Chapter 32: She Was Actually Already Married

When Chu Yan’er left Huichun Courtyard, she was completely distraught, her mind filled with nothing but Chu Li’s words.

Chu Li watched her depart, a hint of mockery playing on her lips.

"Mistress, before we returned, you specifically asked Head Escort Jiao Yan to pose as your husband. Did you foresee that things would turn out like this?" Qiuyi asked. She truly believed her mistress was brilliant and must have calculated long ago that the Chu family would try to force her into a trap, prompting her to make preparations in advance. If her mistress was already married, the Chu family could not force her to remarry; besides, the man’s background was formidable, and the Chu family would not dare to provoke such power. While this might affect her reputation, her mistress had not shown her true face upon returning, and the Chu family hadn't noticed anything amiss. Through this series of coincidences, her mistress could emerge unscathed. Head Escort Jiao Yan did not seem like a rogue, and surely he would not harass her later or do anything to damage her reputation.

Hearing this, Chu Li chuckled softly. "I didn't foresee anything; it was all just a coincidence. The Fang family of Rong City is not someone the Chu family can afford to offend. They would never marry a woman who is already wed into their family. Just wait and watch the show; I want to let the Chu family tear themselves apart from within."

The seeds of desire had been sown; it remained to be seen what kind of fruit would grow from them.

The medicinal herbs sent by Madam Sun were far inferior to those Chu Li used at the Prince of You’s manor, but they were better than nothing, so she did not refuse them. She had Qiuyi take the herbs out of the manor to sell them secretly. The two old matrons assigned to watch her were simple-minded and only concerned with keeping an eye on Chu Li, never questioning where Qiuyi went.

As for Chu Yan’er, after leaving Huichun Courtyard, she hurried to Madam Sun and immediately sold Chu Li out. "Mother, Mother, it’s terrible! That lowly slut is already married. Your plan to have her stand in for Eldest Sister is likely ruined."

Madam Sun was in a side room offering incense to a Buddha statue, praying for everything to go smoothly. Hearing Chu Yan’er’s cry, she was so startled that she ignored the broken incense stick and rushed out, shouting, "What did you say? That woman is married?"

Madam Sun’s head throbbed as if the sky were collapsing. Her face twisted into a mask of malice. "Shameless wretch! I wondered where she had been for the past three years. So she went off and eloped with someone! How disgraceful!"

Chu Yan’er chimed in, "Exactly, Mother! You wouldn't believe it—that woman is so full of herself. She bragged about how she lives better in the capital than here, claiming she uses goods from Linglong Pavilion and Jinxiu Pavilion. She flaunted it in front of me until I was seething with rage!"

"She married into the capital? How is that possible?"

Chu Yan’er was equally jealous. "That’s what she said. The man who came back with her is her husband. He’s from the capital, and I must admit, he had an extraordinary air about him; he didn't look like someone from a small town. Mother, if a low-born creature like Chu Meng can marry into the capital, I am better than her in every way, so I will surely marry even better. Mother, I want to go to the capital to see the world too."

Madam Sun’s eyes darted around, her mind racing. "The little slut actually had the ability to hook a wealthy man in the capital. I underestimated her." Madam Sun despised Chu Meng, but if Chu Meng could marry into the capital on her own while her own two daughters had no prospects, why should Chu Meng get to live a good life?

"No, that little bitch surely is no longer pure. In that case, she cannot replace your sister to marry into the Fang family. I am going to tell your father about this right now. Since when do children decide their own marriages? Such a disgrace to the family! I’ll make her pay today!"

With that, Madam Sun rushed out to lodge her complaint. Seeing that her mother had missed the point and was not concerned about her own marriage prospects, Chu Yan’er felt stifled and chased after her, intercepting her before she could reach Chu Zhonghe.

"Mother, you cannot go to Father. We must think about Chu Meng’s situation more carefully."

Madam Sun glared at her with suspicion. "Why are you stopping me? Did Chu Meng promise you something?"

Seeing her own mother filled with such distrust, Chu Yan’er felt a sharp, unspeakable bitterness. She said indignantly, "Mother, how can you think of me like that? I’m worried about Eldest Sister’s marriage too. But think about it: if Chu Meng is no longer pure, she can’t replace Eldest Sister to marry Fang Shihuai. What will Father do if he finds out? He will surely force Eldest Sister to marry him instead."

"Mother, isn't it because you can't stand to see Chu Meng do well? Don't I feel the same? But we must keep this hidden for now. We can't let Father know so soon. Dealing with Chu Meng can wait; we will have plenty of opportunities."

...

Half a day passed, and the courtyard was unusually quiet. Even Qiuyi, who had returned from gathering news, felt puzzled. "Logically, Chu Yan’er should have told Madam Sun and Chu Zhonghe about you being married, but it’s so quiet—not a stir."

Chu Li also found it strange. Based on her assessment of Chu Yan’er, the girl couldn't keep a secret and was a loudmouth; even if she didn't tell Chu Zhonghe, she should have told Madam Sun. Madam Sun had always looked down on her, and with two daughters waiting to be married, how could she sit still after hearing that Chu Li had married into the capital?

As night fell, Chu Li decided not to wait idly and set out to investigate. Closing the room door, she had Qiuyi find some red paper and folded it into a paper crane.

"Mistress, why are you folding a paper crane? If you like them, I can fold more for you."

Chu Li smiled. "This isn't an ordinary paper crane. It won't work if you fold it. You'll understand in a moment."

Chu Li picked up the red paper crane, walked to the window, and looked out into the night. Qiuyi watched curiously, not understanding why her mistress was folding paper cranes at night, but she trusted that her mistress had her reasons.

In the next second, Chu Li blew softly on the red paper crane in her hand. The crane seemed to be imbued with a soul; it miraculously flew up and soon vanished into the night, disappearing from the courtyard.

Qiuyi’s eyes widened in shock, thinking she was seeing things. "Mistress, how did that red paper crane..."

Chu Li curled her lips into a smile. "Just a small trick of the occult. With it, I can observe the situation in the manor without stepping out. The Chu mother and daughter were too calm; I’ll let the paper crane explore the situation."

A small trick? This was no small trick; it was a divine skill. To make an inanimate object "come to life"—in Qiuyi’s understanding, only legendary immortals could do such things.

The red paper crane flew low until it reached Chu Yan’er’s courtyard. It was dark, and Chu Yan’er was clearly not in her room. The crane continued its flight and finally stopped in Madam Sun’s courtyard. Indeed, it "saw" the mother and her two daughters huddled together in the inner room, conspiring about something.