Chu Ruoyan shook her head. Chu Ruolan stamped her foot and said, "Oh no, she must have heard the news about the Prince of Qin's return. Mother is definitely going to scold me to death now..." Then, as if remembering something, she nodded vigorously, "But... but maybe it's for the best! This way, Second Sister can follow her own heart and make a choice for once! I'll accept Mother's scolding!"
Chu Ruoyan chuckled, holding onto Yulu's hand to stand up. "Aunt isn't that harsh. She also wants Second Sister to have a good future... But I have matters to attend to now, I'm afraid I can't accompany you to look for her."
Chu Ruolan said, "Eldest Sister, you go ahead. I'll just call a few more people to help!"
One hour earlier, outside the Hui Chun Tang pharmacy.
Chu Ruoyin stepped out holding a packet of medicine when she suddenly overheard people chatting nearby.
"Did you go see it this morning? How was the spectacle? Was it impressive?"
"Of course it was! That's the Prince of Qin we're talking about! Let me tell you, you have no idea. He was riding a tall horse, his face cold and devastatingly handsome, stealing the hearts of countless young maidens..."
Thud!
The medicine packet fell from Chu Ruoyin's hand. She turned abruptly. "The Prince of Qin you mentioned... is he the Ninth Brother of the current Emperor?"
The two people looked at her strangely. "Of course. How many Princes of Qin are there in the capital?"
Chu Ruoyin covered her mouth, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.
He was back... he had returned safe and sound!
This thought grew wildly like vines within her. The emotions she had suppressed for so long could no longer be contained, bursting through the dam.
She suddenly dashed out the door, leaving Yuetao calling after her, "Second Young Lady! Second Young Lady, where are you going?! Wait for your servant!"
In front of the gates of the Prince of Qin's mansion.
She didn't even need to recall the route; her feet had unconsciously carried her here.
Chu Ruoyin stood dazedly beside the stone lion, not knowing what she intended to do or could do by coming here.
She simply couldn't control the urge to see him!
To confirm his safety with her own eyes!
"Sec-Second Young Lady, what are you doing here? Shouldn't we go back?" Yuetao forced a smile and tried to pull her away. Chu Ruoyin didn't move, standing there fixedly.
One incense stick's time passed, then two...
Finally, at the end of the long street, a familiar figure appeared.
"It's the Prince of Qin! His Highness the Prince of Qin is here!"
"Hail the Prince! A great victory!"
"Long live His Highness the Prince..."
The surroundings erupted in noise as the common people knelt down like waves.
Chu Ruoyin remained motionless, gazing obsessively at the man on horseback...
He was darker, thinner, his brow tightly furrowed. Was he injured?
"Second Young Lady! What are you going to do?" Yuetao desperately held onto her, but it seemed she couldn't stop her anymore.
Chu Ruoyin stubbornly moved forward, wanting to see his injuries. Suddenly—
The man reined in his horse and turned slightly, revealing a bridal sedan chair behind him.
Her whole body trembled. She heard him ask gently, "Miss Jiang, would you like to enter the mansion for a look?"
A shy voice came from the sedan chair. She recognized it—it was Jiang Yi!
"If Your Highness is willing, this humble subject... would be most honored..."
Murong Jin nodded and waved his hand.
The main gates of the Prince of Qin's mansion swung open, welcoming Jiang Yi inside with the highest honors.
"Who is that?"
"You don't know? A proclamation was just posted. The Prince of Qin has returned victorious, and the Emperor has bestowed a marriage upon him—to the younger sister of the Director of the Directorate of Astronomy!"
"So that's it. His Highness couldn't wait to bring his new lady into the mansion, haha!"
The surrounding chatter and laughter pierced Chu Ruoyin's heart like sharp blades.
Her face instantly turned deathly pale. Yuetao said urgently, "Second Young Lady, please don't take it to heart. This... this was unavoidable!"
Chu Ruoyin heard none of it. She only watched as he dismounted and led Jiang Yi into the mansion...
The world spun around her. She almost lost her balance, but a pair of strong, broad hands steadied her in time.
"Cousin, are you alright?"
Chu Ruoyin looked up and met her cousin's worried eyes.
Her lips parted, but in the end, no sound came out. She only stared at him emptily.
Jiang Huaian's heart ached terribly. He held her tightly. "It's alright now, cousin. It's all over, all over..."
Chu Ruoyin closed her eyes, tears slipping from the corners.
Yes, it was all over. It should be over...
She had already drawn a clear line with him long ago. Wasn't it only natural for him to marry now?
Then why did it feel like her heart was being torn apart...
"Cousin..." Chu Ruoyin gripped his sleeve, her knuckles turning white from the force. "Take me back... please, take me back."
Jiang Huaian nodded and immediately helped her leave.
At the very moment they turned away, inside the Prince of Qin's mansion, the man who had never looked back turned his head. "Changhua, did you see her?"
Changhua was stunned. "Who does Your Highness mean? There were so many people outside. This subordinate didn't notice."
Murong Jin said nothing, only watching her figure disappear around the street corner. "It's nothing. Let's go."
In the shadows, Song Jia took in everything.
"Lord Azure Dragon, why are you watching them? That Murong brat fell for Lord Black Tortoise's scheme. He'll be dead within a month without fail. What variable could there be?"
Song Jia shook his head slightly. "If Murong Jin just dies like that, it would at most be considered a death in battle. It wouldn't stir up any waves. This envoy, however, feels..." His eyes deepened, but he didn't continue. Instead, he asked, "What about the situation with the Southern Barbarians?"
At this question, his subordinate stamped his foot in frustration. "Useless! Lords White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise are all there, hoping to take advantage of the chaos to kill Yan Zheng! But that scoundrel is too cunning. Even while fiercely battling the Southern Barbarians, he could still set a trap, seriously injuring Lord White Tiger. Lords Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise also suffered minor injuries. They can't carry out the assassination anymore!"
Song Jia wasn't surprised. Stroking his beard, he said, "That Chief Grand Secretary Yan climbed out from a pile of corpses. The three of them alone can't handle him. What about the Southern Barbarians?"
His subordinate grew even more exasperated. "The Meng siblings refuse to ally with us! Meng Ze says Yan Zheng is his lifelong nemesis and insists on defeating him on the battlefield. Meng Ji says she suffered a loss from the Eldest Princess of Ansheng and won't discuss deals with Central Plains people again unless it's a descendant of the Prince Regent who seeks them out!"
Song Jia covered his forehead. After a long moment, he asked, "What about the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion? Are they willing to meet with us now?"
"Don't ask. Everyone we send gets killed! Princess Roumin has also been placed under house arrest by the Noble Consort Dowager. The guard is tight; we can't approach her for now!"
After asking all these questions, the situation seemed dire on all fronts!
Song Jia gazed in the direction of the Prince of Qin's mansion, narrowing his eyes. "It seems we can only start from here..."
That very night, after Jiang Yi left the Prince of Qin's mansion, the carriage driver took her to a secluded alley.
Half an hour later, she emerged from the alley, her face pale. Her maidservant said, "Young Lady, don't listen to that man's nonsense! His Highness the Prince of Qin has always been fond of Lady Feng. He only saw Second Young Lady Chu as a substitute!"
"But... but what if what he said is true?" Jiang Yi was distraught. "Lady Feng is already married, but Second Young Lady Chu isn't... What if Second Young Lady Chu comes looking for him? What should I do then?"
The maidservant couldn't answer, only saying, "In any case, Young Lady, don't listen to him! This servant always feels that man has ill intentions!"
Jiang Yi was at a loss for a moment, then finally resolved herself: "No, I must find out the truth... If the two of them truly have feelings for each other, I cannot wedge myself between them and cause them harm! Que'er, tomorrow you must go to the Duke of Chu's residence for me. Arrange a meeting with the Second Miss of the Chu family. Tell her I have some private matters on which I wish to seek her advice."
