"But this clearly is—!"
"Is what? Do you have proof?"
Empress Dowager Su's dismissive tone chilled Empress Pei's heart halfway. Indeed, she had no evidence.
"Enough, Second Sister. It’s fine—nothing happened to me anyway. It was Ninth Brother who took the blame, so let it go," Pei Zhuo said carelessly, his gaze repeatedly drifting toward Chu Ruoyan.
As long as she didn’t misunderstand, he couldn’t care less about a hundred Yu Rus.
Empress Pei glared at her brother in frustration but could only swallow her anger. "Mother, since the matter has been clarified, shall I proceed with executing Yu Ru and Pei Qing according to palace regulations?"
Empress Dowager Su waved her hand. "You are the Empress. There’s no need to consult me. Handle it as you see fit."
Immediately, eunuchs seized the two and dragged them away.
Yu Ru faced death with composure, but Pei Qing struggled wildly. "No, no! It wasn’t me! I swear to heaven, I only drugged the Imperial Uncle’s cup—I would never dare poison Prince Qin’s drink! I wouldn’t have the audacity to harm a prince—mmph!" His mouth was gagged, and he was hauled off alongside Yu Ru.
Murong Jin’s expression darkened in thought.
He never touched drinks meant for others. But if not Pei Qing, where had the sobering flower come from?
Yet this question was buried with Yu Ru and Pei Qing’s deaths.
Consort Xue stared at Yu Ru’s corpse, brought before her, and clamped a hand over her mouth.
One day, when she became Empress Dowager, she would make the Chu and Pei families pay.
"Now that this matter is settled, let’s discuss your affairs, Jin’er," Empress Dowager Su said, frowning disapprovingly at Chu Ruoyin. "What are your thoughts on this… girl? How about taking her as a concubine?"
Unlike common households, the imperial family followed the "three consorts, four concubines" system—meaning a prince could take one principal consort, three secondary consorts, and four concubines.
A concubine’s status was equivalent to a commoner’s minor wife—unrecorded in the imperial registry, with children ineligible for titles. The Empress Dowager clearly intended to relegate her to a lowly position.
The Chu family frowned collectively, while Chu Ruoyin remained bowed low.
Murong Jin glanced at her. "Mother, Second Miss Chu saved my life. A concubine’s position would be too demeaning for her..."
Chu Ruoyin trembled slightly and finally raised her head, only to see the strikingly handsome man hesitate before saying, "Perhaps… a secondary consort?"
"A secondary consort? Are you certain? Welcoming a secondary consort before the principal consort enters the household—aren’t you afraid Miss Feng will throw a fit when she returns?"
Murong Jin wavered but insisted, "The fault is mine. I cannot let her bear the consequences."
Empress Dowager Su suppressed her displeasure.
Chu Huaishan’s expression eased slightly. A secondary consort, though inferior to the principal consort, was still a wife.
Lady Jiang the Younger chimed in eagerly, "A secondary consort is fine! Ruoyin, why aren’t you thanking His Highness?"
Only Chu Ruoyan noticed her sister’s pale lips and unsteady stance, rushing to support her. "Second Sister, you—"
Chu Ruoyin gently pushed her away. "Eldest Sister, I’m fine..."
She took a deep breath and addressed Murong Jin directly. "Your Highness."
Her tear-filled eyes, bright yet sorrowful, locked onto his. "Is the one in your heart… Miss Feng?"
Murong Jin stiffened, avoiding her gaze. "A-Yin, this isn’t the time for such questions."
"Is it ‘A-Yin’… or ‘A-Ying’?"
Her unwavering stare made him frown. After a long pause, he admitted, "I grew up with her. We have a childhood promise..."
"And what am I? The songs of the northern deserts, the poetry we shared, the times I saved you—was it all because I resembled her? Even my name is so similar, isn’t it?!"
Her voice broke with despair as tears fell.
Finally exasperated, Murong Jin turned away. "Yes! Because you resemble her, I paid you attention. I never intended for things to go this far, but I’m willing to make amends! A secondary consort’s position—and before A-Ying enters the household, I’ll even give you a son. That way, even after she arrives, you won’t—"
"A son?" Chu Ruoyin laughed bitterly. "So Your Highness thinks what I desire… is status."
Her calmness now radiated utter desolation.
Murong Jin’s chest tightened. "A-Yin, I know you’re not that kind of person. But the mistake is made, and I cannot betray Feng Ying. A secondary consort is the most I can offer you..."
"Then don’t offer it at all."
Chu Ruoyin lifted her head, her voice steady. "Empress Dowager, this unworthy girl knows she is unfit for Prince Qin and dares not aspire to enter his household."
Murong Jin paled. Empress Dowager Su snorted. "At least you have some sense."
Lady Jiang the Younger snapped, "What nonsense! You’ve already given yourself to him—what other path is there?"
Chu Huaishan interjected, "Ruoyin, if you refuse to marry, stay in the manor like your elder sister. I can provide for you both."
But Chu Ruoyin shook her head. "Thank you, Father. But my decision is made. I wish to take the tonsure and spend my remaining years in a nunnery, devoted to Buddha."
Gasps filled the room.
Murong Jin grabbed her wrist. "Are you mad? You’re only sixteen—you’d become a nun?"
Chu Ruoyin pulled free and knelt before Empress Dowager Su. "I beg Your Majesty’s permission."
The Empress Dowager barely concealed her delight. "Ahem. Jin’er, since Miss Chu is resolved, grant her wish. I’ll select a suitable temple for her. This spares you future conflicts with Miss Feng—a win for all..."
"No!" Murong Jin refused outright. "She needn’t be a secondary consort, but she will not become a nun!"
His rare firmness made Empress Dowager Su frown.
Empress Pei intervened, "Mother, since Ninth Brother and Miss Chu are at an impasse, why not send her home first? Let both sides cool down before deciding."
Empress Dowager Su sighed. "Very well. I am weary—retreat to the palace!"
As Empress Pei and Consort Xue departed, Chu Huaishan coughed. "Your Highness, please release my daughter..."
Murong Jin realized he still gripped her wrist and let go, murmuring, "A-Yin, don’t act rashly..."
Chu Ruoyin smiled faintly. Chu Ruoyan cut in, "Your Highness, my sister is a person, not an object. If you truly care for her, stop calling her by a name that causes misunderstanding."
Murong Jin stiffened. "...Ruoyin."
But she no longer wished to listen, taking her elder sister’s hand. "Father, Mother, Eldest Sister, let’s go home."
As Murong Jin moved to follow, Chu Huaishan blocked him smoothly. "Your Highness, my daughter is exhausted. We take our leave." To his family, he said, "Let’s go."
The four members of the Chu family strode away, leaving Murong Jin seething with an inexplicable fury that coiled stubbornly in his chest.
At that very moment, in the estate of the Grand Princess...
An Sheng trimmed flower branches in the courtyard while listening to Yu Hui recount the events at Yuxiu Palace. "That's all?" she asked.
"That's all. Yu Ru, that aunt of theirs, had no choice but to take the blame to shield Consort Xue from disaster. As for Pei Qing's words, no one paid them any mind... So none of them could have guessed that the 'sobering blossoms' in Prince Qin’s cup were planted by Your Highness."
A faint smile curled at An Sheng’s lips. Yu Hui clapped her hands in delight. "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Consort Xue thought she was killing two birds with one stone, never realizing she was merely sewing a wedding gown for another!"
"The Xue family has never been known for their wits. If not for His Majesty’s favor and the Empress’s magnanimity, they would have long been crushed in these palace intrigues. Still, they make for a useful weapon." An Sheng snipped another white chrysanthemum and was about to speak when Gong Shang hurried in.
"Grand Princess! The young master has arrived—he—"
Before she could finish, Yan Zheng appeared in the courtyard.
His face was icy, his eyes frost-laden with cold fury. "The incident at Yuxiu Palace—that was your doing, wasn’t it?"
