Chu Ruoyan quickly said, "Uncle, rest assured. The Marquis of Anning has granted me three days. He won't make a move before then!"
"Three days? Then tomorrow is the last day." Cao Yang murmured with a bitter laugh. "Well, tomorrow's family banquet will at least let us see each other one last time... Do you know what Second Brother was like as a child?"
Chu Ruoyan remained silent.
She knew her uncle simply needed an outlet, so she listened quietly as he continued.
"He was timid as a boy, blushing whenever he spoke to anyone. Mother always said he was as bashful as a girl and would never amount to anything. And sure enough, whether in imperial exams or business, nothing ever went right for him. Second Brother grew increasingly despondent, hiding in the estate and refusing to see anyone—until that day."
"Back then, Princess Ansheng was still just a princess. She came to our estate with her attendants to present an honorary plaque to Mother. As she passed Second Brother’s courtyard, she saw him hanging his paintings to dry. She smiled and praised, 'These are truly exquisite.' Just those few words—and Second Brother became a completely different person. He started learning to socialize, threw himself into the imperial exams, and on the day he placed third in the palace examinations, he went straight to Princess Ansheng’s residence, knelt at her gates, and declared himself her humble servant."
"You know the rules of Great Xia—once a man marries a princess or a noblewoman, he can no longer hold office. Yet without hesitation, he abandoned his future as a top scholar, brought Princess Ansheng to his courtyard, and when the doors opened, there were thousands of paintings—every single one capturing her every gesture, every smile. The princess was so moved that she agreed to marry him..."
The past was condensed into just a few sentences.
Chu Ruoyan watched Cao Yang as he spoke each word deliberately: "He was bewitched."
And indeed, he was.
For one sentence, for one person, he cast everything aside—even the lives of his own family.
"What does Lord Cao intend to do now?"
Cao Yang’s gaze sharpened suddenly, as if he had made up his mind. "Cao Yi, take my official seal and mobilize men from the Ministry of Justice! At sunset tomorrow, divide them into two groups—one to ambush the study and await my order to arrest him, and the other to guard the Cao estate. Not a single fly is to escape!"
Cao Yi couldn’t help protesting, "My Lord, perhaps you should wait? That’s Second Master..."
"Do it!!"
Cao Yang’s voice was harsh, and Cao Yi had no choice but to obey.
Chu Ruoyan pressed her lips together. "Uncle, taking action within the estate might alarm Grandmother."
No matter how wicked Cao Dong was, to the Lady Dowager, he was still the son she had carried for ten months and raised with painstaking effort.
Cao Yang fell silent before replying hoarsely, "I know. I know... But you understand better than anyone—this is the Cao family’s only chance at survival!"
The crimes Cao Dong had committed were all punishable by extermination of three generations!
The only thing he could do now was arrest Cao Dong himself and pray the emperor would spare the family out of respect for their years of loyal service.
Chu Ruoyan’s heart ached. "I’m sorry, Uncle..."
"Don’t apologize. If anyone should, it’s the Cao family to you. General Yan was a hero his entire life, only to cross paths with that beast Cao Dong..." Cao Yang tried to force a self-deprecating smile but failed. "Don’t worry. If the worst comes to pass, I’ll write a letter of divorce beforehand. Your aunt won’t be implicated—"
Before he could finish, the door slammed open.
Chu Jing stood there, her expression calm. "What does my husband intend to write?"
Cao Yang’s lips moved soundlessly.
Chu Jing walked up to him. "Whatever it is, I won’t leave the Cao family."
Cao Yang’s face paled. "Madam! This is a calamity that could wipe out our entire clan!"
"Then let us die together. I’ve already been married twice—another divorce would only make me a laughingstock. If that’s the case, we might as well go together. At least it would repay the kindness you showed me when you saved me from despair."
She spoke without a trace of hesitation. Cao Yang’s expression softened, and he pulled her into a tight embrace.
As the couple held each other, Chu Ruoyan’s heart twisted in pain. She quietly withdrew.
——
Residence of Princess Ansheng.
After having his wounds treated, Cao Dong summoned all the household stewards.
"Listen carefully. From now on, you must serve Her Highness with even greater care. She is sensitive to cold—when it’s windy, rainy, or winter, ensure there are warm coals and hand stoves ready for her. Seal the windows and doors tightly to keep the chill out. Her Highness favors agarwood incense—keep it burning year-round, but not too strongly, or it will give her headaches..."
He went on and on, covering everything from daily necessities to her color preferences.
The servants listened nervously, but Cao Dong repeated himself tirelessly.
Uncle Cheng entered and sighed inwardly. "Your Highness, perhaps you should skip tomorrow’s family banquet."
Cao Dong smiled. "Do you know why Third Yan hasn’t made his move yet?"
Uncle Cheng shook his head, puzzled.
"Because he’s waiting for my elder brother to act. Tomorrow’s banquet will likely be my last supper."
Uncle Cheng gasped. "Then why go? Why not beg Her Highness for help—"
"Uncle Cheng!" Cao Dong’s expression turned icy. "If you dare breathe a word of this to Her Highness, I’ll cut out your tongue right now!"
Uncle Cheng knew he meant it, but still pleaded, "You’ve sacrificed everything for Her Highness, yet she knows nothing. Doesn’t that make you resentful?"
"Resentful?"
Cao Dong froze.
The memory surfaced—the day she stood outside his courtyard, smiling softly at him.
In that instant, the whole world had brightened.
"No. She was always the moon in the sky, far beyond my reach. If I can die for her, it’s my honor." Cao Dong smiled. "Go and prepare. Tomorrow, I’ll share one last meal with her."
——
The next day, 3:45 PM.
The Cao family had spared no effort for the banquet, inviting not only the Duke of Chu’s Mansion but also Madam Kong’s family, the Earl of Zhongyuan’s Mansion, and Censor Wang, the adoptive father of Madam Wang.
Chu Huaishan, the Earl of Zhongyuan, and Censor Wang drank tea in the main hall, while the ladies gathered in the inner courtyard to chat with the Lady Dowager.
Originally, the old matriarch had wanted to play mahjong, but Chu Jing seemed listless, so she lost interest. After listening to the women gossip for a while, she waved them off. "Enough, enough. Stop crowding around this old woman—all of you, out! Only Jing’er stays."
Chu Jing forced herself to respond.
Madam Kong’s eyes flashed with envy as she and Madam Wang left the courtyard. "The old lady is too partial! Ever since Sister Jing married in, no one else exists in her eyes!"
Before Chu Jing’s arrival, Madam Kong had always managed the family’s grand banquets alongside Sun Mao, skimming plenty of profits. But not only had Chu Jing disposed of Sun Mao, she’d also stripped Madam Kong of her authority—no wonder she was bitter.
Madam Wang, being of lowly birth, didn’t dare speak up and merely nodded.
Then Madam Kong spotted Chu Ruoyan sitting alone in a corner, not mingling with the other young ladies, and immediately seized the chance to vent.
"Well, if it isn’t the former Marchioness of Anning! I heard even Her Majesty the Empress Dowager couldn’t command your respect. How come you’re sitting here all by yourself now?"
