At dusk, a squad of imperial guards escorted the Duke back to the manor. Accompanying them was a decree-bearing eunuch. I led the entire household to kneel in the courtyard to receive the decree. Su Rongrong was also supported and brought out from the side courtyard by the older maidservants. Her face was full of anticipation as she gazed at the main gate, thinking the Su family had won.
"The Su clan has lined their own pockets and embezzled military funds. Their family property is hereby confiscated immediately. Fu Jingyun is corrupt in character, stripping him of his title and exiling him to Lingnan."
The contents of the imperial decree struck Su Rongrong like a bolt of lightning. She let out a shriek and collapsed completely onto the ground. The Su family had fallen. Not only had they failed to save Fu Jingyun, but they had also dragged themselves down with him.
The Duke walked over to my side and personally helped me up. He was still wearing his court robes. His eyes were tired, but they carried a ruthless determination.
"Lord Su tried to bite back in front of the emperor, but I crushed him with the list I presented."
That list consisted precisely of the people Fu Jingyun had confessed to while in the dungeon. By entering the palace this time, the Duke not only cleared his own name, but also helped the emperor clean out several corrupt officials along the way. This time, the Su family would never be able to stage a comeback.
The imperial guards soon began arresting people throughout the estate. Not a single spy planted by the Su family was spared. Su Rongrong watched as Yuanru was taken away. She tried to step in and stop them, but was shoved aside by the guards. Although the child in her womb was saved, she was no longer that noble young mistress. The Duke ordered the steward to lock her away in a more remote manner, to be dealt with after the child was born.
As I watched the chaos filling the courtyard, I knew in my heart that the great tree of the Su family had fallen, but the storm in the capital was far from over.
Before Fu Jingyun was exiled to Lingnan, he was temporarily held at an estate on the outskirts of town. The Duke had sent several veteran soldiers to guard him, which by all accounts should have been foolproof. Yet on the third day after the fall of the Su family, word came from the manor that Fu Jingyun had disappeared.
"The veteran guards were drugged. Fu Jingyun escaped in the dead of night."
The Duke slammed his teacup onto the table, his face turning grim. I also found it strange. The Su family had already fallen. Who would still go to save a pawn that was already useless?
I suddenly recalled what Fu Jingyun had said in the dungeon about the Su family having a backer in the palace. Could it be that the Noble Consort had still not given up and wanted to use Fu Jingyun to make one last desperate move?
"Does Fu Jingyun have other hiding places in the capital?"
The Duke shook his head. He immediately ordered a lockdown of the city gates and a citywide search.
Sitting in the study, I looked at the list on the desk and noticed a name circled in red ink. It was a distant relative of Lord Su who ran a horse ranch in the suburbs. I shared this clue with the Duke. He led his men and rushed to the ranch overnight. I also brought along a few guards and followed behind.
Upon arriving at the ranch, we found it completely deserted, with only a messy trail of hoofprints left on the ground. Fu Jingyun didn't flee alone. There must have been another force helping him from behind that we hadn't noticed.
In the woods of the mountain behind the ranch, we found a bloodstained garment. It was the one Fu Jingyun had worn when he left. The bloodstains didn't look like they were from an injury, but seemed more like some kind of marker. Looking at the pitch-black mountain forest, a sense of unease rose in my heart. Fu Jingyun's escape made the situation, which had finally settled, confusing once again.
The Duke suppressed the news of Fu Jingyun's disappearance, but discordant rumours began to spread among the noble ladies in the capital.
On this day, the manor received an invitation. It was sent by the Noble Consort's younger sister, who was the lady of the Duke of Chenjin. The invitation explicitly named me to attend.
"This is a trap. You do not have to go."
"My lord, one can run but cannot hide forever. Since they want to see this seductress, then I will give them an eyeful."
I changed into an elegant yet dignified gown. I didn't wear too much jewellery, only the pair of jade bracelets the Duke had given me.
At the banquet of the Duke of Chenjin's residence, everyone's gaze pierced through me like needles. They gathered in small groups, pointing and whispering about me.
"So, this is the lady concubine who turned the Duke's estate upside down. She is indeed exceptionally beautiful. No wonder the Duke was willing to abandon even his adopted son for her."
I didn't say a word, merely curtsied politely and took a seat at the very end. This kind of cold mockery meant nothing to me.
Halfway through the banquet, a young woman suddenly walked up to me. She introduced herself as Su Rongrong's cousin, her eyes filled with provocation.
"Wanning, do you really think you've won just because the Su family has fallen?"
My heart skipped a beat. I looked up at the woman, who was wearing a highly sinister smile.