Feng Shuo had already said enough; it wasn’t convenient for him to meddle in other people’s family affairs.

From the attitudes of Old Master Chu and Chu Changping, it didn’t seem like they would make things difficult for Jiang Yan Yi and her brother.

He said, “Thank you for the feast today, but I have urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.”

Old Master Chu looked at Chu Changping: “Sanlang, see the prince off.”

Chu Changping agreed and stood up to escort Feng Shuo out of the main hall.

Both were martial men.

Feng Shuo wore a dark red embroidered python robe with a black base today, which made him look even more distinguished.

Chu Changping had just returned from the army and was still in his armor, standing tall compared to Feng Shuo.

As Feng Shuo walked down the steps, the heavy snow fell onto his shoulders like goose feathers.

Suddenly, Chu Changping called out to him, “Your Highness, what was your intention today?”

Feng Shuo stopped and slightly turned his head, saying, “It’s naturally for one person.”

Beside him stood a snow cedar, but his figure was even more upright than the cedar.

Though he had suspected it long ago, Chu Changping was still stunned by his words and was speechless for a while.

After a long time, he said, “Ah Yi has lost her mother. I treat them like my own children. Ah Yi is unfortunate; I only wish for them to live a peaceful life. Your Highness’s great kindness to the Chu family is something I will never forget, and I am willing to repay you with my humble service. What kind of woman can you not find? I only ask that you spare Ah Yi!”

Feng Shuo’s lips slowly curved into a smile.

Through the swirling snow, he looked cold yet magnificent, saying, “If it weren’t for Madam Jiang’s passing, I would have already proposed to her through the proper channels. Once the mourning period is over, I will certainly send a matchmaker to propose.”

As Feng Shuo stepped onto the snow, he walked further away, leaving Chu Changping frozen in place.

When he transported the coffin back to the capital, the emperor wanted to punish the Chu family, and Feng Shuo secretly protected them.

At that time, Chu Changping had already begun to suspect Feng Shuo’s motives, thinking that Feng Shuo was using Jiang Yanyi as a bargaining chip to expose the emperor’s cruelty.

However, he never imagined that Feng Shuo protected the Chu family because he was interested in Jiang Yanyi!

He spoke of proposing through the proper channels, marrying Jiang Yanyi as his legitimate wife, which was truly beneath him.

Considering how Feng Shuo had repeatedly entrusted him with important responsibilities in the army, allowing him to quickly establish a foothold in Xizhou, Chu Changping felt a complex mix of emotions.

Here was a wolf from the northern frontier, worried sick on his throne.

If Ah Yi caught his eye, would it be a blessing or a curse?

The sound of a porcelain plate shattering in the house interrupted Chu Changping’s thoughts.

He turned back into the room and saw Old Master Chu angrily chasing after Chu Dage with his cane.

The table was in disarray, and many bowls and plates were broken on the floor.

“Unfilial son! You ungrateful wretch! That is your own nephew! How can you be so cruel?” Old Master Chu’s chest heaved violently.

Chu Dage had food splattered all over his robe and looked quite disheveled.

He said, “I only learned on the day we left the city that Su Niang didn’t buy painkillers for Yan Gui. I thought it was just a pain relief pill, intending to buy it elsewhere once we left the capital. I had no idea we wouldn’t find any along the way!”

Old Master Chu snapped, “Don’t think just because I’m old that I don’t know what you and your wife are plotting! I’m still breathing, and the Chu family’s foundation, whether large or small, was built by your mother and me in our youth. You and your wife keep digging silver into your own pockets. Your mother and I, for the sake of the children being grown, have said nothing about you. When Ping Er returned with the children, did we not spend any silver on their food and clothing? What kind of disrespectful attitude have you shown her? You even conspired behind our backs to withhold money for medicine!”

Unable to contain himself, Chu Dage said, “Father! You and Mother have always been biased! You only care about the youngest daughter! Have you never thought about your son?

I’m the eldest son, treated like a servant since I was little, never allowed to compete with my younger siblings for anything. I know you and Mother have never regarded me highly!

And what about Second Brother? He left the Chu family due to this disaster. You only know that the Jiang siblings lost their mother; do you even know that Jiabao lost his mother too?”

Chu Erye showed a furious expression at Chu Dage’s words but said nothing, merely lifting a wine jug to drink.

Old Master Chu was at a loss for words from his eldest son’s accusations.

He glanced at his eldest son and then at his despondent second son, feeling guilty for his deceased daughter while also pained by the current state of the family, unable to hold back his tears.

Chu Changping entered the room and directly punched Chu Dage, knocking him down.

When he got up, the corner of his mouth was bleeding.

Chu Changping said, “Second Sister-in-law is afraid of trouble and chose to leave. How can that be blamed on the youngest sister? Even without the incident concerning the youngest sister, if the Chu family faces difficulties in the future, she would leave regardless!”

“I’ll ask you just one thing today: was it your idea not to buy medicine for Yan Gui, or was it Liu’s idea?”

He didn’t even refer to her as his sister-in-law anymore, which showed just how furious he was.

Chu Dage was scared by Chu Changping’s punch and stammered, “She… she did it behind my back. I only found out later…”

Chu Changping turned and walked out.

Chu Dage was alarmed, “Chu Changping, are you planning to fight your sister-in-law?”

After Chi Qing delivered the medicine to Jiang Yanyi on Feng Shuo’s orders, he wandered around the manor.

The Chu family had bought the residence that previously belonged to the Hu family.

They operated a flower shop and had collected many rare flowers, but now, with the heavy snowfall, they must have moved the plants into the flower house.

When a young servant offered to take him to see the flower house, Chi Qing graciously accepted.

Liu, hiding in the shadows, saw the young servant lead Chi Qing to the flower house and felt a surge of joy.

Earlier, she had deceived Chu Shubao into going to the flower house, so as soon as Chi Qing arrived, he would run into Chu Shubao.

She thought her daughter was not unattractive; although she could not compare to Jiang Yanyi, Jiang Yanyi had once been sent to a military camp to work as a courtesan.

Once a girl enters such a place, regardless of her innocence, her reputation is ruined.

As long as the other party wasn’t a fool, they would know whom to choose.

Little did she know that as soon as she left the flower house, Chu Shubao also left, going back to her room to take a nap.

Liu recalled the things Chi Qing had given Jiang Yanyi earlier and still felt uneasy, so she decided to sneak over to Jiang Yanyi’s side to investigate.

---

The manor’s staff was insufficient, and Old Lady Chu originally intended to assign Jiang Yanyi a little maid to serve her, but Jiang Yanyi was used to doing everything herself and politely declined.

Her room was left unattended, which allowed Liu to sneak in easily.

The door to Jiang Yanyi’s room was tightly closed, but it seemed that voices were coming from inside.

Liu crept closer to the wall and listened carefully.

“Did you come in through the back door again?”

“… The military camp is busy; how could you get away?”

“… Does Uncle know about us? He doesn’t approve?”

The man’s voice was too low for Liu to hear clearly, but she was certain there was a man in the room.

Liu was greatly alarmed.

How could a young unmarried girl bring a man into her bedroom?

Since Chi Qing was taken to the flower house by her designated people, the person in the room couldn’t possibly be him!

This wild man seemed to be from the military camp, and from Jiang Yanyi’s tone, it sounded like Chu Changping disapproved of them being together!

Liu speculated that the wild man in the room must be a peasant from the military camp, and his low status was why Chu Changping opposed him being with Jiang Yanyi.

She couldn’t help but curse inwardly, thinking that Jiang Yanyi had a lover already but was still eyeing her chosen son-in-law.

Liu’s first reaction was to call people to catch them in the act, but she was afraid it would cause a scandal and ruin her two daughters’ reputations.

Jiang Yanyi wasn’t afraid, as she had long since lost her reputation.

Liu’s mind raced as she quietly left Jiang Yanyi’s room.

She called the steward and claimed that a thief had entered the manor, saying she had seen the thief heading toward Jiang Yanyi and her brother’s living quarters.

The steward immediately gathered the guards and surrounded the courtyard.

When Chu Changping entered the back courtyard with a gloomy expression, Liu, seeing his demeanor, thought that he already knew about the peasant hiding in Jiang Yanyi’s room.

She fanned the flames, saying, “Oh, Third Brother, you came just in time; we have a thief in the house! It seems they went into Ah Yi’s room!”