The sharp pain in his heart turned into stiffness on his face. The man stared fixedly at the red bridal veil, knowing that in this lifetime, he would never again glimpse the delicate face beneath it. "Very well... take care of yourself," he said, his voice strained.
With that, he turned and fled as if escaping a nightmare. But the moment he mounted his horse, a metallic taste of blood surged into his throat.
Changhua called out worriedly, "Your Highness!" Yet he raised a hand to silence him and spurred his horse away.
The rhythmic clatter of hooves echoed as countless memories flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern—
"Yes, it's because you resemble her that I’ve paid you such attention..."
"Chu Ruoyin, if anything happens to A-Ying, I will never forgive you!"
"She doesn’t have to be a concubine, but she will not become a nun!"
"Ruoyin, I was wrong in the past..."
"Ruoyin, don’t worry. Once you enter my household, I will treat you well. You’ll never suffer again..."
"Ruoyin, hold on. You won’t die. I forbid it!"
The wind howled, and rain began to fall.
A drop splashed onto the back of her hand.
Chu Ruoyin lowered her head, and soon, more "raindrops" pattered down, smudging her bridal makeup.
The wedding matron exclaimed cheerfully, "Heaven’s blessings! Heaven’s blessings! Strike the gongs, beat the drums—the bride is about to depart!"
Music swelled once more, as if the earlier scene had never happened.
Before stepping into the bridal sedan, the woman cast one last glance in the direction he had gone.
All she saw was a blur of red, the veil obscuring everything—even his retreating figure was no longer clear.
Farewell, Your Highness.
Two figures passed each other, never to meet again.
The bridal sedan headed south. The warhorse galloped north.
One to the south, one to the north—forever apart like the stars Shen and Shang.
In the crowd, Chu Ruoyan unconsciously tightened her grip on the sleeve of the man beside her.
Yan Zheng wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "What’s wrong?"
"Nothing... I just feel grateful that you’re here with me."
The man raised a brow as his wife hooked her finger around his and squeezed tightly. "Prince Qin’s heart was full of Second Sister, and perhaps Second Sister wasn’t entirely indifferent to him either. Yet here they are now... what a pity."
Yan Zheng nodded in agreement, though inwardly he scoffed.
Who told Murong Jin to play the magnanimous fool?
"Love means letting her go"? Nonsense!
If you don’t fight for her, how can you expect to win her?
Since the Jiang family’s ancestral home was in Yangzhou, the wedding ceremony was temporarily held in one of their estates.
Guests arrived in high spirits, including Xue Ling and Chu Tingfeng, who were soon to be married themselves.
Jiang Huaian led his bride into the hall, instructing Jiang Jinxue to hand over the fifty-eight land deeds gifted by Prince Qin to his father. Overjoyed, Jiang's Father beamed at Chu Ruoyin with newfound warmth. "Good, very good! Niece Ruoyin—no, I should call you daughter-in-law now. My dear, don’t worry. If Huaian ever dares to mistreat you after the wedding, your father-in-law will stand up for you!"
Chu Ruoyin knew exactly what had bought this kindness. A pang of bitterness tightened her chest as she curtsied gracefully. "Thank you, Father-in-law."
The master of ceremonies announced the rites. Two bows completed.
Then came the final call: "Husband and wife, bow to each other—"
Before the words fully faded, a hoarse but thunderous voice boomed from outside: "Halt!!"
The crowd turned in surprise. At the gates, four servants carried a palanquin bearing an elderly man whose face was etched with fury, though his spirit burned fiercely.
The Jiang family froze. Chu Ruoyan gasped in delight. "Grandfather! Why have you come?!"
It was none other than Old Master Jiang, the patriarch of the Jiang family!
Yan Zheng stepped forward first, cupping his hands respectfully. "Greetings, Grandfather."
The old man paused, then nodded. "Hmm... Yan’er mentioned you in her letters. You’re her husband, aren’t you? Decent face, good manners—far better than some heartless beasts!"
The Jiang family stiffened awkwardly. Jiang's Father hurried forward. "Father, why didn’t you inform us of your journey from Yangzhou? Your son could have—"
Slap!
A resounding blow struck him across the face.
Jiang's Father staggered, stunned. Jiang Huaian cried out, "Grandfather!"
"You dare call me Grandfather? Kneel!"
Jiang Huaian clenched his teeth and dropped to his knees. "Grandfather! Your grandson doesn’t know what wrong he has committed to anger you so, but today is my wedding day. Please, take the seat of honor and share a cup of celebratory wine..."
"Celebratory wine, my foot!! I traveled a thousand miles to ask you one question—do you remember the Jiang family’s ancestral rules?!"
Jiang Huaian faltered, about to recite them, when Jiang Jinxue cut in urgently, "Grandfather! Today is Elder Brother’s wedding. Many distinguished guests are present!" Her tone was a clear warning, but the old man ignored it.
Chu Ruoyan’s heart sank. She tugged at Yan Zheng’s sleeve.
The man sighed. "It seems the Jiang family has unresolved matters. This wedding banquet may have to wait..."
His words brought visible relief to Jiang Jinxue, who quickly added, "Yes, the Chief Minister is right! We must ask our guests to leave for now. The Jiang family will later deliver gifts to each household as apology!"
With the Chief Minister’s decree, even those eager to witness the drama had no choice but to depart. Soon, most of the guests had dispersed. Jiang Jinxue helped her grandfather to the main seat, though due to his frail legs, his palanquin remained in the center of the hall.
"Recite them!!" Old Master Jiang demanded.
Jiang Huaian had no choice but to obey. "The Jiang family’s ancestral rules—No Jiang descendant shall serve the Murong family, accept Murong favors, or form Murong marriages..."
The words stunned even Chu Ruoyan.
She had only known that her grandfather forbade the family from entering politics—never had she imagined these three rules, each targeting the imperial family!
Yan Zheng, recalling old rumors, studied the old man thoughtfully.
Jiang Huaian protested, "Grandfather! I’m marrying Cousin Ruoyin. This has nothing to do with the imperial family—"
"Nothing? Then who is her sworn brother? On my way to the capital, I heard the entire city buzzing about how she’s some prince’s sworn sister!"
"Grandfather, it’s just a nominal title. There’s no blood relation—"
"Just nominal?" Old Master Jiang sneered, then shot a glare at Jiang's Father. "Bring them here."
Jiang's Father trembled but handed over the fifty-eight land deeds. The old man snatched them and hurled them at Jiang Huaian’s face. "What is this?! Explain this to me! ‘No Murong favors, no Murong marriages’—you’ve broken two of our three rules, and still you dare argue?!"
Jiang Huaian had never expected these gifts to become a spark for disaster. Seeing his bride tremble beside him—whether from shame or anger, he couldn’t tell—he suddenly rose to his feet in defiance. "Grandfather! I know you bear grudges against the Murong family, but that’s the feud of past generations! Cousin Ruoyin has nothing to do with them, and these deeds are merely wedding gifts—"
"Ha! The feud of past generations?" Old Master Jiang’s brows drew together like drawn swords.
Jiang's Father paled, desperately pulling at his son’s sleeve. But pushed to the brink, Jiang Huaian roared in anguish, "Yes! You and Father—you all have your reasons! But what about me? I’ve loved Cousin Ruoyin for over a decade. All I want is to marry her—what crime is that? Why must you all stand in our way again and again? Why?!"
Old Master Jiang remained unmoved. "Eldest Son, tell him why."
Jiang's Father sighed heavily. "Huaian, Jinxue... do you remember your Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and your aunts?"
The siblings nodded as he spoke in a hushed tone, "They're all dead... The Murong family accused them of harboring remnants of the previous dynasty. Without hesitation, they slaughtered all two hundred and seventy lives across five families... At the time, they even intended to target Father. Thankfully, our Eldest Aunt had married into the Chu family. By then, the Duke of Chu had already risen to the position of Minister of Revenue, a favorite of the emperor. It was only because of this connection that our family escaped disaster."
Everyone was stunned.
When Chu Ruoyan heard the words "remnants of the previous dynasty," her gaze snapped toward Yan Zheng.
She saw his expression darken slightly as he gave a slow nod.
A chill ran through her heart as her grandfather's voice cut through the air like ice: "The Jiang family and the Murong clan are sworn enemies. If you wish to marry your cousin, so be it. But marrying the adopted sister of Prince Murong? Absolutely out of the question!"
Before Jiang Huaian could respond, Chu Ruoyin tore off her bridal veil, gathered her skirts, and dashed out of the hall.
"Cousin Ruoyin!"
"Second Sister!"
Deaf to their calls, Chu Ruoyin ran, wiping her tears haphazardly as she fled.
She wouldn’t marry anymore. Never again...
Jiang Huaian’s heart twisted in agony. Ignoring the shouts of his grandfather and father, he chased after her.
The joyous celebration had ended in such a manner, leaving Chu Ruoyan with an indescribable bitterness in her heart.
Only after leaving the wedding hall and settling into the carriage did she finally voice the question weighing on her: "Earlier, Grandfather mentioned that the five Jiang families were implicated... Were the remnants of the previous dynasty who caused their downfall truly Princess Roumin?"
