Chapter 5: 005 Unintentional

 Chapter 5: 005 Unintentional

Shen Shi walked at a calm pace and, upon reaching Liu Shi's side, first greeted the matriarch with a bow. "Mother."

Shen Shi's graceful movements seemed measured, like they were measured with a ruler, and her noble and elegant aura naturally radiated from such a simple gesture.

The matriarch smiled at Shen Shi and said, "Ah Zhi, sit down and let's talk."

After Shen Shi sat at the lower seat, she turned to Liu Shi and, with composed calm, said, "Second sister-in-law, I just overheard the details outside. Didn’t His Highness the Second Prince say that it was all just an accident?"

"After all, if Miss Ling hadn’t 'accidentally' dropped the sword, there wouldn’t have been anything afterward, right?"

Chu Qianchen stared at Shen Shi, her expression complicated.

She still remembered how, in her past life, her face was injured by Chu Qianling, and her stepmother had spoken up for her, forcing Liu Shi and Chu Qianling to give her an explanation. Instead, it was…

A delicate, frail figure appeared in Chu Qianchen's mind, her biological mother, Concubine Jiang.

"Big Sister!" Liu Shi's anger flared, and she glared fiercely at Shen Shi. "My Ling'er was 'accidental,' but what about your Qianchen?! She did it on purpose!"

"Why would Second Sister-in-law say such a thing?" Shen Shi adjusted her sleeve and replied with a question, "Who in the household doesn’t know that Qianchen is gentle and well-behaved?"

Liu Shi's eyes burned with fury as she gritted her teeth, "Gentle and well-behaved? I don’t think so! You can know a person’s face but not their heart. She knows whether she did it on purpose!"

"Second Aunt," Chu Qianchen looked at Liu Shi with clear eyes, sighing helplessly, "I have no grievances with Third Sister, why would I hurt her face?"

Gu Nanzhao added in support, "Yes, Second Aunt, how could Qianchen intentionally hurt her sister?"

As he said this, Gu Nanzhao looked at Chu Qianchen with eyes full of tenderness, his voice gentle as he said, "Qianchen, I know your character."

This remark didn't stir any emotions in Chu Qianchen. In her previous life, Gu Nanzhao had also believed in Chu Qianling's good nature.

To Chu Qianling, his words were the final straw, and she could no longer suppress the feeling of injustice and resentment.

She had been disfigured, and her cousin was still protecting that little vixen, Chu Qianchen!

With a sudden outburst, Chu Qianling stood up, glaring at Chu Qianchen, "You can't stand to see me with Cousin, so you deliberately injured my face!"

Chu Qianling's voice grew higher and sharper, almost hysterical.

The matriarch frowned, her face darkening.

The two Chu sisters were fighting over a man. If word got out, the reputation of the Chu women would be ruined.

Gu Nanzhao furrowed his brows. In his mind, Chu Qianling was a sweet and charming girl. This was the first time he had heard her speak such harsh words.

He sighed inwardly, thinking: After all, Qianling is a young girl. She must be distressed after her face was harmed. No wonder she's lost her usual calm.

"Third Sister, watch your words!" Chu Qianchen remained calm, showing no agitation, her expression a mix of helplessness and innocence. "I was only talking to Cousin for a moment. I thought my behavior was proper. Why would you think that way?!"

"We are sisters. How could I deliberately hurt you?!"

Chu Qianchen's tone carried an imperceptible hint of guidance.

"You’re still pretending!" Chu Qianling stamped her foot, nearly grinding her teeth. "You just want to be Cousin's concubine!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, the room fell into a dead silence.

"..." The matriarch tightly gripped the Buddhist beads in her hand, her face even darker.

She turned her sharp gaze toward Chu Qianling. 

The Chu family had been considering choosing one of the Chu daughters to be the Second Prince’s concubine, but that was something she had privately mentioned to her eldest son and daughter-in-law, and no one else knew. How did Chu Qianling find out?

Gu Nanzhao was stunned. His mother had once mentioned wanting to choose one of the Chu cousins as his concubine... Could it be that it was Qianchen?

As he thought this, Gu Nanzhao’s gaze became brighter, his eyes fixed on Chu Qianchen with warmth and affection.

Chu Qianchen shook her head at Chu Qianling, her expression helpless as she said, "Third Sister seems to have misunderstood me." The corner of her mouth curled slightly, hidden from the others.

She turned to Shen Shi, bowed solemnly, and said, "Since Third Sister has said this about me, I ask Mother to grant my request and allow me to not become a concubine!"

Not to become a concubine!

In her past life, she had gone with the flow, with no opinion of her own, until she was hurt and broken, until she was eventually used up and cast out of her family.

At that time, it was he who told her: In life, one must distinguish right from wrong, judge good from evil, recognize what is important, and not act in a careless manner, so that one can live with a clear conscience!

Chu Qianchen looked into Shen Shi’s eyes with clear, unflinching gaze.

The room fell even quieter, so silent that a falling needle could be heard.

Everyone stared at Chu Qianchen, including Gu Nanzhao and Chu Qianling.

Gu Nanzhao looked at Chu Qianchen with pity, a slight pain in his heart. He knew that Qianchen only said such words because she had been pushed too far by Qianling. Ah, though Qianchen seemed docile, her nature was still as stubborn as it had been when she was little.

"You’re lying!" Chu Qianling shouted sharply at Chu Qianchen, her eyes wide with disbelief.

She wouldn’t believe Chu Qianchen. Chu Qianchen was just pretending! Her eyes weren’t blind—everyone knew that Chu Qianchen had designs on her cousin!

Shen Shi gazed at Chu Qianchen, her expression mixed with surprise, shock, and admiration.

She asked seriously, "Qianchen, are you speaking the truth?"

"Please, Mother, grant my request," Chu Qianchen bowed again, lowering herself gracefully.

This time, she remained in a kneeling position, motionless.

A faint smile appeared in Shen Shi’s eyes. This child had always been gentle and soft-spoken, with no clear opinion, always avoiding her and never getting close. She hadn’t expected her to show such resilience.

Shen Shi admired Chu Qianchen's decision.

She could indeed grant her a legitimate marriage, as it was within her power.

"Qianchen, I…" 

Shen Shi was about to respond when suddenly, a flurry of hurried footsteps and an anxious maid's cry echoed from outside. "Matriarch, Madam, something’s wrong!"

The matriarch furrowed her brows.

A young maid in green rushed in through the curtain, hurrying to stand before the matriarch and reporting, "Fourth Young Master is in trouble!"

The air in the room instantly grew cold, as if the harsh winter had arrived in an instant.

(End of Chapter)