The carriage arrived at the Yongding Marquis’s residence. Supported by the First Madam, the Old Madam got off, storming back into the mansion in anger. The servants at the gate were so frightened they didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.
As soon as Chu Muqing entered Shou’an Hall, the Old Madam shouted at her, “Kneel.”
Hearing this, Chu Muqing immediately knelt, her back straight. Bai Zhi knelt slightly behind her.
“I originally thought you knew how to see the bigger picture, but I never expected you to be so ignorant of what is important. You were raised in Hezhou all these years, yet the Second Branch raised you to be so petty. Even the Third Prince did not pursue the matter of those two palace maids, yet you insisted on holding onto it. Truly disgraceful!” The Old Madam was so furious that she panted heavily on the grand master’s chair.
Earlier, Concubine Rong had told her that she preferred Chu Muqing. Though she was surprised it wasn’t Chu Shuran and felt it a pity, they were both daughters of the Marquis’s household, and Chu Muqing had behaved smartly and sensibly since returning, so she hadn’t objected. Yet as soon as she turned around, Chu Muqing caused such trouble.
What kind of place was Chuxiu Palace? How could a young lady casually speak nonsense there? What if Concubine Rong became displeased with the Yongding Marquis’s household because of Chu Muqing and refused to form a marriage alliance?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she grew. Not wanting to hear Chu Muqing explain, she directly declared, “You are to be confined for three months and copy Buddhist scriptures one hundred times. Leave.”
Chu Muqing obediently replied, “I understand, Grandmother,” respectfully, then left with Bai Zhi.
Behind her, Chu Shuran’s gentle voice came, “Grandmother, don’t get angry and harm your health. Let me massage your shoulders.”
Chuxiu Palace
After the people of the Yongding Marquis’s household left, Concubine Rong sat lost in thought, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest. Hongyu stood by quietly, knowing her mistress was deep in thought.
After the events in the Imperial Garden, she couldn’t help but admire the Marquis’s eldest young lady. Truly intelligent and perceptive, if she were to marry the Third Prince, the prince’s prospects would surely soar.
While both mistress and maid were thinking, a palace maid outside announced the arrival of the Third Prince.
He entered and bowed. “Mother.”
Concubine Rong smiled and motioned for him to rise, then asked, “You met your cousins today, what did you think?”
The Third Prince thought for a moment. “I’ve seen Second Cousin and Fourth Cousin before, and they’re no different from usual. But this Eldest Cousin…” He paused, calculation glinting in his eyes. “Mother, seeing her today surprised me greatly. I had thought she might be useless, but it seems I was wrong.”
Concubine Rong smiled in satisfaction. Her son had always been brilliant, far better than that foolish Fourth Prince. He possessed vision, strategy, and ambition, everything except military backing. Yet the Fourth Prince dared compete with him simply because he had General Ningyuan’s family behind him.
“Today I tested her a little. She suggested having those two palace maids transferred here to Chuxiu Palace for punishment. Do you know what that means?”
The Third Prince bowed slightly. “Please enlighten me, Mother.”
She helped him up. “You don’t understand the hidden schemes of the harem. If the matter ended as it was, those two palace maids wouldn’t survive a month. You are kind and spared them today, but that mother-and-son pair won’t. However, if I take them into my palace, that pair won’t be able to easily deal with them, and those girls will keep their lives.”
The Third Prince looked doubtful. “Could it just be a coincidence?”
Concubine Rong smiled. “If it were someone else, perhaps I’d think so. But judging by her actions today, she clearly intended to protect those girls.” She paused. “Kind-hearted, yet not foolish. It has been a long time since I’ve seen someone like that.”
“Then… Mother, have you decided to make her my primary consort?”
“There’s no rush. The Duke of Dingguo hasn’t returned to the capital yet. We can decide after he does.”
Chu Muqing knew nothing of what the imperial concubine and her son were discussing. After returning to Tangtao Courtyard, she sat by the window staring at the peach branches outside, lost in thought, until the sun set and the moon rose, and the branches were no longer visible, only a bright full moon.
Bai Zhi, thinking she was upset about her confinement, asked anxiously, “Miss, why did you say that in Concubine Rong’s palace today?”
Her young lady had always been kind and treated servants well. She must have had another reason for deliberately making things difficult for those two maids.
Chu Muqing didn’t answer, still gazing vacantly out the window.
She thought that she simply didn’t want to become someone like Chu Shuran. Those two little palace maids had indeed done wrong, but their crimes were not deserving of death. Having lived again, she had always believed in repaying hatred with hatred and grudges with grudges, never acting soft-hearted, but only toward those who were truly her enemies.
Today she knew those two would die. If she watched them die without helping, how would she be any different from the Chu Shuran of her previous life? Back then, if someone had been willing to save Chu Jin’an, would he not have had to die?
But she hadn’t lost her reason just because she wanted to save them. She knew Concubine Rong wouldn’t be angry, in fact, Concubine Rong’s question was most likely asked because she wanted to hear that very answer. Otherwise, there would have been no need to ask. Understanding Concubine Rong’s intent, she gave the response that Concubine Rong wanted, and Concubine Rong complied with her suggestion.
Since Bai Zhi didn’t receive an answer, she didn’t keep asking. Instead, she complained, “We finally returned home, and now we’re confined again. Three months is far too long.”
Chu Muqing smiled. “At most, no more than ten days. Grandmother will let us out.”
Bai Zhi was puzzled. “Why, Miss?”
Chu Muqing thought to herself, Of course, because her maternal Grandmother and Uncle will be back in just a few days. In her previous life, not long after they returned, the Duke of Dingguo’s household sent an invitation to the Yongding Marquis’s residence, asking her to visit. It was just that their meeting back then didn’t end happily.
If she hadn’t known that her maternal Grandmother would be returning soon, she wouldn’t have acted like that today. Though Concubine Rong wouldn’t blame her, her own grandmother would only think she had behaved improperly, and punishment would have been unavoidable.
People may help others when it is within their ability, but they must never place themselves in danger because of it.
She smiled again. It was actually a good thing, she didn’t feel like dealing with the hypocrites in the household anyway. Each and every one of them was disgusting. Now that she stayed in her courtyard and refused to go out, they also couldn’t come disturb her.
In the following days, no one really came to visit. Only the Second Madam sent over some pastries, Chu Jin’an secretly came to see her once, and even Chu Ningchu, who always loved coming to her courtyard, didn’t show up.
Thus, Tangtao Courtyard remained quiet for several days.
A few days later, Bai Zhi rushed into the inner room anxiously. “Miss, the Old Madam is asking for you.”
Chu Muqing put down the book in her hand. “Let’s go.”
She thought it must be someone from her maternal grandmother’s side who had come, just like in her previous life.
She was eager to see her maternal grandmother, so her steps were a little quicker, though her bearing remained calm and composed. Bai Zhi followed closely behind her.
When they arrived at Shou’an Hall, it was indeed Nanny Liu standing at the entrance. Seeing Chu Muqing, she said, “Eldest Miss, you’ve finally arrived. The Old Madam is waiting for you in the inner room.”
Chu Muqing nodded slightly and stepped inside.