“The Liang Dynasty Envoys specifically requested me to teach the tenth prince—which really means going as a hostage.”
Wu Ciyun went over to straighten his collar, speaking slowly, “But for now, it has nothing to do with you all. I’ll go alone, that’s all.”
“You’re going alone?”
Rong Tan froze, biting his lip, aggrieved.
“But didn’t you say you’d never leave me…?”
Wu Ciyun replied patiently, “I mean, I’ll go to the Liang Capital by myself. You’ll stay here to look after Mingzhu and Liangyu. Once things settle down over there, I’ll bring you all over.”
Rong Tan fell silent, hesitantly looking at her, his mind in turmoil.
He wanted to tell Wu Ciyun he could protect her and the children in the Liang Capital, but if he spoke the truth, his hard-won happiness would be lost again.
“A Yun, actually I—”
“You’ll wait for me to bring you over, won’t you?”
Wu Ciyun cut him off, speaking gently, “We’re a family, aren’t we?”
“…Yes.”
“Then trust me, half a year at most, and I’ll bring you all over.”
Rong Tan’s words were jumbled by Wu Ciyun again, so he could only temporarily retreat, murmuring, “Are we still going to the banquet tonight?”
Wu Ciyun looked him up and down and nodded. “Of course.”
Since Wen Guanyu was making her a hostage in the Liang Capital, she’d do the same—leave Prince Xun here as a hostage in Shengjing for now.
If Wen Guanyu dared make a move, she’d send Rong Tan down with her, and let no one get off easy.
Rong Tan hadn’t wanted to go to the banquet, worried someone among the Liang Dynasty Envoys would recognize him, but if Wen Guanyu was intent on breaking up their family, he had to act.
***
Prince Rui was on cloud nine, eager to see Wu Ciyun’s misfortune and sent palace attendants to repeatedly summon her to the banquet.
Wu Ciyun wasn’t late, but everyone else had arrived early, so she appeared to be late.
The officials’ gazes were a mix of sympathy and ridicule. Grand Preceptor Zhao had written her off as a discarded pawn. Though Wu Ciyun sat in the seat of honor, she now looked like an outcast.
Yet her demeanor didn’t change a bit. She remained calm and unyielding.
Chu Mingyi had been watching for her from the start, and as soon as he saw her arrive—with Rong Tan by her side—he frowned.
“Why is that fox here too…”
“What fox?”
Wen Guanyu overheard, frowning faintly as he followed Chu Mingyi’s gaze—and met Rong Tan’s familiar face.
His expression stiffened, then he looked at Wu Ciyun, who raised her cup to him in a silent toast, as if in challenge.
Wen Guanyu almost burst out laughing in exasperation.
He turned to Chu Mingyi, “That attendant by Wu Ciyun’s side—do you know him?”
“He’s her housekeeper, I think his name is Rong Tan.”
Chu Mingyi had a poor impression of Rong Tan and said sourly, “Just look at that face and you know he’s trouble. Only someone like Wu Ciyun, from a humble background, would treasure such a vixen.”
Last time in Ning Prefecture, Wu Ciyun came to his door in the middle of the night demanding a bracelet—not at all her usual tactful self. Clearly, Rong Tan was the one egging her on.
Besides, Wu Ciyun’s long illness was probably due to Rong Tan.
That shameless fox must be dragging her down, no wonder she was so weak.
Wen Guanyu stared at them, grip tightening on his cup.
Rong Tan saw Wen Guanyu looking their way and knew he’d been recognized.
While pouring wine for Wu Ciyun, he deliberately wet his sleeve and left the hall on the pretext of cleaning up.
Wen Guanyu waited a moment before following, so as not to arouse suspicion.
Rong Tan wasn’t familiar with the palace, and after wandering through twists and turns, finally stopped at a secluded spot.
Wen Guanyu hadn’t expected to see Rong Tan here, but forced down his anger and said calmly, “Your Highness, you shouldn’t be here.”
Rong Tan had claimed to be traveling two or three years ago, always keeping to himself.
Wen Guanyu had thought he was hiding away in some scenic spot, but he’d actually come to the Sheng Dynasty—and was with Wu Ciyun.
“Grand Tutor Wen, pick someone else.”
Rong Tan didn’t answer Wen Guanyu’s words, just stated bluntly, “Let someone else teach the Sheng Dynasty’s tenth prince. A Yun must not go to the Liang Capital.”
“A Yun?”
Wen Guanyu chuckled coldly at the familiar address.
“I heard from Chu Mingyi that you’re Wu Ciyun’s housekeeper now. Do you really know what kind of person your A Yun is?”
“What does that have to do with you?”
Rong Tan raised his eyes, calm.
“What I do is none of your business. I’m telling you to pick someone else.”
He could be gentle to Wu Ciyun, but that didn’t mean he’d tolerate others.
“You want someone to be a hostage in the Liang Dynasty? There are plenty of people to choose from.”
Thinking of the siblings at home, Rong Tan’s expression softened.
“But not A Yun. If she goes to your Sheng Dynasty, our family will be broken up.”
Wen Guanyu studied him, frowning faintly.
He felt that Prince Xun had stayed with Wu Ciyun too long—his brain was muddled by her.
“Your Highness, Wu Ciyun must go.”
Wen Guanyu wouldn’t budge.
“Wu Ciyun is not ordinary. He’s too skilled, and if he stays in the Sheng Dynasty, he’ll become a major threat.”
They had insisted on enthroning a young emperor to sow chaos in the court.
Prince Rui was as dumb as a pig, Grand Preceptor Zhao was stubborn—let them fight and they’d both lose, leaving the Liang Dynasty to reap the benefits.
But Wu Ciyun was different.
He was shrewd and capable. If he found a loophole, he’d quickly rise to power.
Wen Guanyu didn’t doubt Wu Ciyun could defeat both Prince Rui and Grand Preceptor Zhao; he’d already outmaneuvered them several times.
“A Yun… she really is amazing.”
For once, Rong Tan agreed with Wen Guanyu, saying proudly, “Those old ministers may have years of experience, but none of them are as clever as her.”
“Your Highness, I’m not here to praise Wu Ciyun.”
Wen Guanyu didn’t want to fall out with Rong Tan, but seeing his attitude, knew he was clueless about Wu Ciyun’s past.
He said bluntly, “Forgive me, Your Highness, but you probably don’t know her real identity. You might not even know her real name isn’t Wu Ciyun.”
He’d spent three years as a classmate with Wu Ciyun, only to realize in the end that he’d been played and only then uncovered her true identity.
Rong Tan frowned. “So you insist on destroying my family?”
Wen Guanyu felt he couldn’t communicate with Rong Tan anymore.
How could Wu Ciyun possibly like someone so foolish—was it because she herself was too clever?
***
Wu Ciyun grew worried when she didn’t see Wen Guanyu or Rong Tan return for a long time.
She knew Rong Tan wouldn’t be persuaded, but Wen Guanyu was a crafty old fox—she had to stay alert.
After some hesitation, she quietly slipped out, intending to find them.
Xiao Wan had heard Wu Ciyun was going to the Liang Dynasty and was heartbroken.
When she saw Wu Ciyun leaving, she couldn’t sit still and found an excuse to slip away.
Miss Liu had been coaxing the child in a side hall, but when Xiao Wan told her to take the child outside, she obeyed.
They looked around until Miss Liu spotted Wu Ciyun’s cloak.
“Brother Ciyun.”
Wu Ciyun jumped at the familiar voice.
Turning, she saw Xiao Wan, eyes brimming with tears.
“Princess, this is the palace…”
“I know.”
Xiao Wan cut her off, voice trembling, “I heard you’re going to the Liang Dynasty. Are you never coming back?”
Everything had been going smoothly, but now this—she remembered watching Wu Ciyun leave the Capital before, waiting four years for his return, and now he was leaving for the Liang Capital again. How long would she have to wait this time—eight years, ten, a lifetime?
“Princess, don’t cry. The child can’t be out in the cold. Let Miss Liu take him back first.”
Wu Ciyun was exasperated.
Xiao Wan hugging her and crying, if others saw, she’d never be able to explain.
“Brother Ciyun, take me and my child with you.”
Xiao Wan pleaded, “Please, take us both. Wherever you go, I’ll follow.”
“Princess, have you forgotten what I told you before?”
Wu Ciyun comforted her, “I’m leaving for the Liang Dynasty because I have no power. If I were as strong as Prince Rui or Grand Preceptor Zhao, would this have happened?”
Xiao Wan stopped crying for a moment, biting her lip.
“Am I just too useless…”
Before marriage, she’d depended on her father’s power; after, on her husband’s family.
She remembered all Wu Ciyun had said, but she was still afraid—afraid of making mistakes, afraid of falling from high places, afraid of implicating her child.
Wu Ciyun spoke gently, “Princess, among all the princes and princesses I’ve taught, you have the greatest insight and intelligence.”
“Really?”
Slightly comforted, Xiao Wan gazed at her child, then suddenly offered him to Wu Ciyun.
“Hold him, please. If you won’t hug me, at least hold him.”
Wu Ciyun hesitated but carefully took the baby.
She hadn’t held children much, so she was awkward with the infant.
Xiao Wan stared for a moment, then suddenly hugged Wu Ciyun tightly.
Wu Ciyun instinctively tried to break free, but with the baby in her arms, she was afraid to move and just froze in place.
“What are you doing?!”
Chu Mingyi had gone looking for Wen Guanyu and the “fox” when he saw a lovely woman hugging Wu Ciyun, who was holding a swaddled baby.
He stared in disbelief, heart in turmoil, his voice trembling. “You… you have a child already?”
No wonder Wu Ciyun was so weak—it wasn’t the fox’s fault, but that he’d secretly fathered a child with another woman.
Thinking of his own brother still waiting at home, Chu Mingyi was furious. “How could you do this to my brother!”
***
Rong Tan and Wen Guanyu’s conversation had ended badly.
As they returned, they heard Chu Mingyi’s voice from behind the rockery.
Rong Tan looked up, stunned at the sight before him.
How could his A Yun be in another woman’s arms?!
Rong Tan rushed to pull Xiao Wan away, but Xiao Wan clung to Wu Ciyun, who, holding the baby, dared not move.
Chu Mingyi, seeing Rong Tan, lost his temper and scolded, “Useless! What’s the use of your face if you can’t keep your master from cheating?”
Rong Tan couldn’t stand it and retorted, “Enough! A Yun isn’t cheating—the child isn’t even hers!”
Xiao Wan wept, “The child isn’t Brother Ciyun’s by blood, but I only want him as his father.”
“The child’s not his?”
Chu Mingyi was furious.
“Wu Ciyun, even if you can’t have your own, how can you play father to someone else’s child!”
“You’re not doing this because my brother can’t give you a child, are you?”
Wu Ciyun finally broke free, trying to explain, “Wait, I…”
Xiao Wan, hating anyone who insulted Wu Ciyun, immediately retorted, “Wretch, who gave you the right to insult Brother Ciyun? He’s perfectly capable!”
“Can’t you mind what you say? A Yun has nothing to do with you, so why say she’s capable…”
“What do you mean, I don’t know? Even that Liang bastard knows—I can’t?”
“Chu Mingyi, explain yourself! What right do you have to say A Yun’s incapable? After taking the bracelet, now you want more?”
Wen Guanyu, five steps behind Rong Tan, had also heard the commotion.
Seeing Rong Tan rush over, he hesitated, then hurried to see what was happening.
He hadn’t expected such a scene.
From the chaos, he pieced together a few things:
First, Wu Ciyun, Rong Tan, the strange woman, Chu Mingyi, and his brother Chu Zhilin were all somehow connected.
Second, Wu Ciyun was “incapable.”
Indeed, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
After seven years apart, Wu Ciyun had grown from a timid schoolmate to someone with three husbands and one wife.
No wonder Ci Yun was “incapable” now.