Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 313 - 312: Grievance

Chapter 313: Chapter 312: Grievance

Princess Rong Zhao found this Chen Afu somewhat familiar, as if she’d seen him somewhere before, but she couldn’t quite remember.

She quirked her lips, rumors had it that Chen Afu was stunningly beautiful, but this was nothing special at all. His eyes were a bit larger, his mouth a bit smaller, leaving a considerable gap from being ’stunningly beautiful’. Even compared to Chen Shiying, he fell short.

She originally thought that the daughter of a minor official could be brought into the Princess Mansion and manipulated. Whether she tortured her to death or not, she could at least prevent her from giving birth to a son. The frustrating part was when the old man and Huachang ran to the emperor and the empress dowager with tears, rehashing all the old matters...

She had intended to let her trip and fall along the way, but just got a report from her maid, saying they weren’t able to make her look bad on the way.

Looking at the top of Chen Afu’s head, Rong Zhao’s face changed unpredictably.

Marquis Chu at her side frowned, saying, "Your Highness."

Princess Rong Zhao suddenly reacted and laughed. "Look at me, I was so glad to see my daughter-in-law that I forgot about the tea."

She took the tea and put the cup down on the table after barely sipping it, saying, "Let my eldest daughter-in-law lift up her head and let me have a good look."

Chen Afu had no choice but to lift up his head.

Rong Zhao glanced twice, then wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, "I’ve heard my daughter-in-law is a great beauty, so irresistible that our seventh prince chased her several streets. But seeing is believing. Though she has fair looks, they are far too common and lack any sophistication, just like her name, which is overfilled with the scent of the countryside..."

Chen Afu was infuriated. This accusation was a stab to the heart. She could accept being called a country bumpkin, but this blatant accusation of her deliberately seducing men, particularly a prince, was definitely not something she could accept.

Although she knew that she would be mistreated today, she had accepted the need for compromise, to not show her anger, but she couldn’t allow herself to be too humiliated either.

Chen Afu, with tears welling up in her eyes, shook her head and spoke in a low voice, "Your Highness, I’ve been wrongly accused." She then said sorrowfully to Chu Lingxuan, "My lord, I cannot bear such an accusation. The only thing I can do now is to smash my head on this square table, in order to preserve my honor."

Chu Lingxuan immediately stopped Chen Afu and said, "Afu, I know exactly the kind of person you are. To suggest you smash your head here to preserve your honor, would mean I have failed as a husband." He then turned a fierce gaze towards Rong Zhao and said, "Your Highness, even though you are a royal princess, you should not arbitrarily tarnish a person’s reputation. My wife is dignified and courteous, virtuous and sensible, she has never engaged in anything disgraceful. If you continue to slander her, I suppose I will have to seek justice from the Emperor."

Princess Rui was unhappy too, exclaiming loudly, "Sister, what nonsense are you speaking? When did I ever chase a woman through several streets? You are targeting Chu Lingxuan’s wife, you shouldn’t drag me into it." He quickly turned to explain to Princess Rui on the other side, "My wife, don’t listen to my sister. She wants to punish Chu Lingxuan’s wife to ruin her reputation, but she’s using me as a scapegoat."

Princess Rui didn’t make a sound, she knew that anything she said at the moment would be inappropriate.

Marquis Chu said coldly, "Princess, what on earth do you mean by that? Now, I suggest we go to the palace and meet with the Emperor and the Lady. We cannot spend such an unreasonable day." Saying that, he stood up ready to leave.

Although Rong Zhao was angry at the Chu family for shaming her, she was still reluctant to give up on the prince consort. She quickly grabbed his sleeve and said, "Chu Lang, calm down, you misunderstood me."

Mrs. Chu said, "Rong Zhao, everyone in this room heard your words just now. Lingxuan’s first wife died mysteriously in your mansion. Are you not satisfied until this wife also dies in your mansion?"

Rong Zhao ignored Mrs. Chu and explained to Marquis Chu, "Chu Lang, my earlier comments were to say that I had heard a rumor claiming that Lingxuan’s wife was so beautiful that she led the seventh prince to chase her through several streets. Of course, I didn’t believe in that. Now that I have seen my daughter-in-law with my own eyes, I believe it even less. While she is pretty, she is clearly not the type to attract such pursuit from the seventh prince, further proving that the rumor is false and unbelievable."

These words were really unpleasant. It was bad enough saying she was not beautiful but she also dragged in another man. The royal family was bullying people so blatantly!

Chen Afu, being a modern person, did not care about those words at all. However, ancient people could not be so indifferent. She couldn’t fight back, all she could do was cover her face and cry. Yet, she still tried to hold back her tears. Her makeup was heavy today, if it becomes a mess due to crying, Rong Zhao would certainly not be kind enough to allow water to wash her face.

Chu Lingxuan’s face was livid with anger. He pulled Chen Afu into his arms and said, "Afu, I know who you are, and I believe in you. Today you were humiliated, it’s all because I am useless."

Marquis Chu replied sorrowfully, "It isn’t Lingxuan who is useless, it’s that your father is useless." Turning to Rong Zhao he said, "You’ve always been nonsensical and absurd. If the elders aren’t kind, it’s no wonder the younger generations are disrespectful. I’ll send them back right now.""

Seeing Marquis Chu extremely angry, Rong Zhao quickly laughed and said, "Chu Lang, please calm down. Okay, it was my fault. I apologize. As you know, I am straightforward and always say what I think, I don’t have any malicious intent. Alright, alright, I will stop making offensive remarks. My daughter-in-law should not feel aggrieved either. My previous words were just a slip of the tongue, I meant nothing more. I am aware that you are a good and sensible person. Whoever spreads gossip about you, I will not let them off."

Mrs. Chu snorted, "You say ’I’ll stop making offensive remarks’! But those offensive remarks have already been made by you. Rong Zhao, you absolutely had to have this young couple come to pay respects to you. They came, and you treat them ill. Not to mention now, even on the way here, the two maids carrying Lingxuan’s wife fell. If not for my people’s quick reaction, she might be injured by now. Despite your constant claims of having no malice toward the son of the original prince consort, all perpetrated by your servants behind your back. Then you cannot even show the least bit of consideration for their feelings, who would believe you? "

Marquis Chu’s face darkened even more when he heard this.

Rong Zhao tried to explain to the Marquis once more, "Chu Lang, don’t let Huachang sow discord between us. She is always looking for a way to make sure I don’t have a good life. I have always treated Lingxuan like my own, naturally, I genuinely like his wife. " She looked at Mrs. Chu discontentedly and scolded, "Huachang, what grudges do you have against me? Not only did you try to sow discord between me and the empress dowager, but now, you also try to disrupt my relationship with the prince consort. Horses stumble, humans fall, what does that have to do with me? If you don’t want to stay at my place, you can go back. I don’t appreciate trouble makers in my house."

The second prince immediately played the peacemaker, "Dear sisters, we are all family. There is no need for all this dispute, it only gives others something to laugh at. Prince Consort Chu, don’t take it to heart, sister is just outspoken. She did apologize too. Come on, let’s finish the wedding tea ceremony for our father?"

Both Rong Zhao and Mrs. Chu fell silent.

Princess Rui also said, "Granny Chu, please don’t cry anymore, there must be people who are spreading these rumors to drive a wedge between Princess Rong Zhao and your relationship as in-laws. I know my husband, and he would never do such shameful things."

Prince Rui also said, "Yes, yes, I have never chased a woman through the streets. Moreover, I never pursued her... hehe." He realized he was digging himself into a hole and quickly snapped his mouth shut.