The Emperor, upon hearing the news, was thunderstruck with rage. The Marquis Cheng En had favored his concubine and destroyed his wife, also concealing the death of Old Lady Fu and not observing the three-year mourning period as prescribed by law. He could be described as disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unrighteous. He immediately decreed the stripping of Marquis Cheng En’s title, demoting him to a commoner and exiling his entire family to the far north.
The Lu family father, who served as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, had failed to teach his daughter properly. He was stripped of his official position, to be never reinstated, and his wife’s fourth-grade imperial edict was also revoked.
At the same time, the Empress sent people to the Lu family to admonish Madam Lu and ordered her to reflect behind closed doors.
For a while, the reputation of the Lu family plummeted drastically. After all, in this time and space, family reputation was of utmost importance. If a family had a bad reputation, its men would find it difficult to marry a good bride, and its daughters could forget marrying into a good family. The fact that the Lu family had raised such a venomous woman proved that their family values were twisted.
Fu Chuyan was well-mannered and filial, earning the Emperor’s special grant of the title of Filial and Benevolent Lady. He also arranged her marriage to Yang Chengyou, with the wedding set to take place on the nineteenth of August from the Hua Mansion.
The Marquis Cheng En and the Lu family had secretly engaged in corruption and bent the law to oppress the good, all while supporting Prince Duan. Therefore, Yang Mengchen had no psychological burden whatsoever.
Once the imperial edict was issued, those who had their eye on Yang Chengyou regretted not acting sooner. They had let Fu Chuyan slip through their fingers, and now she was the Filial and Benevolent Lady, betrothed by the Emperor, leaving them helpless.
Three days later, in the early morning, Yang Chengyou and Fu Chuyan arrived at Chen Prince Mansion.
Yang Mengchen had seen a small portrait of Fu Chuyan, but the real person was even more beautiful. She had a fair complexion and bright eyes and brows. A green jade hairpin was slanted into her Flying Fairy Bun, and she was dressed in a light blue long dress embroidered with scattered flowers amid green haze, her arms adorned with a thin smoky blue veil, giving her the appearance of a new moon’s halo.
Beside her stood Yang Chengyou, also dressed in a light blue brocade robe, his expression gentle and his gaze peaceful and serene, exuding an air of refined elegance.
Standing together, the two of them looked indeed like a pair of heavenly deities, beautiful and harmonious.
Nodding to herself, Yang Mengchen believed that her parents and family would surely like Fu Chuyan, putting an end to her parents’ envy of her two uncles and aunts.
"Princess..."
"You need not be so formal, Fourth Sister-in-law." Extending a hand to help up Fu Chuyan who was trying to bow in respect, Yang Mengchen said with a smile, "We are a family, and just as you call my Fourth Brother, you can call me Ninth Sister."
Turning to look at Yang Chengyou by her side, she saw him nod with a smile. Fu Chuyan’s pale cheeks flushed with a faint pink, and she graciously complied with Yang Mengchen, "Thank you, Ninth Sister, and thank you, Prince." Her face showed gratitude, and her tone was sincere.
Ah You had told her that it was Ninth Sister who had uncovered the truth and punished the culprit severely, and had even requested the Emperor to grant her marriage to Ah You. If it weren’t for Ninth Sister, her father would have sent her to be a concubine for Prince Duan, where her fate would have been nothing but death. She would have never had the chance to live a happy and satisfying life with the man she loved. She was deeply grateful to Ninth Sister from the bottom of her heart.
"Fourth Brother admires Fourth Sister-in-law, and Fourth Sister-in-law reciprocates his affection, so naturally, I would facilitate for the two of you," said Yang Mengchen, her voice lined with smiles. "I hope Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law will love and support each other in the future and bear children soon. Our parents are eager to have grandchildren!"
Her implication was clear: if Yang Chengyou did not love Fu Chuyan, whatever befell the Fu family was none of her concern.
Understanding the underlying message in Yang Mengchen’s words, Fu Chuyan was not the least bit displeased or embarrassed. Instead, she was deeply touched and fortunate. She turned and gazed at Yang Chengyou affectionately, her bright eyes radiating a tender smile. Her feelings reached straight into Yang Chengyou’s heart, who looked at Fu Chuyan with a gaze full of gentle indulgence.
Watching the two of them exchange deep, affectionate glances, Yang Mengchen raised an eyebrow and exchanged a knowing look with Long Xuanmo, their eyes holding an appreciable gleam.
Five days later, Yang Chengbin, bearing the Emperor’s secret decree, along with the plentiful gifts from Yang Mengchen to Nangong Lingyan and her second nephew Yang Zonglie, as well as the rest of the family, took six carriages full of presents back to Yangliu village.
Wu Lizhen likewise declined the Emperor’s gracious title and preferred to return to the countryside with Yang Chengbin to teach and nurture others. After much deliberation, the Emperor consented to her request.
After sending off Yang Chengbin and Wu Lizhen, Yang Mengchen and her party had just entered the city gates when they heard a most preposterous piece of news.
Zhuo Yulin, the most beloved and esteemed son of Master Zhuo, had only been ordered to stay home and reflect for a few days after being dismissed from office. Instead of his usual astute and diligent demeanor, he was either drowning his sorrows in drink all day or fraternizing with the concubines in the back courtyard. This had caused Master Zhuo to fall ill in bed with anger.
Half a month ago, Madam Wang, the wife of Zhuo Yulin, had a distant cousin, Madam Zhang, come to stay with her. Madam Zhang was a widow, twenty years old. After her husband’s death and no children, she had been driven out by her in-laws, and her own family would not accommodate her, leaving her no choice but to turn to her distant cousin.
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