Qin Yiru grew solemn.
Indeed, if that young girl truly was the bloodline of the Regent King, then she would be a princess of the previous dynasty.
And now this Yan fellow had become the chief minister of the current dynasty…
Once her identity was revealed, she would surely find no place in this world!
"Lang, have you ever considered—if you wanted to…" Qin Yiru's voice suddenly took on a persuasive tone.
Yun Lang narrowed his peach-blossom eyes. "No."
"Truly not? You have people close to the emperor, the general he relied on is already dead, and now his chief minister has become your brother-in-law. If you could persuade Yan Zheng, the two of you could join forces—who in this world could stop you? Wouldn’t the empire then return to the hands of your Yun family?"
Yun Lang scoffed at this, lifting his wine cup for a sip. "Dominion over the world, power and riches—they are but fleeting clouds to me… You’re right. Before, I truly wanted to see corpses strewn across the land and floods swallowing the heavens. But since Miaomiao is still alive, I must leave her a pure corner of the world, where she can live peacefully and undisturbed."
Only then did Qin Yiru relax. Fortunately, Lang had no such ambitions.
Otherwise, there truly were few in this world who could stop him!
Late at night, in Yan Mansion.
Yan Zheng had just stepped inside when something pressed against the small of his back. "Guess what this is?"
When he didn’t answer, the woman circled in front of him, holding up the object. "Tonight, let’s try this, alright?"
The moment Yan Zheng saw the enormous thing, he covered his forehead.
Meng Yang!
Hadn’t he explicitly ordered him to lock away all these absurd items?
"Come on, I spent ages picking it out today! The shopkeeper said this is the biggest 'horned gentleman' they have—many nobles in the capital use it!"
She blinked innocently, but Yan Zheng felt a vein nearly burst at his temple. Suppressing his irritation, he took it from her hand. "Be good. We won’t need it tonight."
"Why not? The shopkeeper said it’s excellent!"
"No reason. Your husband doesn’t require it." He spoke lightly, secretly channeling his inner strength to snap it in half.
Chu Ruoyan didn’t notice, merely sizing him up. "Don’t need it? Well, I suppose you are bigger than it!"
Yan Zheng: "…"
Neither of them slept well that night.
The next day, before dawn, Yan Zheng left for court.
Chu Ruoyan woke up sore and exhausted, only to receive word from her family.
"Miss, the Duke's Mansion has requested your return. They say your cousins from the Jiang family have come to visit and wish to see you."
Her mind still muddled from the night’s exertions, Chu Ruoyan nearly refused outright.
But then she paused. "Are they… family too?"
"Ah—" Yulu hesitated, but Nanny Zhou stepped in. "Of course they are, miss. You were close to your maternal grandfather and got along well with these cousins from the main branch. Unless there’s a pressing matter, you really ought to meet them."
Nanny Zhou had noticed that since her mistress’s change in temperament, she had become more childlike—direct in both speech and action.
Chu Ruoyan nodded decisively. "Then I’ll see them!"
At the Duke's Mansion, the main hall was steeped in gloom.
Lady Jiang the Younger sat weeping in her chair, while Chu Ruolan clutched her hand in comfort.
The Jiang siblings paced restlessly, and Chu Ruoyin kept glancing toward the door, her worry unconcealed. "Why hasn’t Eldest Sister arrived yet?"
After another incense stick’s worth of waiting, Chu Zhong spoke. "Second Miss, Third Miss, it’s time. We must escort Madam out now."
"No!" Chu Ruolan sprang up, shielding her mother. "I won’t let you take her away!"
Chu Zhong sighed. "Third Miss, these are the Duke’s orders… Since your Jiang cousins are returning to Yangzhou, Madam may accompany them—consider it a family visit."
"A visit? Father even packed her belongings! He clearly means to exile her!" Chu Ruolan bit her lip hard.
Lady Jiang the Younger squeezed her hand. "Enough, Ruolan. Let it be. I’ll go with them."
"Mother!" Tears spilled down Chu Ruolan’s face.
Chu Ruoyin stepped forward, torn between words and silence.
Lady Jiang gazed at her daughters with longing, but what could she do? She had brought this upon herself…
"Cousins," Jiang Jinxue interjected gently, "don’t worry. We’ll take good care of Aunt on the journey."
Jiang Huaian clasped his hands. "Grandfather has no other children left. Even back in Yangzhou, Aunt will want for nothing."
Ruoyin and Ruolan’s expressions eased slightly, but they still clung to their mother, unwilling to let go.
Suddenly, Yuetao rushed in. "Madam! Young misses! The Eldest Miss has returned!"
Hope flickered in their eyes.
Chu Ruolan dashed out before Chu Ruoyan could even enter the hall, dropping to her knees. "Eldest Sister, I was wrong! All the fault is mine! Please, don’t let Father send Mother away!"
Chu Ruoyan, mid-bite into a half-eaten pancake, froze.
Chu Ruoyin followed, curtsying deeply. "No matter Mother’s mistakes, how can her children stand aside? Eldest Sister, Third Sister and I are willing to atone for her sins in her stead! We beg you to show mercy and let her stay in the capital!"
After swallowing her mouthful, Chu Ruoyan looked up in bewilderment at the anxious faces around her. "When did I say she had to go?"
The hall fell silent—then erupted in relief.
Chu Zhong coughed. "Eldest Miss, these are the Duke’s direct orders—"
"I don’t care whose orders they are." Chu Ruoyan shoved the remains of her pancake at Nanny Zhou and pointed at Lady Jiang. "She’s my family. If you send her away, my… husband will get angry again. If he’s angry, I won’t be happy. So why should she leave?"
Chu Zhong: "?"
While he stood baffled, Chu Ruolan seized the lifeline. "You heard her! Eldest Sister said Mother stays! Quick—put her things back! Once Eldest Sister has spoken, Father won’t insist either!"
Yuetao scrambled to retrieve the luggage, and Chu Zhong, seeing the logic, stepped aside.
As the tension dissolved, Lady Jiang bowed deeply. "Thank you, Eldest Miss!"
Chu Ruoyan recoiled as if scalded. "You’re the elder—you can’t bow to me! Are you trying to curse me?"
Lady Jiang stiffened. The Jiang siblings exchanged uneasy glances. "Cousin Ruoyan, you’ve… changed somewhat from before?"
Fortunately, Lady Jiang recovered swiftly. "My oversight. Come, let’s have Eldest Miss sit inside first."
Just as they turned toward the hall, a gatekeeper hurried in. "Madam! A messenger from the palace!"
"Bring them in at once!"
Moments later, Eunuch Xu from the Dowager Empress’s palace entered with two junior eunuchs.
Spotting Chu Ruoyan, he brightened. "How fortuitous! County Princess Changle is here—saves us a trip to the Chief Minister’s residence…"
Lady Jiang ventured cautiously, "Might we ask the purpose of Eunuch Xu’s visit today?"
"Oh, by the decree of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Qujiang Banquet will be held at the General of the Northern Garrison's estate in three days, and noble ladies and young misses of the capital are cordially invited to attend." Eunuch Xu spoke while taking several invitation cards from a young eunuch and handing them over. "By the way, Her Majesty specifically instructed that this banquet is to celebrate the return of Miss Feng. Thus, the Second Young Lady of your household must attend, so she may also meet her future principal consort."
Chu Ruoyin's face turned deathly pale.
