Chu Zhao galloped into the house, startling the entire Chu family.
Chu Lan was not home, Chu Tang was still running behind, and Aunt Jiang Shi was tending to the weary Chu Ke.
Hearing that Chu Zhao had returned, Jiang Shi grew even angrier.
"Your father is just like that—harsh words but a soft heart," she fumed. "Why bother having someone release her? If she wants to stay in jail, let her."
Chu Ke lay on the soft bed, being fed a honey fruit by a beautiful maid, and lazily remarked, "She doesn’t mind the disgrace, but we do."
Jiang Shi sneered, "She is she, and we are we. As long as you strive to do well, no matter where you go, you won’t be dragged down by her." Speaking of her own children, her face lit up with a smile as she personally fed Chu Ke a piece of fruit. "Your sister is still treated with great respect at the Liang residence, almost living and eating together with Miss Liang."
Not only was she unaffected, but her relationship with them had grown even closer than before.
Indeed, with Chu Zhao as a comparison, everyone preferred Chu Tang even more.
"Mother, go and check on her quickly," Chu Ke urged. "Since she’s back, it’s the perfect time to drag her to the Liang family."
Although she claimed it wouldn’t affect them, having to apologize to others was still an unpleasant task. Jiang Shi sighed deeply, "My fate is truly unfortunate. How did I end up with such a sinful nuisance?"
After instructing Chu Ke to rest well, she stepped out, waiting for Chu Zhao to pay her respects. However, after finishing a cup of tea, there was still no sign of her.
"What is she doing?" Jiang Shi asked. "Does she need to bathe and burn incense first?"
A servant was sent to inquire, and shortly after, she returned with a strange expression and said, "Miss A Zhao has gone to rest."
Rest? Jiang Shi was stunned for a moment before standing up abruptly. "How can she still sleep? Because of her, the entire family has been on edge, unable to eat or sleep peacefully." She pressed a hand to her chest. "She infuriates me."
The servants hurriedly gathered around to comfort her, patting her back. "Don’t be angry, Madam." "She grew up without guidance and has no sense of propriety." "Madam can teach her slowly."
"Teach her? Now that she’s all grown up and set in her ways, you want me to teach her?" Jiang Shi pressed her chest and said, "Back when the Old Madam was alive, she didn’t disdain her background and treated her as one of our own, personally raising her. But Second Uncle refused, saying he would teach his own child. Later, I tried to arrange a marriage for him—what a fine girl she was, someone who could have helped raise the child properly. But Second Uncle refused again. And now? This child, raised like this, has been dumped on me. How am I supposed to teach her?"
When it came to Second Master’s affairs, the grievances of the Eldest Master and his wife could fill three days and three nights. The servants, having heard it all countless times, hurried to console and flatter her.
"If I don’t take care of it, who will?" Jiang Shi sighed deeply. "After all, as an aunt, I still bear the title of 'mother.'"
With that, she led her attendants to find Chu Zhao.
Before they could reach her, Chu Tang returned, her face flushed, panting heavily, and drenched in fragrant sweat.
"Mother!" she called out, stopping her. "Don’t go looking for her. Chu Zhao has gone mad—she’s already been to the Liang residence."
Jiang Shi quickly steadied her, too distracted to listen properly as she carefully wiped the sweat from Chu Tang’s face, her eyes filled with concern. "Why are you running like this? Didn’t the Liang family provide a carriage? You should have sent for our family’s carriage—"
Chu Tang pulled her hand down. "Mother, how could I care about carriages at a time like this? Chu Zhao caused a huge scene at the Liang residence’s gate. Not only did she not apologize, but she acted as if she were the one demanding an apology, even threatening to sue the Liang family."
As Chu Tang recounted what Chu Zhao had said, Jiang Shi and the surrounding servants and maids were shocked and incredulous.
"She really has gone mad," Jiang Shi could only conclude. What other explanation could there be for such words?That is Minister Liang!
Moreover, Miss Liang is currently in marriage negotiations. Although the Liang family hasn't publicly announced it and has been keeping it under wraps, nothing remains secret in the capital. Even the slightest movement in inner households spreads like wildfire. The rumored match is said to be with the Xie family of Dongyang—the very family of the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess is destined to become the Empress—
At this point, Chu Tang couldn't help but interject, "Mother, Miss Liang's marriage—"
Jiang Shi had already regained her composure and cut her off: "Don't concern yourself with Miss Liang's marriage affairs. If she continues causing scenes like this, neither you nor your brothers will have any marriage prospects left. She'll offend everyone, and we won't even be able to remain in the capital."
She then called for the maidservants.
"Fetch ropes. Come with me to tie her up and deliver this lawless, ill-mannered creature to the Liang residence."
The maidservants acknowledged the order, calling for assistance and fetching ropes amidst the commotion. But before the group could depart, Chu Lan returned and shouted to stop the chaos upon seeing the disorder.
"What is going on here!" he snapped irritably.
Jiang Shi stepped forward: "Husband, it's terrible. Chu Zhao is truly going to be the death of our family." She recounted what had just happened.
"I'm going to personally tie her up and present her to Madam Liang. I'll throw away all dignity, kneel before Madam Liang—I'm beyond caring about shame now."
"Husband, you needn't go. You're the only one maintaining our family's dignity."
Chu Lan's face darkened, but strangely he showed no anger. Instead, he said, "There's no need to go. The Liang family won't receive us."
......
......
Chu Zhao resided in a small courtyard in the remote corner of the estate. To teach her proper decorum, Jiang Shi had assigned four maidservants and four serving women, creating constant bustle around her.
Of course, after Chu Zhao caused trouble and ran away, the servants had all dispersed. Today she returned so suddenly that no one had time to react. By the time they thought to follow her, A Le—whom Chu Zhao had previously dismissed—had actually followed her inside and closed the courtyard gate.
"No one is allowed to enter!" A Le called from inside. "The young mistress needs to rest."
The servants outside hadn't wanted to attend to this young mistress anyway, so they scattered in disarray.
A Le stood guard behind the gate, holding a door bolt, ready to hold the position single-handedly against thousands. But after waiting for a long time, Jiang Shi never arrived with her people.
"There won't be any trouble," Chu Zhao said, reclining on a rocking chair beneath the corridor. "Father said that nothing would happen when I returned, so nothing will happen."
She had never trusted her father before, always viewing him as a burden. She had tried every means to please others, believing everyone was more reliable than her father, completely unaware that he was actually the most dependable one.
What was even more laughable was that everyone knew this except her.
A Le watched Chu Zhao. Unlike the weak and pitiable figure during their journey, the young mistress now appeared indifferent yet deeply sorrowful.
"Young mistress," A Le said after some thought, praising, "you were so formidable earlier outside the Liang residence. You frightened them into silence."
This was more like it.
This was the young mistress she knew—the one who had never tolerated bullying back in the Border Commandery.
After coming to the capital, the young mistress had changed completely. Even when those young ladies spoke offensively, she would smile and serve them tea—
Instead of smiling at the compliment, Chu Zhao's sorrow deepened, her eyes filled with self-mockery.
"What's the use of being formidable now?" she said.
In that previous life, she had ultimately died so miserably, remaining a loser before the Liang family.
Both confused and saddened, A Le whispered, "If you're formidable now, you won't be bullied in the future."Chu Zhao looked at her. The past was beyond reach, but now that she had been given a second chance at life, she must never again end up in such a wretched state.
"Yes," she smiled at A Le. "From now on, we won't be bullied anymore."
......
......
"Master, is this matter just going to end like this?" Jiang Shi, who had been persuaded by Chu Lan to return to her room, asked angrily. "Do you know what she said earlier at the Liang family's doorstep?"
Chu Tang hurriedly repeated the incident once more.
Upon hearing this, Chu Lan fumed, "That girl is truly outrageous! Just like her father!" Yet he didn't stand up to have Chu Zhao tied up. Instead, his expression turned somewhat peculiar as he muttered, "So that's what Minister Liang heard at the time?"
Jiang Shi was puzzled. "What did you say, Master?"
Chu Lan let out a long sigh. "For Chu Zhao to do such a thing today—it's both strange and not strange, both unexpected and not unexpected."
He reached for the teacup on the table, but Chu Tang snatched it away first. "Father, don't drink tea for now. Please continue quickly."
Chu Lan wasn't the least bit angry. He gave his daughter a reproachful look. "Mischievous." Without asking for the tea back, he went on.
"Today when I went to see Minister Liang, my original intention was to tell him that A Zhao had been imprisoned by that petty official Deng Yi, and to ask Minister Liang to intervene and have her released."
"But when I arrived, Minister Liang wasn't there. They said he had been summoned to the palace."
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