"I told you before that you're not allowed to go out and embarrass me without my permission. Are you ignoring me?"

Chu Shangguo didn't act like a father at all.

Chu Qingxuan sneered inwardly. She looked up at Chu Shangguo, her eyes cold and sharp, her gaze sweeping across his face. "Father, tell me, what shameful thing did I do when I went out? First, I didn't use the name Chu Qingxuan when I went out. Second, why do you say that going out is shameful?"

"Father, the shame you speak of is that I married Prince An as a man. Didn't you agree to this marriage yourself?"

Chu Qingxuan spoke Chu Shangguo's innermost thoughts, each word striking his heart. His eyes were bloodshot with rage. "You unfilial son! I never said that it was shameful for you to marry the Fourth Prince. This is a marriage personally approved by the Emperor, and an imperial decree has been issued. This is something that others would beg for!"

"Since Father says this is the highest honor, then how am I disgracing the Chu family?"

Chu Shangguo was speechless. No matter what he said, his son could always pin the blame for his treason on him.

The State of Chu Shang was at a disadvantage.

"Fourth Brother, how could you say such things about Father? If word gets out, people will have something to use against us!"

Chu Qingxuan blinked. "Handle? Father doesn't have any handle. I didn't say anything."

"You...you weren't talking about Father..."

Chu Qingli's innocent face showed grievance, as if she had been bullied badly by Chu Qingxuan.

"Enough! Chu Qingxuan, go to the ancestral hall and think about what you did wrong! You're not allowed to come out without my permission! And no one is allowed to give you any food!"

Chu Qingxuan looked at Chu Shangguo without fear. Kneel in the ancestral hall? Dream on!

"May I ask, Father, have I caused any trouble outside?"

Chu Shangguo frowned, wondering what Chu Qingxuan was thinking. He realized he couldn't understand his son.

Chu Qingxuan didn't get an answer from him, so she asked again, pressing him relentlessly.

Chu Shangguo had no choice but to answer, "No."

"Are there any rumors circulating outside that the fourth young master of the Chu family is of bad character and has brought shame to the Chu family?"

"No."

"Then may I ask Father, what did I do wrong? Please tell me clearly, otherwise I really don't know... what I did wrong."

Chu Qingxuan gritted her teeth, feeling inexplicably amused, and looked at Chu Shangguo with a leisurely air, as if she were watching a joke.

It depends on how you answer.

It was only at this moment that Chu Shangguo realized he had fallen into Chu Qingxuan's trap. His brows furrowed tightly, and his eyes were filled with malice as he looked at Chu Qingxuan.

Chu Qingxuan was openly and secretly competing with Chu Shangguo, and Chu Qingli, who was standing nearby, could no longer sit still.

"You dare to talk back to your father? That's why you'll have to kneel in the ancestral hall!"

Chu Qingxuan smiled and looked at Chu Qingli, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Fifth sister, I talked back to Father. He hasn't even said anything yet, and you're just worrying about it."

"You..." Chu Qingli was choked again, but it was not the right time to explode. Chu Qingxuan had expected that she would not take off her disguise as a lady from a respectable family in front of Chu Shangguo.

Seeing Chu Qingli's angry but speechless expression, Chu Qingxuan was in a great mood.

"Father, look at Fourth Brother, I was trying to help you, and he still says this to me!"

Chu Shangguo looked at Chu Qingxuan with a gloomy expression and said coldly, "Chu Qingxuan, stop bullying your sister here. Go kneel in the ancestral hall, or else you'll be punished according to family law!"

Chu Qingxuan knew what the Chu family's rules were; it was nothing more than caning.