Shen Yu had not heard Cui’er’s report. Seeing that Chu Ningwan had been standing still earlier but was now suddenly leaving, he instinctively attributed the reason to his own arrival.
Sure enough, Chu Ningwan, that vicious woman, was just playing hard to get. After making such a huge scene, wasn’t it all because he favored Yaoyao more?
Now that Yaoyao had left and the auspicious wedding hour was approaching, she must have panicked.
As expected of that poisonous woman—she still couldn’t give up such despicable tricks.
Chu Ningwan paid no attention to Shen Yu. When she and Madam Qin arrived outside the General’s Manor, they saw that many spectators had already gathered.
This was, after all, the General’s Manor. For so many people to openly gather here, Shen Yu’s arrangements behind the scenes were obvious.
To elevate Su Qingyao’s status while humiliating her, Shen Yu had truly gone to great lengths.
In her previous life, she would have been deeply hurt by this. But now, she found these petty schemes laughably clumsy.
What she regretted most was that in her previous life, she had failed to see Shen Yu’s true nature in time, allowing these people to plot against her and those around her.
When Su Qingyao saw Chu Ningwan emerge, a trace of viciousness flashed across her eyes.
This wretch claimed she didn’t care, yet here she was.
Su Qingyao felt displeased and had no intention of letting Chu Ningwan have peace. After all, she was about to become the Marchioness’s wife.
“Sister, you…”
Before Su Qingyao could finish speaking, the sound of galloping horses suddenly came from the distance. Someone among the crowd let out a cry of surprise.
“Look! Isn’t that General Qin riding over?”
Upon seeing the rider clearly, Madam Qin was momentarily stunned. Only yesterday she had received news that Qin Yi had encountered obstacles on his journey back to the capital and would be delayed by several more days.
After her surprise, she glanced at Chu Ningwan beside her and saw that she remained completely calm, as though she had expected this.
“Wan’er, what’s going on? How could your uncle…”
Before Madam Qin could finish, Qin Yi had already arrived and dismounted.
Seeing her relative, Chu Ningwan’s face broke into a sincere smile.
In her previous life, when her mother and she had fallen into hardship, her grandfather and uncle had done everything they could to seek justice from Shen Yu and Chu Zhennan despite their own difficult circumstances.
Yet it was precisely those efforts that led them into carefully laid traps.
Now, seeing her beloved uncle standing here safe and sound, Chu Ningwan felt both emotional and heartbroken.
“Mother, I’ll explain everything later.”
After speaking, Chu Ningwan walked toward Qin Yi.
“Uncle.”
“Ningwan, I’ve already heard about what happened to you. Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one will dare act recklessly.”
At first, Su Qingyao did not recognize the newcomer. But when she heard Chu Ningwan call him “uncle,” she immediately understood.
Judging from his bearing and the crowd’s reaction, Chu Ningwan’s uncle was clearly no ordinary man.
At that moment, Shen Yu and Chu Zhennan emerged.
Even from a distance, they recognized Qin Yi immediately.
Chu Zhennan’s expression changed slightly. Toward Qin Yi, a fellow general, he felt both guilt and unease.
Back then, he had only agreed to Shen Yu’s request because he believed Qin Yi was far away in his fiefdom.
Who would have thought…
The person most shocked by Qin Yi’s appearance was Shen Yu.
With memories of his previous life, he had long anticipated that events might unfold differently.
The moment he learned Qin Yi had left his territory, he guessed that Qin Yi intended to enter the capital and secretly sent people to stop him.
Yet despite all that, Qin Yi still arrived safely.
A serious miscalculation.
Shen Yu quickly concealed the gloom in his eyes and adopted a different attitude toward Qin Yi.
“General Qin, weren’t you stationed in your territory? Could it be that His Majesty suddenly summoned you to the capital?”
He deliberately raised his voice, hoping to remind everyone that entering the capital without imperial authorization was a serious crime.
Qin Yi snorted coldly and responded with an icy tone.
“Shen Yu, stop pretending.”
“Right now, I only want to ask you one question.”
“Was it your intention to make my niece a concubine?”
Shen Yu’s face immediately darkened, and he instinctively glanced at Chu Ningwan.
Only then did he understand why Chu Ningwan had appeared so confident earlier.
She had already found someone to back her up.
In the past, Shen Yu had been somewhat wary of Qin Yi. But having lived through a previous life, he knew Qin Yi’s eventual fate.
Moreover, if he changed his stance now in front of so many people, wouldn’t he become a laughingstock?
How would the heir of the Marquis’s household maintain his dignity?
With that in mind, Shen Yu lifted his chin and replied with what he considered equal authority.
“General Qin, today is my wedding day. As for whom I choose as my wife and whom I choose as a concubine, that’s none of your concern.”
“None of my concern?”
Qin Yi roared angrily.
“Shen Yu, I don’t care whom you marry.”
“But the Emperor has already dissolved your engagement with Ningwan.”
“You’d better not entertain any foolish thoughts about making her your concubine!”
Those few words stunned everyone present.
The crowd looked at one another before erupting into heated discussion.
“What’s going on? Miss Chu has actually broken off her engagement with Young Master Shen?”
“Then why did Young Master Shen bring two bridal sedans today? I thought he planned to marry Miss Chu and Second Miss Chu at the same time.”
“Didn’t you hear what General Qin said? It sounds like Young Master Shen wanted Miss Chu to be a concubine!”
The murmurs grew louder.
“Even daughters from ordinary families wouldn’t willingly become concubines. But Miss Chu is dressed in bridal robes. Could it be she’s really planning to marry Young Master Shen as a concubine?”
Listening to the discussions and seeing Qin Yi’s arrival, Su Qingyao realized that all her plans had been disrupted.
“Uncle…”
She stepped forward timidly and addressed Qin Yi.
Shen Yu, perhaps feeling pressured by Qin Yi’s accusations, immediately explained to her.
“Yaoyao, I was just about to introduce him to you.”
“After all, you and Miss Chu are sisters, and as for General Qin…”
Before he could finish, Qin Yi cut him off sharply.
“Young Master Shen’s ability to lie with a straight face has truly improved!”
He never once looked directly at Su Qingyao.
“My only niece has always been Ningwan.”
“As for certain people, they’d do well not to claim relatives where none exist.”
The crowd instantly burst into laughter.
Su Qingyao froze where she stood, her face turning extremely ugly.
She had thought that since she had politely addressed him as “uncle,” Qin Yi would at least show some consideration for the General’s Manor’s reputation.
She never expected him to be so blunt and leave her not a shred of dignity.
Her face burned with humiliation.
Shen Yu was equally stunned by Qin Yi’s words. The dissatisfaction in his eyes deepened.
At that moment, he glanced toward Chu Zhennan, hoping the man would step forward and say something.