Lady Jiang the Younger clutched her forehead, swaying as if about to faint.
Lady Liu rushed in right after her: "What nonsense have you been spouting in front of your aunt? Come with me, we’re going home!"
"No, I won’t go back! Mother, the Lin Family has even returned the betrothal horoscopes—isn’t their intention clear enough? They want to break off the engagement!"
"You—!" Lady Liu raised her hand as if to strike, but Chu Tingfeng lifted his chin defiantly. "Mother! Yunshi is a concubine-born daughter of the Lin Family’s fourth branch. They never agreed to this marriage in the first place—it was only because I insisted and they feared Uncle’s influence that they reluctantly consented! But if they renege now, they’ll send Yunshi to that wretched old man, Vice Minister Yuan, as a concubine, just as they originally planned! I can’t let her fall into that pit of fire!"
Lady Liu’s raised hand dropped. She gripped his shoulder and sighed deeply. "What a cursed fate! You, the legitimate son of the Chu Family’s second branch, how could you lose your head over the concubine-born daughter of some petty fifth-rank official? Fine, you wanted to marry her, and I found you a matchmaker. But now they’re backing out—do you expect me to grovel and beg them? What will become of your sister Ruoxi’s marriage prospects then?"
Chu Tingfeng said nothing. He turned and kowtowed heavily before Lady Jiang the Younger.
"Aunt, I beg you—save Yunshi’s life!"
Lady Liu closed her eyes. The hall was so silent one could hear a pin drop.
Everyone knew the truth: Chief Advisor Han’s family had withdrawn their proposal for the third young lady, and now even the minor Lin official dared to break off the engagement with the second branch’s legitimate son. It all stemmed from Lady Jiang the Younger’s scandal.
The revelation that the Chu Family’s two daughters were not of Duke of Chu’s blood had sent shockwaves through the noble circles.
As gossip spread like wildfire, doubts naturally arose—were any of the Chu children truly his? If not, wouldn’t marrying into or out of the family be as repulsive as swallowing a fly?
Thus, the Lin Family, emboldened by Chief Advisor Han’s move, had returned the horoscopes. Chu Tingfeng’s engagement was collateral damage from Lady Jiang the Younger’s disgrace.
"Sister-in-law, Tingfeng is acting recklessly. Please don’t take it to heart…" Lady Liu’s voice was weary, as if she’d already argued with her son countless times.
Lady Jiang the Younger opened her eyes. "Don’t worry. I’ll make this right for you…"
"Thank you, Aunt! Thank you!" Chu Tingfeng exclaimed joyfully, kowtowing several more times before Lady Liu dragged him away.
Only mother and daughter remained in the hall.
Chu Ruolan hesitated. "Mother, Cousin Tingfeng is from the second branch. Shouldn’t his marriage be Uncle’s responsibility? It might be improper for you to intervene…"
"If they could handle it, why would they come to me?" Lady Jiang the Younger’s face was ashen, but she forced a smile. "Ruolan, come here. Let me look at you properly."
Unease prickled Chu Ruolan’s heart, but she obeyed. Her mother reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Ruolan, you’re not a child anymore. I can’t protect you forever. From now on, listen to your father. Think carefully before you act. If you ever face something beyond you, turn to your elder sister. Understand?"
Chu Ruolan stiffened. "Mother, why are you saying such things out of nowhere?"
Lady Jiang the Younger caressed her cheek tenderly. "It’s nothing. With such a scandal rocking our family, you mustn’t act spoiled anymore. Consult your second sister in all matters. Remember—you two are the closest kin in this world. Don’t let my mistakes drive a wedge between you…"
"Mother! What nonsense is this? If anyone’s at fault, it’s the one who harmed you back then! How is any of this your fault?" Panic surged in Chu Ruolan’s chest, but Lady Jiang the Younger only smiled. "Yes, yes, I misspoke. Ruolan, go with Yuetao to my chamber and fetch the box with the land deeds. Your cousin Tingfeng’s marriage might yet be salvaged… with silver."
Relieved that her mother was still focused on practical matters, Chu Ruolan nodded.
As she stepped out with Yuetao, she spotted Chu Ruoyan.
"Elder Sister? Why didn’t you come inside?"
Chu Ruoyan ignored the question, her gaze piercing toward the hall. "Yuetao, go to the Ministry of Personnel immediately. Fetch Father home. Tell him it’s a matter of life and death—delay could be fatal."
Yuetao paled. Chu Ruolan grabbed her arm. "Elder Sister, what do you mean? Whose life is at stake?"
Chu Ruoyan shot Yuetao a look, and the maid scurried off. Then she turned to Chu Ruolan. "Can’t you guess, Third Sister? Aunt was giving you her final instructions."
"What?!"
Chu Ruolan whirled around to rush back, but Chu Ruoyan blocked her. "What good will that do? Talk her out of it? You might stop her today, but what about tomorrow?"
"Then—then what should I do?"
Chu Ruoyan didn’t answer immediately. Only when Nanny Zhou arrived with a rosewood box did she speak. "Act normal. Give her the deeds if she asks. Agree to everything she says. Wait until Father returns. Understood?"
Chu Ruolan’s voice trembled. "But—but I’m afraid I’ll slip up. I can’t pretend—"
"You don’t need to. She’s already resolved to die. Even if she sees through you, she won’t call you out." Chu Ruoyan gripped her shoulders. "Just stay by her side until Father comes back. Leave the rest to him."
"A heart’s ailment needs a heart’s remedy. I believe Father can be that cure."
The calm certainty in Chu Ruoyan’s voice eased Chu Ruolan’s frantic heart slightly. Taking a deep breath, she reentered the hall. "Mother—"
Outside, Chu Ruoyan turned away.
Lady Jiang the Younger’s crisis demanded swift action. She needed to meet the Feng Family.
Yet the moment she stepped out of Duke of Chu’s Mansion, she spotted a Feng carriage parked nearby.
Little Dai, Feng Ying’s maid, approached. "County Princess Changle, my mistress invites you to the tavern ahead for a word."
Chu Ruoyan’s lips curled.
How convenient—delivering herself to my doorstep?
Tavern, private room.
Chu Ruoyan entered with Nanny Zhou. Feng Ying sat by the window, chin propped on her hand as she gazed downward.
"Miss, County Princess Changle is here…"
Little Dai’s announcement earned a silencing gesture from Feng Ying, who tilted her head, listening to the chatter below.
"That Duke of Chu’s scandal is unbelievable! A noble lady like his wife, violated and bearing illegitimate children!"
"Tsk tsk, the Duke’s cuckold’s horns must be massive!"
"That’s nothing—I heard even his legitimate daughter’s lineage is questionable…"
"Hush! The authorities forbid discussing this!"
Every word from the tavern patrons reached their ears.
Nanny Zhou’s face darkened, but Feng Ying smiled sweetly. "County Princess Changle—or should I say, Eldest Miss Chu? Tell me, how does it feel hearing your family’s disgrace bandied about?"
The provocation was blatant.
Nanny Zhou bristled, but Chu Ruoyan stopped her.
She regarded Feng Ying coolly. "Miss Feng, reveling in others’ misfortune so eagerly—aren’t you afraid the tables might turn, making your family the next juicy tale on everyone’s lips?"
