Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 505 - 496: Burns

Chapter 505: Chapter 496: Burns

Feng Miaohua took a sip of water and said, "I don’t like fruit dew, it’s too sweet. Pour me a bowl of hot tea."

Upon hearing this, her maid fetched a teacup and brought the teapot over to pour the tea. As Feng Miaohua reached for the nuts on the table, her arm brushed against the maid’s, tipping the spout of the pot towards Chu Hanyan’s hand that was resting on the table. The maid lost her balance when her mistress touched her arm, causing some of the water in the pot to spill out.

What happened next took place in an instant. Qi’er quickly pushed Chu Hanyan’s hand away. Some of the hot water fell on Qi’er’s hand, but a few drops were splashed onto Chu Hanyan’s hand as well.

Overcome by fear, pain, and a sense of injustice, Chu Hanyan burst into tears. She stood up, taking Qi’er with her, and headed back to Hudian Pavilion to find her mother.

The maid who had caused this commotion was on her knees begging for mercy. She was in a predicament - if she defied her mistress, a worse punishment awaited her back home. If she followed her mistress’s orders, she would still be punished, but with her mistress’s intervention, it wouldn’t be too severe.

The sudden turn of events shocked all the young girls. Red, the chief maid of Ying Hui, was especially panicked. Usually, it’s the servants who bear the blame for the trouble caused by their masters. She immediately arranged for someone to inform her mistress at Hudian Pavilion and call for a midwife. At the same time, she scrutinized Chu Hanyan and Qi’er’s hands to see the extent of their burns. Chu Hanyan had two small blisters on the back of her hand while Qi’er’s injury was more serious, a string of blisters had formed on the back of his hand.

It was only then that Li Cheng and Zhu Ying’er realized what had happened, and hastily began to comfort Chu Hanyan. Ying Hui called out to Feng Miaohua, "What is going on?"

Feng Miaohua, looking wronged, retorted, "Hasn’t her dementia healed yet? Why does she extend her hand when a maid is pouring hot water?"

Zhu Ying’er retorted annoyedly, "Yan’er didn’t extend her hand too far. It’s clearly you and your maid who did it on purpose."

Feng Miaohua raised her voice and said, "Zhu Ying’er, you can’t spout nonsense."

Li Cheng snapped, "Feng Miaohua, don’t think everyone is stupid. You caused harm to Yan’er. Wait and see how the eleventh prince will deal with you."

Because Chen Afu’s child was favored, she had a place in the hall. While watching the elderly women playing with the children, a maid rushed in and reported that the Chus’ eldest daughter had been scalded by Feng’s fourth daughter’s maid.

Everyone was startled. Chen Afu, Princess An, Princess Ronghe, and others quickly stood up and rushed out.

On the way, they encountered several young girls, among them Chu Hanyan, with red swollen eyes from crying.

After the doctor had treated Chu Hanyan and Qi’er’s burns and the adults had heard the entire account of the incident, Li Cheng, Zhu Ying’er, Qi’er, and Luo Mei blamed Feng Miaohua and her maid for deliberately spilling the water, while Feng Miaohua and her maid insisted that Chu Hanyan’s reaction was slow and her hand was extended too far, causing it to be accidentally scalded. Ying Hui and Li Ziqi claimed they weren’t paying attention and did not see what had happened clearly.

Chen Afu was certain that Feng Miaohua did it on purpose, and she embraced Chu Hanyan, feeling both heartache and fury.

Seeing that Chu Hanyan was not seriously hurt, Princess Ronghe felt relieved. Knowing that the Chus were currently in favor and that both the crown prince and Shiyi were supportive of the Chus, she did not want to offend them.

She told Chen Afu, "Lady Chu, I apologize. It’s all because of the clumsiness of those servants. When I return home, I will beat her half to death and sell her off." And then she turned to Feng Miaohua and reprimanded her. Afterward, she said, "... Although it was Chu’s hand that was extended too far and it was the maid who caused the trouble, the incident originated from you. Go apologize to Lady Chu."

Earlier, Princess Ronghe had been chatting with others in the side room and hadn’t witnessed the display of affection by Shiyi towards Chu Hanyan. Had she seen it, she would not be so disrespectful towards Chu Hanyan. In her opinion, Chu Hanyan was just Chen Afu’s stepdaughter and also carried the blood of the Ma family. Even her biological grandfather despised everything about her. In addition, Rong Zhao had turned her into a fool. So in her mind, Chen Afu would likely dislike her.

Feng Miaohua’s bullying had already enraged Chen Afu. Seeing Ronghe’s arrogance as well, Chen Afu was absolutely furious. It was blatant bullying. Despite scalding Chu Hanyan, they were showing such an attitude. Chu Hanyan was raised by her like a treasure, and she wouldn’t allow anyone to bully her.

Although Chen Afu did not wish to cross those in power, she couldn’t endure any further insults.

Ignoring Ronghe and Feng Miaohua who had come over to apologize, she said to Chu Hanyan, who was still in tears, "Yan’er, don’t cry. See? If you are too kind, people will think you’re a fool. When they bully you, they will even accuse you of causing the trouble. Remember, if someone scalds you, scald them back. If you can’t do it, let your maid do it. Don’t be afraid of causing trouble, as you not only have the love of the Empress Dowager’s third wife, but also the shared upbringing with Prince Shiyi and Prince Rui." She refrained from mentioning that she had raised Prince Shiyi, healed Prince Rui, and that Marquis Chu, who had given all for the crown prince, was with her through it all as well as Marshal San, who was also her ally. These were emotional and merit-based alliances. She then turned to her two little sons who were crying loudly and said, "You are men. When in trouble, don’t cry. Practice your skills and be your sister’s support."

Upon hearing this, the two boys immediately stopped crying. Together they shook their fists at Feng Miaohua, shouting loudly, "Bad woman, we’ll beat you..."

Ronghe was displeased and said sternly, "Lady Chu, what kind of manners are you teaching these children?"

Madam Chu retorted, "Ronghe, if Chen Afu doesn’t teach her children this way, should she teach them to just tolerate your family’s behavior? This is outrageous! You have no manners. You scalded someone and even blamed others for it. Yan’er, your mother is right. You have so many people supporting you, you don’t have to be afraid of anyone. If you cause trouble, your grandmother and Shiyi will be on your side..."

At this moment, Shiyi, having heard the news, rushed in. Upon seeing Chu Hanyan, who was crying like a fountain and had a bandaged hand, he became very angry.

Pointing at Feng Miaohua, he asked, "Did you conspire with your maid to scald Yan’er?"

Feng Miaohua, seeing the usually smiling Shiyi with red eyes and clenched fists, was frightened and burst into tears. She stepped back, shaking her head and said, "No, it was her, I didn’t..."

Shiyi continued pointing at her and shouted, "I never expected you to be so wicked at such a young age. You will become a menace when you grow up. You wait and see, I will report this to father and mother. People like you must be punished." He then ordered his eunuch, "Go, have the guards take that maid outside and beat her half to death," he initially wanted to say beat her to death but didn’t have the heart, "then sell her off to the mountains." In his mind, being sold to the mountains was the worst punishment.

Then, Shiyi started to patiently comfort Chu Hanyan, showering her with compliments and reassurances.

Seeing how attentively Shiyi was treating Chu Hanyan, and with Huachang and Chen Afu’s faces stern, Ronghe began to feel afraid. If this situation was not handled properly, both she and her daughter would be punished.