When one door shuts another opens

The maids sent from the consort's quarters had started to grow impatient and demanded to see Daiyu for her cloth fitting and other necessities meant to be done. It was already evening and they had not once laid eyes on the bride.

Chen Yao and Jun Feng were sent away by Yu Xiaoguang to find someone urgently to play the role, but with Daiyu's specific looks, it would be almost impossible.

To worsen the matters, his mother had shut herself in her room the entire day refusing to see anyone, blatantly showing her distaste. Hence, all the responsibility fell on Yu Xiaoguang's shoulders completely.

"Young Master Yu! Come out and face us, what do we tell the imperial consort?"

"Young Master Yu, time is running out!"

"The general's bride must be beautiful..."

"Huahua! Shut the doors and windows tightly, don't let anyone inside." The young doctor snapped, Chunhua hurriedly did as she was told, worried for Yu Xiaoguang's health.

The women were persistent and would not leave without being settled, the consort must have given them direct orders. The situation was a huge mess, if they acted too suspicious then the maids would pick up on the truth.

It was purely by chance, that an acquaintance of Chunhua, a fellow handmaid had just returned from a trip with her young mistress. And had caught sight of Daiyu and a youngster fleeing the capital on a wild black horse.

The handmaid was sharp and reported it to Chunhua as fast as she could, fishing for gossip about the Yu family affairs.

"Young Master, time is no longer in our favor, I think it's best to flee the capital as well, just like Young Miss Yu. If I turn myself in..." She stopped herself from saying anymore when her sheepish gaze landed on his fearsome eyes.

'Is young master truly serious about not wanting me to take the fall? What could have changed all of a sudden?' As she pondered over the thought, the situation took a swift change.

"What's going on now?" Yu Xiaoguang stood up and walked over to the door, resting his ear to listen in. The women were no longer cursing at him, but instead had started...gushing?

"Ah. Young Miss Yu has very fair skin, and such a delicate face, a perfect match for the young general." Yu Xiaoguang heard someone say from the outside.

He exchanged glances with Chunhua, who was equally as puzzled as he was, she made a gesture to open the door and check. Yu Xiaoguang gave her the go-ahead by nodding, Chunhua took a deep breath, then slid the door open, sticking her head out first to peep.

"Young Master, I think you may want to see this."

Mei Deng furrowed his brows then stuck his head out as well, taking a peek at who the maids were suddenly fawning over. Once his eyes landed on hers, a gasp escaped his lips.

"Isn't that...Sun Rong?"

**********

The maids all left after heavy persuasion from Chunhua, who insisted that maids from the bride's maternal side would soon arrive and would feel wronged by not having a chance to prepare the bride.

At first the women were very adamant and refused to leave, their hard-headedness was such a pain, that Mei Deng considered putting make-up on Chen Yao and Jun Feng, passing them off as maids.

Mei Deng was extremely fortunate, that the maids who were sent by the consort were quite young, and were all sheltered daughters of decent men. Even though they had heard of the unfortunate Sun family, it would be very unlikely to have laid eyes on them. Especially someone as notorious as Sun Rong, who spent years living with her Auntie, away from the capital.

Thankfully, the maids peacefully left the residence, allowing Mei Deng some fresh air to breathe.

That was, until his mother arrived and he had to face the harsh music of reality.

"I will not be put to shame, by such a cursed woman impersonating Daiyu!" Yu Yīnuó declared, pulling hard on Sun Rong's hair.

Chen Yao and Jun Feng who had brought her here had no real guts to try and stop the late Minister's wife. Although they could see with their own eyes how black bellied this woman was.

"Haa?! You old hag?! Who the hell wants to play the role of such a bitch?!" Sun Rong replied with venom in her words, stunning Yu Yīnuó to the bone marrow.

"If the general finds out what you plan on doing, he will wipe out your entire clan." Yu Yīnuó spat out before retreating to the residence, clearly stating her point.

It was already night, and the procession would arrive tomorrow morning to carry the bride in the bridal Sedan, there truly wasn't much time left.

"My apologies brother Yu, but just as that bitch had said, I dare not try my luck deceiving the Wang general. I only came here today to help brother Yu save face. I think it's best to flee the capital this night, my uncle's martial arts house is not well known. You may hide out there..."

Mei Deng would have jumped at the offer in a heartbeat if it meant his life would be guaranteed. After all, he had recently woken up in this body and had no true obligation to the Yu family.

However, he wasn't so selfish to ignore the fact that the Wang general would not let such humiliation go unpunished. Chunhua's family would suffer for it, and worse, Sun Rong who he had recently met would also be dragged into this mess.

"Yes, Gege should leave now." Chen Yao urged, tugging on the sleeve of his long flowing white robe.

"I can arrange for Gege to sneak out of the capital unnoticed." Jun Feng offered, his resolve written all over his face.

Mei Deng was unsure whether to laugh or cry in this situation, random strangers were jumping the gun to save the life of such a notorious son. A memory of his YaoYao's dead body suddenly flashed before his eyes, the same feeling of helplessness he felt in his previous life returned.

Only this time tenfold.

'Shit. Just how useless can I afford to be? If I just let others die then there was never any point to me getting another chance.' Mei Deng resolved in his heart, chewing hard on his inner cheeks.

He straightened his back then said, "there won't be any need for that, I've already made up my mind." Yu Xiaoguang announced, earning everyone's attention.

Sun Rong blinked twice in disbelief, "what could you have come up with in such Little..." she tried to ask but was cut off.

"Sun Rong, did the maids drop off the wedding dress with you?" Yu Xiaoguang demanded in a hasty tone.

"Yes." The woman managed to answer, unsure of what trick the young master had up his sleeves. Yu Xiaoguang turned to Chunhua then asked, "how confident are you in your sewing skills?"

The handmaid didn't understand what Yu Xiaoguang was aiming at, but the determined look in his eyes made her answer without thinking.

"Whatever young master needs to be sewn I can handle it." She hastily responded, wanting to be of use.

"Jun Feng, you said you could arrange for someone to leave the capital at night am I right?"

Jun Feng who had always seen jovial expressions on his Gege's face, felt like his two legs were planted to the ground Whilst he became smaller under Yu Xiaoguang's glare.

"Yes Gege." He answered.

"Take Chen Yao with you and escape the Capital tonight, no matter what it takes, find Daiyu and bring her back. She couldn't have travelled very far, and by now would have stopped to rest." He took a pause then relaxed his stare.

"Find a way to sneak her into the Wang residence, they're going to hold a feast in celebration of the wedding, use that to your favor." Once he finished speaking, he dismissed both men, who swiftly jumped over the fence to carry out their assignment.

Not wanting to be left behind, Sun Rong hurried to get the wedding dress that Yu Xiaoguang had asked of her. Leaving behind Chunhua and her master, the handmaid cleared her throat first then asked...

"Just exactly what, does young master Yu expect to do?"

With both hands behind his back, he tilted his head to the side to look at her, then with an all too serious expression he parted his lips and said to only her hearing...

"When one door shuts another opens. The consort sent the letter for an alliance with the Wang general and Minister Yu's child. Who is to say which Yu is under the red veil tomorrow?"