Marquis Cheng En had long forgotten about his legitimate daughter, Fu Chuyan. It wasn’t until a colleague reminded him, remarking on Fu Chuyan’s beauty, that he suggested bringing her back to secure a good price for her. It was only then, early in July of last year, that Marquis Cheng En sent for Fu Chuyan.
Who would have thought that on the way back they would encounter bandits intent on killing Fu Chuyan. Thankfully, her elder brother, who happened to be passing by at the crucial moment, saved her and escorted her back to the Hou Mansion.
Afterwards, her brother met with Fu Chuyan on two more occasions and gradually fell for her. He was charmed by her intelligence, optimism, gentle virtues, kindness and resilience. Upon discreet enquiries, he learned that Marquis Cheng En had already agreed to offer Fu Chuyan as a concubine to Prince Duan in exchange for favors, and his own sister was destined to marry Prince Chen. Since Prince Chen and Prince Duan were at odds, he and the Chengen Marquis Mansion were naturally on opposing sides.
Even though he was enamored with Fu Chuyan, for the sake of his sister, her brother bravely kept his feelings hidden deep within his heart, confiding in no one.
Luckily, events took a turn, and Prince Duan did not pursue the matter of taking Fu Chuyan as a concubine. Marquis Cheng En did not dare to ask, but before Prince Duan left for Qinghe Prefecture, he stated that upon his return, Marquis Cheng En should send Fu Chuyan to the Prince Mansion.
The intelligence reports also indicated that Fu Chuyan harbored affection for her brother, resolutely determined to marry no one but him, or else she would rather live in celibacy, a spinster forever, waiting for him to come and propose.
With her brother being steadfast and reserved, and Fu Chuyan gentle and optimistic, the two indeed made a perfect match and would surely have a happy marriage. Yang Mengchen naturally wanted to bring her brother and Fu Chuyan together. As for the Chengen Marquis Mansion, she saw it as nothing but an empty shell, a degenerate and filthy fallen household, not worthy of consideration.
"Tomorrow, I shall ask Father Emperor to grant their marriage. Prince Duan and Marquis Cheng En will be powerless to do anything," Long Xuanmo, disdaining Marquis Cheng En but for the sake of his beloved wife, decided to help his uncle and Fu Chuyan unite.
"Madam Lu is scheming and vicious. The rumors about Fu Chuyan being an ill omen are her machinations. Once the marriage is granted, she will surely kill Fu Chuyan and have her own daughter take her place," Yang Mengchen said, her eyes as deep as an abyss. "Besides, Marquis Cheng En is heartless and ungrateful—if Fu Chuyan dies, he will surely agree to Madam Lu’s plan to replace her with someone else."
A flash of cold disdain crossed Long Xuanmo’s eyes, "Ah Jiu, have you thought of a clever plan?"
Summoning him with a wave, Long Xuanmo leaned in, and Yang Mengchen whispered a few words into his ear. Nodding in agreement, he immediately ordered Mo Yun to carry out the plan.
A few days later, Lady Hua was hosting a flower viewing party in the separate courtyard and accidentally twisted her ankle. Fortunately, Fu Chuyan was present. She instructed the maids to find someone from the mansion to call a doctor while she stayed to take care of Lady Hua. Grateful for Fu Chuyan’s kindness, Lady Hua promptly recognized her as her sworn daughter and held a grand ceremony to commemorate the occasion, even taking Fu Chuyan to live at Hua Mansion.
Meanwhile, Jingzhao Yin unexpectedly captured a swindler posing as a Taoist priest. Under confession, the Taoist admitted that seventeen years prior, Madam Lu had paid him to falsely accuse Fu Chuyan of being an ominous person. He also confessed to selling Madam Lu a packet of poison, though what she did with it, he did not know.
A young woman came forward to the magistrate’s office to confess that seventeen years ago, her mother had gone to help deliver a child for a lady of the Chengen Marquis Mansion but was coerced and tempted by Madam Lu, leading to the lady’s death during childbirth. Subsequently, her mother fled The Capital with her family under the cover of night.
But her mother couldn’t bear the guilt, growing weaker by the day until she recently passed away in illness. Only on her deathbed did she reveal the secret to her daughter, who traveled great distances to The Capital to seek out Fu Chuyan, wishing to reveal the truth and apologize.
Jingzhao Yin immediately summoned Fu Chuyan and had Madam Lu brought in. Madam Lu denied the accusations, but the testimony of her own maid and sister proved true. Madam Lu had not only caused the death of the former lady but also framed Fu Chuyan and poisoned Old Lady Fu.
With both human and material evidence against her, Madam Lu had no grounds for defense. Jingzhao Yin sentenced her to death on the spot, with execution scheduled for a later date.
As the news spread, everyone condemned Madam Lu’s venomous heart. Of course, they did not spare Marquis Cheng En either. His reputation was utterly ruined, and he dared not even step outside his front door.
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