Perfect Match – CH 081

Chapter 81

In the capital, in the dark and gloomy Imperial Guard prison.

Shi Zeyou withheld the water meant for the prison.

The prisoner was already parched. Having finally obtained a bowl of water, Shi Zeyou held it in his hands and poured it directly onto the ground in front of him.

In the cell, a man sat quietly on the stone bed, and upon seeing this, he laughed.

“You cannot convict me, and you cannot torture me. Shi Zeyou, that’s all you are capable of.”

Teng Yue slowly spoke, and Shi Zeyou’s face twitched.

Since the night he captured Teng Yue, he had tortured him that very night, but had not managed to get a single confession from him. Instead, a group of high-ranking officials in Shaanxi had protected him.

Throughout the journey, his two brothers, Wang Fuxiang and Shen Yanxing, under the guise of escorting the Rebel Prince to the capital, had kept him under surveillance. He could not do anything. Finally, after arriving in the capital and imprisoning him in the Imperial Guard’s prison, many officials in the court submitted memorials in his defense, and even the Chief Eunuch could not directly convict him. The commander of the Imperial Guard also ordered that no action be taken against him for the time being.

Shi Zeyou was frustrated, but he had only just entered the Imperial Guard; this was not a place where he could act arbitrarily.

However, if Teng Yue caused a disturbance in the Imperial Guard’s prison, the charges against him would be much easier to establish.

Since arriving in the capital, he had ordered the prison to be strictly guarded, with no one allowed to enter without permission. Teng Yue had no way of knowing how he was being judged.

Shi Zeyou, hearing his confident guess, chuckled.

“A dying man always thinks he has a chance to live. He does not realize he’s already meat on a chopping block.”

As he spoke, he looked at Teng Yue.

“There are people outside pleading for you, but the more people speak up, the more annoyed the Chief Eunuch becomes. I’ve come today to secretly relieve him of this annoyance.”

He continued, “If you confess today, you might still have a chance to live. If you do not, then death is the only outcome.”

He spoke of the Imperial Guard’s prison, “People who are imprisoned here, regardless of their guilt, rarely leave. Dying in there is commonplace.”

He looked at Teng Yue. “You’d better think this through.”

Shi Zeyou threatened to leave, but when he went back, he saw Teng Yue still sitting by the stone bed, neither hurried nor afraid. He closed his eyes and spoke.

“Rather than me being released after confessing, you, Shi Zeyou, would rather I die here, would you not?”

He immediately saw through Shi Zeyou’s thoughts. Shi Zeyou’s face twitched again, but he did not admit it.

“I did have some old grudges with your father, but he’s gone now, and those grudges have long been settled. You angered me because of that arrow in Huayin County, but now that you are in trouble, I’ve gotten over it.”

He continued, “You are still young. You do not know that at my age, grudges do not need to be taken so seriously. I am asking you to confess today to give you a way out. After you leave, we will go our separate ways, and that will be the end of our grudges.”

He spoke with such earnestness that Teng Yue almost burst out laughing.

Shi Zeyou might not understand him, but Teng Yue had lived in Shi Zeyou’s shadow since childhood. His father and brother had both died because of Shi Zeyou, his sister had lost her father at a young age, and his mother suffered endless anxiety—all because of Shi Zeyou.

And now, he was telling him that grudges did not need settling, that they could be wiped clean.

What a joke!

Teng Yue could not stop laughing; he could not help but laugh out loud.

Shi Zeyou saw that he was not moved by his words but instead laughed loudly.

His face twitched. “What are you laughing at?”

Before he finished speaking, Teng Yue suddenly looked up and stared straight at him.

In the dim light of the Imperial Guard prison, that gaze was like the cold arrow that had pierced Shi Zeyou’s chest, its chilly light piercing.

“Do not think I do not know what you are up to. As long as I, Teng Yue, live, one day you will die by my hand!”

His words pierced Shi Zeyou’s heart.

In an instant, Shi Zeyou’s killing intent surged.

He wished he could rush into the prison and kill this man right there.

How could he be at peace otherwise?

The stench of blood seeped from the cracks in the floor, the candlelight flickered on the walls, and the almost completely sealed prison was thick with murderous intent.

But Teng Yue remained calm and composed. He knew Shi Zeyou would not act rashly; otherwise, he would not have waited until today.

He had not been completely out of the loop these past few days. Since Prince Enhua’s intention to rebel, he had been in frequent contact with Kong Hui’s uncle, Minister Huang, in the capital.

Although he was now imprisoned by the Hong family, Minister Huang had sent a message through Kong Hui and others, urging him to remain patient and not confess even a little.

Prince Enhua rebelled under the banner of eliminating the treacherous eunuch, while the Hong family imprisoned meritorious officials and generals, further confirming the eunuch’s actions.

Perhaps this was the very opportunity to bring down that powerful eunuch!

Shi Zeyou looked at Teng Yue, and Teng Yue looked back at him.

Through the prison door, in the absolute silence, it seemed as if swords were flashing.

But just then, someone suddenly rushed in from outside.

The footsteps abruptly broke the tense atmosphere.

The Northern Garrison Commander of the Imperial Guards appeared in the prison corridor. Seeing Shi Zeyou there, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

Shi Zeyou, wondering why his superior had come personally, could not help but ask.

“Commander, are you here to interrogate this prisoner?”

His eyes swept over Teng Yue. If he were to interrogate him, Teng Yue would most likely face a charge.

Teng Yue also secretly clenched his fist.

Unexpectedly, the Commander of the Northern Garrison of the Imperial Guards spoke.

“It’s not an interrogation.”

He said, “The Ninth Prince has given the order: release him.”

The moment his words fell, Shi Zeyou froze in the dim light.

The Commander of the Northern Garrison ordered the prison doors to be opened.

Inside the cell, Teng Yue slowly rose from the stone bed. He showed little arrogance, his tall figure slightly bowing as he walked out of the cell. As he passed Shi Zeyou, he uttered a single sentence softly.

Shi Zeyou felt his blood run cold. He heard Teng Yue, the second son left behind by Teng Wenli, speak to him.

“Today I live, but one day you will die.”

*

At the Yang Mansion.

When the news arrived, Old Madam Lin’s hand trembled, and she knocked over the teacup in her hand.

“Yu Chuan was released today?! When?! When?!”

Madam Yang was also incredibly excited upon hearing the news, especially after hearing the reply from Kong Hui’s personal guard.

“At noon, right now!”

As soon as the words left her lips, Old Madam Lin immediately ordered her horse to be harnessed, and they rushed towards the Northern Garrison Command of the Imperial Guards.

When they arrived, Kong Hui, Shen Yanxing, and others were already gathered at the gate. Wang Fuxiang went inside the Northern Garrison Command to fetch Teng Yue.

Old Madam Lin had just stopped when a side door opened, and someone slowly emerged.

His clothes were still stained with dried blood, and his exposed face, neck, and hands bore wounds of varying sizes; some had scabbed over, while others, in the sweltering heat, had festered and bled.

Old Madam Lin glanced at him and stumbled forward, her voice hoarse.

“Yu Chuan, my child!”

Her voice was strained as she almost threw herself at Teng Yue, but afraid of aggravating the wound hidden beneath his clothes, she only dared to tightly grasp his sleeve, looking him up and down, tears streaming down her face.

Madam Yang, her eyes also red, stepped forward.

Teng Yue had just emerged from the dark prison, the sunlight stinging his eyes, and looked down.

“Mother? Aunt? Why are you here, too?” he asked, both of them weeping and unable to speak.

Kong Hui, Shen Yanxing, and the others gathered around, looking at him. “Finally out! All that effort these past few days was not in vain!”

Wang Fuxiang chimed in, “What do you mean by ‘not in vain’? This is called ‘a narrow escape from death brings good fortune!’ Our General Teng’s future is bright!”

His words seemed to extinguish even the most lingering ghosts. Some wept with joy, others burst into laughter, creating a commotion in front of the Imperial Guard’s Northern Garrison Commander’s gate.

Few dared to make a scene in front of the Imperial Guard’s gate, and passersby from the capital all turned to look.

These men, seemingly from the Northwest, showed no regard for the customs and etiquette of the capital, laughing and making a ruckus right in front of the Imperial Guard’s gate. Some had even brought firecrackers, and one burly man personally lit them, making the gate of the Imperial Guard seem like a New Year’s celebration.

Despite their antics, not a single member of the Imperial Guard intervened, allowing them to make a ruckus for quite some time before finally quieting down.

Shen Yanxing noticed that Teng Yue, though smiling, had a dry mouth and cracked lips.

He quickly called to someone beside him, “Shen Xiu, go get him a water pouch.”

Only upon hearing this did Teng Yue notice that Shen Xiu had returned.

His eyes lit up, but then he realized something, and his gaze swept over the crowd, but he did not see the figure he missed and longed for most.

The crowd helped him into the carriage. He asked his mother and aunt a question.

“Only you two came. Yunniang… did she not come?”

That day, he had been captured and tortured by Shi Zeyou. His body was covered in wounds, and he was somewhat drowsy after taking the medicine. But when he woke up, he found that all his wounds had been treated, and his clothes had been changed into clean clothes that he usually wore at home.

Who would clean his wounds so carefully? Who would go out of their way to change him into clean clothes?

Teng Yue vaguely remembered that in his dazed state, it seemed as if someone had been holding him, and when the medicine powder was causing him excruciating pain, someone had been holding his waist, nuzzling his cheek with their nose, and soothing him with soft, gentle words he had never heard before.

At first, he thought it was a dream. After all, when had she ever spoken to him so softly? It could only be in a dream.

When he awoke and found everything arranged and the medicine bottle left by his bedside, he knew it was not a dream, not at all.

His Yunniang had really come…

But he looked around the crowd twice, even searching towards the back, but could not find her.

He could not help but ask, and when his mother did not respond immediately, his aunt gave a vague reply.

“She’s too far away to come to the capital.”

Teng Yue pursed his lips.

Kong Hui had originally wanted him to go to the mansion he had prepared, but the Yang family’s small mansion was not far from the Northern Garrison of the Imperial Guards, and Old Madam Lin lived there, so they simply went to the Yang family’s instead.

At the Yang family’s residence, everyone had a lively time.

However, this was the capital, and Wang Fuxiang and the others had other duties to attend to, so they had to leave soon after.

Teng Yue, however, called to Kong Hui and asked him… “There are many things I did not know while I was in prison. You must have gone to great lengths to get me out this time, right? Tell me who spoke up for me—everyone who helped me.”

Those who dared to speak up for him at a time like this were his greatest benefactors. Teng Yue was determined to remember them.

Kong Hui listed all those who had spoken on his behalf, but as he spoke, his brow furrowed slightly.

“Everyone spoke up for you, but the day before yesterday, the Chief Eunuch showed no sign of agreeing to release you. My uncle even said to wait a little longer, but yesterday he suddenly changed his mind, and today he released you without hesitation.”

This was the capital, not Shaanxi; Kong Hui’s information network was not that extensive.

He said he had already sent people to inquire whether anyone had met with the Chief Eunuch yesterday and said something to him.

“Yesterday’s person was key, but I still do not know who it is.”

Teng Yue recalled Shi Zeyou’s attitude; it was clear he did not know the Chief Eunuch had changed his mind and suddenly released him.

But who it was, Teng Yue did not know.

Just then, he saw his mother hesitate for a moment, then look at him and Kong Hui.

Old Madam Lin felt her son would eventually find out and whispered to him.

“It’s probably Marquis Zhang of Yongchang. He spoke on your behalf.”

The hall fell silent after these words.

Madam Yang looked at her cousin, Old Madam Lin, then at her nephew, Teng Yue, sitting to the side, not daring to speak.

Kong Hui, however, was confused. “Marquis Zhang of Yongchang? Could it be that he did Yu Chuan such a big favor because of the Yang family?”

The Yang family was merely the in-laws of the Yongchang Marquis’s younger brother, and Teng Yue was only Madam Yang’s maternal nephew, a cousin.

Unlike Kong Hui, who readily accepted the assumptions, Teng Yue’s gaze swept past his tense aunt’s face and settled on his mother’s slightly downcast eyes.

“Why would the Yongchang Marquis speak up for me? Your son is not a member of the Yang family, nor is he directly related to his Zhang family by marriage. Why would he speak up for me?”

His voice was not loud, but every word was exceptionally clear in the hall.

Even Kong Hui fell silent, and Madam Yang clenched her hands tightly, afraid to utter a sound.

Old Madam Lin, faced with his question, did not immediately speak.

But the more silent she became, the more intently Teng Yue stared at her.

His gaze was incredibly sharp, like an eagle soaring from the desert sands.

Old Madam Lin knew she would have to tell him this eventually, so she decided to do it now.

She took a deep breath and looked at Teng Yue.

“Mother has already decided to arrange a marriage between our families, the Yongchang Marquis’s household. Since we are going to arrange a marriage, Marquis Zhang will naturally protect you.”

The word “marriage” struck Teng Yue’s ears like a thunderclap.

“Marriage?” He looked at his mother. “Does Mother intend for my sister to marry into the Zhang family?”

The hall fell into an even deeper silence.

Teng Yue saw his mother speak.

“Not your sister…your sister is still young.”

His mother did not look at him, but Teng Yue suddenly laughed, a laugh utterly cold.

“Not my sister, then it’s…me?”

He stared directly at his mother. “Mother, what makes your son think he can marry two wives?”

He could not possibly marry two wives at the same time; not even the Emperor could. Therefore, he could only demote one of them to a concubine or send one away with a single letter.

Teng Yue’s heart suddenly clenched, a wave of pain washing over him.

“Where’s Yunniang?” His voice grew low and hoarse as he asked his mother, “Why did Yunniang not come? Did you forbid her from coming, or did you force her to divorce me again and send her away?”

He paused abruptly, a possibility suddenly flashing into his mind. He seemed to see someone packing simple belongings from Liumingxuan, leaving the house, and walking to the gate of his mansion—no one seeing her off, no one trying to stop her, just silently leaving his mansion with her bundle on her back, disappearing into the bustling street and the vast sea of ​​people.

“Mother, could it be that you’ve already driven my wife out?”

He asked her about it, and his mother’s tense face paled slightly, but she remained steadfast and did not deny it. Meanwhile, his aunt’s tears streamed down her face.

Teng Yue stood in the hall. The Imperial Guard’s imprisonment had not made him tremble in the slightest, yet now his legs trembled uncontrollably.

Old Madam Lin took a slow breath, pulled a letter of divorce from her sleeve, and placed it on the coffee table.

“Yunniang understands better than you. Why should she need your mother to drive her away? You and she were never a good match. It was only because we were both desperate at the time that we reluctantly entered into this marriage. If you are not compatible, why force it?”

Old Madam Lin looked at Teng Yue, hoping he could calm down and be more rational.

“Marry a noblewoman from a high-ranking family, one who can help and support you. That’s the perfect match for you.”

She said Yunniang was not suitable: “…it’s destined not to last. She understands things much better than you; she wants to live a good life for herself, and she does not treat you like you’ve thrown your whole heart and soul into it.”

She said he should wake up: “It’s better to part amicably. You might see each other again in the future. What good will it do for her, and what good will it do for you if you keep pestering her?”

She stated bluntly, “I’ve already arranged for you to marry the fourth young lady of the Zhang family. Now that the Yongchang Marquis has released you, we will go to the Zhang family in a few days to finalize your marriage with the fourth young lady.”

She said this seriously, but then Teng Yue suddenly laughed. He turned to ask Madam Yang.

“So, Auntie knows what my mother meant? How did Yunniang save my eldest cousin? Is this how Auntie repays her?”

These words made Madam Yang’s tears fall even more rapidly. She frantically shook her head. “No, no, I did not want that little devil to leave either…”

She did not seem to be lying. Seeing this, Teng Yue let out a long “Oh”; understanding dawned on him.

“So, that means it really was true. Before Yunniang entered the family, Mother had already made an agreement with her, telling her from the beginning that in one, two, or at most three years, before the mourning period for Fourth Young Lady Zhang ended, she would pack her bags and leave, helping me avoid disaster without delaying my marriage to a noble lady…”

He asked his mother sharply.

“Mother, answer me, is it yes or no?!”

This voice was as cold and sharp as a knife, and Teng Yue’s guess almost hit the nail on the head.

Kong Hui was stunned, and Madam Yang also tightly covered her mouth and nose.

Upon hearing his sudden guess, Old Madam Lin momentarily considered confronting him directly.

However, she thought of Teng Yue’s temperament and how she had kept it a secret from him all along, fearing he might act impulsively and refuse to marry another noblewoman even after his betrothed had left.

Old Madam Lin suppressed her pounding heart and told him no.

“Yunniang wanted to leave on her own. Only you are stubborn. There was no agreement whatsoever. Do not make wild guesses!”

Unexpectedly, as soon as she said this, Teng Yue suddenly pushed open the hall door and called out.

“Shen Xiu! Shen Xiu, come here!”

As soon as he spoke, Shen Xiu appeared at the door.

“General.”

“Come in. Tell me, and tell my mother, what you found out from Nanny Wei!”

Teng Yue’s voice was stern. Shen Xiu stepped into the hall. Old Madam Lin’s eyelids twitched when she heard that Shen Xiu had come from Nanny Wei. Shen Xiu, without beating around the bush, spoke directly.

“Nanny Wei told me that before Madam married into the family, the Old Madam had already signed a contract with her.

“The Old Madam helped Madam escape the quagmire of her hometown in Jinzhou, and Madam, in turn, assumed the title of General’s wife to shield him from disaster. The contract was originally for three years; Madam was to be the General’s wife for three years. During this time, she must keep it a secret.”

“On the day the contract was completed, the marriage was finalized, the contract ended, and Madam must divorce as agreed.”

“The Old Madam will arrange for the General to marry a noblewoman from the Yongchang Marquis’s family. The matter of the contracted wife will never be mentioned again.”

Shen Xiu recounted everything he had learned about the contract in one breath.

Old Madam Lin’s steps faltered slightly; she looked uneasily at Teng Yue.

She saw that Teng Yue, upon hearing this, did not react with disbelief or anger but instead lowered his head and smiled.

His laughter trembled, a complex mix of emotions rising and falling within it.

Everyone turned to look at Teng Yue, but he paid no attention to any of them.

He only heard Shen Xiu’s words echoing in his mind.

Contract, contract wife…

So his Yunniang was merely his contract wife.

On the day the contract was formed, she and he were bound by marriage; when the contract ended, she was to divorce him as agreed.

The so-called growing old together would never happen; the so-called harmonious marriage was never something she had ever expected.

No wonder, no wonder… From the beginning of their marriage, she had been disguising herself, pretending to be a dull, uninteresting, and even crude and shallow country girl.

She would never ask him for anything. Even when threatened by bandits on Baifeng Mountain, she managed to survive on her own because everything she could get was written in black and white in the contract and converted into money by her mother for her to support herself after she left. No wonder she only wanted to make money, to make medicine, to open a pharmacy, and to run the business well.

Because he, her contractual husband, offered her no support whatsoever, she had to rely on herself to support the family, raise her niece, care for her grandmother, and ensure a stable life for her entire family within these short three years.

And between her and him, she had to maintain a distance, except to keep him from seeing the truth of their contractual marriage.

To her, he was merely someone else’s husband. No wonder that at the Shen family home, she had always hidden herself from the Fourth Young Lady Zhang, following Hongye to the back courtyard—that noblewoman was to be his legal wife.

And how dare she, this lowly contractual wife, stand in public?

Teng Yue’s heart ached terribly, the pain spreading throughout his body, yet he kept laughing, his voice growing softer with each laugh.

She just had not expected that in less than three years, his mother would force her to divorce and leave.

The first time they divorced, he refused to let go. This time, he was imprisoned, and his mother swiftly made him fulfill his promise.

Just then, his wife, Yunniang, was abruptly thrown out the door!

Teng Yue suddenly looked up at his mother.

“Mother, you really know how to keep things from your son. A contract, from beginning to end—you’ve kept me completely in the dark.”

If he had not been suspicious and asked Shen Xiu to find Nanny Wei to inquire, he would have asked his mother, “How long are you going to keep this from me? Five years, ten years, or a lifetime?”

He said, “Do you really think I will let go of Yunniang, that I will marry someone else after she leaves, that I will fulfill your so-called perfect match of marrying a noblewoman?!”

He asked in a low, angry voice, making Old Madam Lin tremble with fear.

“Mother owes Yunniang a debt, but what could Mother do in that situation? This time, so many people spoke up, yet the Chief Eunuch did not waver. But I had Fourth Young Lady plead with her uncle, Marquis Yongchang, and you were released. Do you think noble ladies are useless? Without such a marriage alliance, Shi Zeyou would have only wanted you dead!”

She cried, “If you died too, what would Mother do?!”

But Teng Yue only chuckled.

“So many people spoke on my behalf; how can Mother be sure it was Marquis Yongchang’s words that had an effect? ​​I have not even married his young lady yet; why should he speak up for me at this crucial moment?”

Kong Hui also had doubts about this matter, but with mother and son arguing like this, he could not say anything. However, the person he sent to inquire should be returning soon.

Unexpectedly, at this very moment, a report came from outside that Kong Hui’s person had returned.

Before Kong Hui could speak, Teng Yue immediately ordered, “Bring him in directly!”

Everyone looked towards the door. Kong Hui’s personal guard quickly approached and spoke.

“Generals, I’ve learned that the Chief Eunuch did indeed see someone special yesterday.”

“Who was it?” Teng Yue demanded sharply.

The guard replied, “Yesterday, the Chief Eunuch saw Princess Ningfeng outside the Emperor’s Leopard Chamber and spoke with her for a full quarter of an hour.”

The hall fell silent.

Madam Yang looked surprised, Kong Hui’s eyes were thoughtful, and Old Madam Lin could not believe it.

Teng Yue murmured.

“Princess Ningfeng, Bai Chunfu’s mother…”

He covered his face with his hand, the throbbing pain in his heart unbearable, his throat so tight he could barely speak.

But he wanted to ask his mother, whom he still could not believe.

“Mother, why do you think the Grand Princess spoke up for me? What affection does Sixth Young Master Bai have for your son? It’s Yunniang, it’s Yunniang. Bai Chunfu is only doing it for Yunniang’s sake… But what about you? You ended the so-called contract and personally drove Yunniang out!”

Old Madam Lin stood there, stunned.

She did not understand why things had turned out this way.

She entrusted the matter to Zhang Zhenhui, who replied that Marquis Zhang had already agreed. How did it come to be that it was the Grand Princess Ningfeng who persuaded the Chief Eunuch?!

And Yunniang…

She was utterly confused but saw that Teng Yue no longer wanted to argue with her.

He only uttered one sentence, which fell to the ground and resounded deeply in her heart.

“I, Teng Yue, only want Yunniang in this life. I do not care for, nor do I want, any so-called perfect match between noble ladies and commoners. I will find Yunniang, even if it takes me to the ends of the earth!”

He spoke each word slowly and deliberately.

“I…only…want…her.”

With those words, Teng Yue strode out of the hall, followed by Shen Xiu and the others.

Only the weeping Madam Yang and the still-shocked Old Madam Lin remained in the hall.

*

At Kong Hui’s lodging.

He settled Teng Yue, who had left the Yang family’s small house, in the courtyard next door.

“Wash yourself up and change your clothes.”

He had been silent since leaving the Yang family’s small house, his lips tightly pressed together, but his eyes trembled beneath his lowered eyelids.

Kong Hui never imagined that the wife whom Teng Yue cared so much for was merely a contract wife arranged for him by his mother.

“I will have someone help you find my sister-in-law. Do not worry, we will definitely find her.”

He would definitely find her, but whether she would still want him, Teng Yue did not know.

After what his mother had done, would Yunniang still want to look at him again?

Teng Yue lowered his head in silence, like a shattered block of ice. Kong Hui sighed for a long time and left, but Shen Xiu came in again.

Shen Xiu stepped forward. “General, actually, after leaving Henan, I did not immediately look for you; I went to Jinzhou.”

“Jinzhou?” Teng Yue looked up.

Shen Xiu said yes, “I went to Madam’s family home and found something. Perhaps you’d like to see it.”

Teng Yue immediately stood up.

“Could it be…?”

“It’s a basket of arrows from the army, a full basket.”

He placed the basket of arrows in front of Teng Yue from behind.

A full basket of arrows, the kind that were not very long, the kind used by ordinary soldiers or young generals. Later, when he went to guard the border in Ningxia, the arrows used were longer and sharper; he had not seen this kind for a long time.

At this moment, Teng Yue looked at the basket of arrows handed to him, her fingertips trembling slightly.

She said these were arrows left behind by the person she loved.

She said she was very infatuated back then, following him around every day, and slowly collected the entire basket of his arrows, keeping them at home, placing them by her bedside, and finding joy in looking at them every day.

And on these arrows, all were engraved with that person’s name, the name of the young general she had loved so deeply for so long.

Teng Yue’s fingertips touched an arrow, wanting to pull it out, but his hand kept trembling.

Everyone liked to engrave their name on the arrow in a different place; some liked it in the middle, some liked it at the tail, and some liked it below the arrowhead.

There were no markings on the fletchings of this basket of arrows. He slowly drew back the bow; there were no markings on the arrow shafts either.

Teng Yue’s hands trembled even more. In all his years of military campaigns, he had never trembled when drawing even the heaviest longbow.

His hands trembled so much that he could barely pull back the small, short arrow.

His heart pounded uncontrollably; he used almost all his strength to pull the arrow out.

Beneath the cold metal of the arrowhead, there were indeed words engraved—the name of the arrow’s owner.

It was the name of the person she loved most deeply.

Teng Yue wiped away the tears in his eyes and looked at it.

There was only one character:

Yue.

Yue.

It was Yue…

Teng Yue held this arrow, the arrow of the boy he had lost in the past, and closed his eyes.

Suddenly, he emptied the entire quiver of arrows.

The arrows scattered across the table with a clatter, each arrowhead engraved with “that person’s” name.

Yue, Yue, Yue, Yue, Yue, Yue, Yue, Yue…

All of them were Yue!

In Jinzhou, when he was still an insignificant junior officer, behind everyone’s back, unnoticed by anyone, during countless days of what he perceived as lonely and arduous training, in the days and nights yet to see the dawn of his future, a devoted young girl, her heart just beginning to stir with love, poured all her budding affections into him!

The man, who had not shed tears in so long, now wept bitterly.

The “Yue” she loved so much, so deeply, had only married her as a contractual wife!

In this rotten world, he made her a contractual wife despised by everyone…

*

At the Yang Family Mansion.

Old Madam Lin was still reeling from the shock.

Then Teng Yue suddenly returned.

Teng Yue pushed open the door but only stood there without entering.

His eyes were red as he spoke to her.

“Mother, your son has made up his mind. You will walk your own path, and I will walk my own. This world is utterly corrupt, and I will risk my life to fight this rotten world to the very end, to fight that powerful eunuch who holds absolute power!”

He said, “Since Mother and I are not of one mind, then let us each go our own way and see what fate awaits me!”

He would fight. He would fight to the very end.

Whether it was the Xue family, Shi Zeyou, or the powerful eunuch, these villains had been in power for far too long.

He wanted to give an explanation to everyone who spoke up for him, an explanation to his father and brothers who had died tragically at the hands of these villains, and an explanation to Yunniang as well!

He wanted to see if justice would ever be served again!

After speaking, Teng Yue turned and strode away.

Old Madam Lin froze completely upon hearing that he was going to fight the powerful eunuch to the end. Seeing him stride away, her eyes widened in fury.

“…Yu Chuan, Yu Chuan!”