Chapter Eight: It's Their Turn to Make an Entrance

As Chu Xi’s words fell, Madam Xu outside lifted the curtain and entered.

“Young Mistress, the Qian couple has arrived. Madam said, after raising you for over ten years, you should at least go see them.”

“Understood,” Chu Xi replied.

Caiping quickly adjusted her dress and hair once more. “Miss, what do you think the Qians want at this hour?”

Chu Xi sneered, “Don’t worry, it’s certainly not because they miss or care for me.”

Wang Mu stepped forward. “Miss, I will accompany you.”

Seeing his worried face, Chu Xi nodded.

The three of them reached the front hall but saw neither Marquis Chu nor Lady Liu. Only the Qian couple sat there, heads bowed, whispering.

At this scene, memories from three years ago flooded Chu Xi’s mind: how eagerly they had taken her back to the Marquis’s residence, replacing those images with Qian Mengyun’s painted visions.

They had been cruel and brutal, showing no trace of familial affection. Even though she had supported them since age six through embroidery work, they never showed her a shred of pity.

This thought tightened Chu Xi’s heart, and a sorrowful tear welled in her eyes.

“Oh my, the big girl is here,” her foster mother Xu said as she turned at the sound, quickly rising to embrace Chu Xi.

“Madam Qian, the young mistress has just returned home and is still weak; she cannot bear such treatment,” Caiping said, spreading her arms to block Xu, her tone cold and disdainful—a clear warning to respect hierarchy and boundaries.

Chu Xi was no longer the nameless Qian family girl; she was now the young mistress of the Marquis’s household.

Xu faltered, glaring fiercely at Caiping.

“Hmph, climbing the social ladder so quickly in just three years and already forgetting us. Madam said you owed us your upbringing, but that debt seems thrown to the dogs now.”

Qian Kun approached, frowning fiercely.

Just then, Chu Xi stepped out from behind Caiping, locking eyes with Qian Kun’s furious glare.

“Yesterday, we received notice from the Marquis’s household saying you had returned. Early this morning, your mother and I came joyfully to see you, only to be rejected like this. Ungrateful wretch, you will be cursed by heaven.”

Chu Xi clenched her fists tightly inside her sleeves.

“So you cared for me so much, yet during the three years I suffered in the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion, you never once stood outside the gate to look in. Not even to throw me an old piece of clothing from beyond the high walls.”

Her voice, fragile yet cold, was icier than the biting wind of early winter morning.

Xu, anticipating Chu Xi’s resentment, hurried to explain, “Child, how could you know we didn’t want to? But that is the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence, under the emperor’s watchful eye every day. We, mere commoners, no matter how anxious our hearts, dared not defy the imperial will.”

“Many times your father tried to bring you food and clothes, but each time he was stopped by guards outside, beaten, almost losing his life.” She broke down in tears.

Wang Mu angrily exposed her, “When did the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion ever have layers of guards? There were only two rotating court clerks watching the gates daily, forbidding anyone to enter or leave. Besides, they pitied the young mistress and once even threw us food. Otherwise, how could she have survived with us and walked out alive?”

Qian Kun, humiliated by the exposure of their lies, flew into a rage. “You insolent slave, who gave you the right to speak?” He raised his foot to kick Wang Mu.

Chu Xi and Caiping tried to intervene but were pushed aside by Qian Kun.

At that moment, a stern shout rang out from outside the door.

“Impudent commoners, how dare you act recklessly in the Marquis’s residence!” The voice was deep and commanding, silencing everyone present.

It was Pang Hu, the deputy general under General Tiger Tooth.

He stopped Wang Mu, who was about to retaliate against Qian Kun. “Don’t be rash, the general is here.”

Then Mo Zixiao entered, brow furrowed, eyes sharp and dark, exuding the dignified and heroic presence of a general.