Chapter 69: Mother

 Chapter 69: Mother

Not far away, Chu Qianling had just thrown an arrow. She had hoped to show Gu Nanzhao how beautifully she had thrown it and receive his approving gaze. However, when she turned around, she happened to see the scene unfolding in the pavilion.

Gu Nanzhao wasn’t paying any attention to Chu Qianling. His gaze was fixed on Chu Qianchen’s determined back, looking lost and dejected.

Chu Qianling’s heart hurt even more, as if a knife was repeatedly being twisted into her chest.

The Second Prince was completely devoted to Chu Qianchen, his heart only for her, the seductive woman. After arriving at the Marquis’s residence today, he hadn’t even glanced at Chu Qianling.

Chu Qianling tightly gripped the bamboo arrow in her hand.

She was fully aware, deep down, that Chu Qianchen was simply playing the game of pretending to be uninterested, luring the Second Prince into pursuing her.

Chu Qianchen had ruined her appearance deliberately to compete for the position of the Second Prince’s side consort. Now that she believed herself to be unappealing and could not compete, she was playing these tricks to make the Second Prince desire her and fail to get her…

Truly shameless, just as her mother had said, Chu Qianchen’s methods of seducing men were learned from her stepmother!

“Third Sister!” Chu Qian Fang called out to Chu Qianling, tugging at her sleeve.

Chu Qianling came to her senses and threw the bamboo arrow with all her might.

Several people around her immediately recognized her intentions and spoke up.

“What a pity!”

“Third Sister, this arrow missed.”

“You threw it too hard…”

The bamboo arrow hit the iron pot with a heavy clang and knocked it over, causing the arrows inside the pot to spill out onto the ground in disarray.

The young masters and mistresses of the Chu family burst into laughter.

Chu Yunmu clapped his hands, confident, and said, “Third Sister, looks like you’re coming last today! I could do better just sitting here!”

“Quick, quick, bring my chair over!”

Chu Yunmu instructed his servants to carry his chair over so that Chu Qianchen could see just how impressive he was.

But when he looked around for Chu Qianchen, he found that she was no longer in the pavilion.

How strange? Where had she gone?

Chu Yunmu scanned the area with his eyes, trying to locate Chu Qianchen.

After leaving the pavilion, Chu Qianchen had planned to sit elsewhere to avoid being bothered, but as she rounded a fake mountain, a maid in blue stopped her.

“Second Miss,” the maid said breathlessly, gasping for air as she spoke in broken sentences, “The… the concubine’s yard… it’s fire... You must go and check.”

Fire?! Chu Qianchen raised her eyebrows and glanced in the direction of Qing Hui Courtyard.

Qing Hui Courtyard was at least half a Marquis’s residence away, and from her current position, she could neither see nor hear anything unusual.

It seemed the fire wasn’t that serious. Chu Qianchen thought as she turned around and instructed Hu Po, “Go inform the eldest young miss. I’ll go check on the concubine and then head to the theater later. Don’t disturb anyone else.”

Hu Po acknowledged, and Chu Qianchen followed the blue-clad maid toward the concubine’s Qing Hui Courtyard.

The two hurried to Qing Hui Courtyard, where the courtyard was in chaos. Servants were gathered in the yard, some shouting to fetch water, while others rushed about in a flurry of activity.

Just as Chu Qianchen had guessed, the fire wasn’t large, but white smoke was drifting from the direction of the inner room, creating a misty haze.

A round-faced young maid rushed over, her face pale with worry, and reported, “Second Miss, the concubine is still inside and hasn’t come out.” The maid was sweating profusely.

Chu Qianchen quickly wet a handkerchief with water provided by a nearby servant, covering her mouth and nose. She followed the maid inside, where the room was filled with a faint white smoke, resembling a fog.

“Second Miss, the concubine is in there!” The maid, leading the way, pointed to a door curtain embroidered with a pool of white lotuses.

The young maid walked faster and faster, while Chu Qianchen slowed her pace, her mind clear.

If she had still been uncertain when she was outside the room, now she was sure.

This was a ploy to gain sympathy.

With such a small fire, Concubine Jiang could have easily walked out of the room, but she chose to stay inside. What was her reason for doing so?!

Chu Qianchen suddenly felt disinterested and stopped walking.

She wanted to leave, but before she could turn around, she changed her mind.

The door curtain gently swayed, and the white lotus flowers embroidered on it danced gracefully, their beauty almost captivating.

Chu Qianchen's gaze lingered on the curtain for a moment before she continued walking inside.

The Prince had once told her that when faced with a situation, one should not run away. Life, like rowing against the current, requires progress or risk falling back.

Only by confronting the truth could one handle it calmly.

The essence of avoidance was nothing more than insecurity and cowardice.

The Prince’s words had always been so sharp and direct. In her previous life, she had been just as he described—lacking self-confidence and courage, unable to fight or resist.

Chu Qianchen walked steadily into the room.

Inside, the white smoke lingered, obscuring her vision, and the air was heavy with heat.

The canopy bed’s rain-blue bed curtains were on fire, while Concubine Jiang sat by the window on the other side, nervously wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

Her maid, Qing Yan, softly advised, "Madam, you should leave quickly. If the fire spreads here, it will be too late."

Concubine Jiang gently replied, "I won't leave. The Madam has confined me, and I cannot go against her will."

Her eyes were slightly red, with a soft and charming gaze that seemed to express a kind of delicate, sorrowful beauty.

As the door curtain was pulled up, Concubine Jiang looked toward Chu Qianchen. Her eyes instantly brightened.

"Chen Jie’er!"

"I... I thought you wouldn’t care whether I lived or died."

Her voice trembled, soft and husky, and large tears rolled down her cheeks like dew on petals after rain, pure and beautiful.

"Chen Jie’er, I know you are close to the Madam now."

"The Madam is your legitimate mother, and she has control over your future. I... I shouldn’t interfere. I should be happy for you."

She choked up slightly, her voice faltering. "But you are my daughter, the daughter I carried for ten months... I can’t bear to let you go... Chen Jie’er, you haven’t come to see me for so long..."

"I have nothing left, and Cui Mama has died..."

Concubine Jiang cried even harder, her body trembling, her tear-filled eyes staring at Chu Qianchen. She gently wiped her tears with the handkerchief, her voice filled with sorrow as she said, "Cui Mama was brought here from the Jiang family. She served me since I was young. She once cared for me with all her heart, and later, she also took care of you and your brother."

"This time, she ended up like this because of you..." Concubine Jiang’s voice was filled with bitterness, and an overwhelming sadness radiated from her.

Qing Yan interjected, "Second Miss, you don’t know, do you?"

"That day, Cui Mama died from slamming into the pillar, but before she passed, she kept thinking of you. She did this foolish thing because she cared for you..."

"Now that she’s dead, I shouldn’t speak ill of her..."

Qing Yan wiped her own eyes with a handkerchief.

When Chu Qianchen heard this, her heart finally stirred.

According to Qing Yan, before Cui Mama’s death, she had been vocal about her actions, claiming that everything she had done was to defend her?!

Chu Qianchen felt a touch of emotion, but it wasn’t for Cui Mama—it was for her legitimate mother, Shen Shi.

At that time, Cui Mama had still mentioned her, but her legitimate mother had never asked her about it, treating her as if nothing had changed.

Chu Qianchen felt a warm current in her heart.

She had never expected to feel this kind of trust from the Chu family in this life.

The thirteen-year-old version of her in her past life had truly been blind in both heart and vision.

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar Concubine Jiang before her, dressed in a water-green gown with a face as pale as snow and untouched by makeup, she looked so pitiful.

"Chen Jie’er!" Concubine Jiang looked up at her, tears filling her eyes once again. Her long lashes were dotted with beads of tears.

She reached out for Chu Qianchen’s sleeve, but Chu Qianchen stepped aside, avoiding her touch. Concubine Jiang looked as though she had been stabbed, her face turning even paler. "Chen Jie’er... have you abandoned me, your real mother?"

"I carried you for ten months..."

Tears once again welled up in Concubine Jiang’s eyes.

Inside the room, the bed curtains had already burned halfway, and the flames were heating up the air, making the temperature rise.

The white smoke in the air grew denser, causing Chu Qianchen’s eyes to sting slightly.

But she still didn’t blink, her gaze firmly fixed on Concubine Jiang.

Yes, she was her real mother. They shared the same blood, and they should have been the closest people to each other...

Looking back on her past life, Chu Qianchen felt as though it had been a lifetime ago. In her previous life, she had truly never seen through her birth mother.

After a few moments of silence, Chu Qianchen turned her gaze towards the burning bed curtains in the distance and spoke coldly with a hint of detachment, “So, did the Concubine set the fire on purpose?”

“…?” Concubine Jiang blinked in surprise.

Chu Qianchen let out a self-deprecating smile, turned around, and said, “You should reflect on your actions. I’m leaving now.”

“Second Miss!” Qing Yan couldn’t help but call out.

Concubine Jiang didn’t even notice the handkerchief slipping from her fingers as she gazed at Chu Qianchen’s back, her eyes deep as a quiet pool of water.

“Chen Jie’er!”

Concubine Jiang suddenly stood up, wanting to chase after her.

At that moment, the bed curtains caught fire completely, and the scorching flames spread from the bed to the rest of the room, turning the small space into a furnace.

Suddenly, one of the copper hooks for the curtains fell from mid-air, landing on the nightstand and then rebounding to hit Concubine Jiang on the back of her foot.

The copper hook was so hot that it felt like an iron pressing against her skin through fabric when it struck her left foot.

Concubine Jiang cried out in pain, this time truly feeling the burn, the searing heat making it feel as if her foot were going to catch fire. She staggered a bit.

Fortunately, Qing Yan quickly supported her.

Chu Qianchen paused and looked back at Concubine Jiang. Her hands instinctively clenched, but in the end, she did not go over.

“Shan’er!” A voice rang out from outside, filled with anxiety.

The next moment, the door curtain was roughly pulled aside, and Chu Lingxiao, wearing a dark blue brocade robe, rushed in frantically.

His handsome face was full of worry, and he didn’t even notice that Chu Qianchen was there. His eyes were fixed solely on Concubine Jiang.

Seeing Qing Yan gently supporting the pained Concubine Jiang, Chu Lingxiao asked nervously, “Shan’er, what happened?”

Qing Yan quickly answered for her mistress, “Lord, the Madam’s foot was burned by the red-hot copper hook…”

“Lord, I’m fine,” Concubine Jiang croaked, her eyes full of tears.

The three words she spoke were soft and full of emotion, sounding weak, enduring, yet strong.

Chu Lingxiao’s heart ached even more. “Shan’er, don’t be strong.”

He said as he wrapped one arm around Concubine Jiang’s waist and the other behind her knees, easily lifting her up in his arms.

“Lord!” Concubine Jiang gasped and hooked her arm around his neck, her body weakly leaning against him, her eyes sparkling.

Chu Lingxiao carried Concubine Jiang out of the room, not once seeing Chu Qianchen. He rushed in and out of the room in a hurry.

Watching this scene unfold, Chu Qianchen finally understood.

So this was it!

She had overestimated herself. In this drama, she was never the main character. She was barely a minor character who could only sing a few lines.

Chu Qianchen looked at the affectionate couple, suddenly feeling utterly disinterested.

The Prince had been right; one mustn’t run away from problems. If she hadn’t walked this path, how would she have seen everything so clearly?

Chu Qianchen walked briskly out of the inner room. Outside, the servants were circling around Chu Lingxiao and Concubine Jiang, while the maidservants who had come to put out the fire had only just arrived, carrying buckets of water into the room.

One bucket after another of water was thrown onto the burning bed.

"Splash, splash…"

Chu Qianchen pushed aside the noisy sounds from the Clear Radiance Courtyard and walked leisurely forward. She passed through winding corridors, circled around a pond, and strolled along a winding path.

She didn’t know where she could go. The Chu family had never been a place where she could feel at home, neither in her past life nor in this one...

“Chen Jie’er.”

She didn’t know how much time had passed before an elegant and gentle voice called out to her.

Chu Qianchen looked in the direction of the voice and realized she had once again arrived at the garden. Ahead, Shen Shi was sitting by the lakeside pavilion, leaning on the railing and smiling at her. Only Chen Mama was by her side.

There was a steaming cup of flower tea on the table behind her, looking calm and peaceful.

Today was the old lady’s birthday banquet, but Chu Qianchen hadn’t expected her mother to still find time to relax in the midst of it all.

A faint smile curled on her lips, and she quickly walked over.

“Mother.” Chu Qianchen bowed slightly and sat down.

“What are you doing here alone?” Shen Shi asked with a smile. “Aren’t you with the others?”

“It seems there was a fire in Aunt's room. I go to take a look,” Chu Qianchen said, with a hint of a rough edge to her voice that she didn’t even notice.

Shen Shi had already heard from the servants about the leak in Qinghui Courtyard, but she hadn’t paid much attention and had forgotten about it for the moment.

“How is your Concubine?” Shen Shi casually asked.

Chu Qianchen smiled lightly and replied, “Mother need not worry. The bed curtains in the inner room burned, but she’s fine.”

To Chu Qianchen, Concubine Jiang’s foot being burned by the copper hook was nothing serious, almost like a scratch.

However, Concubine Jiang had always cared about her appearance. If a scar remained on her skin, it would be interesting to see whether she regretted her actions.

Shen Shi looked at Chu Qianchen, who seemed unfazed, showing no sign of sadness about Concubine Jiang’s injury. Yet, it was this very calmness that made Shen Shi feel an inexplicable sense of sympathy, as though something were gnawing at her heart.

After a pause, Chu Qianchen added, “Father has already gone over there. Aunt has achieved her goal.”

Having lived two lives, Chu Qianchen had once thought she had already let go of everything. She had long since figured out what kind of person Concubine Jiang was, especially after meeting Gu Jue in her past life.

So, in this life, she never planned to question Concubine Jiang or seek any maternal love or affection from her. She simply observed coldly, doing what she believed was right, hoping to live without regrets.

However, in just this short month, she realized that the Concubine Jiang she had understood in her past life was only a fraction of the real person.

Watching her mother repeatedly cross new lines, Chu Qianchen felt an indescribable frustration.

This feeling was one she had no one to confide in.

Shen Shi was momentarily stunned. Though Chu Qianchen didn’t explicitly say it, her meaning was clear—she was implying that Concubine Jiang was faking her injury, that the “fire” was all part of Concubine Jiang’s own schemes.

Shen Shi had already suspected as much but hadn’t bothered to look into it. Chu Qianchen’s words confirmed her suspicions.

Truth be told, Shen Shi wasn’t surprised that Chu Qianchen could see through Concubine Jiang’s intentions. The girl had always been clever and perceptive. What surprised her was how openly Chu Qianchen had told her.

It seemed that the girl trusted her.

Thinking this, Shen Shi’s heart warmed.

Chen Mama was pouring tea for Chu Qianchen when she heard this, pausing for a moment before continuing as if nothing had happened.

“Second Miss, please drink some tea!” Chen Mama personally served her a cup of rose tea, her gaze more complex. The Second Miss was certainly sharp, but to have such a mother…

Shen Shi hesitated to speak, her gaze softening as she looked at Chu Qianchen.

Chu Qianchen’s expression remained calm and composed, as if she were talking about an insignificant person.

But Shen Shi knew how much Chu Qianchen had relied on Concubine Jiang in the past, and how Concubine Jiang’s actions had repeatedly hurt her, pushing her farther away.

Shen Shi couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the girl. Any child would naturally feel some attachment to their birth mother, and for Chu Qianchen to be so calm as she spoke, it must have caused her much inner turmoil.

She was only thirteen years old!

Suddenly, Shen Shi stood up and moved to sit beside Chu Qianchen.

Chu Qianchen froze for a moment, then looked up, and before she could react, Shen Shi gently pulled her into an embrace.

Chu Qianchen’s shoulders stiffened, and she felt somewhat uncomfortable.

In two lifetimes, no one had ever been this close to her...

Shen Shi lightly patted her shoulder again and again. Chu Qianchen could feel her warm body through the layers of fabric and the scent of fresh orchids wafted from her.

Unconsciously, Chu Qianchen relaxed, her brows softening.

This feeling wasn’t so bad after all.

“Mother,” Chu Qianchen lowered her gaze, looking docile like a lamb, and murmured, “Do you think there are mothers who don’t love their children…”

Shen Shi’s heart skipped a beat, and the sound of her own voice echoed faintly in her ears: “Ah Wan, do you think there are mothers who don’t love their children?”

Not long ago, she had asked the same question.

Looking at the girl nestled in her arms, Shen Shi felt an emotion she couldn’t quite describe surge in her heart.

“Chen…”

She was about to speak again when a distant voice interrupted her: “Mother!”

Chu Qianhuang walked briskly from the southeast, slightly out of breath but with a bright smile on her face.

“Mother, Second Sister, you’re here!”

She subtly glanced at Chu Qianchen, who was nestled against Shen Shi, a dark glint flashing in her eyes.

Chu Qianchen lifted her head from Shen Shi’s embrace, feeling a bit shy and reluctant.

“Mother, you’re so nice to Second Sister. I’m getting a little jealous,” Chu Qianhuang said as she sat down on the other side of Shen Shi, affectionately linking her arm with Shen Shi’s and playfully pouting.

Shen Shi, amused by her daughter’s antics, lightly stroked her temple and smiled. “I’m also very good to you.”

Chu Qianhuang nodded vigorously, displaying a childish shyness. Then, she changed the subject. “Mother, Second Sister, it’s almost time for the banquet to start. I came to call you over.”

“Let’s go then.” Shen Shi stood up gracefully, smoothing her gown.

Chu Qianchen and Chu Qianhuang followed Shen Shi as she first went to greet the matriarch, then invited everyone to move to the banquet hall.

The guests today included the Second Prince, Gu Nanzhao, several Concubines from the Marquis family who had recently been married, along with their husbands and children, filling the hall with lively chatter and excitement.

It was only Chu Lingxiao who arrived a little later, dressed in a brand new lake blue robe. Everyone assumed he had gone to change clothes and didn’t pay much attention to him, including the matriarch.

Today, she was the birthday celebrant, and neither Shen Shi nor Chu Lingxiao, nor the servants of the Marquis family, mentioned the fire in Qinghui Courtyard to the matriarch.

At noon, the banquet began on time, with a variety of delicacies, from mountain treasures and seafood to chicken, duck, fish, and vegetables, all served up by the maids. The dishes were abundant and flavorful.

In addition, Shen Shi had arranged for musicians to play the guqin and pipa in a pavilion outside.

The guests ate, drank, and chatted, occasionally enjoying tea and listening to the music, all in high spirits and full of praise.

The celebration lasted until the afternoon, well past the midpoint of the hour.

After the banquet, Shen Shi, along with Chu Qianhuang and Chu Qianchen, saw the guests off.

"Big Sister, we’ll leave now and come visit another day," a beautiful woman in her late twenties smiled as she bid farewell to Shen Shi. Her gaze unintentionally lingered on Chu Qianchen, then she turned to a younger woman in her mid-twenties, “Fifth Sister, since we’re heading the same way, let me escort you.”

“Third Sister, I won’t be polite then.” The young woman, Chu Wu Niang, readily climbed into the carriage with Chu San Niang.

Inside the carriage, Chu Wu Niang couldn’t help but raise the curtain, casting another glance at Chu Qianchen. In a voice only sisters could hear, she whispered, “Third Sister, don’t you think Big Sister has been treating Second Sister especially differently today?”

The two sisters exchanged a look of mutual understanding.

“Yeah,” Chu San Niang nodded, “It seemed no different from how she treats Huang Sister.”

After a pause, Chu Wu Niang lowered her voice further. “I heard that the Empress intends to choose a concubine from among her nieces for the Second Prince. Do you think it’s true...?”

“Nine times out of ten.” Chu San Niang nodded, “Big Sister must be teaching her how to be a proper hostess. This girl was raised by her Concaubine, who never taught her the proper manners. If she became the Second Prince’s concubine just like this, it would be a disgrace to our Chu family!”

“Exactly!”

As the sisters spoke, their eyes glanced through the carriage window at the Second Prince, Gu Nanzhao, who was walking towards them surrounded by several young men and women from the Chu family.

Gu Nanzhao approached Shen Shi with a polite smile, greeting her, “Aunt, I was wondering if I could take a few of my younger cousins out for a walk.”

“Mother, it’s still early, we’d like to stroll around the area for a bit,” Chu Qianhuang added with a bright smile.

It was a small matter, so Shen Shi naturally wouldn’t refuse the Second Prince’s request. She smiled and nodded, “You young people go ahead and enjoy yourselves.”

“Huang'er, don’t play too much. Be sure to return before curfew,” Shen Shi reminded her daughter.

Chu Qianhuang cheerfully agreed, her bright and lively demeanor showing through.

Chu Qianling was also present, her face still covered by a veil, but with an expression of happiness. Her right hand instinctively touched the bandaged left hand.

Her cousin had been so kind to her, even taking her to seek medical help.

But...

Chu Qianling lifted her gaze to look at Chu Qianchen, who stood by Shen Shi’s side. Her expression darkened slightly.

Gu Nanzhao smiled gently, his smile as warm as spring, “Aunt, please don’t worry. I’ll make sure to safely bring my cousins back…” As he spoke, his gaze turned toward Chu Qianchen, hoping to invite her to join them.

Chu Qianchen noticed his look and immediately stepped back, positioning herself behind Shen Shi.

She had no interest in him and wouldn’t allow even the slightest misunderstanding.

(End of chapter)