The Xiao father and son turned around simultaneously, only to see a woman dressed in the plainest of plain garments, her head covered with a nun’s customary veil hat. They froze in surprise.
Chu Huaishan and Lady Jiang the Younger were equally stunned. The former snapped, "What kind of ghastly appearance is this? Take that veil hat off at once!"
Chu Ruoyan murmured that it might be inconvenient but, before Chu Huaishan could lose his temper, she removed the hat.
The Xiao father and son then saw her face as pale as paper, her lips dark, and dark circles beneath her eyes. They couldn’t help but turn back to Chu Huaishan. "Brother Chu, is this the ‘peerless beauty’ you spoke of?"
Where was the beauty? With that pallor, she looked scarcely better than a ghost!
Chu Huaishan hurried to explain, but then Chu Ruoyan frowned. "Father… why is there a smell of meat in this hall? Please forgive me, but I truly cannot bear the scent… ugh!"
She clutched her chest as if about to retch.
The Xiao father and son nearly gaped in disbelief.
Not only was her complexion dreadful, but she couldn’t even stand the smell of meat.
That was unmistakably the behavior of a nun who had long abstained from worldly indulgences!
No wonder Chu Huaishan had boasted so much, yet no one dared to propose marriage after her divorce—this woman was practically a devoted ascetic!
Xiao Haiping could no longer spare Chu Huaishan’s dignity. He stood abruptly. "Brother Chu, I’ve just recalled urgent matters back at my residence. I must take my leave with my son."
Xiao Yu hastily bowed, not daring to glance at Chu Ruoyan again, and followed his father out.
Chu Huaishan reached out, calling after them, "Brother Xiao! Brother Xiao—"
But the Xiao father and son vanished as if fleeing from a demon.
The hall fell into stunned silence.
Then Chu Huaishan slammed his palm on the table. "Ruoyan, this is outrageous!"
Chu Ruoyan obediently knelt. "Father, forgive me. I know I was wrong."
"Wrong? Wrong? You always say you’re wrong, yet you never change!" Chu Huaishan’s fingers trembled with fury. "What’s so bad about Xiao Yu? You played together as children—didn’t you get along well? His father and I are old friends. Our families know each other inside out. Marrying into his household would mean a life of comfort—what’s not to like?"
Chu Ruoyan kept her head lowered, silent.
Her seemingly docile demeanor was, in truth, impenetrable—like water off a duck’s back.
Lady Jiang the Younger quickly intervened. "Enough, my lord. Speak calmly. We didn’t consult the young lady’s wishes beforehand, did we?"
"Hmph, so now it’s my fault?" Chu Huaishan sneered sarcastically. "Then go ahead—ask her! Ask her which young man in the capital meets her standards. If she can name even one—as long as it’s not someone surnamed Yan—I’ll swallow my pride and arrange the match myself. How about that?"
Lady Jiang the Younger looked at Chu Ruoyan, who replied evenly, "I will not marry."
Chu Huaishan gave a look that said, "See? I told you so." Lady Jiang the Younger had no response.
After a tense silence between father and daughter, Chu Huaishan suddenly asked, "Have you still not forgotten that Yan?"
Chu Ruoyan’s body stiffened slightly, her lips pressing tightly together.
Chu Huaishan’s expression darkened. He turned to Lady Jiang the Younger. "Leave us."
Lady Jiang the Younger had no choice but to rise. "Very well. But, my lord, please speak gently with the young lady. Don’t argue again—"
Chu Huaishan merely flicked his sleeve in dismissal.
Once alone, the hall fell into silence.
Then Chu Huaishan abruptly asked, "Do you know what he’s been doing in court lately?"
Chu Ruoyan hesitated. "Father means… the matter with Chancellor Gu?"
"You even know it’s about Chancellor Gu!" Chu Huaishan shot to his feet, his voice sharp with fury. "Chancellor Gu, who once helped him! Who pleaded for him to return to office despite his disability! And how does he repay that kindness? With threats, bribes, and torture—forcing even a man like Gu Sun to confess falsely, all for his own ambition! What kind of heartless beast does that?"
"Father!" Chu Ruoyan raised her voice sharply. "He is not that kind of person!"
Chu Huaishan scoffed. "Then what is he?"
"He—" The words died on her lips. Yan Zheng was walking a tightrope—one misstep, and he would fall to his doom. She dared not gamble with his fate!
She could only shake her head stubbornly. "He has his reasons. It’s not what you think!"
Chu Huaishan laughed derisively, utterly unconvinced. He strode to his desk and pulled out several official documents. "See for yourself."
They were court appointment and dismissal notices…
Written plainly upon them: By order of the Grand Secretary, Ji Yao, Minister of Revenue, and Yu Zhangzhi of the Censorate are hereby removed from office…
"Ji Yao was promoted by your uncle. A loyal and capable man, the ideal Minister of Revenue—yet Yan Zheng dismissed him without cause."
"And old Censor Yu—his only crime was speaking against Yan Zheng in court, yet he too was stripped of his position."
"Most absurd of all, all official appointments and dismissals should go through the Ministry of Personnel—which I oversee! Yet Yan Zheng, abusing his authority as Grand Secretary, removes dissenters at will. Tell me—if this isn’t madness, what is?"
With a sweep of his hand, the documents scattered like snow.
Chu Ruoyan watched the white papers flutter down, her lips pressed into a thin line.
She had known this day would come—that Yan Zheng’s consolidation of power would inevitably clash with her father’s.
But she hadn’t expected it to arrive so soon, so abruptly…
"Father." She knelt again, her expression sorrowful. "Do you trust General Yan?"
Chu Huaishan understood her meaning. He turned his back, hands clasped behind him. "Yan Xu is Yan Xu. Yan Zheng is Yan Zheng."
"But he bears the Yan name. He would never betray the family’s principles."
"Ruoyan, you are too naive. Power corrupts. Today, he sacrifices Chancellor Gu and good officials for his own gain. Tomorrow, he will commit greater atrocities for ambition!" Chu Huaishan turned and lifted her chin, his gaze grave. "I summoned you today not just to arrange a match with Xiao Yu. Your uncle—the Jian'an Count—has already spoken with me. He, along with Su Tingyun, the Vice-Minister of Shuntian Prefecture, the censors, and even Prince Qin, will not stand idly by."
"We are resolved to remove him from the Grand Secretary’s seat. Ruoyan, do you understand?"
Each word weighed like a thousand pounds.
Chu Ruoyan clenched her fingers. This wasn’t a request for understanding—it was a warning to sever all ties with Yan Zheng henceforth.
"Father, I understand. But I cannot comply."
She lifted her head, meeting his gaze calmly. Chu Huaishan laughed bitterly, as if he had expected nothing less. "Good. I knew you’d say that. From today onward, you will remain confined to the Bodhi Courtyard."
Chu Ruoyan bowed in acquiescence.
In the following days, the court grew ever more turbulent. Yan Zheng continued his ruthless purges, dismissing several officials—even Cao Yang, who lay unconscious from illness, was temporarily removed from the Grand Secretariat under the pretense of allowing him to recuperate. Yet in his place, a canal transport commander was promoted.
Everyone knew—that was Yan Zheng’s man.
Meanwhile, the Chu residence saw an increasing stream of nightly visitors. Chu Ruoyan encountered Su Tingyun twice, and even Prince Qin, who claimed to be visiting her younger sister yet spent hours in her father’s study…
But it was all in vain.
With An Sheng backing him, Yan Zheng was practically unstoppable. Those who opposed him were either demoted or resigned, and the entire court was gripped by fear and tension. But on the eighth day of the month, Chu Huaishan returned with a faint smile on his face.
Accompanying him were Jian'an Count, Su Tingyun, and others...
They no longer bothered to conceal themselves and strode in openly.
"County Princess Changle!"
Su Tingyun spotted her standing in the courtyard, his expression tightening imperceptibly.
Chu Huaishan’s smile also faded. "Ruoyan, you—"
Chu Ruoyan’s heart clenched. "Has something happened to him?"
Chu Huaishan frowned, and Su Tingyun seemed about to speak when she pressed urgently, "Has he been harmed?"
No one present uttered a word—after all, the betrothal between the Chu and Yan families was common knowledge.
After a long, complicated look at her, Chu Huaishan finally said, "Ruoyan, Yan Xu... has been assassinated."
