Vice Minister Yuan?
That Vice Minister Yuan who already had seven or eight concubines and was old enough to be her grandfather?
Chu Ruoyan's anger had just begun to rise when Chu Tingfeng kicked out, sending several maidservants tumbling to the ground.
"Yunshi, don't be afraid!"
He steadied the young girl and hurriedly untied the ropes binding her hands and feet.
But Lin Yunshi, overwhelmed by fear, scrambled away the moment she was free. "D-don't come near me!"
She clutched something in her hand, her face filled with terror as she pointed it at Chu Tingfeng.
Heartbroken, the young man grabbed her hand. "Yunshi, it's me! It's Tingfeng!"
"Ting... Tingfeng...?"
"Yes, it's me. Don't be afraid!" Chu Tingfeng gently pried open her fingers, revealing bloodstained hands gripping a splintered piece of wood she must have torn from somewhere.
Lin Yunshi whispered in despair, "You finally came... If you hadn't, I would have used this to kill him and then myself..."
Chu Tingfeng's heart ached unbearably. Without another thought for propriety or reputation, he pulled her into his arms in front of everyone.
Gasps erupted from the onlookers.
Madam Lin the Fourth, Lin Yunshi's legal mother, rushed out immediately. "How dare you! Ruining my daughter's virtue in public like this!"
Lin Yunshi trembled violently, but Chu Tingfeng held her tighter.
"Virtue? Madam Lin the Fourth, you dressed your daughter like this and sent her to Vice Minister Yuan's residence. Do you even care about her virtue?"
A cold, mocking voice cut through the air. Madam Lin the Fourth whirled around, ready to rage, but Lin Sheng quickly stopped her. "Aunt, this is County Princess Changle!"
Madam Lin the Fourth froze. Then she saw Chu Ruoyan approaching.
"Master Lin, today you allowed your servants to harm my cousin. Out of respect for the marriage ties between our families, my cousin has chosen not to pursue this further. Now, he wishes to take his betrothed home. Do you have any objections?"
Lin Sheng didn't dare object. Before Madam Lin the Fourth could speak, Chu Ruoyan interrupted.
"Madam Lin the Fourth, I heard your family intends to form a marriage alliance with Vice Minister Yuan. A fine idea. But surely the bride isn’t Miss Lin the Seventh? Otherwise, arranging one girl for two marriages would make it rather difficult for the Lin family to arrange future matches, wouldn’t it?"
Madam Lin the Fourth shuddered.
A girl promised to two families—this was a grave taboo in the capital.
But hadn’t they already returned the betrothal gifts and birth details? Why was the Duke of Chu's Mansion still clinging to this little wretch?
"Madam Lin the Fourth? Are you ignoring my words?"
The calm yet weighty tone made her flinch again. "N-no, of course not! This humble one agrees... The County Princess is absolutely right..."
Chu Ruoyan nodded. "Tingfeng, let’s go."
Chu Tingfeng carefully helped Lin Yunshi into the carriage, and they sped away.
Madam Lin the Fourth muttered, "What just happened? Wasn’t the plan just to teach that Chu boy a lesson? He’s only from the second branch—the Duke of Chu wouldn’t even stand up for him! So how did the Prime Minister’s wife get involved?"
Lin Sheng rolled his eyes. "How should I know? Because of your mess, I even got slapped!"
Before Madam Lin the Fourth could reply, the head of the Lin family returned.
With him came Vice Minister Yuan’s wedding sedan. The steward looked around in confusion. "Huh? Where is she? Our master is waiting for his wedding night!"
Madam Lin the Fourth’s heart sank. Her brother-in-law shot her a cold glare. "Steward Yuan, please come inside for some tea. We’ll send the new concubine to the sedan shortly..."
"Very well, but hurry. Our master isn’t known for patience." With that, Lin Sheng led him inside.
Madam Lin the Fourth tried to follow, but Master Lin stopped her.
"Look at the mess you’ve made!"
His furious tone made it clear he already knew what had happened.
Terrified, she started to kneel, but he caught her arm. "No time for that. Pick another girl from your household and send her to Vice Minister Yuan immediately!"
"Brother! The remaining girls—Sister Fang and the others—they’re my own daughters!"
"And so what? You failed to keep your stepdaughter under control. Is that my fault?" Master Lin glared. "Get someone ready and send her over now. If Vice Minister Yuan is offended, my position in the Ministry of Works is finished! Go!"
With a sob, Madam Lin the Fourth had no choice but to obey.
That night, Vice Minister Yuan’s inner chambers were filled with weeping. Madam Lin the Fourth fell ill soon after.
Meanwhile, at the Prime Minister’s residence...
After the physician treated Lin Yunshi’s wounds, Chu Tingfeng prepared to kneel with her in gratitude.
Chu Ruoyan stopped them. "No need for that. I helped you today because I also have a favor to ask."
Chu Tingfeng was stunned. Lin Yunshi spoke softly, "How may we serve the County Princess?"
Chu Ruoyan studied her. Though the girl’s eyes were swollen from crying, she had regained her composure faster than Chu Tingfeng—even appearing calmer.
Her cousin had truly found a gem.
"It’s about your great-aunt, Miss Lin the Seventh—"
"County Princess!" Lin Yunshi interrupted. "Your kindness today is beyond repayment. If you’ll permit it, please call me by my name. ‘Miss Lin the Seventh’ is far too distant."
Chu Ruoyan arched a brow. Chu Tingfeng clasped Lin Yunshi’s hand firmly. "Cousin, by holding her in public today, I’ve already decided—I will marry no one but her!"
The young couple’s intertwined fingers spoke of unwavering devotion.
Chu Ruoyan nodded. "Very well. Sister-in-law, what do you remember about your great-aunt?"
"Great-aunt..."
Lin Yunshi thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Forgive me, County Princess. Great-aunt married into the Feng family before I was born and rarely visited afterward. I only know she was close to my grandfather. But in recent years, as his sight and hearing failed, and with my uncle now leading the household, we’ve had little contact with that side of the family."
This matched the intelligence Chu Ruoyan’s spies had gathered.
After a pause, she said, "Your great-aunt was sent away by the Feng family for ‘recuperation’ over a decade ago."
"What?"
Lin Yunshi gasped, then understood. "Great-aunt had no sons—only a daughter long since married off. And the Lin family is merely a minor official’s household, far beneath the Fengs in status. With my uncle in charge and no effort to maintain ties... she was abandoned, wasn’t she?"
A pang of sympathy struck her. As a fourth-branch concubine-born daughter of the Lin family, had she been sent to Vice Minister Yuan, she might have shared the same fate.
"County Princess, where was great-aunt sent? I’d like to visit her."
Chu Ruoyan’s eyes gleamed with approval.
Loyal and kind-hearted. Her cousin had chosen well.
"She’s at Guardian Temple. I also have questions for her, so we’ll go together."
"Thank you, County Princess!"
By evening, they arrived at Guardian Temple.
The abbot rushed out to greet the Prime Minister’s wife. But when she asked to see Mrs. Feng, he hesitated.
"Is there a problem?"
Chu Ruoyan’s instincts prickled. The abbot clasped his hands. "Amitabha. County Princess, this old monk isn’t refusing you... but Madam Feng passed away several days ago. I’m afraid you’re too late."
