Seeking Death?
Chu Ruoyan recalled what he had said before his funeral—that the only reason he was still alive was that those who deserved death had not yet died. Such hatred would not allow him to die before vengeance was taken.
Just as she was about to comfort Steward Fang, Yulu suddenly came to report that someone from the Yao Family had arrived, claiming they were here to take Yao Qing back.
"So soon? The Fifth Young Madam’s family is truly heartless!" Steward Fang frowned and muttered.
Chu Ruoyan said, "Make them wait. I must see Fifth Sister-in-Law first."
Outside the capital’s outskirts, at the Ten-Mile Pavilion.
When Chu Ruoyan saw Yao Qing again, the latter’s eyes were swollen from crying, but she had regained her composure, no longer as distraught as before.
Yao Qing dismissed the servants. "Third Sister-in-Law, ask whatever you wish. After today, we may never have another chance to meet."
Chu Ruoyan understood her meaning. "Your mother was so insistent on cutting ties with the Yan Family before—it seems she received advance warning. Fifth Sister-in-Law, for the sake of our bond as sisters-in-law, could you tell me the real reason?"
Yao Qing lowered her head.
After a long silence, she finally spoke. "I don’t know the details, but I once heard my father mention… it has to do with Third Brother—the Marquis of Anning."
"With Yan Zheng?" Chu Ruoyan slowly furrowed her brows.
The only thing connected to Yan Zheng was the battle at Hangu Pass.
Could it be that the court had decided to pin the blame for the crushing defeat on him?
The thought was quickly dismissed. When Yan Zheng had returned to the capital with the bodies of his father and elder brother, the overwhelming public sentiment had forced the emperor to absolve the Yan Family of responsibility for the defeat.
Then what else could it be?
"Fifth Sister-in-Law—or perhaps I should call you Second Miss Yao now—could you do me one more favor?"
"What favor?"
Chu Ruoyan met her gaze. "Could you compile a list of officials your father frequently associates with?"
"A list?" Yao Qing quickly grasped her intent. "You want to follow the trail and extract clues from them? A clever plan, but why not simply ask your father? From what I know, your father, the Duke of Chu, is both a close confidant of the emperor and dotes on you. If you ask him, he’ll surely tell you. Why go through all this trouble?"
Chu Ruoyan listened, then after a long pause, gave a bitter smile. "Fifth Sister-in-Law, then why are you leaving the Yan Family?"
Though Yao Qing and Yan Fifth Young Master’s marriage had been brief, their bond had been deep. The fact that she had knelt and begged her mother just to see him off on his final journey proved she was neither weak-willed nor indecisive.
If it were up to her, she would never leave the Yan Family so soon. The only possible reason was…
"I see. Like me, you don’t want to implicate your family."
Yao Qing smiled self-deprecatingly.
Chu Ruoyan was fortunate—her father was a powerful duke, after all. But what about her?
Her family was merely a third-rank military household, bearing the hollow title of "Tiger-Wielding General." They dared not involve themselves in the power struggles of the court’s high-ranking officials, for the slightest misstep could spell ruin.
"Don’t worry. I’ll send you the list tomorrow. But you must promise me that, no matter what, you won’t reveal the Yao Family’s involvement."
Chu Ruoyan nodded and rose to bow. "Thank you, Second Miss Yao."
Yao Qing acknowledged her with a nod. As she stepped out of the pavilion, she suddenly turned back, her expression sorrowful. "Truthfully… I preferred it when you called me Fifth Sister-in-Law. Farewell."
This parting would likely be their last.
Chu Ruoyan watched her retreating figure, her heart heavy.
Had this tragedy not befallen them, she and Fifth Young Master would have surely lived happily together, wouldn’t they?
Wen Jing wouldn’t have lost his father, and Yan Zheng wouldn’t have lost his elder brother…
But alas, there were no "ifs" in life.
The next day, Yao Qing sent the list as promised.
Chu Ruoyan glanced through it—most were military officers friendly with the Yan Family, with only two or three civil officials.
"Yulu, how much silver do we have left?"
Yulu counted on her fingers. "After the funeral expenses, only about thirty or forty thousand taels remain."
Chu Ruoyan made a rough calculation in her head. "That’s enough. Take it to the bookstore and buy some rare calligraphy and paintings by renowned masters—the more precious, the better."
"Buy more? But Miss, if we spend any more, we’ll be left with nothing. You’ve already sold off all your dowry shops—we have no income now…"
Chu Ruoyan replied, "I know what you’re worried about, but we can’t afford to hesitate now. Just do as I say."
Reluctantly, Yulu obeyed.
As it turned out, masterpieces were the most extortionate things in the world.
Thirty thousand taels of silver bought only two paintings.
"They claim these are the only surviving works of Shi Jinnian from the previous dynasty. I wouldn’t know…"
"No matter. Prepare the carriage—we’re leaving immediately."
Following the names on the list, Chu Ruoyan visited the residences of the civil officials.
As expected, the moment they heard she was from the Yan Family, they avoided her like the plague.
Only one, unable to resist the allure of Shi Jinnian’s painting, secretly ushered her into the inner courtyard. "Marquise of Anning, this is just hearsay, but… someone accused the marquis of leaking Hangu Pass’s defensive plans…"
"?!"
Chu Ruoyan’s breath hitched. But when she pressed for more details, the official clammed up.
In the end, she left the painting behind. As she stepped out of the gate, Yulu, seeing her pale expression, couldn’t help but say, "Miss, why don’t we go back and ask the Duke? He must know!"
Chu Ruoyan shook her head.
Not only had she gone to such lengths to avoid dragging her father into this, but even if she did ask, he likely couldn’t help.
Leaking defensive plans—what a grave accusation, tantamount to treason!
But who could have made such a claim?
In that disastrous battle, all one hundred thousand soldiers had perished. Could there have been survivors?
Back at the Yan Family, Steward Fang and Meng Yang were waiting.
The moment she returned, they asked for updates.
Chu Ruoyan only said, "We must find a way to see the marquis."
Meng Yang sighed in frustration. "How? The Ministry of Justice is guarded like an iron fortress. Unless I had four more men as skilled as me, it’d be a suicide mission."
Chu Ruoyan looked to Steward Fang, but his expression mirrored Meng Yang’s resignation.
Just then, the gatekeeper announced a visitor from the Marquis of Chengen’s Mansion.
Chu Ruoyan hurriedly ordered them to be let in.
"Cousin!"
It was Chan, a maid serving Xue Ling. She rushed to Chu Ruoyan and said urgently, "Yesterday, the Duke sent a handwritten letter to my mistress. She meant to deliver it to you, but the marquis found out and tore most of it up! Worse, starting today, he’s forbidden them from leaving the mansion. So my mistress sent me to bring you what’s left…"
As she spoke, she produced a torn fragment of the letter.
The words were barely legible, but one character stood out—repeatedly mentioned: "Cao."
"Cao Yang?" The realization struck her instantly. She turned and asked, "Who is the current head of the Ministry of Justice?"
Meng Yang answered, "There isn’t one. After the previous minister passed, three or four officials died fighting over the position. The emperor was furious and left it vacant for now. I think the Minister of Revenue is temporarily overseeing it…"
No wonder!
That explained why Cao Yang had been the one to make the arrest yesterday.
Chu Ruoyan closed her eyes, thinking deeply. Then she ordered, "Find out when Old Madam Cao’s birthday banquet will be held!"
