Su Hanchu stepped forward and slapped Chen Siyu across the face.
“If you dare insult me again, I won’t mind giving you another slap.”
The commotion was so loud that the elders of the Chen Family naturally took notice.
Chen Siyu had never been slapped in her life. Covering her face, she let out a sharp, furious scream.
“Su Hanchu, I’ll fight you to the death!”
She charged at Su Hanchu with her whole body.
Su Hanchu didn’t even take her assault seriously. She simply shifted her right foot to the side, turned her body slightly, and easily dodged Chen Siyu’s charge. Then, she raised her foot and kicked out.
Chen Siyu was sent flying two steps away, landing face-first in the dirt.
Her face and clothes were covered in soil.
“Ahhh! Su Hanchu, you bitch… I’ll kill you!”
Just as Chen Siting was about to make a move, Su Hanchu shot her a sharp glare. “Would you like to try too, Second Miss Chen?”
Chen Siting could only go help Chen Siyu up. “Elder Sister, are you alright? Are you hurt? Let’s go ask Grandmother to make things right!”
Chen Siyu’s mother, Chen Fangshi, was the first to rush over to protect her daughter.
“Su Hanchu, how dare you hit my daughter!” she shouted, raising her hand to strike Su Hanchu.
Su Hanchu caught her wrist. “Your own daughter has no shame, throwing herself at me time and again for a beating. How can you blame me for it?”
The Chen Family matriarch approached, leaning on her cane, accompanied by two other Chen daughters-in-law and Jun Moye’s mother.
“Outrageous! Utterly outrageous! How dare you lay hands on your elders! Wen Qiao, aren’t you going to discipline this insolent daughter-in-law of yours?”
Seeing Su Hanchu’s defiance, Chen Wenqiao hurriedly scolded her.
“Su Hanchu, apologize to Siyu at once!”
Su Hanchu glanced at Chen Wenqiao. It seemed her mother-in-law was determined to side with her own family, regardless of right or wrong.
“Mother, your daughter-in-law has done nothing wrong and will not apologize.”
Chen Wenqiao hadn’t expected her words to carry so little weight. Coupled with the humiliation of falling from the lofty status of Princess Consort Qin to a commoner in exile, her frustration boiled over.
“And you call yourself a daughter of a great family? You have no manners or upbringing whatsoever. Today, I, your mother-in-law, will teach you a proper lesson!”
She stepped forward, raising her hand to strike.
Su Hanchu couldn’t help but frown.
This was Jun Moye’s mother, her legitimate mother-in-law. She couldn’t possibly fight back, but she also couldn’t just stand there and take the beating.
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
“Mother…” Jun Moye approached with difficulty, supported by Liu Shan.
Seeing her son, Chen Wenqiao hurried over to help him.
“Ye’er, why aren’t you resting properly?”
Jun Moye glanced at Su Hanchu before addressing his mother.
“Mother, I’ve been watching this whole time. Siyu provoked her first. Hanchu did nothing wrong.”
Chen Wenqiao’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“Child, Siyu is your cousin. How can you side with an outsider?”
Jun Moye took two more steps and stood beside Su Hanchu.
“Mother, Hanchu is my wife, not an outsider.”
Hearing his words of defense, Su Hanchu looked up at him. It seemed this man still had a clear sense of right and wrong.
Seeing that she couldn’t get justice for her daughter, Chen Fangshi began to make a scene.
"So Jun Moye, are you saying my Siyu is an outsider? All these years, how has the Chen Family treated you? After so many years of support, has the Chen Family now become outsiders?"
Chen Laofuren's face also turned extremely unpleasant.
Jun Moye frowned slightly, a troubled expression appearing on his face.
"Grandmother, Eldest Aunt, I am not denying the Chen Family. I remember the support the Chen Family has given me all these years. But Hanchu is my lawfully wedded wife. For Siyu to repeatedly pick fights like this is rather unreasonable."
Seeing Jun Moye defending Su Hanchu, Chen Siyu's tears immediately fell, looking at Jun Moye with a pitiful expression.
"Cousin, how can you say that about me?"
Hearing this, Jun Moye turned to look at Chen Siyu.
"Siyu, this is exile, not the imperial city. Behave yourself and save some energy for the journey."
Then he turned to Chen Laofuren and cupped his hands respectfully.
"Grandmother, if Hanchu has done anything to displease you, I apologize on her behalf. My body has suffered from the caning and can barely stand. I will take Hanchu to rest now."
Only then did he look at Su Hanchu. "What are you standing there for? Help me over to rest under that tree."
Su Hanchu hurriedly reached out to support him. "Oh, alright."
Seeing this, Chen Laofuren could say no more, only glaring at Chen Wenqiao.
"Can't even manage your own daughter-in-law properly."
Chen Wenqiao quickly supported the old lady.
"Mother, don't be angry. I will find an opportunity to discipline her properly."
Come to think of it, this was the second time Jun Moye had helped her. Well, since he had helped her, she should help him too. Thinking this, Su Hanchu supported him as they walked toward the distant woods.
"Um, Jun Moye, I need to relieve myself. Can you accompany me over there?"
Jun Moye spoke softly upon hearing this.
"Let's go."
The husband and wife walked toward the small woods.
Jun Moye glanced at Su Hanchu. Her face was small as a palm, still carrying a hint of youthful innocence, but her eyes were exceptionally bright.
He thought about how right after the wedding ceremony, disaster struck. His father was suddenly summoned to the palace, and he followed. He never even lifted her bridal veil. A pang of guilt stirred in his heart.
"In the future, ignore whatever the Chen Family says. Just stay by my side."
Su Hanchu supported him as they walked slowly.
"I never intended to cause trouble, but I'm not afraid of it either. If someone deliberately seeks trouble, there's nothing I can do. As long as you don't side with them, they're just clowns. I don't even take them seriously."
When they reached a place with deep grass, Su Hanchu looked around and, seeing no one, helped Jun Moye lean against a tree.
"Wait for me a moment."
Then she walked a bit farther away. After taking care of her needs, she took out a small bundle and wrapped medicine, broken silver, and gauze inside one of Jun Moye's long gowns.
She hid it inside her cloak. Her body was only fifteen years old and slender. The near-winter cloak was thick and wide, making it plausible to conceal an unseen bundle.
After Jun Moye took care of his own needs, he waited for quite a while before seeing Su Hanchu return.
"We should head back quickly. Things can be bought here. I still have a jade pendant on me. Take it later and exchange it for silver to buy whatever you need."
Upon hearing this, Su Hanchu reached out to undo his belt.
"Not so fast, take off your clothes. I'll apply the medicine for you. I just went to Mother's side, and she gave me a bottle of Golden Sore Ointment."
Seeing her directly start to undo his clothes, Jun Moye's face flushed red in an instant. He reached out to stop her hand.
"No need, just give me the medicine. I'll apply it myself…"