Chu Ruoyan frowned upon hearing this.
Beside her, Chu Ruolan widened her eyes—her elder sister was truly remarkable, capable of making the Empress lower herself to ask for help.
But the very next words from Empress Pei made Chu Ruolan wish she had never heard them.
"Second Prince Murong Rui is not only my own son but also the most suitable candidate for the crown prince. Yet today, I received news that His Majesty intends to enthrone Fifth Prince Murong Cong instead. This matter concerns the fate of Great Xia. I implore you, Miss Chu, to inform your father as soon as you leave the palace. Have him and several senior ministers submit a joint petition to sway His Majesty’s heart!"
The struggle for the throne—a royal family’s darkest secret.
Even hearing a word of such affairs was perilous, let alone participating.
Chu Ruolan trembled, burying her head in fear, while Chu Ruoyan curtsied gracefully. "Your Majesty, I am but a mere woman. The task you entrust is far beyond my capabilities. I must humbly decline."
Empress Pei’s expression darkened instantly.
She said coldly, "Miss Chu! You once defied the Empress Dowager and endured caning to clear the Yan family’s name. Why refuse to help me now? Do you not realize this concerns Great Xia’s future for the next century?"
Chu Ruoyan knelt silently.
Her aid to the Yan family had been for both personal debt and righteousness.
Loyal souls of the battlefield should never be wronged—that was justice!
But the fight for the throne was ultimately the Murong family’s own affair. Moreover, given the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s blind favoritism, she doubted Murong Rui stood a chance.
A long silence filled Kuning Palace.
Just as Empress Pei took a deep breath to speak, a bold voice suddenly rang out from the rear hall:
"Second Sister, I told you long ago—those Chu folks are stubborn as mules. Why waste words on them?"
A young man in his early twenties strode forward, his features bearing a striking resemblance to Empress Pei. This was Pei Zhuo, the youngest son of the Pei family—the infamous "Little Overlord of Yuzhou"!
He swaggered into the hall. "Just follow my advice—give them ten lashes each! Once they’re beaten into submission, they’ll agree to any—"
Before he could finish, Chu Ruoyan abruptly raised her head.
Her bright eyes and radiant complexion, skin like flawless jade, met his gaze. Her voice, clear as a mountain spring, chimed, "Does the Young Lord Pei intend to administer unlawful punishment?"
Pei Zhuo froze.
Since his second sister became Empress, the Pei family had relocated to Yuzhou to avoid accusations of nepotism and imperial suspicion.
That backwater borderland, plagued by southern barbarians, was home to women with sun-darkened skin and burly frames—nothing like this delicate painting of a woman before him.
Instantly flustered, he stammered, "Oh, I was the one who suggested unlawful punishment—wait, no! That’s not what I meant!"
Pei Zhuo turned to his sister for help. Empress Pei said, "This is the eldest daughter of the Duke of Chu’s Mansion—the one who divorced the Marquis of Pingjing."
"What? Her?!"
Pei Zhuo gaped, scrutinizing her from head to toe. "I thought Third Yan married some female warrior, daring to defy the Empress Dowager in court. How… how did your slender frame endure that?"
Chu Ruoyan lowered her lashes. "You flatter me, Young Lord Pei. I am unworthy of such praise."
"No, no! You’re absolutely worthy! I just never imagined you’d be so… so…" He racked his brain for words before pointing at Chu Ruolan. "Anyway, you’re far better than your sister!"
Chu Ruolan, unjustly dragged into the comparison: "???"
Chu Ruoyan remained silent.
The Pei family was indeed formidable. Their ancestors had helped the late Emperor conquer the realm, and now their ten sons and two daughters dominated commerce, controlled waterways, or married into nobility—a true powerhouse!
Pei Zhuo, the youngest, was notorious in Yuzhou as the "Little Overlord."
Best not to provoke him unless necessary…
Yet no sooner had this thought crossed her mind than Pei Zhuo scratched his head and asked sheepishly, "You… you’re divorced, right?"
Chu Ruoyan nodded reflexively.
"Perfect!" Pei Zhuo beamed. "Second Sister, I’ve decided—I want to marry her and make her the next Lady Pei!"
Everyone was stunned. Empress Pei shot to her feet. "What nonsense! Mother spent years urging you in Yuzhou, yet you swore to remain unwed!"
"Yuzhou is Yuzhou, the capital is the capital! Besides, if I marry her, Lord Chu—I mean, the Duke of Chu—will surely side with us!"
His logic gave Empress Pei pause.
Chu Ruoyan interjected hastily, "Young Lord Pei, we’ve only just met today—"
"But it was love at first sight!"
"You know nothing of my character."
"You’re clearly a good person!" Pei Zhuo declared. "First, you’re beautiful. Second, you helped the Yan family. And third, aside from clueless commoners, which noble doesn’t say Third Yan was blind to let go of such a virtuous wife?"
Chu Ruoyan massaged her temples.
Why did this Pei Zhuo defy all reason?
Unable to match his absurdity, she turned to Empress Pei. "Your Majesty, surely you recall the Marquis of Pingjing’s affair!"
That incident had earned her the Empress Dowager’s hatred and likely the Emperor’s resentment. A marriage alliance would only bring the Pei family trouble…
Empress Pei nodded slowly. "True. Tenth Brother, stop this foolishness. You once revered the Yan family—how can you now marry one of theirs?"
Pei Zhuo retorted, "I respected Eldest Yan, not Third Yan! And so what if I marry her? She’s divorced, I’m unwed—is there a law against it? I’ll go ask the magistrates!"
With that, he dashed out.
Empress Pei sighed. "Forgive my brother’s impulsiveness, Miss Chu. As for today’s matter, I ask you to reconsider. Your family has already fallen out with the Xue faction. If Consort Xue gains power, do you think they’ll spare you?"
Without waiting for a reply, she summoned attendants to escort them out.
In the carriage home, Chu Ruolan exhaled in relief, surprised they’d left unscathed.
Noticing Chu Ruoyan’s pensive expression, she ventured, "Actually, Empress Pei isn’t wrong. If Consort Xue becomes Empress Dowager—"
A sharp glance from Chu Ruoyan silenced her.
Chu Ruolan shrank back, not daring to continue.
Chu Ruoyan said coldly, "Forget everything you heard in the palace today."
Chu Ruolan swore secrecy. After a long pause, she heard her sister murmur, "It’s never so simple. The Emperor has six sons—aside from the ailing Third Prince, the rest either have maternal power, legitimacy, or imperial favor. This isn’t just a Pei versus Xue battle."
In her dreams, the Emperor’s chosen heir had been neither Murong Rui nor Murong Cong.
Meaning the ultimate victor would be someone else entirely.
To meddle now would be suicidal!
Back at the Duke of Chu’s Mansion, Lady Jiang the Younger thanked the heavens, fussing over Chu Ruolan’s safety before telling Chu Ruoyan:
"Eldest Miss, as agreed, I’ll have the items sent to you shortly. Also, your Aunt wrote—Master Liaokong of Guardian Temple gives infallible divinations. She wishes for us to visit him soon. What do you think?"
Master Liaokong?
The very monk who’d declared Yan Zheng’s fate as a lone star?
Yet he couldn't decipher his own fate, as if burdened by some unspeakable secret...
Chu Ruoyan agreed: "Very well."
In the following days, she secluded herself indoors. The young Marquis Pei came knocking several times, only to meet misfortune on his last visit—his horse spooked unexpectedly, throwing him off and breaking his arm, forcing him to return home to recuperate.
At the Yan residence,
Yan Zheng listened expressionlessly as Meng Yang finished his report: "Well done."
Meng Yang scoffed inwardly. Dispatching the top-ranked assassin of their order to sneak into the Pei family's stables and drug a horse in the dead of night—how could it not be well done?
But he dared not voice this, merely bowing. "Young Master, Lord Cao sent word. Zhang Ji has confessed—it was he who, under Xue Gui's orders, swapped the shipment of weapons bound for Hangu Pass with counterfeit goods purchased from a merchant named Xu."
"Lord Cao claims Zhang Ji's testimony slanders Xue Gui and cannot be admitted as evidence. He insists we apprehend the merchant. The man is currently hiding in Guardian Temple. Shall I go retrieve him?"
Yan Zheng raised a brow. "No need. I'll handle this personally."
