Meng Yang acted swiftly, returning with news within half a shichen.
"The Cao Family will host a banquet the day after tomorrow, welcoming guests at mid-morning and commencing the feast at mid-afternoon. However..."
Chu Ruoyan said, "Speak plainly."
Meng Yang frowned. "This time, the Cao Family has sent invitations to all prominent families in the capital—except the Yan Family. Without an invitation, we can hardly scale the walls to get in, can we?"
Chu Ruoyan pressed her lips together.
The Cao Family's stance was troubling. Cao Yang, a close confidant of the emperor, held such an attitude that it was hard not to suspect the emperor's will behind it...
Once the imperial court was involved, no matter how cordial relations had been in the past, no one dared associate with the Yan Family now.
The Cao Family’s move effectively severed the Yan Family’s path to seeking aid!
"I’ll find a way. You two prepare the gifts first."
Back in the courtyard, Chu Ruoyan staggered, nearly losing her balance.
Yulu rushed to support her. "Miss, is your health acting up again?"
Her constitution had been frail since childhood, sustained only by medicine. After her marriage, she had been tirelessly busy for days, and Yulu feared her old illness had flared up again.
Leaning against Yulu for a moment, Chu Ruoyan steadied herself. "It’s nothing. Your mistress isn’t so delicate..." She then asked, "How many pills remain of the medicine left by Physician Wen?"
Years ago, when her cold ailment struck, even the imperial physicians had declared she wouldn’t survive the winter.
Yet her mother had somehow summoned this miraculous old physician, whose skills defied belief. He gave her two bottles of pills, instructing her to take one each month to stay well.
She had followed his orders faithfully, but now the bottles were nearly empty...
"Only five left?"
Chu Ruoyan’s recent relapse was due to skipping doses.
But with urgent matters pressing, she couldn’t afford to collapse now.
"Continue taking one each month. We’ll endure this crisis first."
Yulu dared not argue. She fetched the medicine, and after Chu Ruoyan took it, she ordered a carriage and instructed Yulu to send word for Uncle Liu to meet her at the Ghost Market.
At the Tianyi Tavern, the daytime crowd remained sparse.
Uncle Liu bowed upon seeing her. "Young Mistress." Noticing her increasingly pallid complexion, he added gently, "This old servant has heard of Lord Anning’s plight. You... must take care of yourself."
Chu Ruoyan forced a smile and entered the Hall of Omniscience.
The portly innkeeper greeted her with his usual grin. "Lady Anning returns? Here to purchase information, or—"
"I wish to see your master."
Her directness gave him pause, but he soon nodded. "One moment."
After ascending the stairs, he returned. "Lady Anning, please follow me."
At the top floor, Young Master Lang lounged by the window, yawning.
Hearing footsteps, he didn’t turn. "Little Blind One, you’ve grown quite bold, visiting me so often. Do you treat the Hall of Omniscience as your second home?"
Chu Ruoyan ignored his teasing and bowed deeply. "I beg your aid, Young Master."
"Oh?"
He turned, a flicker of interest in his sharp eyes. "What do you need my help with?"
"The Cao Family."
She knew better than to mince words with someone like him. "You must already know of my husband’s predicament. Even now, all I’ve learned is that he was accused of leaking city defenses and treason—nothing more."
"To see him in the Ministry of Justice, my only path is through the Cao Family."
Young Master Lang arched a brow at her candor, tapping his chin. "You plan to use Old Madam Cao to approach Cao Yang and find a way into the Ministry... Clever. But why should I help?"
He leaped down from the windowsill, his crimson robes flaring like blood. "The first time, you traded your dowry estates. The second time, news of the Mangshan earthquake. So this time, Little Blind One, what can you offer?"
Chu Ruoyan took a deep breath. "The Yan Family!"
"If you aid me, I swear the Yan Family will grant you one unconditional favor—anything you ask!"
The man laughed at such an open-ended promise. "Anything? Even a person?"
A foreboding chill ran down her spine, but she had no choice. "Yes. If that person consents, you may take them."
Young Master Lang chuckled. "Now that’s dishonest. After Yan Xu and Yan Xun died, the only interesting one left in the Yan Family is Third Yan—and I’ve no taste for men. So the only thing of value left is..."
"You."
Her heart skipped a beat. She lowered her gaze. "You honor me, but I am wed to the Yan Family. In life or death, I belong to them."
He studied her in silence.
After a long pause, he raised a finger. "One condition. I’ll name it later, and you must comply."
Chu Ruoyan agreed without hesitation. "Done!"
Upon returning to the general’s estate, a messenger from the Cao Family arrived with an invitation—apologizing profusely for the "oversight" of excluding the Yan Family earlier and presenting two jade Buddhas as compensation.
Meng Yang and Steward Fang gaped at Chu Ruoyan, their eyes brimming with awe.
She, however, only wondered what method Young Master Lang had employed to make the Cao Family reverse course so swiftly...
"Third Young Madam! You’re back at last! The Old Madam demands your presence immediately!"
A servant rushed over, frantic.
Assuming Grandma Yan was causing trouble again, Chu Ruoyan dismissed it and hurried over with Uncle Liu.
At Longevity Hall, she left Uncle Liu outside and entered alone.
The moment she stepped in, a slap struck her face.
Instinctively, she raised her hand to counter—but spotting Lady Xue and Li Yu present, she forced herself to endure the blow.
Crack!
The sharp sound echoed through the hall, followed by Grandma Yan’s shrill screech. "Shameless wretch! Your husband’s barely in the Ministry of Justice, and you’re already whoring around? Just like that wretched Third Yan—a disgrace to our family!"
Chu Ruoyan’s left cheek burned.
Lady Xue sneered. "Mother, don’t strain yourself... Though it’s uncanny how we happened to see our dear niece at the Ghost Market today. Right, Sister Li?"
Li Yu cast a timid glance at Chu Ruoyan. "It’s true... She went straight to the tavern’s top floor. A man’s voice came from inside..."
Chu Ruoyan smirked.
So they’d followed her?
Grandma Yan’s fury escalated. "Whore with whoever you like! Die with that jinx for all I care! But you will not tarnish my son’s name while bearing the title of Yan Family’s daughter-in-law!"
"Fetch paper and ink! I’ll write the divorce edict myself and cast this harlot out!"
