Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 423 - 418: Blood Sacrifice

Chapter 423: Chapter 418: Blood Sacrifice

The old Marquis looked at the Chus’ "Record of Meritorious Deeds" and scolded Mr. Chu for it. He commented that honour and disgrace should be shared alike. Now that the Yong’an Marquis Manor was so stretched thin, the two women of the household had barely managed to contribute funds, efforts, and ideas for the court. Yet, their own people were not supportive. If Mrs. Li didn’t grasp this, she should return all the silver she had embezzled over the years.

Having been reprimanded so explicitly by the patriarch, Mr. Chu was left red-faced. He went to Mrs. Li’s courtyard and berated her. Mrs. Li was at a loss, wanting to donate five taels. However, upon seeing Mr. Chu’s threatening demeanor, she had no choice but to donate ten more taels than her daughters-in-law, ending up with a donation of thirty taels of silver.

Upon hearing this, Chen Afu thought Mrs. Li really wasn’t that clever. A few dozen taels of silver to save face was a small price to pay. Not only could it please the old Marquis, but it might also chance to soothe relations with the aggressive Mrs. Chu. But Mr. Chu was more astute--he lost his temper when necessary and endeared himself when the situation called for it. Despite all his misdeeds, both the old Marquis and Marquis Chu were reluctant to abandon him. After all, a lot of the silver embezzled by Mrs. Li was spent by Mr. Chu on lavish lifestyles and to support mistresses.

With collective efforts comes high AR flames. In just three days, over 6,000 taels of silver and hundreds of carts of clothes and beddings were raised. These many belongings would undoubtedly save countless lives. Of course, it was unlikely that the ladies and young misses’ clothes would be donated; the donated goods were all clothes and beddings from the servants.

The Empress Dowager issued another imperial decree praising Princess Huachang, calling her the role model of all women and a paragon for royal womenfolk.

Since both women from the Yong’an Marquis Manor had made significant contributions to the relief efforts and received praise from the Emperor and Empress Dowager, the reports criticizing the Yong’an Marquis Manor began to decrease.

Feeling joyful, Mrs. Chu gave Chen Afu quite a few jewelry and decorative items. Those items all came from the Imperial Household Department, and money could not buy them.

The old Marquis, Marquis Chu, and Mr. Chu were even happier. Using the excuse that they couldn’t let Chen Afu be at a loss, they each rewarded her with 1,000 taels of silver.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Li was furious. She felt it unfair that she had to donate so much silver only to be scolded. In contrast, Chen Afu earned such a good reputation without suffering a loss and even recouped the extra silver.

The snow continued to fall. The Emperor personally led the officials to conduct a worship ceremony at the Temple of Heaven and even issued an edict confessing his mistakes, but none of these managed to stop the massive snow disaster.

By the 20th day, Chen Afu reasoned to herself that the timeframe ’end of the month’ should refer to any day between the 20th and the 30th. If the snow could stop within these eleven days, then it would be soon. But if it were to stop in February, that would be much more frustrating.

By the 26th day, the heavy snow was still falling. In the late afternoon, Chen Afu and Mrs. Hua made some osmanthus biscuits in the small kitchen. They sent one plate each to the old Marquis and to Anrong Hall, and kept one plate for themselves. The men of the Chu Family all had a sweet tooth. She made some pastries every day now, mainly to entertain Marquis Chu who came to see his grandson. Even if he ate very little, she felt she had tried her best.

Chen Afu now felt much sympathy for this grandfather. From his gentle look when he saw his grandson, and his endless worries for Abbot Liao Chen, she could tell that he was a good man who valued his family. Asking such a man to personally break up his own family, to send his wife to a nunnery, must have felt like a dagger through the heart.

But in order to be loyal to the Emperor, he had to do so. Of course, if the Emperor ordered him to do so, he would have no other choice but to comply. If he didn’t, his entire family would be done for. But if he did, they might yet have a chance to revive from dire straits.

In late afternoon, Chen Afu was sitting on the bed watching the little brothers roll over. Dressed too heavily, the two little ones, chubby as penguins, found it hard to roll over. After struggling for quite a while, they finally managed to turn over, raised their heads with quivering little necks to glance around, only to burst out in triumphant laughter.

Chen Afu was amused. She teasingly turned them back on their backsides. The dumb brothers didn’t lose their tempers but continued to struggle to turn over.

Just as they were playing happily, the patriarch and Marquis Chu arrived.

Chen Afu poured them tea and served biscuits, saying with a smile, "These just came out of the oven not too long ago. It’s the right time to eat them."

The old man picked up a biscuit and began eating, while Marquis Chu nodded, went over to the edge of the bed, and started watching his grandsons.

The two little ones liked their grandpa very much. As soon as they saw him here, they sped up their efforts to turn over, looked right at him, smiled straight, and their drool dripped down like a silver thread.

Marquis Chu smiled as he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe their faces and gently pinched their cheeks. He dared not hold these tiny children himself, feeling they were too delicate, fearing he might harm them. If he really wanted to carry them, he would open his large hands and let someone place the child on his palm, then he would hastily put them down.

Seeing the hour, Chen Afu suggested that the two should stay for dinner, offering to invite Mr. Chu and personally cook a few dishes.

Marquis Chu readily agreed.

As Chen Afu was busy in the small kitchen, a maid came to report that there seemed to be an urgent matter in the Outer Court that required both the old Marquis and the young Marquis.

Feeling instantly deflated, Chen Afu no longer wished to continue cooking. The dishes she had already prepared were enough for herself. Just as she finished dinner, a servant came to inform her that the Marquis wished to see her at Liuyun Studio.

Liuyun Studio used to be Marquis Chu’s private study, and his place for meeting distinguished guests and discussing important matters. It was located in a bamboo grove between the Inner Courtyard and the Outer Court.

Chen Afu was startled. Ever since she arrived in the Capital City, she had never attended a secret high-level meeting.

Chen Afu donned her outdoor cotton dress, draped a feathered cloak with a hood over her shoulders, and headed towards the Outer Court, escorted by Hong Fei, who was holding an umbrella, and Xiao Hong, who was carrying a lantern.

After walking for roughly fifteen minutes, she arrived at a quad-yard. Many lanterns hanging under the gallery illuminated the courtyard brightly. This was the most secretive place for the Chu family, and right now, there was no difference between this courtyard and any other courtyard; it was all white and desolate.

She walked across the roaming gallery to the main room. The gatekeeper, a handsome young man, opened the door, lifted the thick curtain, invited Chen Afu inside, and asked Hong Fei and Xiao Hong to rest in the side room.

The main room, although filled with books on two pavilion shelves, felt more like a reception hall. Four Colored Glaze Palace Lanterns hung down, brightly illuminating the room. Facing the wall was a large painting of a ferocious tiger descending a mountain, and in front, on a red sandalwood carved desktop, a few feet tall antique bronze cauldron sat. Further in front was a red sandalwood square table, flanked by two high-backed armchairs and four red sandalwood office chairs on each side. The floor was covered with rugs from the Western Regions.

Chen Afu took off her cloak and hung it on the chair nearest to the door.

A young servant escorted Chen Afu to the east room. The north of the room was dominated by a large bed beneath a window, while the south wall was completely taken up by a large red sandalwood bookcase. Eight celadon porcelain Kunpeng candlesticks were lit, brightly illuminating the room.

The old Marquis and Marquis Chu sat on either side of the small gilded carved table on the bed, with Mr. Chu seated on the chair to the left.

The expressions on everyone’s faces were extraordinarily solemn.

Chen Afu went over and gave them a curtsy.

The old Marquis motioned towards the chair on the right, saying, "Please sit, Xuan’er."

Chen Afu sat down. A young servant served tea and then quietly withdrew.

Marquis Chu repeated to Chen Afu what he had just received from the Ninth Prince. The Second Prince had asked the Emperor for permission, stating that he saw the Emperor was deeply worried and anxious about the snow disaster. Starting from midnight tomorrow, he would fast for three days, and on the thirtieth day, he would offer a Blood Sacrifice at the Temple of Heaven to beg for divine protection over Dashun and an end to the disaster.