Chu Ruoyan and Meng Yang were both stunned.
How had An Sheng molded Sun Cai into such a person?
Only Yan Zheng seemed to have anticipated this, his lips curling into a mocking smile.
Granny Sun trembled as she asked, "Y-you want me to go into that household and serve that venomous woman?!"
Sun Cai's expression darkened sharply. "Silence! Her Highness is the kindest soul in the world. Serving her is an honor many beg for but never receive. If you won’t cherish it, fine—but how dare you spew such malice? Besides, she raised your son for twenty years, a debt you could never repay. What’s tending to her flowers compared to that?"
Granny Sun’s eyes reddened instantly. "Y-you mustn’t believe her lies! She’s deceived you—every word is a lie!"
Sun Cai’s face hardened. "If I hear one more disrespectful word about Her Highness from you, I’ll have no choice but to take this to the courts and charge you with defamation!"
Granny Sun staggered back in disbelief, but Sun Cai had already lost patience. With a stiff bow, he said, "Marquis of Anning, Her Highness ordered me to accompany you here, and I’ve fulfilled that duty. But this crone’s incessant disrespect leaves me no choice—I refuse to share a room with her!"
With that, he turned to leave. Granny Sun lunged forward, clutching his sleeve.
Sun Cai recoiled in disgust. "Let go! Her Highness was right—some people are so blind and ungrateful, they’re unworthy of even being called family. Out of gratitude for giving birth to me, I’ll send you silver each month. But don’t drag me down any further. Farewell!"
With a brutal shake, he flung her to the ground. His steps faltered for only a moment before he strode away without looking back.
"Cai’er! Cai’er!!"
Granny Sun wailed after him, but her own son never turned.
Meng Yang moved to stop him, but Chu Ruoyan shook her head.
The old woman’s pleas dissolved into heart-wrenching sobs. Twenty years of waiting—only for her son to scorn her like filth!
Once her outburst subsided, Chu Ruoyan approached with pity. "Now that you’ve seen your son, will you finally tell us the truth of what happened back then?"
Granny Sun wiped her tears fiercely. "No! I need to take him away first! You must help me get him out!"
The three exchanged sharp glances.
Meng Yang couldn’t hold back. "You’re going back on your word now?"
Granny Sun laughed bitterly. "So what if I am? You saw it yourselves—that viper has poisoned his mind, made him worship her like a saint! If this continues, he’ll end up just like Imperial Son-in-law Cao, dying for her without realizing he’s nothing but a pawn!"
Meng Yang fumed, but Chu Ruoyan said calmly, "Even if you take him away, how far can you run? You know An Sheng’s hold on him."
Granny Sun froze as the young woman leaned down, her voice both gentle and merciless. "Granny Sun, you know your son will never return to you. The Grand Princess has raised countless pawns like him, all ready to die for her. If you truly want to save him, tell us the truth. Otherwise, we’re all shackled—and you’ll never get him back."
The old woman’s face twisted with conflict, but terror soon overtook her. She clutched her head. "N-no! You can’t defeat her! You saw what she’s done—turning good men into mindless devotees! No one can stand against her!"
Desperate, she grabbed Chu Ruoyan’s wrist. "Just help me kidnap him! We’ll flee the capital, far away—I swear I’ll tell you everything then!"
Her fear of An Sheng was bone-deep.
Then Yan Zheng chuckled softly.
"Oh? Then tell me—what is your son’s name?"
Granny Sun blinked, uncomprehending.
Those thin lips parted, delivering the words she’d rather die than hear: "He calls himself Sun Cai now—‘Cai’ as in ‘talent.’ A name that means ‘mastering all arts to serve the Princess’s household.’"
The words struck like lightning.
Granny Sun swayed, the world spinning. If he’d even abandoned his name, what hope did she have?
After a long silence, she finally whispered, "Fine. I’ll talk."
The three tensed as she added, "But swear to me—no matter what, you’ll save my son. At least… at least spare his life."
Chu Ruoyan opened her mouth, but Yan Zheng spoke first. "Done. If I break this oath, may ten thousand arrows pierce my heart."
Granny Sun exhaled, closing her eyes to gather her memories.
"Back then… she ordered me to swap her newborn with the Third Young Master. But the moment I carried her son out, I realized his face was blue—he hadn’t cried once."
"I tried slapping his feet, his bottom… nothing worked. His breathing grew weaker. Then the Third Young Master wailed, and I knew I had to save the child first. So I rushed her son back inside, leaving the other behind—"
The listeners’ faces paled, dawning horror in their eyes.
Granny Sun nodded. "Yes. Exactly what you’re thinking. The moment I handed him to her, she demanded the baby… I thought it was a mother’s instinct, meant to beg her to fetch the imperial physician. But before I could speak—she raised a knife. And stabbed—"
"!!!"
Meng Yang gasped. "So she… killed her own son by mistake?"
Chu Ruoyan frowned. "Wait. You hadn’t switched the swaddling yet. How could she not tell?"
Granny Sun gave a broken laugh. "You don’t understand. That viper had identical blankets prepared—same size, same color. And that’s how she doomed her own child!"
The room fell deathly quiet.
"I was petrified. All I could think was—she must never know, or she’d slaughter us both! Thankfully, she was weak from childbirth. After two stabs, she collapsed. She told me to claim she’d miscarried saving the Third Young Master… So I returned the baby—you, Young Master Yan—exactly as you were."
She met Yan Zheng’s gaze. "Third Young Master, you are General Yan and his lady’s true son. If you doubt me, feel the mark on your left temple. It’s from Madam’s maid fumbling you as an infant—you hit the table corner."
Yan Zheng lifted a hand.
There it was—a faint indentation on his forehead.
He shut his eyes. The weeks of torment, the boulder of doubt crushing his chest—all shattered in an instant.
Chu Ruoyan watched him, a wave of absurd grief rising in her.
His entire life—his father’s neglect, his mother’s hatred, his grandmother’s cruelty, his brothers’ indifference—every ounce of suffering, all because An Sheng sought vengeance on his parents.
And him?
An innocent caught in the crossfire, bearing the scars alone…
Overcome, she stepped forward and took his hand.
"It’s over now…"
Yan Zheng was taken aback for a moment before opening his eyes. Meeting the woman’s gaze, he smiled faintly and said, "Yes, it’s all in the past now."
He clasped her hand in return and turned to Granny Sun. "Since you’ve spoken the truth, this marquis will keep his word. Meng Yang, you should first—"
Before he could finish, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the door.
Old Xu limped in, breathless. "Young master, something terrible has happened! The southern barbarians have invaded!"
