Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 525 - 516: Beating the Golden Branch

Chapter 525: Chapter 516: Beating the Golden Branch

By the end of 9 a.m. the following day, everyone from the Chen family had arrived, except for Chen Atang and Chen Alu. Even Mrs. Chen and those in the main Chen’s house had arrived. They were in their off-season, so their family was all residing in the mansion in the capital city. Chen Atang had passed his scholarly examinations in the spring of that year and was now studying at the Shizhou Academy.

Everyone seemed more or less the same, except Mrs. Hu, who seemed thinner and paler. Even her walk was less brisk. She was scared. As soon as she realized that Dabao had become the Eleventh Prince, she had fallen ill from fright. Knowing her, she hadn’t treated Dabao kindly in the past and feared every day that she would be arrested. Her illness gradually got better only after half a year of assurance that she won’t be arrested, but her health was far from what it used to be.

Mrs. Zhang chuckled, "Afu, don’t blame us for coming to visit early, we’ve really missed you."

Chen Afu moved forward, supporting Mrs. Chen with a smile, "I wish I could see you all earlier."

Then, Uncle Wang and his family arrived. Chu Lingxuan originally wanted to move Uncle Wang Cai to the Capital City because Chu Lingxuan was going back to the Capital to take up his post after the war had ended. But Uncle Wang Cai didn’t agree. On the one hand, he wanted to live closer to his sister’s family, and on the other hand, he wanted to stay away from Mrs. Wu’s family. Half a year ago, the parents and brothers of Mrs. Wu had come to his house demanding money. Thankfully, his brethren from the military helped him send them away.

Apart from Mrs. Hu, Chen Afu was delighted at seeing these people. Particularly the children - Wang Xiaodi, Wang Xiaomei, Dahu, Daya, and Dalong - they all had grown taller.

She gave them the presents she had brought for them. The gifts were valuable, including clothes, food, and utensils.

She also gave them a pile of gifts brought by Shiyi, pointing to several packages of pastries and said laughing, "These pastries are made in the Imperial Kitchen."

Mrs. Chen had a laugh so big that her eyes were contracted into a crease, "Oh my, how can this old woman dare to eat such delicacies? I’m sure they should be revered."

Chen Afu said, "Grandma, you go ahead and eat freely. The Eleventh Prince remembers your kindness, and he will bring you more if you like it."

Mrs. Chen got emotional to the point that her eyes turned red, "That boy is considerate. He remembers every good thing we did for him. Ah, our family was poor back then, and we wronged him a lot, made him face so much hardship." She glanced at Chen Afu and added, "And you too, Afu, I know you’re a thoughtful child."

Chen Shi opened a package and gave Mrs. Chen a pastry, and then he distributed the rest amongst the children. Smiling at everyone, he said, "This consolation from the Eleventh Prince, let’s all taste it. I never thought that we would get to eat the food made in the Imperial Kitchen in our lifetime. What an honor."

Everyone picked up a pastry and began to eat.

Chen Ye also laughed saying, "When we go back to the countryside for Lunar New Year, we will have something to brag about. Tsk, tsk, having a taste of the food the Emperor Himself eats, our ancestors must be smoking in their graves."

His comment made everyone laugh.

Only Mrs. Hu was scared white again, she lowered her head, too apprehensive to speak or eat the pastry. Everyone was aware of her fear and refrained from urging her.

Meanwhile, in the Capital City, Chu Lingqi rushed back to the Yong’an Marquis Manor. He went directly to Marquis Chu’s courtyard and reported the incident at the Luo Estate. The old Marquis was so angry and anxious that he almost fainted. He only relaxed when he learned that Liao Chen and the rest were not injured.

He hurriedly sent someone to Princess Mansion to summons his eldest son. Mrs. Chu hadn’t gone to the palace yet, so he also sent for her.

When the Marquis Chu hurried back to Yong’an Marquis Manor and heard about what happened, he slammed his fist on the table in anger, cursing through gritted teeth, "Those wicked women, how dare they do such a thing!"

Mrs. Chu also shook her head, lamenting, "The audacity and venom of Lady Ma and Rong Zhao astound me."

The old Marquis said, "Perhaps our constant tolerance and retreat have made them think we are easy to bully, hence they dared to commit such evil. It seems we have no room to retreat anymore."

Marquis Chu agreed, "Ideally, I would have preferred to wait until my third brother and Xuan’er returned, or until the Emperor..." he dared not utter the words ’passed away’, he continued, "... before contemplating any action. But if those two people want to hasten their demise, we will fulfill their wish."

Mrs. Chu commented, "Without any proof, will Lady Ma and Rong Zhao accept the charges? They can easily deny it by blaming it on the remnants of the Second Prince, claiming that it has nothing to do with them. They wouldn’t have threatened my sister-in-law out of town today and dared to act the very next night. Doesn’t that raise suspicion?"

Marquis Chu responded, "Their behavior appears to use the technique of purported facts to cover their tracks. It’s true that we don’t have solid proof to arrest them, and they have an excuse to stay clear." He paused and then added, "However, if the Emperor wants to punish them, it’s unnecessary for them to admit to anything. There will be plenty of pretexts to deal with the mother-daughter pair. Whether it is the doing of the remnants of the Second Prince or the two ladies, it is because I abide by the Emperor’s command to support the Crown Prince and thus invited their jealousy. My lifelong patience, humiliation, and family breakdown have all been endured in the name of loyalty to the Emperor. However, what I get in return is that so many of my family members almost got immolated. Today, the Chu family seeks a stance from the Emperor and the Crown Prince. They need to show whether or not they intend to discourage their vassals completely!"

The group discussed for a while and decided to move separately.

The third wife went to the palace to see the Queen and briefly explained the matter to her. The Queen Mother was in very poor health, so they didn’t dare to disturb her with these matters.

The old Marquis went to his old friends to vent his grievances, saying that because Liao Chen lived outside the city, he was almost captured by the party of the Second Prince, so he had no choice but to let her stay in Chu Lingxuan’s house in Dingzhou for her protection. Unexpectedly, that day Lady Ma sent a chamberlain to scold Chen, and she uttered a lot of harsh words, which angered Chen and made her move to the suburban mansion. The next night, disaster strikes... Liao Chen, my eldest daughter-in-law, my eldest great-granddaughter, my second grandson, my second grandson’s wife... so many of our family members risked being burnt to death...

Marquis Chu went to see the Emperor and the Crown Prince in the palace. Before he went into the palace though, he made a detour to the Princess Mansion.

When he reached the main court, Rong Zhao was standing on the bed in a panic. Lady Ma had assured her saying that there was nothing to fear and the Chu’s family hadn’t caught any culprits. No matter what, they both would deny any accusations. But Rong Zhao was scared. Thinking about her husband’s cold face, she was as scared as if she had fallen into an ice hole. She was also out of options; that’s why her mother had resorted to such drastic measures...

As she was in her thoughts, Chu Lang arrived. She stood up and began to say with a smile, "Chu Lang, it’s been several days since...."

Before she could finish her sentence, Chu Lang raised his hand and unexpectedly slapped her across her face, causing her to fall onto the bed’s edge.

Rong Zhao cried out in pain. Never in her life had she imagined that Chu Lang would dare to hit her, not even the maids who were serving her expected the husband to dare to hit the Princess.

The maids advanced forward in surprise to assist Rong Zhao, scolding Chu Lang, "The princess is royal and precious, how dare you, Consort Chu, disrespect her!"

Marquis Chu ignored the maids, wiped his hands with a silk handkerchief and then threw the handkerchief away. Looking straight at Rong Zhao he spat out sternly, "Rong Zhao, you will pay for the sins you’ve committed."