In the courtyard where Madam Chen lived.
Shen Qingshuang lay in Madam Chen’s arms, crying her heart out.
“The Sixth Prince originally liked my calligraphy, but that lowborn Shen Chu just had to steal the spotlight, and Father is biased too—he actually let him copy the scriptures for the Sixth Prince.”
“I couldn’t stand it and said a few words to him, and he hit me.”
“Mother, look, my face is swollen from his slaps. I don’t care—you must help me teach him a lesson.”
Madam Chen looked at the symmetrically placed handprints on her daughter’s face, grinding her teeth in fury.
“Don’t worry, Mother will definitely get revenge for you.”
After soothing Shen Qingshuang, Madam Chen sent someone to summon the Changning Hou, then tearfully badmouthed Shen Chu.
“Although an elder brother is like a father, he struck far too hard. Qingshuang is a girl—if her face is ruined, how will she ever marry in the future?”
Changning Hou glanced at Shen Qingshuang’s badly swollen face and frowned. “I have already punished him with confinement to reflect on his actions. In a couple of days, he will apologize to Qingshuang.”
Madam Chen dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
“We are all one family of flesh and blood, so whether he apologizes is secondary. It’s just that I’m worried.”
“Worried about what?”
“I understand that you have high hopes for Chu, but he wasn’t raised by our side since childhood, so his manners and conduct are rather undisciplined.”
Madam Chen studied the Changning Hou’s expression and said softly, “Right now he hasn’t entered officialdom, so making a fuss at home is no great matter—we elders can’t truly hold it against him. But I fear that once he becomes an official, not knowing his own place, he’ll dare to offend any noble he encounters. Wouldn’t that bring disaster upon our family then?”
Changning Hou’s face darkened slightly.
Madam Chen sighed. “In the end, it’s because he wasn’t raised at our side from a young age that he lacks proper upbringing. Relying on his bit of talent, relying on your favor toward his mother, he acts so arrogantly. You should take this opportunity to discipline him properly, lest in the future he truly becomes beyond control…”
Changning Hou’s brow furrowed deeply. He could already feel that Shen Chu was slipping further and further beyond his control.
It seemed he would have to give Shen Chu a harsh lesson and make him face reality.
Shen Chu spent the whole morning copying scriptures, and his mind grew much calmer.
At noon, the kitchen sent only two vegetable dishes and a bowl of dry, parched rice.
By evening, there was nothing but a bowl of coarse brown rice and a plate of blackened greens.
Hong Xiu fumed, “How is anyone supposed to eat this? The young master is merely confined for a few days, and the kitchen is already so eager to fawn on the high and trample the low?”
Shen Chu chuckled softly. “Do you think the kitchen would dare do this without the Hou’s permission and Madam’s instructions?”
Hong Xiu grew even angrier. “How could the Hou treat you like this?”
Shen Chu sneered.
Changning Hou was using this tactic to warn him: he alone held the power of speech in this Houfu.
Anyone who defied him would find it hard even to survive in the marquis’s residence.
“Everything we eat and drink in this household—none of it comes from Concubine Qiao’s dowry. So why should the young master eat chaff and vegetables while they feast on rich food and wine? Young master, shall I go beat up the old woman who runs the kitchen?”
Shen Chu smiled lightly. “Don’t rush. There will be a time for you to act.”
“Young master, tell me your plan.”
“It’s a secret. First, take these dishes over to Concubine Qiao’s courtyard. Do you know what to say?”
Hong Xiu’s eyes rolled. “I understand. Just wait, young master.”
She swiftly packed the coarse rice and blackened greens into a food box and carried it off to find Concubine Qiao.
Shen Chu was confined to his quarters, but he could still move freely within the inner courtyard.
After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Hong Xiu returned carrying a food box.
“This servant went and cried her heart out. Concubine Qiao gave us her own meal first, and even gave a hundred-tael banknote. On my way back, I saw Concubine Qiao heading to the kitchen with her people carrying blackened vegetables.”
Hong Xiu took out two dishes and a soup, still warm, along with the hundred-tael banknote.
Shen Chu gave a soft “mm” and sat down to eat.
“Go to the kitchen and check on the Concubine’s situation.”
By the time the meal was finished, Hong Xiu had returned.
“Young Master, Concubine Qiao slapped Nanny Yang, who manages the kitchen, twice, and the Marquis arrived right after. Nanny Yang knelt on the ground crying her innocence, but the Marquis sternly rebuked the Concubine. Afterward, the Marquis went straight to the Madam’s courtyard, and the Concubine cried bitterly.”
Hong Xiu rested her chin on her hands, looking thoroughly gossipy.
“They say the Marquis only visits the Madam’s courtyard on the first of each month; every other day he stays with the Concubine. It seems the Marquis is truly determined to teach you a lesson this time—he won’t even give the Concubine a kind face.”
Shen Chu was not surprised.
The next day, Shen Qingshuang entered Xizhaotang with two maids.
“I’m in a good mood today, so I’ve come to deliver your meal personally.”
She lifted her chin slightly, and the maids behind her took the food out of the box.
There was only a dry steamed bun dotted with black spots, plus a bowl of coarse rice porridge with clearly visible grit and stones in it.
“Since Father said you must reflect behind closed doors, you should eat plain food to calm your heart.”
Hong Xiu was furious. “How can the Young Master eat this? This is worse than what the servants get.”
Shen Qingshuang swept a contemptuous glance over Shen Chu and sneered, “A lowborn bastard like you, calling yourself Young Master? You don’t know yet, do you? Your concubine mother is about to lose favor? Heh, what’s so impressive about becoming Zhuangyuan? Without the marquis’s residence’s backing, you’re nothing. You think your concubine mother can still come give you money for food? Heh, not anymore. From now on, you can just wait to eat chaff and wild greens.”
Shen Qingshuang pushed the doctored porridge forward, smiling maliciously. “Today’s meal was specially prepared just for you. Eat it while it’s hot.”
Shen Chu gave her a faint glance. “Does your face still hurt?”
Shen Qingshuang’s face stiffened, and she instinctively took a step back.
After two days of nursing, the swelling on her face had only just subsided, and her skin still ached.
At the thought of it, hatred filled her heart, and she vowed to teach Shen Chu a good lesson today.
Shen Chu sneered, “Since my dear sister has so kindly brought me food, how could I, as her elder brother, not show my appreciation?”
“Hong Xiu, attend to the Eldest Miss’s meal.”
“You got it!”
Hong Xiu’s voice rang out loud and clear, and with two chops of her hands she knocked out Shen Qingshuang’s maids.
Shen Qingshuang’s face turned deathly pale, and she shrieked, “What are you doing?”
Shen Chu’s lips curved. “Treating you to a meal, of course.”
Frightened by the coldness in his eyes, Shen Qingshuang instinctively bolted for the door.
Shen Chu hooked the door with his foot, and it slammed shut.
Arms crossed, he blocked the doorway.
Hong Xiu pressed Shen Qingshuang down into a chair, picked up the bowl of coarse rice porridge from the table, and poured it straight into her mouth.
“Cough, cough…”
Shen Qingshuang choked until tears streamed down her face. She shook her head desperately, trying to spit it out, but Hong Xiu gripped her jaw, forcing her to swallow the grit-filled porridge.
Only after the whole bowl was fed did Hong Xiu let go.
Shen Qingshuang collapsed limply onto the floor, trying to vomit, but found she couldn’t bring anything up.
Her face had turned white with fright.
The porridge hadn’t just contained gravel—there was also a mouthful of phlegm she had spat into it. It was disgusting.
“You little wretch… you just wait. I won’t let you get away with this.”
Clutching her belly, she staggered away.
Meanwhile, at the Sixth Prince’s residence.
Pei Yuan stared expressionlessly at the dozens of sachets laid out across the table, then looked down at the one in his hand.
“Are you certain none of them have the same ingredients?”
Sun Yan shook his head. “The calming formulas we collected from the various households are all common ones used by the imperial physicians. The formula in Your Highness’s sachet is unique—the herbs were ground so finely that the physicians can’t identify the complete formula, but they can confirm the ingredients are different.
“Judging by the fabric, the sachet in Your Highness’s hand is made of Shujin that was popular over a decade ago. Hardly anyone uses it now.”
Pei Yuan frowned. “So you’re saying there’s no way to find any information about the woman from that night?”
Sun Yan seemed to remember something and pressed his lips together.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
Sun Yan said, “This subordinate learned that Young Top Scholar Shen was also drugged that night. Two people who’ve been drugged meeting together—could it be that…”
Pei Yuan’s gaze turned as cold as a blade.
Sun Yan stiffened and shut his mouth at once.
Pei Yuan’s voice was as frigid as if it had risen from hell. “You know how much I despise men who dabble in that sort of thing. Even drugged, I would never sleep with a man.
“Let alone that man being Shen Chu. Get out and take ten strokes as punishment! Then continue investigating that woman’s identity.”
“Yes, sir!”
Sun Yan left.
Pei Yuan raised the sachet to the tip of his nose. The delicate fragrance of the herbs eased his restlessness a little.
Hah, as if he could ever have slept with Shen Chu?
Even if Shen Chu stripped bare, he wouldn’t spare him a second glance.
Absolutely not!