Chapter 51: She Probably Forgot Long Ago

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Chu Xi quickly withdrew his gaze, then fluttered away like a delicate butterfly.

“Hey, young man, go to the accounting office to collect your silver,” the kitchen steward called out, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead, to the man who was still staring blankly after Chu Xi’s retreating figure.

“Oh, alright, thank you, steward,” the man finally came to his senses and replied promptly. Reluctantly, he glanced once more in the direction Chu Xi had vanished before slowly taking his leave.

His footsteps were heavy, his mind haunted by the image of Chu Xi’s departing figure, causing his pace to unconsciously slow.

“She probably doesn’t remember me anymore,” the man murmured with a faint smile.

At this moment, inside the mansion, Qian Mengyun was being punished by Lord Chu, forced to kneel in her own chamber. Since she was no longer the legitimate daughter of the Chu family, she was no longer permitted to kneel at the ancestral hall.

The fact that she was now unworthy even of kneeling before the ancestral shrine filled Qian Mengyun with profound hatred.

The intricately carved chamber, once filled with the warmth and joy befitting a young lady’s quarters, was now heavy with oppression and sorrow.

Kneeling on the floor, her frail body seemed to bear the weight of a thousand pounds. Though only kneeling, she felt as if sitting on pins and needles, her heart racing anxiously, nearly bursting out of her chest.

Her mind oscillated between two conflicting thoughts. On one hand, she desperately awaited news of mourning from the General’s residence. To her, that represented a hope for release, the only way to escape her humiliating and unbearable predicament.

On the other hand, she was deeply worried about her parents, detained by Lord Chu. She knew all too well that her elderly parents were burdened with old injuries sustained in the Marquis’s mansion. Without her care at the General’s residence, what fate awaited them? Would they suffer further persecution at the hands of Steward Zhao? These tangled worries left her restless and unable to find peace.

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Her personal maid, Xiao Yu, distressed by her mistress’s torment, found her own lips cracked and blistered from anxiety.

She pined for her lady yet was helpless, only able to shed silent tears beside her and occasionally offer gentle words of comfort. But Qian Mengyun was too agitated to calm down.

“Any news from the General’s residence?” Qian Mengyun asked heavily.

Xiao Yu shook her head, replying, “Not yet. Even I am forbidden from leaving your chamber. We can only rely on the wet nurses outside to gather information. But don’t worry, Miss, I’ve given them silver, and they will come immediately once there is news.”

Hearing this, Qian Mengyun sighed deeply with worry. “I don’t know how Father and Mother are doing now. It’s driving me mad with anxiety.”

No sooner had she spoken than the door creaked open.

Both mistress and maid turned their heads.

Lord Chu’s tall figure appeared in the doorway, closely followed by Lady Liu.

Lord Chu’s face was grave, his gaze exuding a chilling authority. Lady Liu’s expression was equally somber as she hurried inside.

“Father, Mother,” Qian Mengyun exclaimed, seeing Lord Chu and Lady Liu as if they were saviors. Her expression instantly transformed into one of profound grievance, tears welling up in her eyes as she cried out pitifully.

Her sobs sounded heart-wrenching, as if she had suffered the gravest injustice.

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Lord Chu’s chest heaved with rage, his eyes wide like copper bells, burning with fierce fire. His gaze felt like a physical force striking Qian Mengyun.

His voice thundered, “What exactly did you do at the General’s residence?” His roar seemed to shake the entire room, instantly filling it with tension.

Qian Mengyun was momentarily stunned by Lord Chu’s accusation, her body instinctively stiffening.

Her mind raced rapidly, quickly deducing that Madame Mo must have died, hence her father’s question. Whatever had happened at the General’s residence was now beyond proof, and naturally, no one could harm her anymore.

At that thought, the tension that had gripped her nerves instantly eased, as if a great weight had lifted. She relaxed considerably, a slight smile touching her lips before she quickly masked it, resuming her pitiful demeanor.

“Father, Mengyun did nothing wrong. I only wished to pay respects to General Mo during Madame Mo’s grave illness. Of course, you both understand my heartfelt reasons—it was out of necessity.”

“Heh, do you know that the Deputy Minister of Justice is currently inside the General’s residence, gathering evidence from Madame Mo?”

What? She hadn’t died!

The news struck Qian Mengyun like a thunderclap, making her feel as if everything around her was collapsing and falling apart.