say no—she quickly replied, “N-no, I wouldn’t dare deceive you…”
Only then did the sharpness in his eyes soften slightly.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t restrain himself, but her recent romantic entanglements were simply too much!
First, there was that brainless young Marquis Pei pestering her daily, then Old Man Gu took a fancy to her and wanted her as a daughter-in-law, not to mention that enigmatic Young Master Lang, who claimed indifference—but who knew what he truly thought?
Surrounded by wolves, how could he not be tense?
“Is it that you wouldn’t dare, or that it’s truly untrue?” Yan Zheng pressed.
Chu Ruoyan forced a laugh. “Of course, I wouldn’t dare… I mean, it’s truly untrue!” She turned her head away guiltily. At some point, she’d lost the ability to lie to him without flinching.
Suddenly, a cold fingertip tilted her chin back. “A-Yan, true or false, you said those words yourself. You must take responsibility.”
Forced to meet his eyes—dark, fathomless, yet burning with two flickering flames, like stars in the night sky threatening to pull her in—she blurted, “And what if I don’t?”
Yan Zheng’s gaze turned icy. In one swift motion, he flung the white fur draped over his shoulders.
The snowy fur billowed past her head as he leaned down, his cool lips brushing her forehead like a dragonfly skimming water—
“!!!”
Chu Ruoyan’s eyes widened. Where he’d touched her burned as if set aflame, her blood rushing there in a dizzying surge.
The fur settled soundlessly on the ground.
Yan Zheng reclined leisurely in his chair. “That’s what happens.”
Silence.
Even with the bustling street around them, this small space felt eerily isolated.
Meng Yang had wisely retreated earlier.
Chu Ruoyan stood frozen. What kind of ultimatum was this? If she didn’t take responsibility, he’d… kiss her?
Would he keep kissing her until she complied?!
No, no—the real question was, why did he kiss her at all?
Her inexperience with matters of the heart left her mind in chaos.
Yan Zheng watched the loose strands of hair framing her face and reached to tuck them behind her ear—only for her to leap back like a startled cat.
He frowned.
Too soon. He’d frightened her.
Just as he meant to soothe her, his shadow guard appeared, whispering to Meng Yang, who hurried over. “Young Master, Grand Tutor Rong requests your presence urgently—”
“Let him wait!” Yan Zheng snapped.
Meng Yang swallowed. “It’s critical. Liu Changping, the Director of the Armory Bureau, has committed suicide in prison…”
Liu Changping, brother of Earl Changlu, was a key intermediary in the embezzlement case. His death severed both ends of the investigation.
Yan Zheng gritted his teeth, exhaling sharply to steady himself. “Shadow, with me. Meng Yang, escort Miss Chu home.”
“Yes.”
Before leaving, he cast a lingering glance at Chu Ruoyan—still dazed—but this would have to wait.
Once he was gone, Meng Yang brought the carriage.
Chu Ruoyan climbed in numbly, finally murmuring, “Meng Yang… is your master… alright?”
The driver paused. “Eh? Miss Chu, in what regard?”
“Every regard!”
She pressed her burning cheeks. “Has he been provoked? Betrayed again?” Why else would he demand “responsibility” so fiercely?
Meng Yang chuckled. “My lady jests. Those who betray the young master meet swift ends. Any stragglers are already marked. He’s suffered no recent grievances.”
A shiver ran down her spine.
Familiar with his gentler side, she’d nearly forgotten his vindictive nature.
Her earlier lies must never surface. If he learned the truth now that he’d taken them seriously… she’d be devoured alive.
“Meng Yang, one more thing. Has your master ever… favored another woman?”
He nearly swore on the heavens. “Never! Not once!”
“What about the second daughter of Grand Tutor Rong—”
“Nothing between them! They’ve barely met! My lady, believe me—aside from his sister-in-law, the young master hardly speaks to women. His estate doesn’t even harbor female mosquitoes!”
Chu Ruoyan coughed.
Well then. Like her, he was untouched by romance.
Her aunt once warned that such people, when betrayed, spiral into extremes of love and hatred.
She’d played with fire—now she’d burn.
At the Chu residence, Nanny Zhou gaped. “Miss, weren’t you attending the Cao family’s wedding?”
Chu Ruoyan sighed.
Wedding? She’d provoked a demon. One misstep, and she’d be attending her own funeral.
Back in her courtyard, she wilted like a plucked flower.
That evening, Lady Jiang the Younger returned with Chu Ruoyin and Chu Ruolan, relaying her aunt’s thanks for handling Princess Qingping earlier. Only then did Chu Ruoyan recall the princess’s cryptic parting words:
“You’re that divorced woman from the Yan family… How curious that you’d aid the Caos.”
As if their families shared some deep-seated feud.
But even if Imperial Son-in-law Cao resented Yan Zheng over Princess Ansheng’s affairs, their clashes hardly warranted such venom—unless there was more.
The simplest solution was to ask Yan Zheng directly.
Yet now, facing him seemed impossible.
She tossed all night.
The next morning, Yulu burst in gleefully. “Miss, two pieces of good news! One about the Marquis of Chengen, the other about the Marquis of Anning. Which first?”
At Yan Zheng’s name, Chu Ruoyan tensed. “The first.”
“Perfect! Yesterday, Sister Chan delivered Yinghong’s finger to the Marquis of Chengen’s Mansion. Old Madam Xue vomited blood at the sight and ordered Marquis Xue to fetch her grandson immediately! He stormed into Princess Qingping’s Mansion, and oh—what a quarrel! The marquis accused her of keeping male consorts and flouting virtue, while she sneered that a ‘cut-sleeve’ like him, entangled with his own students, had no right to judge. She even said he could take any man from her estate—but never the child or its mother!”
Chu Ruoyan smirked.
Predictable. Xue Gui was shameless, Princess Qingping domineering. Clash was inevitable.
“And his… good news?”
Yulu said with a smile, "That’s not just good news—that’s heaven-sent news! Word is spreading that at court today, Chancellor Gu, Grand Tutor Rong, and even our young master all urged the Emperor to let the Marquis of Anning investigate some corruption case involving military supplies. The Emperor agreed and even appointed him as Acting Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—with the promise that if he uncovers the truth, the 'Acting' title will be dropped!"
Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—a fourth-rank official position!
And for a man with disabilities, no less! Such an extraordinary exception!
Chu Ruoyan’s breath hitched slightly. In her dreams, when he re-entered the court, it was also to this very position.
Could it truly be fate at work?
Just then, Yuetao from Lady Jiang the Younger’s household arrived: "Eldest Miss, envoys from the palace are here. Her Ladyship requests your immediate presence in the main hall!"
