Yan Zheng returned to his study, where Meng Yang was already waiting. Seeing him enter, Meng Yang stepped forward and reported, "Young Master, we've uncovered everything. It was Wu An, an attendant from the outer courtyard, who leaked the information. His cousin Wu Chao serves in Minister Xue's household and informed Madam Xue about the change in the funeral date. Madam Xue then conspired with the Third Branch to stir up trouble."
Yan Zheng nodded slightly. "Well done."
It was impressive that they had uncovered the entire scheme in just one day.
But Meng Yang dared not take credit. "With your permission, Young Master, this was actually... largely thanks to the Third Young Madam. After yesterday's incident, she immediately sent Steward Fang to investigate. I merely followed up on her lead."
Her?
A flicker of surprise crossed Yan Zheng's eyes as he recalled the complicated expression on her face earlier in the courtyard.
He pressed his fingers to his temple. "What exactly is she trying to do?"
She had married him of her own volition—first helping repay debts, now assisting in investigations. Could it really be because she fancied him?
Was he truly that desirable?
Meng Yang knew better than to meddle in his master's domestic affairs, but remembering the report he had received earlier, he relayed it verbatim: "Today at Guangwen Hall, the Third Young Madam also intervened..."
He recounted the conflict with the Hua and Tao families, as well as the altercation with County Princess Kanghe.
Yan Zheng fell completely silent.
If he had previously suspected her of ulterior motives, what could a five- or six-year-old child like Wen Jing possibly offer her?
And she had even offended County Princess Kanghe for the boy’s sake—wasn’t she afraid of retaliation?
"Find a way to bring this matter to the attention of the Censorate..."
Before he could finish, Meng Yang interrupted uncharacteristically, "Young Master, there’s no need for us to act. Nearly every prominent family in the capital witnessed the incident, and the Young Madam’s cousin Xue Ling was also present. By tomorrow, the entire capital will know of it."
This time, Yan Zheng was genuinely taken aback.
She knew how to feign illness, play the victim, and perfectly time every move.
Such calculated cunning was a far cry from the meek and docile demeanor she usually displayed...
Meanwhile, in the bridal chamber.
Chu Ruoyan absently toyed with the two pots of bamboo sent by the servants, her mind troubled.
Yulu tried to console her, "Miss, don’t worry. The Young Master and the Old Dowager are bound by blood. No matter what, she wouldn’t truly punish him..."
The Old Dowager punishing him?
If anything, he was the one tormenting her.
Recalling his words in the courtyard—especially the chilling "How would you like to die?"—she was certain Yan Zheng hadn’t spoken in anger.
Not that she pitied the Old Dowager. With the Yan family in such disarray, the old woman still couldn’t distinguish priorities, siding with the Second and Third Branches to pressure him, the last remaining heir.
But as Yulu said, blood ties mattered. If he could disregard even that, where did that leave his relationship with her father?
Just then, Steward Fang entered and relayed the matter concerning Wu An.
Chu Ruoyan said, "Leave it to the Marquis. Since it involves his people, he should handle it."
Steward Fang nodded, hesitating as if he had more to say.
"Speak freely. There’s no need for restraint."
After a long pause, Steward Fang finally spoke. "Young Madam, since you already know about the incident at Shou'an Hall, this old servant won’t hide anything. Our Third Young Master has had a difficult life since childhood."
Chu Ruoyan immediately perked up.
She had been desperate to learn more about this ruthless man’s past, and here was an opportunity handed to her.
She adopted an attentive expression.
Steward Fang sighed, reminiscing. "When the Third Young Master was born, a flash flood struck. Princess Ansheng, Madam’s closest friend, lost her unborn child while saving him. Madam never forgave herself and gradually distanced herself from him."
"Then came the fortune-telling at his first birthday—you’ve heard of that. Afterward, whether it was the Old Dowager, the Grand General, or Madam, almost everyone neglected him. The other young masters in the household, including those from the Second and Third Branches, followed suit, pinning every mishap on him and watching as the Grand General punished him..."
"To be honest, even we servants found it unbearable, but what could we do? Fortunately, there was the Eldest Young Master. He was the only one who would shield the Third Young Master during the Grand General’s whippings, who taught him military strategy and martial arts... Without him, the Third Young Master might not have survived all these years."
"But this time, even the Eldest Young Master... didn’t return."
Steward Fang choked up, unable to continue.
Chu Ruoyan finally understood.
No wonder his body bore so many horrific scars...
They were from the Grand General’s beatings!
And Rong Shan—no wonder he had fetched a physician for her and even cut his own flesh for medicine, yet remained indifferent to the incense she gifted him...
It was all because she was his elder brother’s wife!
"This old servant knows the rumors that have circulated over the years—that the Third Young Master harbored improper feelings for the Eldest Young Master’s wife. But they were nothing but slander. Neither the Eldest Young Master nor our Young Master ever bothered to refute them, so the misunderstanding persisted."
"Young Madam, after the incident, the Young Master was like a man who had lost his soul. He knelt before the Eldest Young Master’s coffin for days without food or water. If not for hearing of your impending marriage—which made him vomit blood before finally eating—he might have knelt there until death..."
Every word from the old steward was steeped in sorrow.
Even someone as calculating as Chu Ruoyan couldn’t help but frown.
Despised by his parents, bullied by his brothers, his only ally dead in battle...
With such a past, no wonder he had grown so ruthless.
"Steward Fang, rest assured. As long as I remain a member of the Yan family, I will do everything to help him!"
Given how he had later protected his elder brother’s wife and Grand Tutor Rong’s family, he wasn’t entirely heartless.
If she aided him now, perhaps he wouldn’t turn on her father in the future...
That night.
A pot of carp soup, personally prepared by Chu Ruoyan, was delivered to Yan Zheng’s desk.
Staring at the steaming, fragrant broth, Yan Zheng finally asked Meng Yang, "Do you truly believe she is fond of me?"
Meng Yang quickly lowered his head. "This subordinate wouldn’t dare speculate."
Internally, he scoffed—wasn’t it obvious? If not for affection, why would she marry into this household when everyone else avoided it? Why spend her dowry to cover the family’s debts? Why defend a child and provoke a powerful noblewoman...
She wasn’t a fool!
But voicing such thoughts was out of the question. Meng Yang bowed, awaiting further instructions.
After a long silence, Yan Zheng finally muttered, "One last test..."
Meng Yang looked up in surprise. The usually decisive young master, unshaken even in the face of calamity, now wore an uncharacteristic frown of frustration.
"On the day of the funeral, if nothing unusual occurs—"
"Drive her out."
The following days passed uneventfully.
The Guangwen Hall incident had reached the imperial court, with censors condemning County Princess Kanghe for her disgraceful conduct and rebuking Chancellor Gu for failing to discipline his household. The military faction demanded severe punishment, leaving the Emperor no choice but to strip her of her title and confine her to her residence for a year.
Even her mother, Princess Yongyang, instead of pleading for leniency, petitioned the Emperor to punish herself for failing to educate her daughter properly.
"Princess Yongyang is a woman of principle," Chu Ruoyan remarked.
Yulu sighed with emotion, and Chu Ruoyan shook her head with a light laugh. "Wrong again. This princess is truly formidable..."
"The punishment wouldn’t have fallen on her in the first place. By speaking up first, she seized the initiative, leaving no room for others to criticize. Only then could she plead for her daughter’s mercy..."
Seeing the little maid’s bewildered expression, Chu Ruoyan said, "Think carefully—did the Emperor truly issue any punishment?"
Yulu blinked for a long moment before replying, "These people’s minds are so complicated! My lady, what should we do? Should we be on guard?"
"No need. At such a critical moment, she wouldn’t dare make a move. However—" Before Chu Ruoyan could finish, Madam Li hurried in with a grim expression. "Third Sister-in-law, something’s happened! There’s a major problem with the household accounts!"
