Chu Ruoyan immediately leapt up from her reclining chair: "Say that again?"
Yulu swallowed nervously: "That’s what the Second Young Miss said. She claimed Miss Feng personally admitted that her heart belongs to the Chief Minister—that is, to your husband..."
Without another word, Chu Ruoyan strode out of the courtyard.
Nanny Zhou hurried after her: "Young Miss! Your shoes—your embroidered slippers!"
The young woman ran barefoot all the way to the main gate, where she collided with Yan Zheng, who had just returned home.
Still clad in his violet court robes with a python motif, he frowned at her bare feet and scooped her into his arms: "What nonsense is this? Where are your shoes?"
Chu Ruoyan blinked at him in surprise: "Do you know Feng Ying?"
"Who?"
"The only daughter of General Zhenbei, Feng Ying!"
Her piercing gaze scrutinized him. Yan Zheng shook his head: "Never heard of her."
"Truly?"
Her relentless questioning was interrupted as Nanny Zhou arrived, panting, with the embroidered slippers and hastily explained the situation.
Yan Zheng’s expression darkened instantly. Beside him, Meng Yang interjected: "Madam, have you forgotten? This subordinate told you before—apart from the wife of the heir, my lord hardly speaks to any women. There isn’t even a female mosquito in our courtyard! Where would someone like Feng Ying or Zhang Ying come from?"
Chu Ruoyan’s expression softened slightly. She wriggled out of Yan Zheng’s arms, only for his arm to snake around her waist and pull her back.
"A-Yan, are you jealous?"
Chu Ruoyan stared blankly: "Jealous of what?"
Noticing the amusement in his eyes, she seemed to grasp his meaning and declared righteously, "Of course! If someone steals my employer, who’s going to pay me? That can’t happen!"
Yan Zheng’s smile froze. He’d forgotten again—she had no emotions now.
Suppressing his frustration, he changed the subject: "Never mind that. Are you attending the Qujiang Banquet?"
"Absolutely!" Her eyes gleamed with murderous intent. "I was too lazy to bother with her before, but now that she’s set her sights on my employer, I’ll make an example of her! And she even dared to swagger into the Duke of Chu’s Mansion. Husband, shouldn’t we eradicate the root of such insolence?"
Meng Yang shuddered at her words.
Making an example? Eradicating the root? That was the only daughter of General Zhenbei! Could they really use such methods?
Yet his master merely tightened his grip around his wife’s waist and replied lazily, "As you wish, my lady."
Meng Yang: "..."
Truly, his lord’s only principle was having no principles when it came to his wife!
If this were the old Madam Chu, her schemes would be flawless, leaving no trace. But now...
As the anxious guard fretted, Yan Zheng added, "At the banquet, the Empress Dowager plans to elevate Feng Ying by having noble ladies showcase their talents. The winner will be awarded a sacred wooden cauldron. If you have time, could you retrieve it for me?"
"A sacred cauldron?" She blinked. "What’s in it for me?"
Yan Zheng smirked, his long fingers tracing circles at her waist: "Plenty of rewards. Why not try and see when you return?"
His sharp nose, thin lips, and scorching breath reminded her of nights aflame...
Chu Ruoyan’s cheeks flushed despite herself: "Fine. But you have to listen to me this time—no more reckless exhaustion!" Last time, he’d refused to stop even after her voice broke from crying.
She’d needed tonics for days afterward. Just thinking about it made her grit her teeth!
The man murmured soothingly, "As you say."
But inwardly, he knew—when passion took over, self-control was another matter entirely.
---
Two days later, at the Duke of Chu’s Mansion.
Chu Ruoyan’s carriage had just arrived when she spotted Lady Jiang the Younger with Ruoyin, Ruolan, and two Jiang cousins waiting at the gate.
"I thought you weren’t going?"
Before Ruoyin could speak, Ruolan huffed angrily: "We weren’t, but that Feng woman went too far! Cousin Jiang told us—not only did she bully Second Sister at our mansion, she even brought Prince Qin along! The audacity!"
Ruoyin smiled awkwardly, but Jiang Huaian stepped forward and bowed: "County Princess Changle, though Prince Qin is of imperial blood, Ruoyin is still the daughter of a duke. She cannot be bullied so openly. Today, we must make a grand entrance to show we won’t be slighted."
Chu Ruoyan nodded approvingly: "Well said. Let’s go!"
Thus, the group arrived at General Zhenbei’s residence in a formidable procession.
The servants at the gate rushed to summon their masters.
Feng Ying clenched her embroidered handkerchief subtly at the sight but maintained her composure: "Greetings to the Duchess of Chu... and to County Princess Changle."
A viper-like glint flashed in her eyes when she saw Chu Ruoyan.
Not missing the hostility, Chu Ruoyan smiled sweetly at Ruoyin: "Second Sister, see how even a county princess makes others bow? Once you become Princess Consort Qin, everyone here will kneel before you."
Ruoyin lowered her gaze, while Feng Ying’s expression darkened.
How cunning—Chu Ruoyan had deliberately said "Princess Consort," not "Secondary Consort"!
Before Feng Ying could retort, a sneer sounded behind them: "A mere secondary consort, and so proud? Sister Feng, the Empress Dowager once said His Majesty intended to confer upon you the title of Huaguang Junzhu. Had you accepted, how could a petty county princess mock you?"
The crowd turned to see Gu Feiyan, granddaughter of the recently reinstated Gu Sun.
Gu Feiyan then called out: "Princess Jiahui, don’t you agree?"
"Absolutely." Princess Jiahui extended her hand for Gu Feiyan to assist her. The haughty princess lifted her chin and glared down at Chu Ruoyan: "County Princess Changle—or should I say, the Chief Minister’s wife? How dare you not bow to this princess?"
Lady Jiang the Younger paled and immediately tugged at her daughters and nephews to kneel.
Chu Ruoyan stopped her with a raised hand.
Princess Jiahui barked: "Chu Ruoyan! What insolence is this?!"
Smiling faintly, Chu Ruoyan ignored her and instead gestured behind them.
Gongs and drums resounded as an imperial procession arrived—Empress Pei herself!
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress! May Your Majesty live a thousand years!"
The crowd dropped into deep bows. Empress Pei descended, her gaze sweeping the scene before settling on Princess Jiahui: "We heard everything. Jiahui, you begged us to believe you’d reformed. Is this your repentance?"
The princess trembled and knelt: "This lowly one begs forgiveness!"
Damn that Chu Ruoyan—she’d timed the Empress’s arrival perfectly!
Gu Feiyan, however, jutted her chin defiantly: "Your Majesty! County Princess Changle flaunted her status first! Besides, Sister Feng was indeed to be named Huaguang Junzhu—"
"Was she?" Empress Pei’s voice was icy. "We’ve never heard of such an edict."
