Chu Ruoyan pushed him away in frustration and sat down angrily on the side.
Meng Yang called from outside, "Young Master, Young Madam, where are we heading?"
Yan Zheng glanced at her. "To the Duke of Chu's Mansion."
Chu Ruoyan, recalling the matter with Yan Zhao, glared at him fiercely. "To the General's Manor!"
The journey passed in silence.
Yan Zheng could see she was truly furious. After pondering for a while, he feigned a sigh. "A-Yan, it's my fault. These past few days at court have been exhausting, and I lost my temper. I shouldn’t have..."
Chu Ruoyan froze for a moment before turning to look at him. Indeed, dark circles had formed under his eyes.
"You..." She frowned. "Does the Emperor not allow you even a moment’s rest during court discussions?"
Yan Zheng inwardly rejoiced—she was finally speaking to him—but maintained a somber expression. "It’s not that we aren’t allowed, but that we can’t. The southern barbarians are playing mind games. In just a few days, they’ve launched three more attacks. Mei Sheng is cowardly, flooding the palace with pleas for reinforcements like snowflakes. In the end—"
He abruptly stopped. Chu Ruoyan couldn’t help but press, "What happened in the end? Did the Emperor agree?"
"Hmph, more than agree! He even transferred fifty thousand elite troops from Tiger Prison Pass! Utter foolishness!" What had started as an attempt to soften her heart now carried genuine anger. "Meng Ze has likely already reached Tiger Prison Pass. With the elite troops gone, and the garrison commander there only holding his position through nepotism—he could coast by when my father and brother were alive, but now? He won’t last a single day!"
Chu Ruoyan stared at him wide-eyed. "Then what do we do? If Tiger Prison Pass falls, Great Xia’s main defense will be lost!"
Yan Zheng let out a cold laugh.
Even a sheltered noblewoman understood this, yet the Emperor remained blind and stubborn, unwilling to relinquish Xiao Pass!
How could he not know? Xiao Pass connected to the vital route to Western Shu, and the Emperor couldn’t bear to lose the region’s abundant annual taxes.
But if Great Xia’s gates were breached, what use were those riches?
"The imperial decree has been issued. I’ve already sent word to Mei Hexuan in the army, hoping he can mitigate the damage..." Yan Zheng shook his head. "A-Yan, court affairs shouldn’t trouble you. By the way, you mentioned earlier that meeting Su Tingyun was for official business. What was it?"
Only then did Chu Ruoyan remember her original purpose. She quickly recounted the incident involving Yan Zhao that night. Yan Zheng’s expression darkened instantly.
"What? Xiao Liu?!"
His voice trembled with disbelief, his hands clenching into fists unconsciously.
Chu Ruoyan knew that after the Battle of Hangu Pass, he had lost his father and brother. If this sixth brother were still alive, he would be Yan Zheng’s only remaining kin!
"Yes. The southern barbarians are also searching for him—they’ve even tracked him to the capital. He’s injured, and we don’t know where he’s hiding. Yan Zheng, I think we must find him discreetly. This can’t be made public!"
Yan Zheng understood her meaning.
That madwoman An Sheng was still lurking nearby. If she learned Xiao Liu was alive, she would stop at nothing to kill him!
Steadying himself, he analyzed, "Xiao Liu has no close friends in the capital, and few places to hide. Aside from the General’s Manor, there’s one other location..."
Chu Ruoyan blurted out, "Second Master Yan’s residence!"
Yan Zheng nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Third Uncle isn’t in the capital. If he didn’t return to the General’s Manor, he’d go to Second Uncle’s. Besides, Grandmother—who doted on him most—is there. If he secretly visited Wen Jing, he’d surely go to see her too!"
Chu Ruoyan’s mind raced. "In that case, you can’t go yourself. First, you’ve fallen out with your second uncle and grandmother—a sudden visit would raise suspicion. Second, it seems this sixth brother is deliberately avoiding you..."
Hearing her call Yan Zhao "sixth brother," Yan Zheng couldn’t suppress a smile. "A-Yan is absolutely right. We’ll return and ask Second Sister-in-Law to handle this."
Back at the Yan residence, they summoned Madam Li.
Without explicitly mentioning Yan Zhao, they explained that an old comrade from the Yan army might be hiding nearby, possibly watching the Dowager.
Madam Li was sharp. She immediately took Wen Jing to visit the Dowager.
The visit lasted most of the day.
Yan Zheng waited in the study, uncharacteristically restless—he lost five or six consecutive rounds of chess.
Chu Ruoyan reassured him, "Don’t worry. Second Sister-in-Law is clever. She’ll notice any clues..."
Yan Zheng covered his face with a hand. "I know. I’m just... happy. A-Yan, if Xiao Liu is alive, then at least I haven’t failed Eldest Brother..."
Chu Ruoyan’s heart clenched.
His words implied that with Yan Zhao alive, the Yan lineage continued, and he could face the late heir without guilt.
But to him, it seemed he never counted himself among those who mattered...
"Things will get better," she murmured softly.
At dusk, Madam Li finally returned.
Facing their hopeful gazes, she shook her head. "Nothing. The Dowager and Second Master showed no signs of having seen anyone. I even walked around the residence with Wen Jing under some pretext—no traces at all."
Yan Zheng’s eyes dimmed. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I see. Thank you, Second Sister-in-Law. You may rest now."
Understanding his mood, Chu Ruoyan stayed quietly by his side.
Time passed unnoticed until the study grew dark.
In the shadows, she thought she saw Yan Zheng’s shoulders tremble. "You should go..."
Leaving the Yan residence, Chu Ruoyan gazed at the lanterns lighting up the streets, her mind filled with questions.
Where on earth was Yan Xiao Liu hiding?
Duke of Chu’s Mansion, Orchid Fragrance Pavilion.
Exhausted after a full day of forced embroidery in the sewing room, Chu Ruolan pushed open her door and collapsed onto the bed.
Too tired to even open her eyes, she didn’t realize the "pillow" beneath her was a scorching human body!
"Chun He, stop joking. My mother’s already tortured me enough today..."
Drowsily, she reached out to push the "maid" away—only to feel something sticky on her fingers.
"What is this? It feels like... blood?!"
She shrieked, her sleepiness vanishing instantly!
Grabbing a candleholder, she illuminated her bed—where a masked man clad in black lay sprawled, his clothes soaked in blood!
"It’s you?! Well, well, delivering yourself to me!"
Chu Ruolan leapt off the bed, snatching a polo mallet and then, for good measure, a pair of scissors.
"Get up! Last time, you caught me off guard, but I won’t fall for your tricks again!"
Yet the man remained motionless. The sheets beneath him darkened further with fresh blood.
Cautiously, Chu Ruolan poked him. "Hey... are you dead? Hey!"
Still no response.
Just then, Chun He called from outside, "Third Miss, have you retired for the night?"
Chu Ruolan stiffened. "Ah! Yes, I’m asleep! You go rest too—no need to come in!"
For some inexplicable reason, she found herself covering for him.
But after a brief silence, Yuetao—her mother’s maid—spoke up. "Third Miss, if you can answer, you’re not asleep yet. Her Ladyship has prepared bird’s nest soup and is coming to see you!"
Chu Ruolan stared at the man on her bed.
Now she was truly doomed!
