Chu Yun was so preoccupied with the grievances she had suffered that she didn't notice this detail.
"I don't acknowledge her!"
Calling someone an ugly older sister is worse than death.
Chu Yun's eyes flashed with malice: "With a face like that, she wouldn't even be able to get customers in a brothel."
Madam Chu slammed the spoon down: "Yun'er!"
The young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion kept mentioning "brothel" and "entertaining guests," causing all the maids and servants in the room to lower their heads.
"How have I always taught you to keep your emotions in check? You've only been down for a moment, and you're already acting like this. You're better off not being a young lady anymore. Guards, take her back to her own courtyard to reflect on her actions. She's not to come out without my permission."
Chu Yun realized she had spoken out of turn, dared not cry anymore, and left after bowing.
Madam Chu picked up the spoon and continued to stir the incense burner. The smoke curled upwards, and she seemed unaffected, but no one in the room dared to breathe loudly.
After a while, when Madam Chu's trusted confidante, Granny Ni, returned, Madam Chu waved for the others to leave.
Granny Ni: "Madam, the people I sent to Xuzhou have returned. The Xu family... is gone. My men found the former servants of the Xu household, and they said that Chu Xinxin was a witch..."
Madam Chu sneered after hearing this: "As expected, you came prepared."
Granny Ni asked in confusion, "Madam, since you knew she harbored ill intentions, why did you still tell the Prime Minister to bring her back?"
"If we put our eyes on her, even if she has great abilities, she can't escape the concept of filial piety. When she comes of age, we'll add some dowry and arrange for her to marry someone else."
Of course, whether she'll be able to get married is another matter.
"Madam is wise."
......
The Chu family quickly sent people to the Qi residence, but Qi Yi had them chased away with brooms.
Chu Xuan and his wife went in person and received the same treatment.
Chu Xuan lost face and immediately complained to the emperor, saying that Qi Yi was preventing him from recognizing Chu Xinxin as her father and was ruining their relationship.
Qi Yi was no pushover either, and recounted in detail how Chu Xinxin had spent her time in Xuzhou.
"I'm ruining your relationship. Do you even have any feelings for each other?"
The two argued fiercely, giving Emperor Zhou another headache.
"Alright, Qi Yi, her father is still alive. You should send her daughter back right away," Emperor Zhou declared decisively.
Chu Xinxin entered the Chu family home empty-handed, without packing anything.
In Haitang's eyes, it was no different from a lamb being led into the tiger's den.
Miss is so kind, innocent, and delicate; I must protect her.
Haitang packed her small bag and followed.
"These beddings are actually made of the worst brocade. In our Qi household, we don't even need maids."
"This decoration is from the first ten years of the capital, isn't it?"
"And this jewelry, it's so shabby, is the Prime Minister's residence going to collapse tomorrow?"
Haitang was picky, scrutinizing the entire courtyard from the inside out.
Chu Xinxin sat in the rocking chair, resting her chin on her hand, admiring her bossy little face, feeling particularly pleased.
But the smile on Granny Ni's face disappeared.
"Young Miss, Master and Madam are still waiting for you in the main hall to pay your respects," said Granny Ni.
Chu Xinxin didn't even lift her eyelids: "Oh, then go tell them not to wait anymore, go do whatever they need to do."
Granny Ni: ?
“Young Miss, it’s your first day back. If you don’t pay your respects, it will damage your reputation,” Granny Ni said, suppressing her surprise and earnestly advising her.
Chu Xinxin was puzzled: "Spread the word? Who spread it? You? Me? Or Prime Minister Chu and Madam Chu?"
Granny Ni quickly denied it: "Master and Madam dote on you too much, how could that be? This old servant wouldn't... It's just that there are many people in the Prime Minister's residence, and it's inevitable that there will be some gossip."
Chu Xinxin: "That means there are still loopholes in Madam Chu's housekeeping..."
Haitang chimed in at the opportune moment: "That's right, our Qi family doesn't do it that way."
Granny Ni was furious: "Miss Haitang, this is the Prime Minister's residence."
Haitang: "This doesn't conflict with your wife's incompetence in managing the household."
Chu Xinxin nodded approvingly; Haitang's logic was truly brilliant.
After going around in circles, Granny Ni could no longer keep up the act: "Miss, I have delivered my message. Whether you go or not is up to you. But I would like to advise you that you are still young and should listen to your elders more often."
After saying that, Granny Ni left.
Haitang spat at her retreating figure.
"Haitang, a girl should be more civilized." Chu Xinxin patted Haitang's shoulder and decided to start giving her a lesson in etiquette as a well-bred young lady starting tomorrow.
"Miss, this old hag dares to threaten you!"
Chu Xinxin didn't care: "How was it a threat? I didn't hear it coming from you."
Haitang stamped her foot anxiously: "Didn't her last sentence mean that you are still being manipulated by Prime Minister Chu and Madam Chu?"
Chu Xinxin: "Whatever, Haitang, go close the door. I'm going back to bed to sleep for a while."
Haitang sighed as she watched Chu Xinxin's retreating figure. Alas, her young lady was indeed too naive.
......
Chu Xinxin was woken up after only a short time.
Granny Ni returned and led a group of people to move all of Chu Xinxin's belongings out of her courtyard.
"Master said that since the young lady dislikes the things in the Prime Minister's residence, then we should not wrong her and move everything away."
Chu Xinxin stood by, still half asleep, letting them do as they pleased. She neither cried nor made a fuss, and almost fell asleep while standing there.
When I opened my eyes again, the room was empty; not even a stool remained.
"Miss!" Haitang was about to cry in anger.
Chu Xinxin comforted her, "Don't cry, I guarantee they'll bring me something even better tomorrow."
Haitang was very skeptical of her words.
Chu Xinxin: "Shall we bet?"
Haitang: "This is my monthly allowance."
Chu Xinxin: ......
There's no need to be so obvious if you don't believe me.
The next day, Doctor Wang came to change Chu Xinxin's dressing, but was stopped by the housekeeper and not allowed to enter.
An Yi suddenly appeared from behind Doctor Wang: "The whole capital knows that Doctor Wang is treating your young lady's injuries. You, you insolent servant, are blocking the way. Are you acting under someone's orders and can't stand to see Chu Xinxin doing well?"
The butler smiled apologetically, but simply wouldn't allow it.
An Yi was used to being spoiled and arrogant. She could walk around the palace with a swagger, let alone the mere Prime Minister's residence.
He immediately rushed inside without a second thought.
Haitang had been waiting nearby and immediately stepped forward to lead the way.
An Yi successfully found the empty courtyard and Chu Xinxin huddled in a corner, shivering from the cold.
"Has the Prime Minister's residence fallen to such a state of poverty?" An Yi said disdainfully.
Chu Xinxin glanced cautiously at the steward and explained, "Perhaps the Prime Minister's residence is researching a very new way of raising children."
An Yi turned to her maid and instructed, "Go back to the Princess's residence and bring back the Hundred Treasures Eight Immortals Luohan Bed and the sandalwood screen that my uncle the Emperor bestowed upon me."
"Bring me everything: a rosewood chair made of golden nanmu wood, gilded gauze...
"Wait a minute."
A rather authoritative voice came from the doorway.
Chu Xinxin looked up and saw a woman dressed in a scarlet palace dress slowly walking in.
The woman was graceful and beautiful, with a face like a lotus flower. Perhaps because she had been in a high position for a long time, her aura made An Yi's imposing manner immediately pale.
Chu Xinxin thought to herself, "She truly deserves the title of 'white moonlight'."
She was both beautiful and cold; no wonder Chu Xuan couldn't forget her.
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