Since their parting at Fengtian Hall, she had never seen him again.
Now, meeting him suddenly, his features were as familiar as ever, though his already slender frame seemed even more gaunt.
Yan Zheng froze for a moment upon seeing her, while Meng Yang exclaimed in delight behind him: "Madam—no, Miss Chu!"
The eunuch guiding them, recognizing the Marquis of Chengen, tactfully led Chu Ruolan aside. "Miss Chu, please keep your conversation brief. Consort Xue is still waiting for you in the palace."
Chu Ruoyan lowered her head. "Thank you, Your Excellency."
She stepped forward, and Yan Zheng's gaze settled on her face.
Their eyes met.
"You've lost weight..."
"Your injuries..."
They spoke simultaneously. Chu Ruoyan couldn't help but chuckle softly. "The Marquis may speak first."
Yan Zheng didn’t refuse. "How are your injuries?"
After the beating in the grand hall, though he had asked Young Master Lang to intervene and save her, not seeing her recovery with his own eyes had left him uneasy.
Chu Ruoyan pressed her lips together. "I’ve fully recovered. But securing the help of Bai Xiao Pavilion must have cost you a fortune, no?"
"More than just money! Our Young Master almost had to—"
Meng Yang’s words were cut short by Yan Zheng, who simply said to Chu Ruoyan, "As long as you’re well. Where are you headed today?"
"Yaoguang Palace."
Yaoguang Palace was Consort Xue’s residence. Yan Zheng frowned. "Is this about Xue Gui?"
Chu Ruoyan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Her aunt’s separation from Xue Gui had only happened yesterday, and only Xue family members had been present—it shouldn’t have spread.
So, he had eyes in the Marquis of Chengen's Mansion as well...
"Yes, but there’s no need to worry. I already have a plan."
She almost laughed at herself. They were already divorced—why would he still be concerned for her?
Just then, the eunuch stepped forward to hurry her along. Chu Ruoyan gave a slight bow and proceeded deeper into the palace.
Meng Yang couldn’t hold back. "Young Master, why didn’t you tell her? You nearly had to offer your heart’s blood to save her!"
Not to mention how he had been keeping tabs on her all this time, summoning "Shadows" every few days to ask about her well-being.
Yet when they finally met, he reverted to that cold, indifferent facade.
Yan Zheng ignored him, tapping his fingers thoughtfully before speaking. "Consort Xue intends to make trouble for her. Send word to Kunning Palace."
Kunning Palace was the residence of Empress Pei!
Meng Yang paled. "Young Master, we only have one informant there, and it took us ages to get close to the Pei family... Shouldn’t we wait and see? Didn’t Madam just say she had a plan?"
They had lost over a dozen men just to plant that one spy—using such a valuable asset now seemed excessive!
But Yan Zheng only repeated, "Do it."
As Meng Yang hesitated, his lord asked softly, "Have you ever seen her plead her case in the grand hall?"
Meng Yang was stunned. Yan Zheng’s gaze darkened with a mix of deep emotion and quiet resignation. "If you had, you’d never let her face another storm again."
Meanwhile, at Yaoguang Palace...
The eunuch led the two women to wait outside the hall, returning shortly to announce, "Miss Chu, Miss Chu, I regret to inform you that Her Highness has just retired for a nap. Please wait here."
The two women bowed.
But as minutes stretched into half an hour, then an hour, Consort Xue showed no sign of waking.
Chu Ruolan whispered nervously, "Do you think Her Highness forgot about us?"
Chu Ruoyan replied, "If she had, would we still be standing here?"
"You mean... she’s doing this on purpose?" Realization dawned on Chu Ruolan, and she grew fearful. "Then how much longer must we stand? My legs are already numb!"
Chu Ruoyan said nothing.
How long they waited depended entirely on when the consort’s anger subsided. At least she had the decency to make them stand rather than kneel—no one could fault her for that.
Another quarter-hour passed. Chu Ruolan’s forehead glistened with sweat, her legs trembling uncontrollably.
"C-Can I lean on you? Or maybe the pillar...?"
She was on the verge of collapse, yet the frail-looking Chu Ruoyan remained unfazed.
Chu Ruoyan shook her head. "We entered the palace without issue, but if your posture falters and gives them an excuse, trouble will follow."
"What?" Chu Ruolan whined. "Didn’t you say you had a plan? Think of something!"
Chu Ruoyan ignored her.
Her plan involved Yinghong and her child—she had asked her cousin about their whereabouts before she left the capital.
But that would only work if she could speak to Consort Xue. Today’s punishment was unavoidable.
Just then, the gate eunuch suddenly announced in a booming voice: "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived—!"
The palace servants dropped to their knees. Chu Ruoyan quickly pulled Chu Ruolan down with her.
Empress Pei approached, clad in phoenix robes and crowned with majesty, surrounded by maids and matrons.
Her expression was gentle, matching her reputation for meekness. She raised a hand slightly. "No need for formalities. Rise."
The head eunuch of Yaoguang Palace hurried forward. "Your Majesty, we were not expecting your visit. Allow this servant to inform Consort Xue at once!"
"No need." The empress’s gaze swept the courtyard before settling on Chu Ruoyan. "And this is...?"
"Ah, this is Miss Chu, summoned by Her Highness today. Since the consort is resting, she was asked to wait outside."
Empress Pei smiled. "Since my sister is resting, I won’t disturb her. But this young lady strikes my fancy—I’d like to take her for a chat. Surely my sister won’t mind?"
The eunuch’s heart sank.
What could a mere servant do against the empress?
"Then... might this servant at least inform Her Highness...?"
"Why trouble her? Once she wakes, tell her to come to Kunning Palace. I promise not to keep her guest for long."
The empress glanced at Chu Ruoyan, who immediately bowed. "This humble one thanks Your Majesty!"
Chu Ruolan panicked. If the empress took Chu Ruoyan away, she’d be left alone to face Consort Xue’s wrath!
She shot Chu Ruoyan a desperate look—What about me?!
After a pause, Chu Ruoyan added, "Your Majesty, my younger sister accompanied me today. She’s timid by nature and easily frightened. Might she come with us?"
The empress had only wanted Chu Ruoyan, but one more made little difference. "Very well."
And so, the two women were whisked away under imperial protection.
The eunuch wanted to report immediately, but no one dared disturb the consort’s nap. By the time she awoke at dusk, it was too late.
Consort Xue stretched lazily. "They must have been standing for three or four hours by now. Their legs should be numb—bring them in."
Instead, the head eunuch rushed in. "Your Highness! The empress came by earlier and took them away!"
"What?!" Consort Xue’s drowsiness vanished. She slammed a hand on the table. "Why wasn’t I informed?!"
"This servant... feared interrupting Your Highness’s rest!"
"Fool!" After cursing, she muttered, "Empress Pei has always been docile, never interfering in my affairs. Why today...?" Then she recalled the emperor’s words that morning. Had word leaked to Kunning Palace?
If so, retrieving them now would be impossible!
Indeed, her suspicions were correct. The moment Empress Pei returned to Kunning Palace, she ordered the gates sealed.
"Miss Chu, let me speak plainly—saving you today comes with a purpose. I need your help!"
