Chapter 67: Hidden Intentions (Second Update)

 Chapter 67: Hidden Intentions (Second Update)

"Qingyu is related to you?" Chu Qianchen stopped weaving the cord and raised her eyes to look at Hu Po.

Hu Po nodded, "Her mother and my mother were cousins. When we were young, we often played together."

Hu Po was a family-born servant, and her family had served in the Hou residence for several generations, so she had many distant relatives among the servants in the household.

Chu Qianchen generously pointed to the right drawer of her desk, "The complete healing ointment is in the drawer on the right. You can take a jar for yourself."

"Thank you, Miss." Hu Po's eyes brightened, and she happily went to the drawer, taking out a small porcelain jar with a white base and blue flowers. She held it in her hands, smiling with delight. "Miss, you're so kind!"

"Your words aren’t sweet enough. You should say, 'Miss, your healing hands are like those of a divine physician, and you're beautiful and kind-hearted!'"

Chu Qianchen said this, then laughed at herself, her eyes curving into a playful smile.

Hu Po gazed at her and felt that she was like a blooming flower. Even the roses outside the window seemed to lose their color in comparison.

She paused for a moment, then immediately followed her lead, complimenting her: "Miss, your healing hands are like those of Hua Tuo reborn!"

"Miss, you are beautiful and kind-hearted, and incredibly intelligent!"

"And you're so talented, the most exceptional young miss in the capital!"

Hu Po spoke from the heart. The longer she spent time with Chu Qianchen, the more she realized that her young miss was truly beyond measure. While everyone praised Miss Chu Qianhuang as the brightest gem of the capital, in her eyes, Miss Chu Qianchen surpassed her by far.

Just then, the voice of Yulu, who had entered the room, interrupted her thoughts. Yulu looked a little awkward as she lowered her head and reported, "Miss, the eldest miss is here."

Chu Qianhuang had just returned from the palace early this morning.

Chu Qianchen instructed Yulu to bring her in.

"Second sister!" Chu Qianhuang’s voice reached them before she did.

As she spoke the last word, she entered, wearing a red camellia-colored robe with golden thread embroidery, her hair adorned with a ruby-inlaid hairpin. She radiated a soft glow, brightening the room.

Chu Qianhuang carried a scroll of rice paper and smiled, "Grandmother’s birthday banquet is in a few days. I’ve already spoken to the Empress and the third princess. We’ll return to the palace after grandmother’s celebration."

"When I was in the palace a few days ago, I came up with an idea. I plan for us sisters to write a 'Hundred Longevity Characters' for grandmother as a birthday gift. Second sister, you can write ten 'Longevity' characters too. Later, I’ll go find Third sister."

The "Hundred Longevity Characters" refers to a traditional custom of writing one hundred different styles of the word "寿" (longevity) on paper.

Chu Qianchen smiled as she put down the half-woven cord and agreed.

Chu Qianhuang carefully placed the scroll of paper on the desk by the window, smoothed it out, and pressed it down with a paperweight. On the paper were already ten "寿" characters, written in graceful and elegant strokes, clearly the work of Chu Qianhuang herself.

Hu Po placed the small porcelain jar beside the brush holder and began to assist Chu Qianchen with the ink and brushes.

Before long, the room was filled with the fragrance of ink.

Chu Qianhuang noticed the small jar and glanced at it with interest.

Noticing her gaze, Chu Qianchen casually said, "Hu Po’s cousin injured her face, so she came to ask for some ointment."

As she spoke, she dipped a wolf hairbrush into the ink and quickly wrote ten "寿" characters in various styles: small calligraphy, seal script, clerical script, Zhou Ding, oracle bone script...

Chu Qianhuang watched her finish writing and, with a smile, praised, "Second sister, I see your calligraphy has improved since I last saw you!"

Hu Po, however, looked slightly puzzled.

It wasn’t that the characters were poorly written—Chu Qianchen’s handwriting, though three parts inferior to Chu Qianhuang's, was still very presentable. The characters were delicate, but the brushstrokes lacked power and form, unlike the natural flow of her usual practice, which carried a unique elegance.

In contrast, Chu Qianhuang’s handwriting was in a class of its own!

The ink wasn’t dry yet, so Chu Qianhuang didn’t rush to collect the paper, leaving it to dry.

She sat by the window, then suddenly asked with concern, "Second sister, haven’t you and Third sister made up yet?"

"We are sisters in the same family, we should be harmonious and happy together."

"Third sister is young, and with all the recent changes, it's inevitable for her to get stuck in her thoughts. How about you come with me to find her and work on the longevity painting together?"

Chu Qianhuang moved gracefully, elegant and poised, with a demeanor befitting an elder sister.

She reached out her hand, intending to take Chu Qianchen's hand, but instead found herself grasping at air.

Chu Qianchen, holding a handkerchief, had just raised it to wipe the corner of her eyes, which were reddening.

"Elder sister, it's not like that." Chu Qianchen, with a pitiful pout, her eyes like pools of water, softening her voice, said, "Third sister has many misunderstandings about me..."

"Whenever she sees me, she can't even stand properly. A few days ago, she got burned, and I'm afraid if I go to see her again, something else might happen..."

As she spoke, Chu Qianchen looked both aggrieved and sincere, unsure of what to do, just like a water lily in a pond, evoking sympathy.

Hu Po's expression grew more complex, and she glanced at the calligraphy on the desk again.

Just like the words Chu Qianchen had written earlier, her hesitant and cautious demeanor now reminded Hu Po of her past, when she lacked confidence and decisiveness.

Hu Po lowered her head even further, obedient and submissive.

Chu Qianhuang didn't notice Hu Po's strange behavior and continued persuading Chu Qianchen, "Second sister, with me around, I'll help persuade third sister."

"Sisters sometimes have disagreements; it's inevitable. Even teeth and lips sometimes clash."

"..."

Chu Qianchen allowed Chu Qianhuang to speak, no longer saying anything, her eyelids half-lowered, her hands twisting the handkerchief, looking indecisive.

Chu Qianhuang stared at her for a moment, sighed, and stopped persuading, "Second sister, think carefully about what I said."

"I'll go check on third sister, I’ll leave now."

Chu Qianhuang personally collected the sheet of rice paper on the desk and left.

The curtain of the small study fluttered as it was drawn back and then fell, leaving Chu Qianchen and Hu Po, the master and servant, alone.

The moment Chu Qianhuang left, Chu Qianchen lifted her head, her expression back to normal.

She casually placed the handkerchief aside, straightened her sleeves, and said to Hu Po, "Hu Po, take some medicine to Qingyu. No need to rush back. I'll give you an hour off."

Alone in the small study, Chu Qianchen picked up the wolf-hair brush placed on the pen rest.

Since the ink had already been ground, she simply spread out a sheet of paper and began practicing her calligraphy, writing silently from The Art of War, Chapter 24: "The use of a general's weapon varies in size. To detect treason, to await misfortune, and to gain the allegiance of the masses, these are qualities of a general of ten men..."

She wrote smoothly, without hesitation in each stroke, the characters powerful and elegant, in stark contrast to the words she had written on the Longevity Painting earlier.

The room was silent, with no sound at all.

Outside, the pond was filled with lotus leaves, and a few goldfish swam beneath, their tails flicking in the radiant water.

Chu Qianchen practiced her calligraphy for nearly an hour. When Hu Po returned, the two of them went to Rongfu Hall as usual.

When Chu Qianchen arrived at Rongfu Hall, it was just past the hour of You, and before she entered, she heard Chu Qianhuang's cheerful and lively voice from the left room, "I've prepared your birthday gift, and I have a surprise for you that you'll surely like."

"You're always so thoughtful, Huang'er." The old matriarch chuckled.

The matriarch, being older, only wished for the family to be healthy and harmonious, and the filial piety of her children and grandchildren truly pleased her.

"Second young miss is here." A maid lifted the door curtain. Chu Qianchen entered, greeted the matriarch and Shen Shi with a bow, and sat beside Chu Qianhuang.

A maid served tea.

Chu Qianhuang turned to her with a smile, asking, "Second sister, how is Concubine Jiang these days?"

Chu Qianchen smiled back, "Thank you, elder sister, for your concern." She neither said she was well nor unwell.

Shen Shi raised her brow, her eyes flickering. It was only today that Chu Qianhuang had returned, and Shen Shi had not had the chance to ask her thoughts on Concubine Jiang.

"Huang'er," the matriarch said as she picked up her teacup, casting a glance at Shen Shi, "Everything in the household is fine. Don't worry about it." She was puzzled by Chu Qianhuang suddenly asking about Concubine Jiang.

"Grandmother," Chu Qianhuang hesitated, her lips pursed, seemingly about to speak.

Seeing this, the matriarch waved her hand, signaling the servants to leave. Only then did Chu Qianhuang continue, "Aunt Guifei also knows about the conflict between father and mother."

The "Aunt Guifei" she referred to was Chu Lingxiao’s older sister, the mother of the Second Prince, Gu Nanzhao.

The matriarch’s expression stiffened upon hearing this.

Chu Qianhuang went on, "Aunt Guifei said that the Emperor specifically inquired about this matter. Although he didn't say much, Aunt Guifei mentioned that the Emperor likely thinks the Chu family is not strict enough in its management."

"Aunt Guifei also said that the Emperor is currently considering the next Tai Fu Si Qing, and seems to have some interest in father."

The matriarch’s eyes lit up. Although Tai Fu Si Qing was only a third-rank official, it was still one of the Nine Ministers, holding significant power in the military, and was a coveted position in the court.

Chu Qianhuang paused as if sighing, then continued, "Father and mother are arguing because of Concubine Jiang. I was thinking, if second sister speaks on Concubine Jiang's behalf and asks for her punishment to be forgiven, father and mother might reconcile."

Her meaning was clear: if Shen Shi forgave Concubine Jiang, it would be a gesture of goodwill to Chu Lingxiao, allowing both parties to back down and resolve the issue.

The matriarch understood and secretly nodded, admiring Chu Qianhuang's foresight as the family’s eldest daughter, always thinking of the elders.

Chu Qianhuang's gaze shifted to Chu Qianchen and said, "Second sister, you’ve been spending a lot of time with mother lately, and she often praises your good character. I thought it would be best for you to speak to mother on this matter."

Since Concubine Jiang was Shen Shi’s servant, asking Shen Shi to forgive her would clearly be inappropriate. That’s why Chu Qianhuang had repeatedly suggested that Chu Qianchen speak on her behalf.

This explanation eased Shen Shi’s doubts, though she still felt something was off.

(End of Chapter)