Chu Ruoyan’s heart skipped a beat.
She had been so preoccupied with Yan Zheng’s affairs that she hadn’t paid attention to the rumors circulating outside.
Madam Li’s maid spoke up, “Today, when we went out, we heard that the girl Ajiao, whom the Third Young Master saved back then, was a spy! It was she who stole the city defense plans, leading to the deaths of the master and the others. They even say this was all orchestrated by the Third Young Master because… because…”
The little maid stammered, glancing at her mistress. Seeing no objection, she mustered the courage to continue.
“Because the Second Young Master and the others often bullied him, and the General and Madam never favored him either, so he harbored resentment and plotted all this. That’s also why he was the only one who returned alive from the battlefield.”
Chu Ruoyan nearly laughed aloud.
Were the people outside devoid of sense?
If he truly were the mastermind, why not just fabricate an excuse to stay in the capital? Why go to the battlefield and even lose the use of his legs?
Yet, seeing Madam Li’s grave expression, she suppressed her retort and said instead, “Second Sister-in-law, surely you don’t believe such baseless gossip, do you?”
“I—I naturally don’t, but…” Madam Li wrung her hands uneasily. “Third Sister-in-law, you don’t know this, but in the past, the brothers never got along well. No, to be precise, apart from the Eldest Young Master, the Third Young Master never got along with anyone. He always kept to himself, reading or practicing martial arts. Even during family dinners in the evenings, he never showed up…”
“The Sixth Younger Brother, being young and impulsive, often clashed with him and ended up pinned to the ground. The Second Young Master and Fifth Younger Brother would naturally rush to intervene… I’ve seen many such incidents since marrying into the family. Even Mother-in-law said he was born under an ill omen, with a strange temperament, and told me not to bother with him.”
As Madam Li spoke with worry, Chu Ruoyan’s mind conjured an image of a frail, solitary figure—unwanted and unloved.
He had so many siblings, yet only the eldest brother treated him as family.
He had such distinguished parents, yet they despised him for the misfortune he brought upon their closest friend…
Suppressing the bitterness in her chest, Chu Ruoyan said, “Second Sister-in-law, you know what kind of person the Marquis is. Even if there were conflicts among the brothers, he would never commit such a heinous act as killing his own kin. And even if he could, do you think he would harm the Eldest Young Master as well?”
Madam Li replied instinctively, “No, of course not. When the Eldest Sister-in-law was in difficult labor, he even cut his own flesh to make medicine for her. And he treated Wen Jing as his own child…”
“Exactly,” Chu Ruoyan said, placing a comforting hand over Madam Li’s. “Second Sister-in-law, these are perilous times. Countless hidden arrows are aimed at this household. We mustn’t let rumors shake our resolve!”
Madam Li exhaled deeply. “You’re right. I was overthinking things.”
Chu Ruoyan glanced at the maid who had spoken earlier. The girl immediately dropped to her knees in fear. “This servant spoke out of turn! I’ll never repeat such nonsense again!”
“Get up,” Chu Ruoyan said. “Tell me, where did you hear these rumors?”
“I… I heard it from a butcher while shopping. He said he heard it at Wangshuang Pavilion.”
Wangshuang Pavilion?
A faint smile touched Chu Ruoyan’s lips.
How interesting. That orphan girl, Ajiao, had also been rescued by Yan Zheng near Wangshuang Pavilion.
“I understand. Second Sister-in-law, it’s late. You should rest.” She rose to leave but noticed the divorce letter still in Madam Li’s hands. “Don’t worry. The Old Dowager won’t interfere in household matters now. If you decide to leave, no one will force you to stay.”
Madam Li gasped, flinging the letter aside as if burned. “No, I didn’t mean—”
“Second Sister-in-law,” Chu Ruoyan interrupted gently, “I’ll have someone deliver the Fifth Sister-in-law’s letter tomorrow. I doubt she’ll return. With the Marquis imprisoned and the Yan family in turmoil, no one will blame you for prioritizing yourself.”
Madam Li fell silent.
In recent days, her own family had indeed sent word, urging her to return home immediately—or never come back. Whether this was due to Yan Zheng’s arrest, she didn’t know.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered it. She was only eighteen, and she and the Second Young Master had no children. But…
“Third Sister-in-law, what about you?” Madam Li looked at her intently. “You’ve only just married into the family, and you share no deep bond with the Third Young Master. Why risk so much, running around to save him?”
Chu Ruoyan froze, then laughed softly.
Had Madam Li not mentioned it, she might have forgotten—she had originally come to kill him.
Yet now, she was exhausting every effort to keep him alive…
“Second Sister-in-law, our situations differ. Yan Zheng is still alive, and he’s innocent. I can’t stand by and watch him be framed. As for you… the Second Young Master is gone, and you have no children. The choice to stay or leave is yours alone.”
Tears spilled from Madam Li’s eyes.
For two days, she had agonized in silence, terrified that the slightest hint of hesitation would draw the Yan family’s scorn.
But this woman before her offered only gentle reassurance, leaving the decision in her hands…
“Third Sister-in-law, I don’t want to leave… but my family said if I don’t return now, I can never come back. I have no children. The decades ahead… they’re so long. I’m afraid I won’t endure…”
Her sobs choked her words. Chu Ruoyan patted her back. “Then endure for as long as you can.”
This world was already cruel to women.
If not for Yan Zheng’s divorce letter, someone like Madam Li might have been condemned to a lifetime of lonely widowhood.
By the time Chu Ruoyan returned to her room, it was past midnight.
She collapsed into bed, only to rise again at dawn.
Yulu, seeing her at the dressing table, asked, “Miss, why not sleep a little longer?”
Chu Ruoyan dabbed powder over the shadows beneath her eyes. “There’s still work to do. Tell the stable to prepare a carriage. You’ll accompany me out later.”
Yulu nodded and withdrew.
An hour later, mistress and maid set out.
Chu Ruoyan directed the coachman straight to Wangshuang Pavilion. But as soon as they reached the main street, a rotten egg smashed against the carriage.
“Who dares disrespect the Marchioness of Anning?!” the coachman bellowed.
A sneer answered him. “We’re targeting the Marchioness of Anning! Heartless wretch, birds of a feather flock together!”
Before Chu Ruoyan could react, the coachman shouted, “Watch out—!”
A barrage of rotten eggs and spoiled vegetables rained down on the carriage, accompanied by cheers from the crowd.
“Well done!”
“Yan Zheng is a beast worse than pigs or dogs! His wife is no better!”
“How could the General sire such a monstrous son? Utterly inhuman!”
The insults came thick and fast, forcing even the coachman to retreat inside.
Chu Ruoyan understood—the rumors Madam Li’s maid had heard at Wangshuang Pavilion must have spread overnight.
Yulu fretted, “Miss, the crowd’s growing. What do we do?”
Calmly, Chu Ruoyan replied, “Let them throw. Once they’ve exhausted their ammunition, they’ll disperse.”
Just as Yulu was about to protest, a clear, commanding voice cut through the chaos.
“Halt! This is the Marchioness of Anning’s carriage. Who gave you the right to attack it in broad daylight?”
Chu Ruoyan blinked.
That voice… Could it be Su Tingyun?
