Chapter 38 Tears Falling with Every Word

Chu Xi raised her hand to wipe the tears from her face and walked straight inside, ignoring Caiping's attempts to stop her.

"Mother Mo." She finally called out that name tremblingly at this moment, and then dropped heavily to her knees with a thud.

"Mother Mo, back when I was still the eldest daughter of the Qian family, whenever that couple found excuses to mistreat me, you would always argue with them out of distress. In the dead of night, when I was alone, sad, and weeping, it was you who held me in your warm embrace and secretly stuffed delicious treats into my hands."

"Whenever they beat me, you were always the first to run over and protect me. Then, holding my face with eyes full of maternal love, you would say to me, 'Good girl, just endure a little longer. Once you marry into our Mo family in the future, the two of us will be like a real mother and daughter. Mother will surely treat you like her own flesh and blood, and life will eventually get better.'"

"But why is it that now, after suffering so much and finally managing to reunite with you, Mother, you look down on me with such disdain? Although I was forced to marry into the Marquis of Zhenguo's estate, my body has always remained pure. Besides, that dying Li Dan and I never even performed the wedding ceremony; we are not truly husband and wife."

As Chu Xi wept and recalled the scenes of the past, she could not help but be overcome with sorrow and grief, her heart aching as if being carved by knives.

Her words managed to stir Madam Mo's vivid memories of the past. Seeing Chu Xi crying so heartrendingly, Madam Mo could not help but turn her eyes red with shared sorrow.

Kneeling on the ground, Chu Xi wept pitifully, "Mother Mo, is it because I now bear the ominous reputation of a widow that you feel I am no longer worthy of Zixiao? Or is it because the Chu Xi of today has no power, no influence, and no loving parents as a backing, so you refuse to let me ruin Zixiao's future?"

"Mother, Mother, do you truly not love me anymore? The good girl in your eyes and on your lips is kneeling right before your eyes now. You told me to endure a little longer because I was soon to marry into the Mo family, and that is why Chu Xi gritted her teeth and persevered until now."

"Mother Mo, you were the one who loved Chu Xi most in this world, but why are you now casting me aside as well? Mother..." Chu Xi wept uncontrollably, her cries heart-wrenching.

Beside her, Caiping had also turned into a weeping willow.

Madam Mo was brought to incessant tears by these successive accusations and pleas.

Seeing that the tide was turning unfavorably, the two members of the Qian family exchanged a glance nearby.

Madame Xu spoke up again, "Big girl, what is the use of saying all this now? No matter how badly our Qian family treated you, we still raised you for fifteen years. Besides, if you truly wish to repay Mother Mo for her kindness, you should let go for the sake of Zixiao's future."

Chu Xi was already severely ill and overwhelmed by grief; unable to bear it any longer, she fainted from crying.

Remaining unconscious for three whole days, Chu Xi finally opened her eyes slowly.

Her high fever had broken by then, and her mind had cleared up.

Caiping and Wang Mu, who had been guarding her side all along, were looking at her with tear-filled eyes.

"What is wrong with you both? Am I dead?" Chu Xi asked weakly.

The two quickly wiped away their tears. Caiping said, "My lady, you are finally awake, and your fever has broken. Heaven itself must have taken pity on you and is protecting you."

Hearing this, Chu Xi let out a weak, bitter laugh. "Heaven? Has it ever truly seen me?"

At this moment, footsteps sounded outside, and Steward Zhao's voice came from the doorway, "Is the young lady awake?"

Wang Mu hurriedly stood up and walked out, "She has already woken up."

Caiping lifted the curtain, "Thank you for the medicine, Steward Zhao. Our young lady's high fever has subsided."

Steward Zhao also smiled happily, "That is good, that is good. Otherwise, if the General returns, this old servant would have no way to account for it. If you need anything else, just come and find me."

Wang Mu nodded, "Many thanks, Steward Zhao."

"I am merely entrusted by the General. Take good care of the young lady and help her recover her health. It has been very noisy outside these past few days; the Empress Dowager has offered a reward of a thousand taels of silver for someone to embroider a 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' scroll. That notice has been posted for three days now, and everyday people gather three layers deep to look at it, yet no one dares to take it down. That is why going out to get medicine for the young lady took a little extra time, though fortunately, it did not delay her recovery."

Caiping asked, "It is merely a 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' scroll, yet the Empress Dowager is offering a reward of a thousand taels of silver? With so much silver, why would no one dare to take it down?"

Zhao Cheng smiled and shook his head, "It is said that the Empress Dowager once saw a 'Hundred Longevity' scroll from the Earl's estate and wants to embroider one following that exact standard. Word is that the person who embroidered that scroll cannot be found, so the Empress Dowager is offering a reward to find them."

Caiping said, "Oh, so that is how it is."

After Steward Zhao left, Chu Xi forced herself to sit up, "Wang Mu, come here."

Wang Mu hurried over, "My lady, you have just woken up, please lie back down."

Chu Xi looked at him and asked, "Are Steward Zhao's words true?"

"They should be true. Yesterday I heard the gatekeeper's servant boy talking about this matter as well."

Chu Xi nodded, then instructed him, "You must leave the estate right now and go take down that notice."

"Ah?" Both Wang Mu and Caiping stared in stunned astonishment.