lcionline Chapter 9 Aunt Fang and her daughter
Chapter 9 Aunt Fang and her daughter
Chu's mother hurriedly got up, her expression a mixture of reproach and doting, "You three rascals, always so reckless, get up now."
Chu Chenyu was the first to react. He scrambled to his feet, not even bothering to brush the dust off himself, and shouted at Chu Yueshu, "It's all your fault, you left in such a hurry!"
Chu Yueshu sat on the ground, her eyes red-rimmed, and retorted aggrievedly, "You were the one who kept pushing me!"
While helping Chu Yueshu up, Chu Nanxin gently advised, "Alright, alright, stop arguing. Don't do this in front of your brother-in-law."
Chu Yueshu ran to Chu Ruohan's side and said coquettishly, "Sister, it's all his fault for taking it from me. The chestnut cake he gave you is all dirty now."
Looking up, Chu Yueshu saw Gu Junze standing there, stunned. Following her gaze, the other two also noticed Gu Junze sitting in the wheelchair.
Mother Chu nodded slightly and said softly, "Junze, please don't blame me. It's all because I've spoiled these children rotten."
Gu Junze responded, "Mother-in-law, you flatter me. It is truly a blessing that the brothers and sisters can be so close and harmonious, laughing and joking together."
"Greetings, elder sister and brother-in-law." Chu Nanxin stepped forward and bowed, and Chu Ruohan's gaze fell on her.
Her half-sister appears gentle and honest, but she is a venomous snake at heart.
In her past life, after Gu Chengyan was made a prince, she climbed into his bed and became his concubine.
He tried to please Gu's mother on one hand, and tormented her on the other.
At Chu Nanxin's behest, several wicked servants swung thick wooden sticks and smashed them hard against her back and legs.
Her clothes were soaked in blood, and her body was curled up on the ground, trembling uncontrollably from the excruciating pain.
Chu Nanxin stood aside, watching her pained expression, a twisted smile on her face.
"Beat her to death! Focus on those legs that used to be so arrogant, let's see how she can still be so haughty in front of me!"
After beating her, Chu Nanxin was still not satisfied, so he ordered his men to tie her to a pillar and whip her repeatedly with thorny vines.
The skin on his arm was torn open, and he nearly fainted, but was awakened by being splashed with cold water, and continued to endure this inhuman beating and torture...
Chu Yueshu cried out in alarm, "Sister, it hurts so much!"
Chu Ruohan suddenly snapped out of her daze and realized that, because she was immersed in painful memories of her past life and anger towards Chu Nanxin, she had unconsciously pinched her sister's arm.
She quickly let go, her eyes filled with guilt and tenderness.
"Yue Shu, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."
"What's wrong?" Chu's mother asked, frowning. "Han'er, why do you suddenly look so pale?"
Gu Junze's gaze also fell on her.
"No...it's nothing." Chu Ruohan forced herself to remain calm, managed a smile, and reached out to rub Chu Yueshu's arm.
At this moment, Aunt Fang gracefully entered carrying dishes, followed by a large group of servants.
Mother Chu said with a smile, "Today's banquet was all carefully prepared by your Aunt Fang herself, and she made all your favorite dishes."
"This is all I should do; I only hope it suits the tastes of Miss and everyone else."
After everyone was seated, Chu Ruohan's expression softened slightly, and she looked up at Aunt Fang.
"There is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. Isn't it inappropriate for Concubine Fang and her daughter to sit here?"
"Han'er..."
Just as Chu's mother was about to speak, she noticed Chu Ruohan quietly shaking her head at her.
The Chu family was small, consisting of only one concubine and four children, and they always ate together at the same table.
Chu's mother's gaze fell on Gu Junze. Perhaps because the Gu family was a prominent and powerful clan with strict rules, Han'er...
Chu's mother's gaze inadvertently shifted to Gu Junze, and she speculated that perhaps because the Gu family was a prominent and prestigious clan with strict rules, Han'er's actions might have had their reasons.
Mother Chu sighed softly to herself, then cleared her throat and said slowly, "Aunt Fang, please take Nanxin to the side hall for your meal."
Aunt Fang's face turned deathly pale instantly. She looked at Chu's father pleadingly, but dared not disobey in the slightest. She could only force a smile and reply, "Yes."
Chu Nanxin looked unwilling, biting her lower lip and clenching her fists tightly in her sleeves, but she could only get up with Aunt Fang.
Watching their departing figures, Chu Ruohan's expression regained some composure.
Aunt Fang and her daughter appear humble and compliant, never vying for anything, but in reality, they harbor endless schemes deep within their hearts.
Behind those seemingly kind faces lie poisoned blades.
In her past life, Yue Shu was harmed by them...
Upon entering the side hall, Chu Nanxin still couldn't hide her anger, twisting the handkerchief in her hand into a tangled mess.
"Why did she treat us like beggars and send us to a side room?!"
Aunt Fang also looked displeased. "Now that she's married into the Marquis's mansion and risen to a higher social status, she naturally looks down on us."
"What's so great about it? So what if she married a cripple?"
"Shh," Aunt Fang hurriedly stepped forward, grabbed her arm and whispered, "Even if he's a cripple, he's still a master of the Marquis of Anyang's mansion. How could you make up such a story?"
Chu Nanxin's eyes reddened, as if tears of grievance were welling up. "I'm just so angry."
Aunt Fang sighed helplessly and pulled Chu Nanxin to sit down on a chair in the side hall.
“Nanxin, I know you feel wronged, but that’s just how the world is. Your marriage still depends on her.”
"Chu Ruohan is now the young mistress of the Marquis's mansion. As long as she is willing to help you, your marriage will naturally go smoothly. You must not offend her."
Although Chu Nanxin was resentful, he knew that what Aunt Fang said was true, so he could only nod slightly.
After the meal, the Chu father and daughter went into the study.
Chu Ruohan got straight to the point, "I have three things I need your help with, Father. First, I ask you to send a reliable person to the south as soon as possible to buy up as much grain as possible and transport it back as quickly as possible."
Upon hearing this, Chu's father was astonished and asked in confusion, "Now that the weather is favorable and the world is at peace, why hoard grain?"
Chu Ruohan remembered that in two months, it would be the height of summer, when there would be continuous heavy rains that would flood the crops in the north, leaving the fields barren.
Chu Ruohan had already prepared her explanation: "My daughter has recently been reading an ancient agricultural book, and the celestial phenomena and seasonal changes described in it coincide with the recent celestial phenomena."
"The book states that whenever a certain celestial phenomenon occurs, there will be torrential rains and floods in the height of summer."
Father Chu frowned, still having doubts: "Relying solely on ancient books and stargazing is far too risky. How can I easily use so much money to gamble on the unknown?"
"Father, please believe your daughter this time."
Chu's father paced back and forth inside the house, but eventually agreed to the matter.
"The second thing is that there is a money exchange called Xinglong in this city. My daughter wants her father to send someone to spread rumors that Xinglong has gone bankrupt and that the owner has absconded with the money..."