Wei Yun was stunned by these words. It wasn't until Chu Yu finished speaking in one breath that she realized her current temperament truly resembled how she'd been at fifteen.
The two fell into silence—Chu Yu adjusting her emotions while Wei Yun digested her words. Finally, he said, "I'll remember sister-in-law's advice. This time was my fault. Next time I plan anything, I'll make sure to explain it clearly to you first."
Chu Yu nodded, her anger mostly dissipated. Her gaze fell on Wei Yun's feet, and she frowned. "Your injuries..."
"It's nothing!" Wei Yun quickly replied. "The beatings I took from my brothers in the military camp were worse than this. Just minor wounds! Please don't worry, sister-in-law."
Chu Yu sighed. She walked over to Wei Yun and crouched down before him, saying helplessly, "Lift your pant leg and let me see."
"This..."
"An elder sister-in-law is like a mother," Chu Yu glared at him. "In my eyes, you're just a child. Don't overthink it."
Wei Yun remained silent, still somewhat embarrassed. Chu Yu snapped impatiently, "Hurry up! Don't waste my money!"
Seeing her anger flare, Wei Yun finally gave up resisting. He lifted his pant leg to reveal the wound to Chu Yu.
Large patches of bruising and gruesome injuries that made one's heart tremble at the sight. Chu Yu examined them calmly before stating, "I'll have the physician prepare special medicine for these. Any other injuries?"
"Nothing much..." Wei Yun muttered. "Just some whip marks and other superficial wounds..."
Chu Yu nodded. "Understood."
With that, she stood up and said to him, "Rest well and recover. I'll take my leave now."
"Mmm..."
Wei Yun nodded, watching as Chu Yu walked out with a cold expression before calling out again, "Sister-in-law..."
"Yes?"
"Don't... don't be angry anymore, alright? If my brother knew I made you this upset, he'd rise from his grave to beat me to death!"
Wei Yun spoke nervously, that last phrase "beat me to death" uttered as if Wei Jun might truly crawl out of his tomb to do so.
Hearing this, Chu Yu felt somewhat helpless. "I'm not angry with you."
Her anger was directed at those bastards who had beaten him.
Wei Yun visibly relaxed at her words before properly bidding her farewell.
After leaving, Chu Yu summoned Changyue and instructed, "Have that jailer write down the names of everyone who beat Wei Yun. Money is no object, and we won't expose him—just get those names."
"Understood."
Changyue acknowledged and went to find Wei Yun's jailer. After she left, Wanyue chuckled lightly. "Young Madam remains as protective as ever."
Chu Yu gave a cold laugh. "Actions have consequences. The Wei family hasn't fallen yet."
Once Changyue obtained the list and handed it to Chu Yu, the three returned to the residence. Chu Yu had people keeping watch on Yunlan County Princess, and no sooner had they returned than the watchers hurried back with news: "A visitor came to Yunlan County Princess's residence today."
"Who?"
Chu Yu pressed urgently. The attendant reported a name: "Lu Minxing."
Lu Minxing served as the Crown Prince's Household Administrator and had always maintained close private ties with Yunlan County Princess—so much so that rumors persistently claimed he was her intimate companion.
Yet understanding the Crown Prince's involvement made it clear—the true intimate companion wasn't Lu Minxing at all! It was undoubtedly the Crown Prince operating under Lu Minxing's name!No matter what, as long as The Crown Prince went, it would suffice. Once applied, the Ten-Day Fragrance would linger for ten days without fading. The Eldest Princess was always meticulous in her observations, and with marriage negotiations currently underway between her household and The Crown Prince, it was impossible for them not to meet for so long.
Even if they didn’t meet, she would find a way to make The Eldest Princess seek out The Crown Prince.
Chu Yu pondered this and instructed her servants, "Keep watching closely, especially the residences of The Eldest Princess and The Crown Prince. Be vigilant."
On the afternoon The Crown Prince visited Yunlan County Princess’s residence, he later went to The Eldest Princess’s estate. Logically, The Eldest Princess should have taken action by now, yet there had been no movement in this matter.
Chu Yu couldn’t help but feel uneasy, wondering which part of the plan had gone wrong.
The Eldest Princess was domineering by nature. She herself kept over a dozen Male Concubines and would never tolerate her daughter suffering the indignities of romantic rivalry. Yet now, after seeing The Crown Prince bearing the Ten-Day Fragrance, she remained inactive—what could this mean?
Unable to decipher it, Chu Yu had her people keep watch for three days straight. The longer she waited, the more restless she became. Just as she was about to change tactics, on the dawn of the third day, as Chu Yu opened her eyes, Changyue burst into the room in a flurry, exclaiming urgently, "Madam, something terrible has happened!"
Chu Yu’s eyes snapped open as she flipped out of bed, demanding coldly, "What is it?!"
"The Crown Prince... The Crown Prince..." Changyue gasped for breath, and Chu Yu tensed, only to hear her say, "The Crown Prince was dragged out of Yunlan County Princess’s bed by The Eldest Princess and hauled off to the palace!"
Hearing this, Chu Yu drew a sharp breath.
She had been wrong—she had underestimated The Eldest Princess. These three days of inaction hadn’t been due to reluctance but because petty moves were beneath her. When she struck, she struck hard.
Dragging the Crown Prince of the realm from her cousin’s bed and hauling him to the palace—this Eldest Princess was truly audacious.
After a stunned pause, Chu Yu hurriedly said, "Quick, tell me everything in detail."
"Early this morning, Lu Minxing visited Yunlan County Princess’s residence late at night. Just before dawn, The Eldest Princess suddenly led two hundred Covert Guards, using Bewitching drug to storm the estate. Our manor’s annex is right next to Yunlan County Princess’s residence, and the drug was so potent that even now, the guards haven’t fully recovered."
"That’s not the main point," Chu Yu said as she dressed hastily. "What happened next?"
"Oh," Changyue returned to the subject. "The Eldest Princess personally led her men to Yunlan County Princess’s bedchamber, declaring she would drag out Lu Minxing—the scoundrel who had tarnished Yunlan County Princess’s reputation. The soldiers hauled the man straight from the bed, and The Eldest Princess raised her whip and struck twice. After the second lash, she sensed something amiss. Kneeling on one knee, she yanked the man’s hair back and asked in feigned confusion, ‘Isn’t this my nephew, The Crown Prince? Why is Your Highness kneeling here in such disarray?’"
Changyue brandished an imaginary whip, mimicking The Eldest Princess’s mannerisms with perfect dramatic flair. "‘Ah, so the man in Yunlan County Princess’s bed tonight wasn’t Minister Lu Minxing, but Your Highness? No, that can’t be. The Crown Prince is a man of loyalty and virtue—just last month, he knelt before me and vowed solemnly that after marrying my daughter, he would never betray her. My daughter would have him alone, and he would grant her his undivided devotion for life. Your Highness, do you remember this promise?’"Changyue recounted the events vividly, while Chu Yu sat cross-legged on the bed, propping her chin on her hand with her elbows resting on her knees. She smiled and said, "Go on."
"Then the Crown Prince started crying, begging the Eldest Princess to let the matter drop. But the Eldest Princess refused to relent and said to him, 'Your Highness, Yunlan County Princess is your cousin. You share the same family name. What happened between you is a violation of ethics and an unforgivable transgression. As the heir apparent, this is no trivial matter. We must report it to His Majesty and await his judgment.'"
"After saying this, the Eldest Princess summoned attendants and had both the Crown Prince and Yunlan County Princess carried into the palace. Along the way, everyone heard about the incident and came out to watch—it was a massive crowd!"
Changyue shook her head. "If I were the Crown Prince, I'd want to slit my own throat."
"Watch your words," Wanyue shot Changyue a disapproving look.
Chu Yu listened with great interest and eagerly asked once Changyue finished, "Has there been any news from the palace yet?"
"Not yet," Changyue said excitedly. "The whole of Hua Jing is waiting for news from the palace. As soon as there's any, we'll be the first to know!"
Satisfied with Changyue's words, Chu Yu nodded with a smile. She instructed the steward to prepare another generous gift, then carefully freshened up, waiting to see the Eldest Princess.
When dawn finally broke, news arrived from the palace: the Eldest Princess had been drunk and mistaken identities. She was punished with one month of house arrest.
Hearing this, all of Hua Jing sighed in amazement—the Crown Prince truly remained deeply favored.
Yet Chu Yu seemed to have anticipated this outcome. She took the prepared gifts and hurried to the Eldest Princess's residence.
As soon as she arrived, the Eldest Princess's steward was waiting at the gate. Seeing Chu Yu, he bowed slightly and said with a smile, "Young Madam, you've finally arrived. Our Princess has been expecting you for some time."
Chu Yu was surprised. "The Princess knew I was coming?"
The steward smiled meaningfully. "The Princess knows everything."
Chu Yu remained cautious and praised the Eldest Princess's wisdom to the steward, who responded indifferently before leading her to the inner courtyard.
There, the Eldest Princess sat in a resplendent golden gown, her hair loosely cascading down. Two handsome young men stood beside her—one fanning her, the other massaging her shoulders. Chu Yu averted her gaze and stepped forward to bow respectfully. "Greetings to the Eldest Princess."
"Enough with the formalities," the Eldest Princess said, playing with her golden fingernails. "Last time, you asked me to think it over before giving you an answer—all for today, wasn't it? I accept your terms." She let out a cold laugh. "I will save your Wei family."
Hearing this, Chu Yu was certain the matter was inextricably linked to the Crown Prince. Yet she revealed none of this, maintaining a facade of gratitude as she knelt and said, "This humble one thanks Your Highness for your grace!"
The Eldest Princess burst into laughter. "Chu Yu, I find you quite amusing. You orchestrated this entire scheme, luring me and the Crown Prince into your trap, yet you act as if you know nothing and shower me with gratitude."
She lightly flicked her golden fingernails, holding them up to admire their shimmer in the sunlight, then said slowly, "Why don't you tell me how you discovered the affair between the Crown Prince and Yunlan?"The Eldest Princess had laid her cards on the table, and continuing to feign ignorance would only make Chu Yu feel awkward. So she simply sat down on the floor with an open demeanor and said calmly, "There are no walls without cracks. The Wei family has their methods, and I have mine."
"Princess," she looked up at The Eldest Princess with a sincere smile, "You won't regret choosing the Wei family today."
The Eldest Princess scoffed, unbothered by Chu Yu's confidence. Instead, she turned her gaze to the delicate flowers nearby and sighed, "With your intelligence, it's a shame you married. At least, like me, you're widowed now."
As she spoke, she took a sip of wine from the handsome attendant beside her and said slowly, "You asked Grand Tutor Xie to convey your request for an audience to His Majesty. Do you know why there's been no response yet?"
"Because," Chu Yu replied calmly, "His Majesty doesn't dare to see me."
"What bold words," The Eldest Princess remarked with amusement, though not mockingly. "But you're not wrong. Right now, my younger brother can't make a decision regarding the Wei family. When he finally resolves to give them a verdict, he'll see you."
Chu Yu nodded. The Eldest Princess toyed with her round fan and mused, "You've probably guessed why he hesitates. This matter is intricately tied to The Crown Prince. Though I don't know the details, I understand His Majesty is torn between protecting The Crown Prince and the Wei family. Losing seventy thousand troops—if the blame falls on The Crown Prince, the consequences would be too severe. But if it's pinned on Wei Zhong, the dead are already gone. No matter the punishment, how far can it go? Must an entire family of loyal martyrs truly be executed?"
After a pause, Chu Yu ventured, "So His Majesty doesn’t actually wish to kill my brother-in-law—he even wants to save him. But," she frowned, "why doesn’t he act?"
"If seventy thousand soldiers were truly lost due to Wei Zhong's strategic blunder, yet the Emperor shows no anger or outrage, what would the court think?"
"The ministers would question the truth. Since His Majesty wants to protect The Crown Prince, he can't allow such suspicions to fester. He must maintain appearances—he can't simply release the Wei family without a proper pretext."
Hesitantly, Chu Yu asked, "So, Princess, are you suggesting... I should give His Majesty a way out?"
"Of course," The Eldest Princess twirled her fan, her eyes lowering with a hint of coldness. "If the crime can't be escaped, your Wei family might as well take the blame."
Chu Yu fell silent, her brow furrowed in deep thought.
Once a crime is admitted, overturning the verdict becomes nearly impossible. If The Eldest Princess was genuinely offering advice, this was a risky move. But if she intended to harm the Wei family...
As Chu Yu carefully weighed The Eldest Princess's stance, the latter, sensing her hesitation, lightly tapped her forehead with the fan and chuckled, "Or... you could take the blame."
Chu Yu looked up sharply, meeting The Eldest Princess's gaze.
This time, she understood the implication. For Chu Yu to admit guilt was entirely different from Wei Yun doing so.
Chu Yu, in Hua Jing, was like the rest of the capital and the Emperor—completely unaware of the battlefield's realities. Her admission would mean nothing. A simple "I knew nothing" in the future could easily overturn any confession.But Wei Yun's acknowledgment was different. As the only surviving male heir of the Wei family and the sole survivor from the battlefield, every word he spoke carried immense weight.
Chu Yu finally understood The Eldest Princess's intentions. The emperor could not simply release Wei Yun now—he needed the Wei family to take the blame. He could not let the people see his guilt, for he was determined to protect The Crown Prince. Yet, the emperor did not truly intend to sacrifice Wei Yun either. Sacrificing the reputation of the dead was one thing, but sending Wei Yun to his death was something the emperor could not bring himself to do. After all, the Wei family had died for the sake of Great Chu, shielding the imperial family. By reason and sentiment, the emperor dared not let Wei Yun die.
The Wei family had been loyal generals and ministers. Whether out of regard for Wei Yun's talents or the loyalty of his ancestors, the emperor could not truly watch him perish.
Moreover, Wei Yun was still young. If he lived, the emperor could still control the Wei family's remaining influence in the north. But if Wei Yun died and the Wei family suffered an unjust accusation, the remnants of their northern forces might retaliate with their lives—an outcome the emperor absolutely did not want.
Thus, if Chu Yu wanted to save Wei Yun, she had to give the emperor a way out—a reason to bypass legalities and release him.
"I understand."
Chu Yu nodded, straightened her sleeves, and bowed deeply, her forehead touching the ground as she addressed The Eldest Princess respectfully: "I will return at once and take the Wei family's ancestral tablets to the Palace Gates to plead for an audience with Your Majesty."
Before, she had worried that doing so without first consulting the emperor might seem like coercion. But now, it seemed this was precisely the kind of "coercion" the emperor needed.
Chu Yu lifted her head and looked at The Eldest Princess sincerely. "When the time comes, I hope Your Highness will mediate on our behalf."
"Rest assured," The Eldest Princess replied, her eyes cold. "I will shield you from The Crown Prince's faction. But remember—remember well what The Crown Prince has done!"
"Your Highness need not worry," Chu Yu said quickly. "The Wei Manor will never forget The Crown Prince's actions."
The Eldest Princess nodded and said no more, seeming weary as she half-closed her eyes. Seeing she had nothing further to say, Chu Yu took her leave.
Upon returning to Wei Manor, she summoned Jiang Chun, who had just finished replying to Liu Xueyang's letter. Liu Xueyang had settled in Lanling and inquired about their situation. Hearing Chu Yu's summons, Jiang Chun hurried over and found her changing clothes. "Where are you going?" she asked.
"Gather everyone in the manor to carry the ancestral tablets from the shrine and kneel before the Palace Gates."
Jiang Chun was momentarily stunned. "What for?"
"I spoke with The Eldest Princess," Chu Yu lowered her voice. "His Majesty does not truly wish to kill Xiao Qi—he just needs a way to save face. We will give him that way."
Understanding dawned on Jiang Chun, and she nodded coldly. "I'll go at once."
With that, she turned and rushed to the inner courtyard, instructing everyone to change into clean mourning garments before gathering in the courtyard.
When Chu Yu arrived, she saw Jiang Chun, Xie Jiu, Yao Jue, Zhang Han, and Wang Lan all present.
She had not expected them to come and was momentarily surprised, but soon she smiled. "I never thought you would accompany me on this final journey."
"We've walked the hardest road with you," Xie Jiu said calmly. "What's one more step at the end?""Let's just consider ourselves unlucky," Yao Jue sneered. "What else can we do, stuck with this dead man?"
"Since we've stayed this long," Zhang Han sighed, "we might as well stay a while longer. Wherever we can be of use, just give us your orders, Young Madam."
"Young Madam..." Wang Lan spoke timidly, about to say more when Chu Yu interjected, "Xiao Qi, you shouldn't go. You're still carrying a child—you must think of the baby."
"I'd still like to go," Wang Lan said with a bitter smile. "When he was alive, wherever his elder brothers and sisters-in-law went, he would drag me along. If he knew I stayed home alone at a time like this, he'd surely be angry. I'll just stand to the side and won't cause any trouble."
Chu Yu pressed her lips together. Jiang Chun stepped forward and said, "If she doesn't go, she'll likely find it even harder to settle her mind."
After some thought, Chu Yu finally nodded. "Then the steward must take good care of the Sixth Young Madam."
Having said that, Chu Yu addressed the group: "After we've burned incense and prayed, we'll carry the memorial tablets to the Palace Gates to beg Your Majesty to release Xiao Qi. If Xiao Qi remains in prison, he may never come out alive. As his elders, it's our duty to protect him in place of his family. Everyone," she raised her hand, "let us proceed."
With that, she led everyone to the ancestral hall. After burning incense and purifying their hands, they knelt inside the hall—Chu Yu in the first row, the other five young madams in the second. They raised the incense sticks and bowed, then Chu Yu stepped forward to lift Wei Zhong's memorial tablet. She instructed the steward to carry Wei Jun's tablet behind her, while the others each took their husbands' tablets in turn, followed by those corresponding to their respective statuses.
The Wei family spanned four generations with 132 members. Chu Yu carried the tablet out through the main gate of Wei Manor, the others forming two lines behind her. Their white mourning clothes were as pure as snow, while the black memorial tablets in their hands stood out starkly.
They marched in a grand procession toward the Palace Gates, drawing the gaze of all who saw them pass.
When they reached the Palace Gates, the sight of the sea of white made the guards uneasy. As Chu Yu approached, the guards suddenly drew their swords and called out sharply, "Who goes there?"
"Chu Yu, Princess Consort of the Marquis of Zhenguo's household, accompanied by the living and deceased of four generations of the Wei family, seeks an audience with Your Majesty!"
At these words, the guards exchanged glances. Their officer stepped forward and said respectfully, "Does the Young Madam possess an Imperial Decree for entry?"
"No."
"Then," the officer hesitated, "might the Young Madam not send word first and return once His Majesty has granted an audience?"
"If His Majesty were willing to see us, why would I resort to this?"
Chu Yu looked up at the honest-faced man before her and smiled faintly. "I know this puts you in a difficult position, and I do not mean to trouble you. I only ask that you inform His Majesty." With that, Chu Yu knelt, holding the memorial tablet aloft. "The entire Wei family will not return until we see His Majesty—even if we must kneel here until we turn to stone in the wind."
As Chu Yu knelt, the others followed suit—a vast expanse of white robes and black tablets, kneeling in perfect unison like a rolling wave, striking awe into the hearts of onlookers.
After a moment's hesitation, the officer finally said, "Then... allow this humble official to report to His Majesty."After the official finished speaking, he turned and entered the inner palace. The members of the Wei family remained kneeling on the ground. Inside the carriage, Wang Lan held Wei Rong in her arms, watching the scene outside through the curtain with deep concern.
The sun shone brightly today, making it quite a fine day. Over a hundred people from Wei Manor knelt there in complete silence, the autumn sunlight casting a dazzling glow upon them.
The official claimed he was entering the palace to consult the emperor, but once he went in, he never returned. Yet Chu Yu paid it no mind. The grand display today was precisely to build a higher platform for the emperor to descend from—the more spectacular the scene, the better.
When Chu Yu knelt before the Palace Gates, the news spread like wildfire through Hua Jing. However, everyone had their own calculations, waiting silently for word from the palace.
By dawn the next day, as ministers began arriving for court, Chu Yu remained blocking the main palace entrance. The first to arrive, Chancellor Shu Lei, took one look at the situation and immediately lowered his carriage curtain, instructing his attendant, "Use another gate. We won’t enter this way."
The attendant was puzzled and turned to Shu Lei. "My lord, why is that?"
"How can we force our way when a martyr stands here?" Shu Lei glared at his attendant. "I’ll take the side gate."
Following Shu Lei’s lead, everyone arriving at the palace gates detoured—until Grand Tutor Xie arrived. He paused, then approached Chu Yu.
"Young Madam Wei..." Grand Tutor Xie sighed. "Why must you do this?"
"The Wei family’s sole remaining heir is still imprisoned. As his elder sister-in-law, how can I sit idly at home?"
Chu Yu lifted her gaze to Grand Tutor Xie. Having knelt for a full day and night, her face was pale with exhaustion. The Grand Tutor opened his mouth as if to speak, but in the end, he only said, "Sincerity can move even metal and stone."
Shaking his head, he clasped his hands behind his back and entered the palace through the gates.
Chu Yu watched his retreating figure and understood his meaning.
Her kneeling had not lasted long enough to deserve such praise.
She closed her eyes without another word.
No one in the court mentioned the matter—until finally, a young Censor Chen from the Censorate could no longer hold back. "Your Majesty, the entire Wei family, young and old, kneels outside. The Wei family has served loyally for generations with three dukes among them. Even if Wei Zhong committed grave crimes, must we treat such a loyal and righteous family this way?"
At this, Cao Xiong stepped forward angrily. "Censor Chen speaks wrongly! The lives of seventy thousand soldiers are no trifling matter. In my view, the crimes Wei Zhong committed warrant extermination of his entire clan!"
"Lord Cao is too harsh," Censor Chen retorted, his face flushing red. "Even common criminals are allowed to care for their elderly parents before punishment. Wei Yun is the Wei family’s only remaining heir. Even if he confessed, he should first ensure his mother’s peaceful passing before facing judgment. This is the principle of human ethics—Lord Cao’s thinking is truly brutal!"
Enraged, Cao Xiong began a heated argument with Censor Chen right in the court. However, neither held significant influence, and after a morning of quarreling, the matter was dropped.
When Chu Yu heard of this, she knew the more fiercely and urgently the court debated, the closer the emperor’s "satisfaction" would be.
She was in no hurry and continued kneeling calmly.
The first day brought scorching sun, the second day drizzling rain. Those with weaker constitutions began collapsing one after another, carried away—only their memorial tablets remained to accompany the others.
By the third morning, the sun burned mercilessly again. More people fainted, while in the court, the voices defending the Wei family grew louder.By the fourth day, the downpour had reduced the kneeling crowd by half. On this day, The Eldest Princess arrived as well. She stepped down from her ornate Phoenix carriage, glanced lightly at Chu Yu, then patted her shoulder.
Chu Yu felt the heavy rain pounding on her, as if she were being hammered by a thousand weights.
She struggled to lift her gaze to The Eldest Princess, who merely smiled and said, "Don’t worry, Wei Yun will return soon."
As she spoke, she adjusted her robes and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"The battles I wage have never ended in defeat!"
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