"Jing'er?"
Chu Jing replied calmly, "Mother, it was you and the master who welcomed me into the Cao Family with a grand wedding procession. Now that the Cao Family has fallen on hard times, as long as I have even a shred of conscience, I will not leave."
Her words were almost a direct jab at Madam Kong.
Before Madam Kong entered the household, rumors about her and the scholar Gao Yi had spread far and wide. Though the Cao Family disapproved of the arranged marriage swap, they considered the difficulty of preserving a woman's reputation and ultimately agreed to the Earl of Zhongyuan's request, welcoming her into the family with great fanfare.
Madam Kong flushed with shame, but compared to exile to the borderlands, what did pride matter? "Sister-in-law, I advise you to think carefully. Don't let momentary stubbornness ruin your entire life."
"I've thought it through very clearly. The Cao Family treated me with sincerity, and I return that sincerity wholeheartedly—unlike you, Madam Kong, who knows so well how to seek advantage and avoid harm."
The last remark was clearly sarcastic, but she framed it as praise, leaving no opening for the Kong family to criticize her.
Madam Kong stomped her feet in anger, and even the Earl of Zhongyuan felt his dignity slipping. "Since the in-laws are willing to grant a divorce, we won't linger any longer. Daughter, let's go."
Madam Kong shot her a hateful glare. "You fools will regret this sooner or later!"
As she stepped out, she somehow tripped and fell flat on her face.
"Such bad luck! This Cao Family is truly cursed—ow!"
No sooner had she gotten up than her right foot gave way, sending her tumbling forward again. This time, she dragged the Earl of Zhongyuan down with her. Not daring to utter another word, the father and daughter hurried away.
Chu Ruoyan tossed aside a pebble and turned to Old Madam Cao.
The old woman looked at Chu Jing with deep emotion, her lips trembling. "Jing'er, you don’t have to die with the Cao Family..."
Chu Jing smiled. "It’s my choice. Ling'er, you and your cousin Ruoyan should return to the Duke's Mansion first..."
"No! Wherever Mother goes, I go. At worst, we’ll face exile together!"
The rest of the Cao Family nodded in agreement. Old Madam Cao took a deep breath. "Very well! Though the Cao Family faces calamity, as long as our hearts remain united, we will rise again! Eldest son, carry that scoundrel Second Master on your back and follow me to the palace to beg for mercy!"
Late at night, in the imperial study.
Grand Tutor Rong and Chu Huaishan rushed in to report the matter of Imperial Son-in-law Cao. The Emperor was furious. "How is this connected to the Yan Family again?"
His cousin, the Marquis of Pingjing, had died because of this, and even the Imperial Uncle Marquis Xue was implicated. Now, to make matters worse, his most trusted ministers were telling him that his own brother-in-law was the mastermind!
Did the imperial family have some feud with the Yans?!
"And this Imperial Son-in-law Cao is a disgrace! Do I not know whether my sister has suffered? Since when does a mere imperial son-in-law have the right to act on her behalf?" He then ordered, "Eunuch Yin, go ask the Empress Dowager how Princess Anshang is doing."
Moments later, Eunuch Yin returned. "Your Majesty, the Princess has already learned of Imperial Son-in-law Cao’s fate. She is heartbroken and has fainted from weeping. Grand Imperial Physician Hu is currently attending to her..."
The Emperor rubbed his temples in frustration. Just then, another eunuch announced, "Your Majesty, Old Madam Cao has brought Lord Cao and his brothers to the palace to beg for forgiveness. They are kneeling outside Fengtian Hall now!"
"Beg for forgiveness? How does she plan to do that? My cousin was killed by Third Yan—does she think a dead Imperial Son-in-law Cao is enough to appease the Yan Family?" The Emperor's rage made the eunuch shrink back.
Grand Tutor Rong and Chu Huaishan exchanged glances.
From the Emperor’s tone, it seemed he intended to protect Cao Yang.
Still unsure, Grand Tutor Rong ventured, "Your Majesty, the fate of the Cao Family is insignificant. What matters is Cao Yang—his talents are irreplaceable. Managing both the Ministry of Revenue and the Court of Judicial Review, overseeing the people’s welfare and legal affairs simultaneously—he is a rare gem in the court!"
The reminder only made the Emperor angrier. "Do you think I don’t know that? I wouldn’t bat an eye if ten thousand Cao Dongs died! But Cao Yang’s abilities—the entire Ministry of Revenue combined can’t match him! It infuriates me! Why did he have to be born into the Cao Family? Couldn’t he have had a different surname?"
Hearing this, Grand Tutor Rong and Chu Huaishan relaxed.
As long as the Emperor was determined, a solution could be found.
Grand Tutor Rong glanced at Chu Huaishan and hatched a plan. "Your Majesty, the key to protecting Cao Yang lies with the Yan Family—specifically, the Marquis of Anning’s stance. If he agrees to pin all charges of conspiring against loyal officials on Imperial Son-in-law Cao, the Cao Family might escape punishment..."
"You think I haven’t considered that? If Third Yan were so easy to persuade, do you think the Marquis of Pingjing would be dead?"
The manner of the Marquis of Pingjing’s death had become a shadow over the entire court.
Slain in the imperial hall, his blood splattering three feet—such a spectacle was unprecedented in the Great Xia Dynasty!
Grand Tutor Rong stroked his beard. "The Marquis of Anning is indeed difficult, but isn’t Duke Chu here?"
Chu Huaishan, suddenly put on the spot: "???"
He reacted swiftly, cursing Grand Tutor Rong inwardly, and knelt. "Your Majesty, my daughter has already divorced the Marquis of Anning!"
The Emperor’s eyes lit up. "Ah! The Grand Tutor makes an excellent point. I’d forgotten about the Marquis’ past marriage to your daughter. Quickly, summon her to the palace—no, never mind, send her directly to the Yan residence to plead for the Cao Family!"
"Your Majesty!" Chu Huaishan nearly exploded in anger.
The Emperor’s voice turned grave. "Duke Chu, this is a matter of state!" Then, softening his tone, "I know this is unfair to your daughter. If she succeeds, I will grant her the title of County Princess. How does that sound?"
For the notoriously frugal Emperor, this was an extraordinary concession.
Gritting his teeth, Chu Huaishan had no choice but to agree.
Before he could even leave the study, another eunuch rushed in. "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Anning has arrived, requesting an audience!"
The Emperor raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What does he want?"
The eunuch replied, "Regarding Imperial Son-in-law Cao... The Marquis said he has already met with Lady Chu!"
The Emperor and his ministers were stunned.
After a pause, the Emperor clapped his hands in delight. "Excellent! Duke Chu, your daughter is truly clever. It seems this County Princess title is hers for the taking!"
Meanwhile, outside Fengtian Hall.
Old Madam Cao knelt at the forefront, followed by Cao Yang, then Third Master Cao, Fourth Master Cao, and Chu Jing’s group.
The corpse of Imperial Son-in-law Cao lay silently nearby. The night breeze brushed past, making the faint smile on his pale lips even more eerie.
"Well, well, if it isn’t the illustrious Lord Cao? What brings you to your knees here?"
A mocking laugh rang out as Princess Qingping arrived in a palanquin, surrounded by her entourage of male companions.
Cao Yang ignored her, knowing she was here to gloat.
Princess Qingping circled him, clicking her tongue. "Cao Lang, didn’t I warn you? Marrying the wrong woman brings consequences. But I’ll be generous—forget the past. If you bow your head now, I’ll beg His Majesty to spare you. You can join my household as a companion. Isn’t that better than rotting in exile?"
Cao Yang remained silent, as if she didn’t exist.
Princess Qingping’s patience snapped. She grabbed his chin. "Cao Yang! I’m speaking to you! Don’t you dare disrespect me!"
"Master!" Chu Jing called out, but Cao Yang raised a hand to stop her.
He gazed calmly at Princess Qingping, neither avoiding her eyes nor speaking.
Flustered by his composed demeanor, Princess Qingping involuntarily loosened her grip. A mocking voice then cut in: "They say Princess Qingping is quite the flirt, yet who would’ve thought she’d be so devoted to Cao Yang? How amusing!"
Princess Qingping turned her head. "Xue Gui? You’re here too?"
Xue Gui shot a venomous glare at Chu Jing and Cao Yang before lifting his chin haughtily. "How could I miss such an entertaining spectacle?"
Thanks to Cao Yang, he had been sidelined in the Ministry of Works, left idle at home for days, and treated with disdain wherever he went.
Now that the Cao Family had fallen into disgrace, of course he would be the first to revel in their misfortune!
"Hmph! Weren’t you so capable, Cao Yang? Throwing your weight around just because your rank was higher than mine? Well, look at you now! With Imperial Son-in-law Cao committing such a treasonous act, not a single one of you Cao Family scoundrels will escape punishment!"
"And you, Chu Jing—ha! Thought you’d climbed to great heights, didn’t you? Now what? You’re nothing but a jinx, bringing ruin wherever you go—"
Before he could finish his gloating, Eunuch Yin’s voice interrupted: "Marquis Xue, kindly step aside."
Xue Gui brightened. "Eunuch Yin is here? Has His Majesty decided their fate? Will it be confiscation of property or exile?"
