Chapter Forty: Ruoyu's Confession

Two days before the wedding ceremony, Yushi's betrothal gifts and the makeup artist arrived at the Tang residence. At that moment, Su Xue'er was still cultivating.

"Xue'er, Xue'er..." Tang Ruoyu excitedly called out as she ran in. Su Xue'er stopped her cultivation and asked, "Ruoyu, what's wrong? Why are you so excited?"

"The betrothal gifts and the makeup artist have arrived! The gifts are so numerous that the hall can't contain them, and the courtyard is almost filled."

"What?" Su Xue'er immediately stood up and ran out, with Ruoyu following closely behind.

When she reached the main courtyard and saw the countless jewelry and treasures spread out, Su Xue'er was stunned by the sight. She composed herself and walked in, noticing Tang Mingyuan speaking with a handsome young man.

"Clan Leader Tang, who is this?"

"Miss Su, let me introduce you. This is Li Jingyu, a renowned makeup artist from Qingyun City, personally invited by the leader."

Li Jingyu greeted her politely, "I am Li Jingyu. I've long heard of Miss Su's unparalleled beauty. Seeing you today, I find the rumors were indeed true."

"Mr. Li, you're too kind."

"Come, Miss Su, let me show you your wedding dress."

When the wedding dress was unveiled, Su Xue'er was amazed by its splendor. It was a red floor-length gown with intricate lace, with the hem embroidered with numerous delicate golden plum blossoms. The top was red with wide sleeves adorned with white snowflakes, and the chest was decorated with blossoming white plum flowers. The dress was tight-fitting, with a long train that flared out slightly, and a distinctive low cross-collar neckline to reveal the inner garment.

From the look in Tang Ruoyu's eyes, it was clear she was also envious of the dress. She watched for a while before turning away, lowering her gaze.

"Miss Su, Miss Su..."

Su Xue'er snapped out of her daze and smiled, "Sorry, I got distracted for a moment."

"So, Miss Su likes the dress very much."

Su Xue'er nodded with a smile. Li Jingyu responded, "Then I'll go and report to the leader."

He then bowed politely, "Clan Leader Tang, Miss Su, Miss Tang, I will take my leave now. I'll return at dawn the day after tomorrow to do Miss Su's makeup."

After Li Jingyu left, Su Xue'er sat down and cheerfully took a sip of water.

Seeing this, Tang Mingyuan said, "It seems Miss Su is very pleased."

Su Xue'er smiled in response and then pointed to the betrothal gifts, saying to Tang Mingyuan and Tang Ruoyu, "Clan Leader Tang, after the wedding ceremony, you and Ruoyu can take anything you like from the gifts."

This statement startled both Tang Ruoyu and Tang Mingyuan, who quickly replied, "We can't accept that, Miss Su. These are your betrothal gifts. We can't take them."

"Yes, Xue'er, we can't."

Su Xue'er smiled, "These are my betrothal gifts. Don't worry, I will handle it appropriately."

Tang Mingyuan was about to refuse, but Su Xue'er interrupted, "Clan Leader Tang, please don't decline. I haven't even repaid you for helping me during the continental tournament, right?"

Tang Mingyuan, unable to argue, bowed politely, "Then we shall see."

With that, he packed all the betrothal gifts into a spatial ring. Tang Mingyuan busied himself with the decorations of the Tang residence, ensuring everything was perfect under his supervision.

"Ruoyu, what's wrong? You've been distracted since earlier."

Tang Ruoyu slowly sat down, staring at the cup in her hands without looking away. "Xue'er, do you realize what the leader's actions signify? Announcing to the world that anyone who opposes you opposes the Spirit Master's Hall means the hall could be at odds with the three major empires. Because of the Heaven-Splitting Halberd, you and Yun Chuxue are inextricably linked. The chain reactions will follow, and while it can't be proven that you have any direct connection to Yun Chuxue, other forces will undoubtedly want to capture you and interrogate you for her whereabouts."

The more Su Xue'er listened, the less she understood, feeling as if she were a prize being auctioned. "Ruoyu, I don't understand."

"Do you know how old Yun Chuxue is?"

Su Xue'er shook her head. Tang Ruoyu continued, "She's over twenty years older than the leader. By now, she's about eighty."

Su Xue'er was shocked, unable to believe Yun Chuxue was that old. "Why are they still hunting her? What did she do wrong?"

Tang Ruoyu pursed her lips and thought for a moment before saying, "First, when she was young, she was a commoner who despised the nobility. Whenever the nobles did something wrong, she would stand up against them, which gradually caused discontent among both the nobles and commoners."

"Why would the commoners be discontent? Didn't she help them?"

"Commoners and nobles have an employer-employee relationship. If you drive away the employers, who will provide them with a livelihood?"

"Oh, I see." Su Xue'er sighed.

Tang Ruoyu continued, "Because there was a mysterious powerful figure behind Yun Chuxue, the noble families only lightly punished her and did not harm her life. But the second incident is the main one. Five years after the death of that powerful figure, spirit beasts suddenly attacked the border. The major empires sent strong leaders with their armies to suppress the beasts. At the assembly point of the Dongyu Empire, Yun Chuxue actually aided the spirit beasts in massacring the armies of three countries. This included spirit master teams from sects like Yun Chu Palace, Suo Yue Tower, and Ling Xiao Pavilion, along with the first prince, second prince, and third prince of the Beixun Empire, the first prince and third prince of the Nanyue Empire, and the first prince and second prince of the Dongyu Empire, as well as acting sect masters from various major sects. All the Spirit God realm experts they led were killed by Yun Chuxue, not a single one left alive. This means the spirit master teams sent by the sects and empires were completely wiped out, and only ordinary soldiers escaped. Similar events occurred at the border of the Beixun and Xiyun Empires, where the first prince of Xiyun and the fourth prince of Beixun led spirit master teams that were also killed by Yun Chuxue. All the Spirit God realm experts perished. It was during this time that rumors spread that Yun Chuxue had killed the leader's master."

Su Xue'er couldn't believe that Yun Chuxue would do such things. Her world seemed to collapse, and her eyes became hollow.

Tang Ruoyu added, "Do you know how the continent evaluated Yun Chuxue after that?"

"How did they evaluate her?"

"With a waist like a slender willow swaying in the wind, a glance and a smile that intoxicates dreams; they say a smile could topple a city, but alas, she was heartless, vindictive, and a disgrace."

Su Xue'er trembled, "Why heartless and vindictive? Why a disgrace?"

Tang Ruoyu sighed deeply and said, "Yun Chu Palace was her home, yet she killed her fellow sect members, which is heartless. She brutally killed those who had once injured her, which is vindictive. As a human, she colluded with spirit beasts, which makes her a disgrace."

From Tang Ruoyu's helpless tone, it was clear she wasn't slandering but merely recounting the continent's rumors. She did not believe Yun Chuxue was wrong but had no way to convince others.

Su Xue'er let out a cold laugh and asked, "Do you believe it?"

"If I say I don't, will you believe me?"

Su Xue'er didn't understand and asked why. Tang Ruoyu's response was even more enlightening.

"I don't believe someone who once risked her life to save my mother would do such things. Without her, my mother wouldn't be here, and neither would the entire Tang family."

Tang Ruoyu's eyes were filled with tears. She hated how people judged Yun Chuxue but had no way to persuade them otherwise. She believed Yun Chuxue had her reasons for her actions.

"Do you know how my mother described Yun Chuxue?"

Su Xue'er could barely speak. Tang Ruoyu continued, "My mother once told my father that Yun Chuxue was a pioneering spirit master, a heroine among women. She said, 'No matter how the world views her, Mingyuan, you must not think her actions were wrong. After all, there are few like her left.'"

By this time, Tang Ruoyu was in tears. Su Xue'er handed her a handkerchief, and Tang Ruoyu wiped her eyes, suddenly noticing the character "Xue" on it. She stared at it intently and asked, "Xue'er, is this handkerchief yours?"

"Yes, Yushi said it fell from me."

Tang Ruoyu smiled bitterly, "I originally thought you weren't her, but now I realize you really are."

Su Xue'er was confused and asked, "What do you mean by 'her'?"

"Do you know who made this handkerchief? My mother sewed it for Yun Chuxue herself. I saw some similar handkerchiefs in a treasured box my father kept. When I commented on how beautiful they were, he said my mother made them to repay a debt of gratitude, but the benefactor never came to collect them. These handkerchiefs are exactly like this one. Xue'er, you really are Yun Chuxue."

Su Xue'er's eyes went blank, unable to believe it. "How could that be? I..."

Tang Ruoyu sensed the trouble and quickly changed the topic, "But Xue'er, it would be rash to conclude you're Yun Chuxue based solely on a handkerchief."

Su Xue'er noticed Tang Ruoyu's quick change of topic and thought, 'This girl is really clever, switching so fast. She's worried that if I know I'm Yun Chuxue, the wedding might be called off.'