Casting Moral Codes and Ethical Duties to the Winds

Leaving the Prince Cheng Manor, Chuxiu let out a heavy sigh of relief. She knew that with Nie Peixiao taking the matter up, it was practically as good as done—or at least held a seventy to eighty percent chance of success. Therefore, before departing, Chuxiu left behind twenty thousand taels in silver notes, specifying that ten thousand of them were a token of appreciation for Nie Peixiao, while also asking him to help pave the way for Shen Yu's official career. As for the other ten thousand taels, Chuxiu requested Nie Peixiao to hand them over to Shen Yu in his own name, explicitly framing it as a "loan" rather than a "gift."

Once everything was settled, Chuxiu felt refreshed in both body and mind. Instead of rushing back to Liuyun Manor, she decided to visit Yun Xian's current residence.

The three characters "Xianyun Pavilion" must have been renamed by Yun Xian himself, as the estate previously bore a different name. Chuxiu had sent someone ahead to announce her visit, and when her carriage finally arrived and she lifted the curtain, Yun Xian was already waiting at the entrance.

"Sister-in-law," Yun Xian greeted her respectfully, escorting her down from the carriage.

"Third Brother, it has been a while." Chuxiu did not stand on ceremony with Yun Xian, allowing him to guide her into the estate. Upon entering, patches upon patches of bamboo forests came into view. Rugged rockeries and towering grotesque stones could be seen everywhere, yet there was not a single trace of dazzling, fragrant flowers. This truly suited Yun Xian's preferences—devoid of blossoms, filled entirely with emerald bamboo.

The two walked in silence all the way to Yun Xian's study. Chuxiu dismissed Zhuying and the others, then went straight to the point: "How are you faring in Jingzhou, Third Brother?"

"Thanks to your blessing, Sister-in-law, everything is well," Yun Xian replied, a look of fleeting despondency crossing his face before he added, "Thank you, Sister-in-law, for letting go of past grievances and saving me this time."

Perhaps because the matter concerning Shen Yu had been smoothly resolved, Chuxiu was in high spirits and smiled. "We are family; why speak of separate households?"

Hearing this, sorrow surfaced in Yun Xian's eyes. "I dare not claim to be 'family' before you, given the monstrous sins my mother committed..."

"It is all in the past; let us not speak of it anymore." Chuxiu interrupted him at the right moment. "The sins of parents do not extend to their children, and furthermore, you are the flesh and blood of the late Marquis, as well as the brother he valued most." bygones were bygones, and the dust had settled. Those who deserved retribution had already received their punishment, and she no longer wished to harbor hatred.

While they were speaking, a young woman entered the room to serve tea. Chuxiu had not paid attention at first, but the moment the tea-serving woman walked up to her, she was dazzled by an expanse of rare, luminous skin, making it impossible for even her peripheral vision to ignore that striking whiteness. Chuxiu turned her head slightly to look—the newcomer was Luanqing.

Ever since hearing Prince Mu recount the story of Yun Xian beating the Second Young Master Ming to death, Chuxiu had already guessed the identity of the courtesan. Even if Luanqing had not appeared at this moment, Chuxiu would have asked about her eventually.

"Lady Luanqing," Chuxiu took the initiative to greet her, addressing her appropriately. After all, Luanqing's name had never been entered into the Yun family genealogy, and she had long since regained her freedom.

Hearing Chuxiu address her thus, Luanqing was slightly caught off guard. After a moment, she bowed and saluted, "Mistress."

As their eyes met, both peerless women felt a sense of mutual admiration. Time had left no trace whatsoever on each other's faces; instead, it added an even more breathtaking radiance. Luanqing could not help praising, "Your demeanor is even more striking than before, Mistress."

"And aren't you the same?" Chuxiu smiled in return. The other woman still possessed that pair of bewitching, light-colored pupils, and skin as white as ice and snow, except that her former aloof temperament seemed to have faded considerably, replaced now by a subtle warmth.

After the two women exchanged polite pleasantries, Yun Xian spoke up again, his tone resolute. "To not keep anything from you, Sister-in-law, the only reason I did what I did this time was to save Luanqing..."

"It was my fault." Luanqing did not let Yun Xian finish, hurriedly cutting in to tell Chuxiu, "After I returned to the Jiang territories, I could not stop thinking about Third Brother, so I decided to go to Jingzhou to find him. However, Third Brother avoided me at every turn. In a fit of anger, I sold myself to a brothel, hoping to capture his attention..."

"And when Third Brother still remained indifferent, you came up with the ultimate gamble of putting yourself up for public auction?" Chuxiu finished the rest of the sentence for Luanqing. "Little did you expect that Third Brother would not win the highest bid; instead, you ended up attracting Second Young Master Ming. Realizing your clever scheme had backfired, and knowing you excelled in poisons, you poisoned Second Young Master Ming when his lust got the better of him?"

Luanqing nodded honestly and added, "I didn't know Ming Cui's background at the time... but in the end, I did manage to draw Third Brother out. Terrified that I might be defiled, Third Brother rushed in to save me, but by then Ming Cui had already been poisoned to death by me. Thinking that I was alone and helpless, and would certainly meet my doom once the scandal broke, Third Brother voluntarily shouldered the blame and inflicted a few more wounds on Ming Cui's corpse, claiming publicly that it was a crime of passion committed in the heat of a jealous dispute."

Hearing this, Chuxiu could not help but sigh. Luanqing had chosen to find a path to survival through near-death, wishing to provoke Yun Xian's true feelings. In the end, not only did she get her wish, but the man she loved was even willing to take the fall for her...

At this moment, Yun Xian's face was also filled with guilt. "I truly didn't know he was the Second Young Master of the Ming family at the time; I only thought that with the backing of our Yun family, at worst we would just have to pay some silver... Little did I expect that the matter would blow up, with the Ming family refusing to let the matter rest, until the Emperor of Nie issued an imperial decree throwing me into prison..."

As he spoke, Yun Xian looked at Chuxiu and thanked her once more, "When all is said and done, I am only here because you condescended to save me, Sister-in-law..."

"You are the only surviving heir left behind by the late Marquis in this world; I could not bear to see you come to any harm, and neither would the Dowager." Chuxiu sighed again. "As for your mother's affairs, angry and resentful as I may be, it is precisely because I am the mistress of the household that I must be all the more clear-headed about gratitude and grudges."

Hearing these words, Yun Xian's expression grew even more guilty. Beneath the guilt was a profound emotional stir, and his tone carried a few more shades of admiration. "Sister-in-law is magnanimous and generous, not only extending a helping hand to save me, but also arranging Muge's marriage... Please accept a bow from me."

As Yun Xian spoke, he moved to kneel. Chuxiu hastily reached out to stop him, but unexpectedly, the other was exceptionally resolute. With a heavy thud, he dropped to his knees and called out, "Luanqing."

At her cue, Luanqing knelt down beside him, shoulder-to-shoulder, carrying quite the air of a wedded couple. With an open and upright demeanor, Yun Xian said to Chuxiu, "Sister-in-law, do not stop us; you are fully worthy of this bow." With that, he struck a deep kowtow, and Luanqing followed suit.

Yun Xian kowtowed once, but did not rise. "I have one more request, and I hope Sister-in-law will grant it."

Seeing the two of them kneeling side by side, Chuxiu had already guessed what he was going to say. Sure enough, Yun Xian continued, "Having gone through this imprisonment, I have seen through many things. I have resolved to marry Luanqing... An elder sister-in-law is like a mother; I wish to ask you to preside over our wedding ceremony."

"You are not returning to Fangzhou to marry?" Chuxiu blurted out.

Yun Xian shook his head. "Because of what my mother did, my mother [the Dowager] must hate me to the core; I have no wish to return there... Furthermore, Luanqing used to be my stepmother; her elder ladyship will certainly never approve of this match."

Indeed, Chuxiu could understand Yun Xian's perspective. Not only had Luanqing once been his stepmother, but she was also seven or eight years older than him... Although Luanqing possessed exotic beauty and a unique allure, theirs was ultimately a union of an "older wife and younger husband," not to mention Luanqing's mastery of poisons...

As the mistress of the Yun family, Chuxiu did not actually approve of Yun Xian's choice. His marriage should have received the Dowager's consent, matching with a wife of equal social standing—at the very least, someone from a prominent background, well-read and sensible.

Yet, as Yun Xian's sister-in-law, Chuxiu supported his decision and offered her deepest blessings.

Chuxiu understood that only a union based on genuine feelings and true affection could be free of regret. For a traditional aristocratic scion like Yun Xian to cast aside societal prejudices and bravely choose to be with Luanqing, it must stem from true love. On this level, they were well-matched, and their courage was commendable.

For some reason, watching the two of them kneeling side by side before her, Chuxiu felt a strong urge to shed tears. She reached out once more to help them both up, and impulsively blurted out, "Very well, I will preside over your wedding. Has the date been set?"

Hearing this, both Yun Xian and Luanqing were overjoyed. Exchanging a glance, they spoke in unison, "Today."

There is no time like the present; let it be today.

Chuxiu let out a sudden laugh. In that instant, she too was infected by the atmosphere, temporarily shedding the shackles of being the "mistress of the Yun household," and smiled gently, "Then we shall have to keep everything simple."

The ceremony was indeed very simple. Upon learning the news, Danxin volunteered to take charge of the preparations, and Zhuying, uncharacteristically, helped with the arrangements. Only Zhuying—wait, Zhuying was worried sick with numerous concerns.

"Mistress, if the Dowager asks, what will you—" Zhuying reminded her.

Unwilling to ruin the celebratory atmosphere, Chuxiu smiled calmly, "I know what I am doing. Today is Third Brother's joyous wedding day, and the Young Marquis's affairs have also been settled; you should be happy."

Zhuying nodded, "Your subordinate should be happy."

Chuxiu raised her left sleeve slightly and pointed gently toward where Danxin and Zhuyang were busy. "Go lend a hand; they need help."

Zhuying was startled, then awkwardly said, "Yes."

Watching Zhuying hustle back and forth between Danxin and Zhuyang, Chuxiu's mind drifted to other thoughts. Since Qianyun was a hopeless case for him, surely one of these two young women would suit him...

*****

The wedding of Yun Xian and Luanqing was extremely modest. The courtyard was decorated casually with a few bolts of red silk, the wedding robes for the groom and bride were bought off the rack, and the dragon-and-phoenix red candles were not custom-made. Everything was swift and simplified.

To match the festive mood, Chuxiu cast aside her usual white garments for the first time, donning a pink-peach colored skirt. Ever since Yun Chu's passing, this was the first time she had discarded white, but the very moment she put on the peach-colored skirt, she suddenly felt a sense of release. Some people could be kept in one's heart to be missed forever; as for mourning in plain clothes, it was merely a formality after all.

The greatest regret was that she would never have the opportunity to wear bridal robes in this lifetime; the beautiful dreams she held in her youth could only wither away. But everything concerning Yun Chu, she would remember. He was the only person she had truly loved, the only one...

Acting as a motherly figure for her brother-in-law, Chuxiu completed all the rituals and eventually could not hold back her tears. In the eyes of others, these were tears of joy; only she knew whom she was thinking of, and whom she would always be thinking of...

Once the rites concluded, Danxin and Zhuyang escorted the bride into the bridal chamber together, and they were just about to kick off the banquet and liven things up when a servant rushed in to report: "Prince Cheng has arrived."

Prince Cheng Nie Peixiao? What was he doing here at this hour? And coming specifically to see Yun Xian? Just as Chuxiu was feeling puzzled, Yun Xian's joyful voice rang out loudly, "Prince Cheng has come at such a fortuitous moment!"

With that, he looked over at Chuxiu and asked, "Sister-in-law, do you think he would agree if I asked Prince Cheng to act as our matchmaker and witness?"