Inside the carriage heading to the palace.
Danqing’s anger had yet to subside: “Such a shameless family. For Madam… no, for Miss to continue staying there would only bring misfortune.”
Danzhu knew there was truth in these words, yet she couldn’t help but worry: “Now that the Duke and Madam are no longer here, only the young mistress and the young heir remain in the mansion. Where can Miss go…”
Cui Anru said, “Anywhere would be better than living with a pack of ungrateful wolves.”
All along, she had followed her mother’s teachings, keeping a low profile, never flaunting her master’s legacy, nor revealing her own abilities before others.
She had also heeded her father’s advice, marrying beneath her station to secure a lifetime of peace.
Yet, in just two years, it had only proven that her father’s judgment had been mistaken.
If that was the case, why should she continue to endure?
Even if she were left alone, she would uphold the honor of Zhenguogong Mansion, let alone with her widowed sister-in-law and young nephew still relying on her.
Her expression remained calm: “The message has already been sent to Dan Bai. She will know what to do. We only need to prepare for the audience with The Emperor.”
Danqing nodded firmly.
Danzhu gazed at the approaching palace gates: “Miss, will The Emperor truly help us seek justice?”
Cui Anru was exceptionally clear-headed: “A newly returned war hero, and an orphaned girl with both parents gone—The Emperor naturally won’t side with me.”
“We may not have justice on our side, but we have guilt.”
Silence fell inside the carriage.
“Watch out for that child!”
A sudden cry threw the street into chaos. A carriage swerving to avoid a child who had dashed out nearly collided with Cui Anru’s carriage.
“Miss, are you alright?” The coachman, after regaining control of the horses, immediately asked after Cui Anru.
“Apologies, it was an emergency just now. We’ve startled you all. My master is willing to compensate for any losses… May I ask which esteemed guest from Annan Hou’s residence is in the carriage?” Another coachman had already approached.
The guards behind him were already distributing silver to the affected street vendors as compensation.
Cui Anru had only been startled for a moment. Fortunately, both coachmen were skilled, and nothing serious had happened.
“It’s fine. I’m in a hurry. Please allow us to pass—”
Before she could finish her sentence.
“Help! My mother is coughing up blood…”
The same child knelt in the middle of the street, crying out in despair.
“Xu Huai, find a physician.”
From the other carriage came a man’s voice.
Cui Anru had already lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out directly.
Danqing and Danzhu followed closely behind, just in time to see a little girl, no older than ten, her eyes filled with helplessness and panic, bowing frantically in all directions.
“Where is your mother?” Cui Anru wasted no words.
“Over there!”
The little girl quickly wiped her tears, stood up, and pointed in the direction while leading them forward.
“Master, it’s a woman, likely the wife of Annan Hou. I’ve never heard of her having medical skills. Should we still call for a physician?” Xu Huai asked.
“Call for one.”
The man in the carriage replied succinctly, though his voice carried an unusual detachment.
Following the little girl, Cui Anru finally found the woman in a corner of the street, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, already unconscious.
Recalling the sudden passing of her own mother, Cui Anru did not hesitate. She knelt on the ground, checking for breath, lifting the eyelids, and then taking the pulse.
The little girl wisely covered her mouth, stifling her sobs to avoid disturbing Cui Anru.
Acute emotional distress, chronic malnutrition, damage to the heart and lungs.
The cause of the illness was almost immediately confirmed, but Cui Anru realized she had no medicine to protect the heart meridian at hand. These past few days, worried that her sister-in-law was under too much pressure, she had left everything with her.
"What is needed?"
A clear yet somewhat weak voice came from the man who had just walked over from the other carriage.
The two people beside him seemed ready to support him at any moment.
"Anything that can protect her heart meridian will do," Cui Anru said directly after a quick glance.
"Ruogu," the man called out.
The person beside him hesitated for a moment but quickly took out a porcelain bottle from his robe and carefully poured out a pill.
Cui Anru took it, glanced at its quality, and without any questions, immediately placed it into the woman's mouth. Just then, a nearby vendor happened to hand over a bowl of water.
"Your mother is temporarily safe. Are there any other family members?" Cui Anru asked the little girl.
The little girl shook her head, tears still falling uncontrollably.
"My father and grandmother abandoned us and drove us out…"
Danqing and Danzhu listened, their hearts aching, feeling as though their own young lady shared a similar fate.
The surrounding onlookers also felt even more sympathy for the little girl.
"Do you have a grandfather or uncles?"
The little girl replied, "They are all far away."
"Who is your father?" Cui Anru asked again.
"He is a soldier who just returned victorious from battle. He said he had earned merit and wanted to marry his childhood sweetheart."
Cui Anru felt a wave of irony. Who said she was the only unfortunate one in this world?
A man's heartlessness and fickleness required no status—it was simply his nature.
Upon hearing this, the crowd sighed even more deeply.
Looking at the woman still unconscious, even if she woke up, her body would certainly not hold up.
Cui Anru stood up and looked at the man who had just provided the pill.
"Lady Annan Hou, what are your orders?"
Before she could speak, he had already asked.
The crowd gasped in surprise, realizing that the woman who had just provided emergency aid was actually the daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo.
These past few days, many had been mourning the Duke of Zhenguo and his son. For father and brother to die in battle at the same time—what a devastating blow this must have been for Cui Anru! The vast Zhenguogong Mansion now had no one left to uphold its reputation.
Fortunately, the Duke of Zhenguo's son-in-law had returned with merit and was now enfeoffed as a marquis. Otherwise, how would the women of the Cui family survive in the future?
Cui Anru was not surprised that the man recognized her. The imperial edict had only been announced recently, and news of her confrontation with those people in front of the Xiao Family's gate would not have spread so quickly. It was better for her to announce it herself.
"Orders are unnecessary, and as for being Lady Annan Hou, that will soon no longer be the case. Xiao Rang has used his military achievements to request the hand of Lin Zhiyin, the legitimate daughter of the Lin family, as an Equal Wife. The two conceived a child on their way back to the capital with my father and brother's remains. Such a profound humiliation is something our Cui family cannot endure. I am now on my way to the palace to seek an audience with The Emperor and ask him to uphold justice for me."
These words shocked everyone.
Was Xiao Rang really such a person?
And Lin Zhiyin, the border medic praised these past few days—was she truly so shameless?
The man's expression shifted slightly, and when he looked at Cui Anru, there was a hint of inquiry in his gaze.
"Is there no one in the Xiao Family who understands reason? This is truly too much," someone spoke up in indignation.
"That's right. The Xiao Family's Dowager has been praising the Lady Annan Hou to everyone she meets. Surely she would not agree to Annan Hou's betrayal and faithlessness."
Danqing couldn't hold back and spoke directly: "The Xiao Family is united in their efforts. While our young lady was keeping vigil at the Duke's residence to handle the funeral arrangements, they have already met with the Lin Family's daughter. They secretly made an agreement with the Lin Family long ago. Our Duke and the heir have died, yet they are hanging lanterns and decorations to celebrate their own son's promotion. They even concealed it from our young lady, making her kneel with them to welcome the imperial decree for Marquis Xiao to take an Equal Wife!"