Chapter 60: Seizing Love by Force

Proofread by : Mim

“That won’t do.” Old Madam Chu chuckled, then said meaningfully, “Even if you’re determined not to marry, what about your younger sisters after you?”

 

Chu Jinyao had nothing to say in response to that. She gave the Old Madam Chu a deep curtsy, her voice cold and distant, sounding almost unfamiliar to her own ears: “I understand. Blessings, Grandmother. I shall take my leave.”

 

The Old Madam Chu, who was usually stern, couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for her granddaughter. Born as the legitimate daughter of a noble house, yet replaced at birth, she had returned to her rightful place only to find that her mother had grown closer to another daughter. After the family worked so hard to find her a good match, just when everything seemed settled, it had all fallen apart.

 

The Old Madam Chu sighed deeply, looking at Chu Jinyao with pity. “Go ahead, take some time to collect yourself. After a few days, you’ll need to gather your strength and start planning for the future.”

 

After Chu Jinyao left, the Old Madam Chu sat for a while longer, still uneasy. She summoned Linglong, one of the servants.

 

Linglong had originally served the Old Madam Chu and was well acquainted with her. The Old Madam Chu didn’t waste words. As soon as Linglong arrived, she asked, “How is Fifth Young Lady doing these days? She wouldn’t do anything foolish, would she?”

 

Linglong lowered her head, replying firmly, “She wouldn’t. The young miss is not someone who would belittle herself.”

 

“That’s good.” The Old Madam Chu was relieved, but another matter came to mind. “The events of that day were easy to investigate. Sure enough, it was Chu Jinmiao behind it. Someone so malicious should be punished severely, but now that the engagement with the Heir has fallen through, and Ning’er likes Chu Jinmiao, if we punish her, we could end up with nothing on either side.”

 

Linglong was startled to hear this. The Old Madam Chu was thinking of marrying Chu Jinmiao to Lin Xining to maintain their relationship with the Prince Huailing’s household? If that were the case, then Chu Jinmiao really couldn’t be touched.

 

Linglong steadied herself and said, “Madam, you have a kind heart and always think the best of people. But Fourth Young Lady had no direct conflict with Fifth Young Lady, yet she still acted out of jealousy to ruin her reputation. You once offended Fourth Young Lady by sending her to the temple; she likely still holds a grudge. If you truly marry her to Young Master Ning, how can you be sure she won’t slander you in front of the Old Madam of the Prince Huailing’s family or speak ill of the Chu family?”

 

The Old Madam Chu hesitated: “She has only our family to rely on. Would she dare to act that recklessly?”

 

Linglong responded, “Who can say for sure? Perhaps Fourth Young Lady won’t do such a thing, but the mere chance of it happening is too dangerous. If she does betray you, the consequences would be devastating for our family.”

 

The Old Madam Chu thought this over. Linglong’s reasoning made sense—why take the risk? They had many granddaughters; they could always pick another one to marry into the Prince Huailing’s family. There was no need to favor Chu Jinmiao, especially since she was an outsider—an outsider with a malicious heart.

 

Linglong had been watching the Old Madam Chu’s expression carefully. When she saw the shift in her attitude, Linglong knew she had succeeded in her persuasion. The Old Madam Chu still trusted Linglong as her own, which is why she could be swayed so easily by a few words. However, the Old Madam Chu didn’t know that Linglong had long since aligned herself with Chu Jinyao.

 

After leaving the Old Madam Chu’s chambers, Linglong hurried back to Chaoyun Courtyard. When she entered, she noticed the maids were all standing quietly outside.

 

Linglong whispered, “Is the young lady inside?”

 

Dingxiang nodded, pointing to the eastern side room. Linglong understood and, though she initially wanted to go in and comfort Chu Jinyao, she ultimately decided against it.

 

Whenever Chu Jinyao was upset, she liked to retreat to the study. It was best not to disturb her at such times.

 

Inside the study, Chu Jinyao sat at her desk, flipping through her old calligraphy practice sheets.

 

She had spent so much effort learning these skills. She used to believe that hard work and diligence would lead to a better life. She had always looked down on Chu Jinmiao’s underhanded tricks, but in the end, she had been the fool all along.

 

As she turned the pages, she came across a sheet filled with strong, vigorous strokes. Chu Jinyao stared at it for a long time before slowly covering it with her hand.

 

Last time, when her sisters had bullied and isolated her, Qi Ze had come to her aid. But now, as she was being forced into becoming a concubine, why was there no one by her side?

 

In her heart, Chu Jinyao spoke softly, “Qi Ze, didn’t you say I would live a happy and smooth life? You even said that no matter what wish I had, you would make it come true. But now, someone is forcing me to become a concubine. Can’t you hear me?”

 

A single tear slid down her cheek, falling onto the page where Qin Yi’s writing had left the word “promise,” smudging it into a blurred ink stain.

 

You’ve broken your promise, Qi Ze.

 

.

 

Wei Wu traveled day and night until, at dusk one evening, he finally entered Datong City. As soon as he arrived, he headed for the imperial residence where Qin Yi was staying. However, the eunuch at the gate informed him, “His Highness is not in the residence; he has been staying at the military camp for the past few days.”

 

Despite the dust and exhaustion clinging to him, Wei Wu immediately mounted his horse and rode toward the camp. By the time he finally saw Qin Yi, the twilight had fully faded, and the sky was shrouded in a heavy gloom.

 

Qin Yi appeared even thinner than before, making his already sharp features stand out even more. His posture was like a drawn sword, his gaze as piercing as a blade. He was dressed in silver armor, with a four-clawed yellow dragon embroidered on his sleeve. The overall impression he gave off was that of a weapon ready for battle, exuding an aura of deadly precision.

 

Xiao Linzi, the eunuch, stood far off in the corner of the tent, as if wishing he could disappear completely. When Wei Wu entered, he glanced quickly at Xiao Linzi, sensing something strange.

 

What on earth had happened to make Xiao Linzi this frightened?

 

Qin Yi was seated at the main table. Upon hearing movement, he only glanced at Wei Wu briefly before returning to the reports in his hands. “What brings you here?”

 

Wei Wu immediately understood why Xiao Linzi had been keeping his distance.

 

Steadying himself, Wei Wu answered respectfully, “Your Highness, something has happened in Taiyuan. I didn’t dare make a decision on my own, so I came to report it to you.”

 

Qin Yi’s recent visit to Taiyuan had ostensibly been for the birthday celebration of the Prince Huailing’s Old Madam Chu, but his real purpose was to meet with important people from the capital. Though the Crown Prince had left the capital, that didn’t mean his control over the capital had weakened. Using the birthday banquet as cover, officials and agents from the capital came to the Prince Huailing’s mansion under the guise of presenting gifts. During those few busy days, with all the chaos and people from different factions in the house, it was easy for the Crown prince’s people to meet and discuss political matters without being noticed. Qin Yi had been gathering reports on the situation in the capital and the court, preparing for his eventual return.

 

Even Wei Wu had gone to the Prince Huailing’s residence, disguised as a gift-bearer. The original plan was for the Crown Prince to stay in Taiyuan for several more days, but, for reasons unknown, he had abruptly cut the visit short and returned to the border.

 

The change of plans had caused some trouble for those involved, but nothing major. The real problem was with the Crown Prince himself.

 

Ever since his return, His Highness had been in a poor state, and everyone around him was on edge. Wei Wu had heard rumors, but seeing it in person now, he felt a deep, heavy worry settle over him.

 

“Something in Taiyuan?” Qin Yi paused slightly before asking casually, “What is it?”

 

Wei Wu hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing his words. “It’s not a big deal, really…”

 

Qin Yi remained silent, but Wei Wu’s years of experience told him that the Crown Prince wasn’t pleased. Wei Wu quickly changed his tone and said, “It concerns the Marquis of Changxing’s household and their Fifth Young Lady.”

 

“Chu Jinyao?” At the mention of her name, Qin Yi stopped what he was doing and looked up. “What happened to her?”

 

The fact that the Crown Prince knew the young lady’s name… Wei Wu realized he was treading on delicate ground. Without any further delay, he recounted everything—from the trouble caused by Su Family, Su Hui’s plea for help, to the Old Madam Chu of the Chu family taking the entire household to the Prince Huailing’s residence, only for things to end on bad terms.

 

The more Qin Yi listened, the colder his expression became. By the time Wei Wu finished describing how the Chu family had returned home in anger after their unsuccessful negotiations, the temperature around the Crown Prince had dropped so low it felt like frost was forming in the air. “They’ve got some nerve.”

 

Wei Wu wasn’t sure if “they” referred to the Lin family, the Chu family, or Su Family. He wisely chose to stay silent rather than risk saying something wrong. After a moment, Qin Yi took a deep breath, set down his teacup, and asked, “And what did the Lin family say?”

 

“Yesterday, I received a message via carrier pigeon from my son. He wrote that the Old Madam Chu of the Lin family intends for Fifth Young Lady to become the Heir’s concubine, and they—”

 

Before Wei Wu could finish, the sound of shattering porcelain interrupted him. Glancing up, he saw Qin Yi’s face dark with rage. The valuable blue-glazed porcelain cup had cracked under his grip, and there was now a deep vertical line on its once flawless surface.

 

Qin Yi released his hand, and the cup crumbled into pieces, falling with a crash to the floor.

 

Wei Wu didn’t dare say a word, but when he noticed the blood on the shards of porcelain, he felt compelled to ask, “Your Highness, your hand…”

 

“It’s nothing.” Qin Yi waved off the eunuch who had rushed forward with bandages. His eyes remained fixed on Wei Wu. “Is this information true?”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

“And what about the Chu family’s reaction?”

 

“When I left, the Marquis of Changxing’s family had yet to respond. The message I received yesterday only mentioned the Prince Huailing’s intent to take Fifth Young Lady as a concubine, but it didn’t say whether the Chu family had agreed.”

 

Qin Yi sneered, “At least they had the sense not to agree. If they had dared… I would’ve been the first to make them regret it.”

 

Wei Wu kept his head bowed, not daring to ponder too much on what the Crown Prince might have meant by that. After a moment, Qin Yi waved his hand. “That’s all for now. You may leave.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Wei Wu and Xiao Linzi backed out of the tent, with Xiao Linzi carefully closing the flap behind them.

 

Once the flap was secured, the inside of the tent darkened. The wind from outside stirred the flames of the candles, causing their light to flicker wildly. Qin Yi stared at the candlelight, lost in thought.

 

He had once promised himself that Chu Jinyao would live her life in peace. He would take care of the political struggles so she could remain an innocent young lady, ignorant of the world’s cruelties, who would one day marry into a good family, have a husband whose career would flourish, and sons who would rise to prominence. She was supposed to live a life of luxury and happiness, oblivious to the hardships of the world.

 

He had truly believed he could make that happen.

 

But reality had silenced him, leaving him unable to face the truth.

 

He was the Crown Prince, the backbone of the army, the one who bore the weight of the nation. With so many great responsibilities on his shoulders, he had unknowingly neglected the person he had once sworn to protect. While he fought battles on the frontier, contended with his rival brothers, and maneuvered through the treacherous politics of the court, Chu Jinyao had been neglected and her fortune threatened. Worse still, she had been forced into the position of becoming someone’s concubine, and he had been entirely unaware.

 

Qin Yi felt a chill of fear. If Wei Wu hadn’t come to report this to him, how much worse would things have gotten?

 

Qin Yi sat alone in the tent for a long time, lost in thought. Finally, he called out, “Someone, bring me ink and paper.”

 

 

 

In the Imperial Palace, golden lions glared down, dragons writhed, and officials in their red robes bustled across the white marble steps.

 

Outside the Wenyuan Pavilion in the eastern wing of the palace, the comings and goings of officials were more frequent and orderly than ever. From the outside, it appeared to be just an unremarkable small building, but everyone who passed through its doors did so with a sense of pride. The reason was simple—this was the office of the Imperial Cabinet, the highest administrative body in the empire, and the aspiration of all scholars.

 

As Fan Zhengying made his way toward the pavilion, every person he passed stopped to bow and greet him with a smile. “Greetings, Grand Secretary Fan.”

 

The Grand Secretary held a position of immense power, often serving directly beside the Emperor. It was the pinnacle of a scholar’s career, the ultimate role model for all civil servants. Fan Zhengying was over sixty years old, but for the Imperial Cabinet, that was still relatively young, especially since he held the title of Grand Scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion. Though he held a high position, Fan Zhengying was known for his cautious nature. Whenever someone greeted him, whether close or distant, he would always stop and acknowledge them with a smile and a nod. Today, however, he had no time for pleasantries and hurried toward the pavilion.

 

The officials who saw this were amazed. Grand Secretary Fan was never in a rush, not even during the winter solstice ceremony. What could have happened to make him walk so quickly?

 

One official whispered, “It seems the Crown Prince has sent a letter.”

 

The other official’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Does that mean His Highness is finally coming back?”

 

The first official smiled mysteriously and shook his head. “Only Grand Secretary Fan knows.”

 

When Fan Zhengying arrived at Wenyuan Pavilion, he burst through the door, immediately asking, “The Crown Prince has sent a letter? Where is it?”

 

Someone handed him the letter at once. Fan Zhengying, who had not moved this quickly even for his grandson’s wedding, took the letter and began to read. When he finished, he was incredulous. “The Crown Prince wants His Majesty to bestow a marriage? To officially appoint a Crown Princess?”

 

 

 

Inside the Qianqing Palace, the emperor was equally surprised. “He hasn’t written a single letter in a year, and now he suddenly asks for a marriage decree?”

 

Of course, in the letter, Qin Yi hadn’t phrased it as a mere request for a “marriage decree.” He had written: “I humbly request the formal appointment of Miss Chu Jinyao, the fifth daughter of the Marquis of Changxing, as Crown Princess.”

 

While the capital was thrown into turmoil by Qin Yi’s letter, back in Datong, after sending letters to the emperor, the Grand Secretary, and the Crown Prince’s aides, Qin Yi found himself in a relaxed mood. The restless anxiety that had plagued him for days seemed to dissipate entirely. It wasn’t the issue of the concubine that had forced him to act; rather, it was the Prince Huailing’s outrageous behavior that had finally given him an excuse to intervene.

 

A concubine? How laughable. The Lin family clearly didn’t know their place. Qin Yi was furious. He decided to handle things himself. The Lin family could be banished as far away as possible.

 

As for Chu Jinyao’s feelings… Oh, those didn’t matter. If she had somehow gotten it into her head to marry Lin Xiyuan and didn’t care about being reduced to the status of a concubine, then Qin Yi would simply have to save her from that hell and knock some sense into her.

 

Xiao Linzi and Wei Wu stood by, wide-eyed, as they watched the Crown Prince write the earth-shaking request for marriage right before their eyes. Neither dared say a word. After finishing the letter to Grand Secretary Fan, Qin Yi leisurely started on another letter, this time to one of his trusted subordinates. His brush moved quickly across the paper, and after a few strokes, he folded the letter and handed it to Wei Wu. “Deliver this to Zhong Fushi and have him accompany you back to Taiyuan to take care of this mess.”

 

Wei Wu accepted the letter with both hands, but he couldn’t resist asking, “How should we handle it?”

 

Zhong Fushi was part of the Jinyiwei (the emperor’s secret police), and both he and Wei Wu were known for their ruthless methods. Wei Wu wanted to be sure they wouldn’t go too far.

 

Qin Yi paused, thought for a moment, then said, “After all, they are her adoptive parents, and the eldest daughter of the Su family has been kind to her. There’s no need to make enemies. Just give them a light warning. If you’re unsure, ask the Crown Princess.”

 

Wei Wu was drenched in cold sweat. The letters had barely been sent, and the Crown Prince was already referring to her as “Crown Princess.” Realizing the gravity of the situation, he bowed deeply. “I understand. I’ll take my leave.”

 

Qin Yi was in a much better mood than before, even acknowledging Wei Wu’s exit with a quiet “Hmm.” Watching from the side, Xiao Linzi couldn’t help but think to himself, “The Prince is so worried about going too far with Miss Chu’s family, but when it comes to us, he never seems to care.”

 

.

 

The Old Madam Chu of the Chu family had been right—seven or eight days later, the Prince Huailing’s household indeed sent someone to speak with them. The one chosen for the task was none other than Madam Chu.

 

Madam Chu, Chu Zhu, was married into the Lin family, making her a daughter of the Chu family and a perfect candidate for this delicate mission. As a married woman returning to her natal home, she wouldn’t cause a stir or appear intrusive. She also had strong ties to the Prince Huailing’s household, where she had given birth and raised children. The Old Madam Chu of the Lin family was confident Madam Chu would be on their side.

 

When Madam Chu learned of the events that had transpired between the Old Madam Chu and the Prince Huailing’s household, she couldn’t help but complain to her mother. Sitting in Rongning Hall, she grumbled, “Mother, really, couldn’t you have chosen your words more carefully? Now, thanks to what you said, I’ve been getting cold looks from my mother-in-law and the Princess Consort these past few days.”

 

The Old Madam Chu, mindful of her daughter’s difficult position in the Lin household, softened her tone. “I didn’t think things through that day. But your mother-in-law, honestly—how could she say such things? Everything was set for Jinyao to marry the Heir, but at the last moment, she wants to make her a concubine instead? Downgrading her from wife to concubine—is that something decent people do?”

 

Madam Chu shook her head in disagreement. “Mother, you can say that to me, but you can’t speak like that in public. My sister-in-law’s daughter is about to become Crown Princess. Getting to marry into the Prince Huailing’s family as a concubine to the Heir, the Crown Princess’s own brother, is something other families would fight over. And yet you and my brother are dissatisfied?”

 

The Old Madam Chu saw the smug look on Madam Chu’s face and couldn’t resist asking, “Has the Crown Princess’s marriage been settled?”

 

“The imperial edict hasn’t been issued yet, but the Old Madam of the Zhenbei Marquis household has already agreed to speak to the Emperor on the matter. The Zhenbei Marquis household is highly influential. Now that they’ve given their word, it’s as good as done.”

 

The Old Madam Chu was curious. “How did you manage to persuade the Old Madam of the Zhenbei Marquis household? How much did you give them?”

 

Madam Chu held up her hand, showing five fingers. The Old Madam Chu was stunned. “That much?”

 

“And that’s not including the four sets of clothes we gifted them. But in the end, it wasn’t about the money. It was because of an old favor my mother-in-law did for them years ago. We owe everything to that. Without her personal connection, we could have sent all the money in the world, and it wouldn’t have reached the Old Madam Qi.”

 

So that’s how it was—thanks to a favor from years ago. No wonder the Old Princess Consort of the Lin household had been so arrogant. The Chu family had failed to help secure this marriage, so of course, she would be unhappy with Chu Jinyao and seek another match.

 

While Madam Chu and the Old Madam Chu had their private conversation, the younger generation sat quietly outside, facing each other in silence.

 

This time, Madam Chu had brought Lin Xining and Lin Baohuan with her. Lin Baohuan was fine, but Lin Xining seemed distracted, lost in his own thoughts.

 

“Brother Ning, what’s wrong?” Sixth Young Lady noticed his unease and asked with concern.

 

Lin Xining snapped out of his thoughts but couldn’t help glancing at Chu Jinmiao before quickly averting his gaze again.

 

That day, when Chu Jinmiao claimed not to know Su Family, Lin Xining hadn’t told her what he had seen.

 

He had gone outside to call someone and had seen Chu Jinmiao standing with her back to him, speaking quietly to Su Family. At the time, Lin Xining hadn’t thought much of it, assuming they were servants Chu Jinmiao was instructing. Since he had been called back inside, he hadn’t had time to speak with her, and she hadn’t realized he had been there.

 

Later, when he saw Su Family at the Old Madam Chu’s place, he realized something was wrong. Clinging to a last hope, he had asked Chu Jinmiao, “Cousin, are you sure you don’t know these people and have never seen them before?”

 

The answer had been clear, and in that moment, Lin Xining questioned everything. Who exactly had he fallen in love with all these years? Did he truly know Chu Jinmiao?

 

Lin Xining couldn’t figure it out, and he didn’t want to. He had been in a daze ever since, overhearing vague rumors about his brother’s engagement with Chu Jinyao. He knew his brother liked Chu Jinyao and had been secretly preparing for this marriage for a long time. If things fell apart at the last moment, it would be devastating for Lin Xiyuan.

 

Lin Xining knew that if he told his brother, the Old Madam Chu, or even the Crown Princess what he had witnessed, Lin Xiyuan’s engagement with Chu Jinyao would immediately be saved. He had gone to find Lin Xiyuan, but when the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back down.

 

He couldn’t bring himself to do it. He would give in to his love for his cousin one last time, even if it meant betraying his brother and cousin Jinyao.

 

Before they left the house that day, Madam Chu had quietly asked him if he wanted to take his relationship with Chu Jinmiao to the next level, moving from cousins to husband and wife. Lin Xining had been startled into uncharacteristic silence.

 

In the end, Lin Xining had told her not to mention it again and that he needed time to think.

 

For Chu Jinmiao, Lin Xining had lied to his most respected brother, watching as Lin Xiyuan’s engagement with Chu Jinyao slipped away. The guilt weighed heavily on him, and now, whenever he saw Chu Jinmiao, he felt a simmering anger inside him, though he didn’t know where to direct it. He could no longer bear to face her. His previous affection for her had been obvious to everyone, so his current coldness was hard to miss. Not just Chu Jinmiao, but even the other family members began to notice something was off.

 

Lin Xining’s expression remained tense, and he refused to explain himself, even when Chu Jinmiao tried to engage him. She was used to his constant attention, so being ignored by him for the first time left her feeling frustrated, and her expression quickly darkened.

 

Chu Jinyao, however, had no interest in their drama. In fact, she hadn’t been able to muster interest in anything lately. She had begun to question everything she had once believed in so strongly—her principles of fairness, her steady approach to life. Had she been wrong?

 

As Chu Jinyao sat, lost in thought, she suddenly thought she heard the voices of Su Family. Startled, she glanced around and saw everyone else looking toward the entrance. Only then did she realize it wasn’t her imagination. Su Family really had come.

 

But this time, they weren’t alone. Walking with them were several other individuals. When Chu Jinyao saw the attire of one of the newcomers, her eyes widened in shock.

 

They were wearing flying fish robes—Jinyiwei.

 

How had Su Family managed to provoke these terrifying figures?