A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as she knelt.
Yun Shu's ruby lips curved into a smile upon seeing who was before them.
"Please, second uncle, let us return to the General's manor! The General's manor is our home! I know Father did wrong, and I know Grandmother shouldn't have left in anger, but now we all know our mistakes, and our family should live together in the General's manor!" Yun Yueyin pleaded, her voice choked with sobs.
Her slightly reddened eyes seemed to hold tears, but she fought hard to keep them from falling.
Many present had heard about the General's manor. The rampant rumors outside were known to all.
"I heard the eldest daughter of the Yun family, along with Old Madam Yun, is staying at an inn, having booked the entire place."
"I heard that too, it's because of some crows that mysteriously appear at the Yun residence."
"Crows are an ill omen!"
"However… the eldest daughter is about to marry the Regent. Now, for her family, she's kneeling before General Yun. Surely General Yun will grant her this favor? This is the imperial palace!" the onlookers whispered amongst themselves.
Yun Yueyin seethed inwardly, blaming Yun Shu and Yun Changfeng for forcing her into this situation. It was her first time being so humiliated in front of people! And to kneel before Yun Changfeng! If there had been any other option, she would never have done this in the palace, in front of everyone!
"Impossible," Yun Changfeng replied with a cold, three-word response. He had treated her like his own daughter during those years he didn't know the truth, only to be repaid with ingratitude! Returning to the General's manor? A pipe dream! He wished he could kill her right now.
"Second uncle? Why don't you… why don't you just kill me? As long as it makes you happy and allows Grandmother to return to the General's manor, I can give up my life." Yun Yueyin reached out to grab Yun Changfeng's clothes.
Just as her fingers were about to touch him.
Yun Shu kicked Yun Yueyin's hand away. As everyone inhaled sharply, she said, "A man and woman should not touch. When you cancel your engagement with the Regent, then you can try to seduce my father and beg to be my concubine, but you'll have to ask me if I agree first!" Did she really think she could grab her father's clothes? What a strange habit.
"What?! This, this, this!"
"Is this the truth we're meant to know?"
"Eldest Miss Yun is General Yun's niece!"
"So what if she's his niece? First cousins can marry. However, why would the eldest Miss Yun act like this after years of absence?"
Yun Yueyin didn't react at first. When she finally understood, her face flushed crimson. She couldn't stay kneeling any longer and stood up abruptly, "Yun Shu, how dare you slander me!"
Yun Changfeng hadn't thought much of it initially, but after hearing Shu'er's words and recalling Yun Yueyin's recent act, he felt utterly disgusted. Adopting the demeanor of an elder, he berated Yun Yueyin, "Serve the Regent well and quietly! Don't bring shame upon the Yun family!" She wasn't his daughter, so why was she weeping and wailing before him?
Yun Yueyin never imagined that her plea to return to the General's manor would be ruined by a single sentence from Yun Shu!
"Yueyin, it's fine if you don't return to the General's manor! They are too wicked!" Yan Qi walked over from the back of the crowd.
"Yes, Yueyin, we can't wake those who are pretending to be asleep," Li Yuexian also approached. Her eyes were filled with venom as she looked at Yun Shu. She had been jilted by Prince Ye and was now the laughingstock of the capital! She felt it shouldn't be her who was the laughingstock, but Yun Shu!
Yun Yueyin looked at her two useless companions, her heart fuming. They were interfering with her plans. She bit her lip, pushed them aside, and said to Yun Shu, "Yun Shu, you are my sister, and Second Uncle is like a father to me. How could you… how could you slander me like this? Is a daughter crying before her father meant to be so misinterpreted?"
Truly Yun Yueyin, she was quick-witted.
"My father only has one daughter, Yun Yueyin. You'd do well to spend some time examining your face. Always thinking of things you shouldn't, and without reaching fifty, your complexion is as sallow as a fifty-year-old woman, tsk tsk tsk." After speaking, Yun Shu turned to Yun Changfeng and said, "Father, let's go."
"Alright."
Some people had intended to reprimand Yun Shu and Yun Changfeng for their heartlessness. But Yun Shu's words exploded like a bomb. Everyone's gaze fell upon Yun Yueyin's face. Yun Yueyin panicked immensely, avoiding everyone's eyes. Only when her peripheral vision caught sight of Zhan Ming did she quickly move towards him, throwing herself into his embrace, "Your Highness!"
The crowd began to whisper, "I found it strange earlier. Yun Yueyin is a rare beauty, though not comparable to Yun Shu, very few in the capital could match her. Why did she wear a veil today and not display her beauty upon entering the palace? Was it to hide her sallow face?"
"I saw it just now, her exposed forehead looked quite yellow, but she seems to have applied powder!"
In the capital, Yun Yueyin was once the most envied among all the young ladies. But now, everyone couldn't help but stare at her face. Wen Shu stepped in front of Yun Yueyin, shielding her from their gazes. Coupled with Yun Yueyin hiding in Zhan Ming's arms, others couldn't get a clear look to verify.
Zhan Ming looked down at Yun Yueyin, "What's going on?"
Yun Yueyin kept her head bowed, her voice filled with pitifulness and grievance, "Your Highness, I wanted to bring Grandmother and my parents back to the General's manor, as it is our home. But even after kneeling and begging for forgiveness, Second Uncle refused. Instead, he allowed Yun Shu to slander me."
"General Yun, Second Miss Yun," Zhan Ming immediately called out to Yun Changfeng and Yun Shu. They turned around. Yun Shu's gaze, cool and sharp, fell upon Zhan Ming.
"These past few days, I have also heard some things. It is unbecoming for a family to create such a spectacle. General Yun, with my intervention, Yueyin and the Yun family will return to the General's manor tomorrow, and your family will be reunited! This matter is settled," Zhan Ming declared with finality.
Yun Changfeng's face turned dark and grim.
"Yueyin thanks Your Highness!" Yun Yueyin immediately feigned a curtsy.
"The General's manor and the Yun family have long been estranged; what reunion is there? I've recently heard rumors in the capital that the Regent cannot have children. I don't know if this is baseless gossip or fact. I urge the Regent to take time to pay attention to himself," Yun Shu said, a smile playing on her lips.
"What?"
"This!"
"Ah!" The onlookers exclaimed.
Yun Yueyin froze, her smile vanishing completely. She turned sharply to look at Yun Shu. Zhan Ming's charming eyes suddenly turned cold, a murderous aura appearing, "Where did you hear this rumor?" He clenched his fist, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
"There are many rumors in the marketplace," Zhan Tianye's clear and sharp voice suddenly echoed.