Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 539 - 530

Chapter 539: 530

Upon hearing Chen Shiying’s words, Mrs. Jiang and the reporting maid froze in disbelief. Chen Shiying had always been mild-mannered and courteous, even kind to his servants, and had an especially good temper with Chen Yuhui and the other children. They had not anticipated such ruthless words from him.

The maid hastily reported, "She... she’s not dead. We found her in time, and she was taken down from the chair."

Chen Shiying then coldly rebuked, "If she’s not dead, why make such a fuss? Make sure she is safe until she is sent away in the morning. Also, let her know that her reckless actions have drained every bit of my sympathy for her. She should brace herself, as I won’t be seeing her again."

Mrs. Jiang observed Chen Shiying’s angry expression and murmured, "Sir, please calm down. It’s not worth your health. I shall go check on Miss Yuhui."

Chen Shiying responded, "See that she is watched. There must be no incidents at home. If she truly wishes to take her life, let her do it in the countryside; hanging or drowning herself where she can’t be stopped." Standing up, he continued, "I’ll take a look at the new house and stay there overnight. When sending Yuhui away, ensure that the maids accompanying her are robust to avoid any major disturbances."

Having said that, he left directly.

Watching his retreating figure, Mrs. Jiang asked one of her maids to fetch Mrs. Lu to accompany him. Aunt Yu, spoiled and arrogant, had wished to keep her son, Zhao, close to her side. As a result, she had been sent to live at the farm by Chen Shiying the previous year.

Later, when Mrs. Jiang tried to introduce a young, beautiful concubine or maid to him, Chen Shiying refused. He held her hand, saying, "The best wife is virtuous. While I was in confinement, I realized that if I ever get out, I wouldn’t want to let you down again."

At this moment, Mrs. Jiang was moved to tears.

Mrs. Jiang tidied up her hair at the temples and briskly walked to the rear chambers, thinking to herself that once they sent off Yuhui, the house would finally be peaceful again.

Once she arrived at the rear house, she could hear commotion coming from the inner room.

Mrs. Jiang scoffed coldly. Yuhui, with her delicate health, was only shortening her own life with this tantrum.

Entering the West Room, she found Chen Yuhui lying in bed, crying into a handkerchief. A few feet of white silk lay in a heap under the bed.

Hearing from the maids that the mistress had arrived and not hearing about the master’s arrival, Yuhui felt a twinge of disbelief. She lowered her handkerchief to confirm that it was indeed only Mrs. Jiang standing by her bed. Looking past her, she didn’t see her father, Chen Shiying, as she had hoped.

Conscious of Yuhui’s thoughts, Mrs. Jiang sneered, "Don’t bother looking. Your father has left in anger because of you."

Chen Yuhui couldn’t believe that her father would abandon her so mercilessly. She asked the reporting maid, "Where is Father? Does he not care about my life at all?"

The maid hesitated. She wouldn’t have dared repeat Chen Shiying’s harsh words word-for-word if Mrs. Jiang hadn’t been present. However, in the presence of the mistress, she didn’t dare lie either. So, she bit the bullet and said, "Master said... said that you’ve done plenty of things that pleased your enemies but distressed your family. He said that his sympathy for you is fully depleted, and asked that you... take care of yourself. He won’t see you again."

If her father abandoned her, not only would she fail to become Chu Lingxuan’s concubine, but she might also have to spend the rest of her life in the countryside with the old woman. This was unthinkable!

Chen Yuhui cried, "How could my father abandon me? No, I won’t go to the countryside. I won’t leave."

Mrs. Jiang argued, "Everyone’s patience has its limits. Your father’s affection towards you has been exhausted by your endless outrages. You’ve really outdone yourself."

Ignoring Mrs. Jiang’s sarcasm, Chen Yuhui continued to sob, "I’d rather die. Let everyone in the Capital City know that to make way for her own daughter, the Chens have driven their illegitimate daughter to despair..."

With that, she rolled over and grabbed the white silk. The maids rushed forward to snatch it from her, too timid to use full force for fear of hurting Chen Yuhui. It soon turned into a tug of war.

Did she mean her very own stepmother, was driving her to despair? So much for raising an ungrateful child.

Thoroughly tired of the scene, Mrs. Jiang coldly remarked, "Your father also said that if you truly want to die, then you should do it in the countryside, where nobody can stop you from hanging yourself or jumping into a well. However, you cannot die at home. Yes, we won’t let you tarnish your brothers’ and sisters’ reputations any further. You have to leave Capital City." She turned to Yuhui’s maids then and said, "If Miss Yuhui dies here, I will have you beaten to death and your families sold to the salt mines. If you don’t believe me, you can try."

The maids were terrified. Ignoring Chen Yuhui’s cries, they quickly grabbed the silk from her.

Mrs. Jiang continued, "Watch her closely. We cannot let her harm herself. She’s to be sent away first thing tomorrow." With that, she turned around and left.

Three days later, on the 19th of March, an auspicious day deemed suitable for moving, Chen Shiying moved houses. They had begun moving two days earlier, but it was only on this day that they held their housewarming banquet here and officially moved in.

The Chens invited not only the matrimonial families such as the Chus, the Jiangs, and the Xies, but also some of their colleagues and friends and their families.

From the Chu family, only Marquis Chu and the elders of the first and third branches were invited. The second branch was not. Chen Shiying and Mrs. Jiang were generally mild mannered and didn’t usually engage in face-slapping actions. But Chen Shiying was furious with Mrs. Li who had foolishly made promises to Granny Zhao, leading to unwarranted expectations from both Granny Zhao and Chen Yuhui, which only raised unnecessary confusion and problems.

Mrs. Jiang was a tactful woman. She especially prepared a small courtyard for Chen Afu to stay when she visited her maternal home. When Chen Afu took her children to see the courtyard, Chen Yuqing also went with them.

The courtyard was small but cozy, with a wall adorned by rose-filled trellises, thus earning it the name "Rose Courtyard". The rooms were elegantly decorated according to Chen Afu’s taste.

Chen Afu smiled at Chen Yuqing and said, "I love it. Mother is very thoughtful."

Chen Yuqing whispered to Chen Afu about Chen Yuhui’s suicide attempts to become Chu Lingxuan’s concubine, how she enraged Chen Shiying, and how he didn’t want to be involved with her anymore.

As their previous residence was rather small, the sisters lived in the rear chambers, and Chen Yuqing, who lived in the room across from Chen Yuhui, heard everything.

Upon hearing this, Chen Afu burst into laughter and derision, "How shameless! She believes my husband was stolen from her. He is so fed up with her that he finds her repulsive. He once mentioned that the idea of Chen Yuhui wanting to be his concubine was as disgusting as eating a fly. If he knew about her making a fuss to become his concubine, it would be more disgusting, like eating earthworms." She felt nauseated thinking about it, and almost felt like vomiting. She continued, "Like Granny Zhao, Chen Yuhui is not only vile but also foolish. She has angered our good-tempered father to the point of indifference. This means the end of her good days."

Hearing Chen Afu mock Granny Zhao, Chen Yuqing didn’t dare to join in, she merely giggled in response.

Chen Afu winked at her, "Did you get a good look at Young Master Xie when he came to greet our mother today?"

Chen Yuqing’s face flushed deeply, and she shyly lowered her head. This was her second time meeting the young Master Xie. Tall, humble, courteous and full of youthful power...

Their marriage had already been officially arranged. As both were no longer young, the wedding was scheduled for October of the same year.

After their private conversation, the two returned to the main court. After lunch, the two watched a couple of opera highlights before bidding farewell to go home. Chen Afu, not being fond of opera, took her children to rest in the Rose Courtyard.