Chapter 68: A Good Match

 Chapter 68: A Good Match

Despite the explanation, Shen Shi still felt a bit uneasy.

She subtly shook her head: Ah, Huang'er can be too careless in her actions.

"Ah Zhi," the matriarch said sternly, turning to Shen Shi, "Concubine Jiang has already been punished, and Cui mama has passed away. Let this matter end here. What do you think?"

She phrased it as a question, but her attitude was already clear. The Chu family’s reputation couldn’t be tainted over a lowly concubine, and it certainly shouldn’t affect her son’s affairs.

As the matriarch of the household, her words carried weight.

However, Shen Shi shook her head and said calmly, "Mother, without rules, there can be no order; the family rules must be upheld."

Shen Shi was never the type to be overly competitive or petty, but in this matter, her stance was firm.

What a joke! She was already thinking about how to argue with Chu Lingxiao again to avoid him bothering her.

Reconciliation? Impossible!

Shen Shi sneered inwardly, but maintained a composed demeanor, continuing, "If we constantly change our stance, the Emperor will think the Chu family lacks discipline and that the inner household is not properly managed."

The matriarch: "..."

The matriarch felt a lump in her throat. She never expected Shen Shi to refuse her like this.

However, she couldn’t lower herself to "beg" Shen Shi over a concubine.

The matriarch then turned to Chu Qianchen, who was sitting calmly beside them, hands resting on her knees, her posture elegant and straight. She exuded a peaceful and serene aura.

The matriarch’s eyes flashed with contempt. She felt that Chu Qianchen was too stiff and inept. At this moment, as a daughter, shouldn’t she be pleading with Shen Shi to spare her birth mother?

If Shen Shi disagreed, Chu Qianchen could cry or kneel. But instead, she just sat there motionless. What kind of behavior was that?

Concubine Jiang may only be a concubine, but she was still Chu Qianchen’s birth mother. Was Chu Qianchen really so intent on pleasing her legitimate mother, sacrificing her own birth mother in the process?

How useless!

"Chen'er," the matriarch said, her irritation growing the more she looked at Chu Qianchen. "Just now, your elder sister asked about Concubine Jiang. Why didn’t you respond?"

"Couldn’t you answer, or were you trying to embarrass your elder sister on purpose?"

The matriarch's words were clearly a form of venting her anger. Chu Qianchen didn't even raise her eyebrows.

She calmly looked at the matriarch and was about to speak when Shen Shi preemptively said, "Mother, Concubine Jiang has been confined."

This implied that Shen Shi had forbidden Chu Qianchen from seeing Concubine Jiang.

The matriarch’s expression froze again.

In the short span of a tea session, Shen Shi had managed to undermine her three times, and the matriarch’s face darkened.

The atmosphere in the room became heavy and oppressive.

"Matriarch, the second madam has arrived."

At that moment, the announcement from outside broke the tense silence.

Soon, members of the second, third, and fourth branches arrived one after another.

Anyone entering Rongfu Hall could immediately sense the awkward atmosphere.

The matriarch had a stiff face, her displeasure evident. When a concubine’s daughter from the second branch performed a slightly delayed bow, the matriarch scolded her severely, causing the young girl to kneel and burst into tears.

At this, everyone else dared not speak. The air became so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Not long after, the matriarch sent everyone away. Many left feeling as though a heavy weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

As Chu Qianhuang stepped out of Rongfu Hall, she turned to Chu Qianchen with an apologetic expression and said, "Second sister, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect Grandmother to direct her anger at you. I didn’t think things through."

"Huang Jie'er," Shen Shi's expression was stern, and her gaze, rarely so sharp, fixed on her daughter. She said, her tone serious, "You're not just lacking in thoughtfulness."

"Where did you go wrong? Think it over carefully. Until you understand, stay within your courtyard."

"Mother..." A shadow of anger crossed Chu Qianhuang's eyes, and the hand hidden within her sleeve clenched unintentionally.

They were still standing at the entrance of Rongfu Hall.

At this moment, behind her were not only Chu Qianchen but also her half-sisters Chu Qianwu and Chu Qianying. As the legitimate eldest daughter, it was the first time she had been scolded in front of her younger sisters.

She even saw the girls from the second and third branches, who hadn't yet walked far, turn around to glance at her.

Chu Qianhuang felt her face burn with embarrassment.

"If you can't figure it out, then don't even show up for your grandmother's birthday," Shen Shi said indifferently.

In her opinion, her daughter had grown up without facing many difficulties, so her ability to handle situations was still lacking. When there was no problem, it wasn’t obvious, but once something happened, Chu Qianhuang became flustered, acting without clear thought and making impulsive decisions.

This could not continue.

With Chu Qianhuang's status, she would eventually marry into a noble family as a legitimate wife. If she continued like this, it would only bring hardship later on.

Chu Qianhuang tightly gripped the handkerchief in her hand and replied softly, "Yes, Mother."

A faint blush appeared on her fair cheeks, and her face reddened with shame.

The thirteen-year-old girl was in the bloom of youth, her black hair tied with several red ribbons that fluttered in the wind, intertwined with the dancing willow branches.

Her figure was graceful, like a slender willow in the breeze.

Shen Shi looked at her daughter with a touch of tenderness but still hardened her heart, refusing to console her.

Making mistakes wasn’t the issue; her daughter had to learn to reflect on them.

Shen Shi dismissed the others, and Chu Qianhuang returned to her Courtyard.

The light in her room stayed on all night, and the next morning, without taking breakfast, she went straight to Shen Shi’s place.

"Mother, I was wrong," Chu Qianhuang sat beside Shen Shi, her voice low.

"I learned from my aunt, the Noble Consort, about the emperor’s stance. I should have told you and grandmother, rather than acting on my own."

"You have your considerations and plans. I’m still young, inexperienced, and narrow-minded. If I’m not careful, my good intentions can backfire."

Her hands twisted the embroidered handkerchief, her whole demeanor drooping, like a delicate flower with no water.

"You..." Shen Shi sighed helplessly.

"I was too full of myself," Chu Qianhuang’s voice dropped even lower, tugging at the handkerchief in her hand. The red lotus embroidery was now slightly distorted.

Seeing her daughter’s dejected expression, Shen Shi’s heart softened.

Her daughter had always been bright and confident, always praised by others. Shen Shi had rarely seen her in such a state.

Shen Shi spoke gently, "Do you think I argued with your father because of Concubine Jiang?"

Chu Qianhuang blinked her butterfly-like eyelashes, as if to say, "Isn’t that the reason?"

Looking at her daughter’s innocent expression, Shen Shi’s heart softened like spring water. She replied firmly, "No."

Shen Shi paused, carefully choosing her words. "The emperor has only recently ascended the throne. He hasn't yet fully secured control of the court, and our Chu family has been in decline since your grandfather’s passing."

"The Chu family cannot afford another setback."

"The current political situation is very complicated. Your aunt is the Noble Consort, so we, the Chu family, must be extra cautious and stay out of things right now."

She had intended to mention Prince Chen, but discussing him would bring up too many complex matters from the late emperor’s time. She feared her daughter wouldn’t understand, so she chose to explain it in a way Chu Qianhuang could grasp.

Chu Qianhuang listened attentively, nodding obediently. "Mother, I understand."

She thought Shen Shi was suggesting that, since Gu Nanzhao was a prince, the Chu family should avoid suspicion.

She continued to twist the handkerchief absentmindedly, and the cracks in it increased.

"I will think more carefully in the future, and for important matters, I will come to ask you. I won’t make decisions on my own again," Chu Qianhuang looked directly at Shen Shi, speaking seriously.

Shen Shi gently brushed her daughter’s dark hair and fair cheek, her expression full of affection. "Didn’t you sleep well last night? Go back and rest a bit more."

"Mother, I’m fine!" Chu Qianhuang smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling once more. "I’ll go see Mu Ge’er."

Chu Qianhuang stood up, her long eyelashes hiding the flicker of darkness in her eyes.

She walked with her maid to the back, to the Bisha Pavilion. Soon, her lively voice could be heard from there. "Mu Ge’er, why are you still in bed?!"

Shen Shi glanced toward the pavilion, the corners of her lips curving upward, but then her expression softened, becoming pensive.

Chen Mama, who had served Shen Shi for over thirty years, could immediately tell what she was thinking. She gently comforted her, "Madam, the young miss is still so young, barely reached the age of sixteen. She needs to be taught gradually."

Shen Shi picked up her tea cup, sipping slowly, and said nothing.

Chen Mama shifted the topic and cheerfully spoke about the upcoming birthday of the Old Madam. "Madam, the weather’s been good these past few days. The Old Madam’s birthday feast will be joyous. I’ll have the servants hang the red lanterns later..."

As Chen Mama had mentioned, five days later, on the twentieth of April, the weather was clear and pleasant.

Chu Qianchen woke early, for the birthday celebration was soon. She wore the new clothes specially prepared by Shen Shi, and even her hairstyle was more elaborate than usual. Hu Po tied her hair in a lily bun and adorned it with matching flower hairpins, earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet.

The young girl, already in her prime, was stunningly beautiful after a little embellishment, which gave Hu Po a sense of accomplishment, feeling that her young mistress usually looked too plain.

The two of them left Wan Yan Courtyard and headed for the main courtyard.

Though it was not a major celebration with guests invited, but just a family meal, the Marquis residence still made meticulous preparations. Every corner was decorated with red lanterns and colorful banners, harmonizing with the blooming flowers in the courtyard, creating a beautiful scene.

Chu Lingxiao and his brothers had taken leave to attend. By the time the sun had barely risen, the main family members had gathered in Rongfu Hall. The courtyard was lively and full of fragrance.

Once everyone had arrived, they began to offer their respects to Grandmother He, starting with the senior family members. They gave gifts of jewelry, calligraphy, and other tokens of respect.

After Chu Lingxiao and Shen Shi presented their gifts, it was time for the younger generation to offer their respects. Chu Qianhuang was the first to present her gift.

"Grandmother, this is a pair of shoes I made for you myself."

The Old Madam, who had always been fond of this granddaughter, was delighted, her eyes narrowing in a smile. She praised the shoes, commenting on both the design and embroidery.

The surrounding servants and maids chimed in, making the atmosphere lively and cheerful.

After Chu Qianhuang presented her gift, it was Chu Qianchen’s turn.

She walked slowly to the cushion, and just then, a servant hurried in, breathing heavily, announcing with joy, "Old Madam, His Royal Highness the Second Prince has arrived!"

At the mention of the Second Prince, the atmosphere in the room changed subtly, and everyone perked up.

Liu Shi immediately smiled and said, "Mother, the Second Prince must be here to wish you a happy birthday. He truly is filial!"

The Old Madam, pleased, nodded eagerly, "Quick, invite the Second Prince in!"

The servant rushed off, and everyone in the room turned to the doorway, awaiting his arrival, except for Chu Qianchen, who remained unmoved.

Chu Qianchen bowed respectfully, presenting a token, a piece of cloth, and after receiving a brief acknowledgment from the Old Madam, she stepped aside.

A moment later, a tall, handsome young man dressed in a lake-blue brocade robe entered the courtyard, accompanied by his maid.

Gu Nanzhao walked gracefully toward them, his aura naturally exuding elegance and nobility, capturing everyone’s attention with his poise.

As he neared, Chu Qianling’s eyes fixed on him, her gaze filled with admiration for his handsome features. Everything else around her seemed to fade away.

When Gu Nanzhao entered the room, everyone including Chu Lingxiao stood up to greet him. They were about to pay their respects, but he stopped them first with a word: "Uncle, today I am here to wish grandmother a happy birthday, no need for formalities."

Gu Nanzhao had often visited the Marquis’s residence since he was young, and the family members were all familiar with him, so they didn’t insist on too much formality.

The Old Madam’s gaze softened as she looked at Gu Nanzhao, admiring how well-behaved he was. She smiled warmly, "Your Highness, you are very thoughtful."

Gu Nanzhao gave a slight smile and respectfully bowed to her, "Grandmother, may you live as long as the East Sea, and may your life be as long as the mountains."

He presented her with a white jade Guanyin statue as a gift, along with two jade ruyi and a hundred-year-old ginseng, which had been prepared by Chu Guifei.

The Old Madam's face radiated with joy as she looked at the gifts, feeling younger by several years.

The maidservants quickly placed a chair beside Chu Lingxiao for Gu Nanzhao, and he sat down.

The birthday ceremony continued, and next in line was Chu Qianling.

Like the other family members, she knelt before the Old Madam and offered her handcrafted embroidery. As she stood, she couldn’t help but glance in Gu Nanzhao’s direction, her eyes sparkling behind her veil.

However, Gu Nanzhao did not look at her. His gaze was fixated on Chu Qianchen, who was sitting beside Chu Qianhuang.

Today, Chu Qianchen wore a green lotus-colored skirt embroidered with butterflies and orchids. Her slender waist was bound with a lilac silk cord, matching the lilac silk flowers at her temples. When she turned her head slightly, the petals of the silk flowers fluttered, accentuating her delicate features like jade.

Gu Nanzhao’s eyes brightened further, like stars in the night sky. It had only been a month since he had seen her, but his "Chen Mei Mei" had grown even more beautiful.

Chu Qianling, feeling both angered and frustrated, gritted her teeth behind her veil. She was about to lose control and nearly collapsed back onto the cushion. Luckily, her maid caught her in time.

She barely registered the next few gift-giving moments as her mind was consumed with Gu Nanzhao. She stared at him, while he continued to watch Chu Qianchen.

Half an hour later, the younger generation of the Chu family had all given their birthday gifts to the Old Madam, and the maidservants quickly removed the cushions.

"Grandmother," Chu Qianhuang said cheerfully, "My sisters and I have also prepared a gift for you."

She clapped twice, and two waiting maids came in and unrolled a scroll, revealing a painting titled Hundred Blessings.

"Grandmother, this painting was made by me and my sisters," Chu Qianhuang added.

The Hundred Blessings painting had been a joint effort from the young ladies of the household, though each had contributed in their own way. Most of their handwriting was neat but simple, as they had not been trained in formal calligraphy.

But the Old Madam cared little about the quality and was pleased by the thoughtfulness of it. "Huang Er, you are all so filial," she praised.

She carefully examined the painting and pointed to one line of characters, saying, "Huang Er, these characters for 'longevity'—you wrote them, didn't you? Your handwriting has improved."

Chu Qianhuang smiled sweetly. "Grandmother, you truly have an eye for detail."

A little girl in yellow chirped, "Grandmother, guess which characters I wrote!"

"No need to guess," the Third Madam interjected, pointing at the little girl’s forehead with a teasing expression. "The ones that look like a dog's paw are yours!"

This remark made everyone in the room laugh, and the atmosphere became light and cheerful.

Chu Yunmu, curious, looked at the Hundred Blessings painting and then turned to Chu Qianchen, asking, "Er... Second sister, didn't you write any?"

He looked at the painting and found that none of the characters seemed to match Chu Qianchen's handwriting, despite his eldest sister saying they had all contributed.

Before Chu Qianchen could respond, Gu Nanzhao spoke, pointing to the elegant small characters and seal script on the painting. "These characters were written by Mei Mei," he said.

His voice was gentle and calm, his face handsome and warm, as he pointed with his folding fan.

Chu Qianchen nodded calmly, her lips curving into a faint smile, her expression distant.

Chu Qianling's gaze fixed on Gu Nanzhao, feeling her heart twist with jealousy. She wished he were smiling at her instead.

But no...

She glanced again at Chu Qianchen, recalling how her eldest sister had tried to defend her in front of her recently, claiming that Chu Qianchen hadn't meant to do anything wrong...

Chu Qianling's left hand, wrapped in bandages, throbbed with pain as her gaze flickered between light and dark.

As the other guests continued to admire the characters on the painting, the Old Madam finally had it rolled up and asked the maid to take it away.

A stewardess then approached and asked if they would be moving to the opera house next.

The Marquis's residence had its own theater, and for the Old Madam’s birthday celebration today, a renowned local opera troupe, the Hua family troupe, was specially invited to perform.

While the Old Madam stood with the support of her senior maidservant, she smiled at her grandchildren, saying, “I know you mischievous monkeys can’t sit still and will find it hard to focus on the opera. Go and play with the Second Prince in the garden, don’t hold back.”

"Grandmother, we'll go play in the garden with our cousin for a while," Chu Qianhuang said with a smile.

The younger generation was still quite young, and they weren’t keen on sitting still to watch a play. To them, it was much more fun to go to the garden and play things like tossing pots, archery, wood shooting, or shuttlecock kicking.

Chu Yunmu, excited, quickly spoke up, “I want to play toss the pot!”

He grabbed Chu Qianchen’s sleeve, saying, “Second sister, let’s go play toss the pot. I’m really good at it, I always hit the target...” Chu Yunmu went on and on bragging about his skills.

At first, Chu Qianchen didn’t want to go to the garden, but considering that Chu Yunmu had been cooped up for a whole month recovering from his leg injury, she decided to change her mind. She thought, "I’ll just accompany him and play for a bit."

Since Chu Yunmu’s leg wasn’t fully healed, he was carried to the garden in a sedan chair.

In April, the garden was in full bloom, with vibrant flowers and fragrant air. The warm spring breeze carried the scent of the flowers, while colorful butterflies and birds fluttered around, playing among the blossoms and tree branches.

The housemaids, knowing the young masters and mistresses were going to play with the Second Prince, quickly set up a space by the small lake with iron pots and bamboo arrows for the game.

Everyone began to play toss the pot. The young masters and mistresses were all skilled, as many of them had grown up playing this game.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Bamboo arrows flew from their hands, landing neatly in the pots with a crisp sound. Of course, there were a few misses, and some arrows fell into the small lake behind them.

Laughter from the young people rang out, filling the air with joy.

Chu Yunmu was like a bird freed from its cage, playing energetically.

Chu Qianchen sat in a pavilion nearby, watching them play, appearing detached as if there was an invisible barrier between them.

“Chen Mei Mei.” Gu Nanzhao appeared at the pavilion entrance, looking at Chu Qianchen with a warm, affectionate smile.

Chu Qianchen, however, was indifferent, her tone cool as she simply greeted him, “Cousin.”

Gu Nanzhao felt a pang in his heart. In the past, whenever he came to the Marquis’s residence, Chu Qianchen would greet him with a bright and charming smile. Today, however, she seemed especially distant.

He couldn’t help but recall the scene from last month when Chu Qianchen had asked his aunt to allow her not to become someone’s concubine. His chest tightened.

He told himself: it can’t be. Chen Mei Mei is just throwing a tantrum, being stubborn for a moment, that’s all.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Gu Nanzhao steadied his emotions and sat beside Chu Qianchen.

He glanced at the others enjoying the game outside the pavilion and knew that time was short. He quickly said, “Chen Mei Mei, you know how I feel about you… I want you to be my side consort.”

After a pause, he added urgently, “I haven’t yet established a household and married a primary consort, so I can’t appoint a side consort right now. You can come into the palace first, and once the primary consort is married, I will immediately petition for your title.”

They were cousins, and they had grown up together with deep affection. No matter who his primary consort would be in the future, it could never compare to the bond between them.

Gu Nanzhao’s eyes burned with intensity as he gazed at Chu Qianchen, reaching out to take her delicate hand.

Chu Qianchen quickly stood up, gracefully avoiding his hand.

She calmly said four words: "I do not wish."

“Your Highness, I have no intentions for you. Please choose another suitable match.”

Chu Qianchen had made her stance clear. She distantly gave him a bow, then walked around the stone table in the middle of the pavilion and left without a second glance.

“Chen Mei Mei!” Gu Nanzhao stood up, his heart tightening with a sudden pang.

He felt as though Chu Qianchen had distanced herself from him even more.

Where had he gone wrong? Had he upset her?

Was it because he mentioned a primary consort?

Gu Nanzhao sighed deeply in his heart. Of course, he wanted to marry her as his primary consort, but her status was too low. She was just a concubine’s daughter, and his father and mother would never approve of her becoming the Second Prince’s consort.

Chu Qianchen didn’t care about what Gu Nanzhao was thinking; she just left.

For him to take her as a side consort, he would need the approval of his legitimate mother, and his mother was well aware of her intentions. With her legitimate mother around, Chu Qianchen had no reason to worry that her marriage would be arranged without her consent.

Moreover, she had no interest in marriage.

In this life, she only wanted to heal the prince and, like in her past life, follow him into battle!

Thinking of Gu Jue, Chu Qianchen’s phoenix eyes gleamed brightly, like the blazing sun in the sky.

(End of chapter)