Chu Ruoyan had not an ounce of goodwill toward this woman who sought to kill her own elder brother.
"I won't see her."
The gatekeeper bowed and went to deliver the message.
Chu Jing, however, seemed to recall something. "The Earl of Changlu's Mansion? Yesterday, I heard the Ministry of Justice raided their residence and arrested both the Earl and his brother. Lord Cao himself led the operation—apparently, he even got his eye scratched by one of their elders..."
Chu Ruoyan gasped. "Lord Cao was injured?"
"Yes, though not seriously. Old Madam Cao sent someone to reassure us there’s no need to worry..." Chu Jing spoke casually, as if finding nothing unusual about the situation.
Chu Ruoyan blinked. "Aunt, what do you think of Lord Cao?"
"What do you mean?" Chu Jing only realized the implication after the words left her mouth. She flicked her niece’s forehead. "You little imp, teasing your own aunt now?"
Chu Ruoyan laughed. "I wouldn’t dare! But truly, Aunt, Old Madam Cao adores you, and now that you’ve severed ties with the Xue family, perhaps you could—"
"No." Chu Jing’s smile faded. "Even if it was a righteous separation, I’m still a discarded wife. How could someone like me aspire to the Cao family? And then there’s Ling'er... I’ve decided never to remarry."
"But the Cao family might not—"
Before she could finish, the gatekeeper returned in a panic. "Young Miss, Madam Liu says if you refuse to see her, she’ll kneel at our gates until she dies. A crowd is already gathering outside..."
Chu Ruoyan shot to her feet in anger, but Chu Jing intervened first. "Enough. Let her in!"
In the side hall, Chu Ruoyan regarded Yan Shu with icy detachment.
The woman appeared frail and delicate, barely twenty—who would guess she had the heart of a viper?
After bowing, Yan Shu wasted no time. "Young Miss Chu, I beg you to save my husband!"
Chu Ruoyan replied coolly, "You’ve come to the wrong place, Madam Liu. The Ministry of Justice arrested your husband, and the aggrieved party is the General’s Manor. Plead with them instead."
"But I know it was you!" Yan Shu raised her voice desperately. "That night at Guardian Temple, you were the one by Third Brother’s side, weren’t you? You convinced him to spare Mo Zhongcheng’s life—otherwise, he would’ve left no survivors!"
Chu Ruoyan paled. "The sachet—you left it there deliberately?"
Yan Shu didn’t deny it.
"You’re vile!" Chu Ruoyan barely restrained her fury. "You knew Yan Zheng would collapse if he realized it was you. So you gave that sachet to Mo Zhongcheng, ensuring that even if the assassination failed, Yan Zheng would slaughter everyone in his rage—covering your tracks while driving him mad!"
Every step was a calculated betrayal by kin.
Even as an outsider, Chu Ruoyan felt sickened.
Yan Shu pressed her lips together before smiling bitterly. "I had no choice. My Third Brother may seem indifferent, but when Eldest Brother died, I knew he’d crawl back on half a leg to avenge him..."
"So you’d sacrifice your own brother for your husband? Are you even human?"
Chu Ruoyan clenched her fists—for the first time, she wished she could kill someone.
Yan Shu sneered. "What if I’m not? Mr. Liu is the only one who ever truly cared for me! The Yan family? Ha! They called me Fourth Miss Yan to my face, but never treated me as one of their own! When arranging my marriage, I asked to enter the palace, but that hypocrite Madam Xie claimed the imperial harem was too dangerous. Instead, they married me off to a mere earl!"
"Think about it—Eldest Brother wed the Grand Tutor Rong’s daughter, Third Brother got the Duke of Chu’s heir, and even Fifth Brother, another adoptee, married the Tiger General’s second daughter! But me? An earl’s household, not even a marquis! They never saw me as family!"
Chu Ruoyan scoffed.
She’d heard this story before. The proud Fourth Miss Yan had boasted to noble families about entering the palace, forcing Lady Xie to hastily arrange the Earl of Changlu match after the Emperor inquired.
"So you resented the marriage? Then why beg me to save your husband now?"
Yan Shu faltered before retorting, "Mr. Liu has nothing to do with the Yan family! And in this weapons case, he’s only an accomplice. Past dealings never caused trouble—why now?"
"‘Only once’? You swapped the blades soldiers fought with, and dare call it ‘once’?"
Chu Ruoyan was appalled.
This adopted daughter was worse than a wolf biting its master’s hand.
She had no more words to waste, but Yan Shu hissed, "I know you love Third Brother and hate me for this. But I can’t lose my husband for dead Yan kinsmen. If you won’t help me today, I’ll—"
In one motion, she yanked out a hairpin and pressed it to her throat.
Yulu and Nanny Zhou cried out.
Chu Ruoyan remained unmoved. "What are you doing?"
"I’ll die right here in your manor unless you agree!"
Of course.
A heartless cur would only resort to threats.
After a pause, Chu Ruoyan called, "Nanny Zhou."
The servant bowed. "Since Madam Liu wishes to die, arrange a coffin for her at the charity mortuary. Let her depart with dignity."
Yan Shu blanched. "You—you’d let me do it?"
"I’d prefer you hurry up," Chu Ruoyan said indifferently. "Once you’re gone, I’ll inform the Ministry of Justice to examine the body. Don’t worry—your beloved husband will join you shortly. You can reunite in the afterlife."
Yan Shu’s hand trembled.
She’d assumed this sheltered noble girl would crumble at the threat of suicide.
But not only did Chu Ruoyan refuse to yield—she urged her on. Was this really the same meek Duke’s daughter from the rumors?
Gritting her teeth, Yan Shu finally lowered the pin. "What will it take? Just one word from you, and Third Brother would listen!"
"No."
Chu Ruoyan’s eyes were lifeless. "Not only will I refuse, Madam Liu—I want to watch you perish."
A chill crawled up Yan Shu’s spine. Desperate, she played her final card. "Fine. But if you won’t help me, your cousin’s engagement to the Xie Family is over. Old Madam Xie is my husband’s grandaunt!"
