Feng Ying's smile darkened: "County Princess Changle, there's no need to provoke me. The Feng family isn't like your household—harboring filth and illegitimate bastards! Hmph, if not for His Majesty's special mercy toward the Duke of Chu, your family would have long been driven out of the capital by these rumors!"
"Oh? Since Miss Feng is aware these are mere rumors, why take them so seriously?"
Chu Ruoyan sipped her tea indifferently. Feng Ying choked on her words, then snapped, "Whether they're rumors or not, you know the truth. Chu Changle, let's speak plainly. I invited you here today to discuss a deal."
"A deal?"
Chu Ruoyan set down her cup. "No need. The deal you proposed to my second sister didn't work out, so I doubt you'll get anywhere with me either. The tea was pleasant, but I must take my leave."
She rose to go. Feng Ying barked, "Stop!"
Chu Ruoyan ignored her and continued walking.
Feng Ying hadn't expected her to be so difficult—far more so than during the Qujiang Banquet. Desperate, she called out, "County Princess Changle, don’t you want to know the real reason behind the Duke of Chu’s recent troubles?"
Hearing the urgency in her voice, Chu Ruoyan paused. "Isn’t it all thanks to you, Miss Feng?"
Feng Ying’s face darkened. "Little Dai, leave us."
Chu Ruoyan gave Nanny Zhou a slight nod.
Once the maids had exited, Feng Ying said, "Chu Changle, I underestimated you. Fine, as a show of goodwill, I can first have Qiao Dali stop filing complaints. You know how it is—neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Court of Judicial Review dares touch this case. But his public accusations are ruining your family’s reputation."
Chu Ruoyan finally sat back down. "What else?"
"What else?" Feng Ying gritted her teeth. "If you agree, I can even make him recant, claim his mother’s accusations were lies. Your mother’s honor and your sister’s legitimacy will remain untarnished!"
Chu Ruoyan arched a brow. "Oh? After you wiped out his entire family, you think he’ll obey you?"
Sensing room for negotiation, Feng Ying pressed, "Of course. Qiao Dali is a gambler who’s already lost everything. Even if his family hadn’t been killed, he’d have sold his mother and children for coin. Give him enough silver, and he’ll say whatever we want."
So that’s how it was.
Chu Ruoyan’s lips curled faintly. "If Miss Feng can go this far, your terms must be equally demanding, no?"
Feng Ying brightened. "No, they’re simple! All I ask is for County Princess Changle to permit me into your household—even as a concubine, I’d be content!"
Though she’d anticipated this, hearing it aloud still stunned Chu Ruoyan. "You’d willingly be a concubine?"
"Yes. I’ve admired the Chief Councillor for years. If I can’t be his equal wife, I’ll settle for being his concubine!"
Chu Ruoyan’s mouth twitched. "Admired him for years? Since when?"
Feng Ying pressed her lips together, lost in memory. "It began over a decade ago. Back then, the Chief Councillor was just a boy—solitary, rarely mingling with others at the Imperial Academy. The other students often bullied him, yet he never fought back. Until one day, when I was accidentally cornered by them..."
Chu Ruoyan expected a clichéd tale of heroic rescue, but Feng Ying continued, "He walked away without a glance, as if he hadn’t heard my cries for help. I hated him then. But among those bullies, someone sneered, ‘The Yan family truly breeds cowards, especially that Yan Xun.’ That’s when he stopped."
Her eyes gleamed with excitement. "He turned and asked who’d spoken. They laughed, hurling insults—apparently, Heir Apparent Yan had once bested them in polo, and since they couldn’t touch him, they took it out on Yan Zheng. Do you know? They hurled over twenty vile taunts... and that day, every one of them left with over twenty wounds!"
"The loudest mouth even lost an eye. Yan Zheng yanked him up and swore that if he ever heard another word against Yan Xun, he’d take the other eye too! Chu Changle, you’ve never seen him like that—face splattered with blood, eyes sharp as blades. Utterly breathtaking!"
Chu Ruoyan’s heart clenched. "Those academy students were all nobles’ sons. How did he escape unscathed after injuring so many?"
"Ah, yes! That’s the thing—after taking down over a dozen, he stabbed his own left shoulder clean through! Blood pooled everywhere. Rumor has it he nearly bled to death—ha!" Feng Ying laughed wildly. "That’s when I knew: whoever he chose to protect must be the luckiest soul alive. From that moment, I vowed to marry him!"
Chu Ruoyan sat speechless, her grip tightening on her sleeve.
She’d never known this part of his past.
"County Princess Changle, I beg you! Let me stay by his side, and I’ll do anything! Your sister fancies Prince Qin, doesn’t she? I can help her reject him! I’ll salvage your family’s reputation too. All these benefits, just for a concubine’s spot—what do you say?"
Feng Ying watched her eagerly. Chu Ruoyan finally replied, "He won’t agree."
The pleading look vanished, replaced by icy fury. "Is it him, or you, who refuses?"
Silence. Feng Ying sneered. "Fine. I’ve humbled myself, yet you remain ungrateful. Chu Changle, then let your mother, sister, and the entire House of Chu perish with you!"
Chu Ruoyan shook her head. This woman and her second sister were polar opposites—one excessively kind, the other ruthlessly wicked. If they truly shared blood, it’d be unbelievable.
Leaving the tavern, she returned to the Yan residence.
Meng Yang reported that Yan Zheng wouldn’t be back tonight due to the devastating earthquake in Yuwanzhou.
After dinner, news arrived from the Duke of Chu’s household: Lady Jiang the Younger had attempted suicide by drowning while Chu Ruolan was distracted. Fortunately, Chu Huaishan returned in time to save her.
The couple spoke privately for hours before summoning a meal, suggesting she’d abandoned further suicidal thoughts.
"Miss, you’re too soft-hearted. After all the times that woman tormented you, now you save her..." Yulu grumbled.
Chu Ruoyan shot her a glance, about to retort, when wind chimes tinkled outside—Shadow had arrived.
Sitting upright, she opened the delivered booklet: "Elder Feng, Feng Huan, Feng Shuo, Feng Ying... Mrs. Feng?"
She looked up. Shadow nodded emphatically.
Yulu read aloud curiously, "This Mrs. Feng is Elder Feng’s wife, yet she doesn’t reside in the Northern Garrison’s estate. Instead, she’s long convalesced at Guardian Temple, ignored by her family as if forgotten... Huh? She’s actually the grandaunt of that Miss Lin whom Young Master Tingfeng intends to marry?!"
