Chapter 113: Changes in Personnel, Flowers Easily Fade (Part Four)

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“Young Marquis, do you realize that since you agreed to Xiangrong’s plan, you must marry her once you leave?” Chuxiu still worried, fearing Shen Yu hadn’t considered the consequences.

“I naturally know. If I don’t marry her, not only will it disgrace the Yun residence, but Prince Mu will surely see through the scheme,” Shen Yu nodded solemnly, his eyes burning as he looked at Chuxiu. “I will marry her.”

“Then why must you…” Chuxiu’s throat grew dry, and her heart was so heavy she didn’t know how to continue. She knew Shen Yu was watching her. At other times, she would have quickly avoided his gaze. But now, in this moment, she forgot to look away. She simply met his steady, tender eyes blankly, her mind empty, unable to resist his affectionate stare.

After a long silence, Shen Yu was the first to break eye contact, turning to the room where the Yun Xiangrong mother and daughter stayed. “Actually, this plan serves multiple purposes. I have a legitimate reason to leave Yanlan City, and you can secure the second household’s sincere allegiance. Moreover…”

He paused, then continued calmly, “Besides, my sister is married to Prince Fu, and Father Marquis is very close to him… I have to leave a way out for the Shen family. If I truly marry Yun Xiangrong, then the Wenchang Marquis residence will be linked by marriage to the Lixin Marquis residence… Even if Prince Fu ultimately loses to Prince Mu, given that I am Yun’s son-in-law, Prince Mu should not treat us too harshly.”

“Did Yun Xiangrong come up with this analysis as well?” Chuxiu asked, puzzled.

“It was a joint discussion between her and me,” Shen Yu replied honestly. Though he disliked Yun Xiangrong, he couldn’t deny that this woman was astute and knew how to use circumstances to achieve her aims. Since she liked him so much and wanted to marry him, he might as well marry her. She didn’t fear sacrificing her own happiness for this; what was there for him, a man, to fear?

Moreover, Shen Yu had selfish reasons. He constantly worried that if Yun Xiangrong stayed at the Yun residence, she would create obstacles or secretly plot against Chuxiu. But if Yun Xiangrong married him, she would naturally have to go to Jingzhou… That way, Chuxiu would have no rivals within the Yun household.

The painful memory of Tea Tea at Zhuihong Garden was still vivid. Even though Chuxiu was no longer the naive Han Chu of the past, the jealousy of a woman was terrifying. Shen Yu could not risk this. He would rather marry Yun Xiangrong himself than let this hidden danger harm the woman he loved.

Last night, when he and Yun Xiangrong discussed the plan, one condition he proposed was that before he officially married her after escaping to Jingzhou, she should try her best to help Chuxiu within the Yun residence.

Naturally, Yun Xiangrong agreed. But Shen Yu decided to keep this secret to himself. He would wait for Chuxiu to discover the truth behind the “escape marriage” on her own. If she never found out, he intended to keep it hidden forever.

“Young Marquis.” Chuxiu’s soft voice interrupted Shen Yu’s thoughts. He snapped back to reality and looked steadily at her. “What?”

Chuxiu bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked, “Are you worried that after I help you escape, Prince Mu will punish me, so you came up with this plan?”

She asked cautiously. Shen Yu smiled with relief. “I’m really glad you thought of that. Han Chu, you finally face my true feelings.”

But what use was facing his feelings? They were drifting further apart… After he returned to Jingzhou and married Yun Xiangrong, perhaps they would never see each other again!

Thinking of this, tears streamed down Chuxiu’s face. She didn’t know whether she was heartbroken that Shen Yu would marry a woman he did not love, or moved by his devotion and genuine affection. Although she could never repay this love…

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Chuxiu’s emotions were complex, and she cried with a hint of reproach, “Why didn’t you discuss it with me before deciding? I… had already thought of a way to send you out of the city. Prince Mu would never blame me! But now, you’re willing to ruin your own reputation and marry Xiangrong against your will…”

Her tears fell like a clear spring, flowing endlessly. Shen Yu heard the reproach in her voice and was deeply moved and pained. How could he not know that if he married Yun Xiangrong, their relationship, though seemingly connected by marriage, would only grow more distant.

Yet he felt their story wouldn’t end here. Perhaps this was a new beginning.

A broken axe sinks the boat—since she had already married Yun Ci, if he remarried, would they be even? Would she then feel less guilty?

“Why are you crying?” Shen Yu stepped closer, looking down at Chuxiu. Among men, he was tall; her forehead was level with his jawline. Chuxiu was tall for a woman. Now, as she bowed her head and wept, he only had to lower his head slightly to have his jaw touch the top of her hair.

How he wished to do just that—to enfold the woman he loved, let her tears soak his shoulder, and breathe deeply her scent. But thinking of Yun Xiangrong and her mother in the room, Shen Yu restrained himself, not even daring to wipe her tears.

At this critical moment, he didn’t want to anger Yun Xiangrong and cause trouble for Chuxiu.

“Don’t cry,” he said softly, “If you shed a single tear, I don’t know how much it will hurt me.”

It was the truth. He knew she would believe him.

Sure enough, Chuxiu gradually stopped sobbing and lifted her tear-filled, autumn-clear eyes to him. “Are you willing to marry Xiangrong?”

Shen Yu could only smile bitterly. “What’s there to be unwilling about? If a girl dares to marry, why shouldn’t I marry her?” He looked deeply into her watery eyes, almost drowning in them. Suddenly, a wild, fanciful thought sprang up, thrilling him.

Knowing it was likely wishful thinking, Shen Yu still asked, “Han Chu, is it… that you don’t want me to marry her? Are you… even a little bit jealous?”

Jealous? Was she? Chuxiu was startled, then quickly shook her head. “I don’t know… I just don’t want you to be forced to marry her… I feel I owe you so much.”

Hearing this, Shen Yu couldn’t hide his disappointment, but it was his decision after all. So he said, “If Yun Xiangrong truly marries me, I won’t touch her, but I will give her the respect she deserves as a wife… If she wants a divorce in the future, she will leave with her dignity intact. Considering the Yun family’s prestige, it won’t be hard for her to find a good match.”

He didn’t plan to touch Yun Xiangrong? He even thought of divorcing her? Chuxiu wiped her tears clean and hurriedly said, “No! If you really do that, she will surely resent you!”

“That’s none of your concern anymore,” Shen Yu said, pausing before continuing, “After today, this matter will certainly become public. It’s better to let Prince Mu know sooner rather than later. Let him think that the Yun family and I have fallen out because of the broken engagement.”

Chuxiu nodded. “I will deliberately keep it under wraps, then send someone to quietly inform Prince Mu… But what about the Dowager Madame? You don’t plan to tell her the truth? Let her misunderstand you like this?”

“Let her misunderstand,” Shen Yu said. “If she knew the truth, this plan wouldn’t work. She wouldn’t allow Yun Xiangrong to ruin her reputation to help me.” Then he grinned mischievously, “Besides… it’s already done. Seeing her furious would make me quite pleased.”

Chuxiu was amused and exasperated by this. As she was about to say more, Hua Wuying and Yun Xiangrong’s mother came out of the room one after another. Hua Wuying must have learned the truth, as her face no longer showed signs of earlier tears and tantrums. She glanced at Chuxiu before turning to Shen Yu. “Young Marquis, Xiangrong helped you so much. You… mustn’t let her down.”

“That goes without saying. Please rest assured, Second Madam,” Shen Yu replied without even looking at Hua Wuying, though his words were sincere. Just as he finished, Yun Xiangrong emerged from behind Hua Wuying, mother and daughter descending the steps side by side.

Chuxiu and Shen Yu both looked at Yun Xiangrong, who lowered her head shyly, her face flushed. Yun Xiangrong blushed easily, and it was this delicate blush that made Chuxiu think her a refined young lady. Amid Hua Wuying’s vulgarity and Yun Qi’s lechery, Yun Xiangrong seemed pure and untouched, unlike a member of the second household.

If it weren’t for knowing that Yun Xiangrong had devised the “escape marriage” plan, Chuxiu might have been fooled by her appearance, believing her a simple, easily embarrassed maiden. But today’s shocking events finally made Chuxiu realize one fact—her talent for judging people was shallow!

When the drunken flower house was established, Feng Mama advised her to choose the Ninth Prince, but she insisted on Helian Qi, suffering heartbreak and abandonment, and dragging Qin’er to a fiery death.

Later, Feng Mama handed her over to Shen Yu, but she misunderstood his genuine heart, thinking him a reckless libertine and growing resentment and dislike toward him.

And now, she was once again deceived by Yun Xiangrong’s appearance, unaware that the girl’s scheming was so deep she could devise a clever plan to help Shen Yu escape. The “escape marriage” excuse was too convincing—it satisfied the public’s curiosity about high-society secrets and fit Shen Yu’s usual behavior.

Though unwilling, Chuxiu had to admit that, despite not wanting Shen Yu to marry Yun Xiangrong unwillingly, the plan maximized both parties’ interests and minimized harm:

First, Shen Yu gained a legitimate reason to leave Fangzhou; second, Yun Xiangrong got to marry the man she loved; third, the second household sincerely pledged allegiance, bringing peace to the entire Yun family; fourth, the Wenchang Marquis residence gained a backup in Nanxi’s political landscape; fifth, the risk Chuxiu took to help Shen Yu escape was greatly reduced.

Yun Xiangrong’s plan killed five birds with one stone. Not everyone could think of such an idea. The more Chuxiu thought, the more amazed and regretful she felt. Though the Dowager Madame had warned her that Yun Xiangrong was a formidable figure in the second household, she had failed to truly see through her.

To control others, one must first learn to judge them. Someone as muddled as herself could hardly claim mastery over others. Though now the matriarch of the Yun family, compared to the Dowager Madame’s methods, Chuxiu knew she was far behind.

At this point, it was too late to turn back.

…

Three days later, a rumor spread quickly. Shen Yu, the legitimate youngest son of the Wenchang Marquis in Fangzhou, had fallen out with the Yun family for unknown reasons.

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