Time seemed to have stopped, with only the surrounding flowers and trees swaying in the wind. The drooping willow branches gently caressed the surface of the lake beside it, creating ripples. It was as if someone had sprinkled countless gems from the sky. The lake water sparkled in the sun, with light flowing everywhere.
Chu Qianhuang clenched his fists, veins popped out on the back of his hands, and his eyes became even darker.
She felt helpless, but she still patiently said, "Second sister, when you and I were swapped, I was just a baby. I couldn't control myself..."
"I am so innocent!"
The person who was wrong was Chu Lingxiao.
What's the point of Chu Qianchen taking his anger out on himself? It will only hurt others and not benefit himself.
They are sisters and should work together to help each other. This will be good for the Chu family.
Chu Qianchen only cared about the past and took his anger out on innocent people. His vision was too narrow.
Chu Qianhuang actually knew in her heart that she couldn't explain it to Chu Qianchen, and she just wanted to give it one last try.
"Then how can I be innocent?" In the previous life, his mother and brother died, and he was also treated as an abandoned child.
Chu Qianchen retorted calmly, without any joy or sadness.
The shimmering light of the lake was reflected on Chu Qianchen's small face, making her delicate features look cold and indifferent. Her phoenix eyes, as deep as a cold pond, revealed a sense of alienation that kept strangers away, just like the cold frost on the moon.
Chu Qianhuang: "..."
For a moment, Chu Qianhuang felt that Chu Qianchen was looking at her as if she were a clown, and her heart tightened.
She tried to calm herself down and thought about what had happened in the past two months.
Obviously, Chu Qianchen was polite to him that time in Yunting Pavilion, but ever since Chu Yunyi was injured while protecting the emperor, Chu Qianchen completely turned against him and no longer gave him any face.
Is Chu Qianchen really standing up for Chu Yunyi?
No, Chu Qianhuang didn’t think so.
The one who ultimately benefited from Chu Yunyi's protection of the emperor was the Chu family, Chu Yunmu!
Chu Qianchen has now turned his back on people and is so domineering. He probably thinks that Chu Yunmu will inherit the title soon and the second prince will replace the crown prince, so the Chu family no longer needs him.
Poor Chu Yunyi was willing to gamble his life to keep his title, but did he know that he would only be a discarded pawn now...
Chu Qianhuang's cheek seemed to hurt again.
Chu Qianhuang took a deep breath and continued, "Second sister, it doesn't matter if you don't like me, but Brother Yi is innocent..."
"Don't take your dislike for me and Aunt Jiang out on Brother Yi."
"Brother Yi has a sincere heart and no scheming. He once told me personally that he went to fight for the merit of protecting the emperor not for himself, but for the Chu family..."
Chu Qianhuang's expression was bright and generous. When she talked about Chu Yunyi, there was a hint of heartache in her description. She acted like a good sister, trying to appeal to his emotions and reason with him.
Chu Qianchen: “…”
Chu Qianchen felt that Chu Qianhuang's thinking was so clear and strange that she could hardly keep up and could not understand the other party's thoughts.
In Chu Qianhuang's eyes, Chu Qianchen's silence was a kind of acquiescence. She must have hit the nail on the head, so he was speechless.
Chu Qianhuang continued, "Let's put it this way. Brother Yi risked his life to secure the Chu family's title. You can't ignore this just because you hate your father and Aunt Jiang."
"The title should be given to Brother Yi."
Chu Qianhuang looked at Chu Qianchen without blinking, with an upright manner.
Even if Chu Yunyi didn't want to fight, Chu Qianhuang was still determined to help him fight for it. This was the glory that belonged to him and no one could take it away.
Chu Qianchen laughed out loud, and the crisp laughter overlapped with the rustling sound of the surrounding branches swaying, as if the cool mountain breeze was blowing towards him.
"Is it Brother Yi who wants the title, or is it you?" Chu Qianchen asked pointedly.
Her words were too sharp, like a sharp arrow shooting straight into Chu Qianhuang's heart.
Chu Qianhuang's face turned three shades paler in an instant, her eyes wandered for a moment, and she could hardly look directly into Chu Qianchen's eyes.
Chu Qianhuang kept saying that she did it for Chu Yunyi, and she had always told herself so in her heart, but who she did it for and why, both Chu Qianhuang and Chu Qianchen knew it very well.
Chu Qianhuang looked at Chu Qianchen, his eyes flickering and dark light surging.
Chu Qianchen also looked at Chu Qianhuang.
The two men faced each other, neither speaking for a long time, but it seemed as if an invisible fight was going on between their eyes.
Chu Qianhuang had a blank expression on her face, but her breathing was a little disordered and her chest was rising and falling slightly rapidly.
Her heart was far from being as calm as she appeared, and she was a little irritated.
She originally wanted to use her background to show weakness to Chu Qianchen, first dispel some of Chu Qianchen's hostility towards her, and then take the opportunity to bring up the issue of the title. But now she was completely led by Chu Qianchen.
Chu Qianchen stood leisurely, her beautiful and delicate facial features were like pearls under the moon, emitting a bright luster. When she didn't smile, her whole body looked a little more aloof, as if she was a goddess who had descended to earth, awe-inspiring and unapproachable.
She was clearly standing very close, within reach, yet she seemed very far away, making Chu Qianhuang feel as if she was out of reach.
Chu Qianhuang finally suppressed her emotions, sighed, and said, "Second sister, whether you believe it or not, I am not doing this for myself, I am doing this for the Chu family."
"It's not convenient for me to say more in the palace... Second sister, remember one thing, the concubine's aunt's surname is Chu, and the second prince is the grandson of the Chu family."
"The situation in the court is changing rapidly now. How can Brother Mu, who is still so young, shoulder the responsibility of the Chu family?"
The feeling of being led by the nose just now was really bad. Chu Qianhuang tried hard to take back the initiative in the conversation. Every word he said was well thought out and every word was meaningful.
What she meant was that the Second Prince had the blood of the Chu family flowing in his body.
This means that the bond between the Chu family and the Second Prince is natural and impossible to sever. The Chu family bears the mark of the Second Prince.
In the past, the crown prince’s position was stable and no other prince could surpass him, so the concubine’s surname was naturally unimportant. But now, the emperor is tired of the crown prince... This means that the second prince also has a chance.
Since ancient times, the fight for the throne is bound to bring blood and gore, the winner becomes the king and the loser becomes the enemy. In such a dangerous situation, how can Chu Yunmu, a five-year-old child, do it! ! She wanted Chu Yunyi to inherit the title for the sake of the overall situation, not out of personal selfishness.
Chu Qianchen curled his lips slightly and nodded: "What you said makes sense."
Chu Qianhuang heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this. It seemed that Chu Qianchen was still able to listen to her...
She continued, "My last name is Chu too, and I also want to..."
As she spoke, Chu Qianhuang saw Chu Qianchen moving one step closer to her. The two were only one step apart. Chu Qianchen was an inch taller than her, and her shadow enveloped Chu Qianhuang.
Chu Qianhuang suddenly felt that the girl in front of her was so strange, like a snow leopard staring at its prey, elegant, cold, and sharp, as if she would stretch out her sharp claws towards her at any time and easily cut her throat.
"..." Chu Qianhuang seemed to be strangled by the neck, and her throat tightened.
Chu Qianchen moved his face closer to Chu Qianhuang and lowered his voice a bit: "But, who are you?"
What did she say?! Chu Qianhuang's eyes suddenly widened, and her pupils suddenly shrank into a ball.
At this moment, she couldn't control her reaction at all.
Chu Qianchen put his mouth close to Chu Qianhuang's ear and asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Is your last name really Chu?"
Chu Qianhuang's eyes widened even more and her face changed drastically. The secret hidden in the deepest part of her heart was seen through.
Her heart was in turmoil, her mind was a mess, and she was completely unable to think calmly.
She only knew that this secret must never be known to anyone, otherwise, she would be treated as a monster and punished.
That’s right, as long as Chu Qianchen is gone, naturally no one will know! ! When the wind blows, the light of the lake behind sways with the wind, so bright and shining, the light of the water shines into Chu Qianhuang’s eyes, making her dizzy for a moment.
There was no one around.
There was no one around right now, so if Chu Qianchen fell into the water, no one would find out that she was the one who pushed him! Moreover, Chu Qianchen was wearing so many layers of clothes, and once she fell into the water, her clothes would be soaked, just like a stone tied to her body. Besides, she couldn't swim at all...
Chu Qianhuang's eyes widened even more, with bloodshot streaks on the whites of her eyes. She raised her hand and pushed it fiercely towards Chu Qianchen's chest.
That’s right!
As long as Chu Qianchen was gone, she would be safe.
The two of them were too close, and Chu Qianchen was pushed on the chest by her palm, but Chu Qianchen reacted quickly. She raised her hand and placed it on Chu Qianhuang's right upper arm, and then somehow she pulled and tugged, using the force to turn in a different direction and let go of her hand.
As soon as Chu Qianchen let go, Chu Qianhuang lost her balance, staggered forward two steps, and managed to stabilize her body just one step away from the lake.
Chu Qianhuang looked at the lake so close at hand, and after being extremely nervous, her breathing suddenly became rapid and heavy.
“Hoo—Hoo—”
Another gust of cold wind blew, and Chu Qianhuang felt a chill all over her body. She then realized that she was sweating on her back, and even her shirt was wet.
"presumptuous!"
Suddenly, a rebuke that sounded intimidating without being angry came from not far behind.
Chu Qianhuang turned her head and looked in the direction of the voice, and saw Empress Dowager Yin, the Queen, and Yuan Zhitong walking out of Changyin Pavilion about ten feet away, surrounded by palace servants.
Queen Mother Yin watched a play in the theater for a while. Because the second act, "The Monkey King Makes Trouble in Heaven," was a bit noisy, she came out for a walk. Unexpectedly, as soon as she went out, she saw Chu Qianhuang pushing Chu Qianchen.
Although she couldn't hear what the two girls were saying just now due to her distance, she was certain that Chu Qianchen was almost pushed into the lake.
Queen Mother Yin immediately became annoyed, her face gloomy, and she quickened her pace and walked towards the two sisters.
The queen also followed. Yuan Zhitong supported Queen Mother Yin and looked back and forth at Chu Qianchen and Chu Qianhuang.
Queen Mother Yin glanced at Chu Qianhuang coldly and said unhappily, "Who is this person? He dared to be disrespectful to Princess Chen in the palace and even pushed the princess. He is simply lawless!"
Queen Mother Yin was so angry that her voice rose several octaves, her anger spilling out without any concealment.
Chu Qianhuang's expression changed several times in a short period of time, showing fear, shock, uneasiness, helplessness, etc.
It was all Chu Qianchen's fault that things had come to this! If Chu Qianchen hadn't been talking nonsense, how could he have suddenly lost his composure? And the Queen had seen it.
Now that I think about it, even if Chu Qianchen really discovered something, who would believe it if I told others about it? There is no need for me to be afraid.
Chu Qianhuang tried to calm herself down, knelt down, and explained: "Empress Dowager, I am the eldest sister of Princess Chen's family. It was just a joke between sisters. Please don't misunderstand, Empress Dowager."
Chu Qianhuang acted calmly and did not show any guilt on her face.
"Playing?" Queen Mother Yin laughed sarcastically, thinking that Chu Qianhuang simply took her for a fool. Could it be that she couldn't even tell whether it was playing or pushing? Queen Mother Yin's heart was as clear as a mirror, and she understood it very well.
Even if Chu Qianhuang is really Chu Qianchen's sister, the relationship between the sisters is probably not harmonious. This so-called elder sister dared to push her younger sister into the lake in the palace. Who knows how she bullied her daughter-in-law in her mother's family! The queen looked at the two of them inconspicuously, and obviously saw that the relationship between the sisters was not good.
Yes, the eldest daughter of the royal family now has to bow down to the once humble concubine sister. No one would be happy. I don't know what the two of them had a dispute about, but it caused such a commotion in the palace.
However, for the Queen, the reason is not important, what is important is...
The queen raised her lips slightly and her eyes swept over the empress dowager and Yuan Zhitong. Yuan Zhitong seemed to feel the queen's gaze and looked at her for a moment.
“How dare you!” The Queen scolded Chu Qianhuang indifferently, “Qianhuang, you are unkind to your own sister. When the Queen Mother asked you a question, you dared to talk back. This is disrespectful and unruly!”
At the Queen's command, two eunuchs immediately responded and approached Chu Qianhuang with expressionless faces.
Chu Qianhuang's eyes widened, and she almost thought she had heard it wrong.
She was not afraid of the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother was just an old person who was sidelined in the palace, so she dared to get away with it by saying "playing around" in front of the Queen Mother.
She was not afraid that Chu Qianchen would complain to the Queen Mother.
But the queen is different.
She didn't expect that the queen would actually stand up for Chu Qianchen.
Wasn't the Queen extremely fed up with Chu Qianchen? Wasn't she worried that she couldn't suppress Chu Qianchen?
Such a good opportunity, as long as the Queen calls it a "prank", Chu Qianchen and the Queen Mother will be very upset!
Why!?
Two eunuchs walked up to Chu Qianhuang, and one of them said in a shrill voice, "Kneel down and accept the punishment!"
Chu Qianhuang: "..."
She had been the princess's tutor in the palace for more than half a year, and knew something about the methods used by the eunuchs. She had even seen with her own eyes a palace maid being slapped in the face. It only took twenty slaps to knock out a tooth.
Chu Qianhuang bent his knees stiffly and knelt down on the cold and hard stone floor below.
She knew that if she didn't kneel, she would only suffer greater pain.
"Second sister!"
This path for the Queen is not feasible, and the only one who can save her is Chu Qianchen.
The eunuch did not take any action, as if he was waiting for something.
Yuan Zhitong frowned her delicate crescent eyebrows and advised softly with some reluctance: "Princess, please spare Miss Chu."
"Miss Chu is the princess's biological sister. We can't let sisters kill each other."
Yuan Zhitong gently helped Chu Qianhuang plead with Chu Qianchen. Her slender white fingers clenched the handkerchief in her hand, and her voice became softer and softer. She felt reluctant and embarrassed, but she had to say it.
She pursed her lips and said with a bit of embarrassment: "Did I say something wrong? I don't have any sisters in my family, but I always think that sisters should get along well with each other."
As Yuan Zhitong spoke, he glanced at Empress Dowager Yin out of the corner of his eye.
Queen Mother Yin frowned even more tightly, revealing her obvious displeasure.
Yuan Zhitong lowered her little face again, twisting the handkerchief with her slender jade fingers, seeming a little uneasy, but the corners of her lips curled up imperceptibly.
The Queen seemed to hesitate for a moment, looked at Queen Mother Yin, then looked at Chu Qianchen, and asked kindly:
"What does Ninth Sister-in-law mean?"
The queen gave Chu Qianchen the right to choose. At first glance, it seemed that she was well-intentioned and wanted to give Chu Qianchen a way out, and it also seemed that she was giving Chu Qianchen some face.
Nanny Shan beside the Queen curled her lips proudly. At this moment, no matter what Princess Chen said, it would be wrong.
Princess Chen is now in a difficult situation. No matter how she reacts, Queen Mother Yin will probably be displeased with her.
"Miss Chu, why don't you apologize to your sister?"
Yuan Zhitong walked a few steps towards Chu Qianhuang with a gentle smile, looking down at her with a soft and considerate tone.
Chu Qianhuang, who was kneeling on the ground, raised her eyes to Yuan Zhitong with gratitude, then moved her gaze to Chu Qianchen and said softly, "Second sister, I just..."
"Enough!" Chu Qianhuang had only said a few words when she was interrupted by Queen Mother Yin's unpleasant cold voice.
Queen Mother Yin had a graceful face, and she looked down at Chu Qianhuang, who was kneeling on the ground, with a haughty look, as if she was looking at an insignificant ant, or as if Chu Qianhuang was not even worthy of her attention.
"The Queen just gave an order, didn't anyone hear it?!"
"Alas, the Queen is too good-tempered to allow these servants to not take you seriously."
Queen Mother Yin spoke slowly, and the last sentence was obviously directed to the Queen.
Her voice was neither loud nor soft, and had the aura of someone in a higher position who was intimidating without even getting angry, which made the palace servants shudder.
Yuan Zhitong widened her eyes in disbelief, not understanding why Queen Mother Yin would react like this.
"..." The corners of the queen's lips were tense, and for a moment, she almost couldn't maintain her elegance and grace.
Her nails, painted with bright red nail polish, dug deeply into the soft palms of her hands. Her mood was like the surface of a river on a stormy night, rising and falling, with each wave higher than the last.
"beat!"
The queen gave the order coldly, and for the first time she understood what it meant to swallow one's anger and endure hardship.
The Queen Mother is trying to play the villain and become the evil one!
The queen felt so aggrieved that her throat felt sweet and she almost vomited blood.
Ever since the emperor ascended the throne and she was named empress, the empress dowager had always had to look at her face. But today, she, the empress, had become the empress dowager's thug.
Yuan Zhitong glanced at the queen, lowered his eyes and remained silent.
Nanny Shan was the Queen's confidant, so she could naturally understand the Queen's reluctance at the moment.
Nanny Shan took two steps forward, raised her hand and slapped Chu Qianhuang on the cheek.
"one!"
“Bang!”
The crisp and loud slapping sound seemed to cut through the air, carrying with it a sharp edge.
Chu Qianhuang's face was knocked to one side, and a clear palm print appeared on her cheek, which was as white as fresh snow.
Old maids in the palace like Nanny Shan often helped the empress to teach concubines and palace maids a lesson. She had punished hundreds of people, if not a thousand. Her skill in slapping people in the face was perfect, and she made Chu Qianhuang's ear buzz.
Before she could react, Nanny Shan's second palm had already come down on her.
“Bang!”
While counting, Nanny Shan waved her palms at Chu Qianhuang, one after another, each one heavier than the last.
Chu Qianhuang's cheeks felt burning with pain, and she used up all her strength to hold back the moan that was about to escape her lips.
After being slapped by Chu Qianchen in Prince Chen's Mansion last time, she secretly vowed that she would never allow others to humiliate her like this again.
But now, because of Chu Qianchen, she was humiliated again in public.
Her cheeks hurt, and her heart hurt even more. It felt as if her heart was being stepped on and crushed repeatedly, and as if thousands of knives were cutting her heart.
Why? Why could Chu Qianchen be so indifferent and stand by and watch her? They are sisters! !
Chu Qianchen stared at Chu Qianhuang steadily, and his soul seemed to be temporarily pulled out of his body.
She didn't pay any attention to what Yuan Zhitong had just nagged about. She was still thinking about the sudden change in Chu Qianhuang's expression when she heard her question.
"Who are you?"
Chu Qianchen asked this question just to test Chu Qianhuang.
If Chu Qianhuang was living a rebirth like himself, then Chu Qianhuang was Chu Qianhuang, and there was no need for her to change her face just because he questioned who she was.
Therefore, Chu Qianchen asked the second question tentatively:
"Is your last name really Chu?"
Chu Qianhuang's response confirmed her guess that the current Chu Qianhuang's surname was not actually Chu.
So, Chu Qianhuang’s adventure was a resurrection of the dead?
So, the original Chu Qianhuang is no longer here?
Chu Qianchen felt terrified just by thinking about it, and his heart beat faster because of this speculation.
This matter was really too absurd. If she hadn't had the adventure of living her life again, she would never have believed it... No, it should be said that she would never have thought about this possibility at all.
Queen Mother Yin saw Chu Qianchen's stunned expression and felt very distressed thinking that she was almost pushed into the water. She held her hand and asked her about her well-being, "Qianchen, I didn't scare you just now, did I?"
Queen Mother Yin made a gesture to the chief palace maid, telling her to prepare a cup of calming tea.
Chu Qianchen's thoughts were interrupted. When he came to his senses, he took Empress Dowager Yin's arm affectionately, smiled playfully, and said coquettishly, "Mother, I'm fine."
In fact, she can swim.
Because it was inconvenient to talk here, Chu Qianchen thought about finding an opportunity to talk to Queen Mother Yin in private later.
She smiled sweetly and massaged the acupoints on Empress Dowager Yin's hands. She was even more worried that her emotions were fluctuating too much.
Queen Mother Yin likes Chu Qianchen and likes everything about her.
Chu Qianchen smiled, and she found it cute.
She felt it was OK for Chu Qianchen to act coquettishly.
Chu Qianchen massaged her acupoints, which she found considerate.
Queen Mother Yin felt as if she had taken a panacea and felt relieved.
Yuan Zhitong watched Empress Dowager Yin and Chu Qianchen from the side. Her eyes darkened, but the corners of her lips were still slightly curved, looking gentle and charming.
"My cousin's mother is so kind to the princess!" She smiled enviously, "Just like a real mother and daughter. When my mother was alive, she was also like this, protecting me in everything."
She was smiling, and there was a hint of sadness in her words.
At this time, Nanny Shan also counted to "ten", stopped, looked at Chu Qianhuang with a forced smile, then turned around and went back to report to the Queen.
Chu Qianhuang was still kneeling there, her face lowered, staring at a withered flower on the ground; her expression could not be seen.
The queen didn't even bother to look at Chu Qianhuang. She stroked the embroidery on her sleeves with her red nail polish-stained fingers and said calmly, "Qianhuang, you should go home today. You don't need to come to the palace anymore."
The meaning of this sentence was very clear. She officially took away Chu Qianhuang's position as study partner.
"..." Chu Qianhuang raised his head suddenly with an expression of disbelief.
Both her cheeks were red and swollen from being beaten. Her facial features were slightly deformed due to the swollen cheeks. Her lower lip was bleeding because she bit it in pain. A few wisps of hair were scattered on her temples. The pearl and velvet flowers were crooked. She looked miserable and no longer the noble and elegant eldest daughter of a marquisate.
"Empress, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me!" Chu Qianhuang kowtowed heavily to the Queen.
(End of this chapter)