"Father surely does not want today's events to be spread around." Chu Yunfei lowered her eyes and brushed off her sleeves, her tone exceptionally calm. "I am already a royal daughter-in-law; whether the Chu family's reputation is damaged or not does not have much influence on me. But Jiao'er has yet to be married off, and Eldest Brother has not yet entered officialdom. Father is currently at a critical moment in competing for the position of Minister of Revenue. If rumors unfavorable to the Chu family spread at this moment, I fear..."
Fear what?
Chu Yunfei did not finish her sentence, but Chu Yuanzhong understood.
He stared coldly at Chu Yunfei, a sharp icy blade seemingly flashing across the bottom of his eyes.
He finally understood what confidence she was relying on to act so ruthlessly upon returning home today; it turned out she had long since calculated that he could do nothing to her.
What a cunning scheme.
To actually use this set of tactics to deal with her own father.
Chu Yuanzhong slowly turned his head, looking at the disheveled and miserable Jiao'er, then at the weeping Concubine Chen, and finally, his gaze landed on the face of Madam Chu, who was sitting in the Main Seat. His eyes were gloomy, and his complexion was uncertain.
After a long while, he spoke in a cold voice: "Even if the hugging and holding were inappropriate, that is not Jiao'er's fault alone. Does Prince Zhan not have any responsibility?"
Madam Chu frowned. Is this old man trying to drag Prince Zhan into the water?
"Father is right." Chu Yunfei's expression was steady, her tone composed. "Both of them are at fault in this matter, so both must accept punishment."
Chu Yuanzhong narrowed his eyes, staring at this legitimate daughter without a word, suddenly realizing that she seemed to have changed significantly from before.
He said in a deep tone: "How do you want to punish Prince Zhan?"
"Please, Father, personally enter the palace and impeach him before His Majesty."
"What?" Chu Yuanzhong was stunned, almost thinking he had misheard. "You want me to impeach your husband?"
Concubine Chen also froze, looking at Chu Yunfei as if she were looking at a lunatic.
Is she crazy?
What woman would proactively ask to impeach her own husband?
Does she even know what she is saying?
"Father did not mishear; your daughter is indeed saying that." Chu Yunfei's expression was cold, clearly not joking. "Privately, as my husband, Rong Cang did not know how to avoid suspicion with my Concubine Sister, which is extremely irresponsible to me and the Chu family. Publicly, as a Prince holding Military Power, he should have led by example and considered the reputation of the Imperial Family and the military, yet he did such a foolish thing. Should he not receive some punishment?"
"You are crazy!" Chu Yuanzhong pointed at her, trembling with anger. "You are simply crazy!"
To impeach her own husband—she actually dared to say it.
Chu Yunfei raised an eyebrow: "Does Father think he should not be impeached?"
Chu Yuanzhong said angrily: "Even if Prince Zhan did something wrong, he is still your husband! Are you really going to destroy your own family for the sake of righteousness?"
"It is not that I want to destroy my family for righteousness, but that Father personally going to impeach him will demonstrate your upright character, your selfless official conduct, and also show His Majesty your responsibility in being brave enough to admit mistakes." Chu Yunfei's tone was neither humble nor arrogant, and calm. "When the Emperor sees Father's heartache and guilt, he will find it difficult to be overly harsh and will only punish Rong Cang; towards Father, he will instead be lenient."
Chu Yuanzhong's expression was gloomy as he watched this daughter without a word.
He really did not know what she was trying to do.
Even if she gave a thousand or ten thousand reasons, she still could not be the one to deal with her own husband. If it spread, what would it look like?
What benefit does impeaching Rong Cang have for her? What benefit does it have for the Chu family?
To make people think that today's inappropriate behavior was initiated by Rong Cang? To make people think Jiao'er was forced?
Or is it that Chu Yunfei is just angry that Rong Cang betrayed her and thinks that if Rong Cang is punished by the Emperor, he will be restrained in the future?
"If Father does not go, I will have people spread the news so that everyone knows Jiao'er seduced Rong Cang behind my back, making her unable to face anyone for the rest of her life." Chu Yunfei looked at him expressionlessly, her voice cold. "If the Chu family is discussed and pointed at at this juncture, the Minister position Father covets will likely become someone else's possession."
"You are presumptuous!" Chu Yuanzhong raised his hand in a rage, looking as if he were about to slap Chu Yunfei's face.
However, just as the slap swung halfway through the air, he unexpectedly met Chu Yunfei's cold and ruthless pupils. Chu Yuanzhong's heart skipped a beat, and he stiffened his movements.
"Does Father want to hit me?" Chu Yunfei's lips curled slightly, a smile that was not a smile. "Go ahead."
Chu Yuanzhong's complexion was ashen as he glared at her viciously. Suddenly, his hand turned, and he slapped Concubine Chen, who was closest to him: "Look at the good daughter you raised! You have truly lost all the face of the Chu family! Beat her! Beat her hard!"
After dropping these words, he angrily flicked his sleeves and walked out.
Concubine Chen was sent flying by the slap, let out a scream, and fell heavily to the ground: "Ah!"
The servants outside the hall were so terrified that their faces turned pale, and for a moment, they were silent as cicadas in winter.
Chu Yunfei walked unhurriedly to the hall door, looking far away at her father's departing figure.
It was she who had deliberately arranged for someone to reveal the news to her father just now, which was why he had rushed back so quickly, and why, after being back for only this short while, he had announced the total defeat of Concubine Chen and her daughter.
Such a result was already within her expectations.
For a man, the first priority in his heart will never be his wife and children, and of course, it will not be his beloved Concubine, but power and status.
As long as it concerns his official career and benefits, he can abandon anything.
So what if there is favor?
Chu Yunfei turned to look at her mother. The mother and daughter looked at each other in silence, only feeling that everything before them was exceptionally ridiculous.
The status of the Main wife and the legitimate daughter is unshakable, yet they insisted on provoking them brainlessly, thinking that they could do whatever they wanted just by having a little of a man's favor, to the point of causing such a big scene, yet it makes people feel... that winning was too easy.
"Fei'er said just now to give her another twenty." Madam Chu stood up and looked down at Chu Yun Jiao. "Finish the twenty rattan cane strikes, take her to the ancestral hall to kneel and reflect, and have Concubine Chen go along to accompany her."
As she said this, she stepped out.
Chu Yunfei turned her head and glanced at Concubine Chen.
Concubine Chen, who had always been arrogant and thought she could rely on her daughter to topple the Main wife, now had a swollen cheek, a broken lip, and the hairpins on her head had been knocked to the ground by her father's slap. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked so miserable and embarrassed.
Chu Yunfei curled her lips imperceptibly and turned to follow her mother.
The servants and maidservants standing outside the hall lowered their heads in unison to respectfully escort them. No one dared to speak. Only after Madam Chu and Chu Yunfei were out of sight did they disperse with lingering fear, each going to do their own work.
With this display of authority today, Madam Chu had completely regained the dignity of the Main wife that she had lost after not managing the household for many days. Starting today, Concubine Chen and Chu Yun Jiao would never be able to return to their former glory.
The mother and daughter walked towards the Begonia Residence in the Inner Courtyard. Madam Chu asked: "Are you returning to the Prince's Estate tonight?"
Chu Yunfei hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly: "Yes."
Madam Chu gave an "en" sound, her brow slightly furrowed: "Fei'er, do you really want your father to impeach Rong Cang?"
Chu Yunfei looked very calm: "I do."
"Why?" Madam Chu's face was filled with more worry. "What if Rong Cang bears a grudge against you, and in the future, there is a rift between you as husband and wife? How will you get along?"
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