Chapter 4: 004 Stepmother

 Chapter 4: 004 Stepmother

In her past life, the Old Madam had said the same words to Chu Qianling: “Ling Jie’er, kneel!”

Chu Qianchen silently looked at the Old Madam, her cherry lips slightly pressed together. The events of her past life were as vivid as if they had happened yesterday.

Gu Nanzhao stepped forward to Chu Qianchen’s side, bowing slightly to the Old Madam as he gently explained:
“Grandmother, this was an accident and has nothing to do with Chen Mei.” 

In her heart, Chu Qianchen silently echoed the words:
“Grandmother, this was an accident and has nothing to do with Ling Biaomei.”

His words overlapped with her memories perfectly. After all these years, Chu Qianchen still remembered every single word from that day.

Chu Qianling’s eyes widened in disbelief, her gaze filled with grievance as she looked at Gu Nanzhao.

Clearly, her cousin had seen Chu Qianchen hurt her, yet now he was twisting the truth and speaking on her behalf!

Chu Qianchen must be a vixen!

What sweet lies had she whispered to enchant him so thoroughly?!

“Cousin,” Chu Qianling murmured, her voice trembling with heartbreak.

Her injured face stung painfully, but her heart ached even more.

Tears welled up in Chu Qianling’s eyes, threatening to fall at any moment, making her look pitifully delicate.

Chu Qianchen watched her quietly, a trace of coldness flashing in her eyes.

Chu Qianling was always like this. In her past life, even after she had scarred Chu Qianchen’s face, she had cried harder than the victim, as if she had suffered a great injustice, garnering all the sympathy.

Faced with such a fragile and pitiable girl, even the hardest heart would soften.

Back then, Gu Nanzhao had gone as far as to comfort Chu Qianling.

So, what would he do this time?

“Ling Biaomei,” Gu Nanzhao turned toward Chu Qianling with sincerity in his gaze. “Just now, you and Chen Mei were sparring with swords. It was your sword that accidentally slipped, which led to this... Ah, in short, it was all an accident.”

“Ling Biaomei, you’re a reasonable person. Surely, you wouldn’t blame Chen Mei for this accident, right?”

A gentle smile graced Gu Nanzhao’s handsome face.

But at this moment, his smile only deepened the wound.

Chu Qianling trembled, her heart shattered, feeling as though each word he spoke was a needle piercing her soul.

Her cousin had truly been bewitched by Chu Qianchen, that vixen!

“Cousin...” Chu Qianling covered her left cheek, her gaze at Gu Nanzhao filled with heartbreak, disappointment, anger, and resentment.

The Old Madam, sitting on the arhat bed, regarded Gu Nanzhao with a thoughtful gaze: Could it be that her grandson was interested in Chen Jie’er?

That wouldn’t be bad. 

The family had always intended for Chen Jie’er to marry the Second Prince. If he genuinely liked her, that would be even better.

The Old Madam made her decision and dismissed the matter with a wave of her hand. “Since it was an accident, Ling Jie’er, stop making a fuss. Have someone call for a physician to examine your face; that’s what’s important.”

Chu Qianchen stood quietly with her head bowed, unsurprised by the outcome.

In her past life, Chu Qianling had disfigured her without facing any punishment. And in this life, it was no different.

Perhaps this was karma.

“What?!” Chu Qianling shot up from her seat, her eyelashes quivering as a stream of tears slid down her cheeks.

The tears seeped into her wound, causing sharp pain. Her face turned even paler, and she let out a low whimper.

This sent Liu Shi into a frenzy. She hurriedly used a handkerchief to wipe her daughter’s tears, fretting, “Ling Jie’er, stop crying! Tears will only make the wound hurt more!”

But Chu Qianling couldn’t stop her tears, which continued to flow uncontrollably.

Her personal maid also rushed to help her wipe away the tears.

Liu Shi felt as though her chest was burning with fury. She had never been willing to scold her daughter, and now her precious child had been disfigured by that wretched Chu Qianchen!

In a fit of rage, Liu Shi sprang to her feet and charged toward Chu Qianchen like a mother wolf protecting her cub. She raised her hand and swung it forcefully at Chu Qianchen’s face.

On Liu Shi’s right hand, her ring finger and pinky were adorned with long, slender tortoiseshell nail guards, sharp and pointed, clearly intended to scar Chu Qianchen’s face.

Gu Nanzhao’s expression changed, and he shouted, “Second Aunt, stop!”

Chu Qianchen sidestepped lightly, evading the attack, and quickly countered by blocking Liu Shi’s wrist with her own. She pushed Liu Shi’s hand aside.

“Second Aunt, be careful with your nail guards. You wouldn’t want to damage them,” Chu Qianchen reminded softly, her tone as gentle as ever.

To Liu Shi, her words sounded like a blatant provocation.

Liu Shi grew even angrier and turned to the Old Madam on the arhat bed, complaining, “Mother, look at Chen Jie’er! She injured Ling Jie’er’s face and now dares to disrespect her elders by raising her hand against me!”

Her voice grew louder and sharper with each word, her face flushed with rage.

The Old Madam glanced between Liu Shi and Chu Qianchen, her brows furrowing slightly.

Before she could speak, the curtain to the main hall was lifted, and a calm yet authoritative female voice interrupted, “Second Sister-in-law, Chen Jie’er is my daughter. If she needs to be disciplined, that is for me, her legitimate mother, to decide.”

The woman’s tone was steady and unhurried, neither haughty nor servile, yet it carried a clear rebuke of Liu Shi’s overstepping.

The room fell silent.  

Everyone turned toward the source of the voice, including Chu Qianchen and Liu Shi.  

By the doorway stood a woman in her early twenties, graceful and elegant. She had an oval-shaped face, crescent-shaped eyebrows, and phoenix-like eyes, exuding a gentle and refined beauty.  

The woman was dressed in an autumn-yellow silk brocade jacket adorned with intricate floral patterns. Beneath it, she wore an inner garment of white silk with a bamboo leaf collar, paired with a pale yellow skirt embroidered with motifs of plum blossoms, orchids, and bamboo. As she walked, the hem of her skirt swayed slightly, revealing a pair of embroidered shoes with butterfly and flower designs. Her entire demeanor was one of poised elegance and serene composure.  

“Mother,” Chu Qianchen curtsied slightly to the woman, a faint smile appearing in her eyes.  

The woman was none other than Shen Shi, the legitimate wife of the Yongding Marquis, Chu Lingxiao.  

The Yongding Marquis had one wife and three concubines. However, even though the concubines had children, their status was far inferior to that of Shen Shi.  

Shen Shi came from an illustrious background as the eldest legitimate daughter of the Mu Guogong household, a renowned and noble family. Her father, Mu Guogong, was highly esteemed and wielded great influence within the scholarly and political circles of the court. Many high-ranking officials were former protégés of Mu Guogong. The Chu family’s continued prominence was largely due to the support of the Mu Guogong household.  

Fourteen years ago, the late Marquis Chu Yun had been ordered to lead an expedition to the northern regions but suffered the loss of three cities. It was only through the intervention of the Weiwuhou family, who turned the tide and secured the north, that disaster was averted. The late emperor, displeased with Chu Yun’s lack of the valor shown by his ancestors, considered demoting the Chu family’s title. Ultimately, it was Chu Lingxiao’s marriage to Shen Shi that preserved their nobility, as the late emperor took into account Mu Guogong’s influence.  

Since marrying into the marquis household, Shen Shi had maintained a position of exceptional authority, commanding even the respect of the Old Madam Jiang.  

Liu Shi looked at Shen Shi, her chin raised defiantly, her anger intensifying. With an aggressive tone, she said, “Eldest Sister-in-law, you’ve come at the right time! Your illegitimate daughter has scarred Ling Jie’er’s face. Shouldn’t you give our second branch an explanation?!”  

(End of Chapter)