Chapter 45: Partial Favoritism

 Chapter 45: Partial Favoritism

Chu Qianhuang had just come from the palace. Upon returning to the Marquis' residence, she went straight to Rongfu Hall.

By now, it was nearly noon, and everyone was still waiting outside. Chu Qianhuang raised her right eyebrow in confusion, but her steps remained leisurely.

She smiled and greeted Liu Shi and the other aunts.

The young ladies of the house also bowed and greeted her, "Eldest Sister."

Chu Qianhuang was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis' household, and she always treated her younger sisters with kindness. Her smile was as graceful and elegant as her mother, Shen Shi, as she spoke, "I brought some jeweled flowers back with me. Later, you all can come to my room to pick out your favorites."

"Thank you, Eldest Sister."

The girls were all delighted.

These jeweled flowers Chu Qianhuang brought back were undoubtedly gifts from some imperial concubine, exquisite and beautiful. The girls’ affection for Chu Qianhuang grew even warmer as they gazed at her. 

"Second Sister," Chu Qianhuang's gaze shifted to Chu Qianchen, who was standing in the corner. She smiled gently, "I picked a deep purple one for you, as I remember you like that color the most. I’ll have someone send it to your wanyan Courtyard later."

"Thank you, Eldest Sister." Chu Qianchen smiled softly, her expression warm.

However, her favorite color wasn’t purple—it was red.

She remembered that when she was younger, for one of her birthdays, her legitimate mother had prepared a new red gown for her, embroidered with hibiscus flowers. It was almost identical to the one Chu Qianhuang had, except hers was embroidered with peonies.

She had loved that gown.

But Concubine Jiang had said that as a concubine’s daughter, she shouldn’t compete with the legitimate eldest daughter. 

That gown, in the end, was one she never wore.

"Second Sister," Chu Qianhuang looked toward the main hall, asking, "Has Grandmother not gotten up yet?" She wondered if the Matriarch had important matters to handle, leaving everyone out here.

Chu Qianchen shook her head. "I don’t know either."

"Eldest Sister, your mother is inside as well," Liu Shi said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

This implied that the Matriarch had already gotten up, but had purposely avoided speaking to them, spending time with Shen Shi instead.

She paused and continued with a forced smile, "It seems that the relationship between Eldest Sister and Grandmother is truly close."

The words seemed casual, but Liu Shi’s displeasure was obvious.

They were all daughters-in-law of the Marquis’ household—why was it that whenever the Matriarch had something to discuss, it was only with Shen Shi, leaving the others out? She was also the wife of the legitimate son, not a concubine!

Chu Qianhuang smiled and replied, "Second Aunt, Grandmother has always been kind to us younger generations. She even asked me to speak with the Empress Dowager and request a physician to check on Third Sister."

Liu Shi’s eyes lit up at this, and she nodded quickly in agreement, "Yes, Mother has always been kind."

Her daughter, Chu Qianling, had been severely injured on her face, and after consulting many famous physicians in the capital, they all said the scarring would remain. Chu Qianling had been in low spirits ever since and refused to come out of her room.

Liu Shi blamed Chu Qianchen for all of this.

Liu Shi glared at Chu Qianchen with resentment, just as Wang Mama came out from inside. Upon seeing Chu Qianhuang, her eyes brightened, and she greeted her respectfully, "Eldest Miss, you’ve returned."

"Wang Mama." Chu Qianhuang nodded slightly.

Wang Mama smiled kindly at Chu Qianhuang and said warmly, "Eldest Miss must be here to greet the Matriarch. I will go inform her."

Instead of rushing into the hall, Wang Mama first delivered the Matriarch’s message: the Matriarch had exempted the greeting for today, meaning everyone could leave.

Liu Shi had been waiting outside for so long, her patience had worn thin. However, thinking of the matter with the physician, she didn’t dare to speak out. With a flick of her handkerchief, she left, followed quickly by the two younger daughters from the second household.

Chu Qianchen glanced at the main hall with a calm expression before leaving as well.

She had just left when Chu Linglingxiao, Concubine Jiang, and Cui Mama arrived.

They entered the east room one after another, following Wang Mama.

Mei'er was kneeling on the floor. When she saw Chu Linglingxiao, Chu Qianhuang, and the others enter, her eyes flickered slightly before she lowered her head.

Chu Linglingxiao was at the front. As soon as he entered the room, he furrowed his brow and asked, "Ah Zhi, what's going on?"

Chu Linglingxiao had stayed in Concubine Jiang's courtyard yesterday. By this time, he should have been heading to the yamen, but just as he was about to leave the Marquis’ residence, a maid from Concubine Jiang's side hurriedly came to find him, saying that the madam had sent someone to take Concubine Jiang for questioning.

Chu Linglingxiao immediately became anxious and returned, catching up with Concubine Jiang just outside Rongfu Hall.

Concubine Jiang anxiously tugged at the corner of his sleeve, her delicate frame leaning into him, her eyes red, with tears threatening to fall. She appeared fragile and helpless.

Chu Linglingxiao gently placed his arm around her slim shoulder, speaking softly, "Don’t worry. I’ll speak for you, no one will wrong you."

Shen Shi, upon hearing this, glanced at him, feeling slightly displeased.

Since she was young, Shen Shi had known she would marry a man of equal status, respect her in-laws, assist her husband, manage the household, and oversee the concubines, just like her mother and the many noble ladies of Dà Qí.

In the future, her son would inherit his father’s title, and she would become the matriarch of the household.

This was the life she had been destined for from birth.

She had never cared about who Chu Linglingxiao favored.

However, this did not mean she would allow a concubine to rise above her.

Shen Shi placed her teacup on the table, the sound sharp and clear.

“Bang!”

"Does the Marquis mean to say that I am framing Concubine Jiang?" she asked coldly.

Chu Linglingxiao’s gaze shifted from Concubine Jiang's pitiful face and met Shen Shi's sharp, beautiful eyes, which were slightly narrowed, exuding an almost blade-like sharpness.

"..." Chu Linglingxiao felt a little awkward.

Before him, Shen Shi had always maintained an air of superiority, with no trace of the gentle tenderness a woman might typically display.

At that moment, the Matriarch gently coughed, easing the tension in the room.

She explained to her son, "Mei'er says she saw Cui Mama near the artificial mountain on the day Mu Ge'er fell. That's why we asked Cui Mama to come for questioning."

The Matriarch recounted the general situation before trying to soften the matter, "Ah Zhi, this is just Mei'er's one-sided account. Perhaps there has been some misunderstanding..."

"Don’t worry, I will investigate thoroughly and give you and Mu Ge'er an explanation. What do you think?"

The Matriarch, as an elder and mother-in-law, lowered herself in such a way to show that she hoped Shen Shi would settle the matter quietly.

Mu Ge'er was the only legitimate son of the first wife, and the Matriarch’s favorite grandson.

She would give Shen Shi an explanation, but she didn’t want the matter to escalate—this would reflect badly on everyone.

Chu Linglingxiao had just been reprimanded by the emperor, and with the Emperor in a bad mood due to Prince Chen's matters, if news about the inner chambers became public, it could bring more trouble.

However, Shen Shi remained unmoved, saying, "Mother, if Cui Mama is truly innocent, why did she give Mei'er five hundred taels of silver and threaten her to keep quiet?"

This morning, Chen Mama had gone to Luogu Alley to bring Mei'er to the Marquis’ residence. Shen Shi personally questioned her.

Mei'er claimed that on the day of the accident, she had seen Cui Mama near the artificial mountain. Later, Cui Mama gave her five hundred taels of silver to keep silent. She accepted the silver note, but after returning home, she contracted a severe illness known as "Seven-Day Fever."

Concubine Jiang was a distant relative of the Matriarch, so Shen Shi brought Mei'er to the Matriarch to repeat her story, and sent someone to summon both Concubine Jiang and Cui Mama.

"Cui Mama, what do you have to say for yourself?" Shen Shi's sharp eyes fixed on Cui Mama.

Cui Mama, with a thud, kneeled down and, unfazed, shook her head. "Matriarch, I don’t know anything."

(The end of this chapter)