Chu Ruoyan nodded. “I know.”

“If you know, then why…?” Yun Lang frowned. Seeing her lower her eyes and remain silent, he turned his head. “All of you, go back first. I need to speak with her alone.”

Yan Zhao, Shopkeeper Du, and the others all left. The covert guards of the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion also withdrew completely.

Under the moonlight, Yun Lang looked at his younger sister and said, “Whatever you have to say, you can say it now.”

Chu Ruoyan opened her lips to ask, “What about the old divine physician?”

“The man was saved. He’s not dead, but he hasn’t woken up either. The old master said it will take at least another month or so. What, do you want to send him back?”

The woman shook her head. “It’s too late to send him back now. The imperial family already knows our identities. Even if they knew he was alive, they wouldn’t let us go.”

After speaking, she fell silent. Only the rustling sound of the night wind brushing through the treetops remained.

After a long while, she finally spoke as if having made up her mind. “Second Brother, I must go back.”

Yun Lang narrowed his eyes. “Have you decided?”

“I have decided!” Chu Ruoyan clenched her palms tightly and took a deep breath. “All these years, my father slaved for the court and the imperial family, and how did they repay him? They killed him without a second thought! If they can do this to my father today, they can do the same to Yan Zheng tomorrow. Second Brother, I truly do not wish to reignite the flames of war, but when the enemy’s blade is already at your throat, you cannot just wait to be slaughtered!”

“Good! You’ve finally come to your senses!”

Yun Lang said with relief. His younger sister was perfect in every way, except she had been taught by Chu Huaishan to care too much about the bigger picture.

If it were him, he wouldn’t care about the consequences. He’d just level the imperial palace. Would the Murong family dare not release the prisoner?

“Don’t worry about Yan Zheng. I will use the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion’s secret channels to send him a message… But what’s your plan for the capital? Sneak into the palace to kill the emperor, or first raid the execution ground to save your foster father?”

“Neither.”

Chu Ruoyan lowered her gaze, her eyes sharp as a blade. “The Yan family has served as generals for generations. If they suddenly raise a banner of rebellion, it will inevitably tarnish the family’s honorable reputation. Yan Zheng might not care, but I cannot let him bear that infamy. So, we must stage a play…”

Yun Lang raised an eyebrow with interest, listening as she continued in a soft, gentle voice.

At first, he nodded frequently, thinking this well-considered plan was brilliant. But the more he heard, the more alarmed he became, until he couldn’t help but interrupt. “No! This is too risky for you!”

Chu Ruoyan asked calmly, “Then, brother, who do you think can take my place?”

Yun Lang was speechless. Indeed, there was no one who could replace her.

Chu Ruoyin was gone. Chu Ruolan was too foolish. The female assassins under his command were skilled, but when it came to eloquence, they were all clumsy.

Seeing his hesitation, Chu Ruoyan said softly, “Second Brother, I know you’re worried about my safety. But in front of everyone, the imperial family wouldn’t dare to act against me. Besides, Shadow is by my side. If you’re really uneasy, you can send two more people to follow me…”

“Two people aren’t enough. I’ll assign Bai Yi and Heiya to you. Additionally, I’ll give you fifty more men. If anything changes, you must escape immediately!”

Chu Ruoyan said in surprise, “You’re giving them all to me? Then what about you? When the time comes, you’ll have to enter the imperial palace, facing dangers many times greater than mine…”

“Miaomiao!” Yun Lang interrupted, placing his hands on her shoulders and speaking solemnly. “You’re the only family I have left. If something happens to you, your Second Brother won’t be able to go on living either. So, you must listen to me.” Then he glanced at her abdomen. “And you’re not alone now. You have my two little nephews. You must take good care of yourself. Do you understand?”

Chu Ruoyan’s eyes grew moist. “Thank you, Second Brother.”

The next day, the sky was overcast.

Inside the prison of the Ministry of Justice, a table laden with sumptuous wine and food was brought in.

Cao Yang said, “Remove the shackles from Duke Chu.”

The subordinate hesitated. “Vice Minister, I’m afraid that’s…”

“I said remove them!” His low shout still carried authority. The jailer trembled and complied.

Chu Huaishan rotated his stiff wrists and smiled. “Old Cao, why get angry at a time like this? Come, come, have another drink with me.”

Cao Yang’s face was ashen, and he didn’t move. “This is the executioner’s wine. I cannot partake!”

Chu Huaishan chuckled, picked up the wine cup himself, and took a sip. “The executioner’s wine? The taste is nothing special.”

Cao Yang could bear it no longer. “Chu Huaishan, what on earth are you thinking? We’ve served as ministers together for twenty years. If we’re talking about loyalty, I’ve never seen anyone more loyal than you. So why did you adopt the daughter of the former dynasty’s regent? And why… why was it discovered after you adopted her?”

He was so angry he gritted his teeth. Chu Huaishan was taken aback. “Old Cao, that doesn’t sound like something you should say…”

What did he mean by ‘discovered after you adopted her’? Would it have been fine if it hadn’t been discovered?

Cao Yang choked, sat down on a stool in frustration, and said, “We both know what Ruoyan’s character is like. The idea of her plotting rebellion is a joke! It’s just that the Emperor fears the Regent like a tiger. The moment he heard she was his daughter, all reason left him… I won’t hide it from you. Throughout the entire court, except for a few like Prince Yu and Duke Zou, everyone is pleading for mercy on your behalf! Grand Tutor Rong, Lord Gu, and the others even knelt outside the Fengtian Hall. I heard old Censor Yu knelt until he fainted…”

Chu Huaishan said with shame, “I have implicated them.”

Seeing him like this, Cao Yang also felt distressed. But what could be done? The emperor seemed to have a heart of iron. Even though Gu Sun had explicitly told him that Yan Zheng was still leading troops outside the borders, and killing his father-in-law and his wife and children now would be forcing him to rebel.

Yet ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‍the emperor wouldn’t listen to a single word. He even sent people to mobilize troops from the Western Mountain camp, determined to kill them all!

Chu Huaishan looked up at the ceiling of the cell and sighed heavily. “The Emperor’s suspicion is too deep, and he was terrified by the Regent. He believes Ruoyan and Yan Zheng are colluding from inside and outside to usurp his throne. Ironically, the more he acts like this, the more he forces both sides onto a path of no return… It’s a pity it’s too late to say anything now. Fortunately, this old man can close his eyes today. I won’t have to see it anymore!”

The relaxed tone of his last words made Cao Yang want to curse. The jailer cautiously said, “Vice Minister, the time has come…”

Cao Yang was stunned. Chu Huaishan stood up and patted his shoulder. “Old Cao, after all these years of witnessing the treacherous currents of the court, I’ve seen through it. Some things are better not clung to too stubbornly. Take good care of Jing’er and the child…”

After saying this, he strode out of the cell, leaving Cao Yang standing there in a daze.

Yes, all these years of rising early and retiring late, exhausting heart and mind—what had it earned him?

It was difficult to clear the Great General’s name, yet easy for the Princess to raise an army in rebellion. Consort Xue’s family frequently caused trouble. The Zhenbei General’s estate dared to attempt an assassination…

Case after case. Was it that we ministers were not diligent enough, or…?

He dared not ponder further. Walking out of the Ministry of Justice, he looked at the scene on the street and was instantly stunned.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep