Roumin trembled in terror, covering her head.
Chu Huaishan stepped forward, shielding her. "Second Young Master, please show mercy!"
Yun Lang gave a scornful laugh. "Mercy? Duke of Chu, when your daughter tried to kill me, did she show any mercy?" With a sharp motion, he tore open his robe, revealing a shocking wound on his chest. Had it been just two inches higher, it would have been fatal!
Chu Huaishan gritted his teeth and knelt on one knee. "It is all my fault for failing to teach my daughter properly! I am willing to accept her punishment in her stead!"
Chu Ruoyan hurried forward to help him up. "Father... please don't do this!" She turned to look at Yun Lang, who lazily closed his robe, a trace of coldness still lingering in his eyes.
"Miaomiao, it's not that your second brother refuses to spare her. It's just that this girl has a vicious heart. Knowing I was her elder brother, she still dared to strike a fatal blow. Keeping her in the Chu family will only bring trouble."
Chu Ruoyan knew her brother was right, but sometimes, emotions simply override reason.
Chu Huaishan moved forward on his knees. "Roumin has become like this because I, her father, failed her. I was not by her side to guide her properly. From now on, I will discipline her strictly and never allow her to commit such wrongs again! I beg you, Second Young Master, give her one more chance!"
The Dowager Noble Consort, looking at the child she had raised from a young age, couldn't help but plead, "Indeed, Lang'er. Moreover, Roumin lost her sight to a venomous snake bite on Mount Wutai... Please let her off this once..."
With everyone pleading for mercy, Yun Lang paid them no heed, focusing only on his younger sister. "Miaomiao, do you also wish for me to spare her?"
Chu Ruoyan pressed her lips together. Seeing the pleading look in her adoptive father's eyes, she sighed softly. "Second Brother, after all these years... I did take her place. Let's just let bygones be bygones, alright?"
Yun Lang fell silent. Roumin cried out, "Yes, yes! Why should she live in luxury in the Duke of Chu's mansion while I suffered all those hardships on Mount Wutai? It's her who wronged me! It's you siblings who wronged me!"
"Silence!" Chu Huaishan roared, his heart aching as he looked at his biological daughter. "How can you think that? All these years, you've been by the Dowager Noble Consort's side, granted the title of County Princess, never lacking for food, clothing, or anything else! And do you think Yan'er had it easy in the Duke's mansion? Do you know how your aunt bullied her all those years? If it were you, you wouldn't have lasted a day!"
Roumin was left speechless. Yun Lang finally spoke. "Fine. For Miaomiao's sake, I can let the past go. But..."
He paused. Chu Huaishan understood his meaning. "Second Young Master, rest assured. I stake my life on it, she will never reveal your identities. If she breaks this oath, I will pay with my own life!"
Chu Ruoyan's heart clenched with anxiety. She turned to Roumin. "I know you hate me to the bone. But you'd better understand the gravity of this. This matter has far-reaching implications. If exposed, it won't just be us—the entire Duke of Chu household, including you, will face extermination. No one will escape."
Harboring remnants of the former dynasty and raising an imposter—any one of these charges was a crime punishable by the extermination of three clans!
Roumin shuddered and lowered her head. Yun Lang gave a light laugh. "Good. With this matter settled, Miaomiao, come back to the Hundred Insights Pavilion with me."
Chu Ruoyan smiled and nodded. Suddenly, Hongxiu spoke up. "Pavilion Master, we have made contact with Jiang Daru. He requests a meeting today..."
"Who cares about him! Reuniting with my sister is the happiest event of my life. Let him wait!"
Yun Lang dismissed it without a second thought. A flash of resentment crossed Hongxiu's eyes.
This Jiang Daru was a renowned literary giant. If they could gain his support, the great cause of restoring their kingdom would be within reach!
Yet the Pavilion Master only had eyes for the Third Young Lady...
She could only clench her fists and step back.
Hundred Insights Pavilion.
Before Chu Ruoyan could even step inside, she heard a resounding roar—
"Greetings, Third Young Lady!"
Startled, she saw the main hall filled with people, neatly divided into two groups by their black and white attire.
A scholar in white stepped forward, holding a feather fan, quite the dashing figure. "Your subordinate, Bai Yi of the Bright Division, pays respects to the Third Young Lady! You may call this subordinate Scholar Bai."
Another person, clad in black and masked, spoke with a murderous tone. "Your subordinate, Heiya of the Dark Division, pays respects to the Third Young Lady!"
Chu Ruoyan was momentarily stunned. Yun Lang chuckled lazily. "Old Du, aren't you going to introduce everyone to Miaomiao?"
Shopkeeper Du hurried forward respectfully. "Third Young Lady, beneath the Pavilion Master, the Hundred Insights Pavilion is divided into the Bright and Dark Divisions. Scholar Bai here is the head of the Bright Division, in charge of intelligence, analysis, reconnaissance, and all overt operations. Heiya is the head of the Dark Division, responsible for assassination, infiltration, subversion, and other... covert tasks. Additionally, there is the 'Celestial Pivot,' which answers directly to the Pavilion Master and is responsible for monitoring everyone within the pavilion and eliminating any traitors... This was something even the former County Princess Roumin did not know."
Chu Ruoyan was inwardly astonished.
No wonder the Hundred Insights Pavilion had stood firm in the capital for so long. Its internal structure was this meticulous!
She glanced sideways at her brother. How old was he when he took over this mess?
Unable to help herself, she said, "You've worked hard..."
Hearing this, Yun Lang's smile widened. "To hear you say that, Miaomiao, makes all these years of struggle worthwhile! All of you, listen well. From now on, the Third Young Lady's word is my word. Whatever she wishes to do, you obey unconditionally. If anyone disagrees, leave now!"
The hall fell into solemn silence, only Hongxiu's fists clenched tighter and tighter.
Granting such immense authority right from the start?
Even Roumin, after all her previous wheedling and coaxing, had only been reluctantly given a portion.
Chu Ruoyan glanced at Yun Lang and said calmly, "You all work for the Hundred Insights Pavilion. There's no need for concern. If I am ever lacking in any way in the future, please feel free to correct me."
Her manner was neither arrogant nor humble, dignified and proper.
Those below immediately responded, "You are too kind, Third Young Lady. We will faithfully follow the Pavilion Master's orders!"
A surge of pride welled up in Yun Lang's heart. See, this was his younger sister, Yun Lang's sister!
After the introductions, the siblings went to the top floor.
As Yun Lang was about to brew tea, Chu Ruoyan suddenly said, "Second Brother, the incident where you were stabbed by Roumin... was it all planned?"
Yun Lang's hand, holding the teapot, stilled. Qin Yiru, who had followed them, turned to sneak away.
"I thought it was strange earlier. Given how much you cherish your sister, if Roumin were truly your sister, you'd rather die yourself than let her bear the stigma of fratricide. Yet at Guardian Temple, the moment the truth was revealed, you woke up. And then there's Old Divine Physician Qin..."
Qin Yiru, hearing his name, stopped in his tracks and turned back awkwardly, rubbing his nose.
Chu Ruoyan shook her head and continued, "Given how concerned the old divine physician is about you, if he knew you had lost the will to live and were on the verge of death, how would he have the leisure to treat the servants in my mansion? And your wound... it just happened to be two inches away from your heart... Second Brother, oh Second Brother, did you already know Roumin wasn't your sister, and that's why you colluded with the old divine physician to stage this 'bitter flesh' scheme?"
