Yan Zheng stiffened at her words.
His slender fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest of his chair. "In the military camp, acting without authorization warrants punishment."
"But this isn’t the military camp," the woman replied, a faint smile curving her lips. "And I am not the Marquis’s soldier."
Yan Zheng studied her.
In all his years of reading people, though he wouldn’t claim infallibility, he had never encountered a woman so bold yet docile, as enigmatic as she was unfathomable.
He rubbed his temples. "What is it you truly want?"
Chu Ruoyan’s heart leapt. "Marquis, with the rumors of the earthquake spreading, I wish to return to my family home tomorrow—"
Before she could finish, he coldly interrupted, "I asked what you truly want."
Chu Ruoyan froze.
Though his tone was calm, the man in the wheelchair exuded an undeniable pressure.
Had he lost patience with her games?
"Since your arrival, whether settling debts, investigating people, or aiding Wen Jing, every act has been in service to the Yan Family."
"Chu Ruoyan, what is your real purpose here?"
This was the first time he had spoken her name, yet every syllable dripped with scrutiny.
Chu Ruoyan knew that for someone who had grown up isolated and unwanted, wariness was second nature.
And the best way to deal with such a person was to be direct.
"Marquis, I’ve told you before—I came for you."
Yan Zheng laughed.
His brows arched slightly, his smile icy and mocking. "Do you expect me to believe that?"
"If you were truly one of those naive, empty-headed noble ladies, I might have entertained the thought. But Ruoyan, you are far too clever..."
When he uttered her name, his voice dropped to a whisper, intimate as a lover’s.
Yet Chu Ruoyan felt a chill crawl up her spine.
Of course—the man from her dreams, the demon who dared to rebel and slaughter the imperial family, wouldn’t be so easily fooled!
Now, there was only one option left...
"Why the silence? Weren’t you—"
Before he could finish, Yan Zheng abruptly stopped speaking.
The woman before him lowered her gaze, her shoulders trembling as if suppressing immense shame—then she reached for the sash at her waist.
"What are you doing?"
His breath hitched, and he instantly turned his head away.
Chu Ruoyan’s tense body relaxed slightly.
She had gambled right.
Biting her lip, she whispered, "If the Marquis does not believe me, then I have no other way to prove myself..."
Yan Zheng clenched his fists. "Tie your sash back on!"
She obeyed.
The man still refused to look at her. "You..."
His breathing was uneven, clearly thrown off balance by her bold move.
After a few steadying breaths, he finally spoke in a low voice, "I never intended this. You are the legitimate daughter of the Chu Family—there’s no need to demean yourself like this."
Chu Ruoyan blinked.
This demon of a man was unexpectedly principled.
She meekly agreed, bowing her head slightly—revealing a slender neck as flawless as jade...
Yan Zheng caught a glimpse and immediately averted his gaze as if burned. "Leave. Now."
Chu Ruoyan hurried out.
The night air was cold.
As she walked back to her quarters, her hands still trembled slightly.
Truthfully, she had exhausted all her tactics against Yan Zheng.
Obedience, feigned fragility, tears to evoke sympathy...
Tonight, she had been forced into a corner and resorted to that desperate measure. But what about next time?
She couldn’t possibly fake it till she made it, could she?
Lost in thought, she reached her courtyard—only for a small, dark shadow to barrel toward her.
Instinctively, she caught it by the scruff, then relaxed when she recognized Fubao.
"Woof!"
The little dog wriggled into her arms, nuzzling her. Yulu rushed over. "Miss, you’re finally back! This little rascal has been running wild all over—we’ve been chasing him half to death!"
Chu Ruoyan knew it was because of the earthquake rumors. She patted the pup’s head. "Don’t be afraid."
Fubao obediently rubbed his head against her palm.
"Yulu, fetch Madam Li. Tell her I have urgent matters to discuss."
Soon, Madam Li arrived. "Is this about the earthquake? The rumors are everywhere!"
Chu Ruoyan nodded. "Second Sister-in-law, I’ll need your help these next few days. Do we have enough provisions?"
"Don’t worry—fresh meat and vegetables might be scarce, but we’ve stocked enough rice, flour, and oil for half a month!"
"Good. Please also prepare several large vats of clean water and arrange for extra guards. We can’t afford any opportunists."
Madam Li nodded eagerly. "You’re always so thorough. Oh—should we move the beds outside? And what about the coffins of Father and the others? I heard the Prime Minister’s family has already set up military tents!"
After a moment’s thought, Chu Ruoyan said, "Relocating would be too troublesome. Mang Mountain is far enough from here—let’s not make changes yet. Just have people take turns keeping watch."
Madam Li agreed and set off to make arrangements.
The night passed restlessly.
Outside, shouts and commotion occasionally erupted near the general’s residence.
By dawn, Yulu brought in breakfast. "Miss, thank goodness you foresaw this and had Madam Li increase security. The maids said three or four groups tried to cause trouble last night—all were driven off!"
Three or four groups?
If the Yan men were still here, not even three or four individuals would dare.
She sighed. "Has there been any word from Father?"
Originally, she had planned to visit her family home, but Yan Zheng had disrupted that.
Yulu replied, "After you retired last night, Chu Zhong came by. He said the Duke left a message for you—to stay calm and take care of yourself."
Chu Ruoyan nodded. Her father, a trusted confidant of the Emperor, must have received early news.
"What about outside? Any movements from other families?"
"Details are unclear, but I heard the Prime Minister’s family set up military tents, the Marquis of Chengen’s Mansion fled to the outskirts, and the Pingjing Marquis’s heir—Su Tingyun—ignored public pressure. Not only did he move his family to an empty cowshed, but he also sold all their estates near Mang Mountain!"
Chu Ruoyan wasn’t surprised.
In her dreams, Su Tingyun had always been sharp—especially after witnessing the devastation near Mang Mountain. If he hadn’t acted, she would’ve been shocked.
As she ate, she spotted Yan Zheng passing through the courtyard.
Clad in deep red court robes and an official hat, he was being wheeled out by Meng Yang.
"Where is the Marquis going?"
Yulu shook her head blankly.
Madam Li happened to arrive and overheard. "The palace sent for him this morning—the Emperor summoned him and other ministers to the Imperial Observatory to ‘observe’ the earthquake."
Observe the earthquake? And they called Yan Zheng?
Chu Ruoyan nearly laughed in disbelief. Had they forgotten they’d just foisted this disaster onto his father yesterday?
Truly, they thought the Yan Family had no one left—bullying a crippled man like this!
Seeing her expression, Madam Li sighed. "Third Brother knows the Emperor is determined to pin this on the Yan Family. Forgive me for saying it, but if the earthquake does happen, fine. If not..."
"If not, the Yan Family will bear the blame for spreading panic and false prophecies." Chu Ruoyan gritted her teeth. "Did he not prepare any countermeasures?"
Madam Li hesitated. "I thought he discussed it with you. Didn’t he keep you in his study last night...?"
Chu Ruoyan’s face darkened.
It sounded intimate—but in truth, it had been nothing but interrogation, threats, and manipulation.
Indeed, if this scoundrel could employ every trick in the book against her, he certainly wouldn’t be one to bow and scrape in court either.
Why should she worry about him?
"Second Sister-in-Law, did you come to see me for something?"
Madam Li patted her head. "I nearly forgot the main matter. Never mind the earthquake—if Father-in-law and the others are to be buried tomorrow, should we send someone to fetch Fifth Sister-in-Law back?"
