Chapter 120: Caught Between the Debts of Gratitude and the Bonds of Affection

The wedding proceeded according to the original plan. Following the customs of Nanxi, the Wenchang Marquis Mansion quickly invited the Minister of Rites to formally propose the marriage. Subsequently, Yun Xiangrong, accompanied by meticulously selected maids and servants, as well as a staggering dowry that left onlookers aghast, set off in a grand procession for Jingzhou to officially exchange vows with Shen Yu. During this period, tradition dictated that the bride’s family could not see the bride.

The unexpected complication of the Ninth Prince’s mid-process intervention was neatly smoothed over by the Matriarch, who found a convenient justification, inevitably casting the blame entirely upon Shen Yu. The fabricated excuse was as follows: when Shen Yu had mistakenly intruded into Yun Xiangrong’s private chambers, he had not merely behaved indecorously but had ruined her virtue. To prevent scandal and to force Shen Yu to take responsibility, the Yun family had claimed publicly that he had only intruded by mistake. Under these circumstances, the Yun family could not possibly marry their daughter, who was no longer pure, to the Ninth Prince, and thus they had to decline the proposal with polite regret.

This excuse was truly masterful, leaving almost no room for doubt; it was merely unfortunate for Shen Yu. However, since he was destined to marry Yun Xiangrong regardless, and given his history of libertinism, the Matriarch had found the perfect cover.

"Xiangrong must marry Shen Yu; this is our insurance policy. Should the Fourth Prince Nie succeed in his uprising and the Shen clan become the royal in-laws, Xiangrong will be our family’s lifeline," the Matriarch told Chuxiu.

Chuxiu had already considered this, but she asked subconsciously, "And if the Fourth Prince fails, what becomes of Xiangrong?" She asked about Xiangrong, but she was also asking about Shen Yu.

At this, a sharp glint flashed in the Matriarch’s eyes as she looked straight at Chuxiu and smiled, "If the Fourth Prince fails and the Seventh succeeds, does that not suit our desires perfectly? As for a mere concubine-born daughter of the Yun family—the daughter of Hua Wuying, at that—if she must be discarded, then so be it."

Discarded... Chuxiu instinctively furrowed her brows. She had words she wanted to speak but swallowed them back. Her back injuries had only just healed, and she did not know if the Matriarch’s anger had subsided; if she were to bring up Shen Yu again, she feared she would face the family’s corporal punishment once more.

Yet, nothing escaped the Matriarch’s notice. "Are you asking about Xiangrong? Or about Shen Yu? Speak plainly!"

Chuxiu lowered her gaze, not daring to reply.

The Matriarch sighed softly, "You had the courage to send him away and accepted the family punishment without complaint, yet now you dare not speak a word? What is this?"

Chuxiu could only whisper, "I am... afraid you might misunderstand..."

"Misunderstand what?" the Matriarch immediately retorted.

This time, Chuxiu could not answer. Some things, even if understood by all, cannot be brought out into the open. She could not possibly say she feared the Matriarch would suspect her of having a secret affair with the young Marquis Shen.

"Shen Yu is infatuated with you, but you and Ci shared a mutual affection. Is that not the case?" the Matriarch asked, seeing Chuxiu remain silent.

Chuxiu nodded quickly.

"You went to such lengths to help Shen Yu escape; was that not out of a desire to repay his kindness?"

Chuxiu nodded in agreement again.

The Matriarch smiled, "He saved you from the fire at the Zuihua Pavilion, facilitated your meeting and connection with Ci, later acted as a witness to your wedding, and guarded you in Yanlan City without complaint... This debt is indeed as vast as the heavens. It is only right that you repay him."

Chuxiu breathed a long sigh of relief, her expression softening. Her peerless beauty was a sight to behold.

It was no wonder men were obsessed with Chuxiu; even the Matriarch herself never tired of looking at that face, finding it endlessly admirable. What kind of beauties had the Yun family not seen? Even their maids were first-rate in appearance—yet none could compare to Chuxiu.

Thinking of this, the Matriarch could not help but sigh again. From the first day this mute servant entered the manor, she knew she would be a harbinger of chaos and that she would leave the entire household in turmoil. She had only been half right; she had not foreseen the life-and-death storms that would follow, nor had she underestimated Chuxiu’s talent.

It had to be said that Ci’s judgment was sound. The Matriarch looked at Chuxiu, suddenly feeling a sense of tragic grandeur, whether for herself or for this daughter-in-law she did not particularly like.

Initially, the Matriarch had intended for Chuxiu to enter as a widow to serve as a target to draw out the person poisoning the family. Later, in dealing with Zhuoyan and Yun Qi, she realized she had underestimated her. Subsequently, the composure displayed in every incident, culminating in the complete removal of the Third Branch, fully demonstrated Chuxiu’s ability to balance mercy with severity.

But what surprised the Matriarch most was Chuxiu’s insight into the political situation and her control over the Yun family’s business affairs.

Chuxiu had learned in less than twenty years what the Matriarch had needed until age thirty to master, and she showed signs of surpassing her predecessor. This both startled and pleased the Matriarch. However, Chuxiu still had her naiveties: a lack of skill in judging character and in managing people. These were the hardest to teach, but they were matters of age and experience. The Matriarch believed that, given Chuxiu’s intelligence, she would eventually grasp the keys.

In truth, even now, she could not fully accept this daughter-in-law in her heart, but the situation forced her to, even to the point of coaxing her to work for the Yun family. Yet, should she selfishly chain her to the Lixin Marquis Mansion? To use her rare, world-shaking talent to protect the Yun family while she remained a widow forever?

The Matriarch had not settled on Chuxiu’s future. After all, she had made promises to Shen Yu before, but now, she felt a bit shaken. The Matriarch pulled back her thoughts and finally asked, "Chuxiu, tell me the truth: regarding Shen Yu... in the past, or in the future, have you ever felt anything for him?"

Felt anything? Chuxiu instinctively touched her lips, as if burned by the touch from a memory. But it lasted only a heartbeat; she immediately cleared her mind and answered sternly, "No! The young Marquis is my benefactor! Anything I do for him now is purely to repay that debt... I will remain chaste for the Marquis."

Perhaps the word "chaste" resonated with the Matriarch, for she rubbed her forehead, her expression softening. "If you wish to remarry, I will not stop you, but not now. Moreover, you must never marry an enemy of the Yun family."

An enemy of the Yun family? Chuxiu felt the Matriarch was implying something, but who exactly? She considered probing, but realized that since she had no intention of remarrying, why invite suspicion?

"I will not remarry," Chuxiu said, wanting to express her resolve to remain chaste for Yun Ci. "When Prince Mu ascends the throne and the situation stabilizes, I will ask him to bestow a chastity arch upon the Yun family. With this arch, I will be bound. Does that seem appropriate to you?"

She was actually planning to seek a chastity arch! The Matriarch was moved by Chuxiu’s dedication and resolve. She looked her up and down but ultimately said nothing, merely waving her hand. "We shall discuss this later. I am tired; you may leave. Do not forget to report the accounts tomorrow."

Chuxiu remembered that reports were due in the latter part of each month. She had already prepared everything and agreed readily. Little did she know that plans would change; the next day, Prince Mu returned to Yanlan City with his new Princess, and immediately sent word requesting to see Lady Chuxiu.

That day happened to be the twentieth of the eleventh month.

Chuxiu visited the Prince’s residence but saw neither the new Princess Zhuang nor the consort Luan Su. She was taken directly to the study for a private conversation with Prince Mu.

"I was attacked twice on my way back from Jingzhou," Prince Mu said, coming straight to the point.

"Attacked? Was there any damage?" Chuxiu asked cautiously. In truth, she had already heard of the attacks—once in the mountains near the capital and once in the fief of the Fourth Prince, Prince Fu.

"I was prepared," Prince Mu said confidently. "The Fourth is making his move, but I am not someone he can easily manipulate. If all goes as expected, within three months, he will be unable to wait and will launch a rebellion."

"Rebellion?" What did those words mean...

"Indeed, rebellion." Prince Mu smiled bewitchingly at Chuxiu. "A cornered dog will jump over a wall. Remember that."

Chuxiu could not imagine what methods Prince Mu had used to force the Fourth Prince into an open rebellion. It seemed unwise; either he was certain of victory or it was the act of a trapped beast. Otherwise, as a prince, how could he so easily "rebel"? Moreover, regardless of success or failure, the charge of being "unfilial" for rebelling against his father was a stain that would be set in stone. Furthermore, the Fourth Prince was known for his "benevolence" and cherished his reputation...

"If he is to rebel, he must use troops. When it comes to warfare, the Fourth is far inferior to me," Prince Mu continued.

Judging by his tone, Prince Mu seemed confident. Chuxiu nodded, "I wish your Highness all that you desire."

Hearing this, Prince Mu’s phoenix eyes narrowed, and he remained silent for a long time. Just as Chuxiu was about to take her leave, she heard him say, "When the eldest Miss Yun married, I was on my way back to Fangzhou and did not observe the ceremony in Jingzhou. Now that I am back, I must show my respects. I will send someone to deliver a wedding gift to your manor shortly."

Throughout the conversation, Prince Mu said not a word about Shen Yu’s escape. Chuxiu felt slightly relieved and offered a few polite words of gratitude. Just as she was wondering why he would suddenly bring up the marriage, Prince Mu changed the subject: "After the Fourth begins his uprising, I will be passive in my military maneuvers for a time. I fear the situation will tilt in his favor. You must be careful about what you say to the eldest Miss, and what you do not."

So, this was the point! Prince Mu feared she would leak information to Yun Xiangrong and Shen Yu! Chuxiu’s heart sank, but she smiled, "I have long known of your Highness’s divine strategy in warfare; I did not expect you to use 'passive maneuvers' to hide your true intentions... Rest assured, I know my place."

Prince Mu nodded, satisfied, and looked at her again. "You and the young Marquis Shen are quite close, are you not?"

"The young Marquis was a great benefactor to me," was all Chuxiu replied. She knew Prince Mu had already uncovered their entire history, so she saw no point in wasting words.

"I dare to ask you: if one day the existence of the young Marquis threatened the status of the Yun family, how would you choose between the two?" Prince Mu’s tone was flat, but his words were pressuring.

At this question, cold sweat broke out on Chuxiu’s back, and the old wound from the family punishment seemed to ache. She had thought of this countless times. Shen Yu and the Yun family... if she had to abandon Shen Yu or even harm him, she could not do it; but if she had to abandon the Yun family, she could do that even less.

For the sake of Yun Ci... Chuxiu gritted her teeth and hardened her heart. "I am a daughter-in-law of the Yun family; naturally, I place the family above all else, and personal grievances are but trifles."

"Is that so?" Prince Mu hinted cryptically, "I hope you remember those words."