Chapter 1065: Help the Excitement

Meanwhile, Jian Taiding listened to his subordinate's report, his brows furrowing. "Yu Yanluo brought two people into that impostor's room, and they didn't emerge until much later? Do you know who they were?"

"No, sir," the subordinate replied. "They were cloaked from head to toe, making it impossible to discern their faces or even their gender."

"Useless!" Jian Taiding erupted in fury. "What good are you if you can't even uncover such basic information in my own manor?" He wasn't typically so short-tempered, but a recent serious injury had left him agitated. Still, he would have been content simply holding onto his ducal title.

However, the appearance of an impostor today had shattered his grand aspirations, leaving him exceptionally vexed.

The subordinate lowered his head in apology. Uncle Ming, however, interjected, "Second Master, there's no need to be so hard on him. Madam Yu is the head of the Yu family and has always been inscrutable. If she truly intended to conceal two people, how could he possibly have known?"

He then waved his hand at the subordinate. "You may leave now."

The man gave them a grateful look, bowed to both, and quickly left.

Jian Taiding remained silent until the subordinate had gone. Then, he turned to Uncle Ming and said, "I truly can't fathom my sister-in-law anymore. We used to be quite close; she always greeted me with a smile, and no matter what I said, she'd respond with a warm, gentle smile. That's why I wasn't in a hurry to confront her. But now, it appears she's been making a fool of me, bringing in some random man to sabotage my plans!"

His anger was palpable. He had long considered Yu Yanluo his own, yet now she not only produced an impostor duke to oppose him but also openly displayed affection for the man right before his eyes, practically making him sick.

Uncle Ming sighed. "Madam Yu was once hailed as the most beautiful woman in the world. Countless heroes and influential figures fell under her spell. It's even said that the Emperor himself was captivated by her, yet he never had the chance to get close. This demonstrates her exceptional cunning, and Second Master, you've been far too complacent."

His words were quite subtle, practically implying that Jian Taiding became so infatuated with Yu Yanluo that he was rendered helpless, like a devoted lapdog.

Jian Taiding's face flushed. "I certainly underestimated her before. This woman is formidable. To suddenly pull off such a trick, finding an impostor so incredibly similar—if we hadn't already known the truth, we likely wouldn't have been able to expose him."

"So, everything hinges on Lady Zhang," Uncle Ming said calmly. "As long as she can find the evidence, we'll immediately announce it to the world, ensuring that impostor is utterly ruined. We can also use this opportunity to challenge the Yu family."

"Excellent!" A ruthless glint flashed in Jian Taiding's eyes. Anyone who dared to stir up trouble with him would receive a harsh lesson; otherwise, the world wouldn't know who truly ruled Cloud Central Commandery.

The two men then discussed the details further. As he was seeing Uncle Ming off, Jian Taiding, as if an idea had just struck him, blurted out, "Uncle Ming, do you think it's possible... I mean, hypothetically, that my elder brother isn't actually dead? This fellow is simply too alike."

Uncle Ming's expression hardened. "Second Master, you're letting doubt breed suspicion. How could the Duke still be alive? You and I both witnessed... Hmph. Besides, even if he truly came back to life, what difference would it make? Cloud Central Commandery has already changed. The genuine can now be made to appear fake."

He couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. He had previously thought the Second Master possessed a more cunning and ambitious streak than the Eldest Master, capable of achieving great things together. But now, seeing him so flustered over a minor setback, it was truly...

Could it be that his severe injuries had also made him mentally fragile?

Jian Taiding started, then his expression firmed. "Uncle Ming is correct!"

They then waited for news from Lady Zhang. Unfortunately, on the first night, the impostor did not summon Lady Zhang to his bedchamber.

This was anticipated; as an impostor, he certainly wouldn't dare to have intimate contact with Lady Zhang, so he would delay it for as long as possible.

However, such a matter could only be postponed, not avoided indefinitely.

Over the next few days, they covertly fueled rumors. Whispers spread throughout the Duke's manor and even across Cloud Central Commandery, claiming the Duke was an impostor because he reportedly avoided intimate contact with his former concubines, fearing exposure.

Initially, everyone dismissed these as mere jokes, but as the purported Duke continued to refuse his concubines, public perception slowly shifted.

Could that man truly be an impostor?

Zu'an, at the center of this maelstrom, was naturally aware of the rumors. He couldn't help but admire Yu Yanluo's meticulous arrangements.

Despite everything being prepared, she had him feign guilt, consistently making him avoid contact with Lady Zhang.

Now, the atmosphere of anticipation had been thoroughly cultivated, not just within the Duke's manor, but throughout the entire Cloud Central Commandery. Everyone awaited the moment the mystery would be unveiled.

The deeper the public's current suspicion of him, the more firmly they would believe him afterward.

Poor Jian Taiding, who had schemed and calculated every angle, believed he had discovered the impostor's vulnerability, yet he failed to realize that everything was unfolding precisely according to Yu Yanluo's plan.

Finally, to the public eye, Zu'an was cornered, left with no choice but to agree to summon Lady Zhang to his bedchamber, hoping to somehow get away with it.

Jian Taiding and Uncle Ming quietly waited outside his courtyard, anticipating Lady Zhang to burst out at any moment.

After all, Lady Zhang was a real person and had been the Duke's concubine. Jian Taiding could only instruct her to verify that the Duke was an impostor, not genuinely expect her to sleep with a fake.

Jian Taiding and Uncle Ming had also preemptively positioned trusted subordinates in ambush nearby. The moment they received confirmation, they would immediately execute their predefined plan.

Their plan was to first capture the impostor, simultaneously gain control of Yu Yanluo, and then disseminate the news outside the manor to establish a fait accompli.

In reality, beyond Jian Taiding, various other factions had either planted spies within the manor or stationed agents outside, all eagerly awaiting news of the couple's anticipated intimacy.

Seeing the room nearby brightly lit, Jian Taiding stroked the small mustache on his lip with satisfaction. "I instructed Lady Zhang to keep the lights on, so the impostor couldn't turn them off and try to muddle through."

"Second Master is brilliant!" Uncle Ming smiled as well. It seemed that despite occasional blunders, Jian Taiding was still a discerning leader.

After such extensive planning, everything would finally be settled today.

"Why hasn't she come out yet?" As the saying goes, a worried mind is a troubled mind. After a while, seeing no activity, even Uncle Ming began to grow anxious.

Surprisingly, the previously somewhat agitated Jian Taiding now appeared remarkably calm. He poured Uncle Ming a cup of tea, saying with a smile, "Uncle Ming, why are you so impatient? Don't fret, everything is under control. Allow me to play a tune on my flute to soothe your nerves."

With that, he produced an exquisite jade flute, brought it to his lips, and began to play, all while keeping his gaze fixed on the nearby courtyard.

The flute melody was, in fact, a secret signal prearranged with Lady Zhang, instructing her to act decisively, or to signal them to intervene if anything went awry.

Nearby, Jian Taiding's trusted subordinates watched him under the moonlight, smiling as he played the jade flute. He appeared dashing and refined, like a sophisticated gentleman of this tumultuous world. His graceful demeanor was truly enviable, and each subordinate mused that if they possessed even a tenth of the Second Master's charm, they would effortlessly win over any woman.

Only Uncle Ming secretly frowned, feeling that Jian Taiding's theatrics were overly poetic and impractical—mere fashionable trifles favored by idle noble sons.

The melodious flute music permeated the entire Duke's manor. Even the leaders of other factions waiting outside were deeply moved, realizing that Jian Taiding was utterly confident in his plan.

This was clearly the message Jian Taiding intended to convey: he aimed to declare to all powers in Cloud Central Commandery that he remained in control!

As time wore on, however, his smile slowly faltered.

He had played the flute for what felt like an eternity, his mouth parched, yet Lady Zhang still hadn't emerged?

Noticing Uncle Ming's questioning gaze, he forced a smile. "It's fine, she's probably just delayed. That fellow is quite a good actor, after all. Perhaps I'll switch to a different tune."

Yet, when that tune concluded, Lady Zhang still hadn't appeared.

At this point, Jian Taiding was genuinely unnerved. He wanted to salvage his dignity but found himself speechless.

His face grim, he continued to wait. Now, he had no mind for music, his eyes fixed intently on the courtyard entrance.

He waited and waited, until dawn broke, and still, Lady Zhang did not emerge.

"Could those adulterous scoundrels have used my flute playing as mere background music for their debauchery?"

The roosters began to crow, and Jian Taiding finally broke. He could no longer bear to stay, and with a livid face, he stormed away.

Long after daybreak, Lady Zhang finally emerged from the courtyard.

Her face was flushed and radiant, the accumulated resentment of the past year gone from her brow, replaced by a sweet, contented smile. Those around her knew the outcome without needing to ask.

News from the manor quickly spread throughout Cloud Central Commandery.

Lady Zhang herself had verified it: he was, without a doubt, the genuine Duke of Cloud Central Commandery!

Upon receiving this news, the entire official establishment of Cloud Central Commandery was profoundly shaken.

However, a different version circulated among the populace: the Duke and his concubine, reunited after a long separation, were like dry kindling meeting a blazing fire.

Meanwhile, his second brother, Jian Taiding, had stood guard outside the window all night, playing his flute as an accompaniment to their reunion.