At this point, it would be awkward to refuse.
Chu Ruoyan clung to his shoulders, flustered, and said, "Put me down first... There are so many people in the mansion watching!"
Yet Yan Zheng only tightened his grip. "No. This Chief Minister is carrying his own wife to dine—what’s there to gawk at?"
As his voice fell, the servants around them immediately lowered their heads.
Meng Yang, surprisingly sharp for once, hurried ahead to "clear the path."
Chu Ruoyan’s ears burned, and she could only bury her face deeper into his chest...
They passed through halls and corridors until the kitchen, where the tantalizing aroma of vinegar-glazed dishes greeted them.
"This is... the vinegar-braised cabbage and five-spice platter from Lucky Tavern, and there’s even plum blossom cakes from Zhang's Shop—still steaming hot!"
The woman gasped softly. Yan Zheng set her down. "Mm. I noticed you’ve had little appetite lately, so I picked these up casually on my way back from court."
He ladled out two bowls of red bean and rice porridge, handing one to her. Chu Ruoyan took small sips, then suddenly sniffled.
"What’s wrong?" The man’s expression tensed.
Chu Ruoyan quickly shook her head. "Nothing. I just remembered Yun Lang’s situation and felt a pang of sadness."
Yan Zheng frowned slightly and glanced at Meng Yang, who promptly explained, "Madam, we’ve investigated Princess Roumin’s background thoroughly—there’s no issue. She was separated from her family at two and a half, and at three, a loyal servant brought her to Duke of Chu's Mansion. Your father, the Duke, took her in. But not long after, Dowager Noble Consort arrived, claiming only she could resolve the crisis between two nations!"
"Ah, Madam might not know this, but Princess Roumin’s mother—the Princess Consort Regent—was actually the daughter of the Western Frontier King! She and the Regent King met with disaster on their way back to the Western Frontier. Then the Murong clan seized power, and the Western Frontier King, enraged, sent his army the following year to crush Great Xia in revenge for his daughter and son-in-law. Wasn’t it Dowager Noble Consort who brought a young girl to meet him then? That girl was Princess Roumin!"
Chu Ruoyan’s gaze sharpened. "Wait, if what you say is true, then the Western Frontier King is Princess Roumin’s maternal grandfather! If he found his granddaughter, why didn’t he take her back to the Western Frontier to raise her? Instead, he handed her to Dowager Noble Consort—a consort of the usurper who stole the Yun family’s throne. Why would he trust her? And wouldn’t he fear Dowager Noble Consort exposing Princess Roumin’s origins, making her life in Great Xia impossible?"
Meng Yang was stumped, unable to reply.
Yan Zheng gently squeezed her hand. "A-Yan, the Western Frontier King and Dowager Noble Consort must have struck some agreement. After the troops withdrew, the late emperor didn’t pursue the Yun family aggressively either. As for Dowager Noble Consort... she’s actually the Regent King’s aunt—Princess Roumin and Yun Lang’s great-aunt."
With that connection, it made sense why the Western Frontier King entrusted the child to her...
Chu Ruoyan’s lips trembled. "B-but Yun Lang once said... when I wear makeup, I resemble the Princess Consort Regent..."
"True, but there are people in this world who simply look alike." Yan Zheng stroked her back soothingly. "A-Yan, earlier you were relieved to learn you weren’t Yun Lang’s sister. Why does it trouble you now?"
She pressed her lips together, her eyes clouded with worry. "If Yun Lang’s found sister weren’t Princess Roumin, I’d be happy for him. But this blind girl is anything but harmless—no, she’s dangerous. I fear Yun Lang might throw his life away for her..."
At this, Yan Zheng let out a soft chuckle.
Chu Ruoyan blinked. "Did I say something wrong?"
Yan Zheng shook his head. "You’re overthinking it. What was the first thing Yun Lang said to you today?"
Chu Ruoyan recalled, "He said, ‘My little sister has shown such sincerity’..."
"Before that."
"‘Little blind girl’?"
She paused, then a glimmer of realization lit her eyes. "You mean... if he’d truly accepted Princess Roumin wholeheartedly, he wouldn’t call me ‘little blind girl’ in front of her—since she’s blind herself!"
Yan Zheng nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "Yun Lang isn’t a fool. He can tell Princess Roumin came prepared. What he chooses to do after figuring her out is his business."
Some of the weight lifted from Chu Ruoyan’s chest, but concern lingered. "Today, he also said that no matter what Princess Roumin does, as her elder brother, he can only protect her. And that we needn’t meet again. What do you think he meant by that?"
Their eyes met, both silently arriving at the same unspoken suspicion.
But neither voiced it further, leaving Meng Yang utterly bewildered.
Chu Ruoyan lowered her head and gulped down more porridge, changing the subject. "By the way, any news about Shadow?"
Meng Yang launched into a rapid-fire report. "Nothing! I checked the Xiao family as you ordered, but they haven’t seen him either. That damn Shadow—living up to his name, vanishing without a trace! Sir, d’you think he might’ve encountered some peerless master who took him as a disciple?"
Yan Zheng lifted a disdainful brow at him.
To everyone’s surprise, Chu Ruoyan chimed in, "That can’t be... Is there anyone in the capital stronger than him?"
Yan Zheng frowned and promptly ushered her back to their chambers. "Don’t let Meng Yang’s nonsense rub off on you."
Only then did Chu Ruoyan snap out of it. "But Shadow’s been missing so long—could something really have happened?"
Yan Zheng replied calmly, "I’m not worried about his safety. Only his mother... Never mind. It’s late. We’ll discuss this tomorrow."
They extinguished the lamps and retired.
Yan Zheng had half a mind for other activities, but seeing her pallor, he restrained himself.
Before dawn the next day, he left.
Chu Ruoyan lazed in bed until midday. After freshening up, Xue Ling unexpectedly arrived.
"Cousin? Aren’t you about to get married? What brings you here?" Chu Ruoyan hurriedly seated her and called for Yulu to serve tea.
Xue Ling waved it off. "No need. I was at Seasons Workshop picking out robes and happened to pass by, so I dropped in. Oh, have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"Cousin Ruoyin’s wedding is set—the second day of next month, just days before mine!"
Chu Ruoyan gasped. "What? Why the rush?"
Ordinary families took at least a month to prepare for weddings, and it was already month’s end—the second was barely a week away!
"Was it Cousin Huai'an’s idea? No, impossible. He treasures Second Sister too much to let her marry in such haste. Was there outside pressure?"
Xue Ling smiled. "Nothing gets past you. It was Prince Qin. He insisted on escorting her to the wedding as an elder brother, hence the chosen date. As for the reason..." She glanced around and lowered her voice. "According to Zhizhou, the northern border situation has worsened. Prince Qin is heading to the frontlines to replace General Zhenbei, so he picked the day of his departure to see Cousin Ruoyin married."
Chu Ruoyan was stunned. After a long pause, she murmured, "And Second Sister—no, Cousin Huai'an agreed?"
Xue Ling hesitated, but her maid Chan cut in, "Of course not! Young Master Jiang even went to Prince Qin's Mansion to confront him. But after their talk, he consented. Now the whole capital’s buzzing about this wedding—a prince personally escorting the bride, and one about to go to war no less!"
Chu Ruoyan remained silent, lost in thought. Xue Ling sighed and said, "Speaking of which, Prince Qin and Cousin Ruoyin truly had... a love that was never meant to be. Now, we can only hope this marriage proceeds smoothly, without any further complications."
