Сhарter 23: Innoсеnсе
Jiаng Chuji had no idеа that Mо Chixiао wоuld visit thе Сhаncеllоr’s Маnor tonight.
Еvery time this man арpеаrеd, it wаs аn uneхреcted осcurrеnce she hаd cаlculated in аdvanсe.
Ноwever, Jiаng Chuji could rоughlу guеss whу Mo Сhiхiао had cоme.
Рerhaрs it was beсause shе had managеd tо find сlues аbоut the whereаbouts оf thе princеss consоrt that еvеn hе cоuldn’t locаte. So this соmmаnder wanted to probe her bасkground.
Or perhарs it was becаusе that day at the shop on South Street, the man had been curious about what kind of persona she usually adopted in the Jiang family to make them think she was timid and weak-willed.
So today, in the mood, he came to the Chancellor’s Manor to see for himself.
She supposed she hadn’t disappointed this Duke of Shu.
He had arrived just in time to watch a show here.
He had even stepped in to help her.
If Mo Chixiao hadn’t been present and casually mentioned wanting to see how Jiang Bingrong would handle the situation, even if the truth had been revealed and Jiang Yanchuan had defended her vigorously, Jiang Bingrong would have still sided with his favored concubine and illegitimate daughter, brushing the matter aside.
But… he called her a little liar.
Jiang Chuji recalled the man’s slightly narrowed, unfathomable eyes.
Had he seen through it? That she had deliberately placed the gold hairpin in the crack of the table, and that tonight’s events were all part of her design?
Returning to Yilan Courtyard, Jiang Chuji asked Fuling to fetch the medicine chest while she sat beside her brother with a bottle of medicinal powder.
Carefully lifting the torn fabric, the whip marks on Jiang Yanchuan’s arm were exposed. The young girl’s eyes were red, like a little rabbit’s.
It made Jiang Yanchuan’s heart soften.
He raised his uninjured arm, his movements slightly awkward, as if doing this for the first time, and gently patted his sister’s head.
Deliberately using a light tone, he said, “Your eyes are so red, you’re almost turning into a little rabbit.”
At this moment, Jiang Yanchuan felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
Before this, he had held a grudge against his sister because of the theft incident, treating her coldly.
Even when she fell ill and he felt a flicker of concern, he thought it went against his principles and forcibly suppressed that concern.
But now, he knew that his sister had never committed theft—she had been framed.
His sister was not only not of low character, but she was also more innocent and kind-hearted than anyone.
Jiang Chuji sniffled, her gaze sincere. “Big Brother kept his promise to me.”
That day, Jiang Yanchuan had said he would investigate the matter thoroughly. If she had been wronged, he would stand up for her.
“I’m sorry, Chuer, Big Brother before…” Jiang Yanchuan took a deep breath, his tone filled with self-reproach.
Jiang Chuji shook her head, lowered her eyes, and evenly sprinkled the medicinal powder in her hand onto Jiang Yanchuan’s wounds.
Apologies had never held any value to her.
Whether in the past, present, or future, she was merely leveraging circumstances. The bond of siblinghood was both sugar and a blade. Only those who cared would be wounded by that blade. And since she didn’t care, she could turn that blade against others.
Those who had once abandoned her, no matter who they were, whether they repented or not, did not deserve to receive sincerity again.
“Chuer doesn’t need Big Brother’s apology. Being able to get along with Big Brother like this is already the happiest thing Chuer could have imagined before.”
These words made Jiang Yanchuan feel both relieved and heartbroken.Watching her sister gently apply medicine to his wound, Jiang Yanchuan felt the burning pain on his arm seemed to ease a bit.
The atmosphere was unusually warm.
But at that moment, Jiang Chuji lowered her head and suddenly asked, “Big brother, do you still remember our mother?”
Jiang Chuji clearly sensed that as soon as the question was asked, the person before her stiffened. The atmosphere instantly turned heavy.
After a long pause, Jiang Yanchuan finally forced out a few words, his tone somewhat stiff: “Why bring that person up out of nowhere?”
In the original plot, when Jiang Yanchuan was ten years old, a maid arranged by Concubine Zhou led him to “accidentally” stumble upon the scene of Chen Shi’s adultery with a servant.
He witnessed with his own eyes his mother lying in bed with a servant, leaving a deep psychological scar on his young mind.
He couldn’t accept that the mother he had always respected would betray his father and engage in such disgraceful acts.
The immense love he once had for his mother later turned into equally intense hatred.
Jiang Yanchuan had always been unwilling to even acknowledge that he still had a mother imprisoned outside the city. He would rather believe his mother was already dead.
Jiang Chuji had anticipated that Jiang Yanchuan would react this way. But she still continued with what she wanted to say.
“The incident where I stole the jade bracelet was framed by Concubine Zhou. Has big brother ever considered that what happened to mother back then might also have been…”
“Also been a setup?”
Jiang Yanchuan’s tone carried a hint of mockery, “But I saw it with my own eyes—mother nestled in that servant’s embrace.”
Jiang Chuji raised her eyes.
She, Jiang Yanchuan, and her second brother Jiang Lingyi, who had yet to return home, were the hope that had kept Chen Shi alive all these years, her only concern.
She had indeed rescued Chen Shi. But if her own children resented her and refused to believe her, it would be no different from death for their mother.
That was why Jiang Chuji brought this up, to first gauge her eldest brother’s current attitude.
However, as soon as she started speaking, Jiang Yanchuan interrupted her. He turned his face away, his voice cold: “Chuer, I don’t want to talk about her.”
“…” Jiang Chuji paused for a moment, softening her tone, “Then I won’t say anymore. Don’t be angry, brother.”
“I’m not angry with you,” Jiang Yanchuan turned his face back, sighed, and patted the girl’s head, “It’s getting late. You should rest early.”
Jiang Chuji obediently nodded.
After seeing Jiang Yanchuan off, Jiang Chuji leaned back against the bed.
Tonight, Concubine Zhou had been slapped by Jiang Bingrong and placed under house arrest. Jiang Luowei was also confined to her room at this moment.
Just a few days ago, at Old Madam Jiang’s birthday banquet, this mother and daughter were still basking in glory. They probably never imagined they would end up in such a situation today.
Fuling walked into the room carrying a food box: “Miss, the midnight snack you asked the kitchen to prepare is ready.”
Jiang Chuji opened the food box and glanced inside.
Inside was a plate of greasy, glistening braised pork with preserved vegetables, a bowl of sizzling fried meatballs, a plate of golden crispy fried cakes, and a steaming bowl of red bean glutinous rice balls. There was even a large bowl of rice.
Enough for two or three people.
These carb-heavy, oily, and sugary dishes were the easiest to cause weight gain.
Eating all this late at night would easily add two or three pounds by the next day.Jiang Chuji’s expression remained calm as she closed the food container and lifted it. “Let’s go.”
Fuling was taken aback. “So the late-night snack you had the kitchen prepare wasn’t for yourself after all.” She had thought it strange—how could her young lady possibly eat so much?
A faint smile tugged at Jiang Chuji’s lips, her gaze clear and bright. When she smiled, she resembled an innocent and harmless-looking villain who could kill without batting an eye.
“My dear sister barely ate anything at dinner to maintain her image. Now that she’s confined to her room, she must be starving.”
“As her younger sister, of course I should bring her something to eat. Don’t you think so?”