Chapter 5: Counterattacking the Love-Obsessed, Chen Chu Searches for Her Pocket
"Guards, tie Aunt Qiao up."
Two rough-looking old women immediately pinned down Aunt Qiao.
Shen Chu's expression changed slightly.
Madam Shen said, "Whether you drink it or Aunt Qiao drinks it, you choose."
A smug glint flashed in Chen's eyes. The thought of being interrogated by the people of the Jingzhao Prefecture made her want to skin Shen Chu alive.
Aunt Qiao was pressed to the ground and pleaded, "Madam, Ah Chu has lived in the Taoist temple for seventeen years, and even the heaviest evil spirits have been completely eliminated."
If the old lady insists that someone drink the talisman soup before she will believe, then I will drink it, and after I finish drinking it, I will kneel in the ancestral hall.
Please, Madam, do not punish Achu.
After saying that, she reached out to snatch the talisman soup from the old woman's hand.
The old woman stepped aside, and another old woman pressed down on Aunt Qiao again.
Shen Chu kicked the old woman away and pulled Aunt Qiao behind her to protect her.
“Grandmother, if you have something to say, come at me. Why make things difficult for my aunt?”
Madam Shen trembled with rage. "You unfilial brat, have you gone too far? Guards, pull the eldest son away and force-feed him the exorcising soup."
Two old women stepped forward and restrained Shen Chu.
Aunt Qiao struggled to stand in front of Shen Chu.
Zhang's mother rolled up her sleeves and slapped Aunt Qiao across the face.
“Aunt Qiao, the old lady is doing this for the good of the eldest young master. If you stop her, you'll be ungrateful.”
“Aunt.” Chen Chu pulled Aunt Qiao over and saw five finger marks instantly appear on her smooth face. A flash of anger appeared in her eyes.
"Ah Chu, don't be angry." Aunt Qiao grabbed her hand and shook her head slightly. "I'm fine."
"It's all swollen, but it's not a big deal." Shen Chu's fingers twitched slightly, and she raised her hand to slap Zhang's mother twice.
*Slap slap*
"Who do you think you are? My aunt is none of your business to lecture her."
Zhang's mother's face instantly swelled up like a steamed bun, her mouth was also cut, and she could barely speak.
"This old man..."
Before she could even utter a word, Chen Chu grabbed her chin and poured the entire bowl of talisman soup down her throat.
"Cough cough..."
Zhang's mother choked so badly that tears and snot streamed down her face.
As soon as Chen Chu let go, she collapsed to the ground and vomited everything.
A sour, foul smell filled the room.
Shen Chu pulled Aunt Qiao back a step, looked up at Old Madam Shen and Madam Chen and smiled faintly:
"I think the evil aura on my body can't be completely dispelled. My grandmother and mother can go to Jingguo Temple to ask for more talismans. Everyone in the household should drink a bowl of it to keep them alive."
"You...you wretched child!"
Madam Shen was so angry that her eyes rolled back and she fainted.
Madam Chen shouted in a shrill voice, "The old lady has fainted from anger! Men, tie up Chen Chu and make her kneel in the ancestral hall!"
"What's all the fuss about?"
A deep, neither too loud nor too soft voice came from outside the door; Marquis Changning lifted the curtain and entered.
Madam Chen looked aggrieved. "My lord, I kindly went to ask for the talisman soup to ward off evil spirits, but A-Chu not only didn't appreciate it, but also spilled the soup, hit Zhang Mama, and made the old lady faint."
Marquis Changning's gaze swept over Chen Chu and Aunt Qiao, his brows furrowing slightly as he said calmly, "Chu, take your aunt downstairs to apply the medicine first. I'll handle things here."
Madam Chen was so angry that her eyes widened, but she dared not refute Marquis Changning.
Aunt Qiao looked at Marquis Changning with deep affection.
Shen Chu bowed and pulled Aunt Qiao away.
Back in the courtyard where Aunt Qiao lived, she found the ointment and carefully applied it to Aunt Qiao.
Does it hurt?
Aunt Qiao gasped, but a smile appeared on her face. "It doesn't hurt. Are you angry?"
Shen Chu pursed her lips, her movements becoming even gentler. "Why are you blocking my way? You know I can handle two old women."
Aunt Qiao scoffed, "You're the top scholar, I can handle this kind of hair-pulling between women."
Shen Chu... does he really treat her like a man?
Aunt Qiao paused, glanced at her expression, and whispered, "She wasn't by my side before, but now that she's back, I can't just stand by and watch those two old folks bully you in front of me."
Chen Chu paused slightly.
"I know you're trying to say that you're all grown up now, past the age where you need your parents' protection, and that I'm just being nosy, okay?"
Shen Chu didn't say anything and continued to put on the medicine.
After the medicine was applied, she half-squatted down next to Aunt Qiao and asked solemnly, "Aunt, would you like to leave the Marquis's mansion with me and live separately?"
Aunt Qiao was shocked. "Why did you have to divide the family property when everything was fine?"
"You call this kind of life good?"
"Yes, there are some unpleasant things occasionally, but with the Marquis genuinely protecting us, we won't suffer any losses."
Aunt Qiao held Chen Chu's hand, eager to dispel the thought in her mind, "Chu, you must never have the idea of separating from the family. You don't know how difficult it is for one person to support a family without the protection of the family."
Besides, I truly love the Marquis; without him, how could I live?
Looking at Aunt Qiao's bright eyes, which were filled with tears, Shen Chu silently swallowed the words that were about to come out.
The Qiao family originated from merchants. Aunt Qiao was the only daughter in the family. After her parents died unexpectedly, the Qiao clan devoured the Qiao family's property like hungry wolves.
Aunt Qiao gritted her teeth and carried on the family business, fighting against the entire clan alone. When she could no longer hold on, Marquis Changning appeared and used his power to suppress the Qiao clan and protect Aunt Qiao.
At that time, the Marquis of Changning, who was only twenty-five years old, was a handsome man who was famous throughout the capital. He had beautiful features and a dignified appearance.
Aunt Qiao was only sixteen years old and inexperienced in the ways of the world. She had no resistance to a handsome man who wholeheartedly protected her.
She fell in love with the Marquis of Changning and entered his mansion as a concubine, bringing with her a large fortune.
How could Aunt Qiao possibly come to terms with reality just because of a few words from her?
What are you two talking about?
Marquis Changning lifted the curtain and entered.
Aunt Qiao's eyes brightened slightly, and she quickly got up to greet him, "The Marquis has arrived."
Marquis Changning glanced down at her, then gently touched her face, his voice soft: "Does it still hurt?"
Aunt Qiao pouted, a stark contrast to her strong demeanor in front of Shen Chu, "It hurts, Lord Marquis, please blow on it for me."
Marquis Changning chuckled softly, "You're so good at acting cute."
Aunt Qiao stamped her foot and reached out to punch Marquis Changning, but he grabbed her hand.
Feeling deeply superfluous, Chen Chu silently turned and left.
Marquis Changning turned around and called out to her, "I have already spoken to the old lady, and she will no longer let you drink the talisman soup."
You shouldn't have talked back to the old lady; remember to apologize to her tomorrow.
Aunt Qiao smiled happily, "Ah Chu, I knew the Marquis truly protected us."
Shen Chu paused for a moment, then said, "Thank you, Father."
Back at his residence, Xizhao Hall, his personal maid, Hongxiu, greeted him, "Young master, I've boiled some water. Please take a bath to relax."
It was an exhausting day, and Chen Chu is still sore all over.
But she still can't take a bath.
"Find me some clothes, I need to go out right away."
While helping her find clothes, she instructed Hongxiu: "Take some time these next two days to inquire about all of the Qiao family's businesses and see which ones have been handed over to the public treasury."
Upon hearing this, Hongxiu asked excitedly, "Has Aunt Qiao figured it out and decided to take over the Qiao family's business?"
Do you think it's possible?
"Impossible. Aunt Qiao has a beautiful face, but her mind is full of the Marquis."
Shen Chu was amused; the description was truly apt.
After changing her clothes, it was still early, so she rode out of the city, her destination: the secret room where she and Pei Yuan had been intimate the night before.
Pei Yuan should have left Jingguo Temple by now, right?
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