Hearing this, Chu Ruoyan curled her lips—here it comes.
Sure enough, as she turned her gaze toward the main gate, Old Madam Xue wobbled in, supported by attendants, and declared loudly, "By the decree of the Imperial Noble Consort, Marquis Chengen is to enter the palace at once without delay! My son, rise at once!"
Xue Gui, as if granted a reprieve, hurried to his mother’s side.
Old Madam Xue tenderly touched his right eye before hastily pulling him away. Shi Hong stepped forward to block them. "Hold!"
Old Madam Xue paused, shooting him a venomous glare. "Sir, do you dare defy the Imperial Noble Consort’s command?"
Shi Hong, rigid in his principles, raised his voice. "The Imperial Noble Consort’s decrees govern the inner palace, not the imperial court. I must insist that Marquis Chengen remains here!"
Old Madam Xue’s eyes widened, but Xue Gui was quicker to lash out. "How dare you! Everyone knows His Majesty has elevated my sister from Noble Consort to Imperial Noble Consort—second only to the Empress in rank! Do you dare disrespect her?"
"I—" Before he could finish, the Prefect of Shuntian subtly tugged at his sleeve.
Indeed, this was common knowledge.
In the recent upheaval, apart from the Grand Princess, the only royal casualty had been her son, the Fifth Prince.
In her grief, the Noble Consort had been inconsolable, her mind clouded. The Emperor had suspended court for three days in mourning and elevated her rank, hoping it might ease her suffering.
With such imperial favor, pressing the matter further would only invite trouble.
Shi Hong glanced at the Minister of Justice, who gave him a slight shake of the head.
Right—they had acted out of righteous indignation for the Cao family, but there was no need to sacrifice their own careers.
With a resigned sigh, he and the others stepped aside.
"My lords!" Xue Ling cried desperately. "If he enters the palace, he’ll twist the truth before His Majesty! I beg you, for the sake of your past camaraderie with my father, lend us your aid!"
The three officials averted their eyes, shamefaced.
Chu Ruoyan rubbed her temples.
This was the consequence of insufficient pressure—people prioritized self-preservation.
Unless blood was truly spilled, who would risk their own necks for another’s cause?
Fortunately, she had a backup plan.
Just as the Xue family reached the gate, a lean but imposing figure blocked their path.
A resonant voice boomed, "Are the ministers of Great Xia so cowed by power that they allow villains to run rampant? Is this the integrity of our court?"
Everyone turned to see Lady Cao, the Fourth Wife, supporting Old Censor Wang.
Though just two stood there, they formed an unyielding barrier.
Shi Hong and the others bowed their heads, while Old Madam Xue thumped her cane. "Old Wang, you’re abusing your authority to defend your in-laws!"
Old Censor Wang scoffed. "Justice is justice, whether for kin or stranger! Mark my words—if anyone lets the Xue family leave today, I will impeach them for dereliction of duty tomorrow! Marquis Chengen may pass only over my corpse!"
A censor feared no death.
At his age, dying for remonstrance was an honor!
He wouldn’t yield even to the Imperial Noble Consort—let alone the Empress Dowager!
With a champion now stepping forth, Shi Hong swiftly declared, "Old Censor Wang speaks rightly. We are ashamed. Marquis Chengen, you must accompany us to the tribunal."
"You—!" Xue Gui erupted in fury, but Old Madam Xue shielded him. "Who dares lay a hand on my son? If anyone takes him, this old woman will die here and now! Let’s see if my daughter, the Imperial Noble Consort, spares your wretched lives!"
The officials hesitated again.
As the standoff continued, Chu Jing stepped forward.
"Mother?" Xue Ling’s heart clenched at the sight of her mother’s hollow expression as she faced Xue Gui. "You accused Ling’er and my husband of impropriety earlier. Was that true?"
Xue Gui’s eyes darted away. "O-of course not! I was just—"
SLAP!
The blow was so fierce it knocked out a tooth.
"You vile wretch!" Old Madam Xue raised her hand to strike back, but with so many witnesses, she dared not. Instead, she spat, "Our Xue family is cursed to have married you! Even after wedding into the Cao household, you still seduce my son—shameless harlot!"
"You lie!" Xue Ling rushed to defend her mother, but Chu Jing stopped her with a raised hand.
Her icy gaze swept over Old Madam Xue, who shuddered.
"Old Censor Wang, Fourth Sister-in-law, Lord Shi..."
Chu Jing addressed the crowd. "Today, all bear witness—it is not the Cao family who wronged the Xues, but the Xues who trampled upon us. If this matter reaches the Emperor’s hall, I trust you will testify truthfully."
She began to bow.
The assembly hastily returned the gesture. "We dare not accept such courtesy..."
Chu Ruoyan inwardly applauded—what a masterful matriarch. With this, no one could manipulate the narrative.
But then a scream pierced the air.
Xue Ling pointed at her mother’s legs. "Mother! Blood—there’s blood!"
Everyone stared—crimson streaks trailed down, pooling at her feet.
Chu Jing’s strength gave out, and she collapsed, unconscious.
Lady Cao, the Fourth Wife, lunged to catch her. "A physician—fetch one now!"
Amid the chaos, Shi Hong and his colleagues exchanged grim looks. "Men, seize Marquis Chengen!"
With Old Censor Wang’s intervention and the potential loss of Chancellor Cao’s last heir, they could no longer stand idle.
As Old Madam Xue shrieked, Xue Gui was dragged away.
Chu Ruoyan smiled. "Mission accomplished."
She turned to leave, but Nanny Zhou seized her arm. "Miss! The elder madam is in danger!"
"If she’s in danger, call a physician," Chu Ruoyan replied flippantly.
Nanny Zhou’s heart sank.
Xue Ling, who had sent for a doctor, overheard and pleaded tearfully, "Cousin Ruoyan, could you ask Old Divine Doctor Qin to come? I fear Mother may lose the child..."
Chu Ruoyan shrugged. "Favors cost debts. Besides—"
If the child dies, the Xue family will be buried with it.
Before she could voice this, a familiar, cool voice cut in. "Shadow, summon Old Divine Doctor Qin."
The mute youth bowed and vanished.
Chu Ruoyan spun around. "Husband?"
The crowd hastily saluted. "Greetings to the Chief Grand Secretary!"
Yan Zheng nodded slightly. "Cousin Xue, rest assured. I’ve already sent for Chief Physician Zhang from the Imperial Hospital. As a precaution, Old Divine Doctor Qin will also attend. There’s no need for alarm."
Xue Ling exhaled in relief and thanked him.
Beside them, Chu Ruoyan frowned and tried to pull free, but Yan Zheng dragged her into a secluded corner.
"Ruoyan, do you have any idea what you’ve done today?"
Her back pressed against the wall, the man loomed over her, trapping her firmly within his shadow.
Chu Ruoyan blinked but didn’t answer, instead countering, "Are you upset again?"
Yan Zheng’s gaze darkened as he gripped her shoulders and said in a low voice, "She is your aunt. Using her to bring down the Xue family is one thing, but you disregarded her safety, putting her in danger. Do you realize how much you’ll regret this in the future?"
Still, Chu Ruoyan didn’t respond, staring at him intently. "You are upset!"
Yan Zheng fell silent, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
How could he forget? She had lost all emotion—nothing he said would get through to her now.
Fine. If that was how it was, he’d just have to keep a closer eye on her himself.
Resolved, he turned to leave, only to hear the woman mutter under her breath, "So difficult to please… Can’t deal with family, can’t deal with outsiders either. Is there anyone in the world as hard to serve as this master of mine?"
Yan Zheng’s pupils contracted. He turned back, fixing her with a sharp look. "What did you just call me?"
