The outside fell silent for a moment.
Someone spoke up: "Lord Su, the person sitting inside that carriage is the wife of the man responsible for the Grand General's family's death!"
Another added, "Indeed! Just a few days ago, she even hypocritically attended the Grand General's funeral procession. Who knows if the Grand General could rest in peace underground?"
"We're only seeking justice for them!"
The crowd grew agitated.
Su Tingyun glanced at the unmoving figure inside the carriage and declared firmly, "Everyone, what you're saying is merely hearsay. Until the Marquis of Anning is formally charged, these claims hold no ground. Even if he were guilty, his wife and children bear no responsibility. Do you truly feel justified harassing his family like this?"
The protesters fell silent.
The leader of the group spoke again, "Lord Su, we trust you. This matter must be thoroughly investigated—the Grand General and his family cannot have died in vain!"
A chorus of agreement followed. Su Tingyun dismounted and assured them solemnly, "Rest assured, though I do not serve in the Ministry of Justice, I will relay your concerns to my superiors and ensure justice is served for the Grand General!"
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Yulu patted her chest and whispered, "My lady, thank goodness Lord Su arrived when he did. Who knows how long we would have been trapped here otherwise..."
Chu Ruoyan pressed her lips together. Yulu wasn’t wrong.
Su Tingyun currently served in the Shuntian Prefecture and enjoyed an excellent reputation among the people. Had someone else come today, they might not have been able to disperse the crowd so easily...
At that moment, he approached the carriage and asked with concern, "Madam Marquis of Anning, were you frightened?"
Chu Ruoyan replied softly, "Not at all. Thank you for intervening, Lord Su."
Hearing the excessive formality in her tone, Su Tingyun felt an inexplicable discomfort. "There’s no need for such courtesy, madam. Given our acquaintance, consider this merely a friend’s assistance."
Yet she only said, "You jest, my lord. We have only met once—I dare not presume to call myself your friend. I have urgent matters to attend to and must take my leave now."
With that, she urged the coachman to depart.
A subordinate beside Su Tingyun chuckled, "My lord, why does the Marquis of Anning’s wife seem so wary of you? That doesn’t make sense!"
Everyone knew the Su family’s heir was a gentleman of impeccable grace, the object of admiration for noble ladies across the capital. Even though this lady was married, there was no need for such extreme avoidance, was there?
Su Tingyun was equally puzzled. Every time they met, it felt as though she was deliberately drawing a line between them...
Just then, his attendant Mo Yu exclaimed, "My lord, look! It seems the Marquis of Anning’s wife dropped something!"
He picked up a jade pendant. Su Tingyun took it and saw the character "Chu" engraved on the back—it was undoubtedly hers!
"I’ll return it to her. The rest of you, head back to the prefecture and wait for me."
Without another word, he chased after the Yan family’s carriage.
Mo Yu watched in silent astonishment. Over the years, countless noblewomen had admired his lord, yet he had always maintained polite detachment. Never before had he shown such urgency over anyone...
Could it be... he had truly taken a liking to another man’s wife?
Meanwhile, inside the Yan family’s carriage...
"My lady, we’re in trouble! The jade pendant the Duke gave you for your coming-of-age ceremony is missing!"
Yulu was frantic, but Chu Ruoyan remained calm. "Don’t panic. It must have fallen when we were surrounded earlier. Ask the coachman to turn back and search..."
Before she could finish, the sound of galloping hooves approached, and Su Tingyun’s voice rang out, "Madam! I found a jade pendant just now—is it yours?"
Yulu peeked out and gasped, "Yes, yes! It belongs to my lady. Thank you, Lord Su!"
She hastily retrieved the pendant and handed it back to Chu Ruoyan, who stared at it in a daze...
If she remembered correctly, this very pendant was meant to be their betrothal token in the future.
In her dream, when the capital fell and Su Tingyun was beheaded by rebel forces, he had clutched this very object in his dying grip...
Now, fate had led him to pick it up again. Was this destiny at work?
"Thank you, Lord Su."
Her tone softened noticeably, and Su Tingyun exhaled in relief. "No need for thanks, madam. Where are you headed? If you don’t mind, I’d be happy to escort you."
Chu Ruoyan hesitated, but Yulu blurted out, "We’re going to Wangshuang Tower!"
"Wangshuang Tower?" Su Tingyun was taken aback.
"Is there a problem?" Chu Ruoyan asked.
He shook his head with a smile. "Not at all. It’s just that Wangshuang Tower is my family’s property. What a coincidence..."
"Your family’s property?"
Chu Ruoyan couldn’t hide her shock. Su Tingyun nodded. "Indeed. My father purchased it on a whim years ago, but to avoid drawing attention due to his status, we never publicized it. Very few in the capital know of this."
She barely registered his next words.
The Great Xia dynasty did not forbid officials from engaging in commerce—take Tianxiang Tower, for instance, which belonged to the Earl of Yongding’s Lu family.
But Wangshuang Tower was where Yan Zheng had rescued Ajiao, and where vicious rumors had spread like wildfire. If there truly was a scheme behind it all, did that mean the Marquis of Pingjing was involved?
"Madam? Madam?"
Su Tingyun called out twice before she snapped back to reality. "Ah... yes, I wished to visit Wangshuang Tower..."
"Then it’s perfect—I haven’t been there in a while myself."
At Wangshuang Tower...
The manager nearly tripped over himself upon spotting his master. "My lord! Had we known you were coming, we would have prepared the finest private room at once! Someone, clear the—"
"Wait." Su Tingyun interrupted, turning to Chu Ruoyan. "Would you prefer tea, or perhaps a meal?"
But she replied, "I’d like to listen to the storyteller."
Modern taverns didn’t just serve food and lodging—they also incorporated the entertainment of teahouses and winehouses.
Music, storytelling, operas... they had it all.
Su Tingyun glanced at the manager, who immediately understood. "This way, my lord and... madam."
The second-floor teahouse was packed.
Today, the capital’s most renowned storyteller, Liu Chunrong, was performing, making seats a rare commodity. Yet the manager secured them the best spot—a private booth at the front.
Chu Ruoyan sat with her veil lowered, lost in thought.
Su Tingyun’s heartbeat quickened slightly. Was this the first time he’d accompanied a woman to a storytelling session?
Thwack!
The storyteller’s wooden clapper struck.
Liu Chunrong took the stage to thunderous applause and began, "Last time, we left off at the Battle of Hangu Pass—a clash so fierce it darkened the heavens and eclipsed the sun! The Grand General Yan and his wife fought with godlike valor, sending the enemy fleeing in disarray! Even the young master Yan and his three brothers refused to be outdone, each vying to lead the charge beyond the city walls!"
The crowd roared in approval.
"Well said!"
"Long live the Yan army!"
Liu Chunrong stroked his beard smugly. "But then, one man stood in their way. Who, you ask? None other than the third son of the Yan family—cowardly and trembling, he warned of enemy ambushes and outright refused to march!"
"His younger brother, the fifteen-year-old sixth son, scoffed and declared, ‘If Third Brother fears death, then stay behind! Once I bring back the enemy general’s head, you’ll be safe!’"
The audience erupted in jeers.
"What a disgrace! The third son can’t even measure up to a child!"
"Shameful! The Grand General must be rolling in his grave!"
Su Tingyun frowned at the harsh remarks and glanced at Chu Ruoyan—but her expression remained serene.
"Madam, perhaps we should leave. This performance isn’t worth hearing."
Chu Ruoyan smiled faintly. "Why leave? Isn’t it quite riveting?"
The coldness in her smile was almost chilling. Su Tingyun had no choice but to listen as Liu Chunrong continued.
"What kind of man is the Grand General, to fear mere petty bandits? He ordered the third son to remain in the city, yet worried he couldn’t hold the pass, so he left the heir, Yan Xun, to assist him. Who could have guessed that this act of goodwill would be twisted by that wolf-hearted, dog-lunged wretch into distrust from his own father?"
"And so, while the Grand General and his men were away at battle, the third son Yan ordered his planted spies to steal the city’s defense plans and hand them over to the enemy. Pitiful Yan Xun—his wisdom rivaled Zhuge Liang’s, yet he could not reverse fate. His own flesh and blood stabbed him in the back, costing him his—!"
Before the word "life" could leave his lips—
Crash!
A teapot shattered at his feet, scalding water splashing everywhere, making him hiss in pain.
Liu Chunrong roared, "Who dares?!"
