Chapter 71 A Doting Mother Often Spoils Her Son
Yan Cang said succinctly: "Kneel down. Slap yourself."
Chu Mingxiu was frightened and subconsciously looked up at Chu Yunjin, only to see that Chu Yunjin's face was cold and she didn't say a word, showing no intention of pleading for him.
Chu Mingxiu suppressed his anger, lowered his head and knelt down, raising his hand to slap himself in the face.
Yan Cang frowned: "If you haven't eaten, I can have my guards help you."
Chu Mingxiu's heart sank, and he had no choice but to suppress his shame and anger as he slapped his own face hard.
Yan Cang held Chu Yunjin's hand and walked into the hall: "Everyone else, get up. Chu Mingxiu, kneel outside and reflect on your actions."
Madam Chu bit her lip, glancing at her son with some heartache, then gave Chu Yunjin a look, hoping that Chu Yunjin would ask the prince for mercy for the sake of his elder brother.
Unfortunately, Chu Yunjin intended to teach Chu Mingxiu a lesson today and had no intention of pleading for him.
What he said was truly unbelievable.
In ancient times, official families placed great importance on the reputation of their daughters, and he, as a man, was certainly aware of this.
Even if Chu Yunjin is not his biological sister, but only his half-sister born to his aunt, she still has the surname Chu. What good does it do for the Chu family to ruin his sister's reputation in front of Yan Cang, except to affect the reputation of the other sisters in the Chu family?
"Second sister." Chu Yunshan stepped forward, feigning intimacy as she took Chu Yunjin's hand, but her eyes glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Yan Cang. "Eldest brother is just... just too angry about what second sister did in the past, and he's heartbroken that he didn't raise his younger sister well. He didn't mean to embarrass second sister. I hope second sister understands eldest brother's good intentions..."
Chu Yunjin brushed her hand away and said with a half-smile, "To say in front of the prince that I have an ambiguous relationship with other men, is that for my own good? Chu Yunshan, what you consider good is truly unique."
“Third sister, there’s no need to defend me,” Chu Mingxiu said coldly. “Chu Yunjin’s mind is only filled with love between men and women. She can’t distinguish right from wrong at all. You’re just wasting your breath talking to her.”
Chu Yunjin turned her head, raising an eyebrow: "Big brother, did the prince tell you to stop?"
Chu Mingxiu's face turned pale. He glared at her angrily and raised his hand to slap himself in the face.
"Jin'er." Madam Chu's face paled slightly, her expression full of worry and pleading. "Your elder brother meant no harm. You...you shouldn't worry. Please plead with the Prince and ask him to get up first, okay?"
Chu Yunjin frowned: "Mother, you've spoiled my eldest brother. He spoke recklessly today, even ruining his own sister's reputation. If we don't teach him a lesson, he'll dare to make the same mistake again."
Madam Chu stammered, "But...but he was telling the truth..."
Chu Yunjin stared at her, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Is this the original owner's mother?
She remembered the description in the original book, which said that Madam Chu was not a strict matriarch. Among the four Chu sisters, only Chu Yunjin was the legitimate daughter, while the other three were illegitimate daughters. However, the Chu family had a good family tradition. Although Madam Chu could not treat them all equally, she tried her best to let the illegitimate daughters go out and see the world, and they received the treatment they deserved.
Chu Yunjin couldn't help but wonder, is this a manifestation of a good family tradition?
With a matriarch who can't distinguish right from wrong, it's no wonder that her own son and daughter have grown up to be like that.
Chu Yunjin took a deep breath and nodded slowly: "Mother is right. I did not do well in the past, but I have reformed. Besides, I am now the Princess Consort of Yan. No matter what my behavior was like in the past, it is not my elder brother's place to criticize me."
"Second sister, you are mistaken." Chu Yunshan stood beside Madam Chu with a delicate and gentle demeanor, her eyes lowered, displaying the charming and considerate nature of a young lady. "Although second sister is the Princess Consort of Yan, married daughters are not all water spilled from a cup. If second sister's conduct is improper, it will affect the Chu family's reputation and the marriage prospects of the daughters in the family. As the eldest brother, it is only reasonable for eldest brother to take on the responsibility of disciplining on behalf of father."
As Chu Yunshan spoke, she looked at Yan Cang softly and weakly: "I believe that once a woman is married, she should be dutiful, support her husband and raise her children, regard her husband as her heaven, and obey him in everything, instead of ruining her own reputation and tarnishing her husband's face... Does Your Highness think I am right?"
“That’s right.” Yan Cang said indifferently, “You go outside and kneel down too, to keep your good brother company.”
Chu Yunshan was taken aback: "Your Highness?"
Yan Cang's gaze was cold and stern: "Do I need to repeat myself?"
Chu Yunshan's face paled, and her eyes immediately reddened. She said pitifully, "I dare not," before taking small, graceful steps to walk outside.
Chu Yunjin almost burst out laughing.
Having powerful backers is great; punishing idiots is just a matter of a word.
Chu Yunshan was sent out to kneel as punishment, and only then did the hall quiet down. Madam Chu dared not speak again.
Chu Yunjin then began to take a closer look at her brothers and sisters.
Those two idiots outside are named Chu Mingxiu and Chu Yunshan. Putting aside their idiotic nature, just looking at their appearance, Chu Mingxiu is the most mediocre in the Chu family because he looks like his father.
Minister Chu was not a particularly good-looking person to begin with.
Chu Yunjin's gaze fell on the faces of the two young men in the hall.
There is a second brother, Chu Mingxiao, and a third brother, Chu Mingran.
The two looked to be about the same age; one had a handsome and dignified appearance, while the other was more delicate and pretty.
Chu Yunjin couldn't tell which one was the second brother and which one was the third brother for a moment.
But this didn't stump her.
She picked up the teacup on the table, lowered her eyes, took a small sip, and put the teacup down before speaking softly, "Third Brother."
"Yes, Your Highness." The handsome man stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Please give your instructions, Your Highness."
Chu Yunjin then took a good look at him and found that although he was a son of a concubine, he was much more composed and reserved than Chu Mingxiu. He looked low-key and patient, and was surrounded by a strong scholarly aura.
This probably echoes the saying, "A person with a wealth of knowledge naturally exudes elegance."
Although Chu Mingran was slender and handsome, he did not appear effeminate at all. Instead, he had a refined and elegant demeanor that made people feel very good about him.
"Are you still studying recently?" Chu Yunjin asked a pointless question.
Chu Mingran nodded: "Yes."
Chu Yunjin nodded: "Studying is good. My eldest brother is a good-for-nothing, so the Chu family will probably have to rely on my third brother to carry the family name in the future."
As she spoke, she turned to look at Madam Chu: "My eldest brother's future is hopeless. I hope Mother will nurture my third brother well so that he can successfully participate in the imperial examination next year and bring glory to the Chu family."
Madam Chu's expression stiffened slightly, and she felt a surge of anger.
She wasn't a mistress who mistreated her illegitimate son; it was just that Chu Yunjin's excessive favoritism made her uncomfortable. Her eldest brother was punished by being made to kneel outside and slapped, yet she remained unmoved, while showing great care for her third brother. She really didn't know who her biological brother was.
Besides, since she knew that Mingxiu was not good at studying, why couldn't she ask the Prince of Yan to arrange something for him to do?
A single word from the Prince of Yan was enough to ensure Mingxiu would never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of his life.
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