An Sheng shook his head slightly: "The person is already dead. What difference does it make whether you let go or not?"
Empress Dowager Su secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Good, as long as he isn’t clinging to old sentiments...
At the Duke of Chu's Mansion.
Meng Yang sneaked into the Bodhi Courtyard like a thief. Yulu, already accustomed to his antics, announced loudly, "Miss, we have a visitor."
Chu Ruoyan emerged, draped in an outer robe. Meng Yang bowed: "Greetings, Young Madam. My master has sent me to deliver a letter to you..."
She took it and unfolded it, only to find that it implicated An Sheng in the Yuxiu Palace incident—with the motive likely tied to Prince Qin...
Chu Ruoyan frowned. "Surely there’s more to it? If she wanted to win Prince Qin over, why not use her own people? Our Chu family has always remained neutral in court. What makes her so confident we’d side with her?"
Meng Yang coughed awkwardly—wasn’t the confidence precisely because of you?
If you and our master were to remarry, wouldn’t Prince Qin become his brother-in-law and the Princess’s son-in-law?
But he kept those thoughts to himself, saying only, "My master also believes the Princess wouldn’t go to such lengths just to sway Prince Qin. But for now, we have no leads. We can only wait and see."
Chu Ruoyan nodded, then asked, "Why didn’t your master come himself?"
Hadn’t he barged in uninvited several times before? Why resort to letters now?
Meng Yang scratched his head sheepishly. "Well... given the recent incident in your family, he was afraid Duke Chu might discover him and add fuel to the fire..."
Chu Ruoyan chuckled and shook her head. "How considerate of him."
Just then, a servant from Lady Jiang the Younger’s courtyard arrived with a message: "Eldest Miss, someone from the palace is here! Her Ladyship requests your immediate presence in the main hall!"
A palace envoy at this hour...
A sense of foreboding gripped Chu Ruoyan as she hurried over with Yulu. The incense table for receiving the decree was already prepared.
The Empress Dowager’s elderly eunuch declared in a shrill voice: "By the decree of Her Imperial Majesty: Chu Ruoyin, second daughter of the Duke of Chu, virtuous and dignified, born of noble lineage, gentle and obedient, a model of propriety, has won Our favor. She is hereby selected as Prince Qin’s secondary consort. May she dutifully assist her lord and serve her household with reverence. So it is decreed!"
Chu Ruoyin swayed on her feet. Chu Ruoyan couldn’t hold back: "Eunuch, didn’t Her Majesty the Empress say this matter would be reconsidered later? How could it—"
The eunuch lifted his chin haughtily. "County Princess Changle, those were the Empress’s words. This decree comes from the Empress Dowager!"
Chu Ruoyan’s brows knitted together, but Lady Jiang the Younger was overjoyed: "Our deepest gratitude to Her Majesty and to you, Eunuch! Ruoyin, why aren’t you accepting the decree?"
To her, this was tremendous news—better to become a prince’s consort than have her daughter shave her head and become a nun!
But Chu Ruoyin’s face was deathly pale. She opened her mouth several times but said nothing.
Chu Ruolan stepped forward. "Second Sister, don’t be afraid! If you don’t want this, we’ll beg the Empress Dowager to revoke the decree. Eldest Sister will surely find a way!"
Chu Ruoyan, now put on the spot: "..."
Still, she squeezed Chu Ruoyin’s hand. "Second Sister, follow your heart. Don’t force yourself."
Chu Ruoyin looked at her as if to speak, but the eunuch scoffed. "County Princess Changle, do not incite your sister. The crime of defying an imperial decree is not one she can bear!"
Chu Ruoyan shot him a glare so icy it could have drawn blood. The eunuch shrank back and fell silent.
Chu Ruoyin lowered her gaze, then smiled bitterly. "Eldest Sister, he’s right. My parents raised me. If my defiance brings ruin upon our family, I could never atone..."
Her voice grew hollow. "And him... I thought he’d let me go. But it seems I misunderstood. To him, I was only ever a substitute for that woman—Feng Ying."
Because she was just a substitute, her wishes meant nothing. He could marry her, make her a consort, all as he pleased.
Her heart was already dead.
Chu Ruoyin knelt. "Chu Ruoyin, second daughter of the Duke of Chu, accepts the decree—"
As she raised her hands to receive the scroll, her face was ashen.
Only Lady Jiang the Younger was ecstatic, pressing two silver ingots into the eunuch’s hands. "A token of celebration for you to enjoy some wine!"
The eunuch pocketed them smugly. "Prince Qin has already been informed by Her Majesty. The Ministry of Rites will handle the wedding arrangements. However, the prince insists on waiting for General Feng to return from the northern frontier before setting the date. But rest assured—Her Majesty has confirmed he’ll be back within a month."
Chu Ruoyin closed her eyes, numb even to pain.
Chu Ruoyan snapped, "Has he no shame?"
Waiting for General Feng? That meant waiting for Feng Ying’s return!
If he couldn’t let go of his childhood sweetheart, why insist on marrying her sister? Was he deliberately trying to humiliate her?
The eunuch gasped. "County Princess Changle, mind your words! You dare insult His Highness?"
"Speaking the truth is an insult? Then tell him this—what exactly does he—"
Before she could finish, Chu Ruoyin tugged her sleeve and curtsied. "Please inform Prince Qin that Ruoyin will abide by his arrangements."
After the eunuch left, the Chu household was grim.
Chu Ruolan declared, "Come, Second Sister! Let’s find Father and have him intervene!"
Lady Jiang the Younger interjected, "No use. Your father was summoned to the palace half an hour ago!"
Chu Ruoyan’s instincts prickled with unease. Chu Ruoyin said wearily, "Thank you, Third Sister, but it’s unnecessary. The decree is issued. I’ll prepare for the wedding..."
With that, she turned and retreated to her room, her frail silhouette achingly lonely.
Fuming, Chu Ruoyan returned to the Bodhi Courtyard, intending to question Meng Yang—why had the Empress Dowager gone back on her word after urging restraint at Yuxiu Palace?
But Meng Yang was already gone. Nanny Zhou explained, "Shadow arrived earlier, saying it was a matter of utmost urgency. Young Meng left with him."
Utmost urgency?
That phrase could only mean Yan Zheng was involved. But what crisis could he possibly face?
Then she recalled Lady Jiang’s mention of her father’s sudden summons to the palace—a thought struck like lightning.
"Could it be the border...?"
At that very moment, the imperial court was in session.
The emperor sat on his throne, clutching a bloodstained missive, his hands trembling.
Chancellor Gu ventured, "Your Majesty, what urgent matter requires summoning all officials at once?"
With a clatter, the missive slipped from the emperor’s grip. Yin Shun hurried to retrieve it, only for the emperor to rasp, "Read it."
Yin Shun’s eyes bulged as he read aloud: "Emergency report from Huluguan Pass—last night, the Nanman army launched a surprise assault. With fifty thousand elite troops diverted to reinforce Xiao Pass, Huluguan was left vulnerable. By the first watch of the night, the city fell. All officers below the fifth rank perished in battle. Only Commandant Fu Kai escaped..."
The court erupted in shock.
Chancellor Gu staggered back.
Chu Huaishan and Cao Yang exchanged stunned glances.
How could this happen so quickly?
In less than two days since the emperor’s troop deployment, the Nanman had taken Huluguan!
Amidst the buzzing whispers of the crowd, only Yan Zheng lowered his gaze, clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.
As expected, it was Meng Ze’s scheme—a classic diversion!
At these words, Duke Zou’s face drained of color, and he dropped to his knees before the Emperor. "Your Majesty! This old servant is guilty!"
The Emperor, consumed by fury, hurled the urgent dispatch straight at him. "Guilty? You deserve death ten thousand times over! The southern barbarians were targeting Tiger’s Maw Pass all along—just as Marquis of Anning predicted! And you, you brainless swine!"
His rage left no room for restraint. The officials of the Ministry of War hastily prostrated themselves, pleading, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger—"
"Calm my anger? How? Tiger’s Maw Pass is the very heart of Great Xia’s defenses! Once breached, the southern barbarians can march north unchecked, invading our central plains as if they were unguarded wilderness! You fools in the Ministry of War—give me a solution!"
The officials bowed their heads in silence. Duke Zou, suddenly remembering something, turned desperately to Yan Zheng. "Marquis of Anning! We beg you—share your wisdom!"
