Chapter 64: Plea for Mercy (First Update)

 Chapter 64: Plea for Mercy (First Update)

Upon hearing this, Chu Qianchen's heart skipped a beat.

Her first reaction was that Shen Shi must know about her treatment of Gu Jue, but then she quickly calmed down, realizing that this was impossible.

Shen Shi couldn’t possibly know.

So...

Chu Qianchen's thoughts raced as she recalled that a few days ago, Chu Lingxiao had tried to persuade Shen Shi to have the Shen family approach the prince for help. It was then that she had subtly hinted to Chen Mama. Now, Shen Shi had brought up this matter, likely to gauge her opinion.

Sure enough...

“Chen Jier, what do you think?”

Shen Shi gazed directly into Chu Qianchen's eyes as she asked.

Chu Qianchen understood that Shen Shi was testing her; she didn’t believe for a second that Shen Shi didn’t understand the complexities of the situation.

Chu Qianchen steadied herself and replied, “Mother, Prince Chen is fine.” She smiled gently, her demeanor calm and unperturbed.

“Indeed,” Shen Shi said, her face showing a smile of approval. She had known that her child was perceptive.

Her Huang Jier was smart, but in this regard, she was far less discerning than Chen Jier.

Whether or not Prince Chen had been seriously wounded in the North, just based on his strong army, the emperor could do nothing to him. If he angered Prince Chen, even if he returned to the North, what could the emperor do?

Therefore, Prince Chen must be fine.

He could only be fine.

Shen Shi took a sip of her tea, her tone faint as she continued, “It’s no longer five years ago.”

Five years ago, Prince Chen had not yet fully established himself. Back then, he might have been somewhat wary of the emperor. But now, with his military accomplishments in the North, who could easily break his wings?

Especially since the emperor had only recently ascended the throne and his position was still unstable.

Now, the emperor had clearly made an effort to make this matter known, but not everyone could see through it as clearly and intelligently as Chen Jier.

Chu Qianchen smiled without speaking.

She understood what Shen Shi was thinking. Indeed, if the prince’s only ailment was a serious illness, there would be no need to worry about the emperor's probing actions. The emperor could do nothing to the prince.

However, the prince was so ill that he could no longer return to the North. His strong army and the imperial edict could only serve as bargaining chips, warning the emperor not to act rashly. Once the emperor knew of the prince’s life-threatening condition, he could quietly take away the prince's power and wait for a favorable moment.

Chu Qianchen felt as though her heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand, causing her great discomfort.

In her previous life, the prince had endured his illness, maneuvering with the emperor until he had ensured that his people were well taken care of before he finally passed away.

And she—at that time—had been too weak, unable to do anything for him.

It took her ten years to finally avenge the prince.

Recalling events from her past life, Chu Qianchen’s eyes flashed with deep sorrow.

She too picked up her teacup, using the lid to brush away the foam from the tea. The repetitive motion quickly helped her regain composure.

Who had revealed the prince’s serious illness to the emperor?

How much did the emperor know?

Chu Qianchen pressed her lips together, slightly furrowing her brows. Everything the prince was enduring now was something she hadn't known in her previous life.

“Mother,” Chu Qianchen paused for a moment before lifting her gaze from the teacup. “I fear Father may not understand.”

Shen Shi let out a soft, almost inaudible laugh.

How could Chu Lingxiao, a full-fledged Marquis, not grasp what an unmarried young girl could see so clearly? No wonder the Marquis's household had shown increasing signs of decline in recent years.

As soon as Prince Chen returned to the capital, Chu Lingxiao couldn’t wait to persuade him to hand over the tiger seal in order to win favor with the emperor, but he himself lacked the ability and couldn’t bring himself to ask for help.

Now, if Chu Lingxiao knew that Prince Chen might be seriously ill, he would probably rush to help the emperor test him.

Shen Shi found it all a bit tiresome.

If it weren’t for the fact that the marquisate would eventually pass to her son, she wouldn’t care if it declined. After all, she had her dowry, and as long as Chu Lingxiao didn’t bring ruin upon the family, it wouldn’t affect her.

Shen Shi smiled sarcastically and added, “Your father can no longer lower himself to come and beg me.”

If Chu Lingxiao truly humbled himself to come to her, she’d just find an excuse to argue with him.

As she thought, she gently smoothed the sleeve of her robe. She knew well that the family affairs would be handled by her son in the future, and she didn’t need to worry about the maternal side of the family. As long as the Chu family didn’t make foolish decisions, everything would be fine.

The emperor’s struggle with Prince Chen was something beyond their scope.

At that moment, a round-faced maid entered and respectfully reported, “Madam, the Second Madam requests an audience.”

Shen Shi raised an eyebrow. What did Liu Shi want?

Ever since Chu Qianling had injured her face, Liu Shi had grown quite displeased with Chu Qianchen, often making sharp remarks whenever they met. Shen Shi didn’t want Chu Qianchen to suffer unnecessarily, so she smiled and said, “Chen Jier, you go and play with Mu Ge’er for now.”

Chu Qianchen smiled and nodded. She added, “Mother, Mu Ge’er’s splint on his leg should be removed soon. He needs to move his limbs a bit to avoid muscle atrophy, or recovery will be hindered.”

Shen Shi’s eyes brightened. “He’s been asking me every day when the splint will come off. He’ll be overjoyed when it happens.”

Chu Qianchen stood up, took the food box with her, and said, “Mother, I’ll take this to Mu Ge’er for him to try.”

With a light step, Chu Qianchen left.

Watching her disappear behind the curtain, Chen Mama smiled. “The second young miss seems much livelier now.”

Shen Shi nodded as she looked at the curtain and said, “I really get along with this child.”

Since Mu Ge’er’s injury, Chu Qianchen, who used to avoid her, had grown much closer. Now, she even showed a more childlike side when in front of her. She didn’t seem distant at all.

Thinking of how Huang Jier had mentioned that Chu Qianchen had been punished because of Concubine Jiang, Shen Shi casually asked, “What has Concubine Jiang been doing these days?”

She wondered if she should take the initiative to ask Chu Qianchen about it. She didn’t want any barriers to form between them over such matters. She genuinely liked this child.

In the Chu family, aside from her own two children, only Chu Qianchen made her feel different, someone she could relate to.

“She's just obediently accepting her punishment,” Chen Mama replied. “But the Marquis has recently taken quite a few supplements from the storeroom and invited several physicians to check on her.”

Chen Mama sneered. Concubine Jiang only had to kneel for an hour a day; could she really die from it?

Shen Shi casually said, “Those supplements are from the Marquis’s private stash. Later, bring me the account books so we can see what’s missing. He needs to make it up.”

Everything in the household should eventually be inherited by her son. She couldn’t let Chu Lingxiao waste it all.

While she was deep in thought, Liu Shi entered with a smile. Shen Shi immediately understood: no one visits the hall of treasures without a reason.

She figured she’d deal with Liu Shi quickly and then go accompany her son.

The atmosphere inside and outside the thin curtain was completely different.

Behind the curtain, in the green silk cabinet, the siblings were laughing and chatting. Chu Qianchen was eating pastries with Chu Yunmu, crumbs scattered all over the couch. While eating, he mumbled, “Chu Qianchen, these glutinous rice dumplings are really delicious. Can you buy them for me again tomorrow?”

Chu Yunmu had already eaten two slices of cloud cake and two dumplings. He was about to take the third one when Chu Qianchen grabbed the food box first.

Chu Yunmu’s hand grasped nothing but air. His clear phoenix eyes blinked twice, and he looked up at Chu Qianchen with a pitiful expression. His pleading gaze was almost impossible to resist.

But Chu Qianchen was resolute and said, “No.”

“Second sister~~”

Chu Yunmu’s voice was full of inflections, drawing out the words.

As a result, the food box was placed even farther away.

Chu Yunmu’s lips puckered, almost as though he could hang an oil bottle from them.

Once his leg healed, he’d make sure his sister couldn’t outsmart him!

“Be good.”

Chu Qianchen smiled and rubbed his head. She then took a piece of homemade pine nut candy from her pouch and placed it in his mouth.

Was he really so easily appeased with a single candy? Chu Yunmu stared at Chu Qianchen as he held the candy, feeling both sweet and refreshing, even more delicious than the pine nut candy from Xijia.

Delicious!

Chu Yunmu immediately cheered up, grinning widely. “Chu Qianchen, I forgive you now.”

“Good, good.” Chu Qianchen responded nonchalantly, skillfully removing the splint from his right leg and gently massaging it.

Chu Yunmu was at an age where he was full of energy, but Shen Shi kept a close eye on him and took good care of him. His bones had healed well, and with daily massages, the muscles in his leg hadn’t atrophied.

“Does it hurt?” she asked, watching his expression closely as she gently massaged his calf.

Chu Yunmu shook his head.

“Now move your toes,” she instructed.

Chu Yunmu eagerly moved his toes one by one, showing them off. “My toes are very nimble, I can even write with a brush!”

Chu Qianchen simply said, “Oh,” then added, “Now try moving your lower leg back and forth, but don’t go too far.”

Chu Yunmu moved his leg and said, “Chu Qianchen, don’t you believe me? I can write a character for you, no worse than my right hand!”

Chu Qianchen: ...

She really didn’t understand what was so impressive about it.

“Wait until you’re fully healed,” she said dismissively. “Now, try bending your knee...”

Under Chu Qianchen’s guidance, Chu Yunmu slowly began moving his leg.

After nearly a short while, Chu Qianchen nodded and smiled. “Your leg is healing well.”

Chu Yunmu beamed with joy. Suddenly, he seemed to think of something. He reached out two fingers and gently tugged at Chu Qianchen’s sleeve. “Second sister, Concubine Jiang has been punished by my mother. Should I go and plead for her?”

He stared intently at Chu Qianchen, as if to say, “If you ask, I’ll reluctantly help.”

(End of chapter)