"Your Highness, are you aware that my cousin Huaian was taken back by my uncle the other day?"
She suddenly brought this up, and Prince Qin was momentarily stunned before replying, "I know. Moreover, I am also aware that your uncle intended to bring him back to Yangzhou, but Jiang Huaian refused and was whipped thirty lashes. He remains bedridden to this day."
The woman's voice carried a sigh. "Your Highness truly knows everything."
Detecting the faint mockery in her words, he made no attempt to conceal it. "Indeed. I have had people follow you—not just you, but everyone around you and everything you’ve encountered. I’ve investigated it all thoroughly."
Chu Ruoyin’s eyes dimmed. What did that make her, then? A mere plaything he had taken a fleeting fancy to and decided to possess?
"Since Your Highness knows, then you must also understand that Huaian suffered those lashes for my sake. Ruoyin has nothing of value to offer in return—only myself. So I have decided to accompany my cousin back to the Jiang family in Yangzhou."
The moment the words left her lips, the man nearly snapped the reins in his grip.
A storm brewed in his eyes. "Ruoyin, think carefully! Your uncle does not favor you, and your aunt would never allow you into their household! The entire Jiang clan will stand in your way. Jiang Huaian cannot protect you!"
"And can Your Highness?"
"I—"
Before he could speak, her calm voice cut through. "If you could, then the betrothal would never have been broken. Your Highness, I know you look down on my cousin, but his knowledge and talent are no less than yours. He is only bound by ancestral rules forbidding him from entering officialdom. Yet with his own abilities, he will surely carve out a future for himself."
Prince Qin felt as though an invisible hand had seized his heart, squeezing until he could barely breathe. "You... truly choose him?"
Inside the carriage, Chu Ruoyin clenched her robes, countless memories flashing before her eyes.
After a long pause, she closed her eyes. "Yes."
Silence engulfed both inside and outside the carriage, broken only by the creaking of wheels and the steady clip-clop of hooves.
The prince’s lips trembled, his hands gripping the reins shaking just as violently. The carriage curtain before him might as well have been an insurmountable chasm, forever separating them.
Changhua couldn’t hold back. "Second Miss Chu, His Highness didn’t mean to spy on you—he only sent people to protect—"
"Enough!"
The prince cut him off, his fury dissolving into sorrow. "Enough... Since you’ve made your decision, I... I respect it. The road to Yangzhou is long and treacherous. Take care of yourself."
Chu Ruoyin shuddered faintly.
"The three branches of the Jiang family each have their strengths. The second branch excels in strategy, the third in defense, but all unite under the leadership of the main branch. If you can persuade your uncle and aunt to accept you, then no further obstacles will stand in your way... And your grandfather—though advanced in years, he is open-minded and reasonable. You... you might find an opportunity with him..."
By the end, his voice was unsteady.
Chu Ruoyin’s heart ached, and she reached to lift the carriage curtain—but her fingers halted mid-air.
"Ruoyin will remember... Thank you, Your Highness."
Each word struck like a hammer, leaving the prince ashen-faced.
He tugged at his horse, staggering back a few steps. "Then... take care. I... I shall take my leave first..."
With that, he fled as if escaping, his figure betraying an uncharacteristic disarray.
Chu Ruoyin sat motionless in the carriage. Her maid, Bihe, whispered, "Miss, why must you torment yourself like this? You already told Master Jiang you would never see Young Master Huaian again. Why deceive the prince?"
"If I hadn’t, would he ever have given up?" The woman smiled bitterly. "Bihe, you don’t understand. He and Miss Feng share a deep bond. Sooner or later, he will return to her. I... I am too afraid to gamble on it."
Not far away.
Meng Yang, who had witnessed the entire scene, clicked his tongue in regret. "Young Master, Prince Qin usually seems so decisive. Why couldn’t he be firmer this time? Had he just gone into the carriage and spoken plainly with Second Miss Chu, they wouldn’t have ended up like this!"
Yan Zheng, however, replied, "The more one treasures something, the more cautious one becomes. Let’s go."
He turned his horse around, and Meng Yang hurried after him. "Rest assured, Young Master, everything on our end has been arranged. Now we just need to wait for— Who’s there?!"
His sword flashed out as the nearby bushes rustled, revealing a blindfolded young woman and her two maids.
Meng Yang’s eyes widened. "Princess Roumin? What are you doing here?"
The girl pressed her lips together, embarrassed. "Is that the Chief Minister? I... I lost an earring and was searching for it."
A film of cloudiness covered her eyes, and even when she "looked" in their direction, her gaze held no focus.
Meng Yang relaxed, thinking the blind princess couldn’t have been eavesdropping. But when he glanced at his master, he caught a sharp glint in Yan Zheng’s eyes. "Princess, why aren’t you in your carriage? How did you end up here?"
Caught, Roumin hesitated before admitting softly, "I came to pay my respects to Imperial Uncle, but I overheard him speaking with Second Miss Chu and didn’t wish to interrupt. Then I accidentally lost my earring... Forgive my impropriety, Chief Minister."
A sidelong glance revealed her maids’ indignant expressions—resentful at the accusation but not daring to defy him.
Only then did Yan Zheng ease. "My apologies for the misunderstanding. You may continue your search."
He turned to leave, but the princess called out, "Chief Minister, please wait! Huarui, Piaoxu, and I have searched for so long without success. That earring was a gift from the Dowager Consort in her youth—it holds great sentimental value. I... I humbly ask for your assistance. If it can be found, I will reward you handsomely!"
A flicker of impatience crossed Yan Zheng’s face. Meng Yang, pitying the blind princess, offered, "Why don’t you go ahead, Young Master? I’ll help her look."
Yan Zheng nodded and rode off. Meng Yang approached Roumin, who smiled gratefully. "Thank you. May I ask how to address you?"
Meng Yang scratched his head sheepishly. "No need for formalities. I’m just Meng Yang, a mere guard in the young master’s service..."
"Then I thank you, Young Master Meng." The blind princess curtsied, and Meng Yang hastily sidestepped, flustered.
Yet the next moment, his eyes nearly bulged out of his head at what he saw on the back of her neck.
Meanwhile, at the heart of the encampment.
Prince Qin dismounted, his heart in shreds, intending only to request leave from the emperor and depart. But before he could, exclamations erupted from within.
He strode inside to find a white-haired, almost ethereal-looking Daoist standing atop a platform, waving a peachwood sword while chanting unintelligibly. Suddenly, he spewed flames from his mouth, and a line of fire raced down the sword’s length.
Then—bang!
A cloud of smoke erupted.
And on the plate the sword pointed to, a single pill now rested.
The emperor clapped in delight. "Marvelous! Truly marvelous! The Great Immortal Liang lives up to his name! Minister Feng, you’ve done well in presenting such a man. Name your reward!"
Feng Ping bowed deeply. "To serve Your Majesty is this old subject’s honor. I dare not ask for anything. However, the Great Immortal Liang has an esteemed elder also within the royal hunting grounds. Would Your Majesty be willing to receive him?"
The emperor’s eyes gleamed, but before he could respond, Prince Qin roared, "Nonsense! Feng Ping, you have the gall to present this charlatan and deceive His Majesty? Do you have a death wish?!"
With a swing of his sword, he overturned the platform. The blade shot forth like a dragon, aimed straight at the "Great Immortal Liang’s" head.
The immortal froze in terror, forgetting even to flee.
The emperor, mistaking it for composure, bellowed, "Ninth Brother, stand down! Do not harm the immortal!"
Prince Qin hesitated—but his sword did not.
Just as the blade was about to sever the man’s head, Yin Shun suddenly threw himself forward and clung to him, pleading, "Your Highness, no! You mustn’t!"
"Get off!"
Prince Qin kicked him away, but the momentary delay allowed the imperial guards to swiftly surround and shield the immortal master.
The Emperor roared in fury, "Ninth Brother, how dare you defy Us? Have you lost all respect for Our command?"
