Chapter 1340 - 19: Eldest Brother
Yun Chu’s heart skipped a beat, a faint pain spreading from her chest to every part of her body.
It wasn’t that she was heartless, she had to be heartless.
The investigation into the Uncle Wen Yuan’s Mansion case pointed directly at the Empress Dowager.
The influence of the Jibei Marquis Mansion in the Capital City was significant, but to shake the Empress Dowager’s power, it was like reaching for the impossible.
Even if she got closer to him, with Shen Junshan’s personality, he would definitely confront the Empress Dowager to the end.
This was a grudge between the Uncle Wen Yuan’s Mansion and the Empress Dowager; she had already warned him. If the investigations continued, lives might be at stake.
Moreover, she recently discovered that her elder brother was getting close to the Empress Dowager’s faction, which angered Yun Chu the most.
The Empress Dowager’s faction, for the sake of her father’s military power in Liangzhou, was willing to fabricate charges to destroy the An Family!
Her father, for the sake of innocence and leaving them a chance at survival, had committed suicide, but her elder brother, for the sake of power, was currying favor with their enemies. How could she not be angry?
Her elder brother kept saying it was to infiltrate the enemy ranks for evidence to avenge their father, but she could tell whether he was sincere or just placating her.
Her own elder brother, for the sake of power, had disregarded their father’s vengeance; how could she let Shen Junshan sacrifice everything for the Uncle Wen Yuan’s Mansion?
They used to live in Liangzhou for many years and hadn’t returned to the Capital in a long time. Everything was strange now, with her parents gone, and she couldn’t find any sense of home at the Uncle Wen Yuan’s Mansion.
Every day spent in the mansion felt like enduring torture.
Yun Chu remained silent, as Shen Junshan waved a hand before her, "Why aren’t you speaking?"
Yun Chu felt a sourness in her nose and shook her head lightly, "I’m fine."
Since the topic was about Yan Ning and the Third Prince, Yun Chu set aside her sadness.
What Shen Junshan wanted was Yun Chu’s response, and Yun Chu glared at him.
Why was he discussing Yan Ning’s issue and then turning it back on her?
She and Yan Ning were not the same at all.
Their personalities were also different.
Yan Ning and Yun Chu both appeared gentle, but with differences.
Yan Ning had a gentleness that was soft both outwardly and internally, while Yun Chu’s gentleness had more resilience and flexibility.
When encountering issues, Yun Chu was boldly decisive, whereas Yan Ning might choose to retreat.
What Shen Junshan said wasn’t wrong, Yan Ning’s heart was indeed softer.
Marquis Jibei and Lady Ji Bei, along with Shen Junshan and other cousins, cherished her deeply because she lost her mother at a young age.
Moreover, Marquis Jibei had lost his own sister to inner court strife, and since Lady Ji Bei bore him three sons, adding Yan Ning made her like his own daughter.
Other wives might not even have three sons, thus he didn’t take concubines, demonstrating his commitment.
Marquis Jibei was determined to find Yan Ning a husband without any household disputes, being a general with many young officers under him, surely he could find a suitable nephew-in-law.
Yet the requirements were too high, and nothing was settled until the Third Prince beat them to it.
Once a young woman’s heart is given, it’s not easy to take back.
Though Marquis Jibei and Lady Ji Bei treated Yan Ning as their own daughter, it was difficult to break her coupling since they were just her uncle and aunt.
Moreover, one member of this pair was the most favored candidate for the throne. If they struck a blow, who knows if the Third Prince would hold a grudge?
While now the Third Prince couldn’t topple the Jibei Marquis Mansion, what about after he ascends the throne?
Taking a step back, if the Third Prince formally asked for Yan Ning’s hand, and Marquis Jibei declined, who would dare contend with him then?
Unless the Third Prince’s heart shifted, this was a deadlock.
The Third Prince stood guard at Broken Bridge all day for the words "don’t miss the rendezvous," so even if he were to shift his affections, it wouldn’t be anytime soon.
Shen Junshan usually had a quick mind with no unsolvable problems, but with regard to his cousin’s matter, he was truly at a loss.
Looking at him, Yun Chu softly said, "I’m sorry."
This apology from Yun Chu was sincere.
If it weren’t for Shen Junshan leaving the Capital to investigate the Uncle Wen Yuan’s Mansion’s matters, he could have looked after Yan Ning.
Looking at her, Shen Junshan said, "Why are you apologizing to me? Besides me, there are still father and elder brother and the others at Jibei Marquis Mansion."
"The Third Prince has been visiting our Jibei Marquis Mansion daily, and they haven’t sensed anything."
"Besides, can anyone really stop matters of the heart from happening?"
"We all cherish our cousin, but would also respect her choice."
If she didn’t marry the Third Prince and eventually ended up with someone she didn’t love, living a life of gloom, they wouldn’t bear it either.
Yun Chu was glad for Yan Ning; the Jibei Marquis Mansion truly cared for her.
Looking at Shen Junshan, just as she was about to speak, he interrupted, "I respect my cousin’s choice, but not a wrong choice."
Obviously—
Yun Chu giving up on him was the wrong choice for sure.
No matter how he managed it, Yun Chu couldn’t refute Shen Junshan.
Whether out of feelings or gratitude, she couldn’t be heartless to Shen Junshan.
Unable to repay him, she used the excuse of making pastries in the kitchen for Shen Junshan and escaped.
Before leaving, she had Second Young Master An entertain Shen Junshan.
As Shen Junshan left the Uncle Wen Yuan’s Mansion, Young Master An had just returned, recently assuming his title and full of youthful vigor.
Seeing Second Young Master An chatting happily with Shen Junshan, he stepped forward to greet him, but Shen Junshan knew of his actions and felt contempt.
As a man, if one doesn’t even have as much backbone as a woman, such a person isn’t even worth greeting.
Ignoring Young Master An, Shen Junshan rode away on horseback.
Young Master An was embarrassed, feeling indignant but not daring to show it.
Outside the mansion, Shen Junshan hadn’t given him any face, and back inside, Yun Chu also ignored him.
Even Second Young Master An distanced himself from him.
Young Master An was furious, feeling as though everyone saw him as an enemy, right?!
He befriended Empress Dowager’s faction not for his sake but for the good of the Uncle Wen Yuan’s Mansion. Their father had died, and as an illegitimate son taking over, countless people in the Capital City envied, hated, and scorned him, unwilling to deal with him!
Without gaining a foothold quickly and staying in the Capital City, he’d be sent far away with an official position.
The Capital City was unlike Nanliang; didn’t they like the grandiose prosperity of the Capital?!
From early morning, he had been running errands like a lackey, and upon returning home he still faced such neglect, leaving Young Master An exasperated.
He didn’t understand that the officials in the Capital City looked down on him not because he was illegitimate - how many founding ministers had noble statuses - but because his alliance with Empress Dowager’s faction, who were their enemies, was seen as forgetting one’s roots.
Who would associate with someone unfilial and forgetful of their roots? If not for Yun Chu being there, no one would bother with the Uncle Wen Yuan’s Mansion.
In the status-filled Capital City, a little Uncle Mansion didn’t garner much attention.
Young Master An was dissatisfied with Yun Chu. Plus, with Empress Dowager’s faction intentionally plotting, they incited Young Master An to arrange a marriage for Yun Chu.
Young Master An fell for their trap.
Since it was a proposal, obviously a matchmaker had to come to the door. Upon knowing this, Yun Chu was so furious she cried.
Although the Emperor said she didn’t need to observe mourning for three years, only three months, there was no need for her brother to be in such a hurry to arrange a marriage for her.
Moreover, it was for her to become a concubine!
Yun Chu protested, but Young Master An oppressed her with "an elder brother acts as the father," and as Second Young Master An sided with Yun Chu, he nearly fought with the elder brother.
No matter how unwilling, with their parents both gone, Yun Chu had no right.
Her marriage needed her brother’s decision.
Yun Chu pulled the golden hairpin from her head, holding it to her neck, "If elder brother agrees to this marriage today, I’ll go to meet our parents in the afterlife!"
Young Master An turned pale with fright.
His own sister, how could Young Master An not know Yun Chu’s nature? She might seem harmless, but when serious, she was someone who dared to stake her life on nails.
But the marriage... He had already promised.
The person who came to finalize the engagement was scared by this siblings’ confrontation.
Taking into account the matchmaker fee, naturally, she hoped for the marriage to succeed.
But removing her matchmaking hat, she had to say, Young Master An was truly reprehensible.
The Uncle Wen Yuan’s Mansion under his care was destined for ruin and destruction.