Chu Ruoyan froze in place, while Yulu beside her retorted, "What stolen money? My lady left in such haste she never even returned home!"
Lady Xue was stunned.
Before coming today, she had first gone back to the Yan Family residence to ask Madam Li for some silver.
That old dowager was utterly insufferable—one moment complaining the bed was too hard for her back, the next whining about the bird's nest soup being too bland. In just over ten days, she'd turned the household upside down. How the main branch had tolerated her all these years was beyond comprehension.
Madam Li had merely shrugged, claiming poverty, then insisted all the funds belonged to Chu Ruoyan, who'd taken everything when she left.
"Don't you dare lie to me!" Lady Xue raised her voice. "Your sister-in-law confirmed you took the silver! That money was meant for the dowager's lifesaving treatments—she relies entirely on bird's nest and ginseng to sustain her!"
Before Chu Ruoyan could respond, Nanny Zhou stepped forward, hands on hips. "Your dowager bears the Yan surname, not Chu. Shouldn't you be demanding money from your own family instead of harassing our already divorced lady?"
Lady Xue choked on her words before snarling, "She stole from the Yan Family! Who else should I confront?"
"Was it really the Yan Family's money?"
Yulu sneered, producing a ledger from her sleeve. "Before our lady even married into your household, she purchased a thousand-year-old wild ginseng root for your dowager worth two hundred taels. After the wedding, she replaced her furniture with a sandalwood set and a rosewood set totaling twenty thousand taels. Later, to rescue your marquis, she acquired two priceless calligraphy scrolls worth thirty thousand taels. Not counting clothing or provisions, that's fifty-two thousand two hundred taels already. Did you think this fortune fell from heaven?"
Lady Xue was rendered speechless. She'd known Chu Ruoyan was wealthy but never imagined she'd spent so lavishly on the main branch.
Chu Ruoyan sighed softly. "I must apologize to Mother... that silver—cough—came from pawning the dowry she prepared for me..."
This matter had been Lady Jiang the Younger's greatest regret. Dozens of shops yielding over a hundred thousand taels annually—all liquidated by her daughter.
Yet now she had to suppress her anguish and force a smile. "Nonsense. This mother failed to provide you with emergency funds..."
Bystanders shook their heads in disapproval.
What bride would sell her dowry so soon after marriage to bail out her in-laws?
This was no villainess—she was the epitome of a virtuous wife!
Seeing the tide turn against her, Lady Xue snapped, "But you expelled the dowager from the general's manor—that's undeniable!"
She was certain Chu Ruoyan wouldn't dare reveal the truth, given the deadly implications of Yan Zheng's "lone star" destiny prophecy.
Yet instead of Chu Ruoyan, a sweet, curious child's voice piped up from the crowd.
"Auntie, what are you talking about? Wasn't it you and Uncle who insisted on taking Great-Grandmother away that day?"
The crowd turned to see a five-year-old boy led by his nursemaid.
Chu Ruoyan's eyes shimmered as she softly called, "Wenjing."
Yan Wenjing gave her an angelic smile before fixing Lady Xue with an icy gaze beneath his innocent expression.
"Auntie, did you remember wrong?"
Lady Xue stiffened. "Wenjing? Why are you here? You weren't even present that day—"
"Wenjing wasn't, but Second Aunt was! She told me she saw you and Third Aunt almost come to blows fighting over Great-Grandmother. And also—"
"Enough!" Lady Xue panicked, terrified he'd expose everything.
But Yan Wenjing blinked guilelessly. "Why can't I say? Second Aunt told me you all wanted Great-Grandmother just to claim Grandfather's inheritance share..."
Lady Xue saw stars.
The crowd erupted in outrage.
Scheming for inheritance yet refusing to support the elderly—then harassing a divorced woman?
Just how venomous was the Yan Family's second branch?
Under the weight of collective scorn, Lady Xue swayed unsteadily. She'd come to make Chu Ruoyan a pariah—how had she become the laughingstock instead?
"If—if you're truly blameless, why divorce Third Brother?" she blurted desperately.
Yan Wenjing's small brow furrowed. Chu Ruoyan's gaze darkened.
This was the scandal gripping the capital—everyone craved an explanation.
Without a plausible account...
At that moment, Meng Yang's booming voice cut through the tension.
"Because my young master deemed himself unworthy of the honorable Miss Chu, hence the separation!"
The crowd gasped as Meng Yang approached leading a horse cart laden with three massive chests.
Ignoring Lady Xue, he bowed deeply to Chu Ruoyan. "Third Young Madam, my master says a cripple like himself shouldn't hinder a duke's daughter. He sends these humble gifts, praying you may remake your life with a worthy official. Henceforth, you walk separate paths in peace."
He presented an ornate wooden box containing a snakeskin sword sheath—Yan Zheng's wedding gift before his fateful campaign.
Chu Ruoyan's nose stung as tears welled. She cradled the sheath solemnly.
"Tell the marquis... Ruoyan never regretted being his wife. May he cherish himself above all..."
Her voice broke. These fleeting months now felt like a bittersweet dream.
Meng Yang dropped to his knees. "This servant obeys. The marquis says: for your companionship through hardship, he would brave hellfire at your command."
This performance squarely shouldered the blame for the divorce.
Onlookers sighed emotionally. Even storytellers began scribbling notes for future retellings.
With red-rimmed eyes, Yan Wenjing asked, "Auntie... may Wenjing still visit you?"
Chu Ruoyan ruffled his hair. "Whenever you wish."
The boy nodded vigorously. As he followed Meng Yang away, he "accidentally" tripped near Lady Xue.
"Ow!" He sprawled dramatically, whimpering, "Auntie, why push Wenjing?"
Lady Xue gaped as bystanders hissed:
"Shameless! Bullying a child!"
"Punishing him for revealing her schemes!"
"Disgrace to the general's legacy!"
Amidst the jeers, she opened her mouth—only to collapse in a dead faint.
After the commotion, Chu Ruoyan rested quietly indoors.
Chief Physician Zhang once came to examine her, marveling at her recovery until learning the Bai Xiao Pavilion's involvement—whereupon he retreated hastily.
"Miss! Cousin Xue Ling is here!" Yulu announced before Xue Ling burst in, embracing her fiercely.
"You reckless girl! Uncle told me—the imperial palace? How could you take such risks?"
Chu Ruoyan blinked her eyes and said, "I'm perfectly fine now, sister. There's no need to worry about me."
Xue Ling carefully examined her from head to toe before sitting down at the edge of the bed with a sigh. "Well, in a way, it's good for you—at least you were fighting for the one you love. Unlike my mother..."
Her voice trailed off, her face clouded with sorrow. Chu Ruoyan straightened, concern etching her features. "What happened to Auntie?"
