Chapter 1: The General's Lament, the Betrayal of Old Friends

The autumn wind was bleak, and yellow leaves drifted down.

On the streets of the capital, a solemn atmosphere prevailed.

Within the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s residence, white curtains and mourning banners hung like layers of mist enveloping the entire courtyard.

Before the coffin, Chu Jiuli and her brother’s wife’s servants all donned mourning clothes, their cries rising in waves, tears falling ceaselessly like autumn rain.

Outside the residence, many commoners had gathered. Upon hearing of the misfortune that had befallen the house, they came with complex feelings to observe.

The autumn wind carried a chill, yet it could not dispel the heavy atmosphere.

After a short while, the steward of the Earl of Changping’s estate arrived with several horse-drawn carriages, stopping at the gates of the Marquis’s residence. The curious crowd craned their necks, eager to see what was happening.

The steward alighted and, noticing the crowd, cast wary glances around. His servants behind him kept their heads bowed and remained silent.

Straightening his attire, he stepped forward and respectfully cupped his hands toward the gatekeeper of the residence. “Please inform them that the Earl of Changping’s estate wishes to discuss urgent matters.”

The gatekeeper, seeing the impressive entourage, suspected the situation and snorted coldly before turning to inform those inside.

Moments later, the steward was led into the residence.

Within the courtyard, sorrow lingered heavily. The steward forced himself to keep pace, appearing composed, though the slight trembling of his hands betrayed his inner unease.

When they reached the mourning hall, the steward first paid deep respects to each of the six coffins in succession.

Then, facing Chu Jiutian, he cleared his throat and spoke, “Your Highness, the heir apparent, we deeply mourn the tragedy that has struck the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s household. However, after much consideration, my master, the Earl, believes that the current circumstances have changed, making the alliance between our families inconvenient. Therefore, I have been sent to return the betrothal token and formally dissolve the engagement between your Highness and our lady.”

Chu Jiutian was the sixth born in his family. With his elder brothers all fallen in battle, he had become the heir to the Marquis’s estate.

Dissolve the engagement?

The cries in the mourning hall ceased abruptly, replaced by shock and fury.

The battle in the northern territories had left the Marquis and his six sons dead or crippled. The household, already shrouded in grief, never expected to suffer such cruel betrayal now—this was salt rubbed into an open wound!

Such insolence!

Chu Jiutian’s body trembled violently. With his legs crippled, he was supported by others as he slowly rose.

His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the steward in disbelief, veins bulging on his forehead. “How heartless your Earl of Changping must be! For generations, my family has been loyal and patriotic. Now, in our hour of hardship, you seek to end the engagement. Are you trying to push my house to ruin?”

The steward’s face flushed with shame but he still argued, “Your Highness, please calm yourself. This is truly a matter of necessity. My master must consider the welfare of his entire family. We hope Your Highness understands.”

“Necessity? Welfare of the family? Where was such prudence when the engagement was first arranged?”

Chu Jiutian’s gaze was like a blade, as if it could dissect the steward. “My father and brothers have just passed. You are so eager to sever ties—do you believe the Marquis’s house has no hope of recovery?”

The brothers’ wives, already drowning in grief, were now struck with even greater despair.

The eldest sister-in-law bit her lip tightly, the second silently wept, the third clutched her sleeve, and the fourth covered her face in sobs...

One by one, their eyes were swollen and red, hair disheveled, tears seemingly endless.

Despair and sorrow enveloped them, as if the entire world had lost its color, leaving only an unrelenting sadness that pervaded the mourning hall, stirring deep sympathy in all who witnessed it.

They understood the Marquis’s predicament but were at a loss for what to do, able only to lean on each other in their shared suffering, bearing the relentless blows of fate together.

Only the elderly house matron could not contain her fury, crying out, “Such conduct will surely bring divine retribution! Our heir is a fine young man—he need not fear being without a good match. Yet you belittle us like this; you will regret it in time.”

The steward dared not reply, instead producing the betrothal token from his sleeve and presenting it with both hands.

Chu Jiutian looked at the crimson token, his eyes full of humiliation and unwillingness, yet he hesitated to reach out and take it.

Such a disgrace was more piercing than any blade.

All past hopes dissolved into emptiness, leaving only bleakness and resentment.

The atmosphere in the mourning hall was suffocating.

The steward lowered his head and murmured, “Your Highness, please do not blame us. Given the misfortune that has befallen your household and your current condition... I have heard that after your injury, you can no longer perform certain functions. My master’s decision to withdraw from the marriage is out of concern for his beloved daughter and is a measure of last resort. To show his regret, he wishes to return all the betrothal gifts and offer some compensation of one tael of silver. We hope Your Highness can understand.”

With that, he gestured toward the entrance, signaling servants to carry the gifts and the small silver ingot inside.

Chu Jiutian’s face flushed with rage. He shouted, “What nonsense are you spouting? Though I suffer great misfortune today, I will not tolerate such slander.”

The household servants glared fiercely at the steward.

The heir apparent had only lost the use of his legs; when had he become incapable of basic human dignity? And one tael of silver—what kind of compensation was that?

This was plainly defamation and barefaced provocation!

The steward, unnerved by their stares, hurriedly corrected himself, “Your Highness, please do not be angry. Your foremost task now is to recover your health. As for our lady, it is simply fate that you two are not meant to be. Please forget her.”

“You...” Chu Jiutian trembled with rage and raised his hand to strike but, unable to brace himself with his legs, nearly fell. Fortunately, a servant caught him in time.

Seeing this, the servants were incensed beyond measure.

“Outrageous! How dare you insult our heir apparent! If not for him risking his life to save your lady, who knows what fate those bandits would have inflicted upon her!”

“Indeed, over the years it has been your lady who clung to our heir, refusing all others. Don’t spout nonsense here!”

“Hmph! Don’t think that because the Marquis’s house has fallen from grace, you can act as you please. No chance!”

“Yes! No chance!”

Just as the scene was about to spiral out of control, Chu Jiuli, who had been kneeling silently before the coffin, slowly rose. Her figure was slender but she stood straight and resolute, like a sturdy bamboo braving the storm.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she took measured steps toward the steward. Though her footsteps were light, they carried the weight of a thousand pounds.

She stood before the steward, her eyes swollen from crying, yet a frigid resolve, sharp as frost and snow, gleamed within them.

“If you wish to end the engagement, so be it. But why must you besmirch my brother’s name?”

“Indeed, my brother is now disabled, so if you wish to end the engagement, do so. But today is the day of my father’s and five brothers’ funerals. To dissolve the engagement before their spirits—do you expect them to rest in peace in the afterlife?”

Though her voice was hoarse, her tone was as biting as a winter wind. The steward’s face flushed crimson, and he had no reply.

Chu Jiuli continued, “Our Marquis’s house is a family of centuries, having weathered countless storms, yet never have we been so humiliated as today.”

“Your action, Earl of Changping, is not only a slander against my brother but a contempt for every member of our household. The decision to end the engagement is cruel enough, but to add such a shameful excuse—do you truly believe the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s house is so broken that no one remains?”

She paused briefly, her gaze piercing the steward like a burning torch. “My brother once showed kindness to your lady. Whatever the past, let it be. But hear this: though my brother is crippled, I, Chu Jiuli, still stand. This marriage will not be undone at your whim.”

The steward broke out in a cold sweat, trembling in fear.

He had never imagined that the ninth daughter of the Marquis’s house—rumored to never leave the estate—could speak with such sharpness, each word like an icy blade that made him deeply uncomfortable.

Chu Jiutian and the brothers’ wives looked at Chu Jiuli in astonishment.

It was as if overnight, the gentle youngest sister had transformed.

Being the ninth child, the sisters-in-law affectionately called her “Ninth Sister.”

The household servants also stared intently at Chu Jiuli.

They knew that although she was usually mild and gentle, the strength and determination she now displayed were exactly what the Marquis’s house desperately needed.

Chu Jiuli lifted her chin slightly and stepped closer, causing the steward to instinctively shrink back.

“Our family values loyalty and righteousness. The assistance we once offered your house was given without expectation of return, yet this is how we are repaid—with coldness and cruelty.”

“Today, you bring not a message of broken engagement, but a testament to the Earl of Changping’s ingratitude and injustice. Such heartless and unprincipled actions will be remembered by me, Chu Jiuli. Once our affairs here are settled, we shall seek redress from your Earl.”

The steward’s lips quivered as he tried to respond, “Miss Ninth, this matter—”

Chu Jiuli raised her hand to silence him, her voice cold and clear: “No need for further words. Simply report the truth to your master. Though our house suffers hardship now, our spirit endures. The humiliation inflicted upon my brother today will be avenged tomorrow.”

With that, she ordered the servants to gather the betrothal gifts and silver that had just been brought in.

She scolded fiercely, “Such filthy things handed over by the Earl of Changping are unworthy of entering my house. Throw them all out!”