Meng Yang raised his blade, ready to strike.
Prince Zou recoiled in terror, "N-no, it wasn’t me! Someone ordered me to do this!"
Meng Yang paused mid-motion and glanced back. Yan Zheng’s expression remained unreadable as he asked, "Oh?"
At the brink of life and death, Prince Zou dared not hide the truth. He nodded frantically, "It’s true, I swear! And the one who gave the order is someone closely connected to you! They said Yao Qing was ungrateful, abandoning the Yan Family in their hour of need, so they told me to teach her a lesson she deserved..."
Yan Zheng’s gaze turned icy, and Chu Ruoyan couldn’t help but let out a scornful laugh.
What a noble excuse from the Princess!
She claimed it was for the Yan Family’s sake, but in truth, she loathed them so much she couldn’t even spare Yao Qing, a woman who had already left the family...
She deliberately chose Prince Zou, a debauched noble, to carry out the deed. After such inhuman torment, how could Yao Qing possibly survive?
In the end, only the Princess would remain untouched, hidden behind the scenes...
"So, it seems I should thank you?" Yan Zheng said coldly. Prince Zou, mistaking this for a reprieve, forced a smile—only for Meng Yang to swing his blade down with a furious slash!
"Ah—!!"
He dodged at the last moment, avoiding a fatal blow, but the blade struck his thigh, sending blood gushing. He gritted his teeth against the searing pain.
Meng Yang clicked his tongue impatiently. "Why dodge? Today, you’re becoming a eunuch!"
He forced Prince Zou’s legs apart, ready to strike again, when a voice rang out from the next room: "Spare him!"
Chu Ruoyan froze, turning to Yan Zheng. But the man only smirked, as if he had expected this all along. "Finally, they couldn’t hold back..."
Within moments, Madam Yao and her eldest son, Yao Qi, rushed to the doorway.
Chu Ruoyan’s eyes widened in realization. Earlier, when she had tried to charge in, Yan Zheng had stopped her, telling her to wait and watch. She had assumed he meant for her to see Yao Qing—but in truth, the Yao Family had been right next door all along!
Yao Qing stared at them in shock. "Mother... Brother..."
But Madam Yao ignored her, instead signaling Yao Qi to save Prince Zou. "Marquis Anning, County Princess Changle, there’s been a misunderstanding..."
"Mother?!" Yao Qing cried out, but Madam Yao acted as if she hadn’t heard, continuing with a placating smile. "My daughter and Prince Zou are actually in love. As for mentioning Fifth Young Master Yan, it was an unintentional slip of the tongue. Please, show mercy and let them go!"
"!!!"
It was like a bolt from the blue. Yao Qing’s mouth fell open.
Seizing the opportunity, Prince Zou chimed in, "Yes, yes! We’re in love! I—I’ll marry her as my official wife!"
After all, she was just a woman. Once wedded, he could lock her away in his estate—who would interfere then?
Yao Qing stared at her mother in disbelief, only to see her nod approvingly. "It’s best if the Prince agrees. I’ve already sent your servant to inform your family. Once the Duchess arrives, our two households can finalize the marriage. What do you say?"
"Excellent! Mother-in-law!"
The two sides played their parts perfectly, reducing the crime of coercing a woman into a trivial matter.
Only Yao Qing remained, gasping like a fish out of water. "You... you knew all along?"
She stared at her mother and brother, desperate for any denial.
But both averted their eyes. Chu Ruoyan couldn’t bear it but confirmed, "Yes. They knew."
Boom.
All color drained from Yao Qing’s face. A terrible realization struck her, and she whipped her head toward her family. "Mother, before I left, you insisted I beg the Zou Family... And Brother, you told me where to find Prince Zou! You—you planned this together, didn’t you?!"
Madam Yao glanced at Yan Zheng and Chu Ruoyan but stayed silent. Yao Qi spoke instead, "Second Sister, we only want what’s best for you..."
"What’s best for me? Throwing me into this beast’s bed? Lying to me, making me think I was saving Father?!" Yao Qing’s throat burned, and she swallowed back the metallic taste of blood.
Madam Yao frowned. "Qing’er, don’t be absurd. A mother always thinks of her child!"
"Ever since you returned with the divorce papers from the Yan Family, how many noble households have refused you? They won’t say it outright, but they all look down on you for being married before. Now, Prince Zou is willing to take you—a Duke’s Mansion, no less! You should be grateful!"
Yao Qing let out a broken laugh. "Grateful? Hahaha! Mother, are you thinking of me—or Father? Marrying into the Zou Family means Duke Zou can save him from being sent to war. And me? A used daughter, disposable, isn’t that right?!"
Madam Yao’s face twisted. Yao Qi snapped, "How dare you speak to Mother like that? Didn’t you say yourself that you’d do anything to save Father?"
"That’s not the same!!" Yao Qing’s eyes burned crimson, as if seeing her brother for the first time. "I would have sacrificed myself willingly—but you deceived me! You played me for a fool!"
Madam Yao scolded, "Qi’er, mind your words!" Then she softened her tone, taking Yao Qing’s hand. "Qing’er, I know this is hard, but I had no choice. We’ve begged so many people, yet none would help. The Zou Family is our only hope. Once you marry Prince Zou, Duke Zou will be your father-in-law. Saving his in-laws is only natural. With so many generals in court, all he needs is a word to the Emperor to replace your father."
"Qing’er, you’ve always been sensible. When I told you to leave the Yan Family, though you loved Fifth Young Master Yan, you obeyed. Why can’t you sacrifice a little more for your family now?"
The sheer audacity of her words made even Chu Ruoyan and Meng Yang nauseous.
Yan Zheng arched a brow. "Madam Yao, selling your daughter is your business, but must you keep dragging my brother into it? Or do you intend to use him as leverage?"
Madam Yao paled. "N-no, I misspoke! A slip of the tongue!" She even slapped her own cheeks lightly, but Yan Zheng turned away in disgust.
Yao Qing lifted her tear-streaked face, her eyes bloodshot. "Mother... you truly want me to marry this monster?"
Madam Yao wiped fake tears. "Of course it pains me! But if we don’t do this, your father will die, and our family will be ruined!"
Yao Qing’s lips twitched as if to smile, but no joy reached her hollow gaze. She nodded numbly. "Fine—"
Madam Yao and Yao Qi brightened—until she suddenly lunged toward the wall. "Then I’ll die instead."
