Chapter 3: Disfigurement

 Chapter 3: Disfigurement

Gu Nanzhao saw what was happening and his expression changed.

The flute music abruptly ceased.

Chu Qianchen seemed oblivious as she leaped forward, her sword thrusting out.

"Chen Mei!" Gu Nanzhao shouted in alarm, striding toward her. But he was at least two zhang away and had no time to intervene.

The airborne sword drew closer and closer to Chu Qianchen...

Chu Qianchen's lips curved slightly, and a sharp glint flashed in her eyes. She pivoted mid-motion, her sword sweeping outward.

Unlike her earlier moves, this strike was no longer soft or restrained. The blade flashed like lightning, its momentum unstoppable...

Clang!

Her sword precisely struck the incoming blade in mid-air. Sparks flew as the two blades collided.

The airborne sword was sent flying in another direction, grazing past Chu Qianling's cheek. The icy edge sliced through her delicate, silk-like skin before clattering to the ground a few steps away.

After the loud metallic clatter, silence fell around them.

Chu Qianling stood frozen, her body stiff as if encased in ice.

A fresh, inch-and-a-half-long gash marred her left cheek. Bright red blood seeped from the wound, stark against her snow-white skin.

Nearby, Chu Qianling's personal maid stared in horror at her mistress's face and shrieked, "Third Miss, your face..."

Chu Qianling felt the stinging pain on her face acutely.

Instinctively, she raised her right hand to touch her left cheek. The sensation was damp and sticky.

Lowering her hand slightly, she saw her fingertips smeared with bright red blood. Her pupils shrank, and fear drained all color from her face.

"My face..."

Chu Qianling was nearly hysterical. Her face pale as a sheet, she let out a piercing scream.

Everything had happened so quickly that even Gu Nanzhao was stunned. He stared at the wound on Chu Qianling's face, momentarily unable to react.

Chu Qianling wanted to confront Chu Qianchen, but as her gaze met Gu Nanzhao's shocked eyes, panic welled up inside her.

Her face was injured—she couldn't let the Second Prince see her like this.

Overcome with fear and anxiety, Chu Qianling hastily covered her wounded cheek and took a step back, then another.

Her body trembled like a flower battered by wind and rain, her mind too chaotic to think clearly.

In her panic, she turned and ran, clutching her face.

"Miss! Miss!" Her maid quickly lifted her skirt and ran after her.

The mistress and maid disappeared from sight in moments.

Chu Qianchen quietly watched Chu Qianling's retreating figure, her expression calm.

She was now certain: her disfigurement in her previous life had not been an accident.

Chu Qianling had deliberately thrown the sword at her face. Chu Qianchen had seen it clearly—Chu Qianling had smiled just as she released the sword.

Chu Qianchen's eyes darkened further, an unfathomable depth in her gaze. With a casual motion, she sheathed her sword. 

"Miss..." Liu Shi Li, still shaken, spoke in a trembling voice. "I saw Third Miss running toward the west—she must be going to complain to the Old Madam!"

It was obvious. Chu Qianling was likely headed to the Old Madam to file a grievance.

"Chen Mei." Gu Nanzhao stepped closer to Chu Qianchen.

Chu Qianchen turned to look at him but remained silent.

The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows across her face.

Her beautiful phoenix eyes were as dark as a deep pool, shimmering with a faint, clear light. She looked as exquisite as a finely crafted jade statue, fragile yet resilient.

Gu Nanzhao thought she was too frightened to react. Feeling a pang of sympathy, he gently consoled her, “Chen Mei, don’t be afraid. This was an accident. I’ll explain everything to Grandmother.”

Gu Nanzhao truly believed it was an accident. If Chu Qianling’s sword hadn’t accidentally slipped, Chu Qianchen wouldn’t have instinctively swung her own sword to block, and Chu Qianling wouldn’t have ended up with an injury on her face.

“Really?” Chu Qianchen smiled, her eyes shining unusually bright.

Her gaze wasn’t one of relief or satisfaction but rather a contemplative acknowledgment, as if everything was unfolding exactly as expected.

It was just like her previous life.

In her past life, after Chu Qianling had "accidentally" disfigured her, she had put on a panicked and pitiful act.

Tears of a beauty, delicate and moving.

Back then, Gu Nanzhao had been just as considerate and gentle, pleading for Chu Qianling before the Old Madam.

Gu Nanzhao noticed something unusual in Chu Qianchen’s expression but assumed she was simply scared. His heart softened: they say, “The girls of Luoyang cherish their beauty,” but to him, the girls of the capital were no less remarkable, especially his Chen Mei, who looked lovely even in her frightened state.

In a soft voice, Gu Nanzhao added, “Chen Mei, don’t worry. I’ll go with you to Rongfu Hall to see Grandmother.”

Chu Qianchen nodded lightly.

She was well aware that even if she didn’t go, she would be summoned anyway.

The two of them followed the direction Chu Qianling had fled, heading west in silence.

Gu Nanzhao assumed Chu Qianchen was anxious and wanted to comfort her further. Just as he was about to speak, an elderly maid with graying hair and dressed in a floral indigo robe emerged from a corridor ahead, walking toward them.

“Your Highness the Second Prince, Second Miss,” the maid greeted them with a bow before addressing Chu Qianchen, “The Old Madam requests Second Miss to come to Rongfu Hall.”

This was Nanny Wang, a trusted servant of the Old Madam Jiang.

Gu Nanzhao smiled and asked Nanny Wang to lead the way.

Faced with the Second Prince, Nanny Wang maintained a respectful and polite demeanor.

She led them westward, crossing a cobblestone path until Rongfu Hall came into view.

Rongfu Hall, located in the northwest of the Marquis Yongding’s residence, was the ancestral home of the family’s elders. It was grand, tranquil, and stately.

The central hall featured a green plaque inscribed with the characters “Rongfu Hall.” Below it hung a painting of Guanyin Bodhisattva, with a white porcelain qilin incense burner on the altar table beneath it, releasing wisps of sandalwood incense into the air.

Nanny Wang led them into the left side chamber, where they passed a multi-tiered display cabinet. Sitting on a northern arhat bed was a noble-looking elderly woman in her fifties, dressed in a dark purple robe embroidered with cranes. Her lips were pressed into a thin line.

Seated on a chair below her was a beautiful woman in her late twenties dressed in blue—Second Liu Shi.

Beside Liu Shi was none other than Chu Qianling. She held a handkerchief against her injured left cheek, her face pale.

Liu Shi glared venomously at Chu Qianchen, her eyes practically bulging out.

The Old Madam’s expression was equally displeased as she directly scolded Chu Qianchen, “Chen Jie’er, kneel!”

Her five words were neither loud nor soft, yet they carried an imposing authority that left no room for defiance. 

(End of the chapter)