The Jiang Residence.
When the news of the Prince of Qin's demise reached Jiang Huaian, he stumbled and fell to the floor.
A servant hastily helped him up. "What's wrong, Young Master? Forgive my bluntness, but isn't this... good news for you? Doesn't it mean Miss Chu the Second can only marry you now?"
"Silence! The Prince of Qin died a martyr for the state. How dare you speak of him so lightly?" Jiang Huaian rebuked angrily, frightening the servant into kneeling.
Jiang Huaian didn't look at him. After a long while, a layer of grief surfaced in his eyes. "And you are wrong... If he had not died, there might still have been a chance for my cousin and me. But with him dead, she will never return to my side."
Just as he finished speaking, a servant entered to announce that Miss Chu the Second had arrived.
Jiang Huaian went out to the courtyard to meet her. He saw she was dressed in coarse mourning garments, her long hair left undone, clearly already in mourning for someone...
His heart ached sharply. Suppressing the pain, he asked, "Cousin, are you... alright?"
Chu Ruoyin's expression was calm as she slowly curtsied. "Cousin, I'm sorry."
As these words fell, Jiang Huaian knew all possibility for this lifetime was gone. He clenched his fists so tightly they nearly bled. "I know... I actually knew from the very beginning. As long as he was willing to turn back, I would have no hope at all. But I always clung to a foolish hope, wishing for that one-in-ten-thousand chance..."
"Cousin!"
"Cousin, let me finish. After all, it will likely be the last time." Jiang Huaian took a deep breath. "Actually, I'm the one who should apologize. I knew your heart belonged to another, yet I took advantage of your soft-heartedness, repeatedly forcing you to stay by my side. I always thought that with time, affection might grow, that perhaps one day you could forget him... I was wrong."
Chu Ruoyin's lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.
In matters of the heart, right and wrong are hard to define. Ultimately, she had been too indecisive herself.
Jiang Huaian forced a smile. "Alright. Now that everything is out in the open, this cousin would like to ask you, what are your plans now?"
With the Prince of Qin gone, the capital was certainly no place for her to stay.
If she wished to go to Yangzhou, he would escort her there in the name of an elder brother...
However, Chu Ruoyin shook her head. "Thank you for your kindness, cousin. After the funeral, I plan to go to Jiangnan. Before he left, he said the flowers bloom beautifully in Jiangnan, and he wanted me to see them for him..."
At this point, she lowered her head with a faint smile. "Actually, he didn't like Jiangnan at all. A general always yearns for the yellow sands of the northern deserts, to achieve glory and build a career. He said that only to give me something to look forward to, so I wouldn't follow him in death."
Jiang Huaian's heart wrenched with sorrow. He saw on the woman's face a stillness born of utter despair. "So please rest assured, cousin. I will live on well."
The main gate closed, and the woman's figure, along with all those bygone affairs, was sealed away outside.
Jiang Huaian stood staring blankly, remaining in the courtyard for a long time.
Two days later, the Prince of Qin's funeral procession was held.
Originally, the body was to lie in state for five days, but on the second day, for some unknown reason, red rashes appeared on the corpse.
After diagnosis, Chief Physician Zhang said it was likely a potent northern Rong poison the Prince had been afflicted with before death, and that this poison might have contagious properties. Fearing its spread within the palace, the Emperor had no choice but to order an early funeral.
His funeral rites were still conducted according to the highest princely standards. Yet, having triumphed less than five days prior, his sudden demise...
Rumors immediately began to swirl throughout the capital.
"Have you heard? The Prince was killed by the Feng family!"
"So what if he was? Isn't it all because of that Chu family's second daughter? Did you all not know? The Prince was fatally wounded saving her!"
"What? The Chu family's second daughter? Didn't she marry into the Jiang family?"
"Yes! That woman is fickle and promiscuous, leading men on. She's the one who brought disaster upon the Prince!"
"And the Feng family, a bunch of ungrateful wretches! They can't be let off easily either!"
...
Enraged commoners surged towards the Duke of Chu's residence and the Feng family.
They found the Duke of Chu's residence heavily guarded, and imperial guards stationed before the Feng family's gates as well.
So they turned their spearhead towards the second branch of the Yan family...
Didn't they marry Feng Ying? And didn't Feng Ying also betray the Prince of Qin?
Thus, rotten vegetables, stinky eggs, and worse were hurled recklessly at their gates. Some brazen individuals even threw excrement at the entrance. The Shuntian Prefecture authorities arrested people five or six times, but as soon as they left, crowds would gather again.
There were too many rioters; even the Shuntian Prefecture jail couldn't hold them all, forcing the Prefect to personally visit and demand they strengthen their own guards.
Yan Lin had a headache hearing this. The family's finances were already in such deficit, where would they find extra silver to hire guards?
But they couldn't let the front gate reek to high heaven either. He could only have Lady Xue pressure Feng Ying to take out her dowry to cover the expenses...
At the Duke of Chu's residence, Bodhi Courtyard.
"Young Lady, you wouldn't believe it. When Lady Feng learned she had to hand over her dowry, she threw a huge fit. The Second Madam paid her no mind and directly took people in to seize it by force. A clash broke out, and in trying to mediate, Young Master Chengwu even got his eye corner scratched by Lady Feng... Now the Second Madam is pressuring her son to divorce her. It's a complete mess, I tell you!"
Yulu described it vividly. Madam Zhou snorted. "Our Young Lady warned them long ago that a Feng family daughter was not to be married. But back then, they thought the Zhenbei General's household was about to soar to great heights and wouldn't listen. Who can they blame now?"
Yulu nodded. "Exactly! If it weren't for our Young Lady considering her brother-in-law and having their family come forward to identify the assassin, the Emperor wouldn't have let them off either! Ah, speaking of our son-in-law, it seems he hasn't sent any letters recently..."
Mentioning this, Madam Zhou and Shadow exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat guilty.
Fortunately, Chu Ruoyan wasn't listening to their chatter. After reading the secret letter delivered by the Bai Xiao Pavilion, she asked, "How is Second Sister doing?"
Madam Zhou quickly replied, "Rest assured, Young Lady. The Second Miss left the city early this morning. The Prince left his guards with her. Currently, Changhua is escorting her on the journey to Jiangnan..."
"Jiangnan." Chu Ruoyan repeated the name, a faint smile touching her lips. "He considered things thoroughly. Jiangnan's scenery is beautiful, perfect for soothing the heart. Second Sister might find some relief from her pain there."
"Young Lady is right. And right now, the public sentiment in the capital is so inflamed..." Madam Zhou hadn't finished speaking when a gatekeeper from the outer courtyard entered.
"Young Lady, Miss Jiang Yi is here. She wishes to see you."
Chu Ruoyan promptly rose and went out. In the reception hall, Jiang Yi knelt before her as soon as she saw her. "County Princess Changle, I'm so sorry..."
Chu Ruoyan reached out to help her up. "Sister Jiang, what are you doing?"
Jiang Yi stubbornly refused to rise. "It was all my fault for taking matters into my own hands, arranging for the Prince of Qin and Miss Chu the Second to meet privately. That gave the assassin an opening... Now I've not only harmed the Prince but also implicated all of you. I... I truly don't know what to say!"
Seeing she was here for this matter, Chu Ruoyan hurriedly had Madam Zhou and Yulu help her up. "You acted with good intentions. How could we blame you?"
Jiang Yi still shook her head. "But it was ultimately my gullibility in trusting others that led to such consequences. Please be assured, County Princess Changle. I have begged my elder brother to step forward and explain the whole story to the people. If they still don't believe it, then... then I will tell them myself!"
This silly girl had a stubborn streak. Chu Ruoyan spent quite some time comforting her before dissuading her from the idea of coming forward personally.
Before leaving, Jiang Yi hesitated for a moment, then took out a small slip of paper. "Lady Chang Le, I'm not sure if I should give this to you, but just yesterday, someone bribed the vegetable delivery boy at the residence to bring this to me..."
Chu Ruoyan took it and looked. The note clearly read—
You are sincerely invited to a meeting, Lady Chang Le. Two days from now, at the hour of You (5-7 p.m.), at the Auspicious Restaurant. I will await your arrival.
