The atmosphere inside Blossom Hall—the grand hall of Bai Manor—was so tense that even the air felt heavy.
The carved sandalwood pillars, usually symbols of Bai Family honor, now seemed to look like silent judges.
Incense burned in tall bronze stands, but even its fragrance couldn't mask the stench of disgrace that clung to the room.
In the center of the hall, Bai Yuxin and Bai Yulan knelt on the cold jade tiles in front of Patriarch Bai Zhenhai.
Yuxin's face was swollen and blotched with red finger marks — the aftermath of Zhao Yunxiang's earlier rage.
Yulan, trembling, still sobbed uncontrollably, her hair and clothes messy from the scandal she had been found in.
Behind them, their mother He Langying clung to her husband, Bai Zhenglu, sobbing loudly.
Her cries echoed against the walls like a dying animal.
To one side stood Madam Su Rongyi, stiff with anger, accompanied by her children — Bai Zhenyu, Bai Zhenying, and Bai Zhenling.
Bai Zhenying clicked her tongue in disgust.
"Fools," she muttered.
"I told you one thing, yet you did another. Couldn't even carry out a simple plan. Greedy idiots—serves you right."
He Langying shot her a hateful look, but Bai Zhenying ignored her completely.
A short distance away, nearly emotionless, stood Bai Rouyuan, Wen Xianyi, and Xiaoya.
The three of them watched the spectacle as though it were nothing more than mild entertainment.
After all—this was the consequence of a trap set for Rouyuan.
Now the trap had devoured the ones who set it.
Enough… Is it not embarrassing enough?
"Speak. What happened?"
At the head seat, Patriarch Bai Zhenhai slammed his cane heavily against the floor.
"Explain yourselves!" he thundered.
His glare fell briefly on Rouyuan.
"Ah Yuan, what happened?"
Rouyuan's expression remained calm—almost bored.
"Why ask me?" she replied softly.
"Ask them. I had no hand in causing this, nor was I involved."
Bai Yulan snapped through her tears, "You—you drugged me!"
Wen Xianyi let out a little laugh, sharp and mocking.
"Drugged you? How, exactly? All the food and drinks were prepared and served by your Bai Manor's maids. Rouyuan didn't even touch the food or the drink."
"She's a physician!" Bai Yulan accused. "She must've brought some drug from her clinic!"
Rouyuan raised a brow.
"If you want, I can call the Jingyiwei[1] Guard to investigate this thoroughly," she said calmly. "I don't mind at all."
Bai Yulan paled.
Bai Zhenying snorted in disgust.
"Stop embarrassing yourself. I'm sick of watching this. Useless trash."
Bai Yuxin trembled, staring silently at the ground.
Patriarch Bai Zhenhai finally slammed his hand on the table.
"ENOUGH!"
The hall fell silent.
"Isn't humiliating this family once enough? You dare drag our Bai name further into filth?"
No one spoke.
Rouyuan turned away slightly, uninterested.
None of this mattered to her.
"Tomorrow morning," Bai Zhenhai said coldly,
"I will send both of you to Haifeng City. You will marry your maternal cousin immediately. You are forbidden to return to Bai Manor ever again."
Bai Yulan collapsed forward, wailing hysterically.
He Langying screamed, "No!! You can't do this to my daughters!"
Bai Yuxin sobbed, "Please don't send me away! I—I must marry Young Master Zhao!"
Patriarch Zhenhai's eyes widened with fury.
"Are you insane? Zhao Yunxiang is Rouyuan's fiancé! He is your cousin! What marriage are you talking about?!"
Gasps erupted throughout the hall.
Only Rouyuan, Wen Xianyi, and Xiaoya remained calm—this conversation no longer meant anything to them.
Bai Yuxin wiped her tears, inhaled shakily, and spoke in a trembling voice, "I am…pregnant with Young Master Zhao's child. Five months…"
The entire hall froze.
Even Matriarch Bai clutched her chest, dizzy with shock.
Bai Zhenhai let out a loud groan and turned to Rouyuan.
Rouyuan stood gracefully.
"I will ask my father to send an official letter to cancel the engagement. I am not interested in marrying Zhao Yunxiang, nor anyone else—certainly not a man like him. She can have him"
She gave a polite bow and walked out with Wen Xianyi and Xiaoya.
Her steps were calm.
Elegant.
Utterly unbothered.
Behind her, chaos erupted once more.
Bai Zhenglu fell to his knees, grabbing his brother's robe.
"Please! Please speak to Prime Minister Zhao Jinming! Let Yuxin marry Yunxiang! It's her only chance!"
But Bai Zhenhai kicked him away.
"You dare ask me after YOUR daughters shamed this entire Bai family?!"
He Langying fainted from shock.
The hall was a battlefield of tears, screams, and shame.
The Bai Siblings' Fury
As soon as she stepped into the main hall, Rouyuan saw her father and brothers already there, waiting anxiously for her return.
Bai Longyuan, Bai Yunchen, and Bai Yanyu looked livid.
They had heard everything.
"How dare they plot against you," Yunchen growled.
"I should've broken Zhao Yunxiang's legs earlier."
Rouyuan touched his arm gently.
"I'm fine. Nothing happened."
Yanyu's eyes softened.
"You're too forgiving, Ah Yuan."
"The wages of their malice have found them, a bitter harvest for the cruelty they sowed against me." Rouyuan replied.
Two Letters That Ended Everything
"Xiaoya," Bai Longyuan ordered, "prepare brush, ink, and paper."
Xiaoya brought the writing set.
Bai Longyuan sat beneath the lantern light and wrote two letters—
each stroke sharp and heavy with anger.
One letter addressed to Patriarch Bai Zhenhai.
The other—to Prime Minister Zhao Jinming.
Letter to Bai Zhenhai, Bai Longyuan formally declared the Bai family ties severed.
No more visits.
No more obligations.
No more forgiveness.
He warned, 'If you disturb my children ever again, I will not spare you."
The Bai Manor would never again step on this family.'
—Bai Longyuan
Letter to Prime Minister Zhao Jinming,
To Prime Minister Zhao Jinming,
In accordance with propriety and honor, I, Marquis Bai Longyuan of the Bai Clan,
write to formally annul the engagement between our children.
Though I have long respected the agreement set by our fathers,
the actions of your son, Zhao Yunxiang, can no longer be tolerated.
He has attempted to harm my daughter Bai Rouyuan,
disgraced my niece Bai Yuxin,
and brought shame upon both our families.
A man who behaves with such recklessness and cruelty is unworthy of my daughter.
Since he has shown affection toward Bai Yuxin to the extent of conceiving a child,
it is only fitting he marry her instead.
I return herewith the engagement token your esteemed household granted.
I request that you likewise return the Bai family's engagement token.
May this matter conclude peacefully,
and our families go separate ways.
—Marquis Bai Longyuan
After sealing both letters, he handed them to Xiaoya.
"Ask the servant to deliver these immediately."
Xiaoya bowed.
"Yes, Master."
Night settled over Bai Residence as the chaos finally quieted.
But beyond this disgraceful event…
A much larger storm was brewing across the empire.
The fall of two Bai daughters was merely the first crack.
Soon—the entire court would tremble.
[1] An Embroidered Uniform Guard - secret police, arresting officials and family, wearing flying fish uniform.