The crowd turned their heads.
At the end of the long street, white funeral banners fluttered in the wind.
A young man no older than twenty, clad in mourning attire with a white cloth tied around his head, rode slowly forward on horseback. Behind him trailed seven horse-drawn carriages, each bearing a coffin draped in white cloth, the fluttering banners snapping sharply in the air. Someone in the crowd murmured, "General Yan and his family have returned," and in an instant, the sound of knees hitting the ground echoed as the commoners lining the street knelt one after another.
"They said it would take a few more days—why have they arrived early?" Chu Huaishan muttered under his breath, pulling Chu Ruoyan aside.
But Chu Ruoyan couldn’t help but step forward, straining to see more clearly…
The man on horseback was exactly as he had appeared in her dreams—his brows sharp as swords, his eyes dark as lacquer. Yet his gaze was icy, his entire being shrouded in an aura of death, more like a vengeful spirit clawing its way out of hell.
He rode all the way to the palace gates before halting his horse and dismounting—
Thud!!
His body crashed heavily to the ground, his snow-white trousers instantly staining with blood.
Expressionless, the man raised his voice toward the palace gates:
"Yan Zheng, third son of the Yan family, returns with my father, mother, brothers, and the hundred thousand soldiers of the Yan army!"
As the last word fell, the horses behind him neighed in unison.
The court officials exchanged uneasy glances, their faces grave. Then, from among the commoners, someone shouted the first cry: "The Yan family’s loyalty is unwavering!"
Soon, the entire city erupted in thunderous agreement—
"The Yan family’s loyalty is unwavering!"
"Farewell, General!"
"A house of heroes…"
The voices surged like waves, the crowd of onlookers growing thicker until they nearly blocked the palace gates.
In less than half an hour, a figure emerged from the palace.
It was Yin Shun, the emperor’s most trusted eunuch, who hurried over to Yan Zheng and steadied him with both hands. "By His Majesty’s decree, the Yan army’s bravery in battle has set an example for all of Great Sheng. The ceremonial return is hereby exempted! Third Young Master, please return and rest—"
Immediately, two younger eunuchs helped him into a wheelchair.
Yan Zheng thanked the emperor impassively.
But as he turned, the corner of his lips curled—into a cold sneer!
Chu Ruoyan sucked in a sharp breath, instinctively stepping back.
"What’s wrong, Yan’er? Are you feeling unwell again?" Chu Huaishan asked with concern.
But she was frozen to the core.
This man… Yan Zheng had done this on purpose!
He had returned early, deliberately bringing the coffins to the palace gates, all to force the emperor’s hand with public opinion—so that the lofty sovereign could no longer hold him accountable for the defeat!
What kind of man could do such a thing after losing his entire family?
He was practically inhuman!
Chu Ruoyan gripped her father’s arm so tightly she nearly tore his sleeve. "Father… we can’t call off the engagement. We mustn’t!"
Chu Huaishan stared at her in confusion. His usually obedient eldest daughter had been acting strangely all day, but before he could question her further, a palace official arrived to summon him to court.
He patted her shoulder. "Very well, we’ll discuss this when I return."
Chu Ruoyan refused to let go, her gaze pleading. With a sigh, he relented. "Fine, fine. I won’t mention ending the engagement today."
Only then did she relax her grip.
As long as the engagement stood, she wouldn’t make an enemy of Yan Zheng—yet.
As for marrying him later… if she could find evidence of treason, all the better. If not, a dagger or poison would do. She wouldn’t hesitate to kill him if it meant saving her father!
Lost in these thoughts, she barely noticed their return to the Duke's Mansion until Yulu suddenly exclaimed, "Miss, look—"
Following her finger, Chu Ruoyan saw her stepmother, Lady Jiang the Younger, standing at the gate with several maids, as if waiting for someone.
"Only your carriage left the mansion today. Could she be waiting for you?" Yulu asked nervously.
Chu Ruoyan’s eyes darkened. "A mother’s love—how heartwarming."
This stepmother of hers was renowned in the capital for her kindness and virtue, especially after spinning the tale of sisters sharing a husband in honor of her late elder sister. Who wouldn’t praise such devotion?
Only Chu Ruoyan knew the truth—this was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Withholding her allowance and skimping on her necessities were minor grievances. Even when she had coughed up blood and fainted, Lady Jiang the Younger had refused to call a physician.
Her expression unreadable, Chu Ruoyan stepped down from the carriage—and Lady Jiang the Younger immediately rushed forward.
"Oh, Ruoyan, you’re finally back!"
Her voice carried far enough for all nearby to hear, drawing curious glances.
The maids behind her echoed loudly, "Young Miss, you’ve worried the Madam sick! With your frail health, how could you leave without a word? The Madam hasn’t even eaten breakfast for worrying over you…"
Whispers rose around them.
The Chu family had four daughters. Aside from her and Chu Ruoxi from the second branch, the other two were Lady Jiang the Younger’s own.
Under her stepmother’s careful cultivation, the second daughter, Chu Ruoyin, had gained fame for her literary talents, while the third, Chu Ruolan, was celebrated for her equestrian skills—both now prominent figures in noble circles.
Naturally, this only made the eldest daughter, Chu Ruoyan, seem dull and unremarkable by comparison.
Unfazed, Chu Ruoyan tilted her head slightly, feigning confusion. "Mother, you flatter me. When I fell gravely ill earlier, my maid begged you for a physician, but she wasn’t even granted an audience… I assumed you were too busy with household affairs, so this time, I didn’t trouble you."
Her voice was soft but clear enough for the eavesdropping crowd.
The onlookers’ expressions shifted, their gazes turning pointed.
A stepmother who wouldn’t call a doctor for her stepdaughter? What kind of person was that?
Lady Jiang the Younger’s face stiffened. She turned to Nanny Zhang. "What is the meaning of this?"
The old servant, well-versed in her mistress’s ways, knelt at once. "This old servant is at fault. Yulu did come earlier, but I thought the Young Miss was hardy enough to recover without a physician. I failed to report it. Please punish me, Madam and Young Miss."
By taking the blame, she gave Lady Jiang the Younger an out—but for once, the usually meek Chu Ruoyan remained silent.
Left with no choice, Lady Jiang the Younger declared, "How careless of you! How dare you neglect the Young Miss’s affairs? Go to the discipline hall and take ten lashes—let this be a lesson!"
Nanny Zhang trembled.
Only then did Chu Ruoyan speak. "How just and stern of you, Mother."
Lady Jiang the Younger choked on her words. From behind the gate, Chu Ruolan, unable to bear her mother’s humiliation, burst out shouting, "Chu Ruoyan, what right do you have to act so smug? You just woke up and begged Father to break off the engagement—afraid of suffering once you marry into that family, aren’t you?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
The Yan family had been wiped out in battle, their bodies barely cold. The sole survivor, Yan Zheng, was now crippled.
And at this very moment, the Chu family’s eldest daughter wanted to call off the betrothal?
The onlookers’ expressions twisted with disdain.
Yulu protested, "My lady didn’t—"
Lady Jiang the Younger cut her off with feigned outrage. "Lan’er, how dare you spout such nonsense? Our Duke's Mansion would never stoop to such opportunism! Your elder sister is merely young and overwhelmed by recent events. Apologize at once!"
Her words were masterful—absolving the Duke's Mansion of blame while pinning the entire scandal on Chu Ruoyan.
The crowd’s condemnation grew fiercer.
"What a disgrace—the Chu family’s eldest daughter, chasing after power!"
"How could General Yan ever agree to such a match?"
"She’s unworthy of the Yan family!"
Chu Ruoyan’s gaze was icy. Even if she had considered calling off the engagement—let alone the fact that she hadn’t—since when did it become anyone else’s place to gossip?
A husband’s family left with nothing but widows and orphans, a groom who had lost the use of both legs—if these people were in her shoes, they’d have fled faster than rabbits!
With a delicate arch of her brow, she retorted, “Since Third Sister is so righteous, why don’t you marry him instead?”
