But Chu Yuxiao soon realized he had made a mistake.
He did not recognize Nanny Xiong, so he initially assumed she was just an ordinary nanny.
However, how could a nanny with such a powerful aura be an ordinary person? Moreover, she had come along with Chu Yunfei.
At such an advanced age, she must have served in the Palace before.
Chu Yuxiao slowly lowered his eyes, suppressing his unhappiness, and bowed, saying, "I lost my composure just now. Please, Nanny, announce me; I have matters to discuss with Mother and the Princess Consort."
Nanny Xiong looked at him coldly. Before she could say anything, she heard Chu Yunfei's voice from inside the room: "Nanny, let him in."
Nanny Xiong then said indifferently, "The Princess Consort allows you to enter."
Chu Yuxiao nodded and stepped toward the main room. Just as he was about to cross the threshold, he heard Nanny Xiong remind him: "Young Master Chu, do not forget the etiquette expected of an illegitimate son."
She deliberately emphasized the words "illegitimate son," intending to remind him to be mindful of his identity.
Chu Yuxiao's expression stiffened, and he stepped over the threshold in silence.
"Yuxiao greets Mother." Chu Yuxiao bowed to his Main Wife, then turned to look at Chu Yunfei, "Greetings, Princess Consort."
Madam Chu said indifferently, "Is there something?"
"Yes." Chu Yuxiao lowered his head and spoke, "I heard that Jiao'er made a mistake and was punished by Mother and the Princess Consort. I would like to ask why."
"Does this matter still need asking?" Madam Chu smiled faintly, though the smile did not reach the bottom of her eyes, "I thought that having spent these years by your father's side, you would have gained experience and learned the rules, and should have long since developed your own judgment."
Chu Yuxiao's expression was gloomy, thinking of Nanny Xiong's words just now, "Sure enough, a son born to a concubine is far inferior to those proper young masters of noble families."
So, was being born an illegitimate son his fault?
Should an illegitimate son be looked down upon? Should he be inferior to others in every way?
Even if he were the only son of this family and could manage the entire Chu Family in the future, must he still be respectful before his Main Wife and allow himself to be humiliated?
"This son has indeed gained more experience." Chu Yuxiao said with a stiff voice, his tone naturally tinged with dissatisfaction, "So this son knows that it is common for powerful and influential people to have three wives and four concubines. From the Emperor down to the officials, no head madam would run back to her maternal home to accuse her husband just because he took a concubine."
Madam Chu's complexion darkened: "Are you accusing Yunfei?"
Chu Yunfei raised an eyebrow slightly.
"This son would not dare; this son is merely speaking the truth." Chu Yuxiao lowered his eyes, his attitude humble, "Prince Zhan will eventually take a concubine. Is the Princess Consort willing to let him take another family's daughter, yet unable to tolerate her own sister?"
"Presumptuous!" Madam Chu's expression turned cold, "Are you pleading for the shameless Chu Yun Jiao?"
"This son would not dare." Hearing her words, Chu Yuxiao's expression changed slightly, but he still refused to show weakness, "Prince Zhan likes Jiao'er; they are in love. As the main wife, shouldn't Yunfei be magnanimous? If the Prince is to take a concubine, it would be a fine story for sisters to serve the same husband. If he takes another woman, who knows if she might have a vicious heart?"
"Eldest Brother keeps saying he wouldn't dare, yet every sentence is a twisted argument, and every word is a provocation." Chu Yunfei spoke unhurriedly, a faint smile even lingering on the corners of her mouth, "Are you trying to say that a head madam should be tolerant, virtuous, and gentle, and should not act like a jealous woman to prevent her husband from taking a concubine?"
Chu Yuxiao did not speak, which was effectively an admission.
"If Rong Cang truly wanted to take a concubine, I would not stop him." Chu Yunfei gave a cold smile, "I could handle such a small matter with a wave of my hand; would I need to run back here to cry and accuse him?"
Chu Yuxiao showed a look of disdain.
Chu Yunfei changed the subject: "However, are you certain that Chu Yun Jiao only wants to be a concubine for Prince Zhan?"
"This..." Chu Yuxiao's expression changed slightly, and a flash of a guilty conscience appeared on his face, "Regardless, she is the Princess Consort's sister."
"I have no need for such a shameless sister." Chu Yunfei took a sip of tea and raised her eyes slightly, her gaze sweeping across Chu Yuxiao's face, "However, hearing Eldest Brother's words today, I finally understand what the saying 'dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the son of a rat will dig holes' means."
As her voice fell, a look of embarrassment suddenly appeared on Chu Yuxiao's face: "Does the Princess Consort not think that this statement is too excessive?"
"It is not excessive at all." Chu Yunfei's expression was cold and distant, filled with deep mockery, "Concubine Chen serves others with her beauty and knows nothing of rules or shame. Her daughter is not thinking of progress and only wants to follow her old path, and her son, even after reading more books by his father's side, still retains the lowly and inferior style of his biological mother in his bones, and even takes pride in it."
"Chu Yunfei!" Chu Yuxiao flew into a rage out of shame, "You—"
"Presumptuous!" Nanny Xiong scolded coldly, "If Young Master Chu dares to call the Princess Consort by her given name again, it will be considered insulting a superior. Whether reported to the Emperor or Prince Zhan, you will suffer the consequences."
Chu Yuxiao sneered in his heart.
Prince Zhan?
Prince Zhan wishes she would take the letter of divorce and get out of the Prince's Estate right now; does she really think Prince Zhan will support her?
"Nanny Xiong." Chu Yunfei put down the teacup and stood up slowly, "Have them prepare; this Princess Consort is returning now."
"Yes."
"If you leave, what will happen to Jiao'er?" Chu Yuxiao hurriedly blocked her path, his expression gloomy, "She has a frail body and has suffered so many punishments, covered in wounds. Are you going to let her continue kneeling in the ancestral hall to be punished? Chu Yunfei, why are you so vicious?"
"Someone." Chu Yunfei suddenly shouted, her voice bone-chillingly cold, "Chu Yuxiao is insulting a superior and has repeatedly spoken rudely to this Princess Consort. Drag him out and give him twenty slaps to the mouth."
Two guards in the courtyard walked in and, without a word, dragged Chu Yuxiao out.
Chu Yuxiao's complexion changed drastically, and he struggled instinctively: "Chu Yunfei, you have no right—"
"If he resists violently, add another twenty." Chu Yunfei ordered coldly, "For every additional word of abuse or disrespect from his mouth, add another twenty. I want to see if his mouth is harder, or if your slaps are harder."
Madam Chu sat on her chair without moving, showing no reaction to this.
Chu Yuxiao was the eldest son of the Chu family, having received the best education by his father's side all these years and enjoying the best resources in the estate.
Because he was the only son in the family, Chu Yuanzhong had high expectations for Chu Yuxiao's schoolwork. Since he began his studies at three, after he officially started school, he would check his schoolwork whenever he had time.
Chu Yuxiao was intelligent and eager to learn, and was well-liked by Chu Yuanzhong.
But a child raised by a concubine ultimately followed his mother's temperament: petty, selfish, lacking independent thought, and having a disregard for hierarchy. Relying on being the only male in the family, after the age of ten, he began to disregard the Main Wife and protected his concubine mother and concubine sister in every way.
Seeing that Madam Chu had been unable to give birth to a legitimate son for so many years, the three of them—Concubine Chen and her children—became increasingly powerful, acting as if they could suppress the main wife and legitimate daughter.
Having been overbearing for so long, they truly thought they were the ones in charge of this family.
Today is the perfect time to settle old scores.
Chu Yunfei turned to look at her mother: "Starting today, I ask that Mother firmly hold the power of the butler, and do not let the concubine and illegitimate son ride above you. Only then can your daughter have fewer worries and concerns while in the Prince's Estate."
Madam Chu's expression was calm, and she nodded slowly: "Fei'er, rest assured. I previously just didn't want to deal with the messy affairs of that concubine and her children, which is why they developed the illusion that they could climb over my head and run wild. That will not happen again."
Concubine Chen's good days were over.
Even if she had Consort Gu supporting her from behind.
If one were to be serious, a mere concubine should not think of overriding the Main Wife.
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