The room was silent for a long while.
Yun Lang finally smiled and looked at Qin Yiru: "See? I told you we couldn't keep it from Miaomiao."
Qin Yiru rolled his eyes: "You Yun family members are all more cunning than the last. Hmph, this old man won't play with you anymore!" After saying that, he patted his backside and left.
Chu Ruoyan shook her head and looked at Yun Lang: "Second Brother, did you really know all along? Then why did you still...?"
"Wasn't completely sure. And if I hadn't done this, could you have found the resolve to question Chu Huaishan?"
Chu Ruoyan fell silent.
Her father... no, her foster father had been too good to her.
If the situation hadn't become so critically urgent, she truly wouldn't have had the courage to ask him.
Seeing this, Yun Lang took her hand: "Miaomiao, I know it might be hard for you to accept all at once. I can explain the family situation to you slowly later. But right now, I have a question for you... do you still plan to return to the Duke of Chu's mansion?"
Chu Ruoyan trembled. After a long pause, she whispered: "Second Brother, I have to go back. Leaving suddenly would arouse suspicion. Moreover, Yan Zheng said he would return to the Duke of Chu's mansion to fetch me."
A flicker of disappointment rose in Yun Lang's eyes, but he forced a smile and patted her shoulder: "I knew you'd say that. Very well, I'll assign Heiya to you, to protect your safety..."
Chu Ruoyan was startled: "Heiya is the leader of the covert division. Wouldn't that be...?"
"Not at all. Heiya has long wanted to wash his hands of that life. I was just the one holding him back. This is the perfect chance for him to go to your side, get 'cleaned up.' You should also keep an eye out to find him a wife, lest he says I mistreated him!"
Chu Ruoyan's mouth twitched. Then, remembering something, she lowered her gaze: "Second Brother, by letting your subordinates settle into peaceful, ordinary lives like this... do you truly have no intention of restoring the kingdom?"
Yun Lang gave a wry smile: "Restore what kingdom? Whose kingdom? The Yun family's? But I'm not a prince. Even if the kingdom were restored, I couldn't be emperor. Miaomiao, Second Brother just wants you to be safe and well, and for our family to be reunited, never to part again."
Chu Ruoyan's eyes grew moist, and her heart relaxed.
As long as Second Brother wasn't obsessed with restoring the kingdom, he wouldn't come into conflict with Yan Zheng.
On one side was her dearest family, on the other her deepest love. She wouldn't have to be torn between them!
Unbeknownst to her, every word of this conversation fell clearly into the ears of Hongxiu outside the room.
Her eyes burned with immense hatred, her palms almost bleeding from how tightly she clenched her fists!
How dare Yun Miao!
For so many years, they had all hoped the Pavilion Master would lead them to find the traitor, reclaim the Frost Snow Sword, rally the land under the Regent King's prestigious name, and take back the empire to revive the Great Sheng dynasty!
But the Frost Snow Sword had been found, and the Pavilion Master's fighting spirit was gone.
And it was all because of Yun Miao!!
A venomous look flashed in Hongxiu's eyes. She turned sharply and left.
Duke of Chu's Mansion.
When Chu Ruoyan returned, Roumin had already been taken away by the Dowager Noble Consort.
Today's events involved too much. Before a perfectly meticulous plan was in place, everything had to maintain its original appearance.
"Young Miss is back?" Lady Jiang the Younger hurried over upon seeing her, speaking mysteriously, "What happened at the Guardian Temple today? The Master returned and went straight to your mother's courtyard, dismissed all the servants, and hasn't come out since."
A pang shot through Chu Ruoyan's heart. Before she could think of an excuse, Chu Ruolan arrived: "Oh, Mother, today is the Bathing the Buddha Festival. Father must be remembering his deceased wife, so he went specifically to reminisce. Don't dwell on it!"
Lady Jiang the Younger looked skeptical but was pulled away by her daughter.
Chu Ruoyan stood rooted to the spot. Heiya asked: "Does Third Young Miss wish to go see?"
She was silent for a moment, then shook her head: "No... I have no right to go now."
She slept restlessly all night. In her dreams, one moment Yun Lang was smiling, the next her foster father was crying. Finally, it became Yan Zheng standing at the gate of the Duke of Chu's mansion, smiling and reaching out his hand to her, saying—I've come to fetch you.
That anxious, torn heart, as if tormented by ice and fire, finally settled. She slept until dawn.
"Young Miss, Young Miss, wake up!"
Urged by Yulu, she opened her bleary eyes to see Nanny Zhou also standing before her with a worried expression: "That person you brought back yesterday is fighting with the shadow guard! You must go see quickly!"
Chu Ruoyan hurriedly got up. Outside the courtyard, Heiya and Shadow were locked in a fierce fight. Wherever they went was a scene of devastation, especially the begonia tree in the courtyard, which was nearly stripped bare by their battle!
"Stop this at once!" she urgently shouted. Only then did the two men stop.
Chu Ruoyan scolded: "What is the meaning of this? It's only been one night, are you trying to tear down my Bodhi Courtyard?"
The two men glanced at each other. Heiya said solemnly: "Third Young Miss, he attacked first without any reason!"
Shadow snorted, quickly writing a sentence on his small notepad—Your martial arts are poor, your skill inferior. Why not just leave?
"You damn mute! I was holding back out of respect for Third Young Miss!"
—If it weren't for Madam's sake, do you think you'd still be alive?
Chu Ruoyan's head throbbed: "Enough, both of you!"
One was given to her by Yan Zheng, the other by her elder brother. How could they take such an instant dislike to each other and even start fighting?
Just as she was about to think of some soothing words, a gatekeeper suddenly entered, staring at the scene in shock: "Is Young Miss renovating the courtyard?"
"No. What is it?"
"A maid from Eldest Miss Mei's household has come. She says she has urgent business to see you."
The Imperial Palace, Yikun Palace.
Xue Xian reclined on the soft couch. Thinking of the Xue family, the resentment in her heart was inescapable.
Anyone with eyes could see that Zhang Ji's brother was just a scapegoat, but the Emperor, wary of the Grand Secretary at the front lines, had forced her to accept it...
His words sounded pleasant enough, promises of seeking justice for her later...
But the Xue family now consisted only of her. Where could she wait for 'later'?
Just then, the nanny returned. Xue Xian immediately sat up: "Well? Have you brought Baiqing back?"
After the murder case, Xue Baiqing had been sent by Chu Ruoyan to the Cao residence.
That bitch Chu Jing even had the nerve to adopt him, saying she would treat him as her own. Upon learning the news, Xue Xian had immediately sent someone to fetch him.
The nanny fearfully lowered her head: "Old... Old Madam Cao said she asked Young Master Baiqing... Young Master Baiqing is willing to stay at the Cao residence..."
Smash!
Xue Xian grabbed a teacup and hurled it at the nanny's head.
Blood instantly streamed down the nanny's forehead. She dropped to her knees with a thud, kowtowing heavily: "This old slave failed in her task! I beg Your Ladyship for mercy!"
Xue Xian was both frantic and furious: "How could Baiqing be willing? Huh? He's the only male heir left of the Xue family! How could he be willing to stay in the household of our enemy? That bitch Chu Jing, she's brought the Xue family to this ruin and still won't let go! And you, a worthless slave, can't even handle such a small matter. What use are you?"
She waved her hand dismissively: "Drag her out and behead her!"
The nanny was scared out of her wits, but before she could beg for mercy, her mouth was covered and she was dragged away.
Fear gripped everyone in Yikun Palace. The serving palace maids and eunuchs all lowered their heads, terrified that their mistress's displeasure might fall upon them next.
At that moment, a young eunuch hurried in: "Your Imperial Noble Consort, someone has delivered a letter..."
Thinking it was about Xue Baiqing, Xue Xian quickly ordered it brought to her.
Upon unfolding it and reading the contents, her expression shifted dramatically, ultimately transforming into one of unbridled joy as she burst into loud laughter: "Haha, excellent, excellent! This palace knew that Heaven has eyes, that our Xue family would not die unjustly in vain! Chu Jing, the Chu family, the Cao family—not a single one of them will escape now! Hahahaha!"
Her shrill laughter echoed through the palace halls, sending chills down the spines of all the servants present.
