"Rong Su? What is she doing here?"
Chu Ruoyan glanced back at the hall, where the other young ladies were still engrossed in lively discussion, and said, "Take her to my courtyard. Make sure no one else notices."
"Yes."
In the Bodhi Courtyard, as soon as Chu Ruoyan entered, she saw Rong Su kneeling before her, her face streaked with tears. "County Princess Changle, Rong Su has a plea to make!"
Chu Ruoyan quickly stepped aside to avoid the gesture. "Second Miss Rong, such a grand gesture is unnecessary. I dare not accept it."
But Rong Su remained kneeling, stubborn. "If the County Princess refuses to grant my request, I will kneel here until I die!"
Chu Ruoyan almost laughed. Was this a threat?
"Then kneel as long as you wish, Second Miss Rong. This courtyard is empty—no one will stop you."
With that, she turned to leave.
The cold indifference in her expression sent a chill down Rong Su’s spine.
Suddenly, Rong Su cried out, "County Princess Changle! I beg you—let me enter your household and serve the Chief Minister alongside you!"
Chu Ruoyan paused mid-step, wondering if she had misheard. Nanny Zhou couldn’t hold back a scolding. "Second Miss Rong, you are the daughter of Grand Tutor Rong! Have you no sense of propriety? How dare you speak such shameless words before our lady?"
Rong Su flushed crimson but pressed on desperately, "I know it’s improper, but I mean every word! County Princess, I swear I won’t compete with you for anything. As long as I can stay by Third Brother Yan’s side, I’ll be content with any role..."
Nanny Zhou’s face turned livid with rage.
Chu Ruoyan held her back and asked coolly, "So, Second Miss Rong wishes to become a concubine?"
Rong Su bit her lip, humiliation burning in her chest. "If that’s what it takes... I am willing!"
Chu Ruoyan let out a soft, mocking laugh. "And does your father consent to this?"
Rong Su stiffened, fear flashing in her eyes.
How could her father ever agree?
Not only had he refused, but he had also berated her harshly, calling her shameless and demanding she abandon this foolish notion.
But how could she?
She had adored him since childhood, her heart and soul devoted to him. Even if their wedding had been a farce, she couldn’t simply let go...
"It doesn’t matter if Father refuses! As long as I can marry him, I’ll give up everything!"
So, she was willing to sever ties with her family just to enter the Yan household?
A flicker of disdain passed through Chu Ruoyan’s eyes. "You’ve come to the wrong person, Second Miss Rong. You should be pleading with Yan Zheng to take you as his concubine."
Rong Su froze, her fists clenching tightly.
Did she think she hadn’t tried?
But Yan Zheng refused to see her, turning her away time and again.
Even when she managed to intercept him outside the government office, he had walked past her as if she were invisible.
That was why she had no choice but to beg Chu Ruoyan instead...
Chu Ruoyan spread her hands. "In that case, there’s nothing I can do. Second Miss Rong, you may leave."
As she turned to enter the house, Rong Su collapsed under the weight of despair, sobbing uncontrollably. "I know... he blames me! He blames me for revealing his whereabouts, for nearly getting him killed... But how was I to know it was all a ruse? I only told Father because I didn’t want him to keep making mistakes! I never meant to betray him..."
The heartbroken weeping made Chu Ruoyan pause.
She turned back, watching the distraught woman with calm detachment. "Second Miss Rong, he has never blamed you."
"Then why won’t he see me? Why won’t he even speak to me?"
"It’s to avoid impropriety," Chu Ruoyan said evenly. "Believe it or not, Yan Zheng holds no grudge against you. The one who cannot let go... is you."
Rong Su lifted her tear-streaked face, meeting Chu Ruoyan’s clear, penetrating gaze.
"You’re drowning in regret, desperate to atone for your betrayal by offering yourself as a servant. But the truth is—he doesn’t need your penance."
Chu Ruoyan’s voice remained steady, but when she saw hope flicker anew in Rong Su’s eyes, her brow furrowed slightly. She delivered the final blow.
"The real problem is that you never trusted him in the first place."
Rong Su shuddered violently, terror swallowing her whole.
It was true. She hadn’t trusted him!
If she had, she would have known he would never side with An Sheng. She wouldn’t have been fooled by appearances.
If she had, she wouldn’t have doubted him, betrayed him, nearly gotten him killed!
And that was why she would always, always fall short compared to the woman before her...
Half an incense stick’s time later, Nanny Zhou returned. "Second Miss Rong has left."
Chu Ruoyan nodded. Nanny Zhou hesitated. "She seemed... distraught when she departed. Could the shock have been too much? My lady, I worry—she did once share a wedding ceremony with Chief Minister Yan, even if it was false. If something were to happen to her now, what rumors might spread about you?"
Chu Ruoyan understood her concern.
Though the court had publicly declared the wedding a ploy to dismantle Imperial Son-in-law Cao’s faction, the common people had seen Rong Su carried into the Yan household. If anything befell her now, wouldn’t they suspect Chu Ruoyan of driving her to despair?
Chu Ruoyan herself cared little—she didn’t have long to live anyway.
But she couldn’t let Yan Zheng’s reputation suffer.
"Send some servants to follow her discreetly and ensure she returns home safely. Later, I’ll speak with Yan Zheng and ask him to inform Grand Tutor Rong, just in case."
The next day, after the court ladies finished taking her measurements for the wedding attire, Chu Ruoyan prepared to visit the Yan residence.
Her father’s decree about the bride and groom not meeting before the wedding had long been forgotten.
Just as she was about to leave, Chu Ruolan arrived. "Elder Sister, your betrothed sent so many fine silks and fabrics—don’t you want to thank him?"
Chu Ruoyan arched a brow. "Oh?"
The younger girl grinned, looping an arm through hers. "The wedding’s still days away! Doesn’t the saying go, ‘A day apart feels like three years’? Elder Sister, surely you’re eager to see him?"
Chu Ruoyan couldn’t help but laugh at her transparent scheming.
"Or is it that you want to see a certain someone?"
Chu Ruolan’s cheeks flamed. "I—I don’t care about him! I just want to know if his injuries have killed him yet!"
Chu Ruoyan shook her head in amusement. "Very well. I was heading there anyway..."
At the Yan residence, Yan Zheng was absent when they arrived.
Instead, they found Yan Zhao in the rear courtyard, furiously practicing spear forms.
His movements were erratic, and in a final burst of frustration, he sent a whirlwind of dead leaves flying.
Steward Fang sighed. "Young Master Six, perhaps you should rest..."
"Rest? If I stop, all I can think about is my mother! My father and An Sheng got what they wanted—but what about her? What was she to him?!"
