Chu Qianchen watched this scene quietly from the side. Among all the people present, she was probably the calmest person.

She smiled at herself in her heart and felt very calm: it turned out that in her previous life, she encountered such a game within a game.

At that time, she was dull and weak. After her face was injured, she only felt sadness and self-loathing. She never thought that there were hidden secrets behind the "accident".

Even after her rebirth, she initially suspected that in her previous life, Chu Qianling had evil intentions and hurt her face for Gu Nanzhao and in order to become the second prince's concubine.

Even though she had gradually discovered over the past month that her elegant and noble elder sister seemed to be hiding many secrets, Chu Qianchen still had no doubt that Chu Qianhuang was related to her disfigurement in her previous life.

Chu Qianchen stared at the two girls who were blaming and making excuses to each other without saying a word.

These days, she watched Chu Qianling jumping up and down with cold eyes, and thought about this matter carefully and repeatedly.

That day, she suddenly went to the garden to find Gu Nanzhao and agreed to dance with Chu Qianling with swords, all because of Liuli's guidance.

Given Chu Qianling's personality, it's not surprising that she could be so cruel as to destroy her own appearance, but to set up a scheme, advance step by step, and do it deliberately, it's probably beyond her brain's ability.

Chu Qianchen couldn't help but wonder if Chu Qianling was also being used by someone...

Chu Qianchen wanted to find out the truth, so after knowing that Qingyu had injured her face, Chu Qianchen began to spread the net step by step using the Shiquan Ointment as bait, just to pry open Chu Qianling's mouth.

It turned out to be Chu Qianhuang.

This answer made Chu Qianchen feel surprised, and at the same time he felt a subtle sense of regret.

Chu Qianchen looked away. Now that she had gotten the truth, she no longer cared about how the two men blamed and shirked responsibility against each other.

Her eyes fell on Shen.

She saw the sadness and disappointment in Shen's expression, and an indescribable heartache surged in her heart.

In the past two lifetimes, Chu Qianchen had never seen Shen so sad.

It was only when Brother Mu got into trouble a month ago that Shen lost her composure for the first time and her usual elegance disappeared.

"..." Chu Qianchen's throat was a little difficult. She wanted to say something to Shen, but she couldn't make a sound. Her heart felt as if it was being tightly grasped in the palm of a hand. She felt a little uncomfortable.

Although she did not deliberately take advantage of her stepmother, the current situation was also the result of her planning.

She didn't want to see her suffer...

Chu Qianchen subconsciously took a half step towards Shen. At this time, Chu Qianhuang sobbed and grabbed Shen's right hand, and said in a trembling voice: "Mother! You believe me."

Chu Qianchen silently retracted his steps.

"Mother," Chu Qianhuang's delicate and beautiful face was full of tears. She raised her little face slightly, as bright as the moon, with tears in her eyes, looking pitiful. "I just want to comfort my third sister. I don't know why my third sister misunderstood. I, I..."

"I didn't think it through enough."

"I shouldn't have told my third sister that my grandmother intended to choose a concubine for my cousin Zhao between her and my second sister. I didn't expect that my third sister would have evil thoughts because of this."

At this point, she was already sobbing and choking and couldn't continue.

Liu's expression became more and more ugly, and she pointed at Chu Qianhuang's nose and scolded: "So it was you who really instigated it!"

"So it was you who harmed Sister Ling!"

She said that her daughter had always been well-behaved, sensible and obedient, so how could she think of using a sword to hurt people? It was actually this little bitch who instigated her.

It's really abominable!

Moreover, listening to Chu Qianhuang's every word, it was clear that she wanted to put the blame on Ling Jie'er. She wanted to say that Ling Jie'er had a vicious mind and misinterpreted her meaning? !

Liu glared at Chu Qianhuang in anger, her hands shaking with anger.

"Sister-in-law, you have always boasted that you are a strict ruler of the family. Today you must give us mother and daughter an explanation." Liu said to Shen in a shrill voice, "Are you going to punish Chu Qianhuang or not?!"

Shen looked at Chu Qianhuang steadily, her two crescent-shaped eyebrows tightly furrowed together.

In addition to disappointment, she also felt deeply powerless.

Chu Qianhuang is her eldest daughter, and she has been the one who raised her since she was born.

From childhood to adulthood, Chu Qianhuang had never caused her any worries. She had always been the most well-behaved and caring daughter, intelligent, generous, and well-behaved. How could she... how could she become like this?

Shen covered her chest and felt a sharp pain in her heart.

"Mom," Chu Qianhuang knelt on the ground, bowed her head and admitted her fault, "I was wrong."

She knew that Shen was angry, and no matter what she said now, it would be useless and would only make Shen even angrier.

Shen felt as if all the strength in her body had been drained away.

As a mother, she wanted to believe Chu Qianhuang's words and believe that she had no intention of harming Chu Qianchen. However, it was difficult for her to ignore the provocative meaning in Chu Qianling's words.

Shen really didn't understand why her daughter deliberately instigated Chu Qianling. Just like her daughter said before, she had no reason to harm Chu Qianchen.

If the sisters' quarrel gets out of hand, it will ruin the reputation of Miss Chu and will not benefit her either. It is impossible for the daughter not to understand this. Why would she do such a thing that hurts others and does not benefit herself!

Shen felt even more uncomfortable in her chest.

"Sister-in-law!" Seeing Shen's silence, Liu said unhappily, "Do you want to protect Sister Huang?"

Chu Qianhuang lowered his head, his shoulders slumped, and he looked unhappy.

Shen closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was exhausted and said weakly, "Sister Huang, you don't have to come to the palace anymore."

What she meant was that she would refuse the offer of being the princess's study companion on behalf of Chu Qianhuang.

"..." Chu Qianhuang, who was kneeling on the ground, clenched his fists tightly and raised his head in disbelief.

She had fought for the position of the princess's study companion among all the noble ladies in the capital. It was a great honor for both her and the Chu family. How could she be asked to give it up just like that?

Chu Qianhuang's pupils shrank sharply, thinking of the scene in her dream, thinking of her future...

Chu Qianhuang's body was tense, and her pretty face was pale, looking stubborn and hurt.

In the past, if she was the slightest bit unhappy, Shen would speak to her in a gentle and soft voice to cheer her up. Even if she did something wrong, Shen would only teach her patiently.

But this time, Shen's eyes showed no emotion at all, and she continued, "Go to the family rules."

Chu Qianhuang's slender and soft shoulders trembled slightly, and her bright eyes were filled with watery light.

She had clearly admitted her mistake, and her mother had made it clear that she would be punished and would not be allowed to be the princess's companion in school. Why did she still have to use family rules against her?

Nanny Chen was also surprised and looked at Shen hesitantly. The eldest girl had always been held in the palm of her hand by the elders in the family and had never been said a harsh word to them.

"Go get it." Shen said without question.

Since her daughter did such a thing, whether it was intentional or "unintentional", she could not let it go. She did not teach her daughter well. Her daughter is already thirteen years old. If she does not discipline her now, it will be too late.

Nanny Chen hesitated for a moment, and finally asked the maid to get the ruler.

After a while, the maid came with a ruler.

The bamboo board was only an inch wide and two feet long. It was cut very thin, but when it hit the skin, the force was quite strong. If it hit the skin within three times, bruises would appear. If it hit the skin ten times, the skin would be broken.

"Twenty times." Shen ordered.

"Madam," Nanny Chen frowned and said reluctantly, "The young lady still has to write and play the piano with her hands."

These twenty blows with the ruler are enough to tear the skin off both hands and make them unable to even hold a pen.

This punishment is a bit too severe.

The eldest daughter is the eldest daughter and is the most doted on in the Marquis's mansion. What reason does she have to target a younger sister who is born out of wedlock? What's more, the second daughter has always been quiet, never fighting or competing, and as soft as a dough ball.

The older girl didn't think it through carefully enough and followed Chu Qianling's advice to comfort her, but ended up doing the wrong thing with good intentions.

After all, she was only a thirteen-year-old child, how could she know everything? In the final analysis, it was all the third girl's own fault for being malicious and misinterpreting the eldest girl's good intentions, and ended up suffering the consequences of her own actions.

Even if you have to punish someone, you can't punish the eldest girl alone!

Not only Nanny Chen, but even Second Madam Liu didn't think Chu Qianhuang did it on purpose.

Compared with Chu Qianchen and Chu Qianhuang, it is like one is on the ground and the other is in the sky. Chu Qianhuang doesn't need to spend any effort to deal with Chu Qianchen at all.

However, Liu naturally would not think that her daughter was malicious and had misunderstood. In her opinion, her daughter was just stubborn and infatuated with the second prince, which was why she had the wrong idea.

Seeing that Shen was about to use family discipline, Liu felt a little guilty. She was afraid that after Shen had beaten Chu Qianhuang, she would also beat Chu Qianling. She quickly protected her daughter in her arms and said in a tough attitude: "Sister-in-law, if you want to discipline our daughter, we will go back first."

"But you must give us mother and daughter an explanation for this matter! My sister Ling can't get hurt in vain."

As she spoke, Liu glanced at Chu Qianchen who was standing aside, meaning that she wanted Shen to take the jar of Chu Qianchen's Shiquan ointment and give it to Chu Qianling as compensation.

Of course, it would be better if Chu Qianchen had more tact and handed over the ointment himself!

Chu Qianchen lowered his head and did not respond at all, as if he did not understand what Liu meant at all.

Liu thought to herself that he didn't know how to appreciate the favor.

She embraced her daughter lovingly and half dragged her out of the main courtyard, "Sister Ling, let's go."

As she walked, she whispered in Chu Qianling's ear: "Don't worry, mother will definitely get the bottle of Shiquan ointment for you..."

Although Qingyu still has a jar, they can't just steal things that have been used by others.

If this gets out, Ling Jie'er will inevitably be labeled as arrogant and domineering. Besides, they can't afford to lose face.

Anyway, Chu Qianchen still has one can!

At this time, the sunset was about to set completely, the sky was dim and yellow, and night was about to fall.

Shen didn't look at Liu's mother and daughter, nor did she care whether they left or not. She lowered her eyes and looked at Chu Qianhuang who was kneeling on the ground, and said only one word: "Beat him!"

Nanny Chen turned her face away reluctantly, and one of the maids picked up a ruler and hit Chu Qianhuang's palm hard.

“Bang!”

One, two, three...

Chu Qianhuang tried to hold it back at first, but after a few seconds she couldn't bear it anymore. She bit her lower lip, and a low cry came out between her lips and teeth. Her eyes were red, and she looked so pitiful.

Shen looked at Chu Qianhuang, and her heart felt as if it was being pulled apart.

She loved her daughter so much since she was a child that she was reluctant to even move a finger. She felt heartbroken when she saw her daughter's finger being pricked by an embroidery needle.

“Snap! Snap! Snap!”

Each blow of the ruler seemed to hit Shen's heart.

It's heartbreaking.

Chu Qianhuang's palms were already red and swollen, the delicate skin was torn, and blood was oozing out from the wounds.

She knelt weakly on the ground, looked up at Shen, her eyes became even redder, and her cherry lips were pursed stubbornly, as if asking, is this okay?

"Madam Chen," Shen looked away, forcing herself to harden her heart, "Send the young lady to the small Buddhist temple and kneel there for ten days to calm her mind."

Nanny Chen moved her mouth, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke to persuade her: "Madam, the eldest lady has realized her mistake."

"Go ahead."

Shen said calmly that once she made a decision, she would not change it.

She said to herself in her heart that her daughter was still young and could still be taught!

She didn't want her daughter to make more mistakes.

Only when people feel pain will they remember the lesson, learn from their studies, and stop acting recklessly in the future.

Nanny Chen sighed softly, and personally went over to support Chu Qianhuang who was kneeling on the ground, and said softly: "Miss, be careful, don't touch your hands."

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

"I was wrong. Mother was right to punish me." Chu Qianhuang became even more listless.

She lowered her head, and a few strands of her jet-black hair fell down, slightly covering her cheeks and hiding the fleeting resentment in her eyes.

With the help of Nanny Chen, she slowly stood up.

Chu Qianchen didn't care whether Chu Qianhuang really knew her mistake or not, and stared at Shen in a daze. Seeing her sad and disappointed look, Chu Qianchen also felt a little inexplicably sad.

"Mother."

Chu Qianchen called softly. She didn’t know what she could do, she just wanted to talk to her, so she walked towards her.

But when she met Shen's calm eyes, Chu Qianchen didn't know what to say and felt a little annoyed.

She thought for a moment, then took out the small porcelain jar with a white orchid from her sleeve pocket and handed it to Shen.

What she meant was that it was up to the Shen family to deal with it as they pleased.

Chu Qianchen stared at Shen without blinking with his distinct black and white eyes, his cherry lips slightly curved, his face tender and soft, his eyes filled with admiration.

Her long eyelashes trembled, and Shen couldn't help but feel soft in her heart. She hugged her slender shoulders and said, "You take it."

This is Chu Qianchen's thing. Chu Qianchen can give it to whoever he wants. There is no need to give it to the second house at a lower price.

"Sister Chen, you go back first." Shen said again.

Chu Qianchen nodded, "Mother, you should also go to bed early."

She bowed and took her leave. Before leaving, she handed the jar of Shiquan ointment to Shen.

She pondered over it in her mind and asked Amber to bring over a pot of calming herbal tea.

Shen watched Chu Qianchen leave with a smile, then rubbed her aching forehead, not noticing at all that Chu Qianhuang stood up and stared at the two of them.

Chu Qianhuang bit her lower lip slightly and slowly followed Nanny Chen to the small Buddhist hall.

Although Shen did not give any instructions, Nanny Chen still asked someone to invite Doctor He from Baicaotang over.

For the doctor, Chu Qianhuang's injury was easy to treat. Doctor He quickly bandaged Chu Qianhuang's hands and told her not to get her hands wet, use a pen, or use a needle before the wounds scabbed over.

After Doctor He left, Chu Qianhuang knelt alone on the cushion in front of the Bodhisattva.

It was an April night, the weather was a little chilly, and there were bursts of thunder in the distance. Soon, heavy rain began to fall outside.

Chu Qianhuang was the only one in the small Buddhist temple.

Her hand was in so much pain, and even though she had applied medicine, it still hurt so much that it was almost numb.

She felt a little dizzy. The candlelight in the small Buddhist hall flickered constantly. The thunder outside was getting louder and louder, which made her a little scared.

Unconsciously, she closed her eyes in a daze...

It was not until the sound of a third watch gong was heard outside that she suddenly woke up.

Her body was covered in cold sweat, which almost soaked her shirt.

She was dreaming again.

Chu Qianhuang looked up in front of him. Against the wall was a rosewood table with a lotus pattern carved on it. In the niche on the table was a dignified and solemn white jade statue of Guanyin.

There was still sandalwood burning on the table, and wisps of green smoke were rising from the enamel three-legged incense burner on the incense stand.

Outside the house, several bolts of lightning struck the sky in succession, casting a bright and dark shadow in the house. Even the white jade Guanyin in the niche seemed a little colder, with a kind of detachment that looked down on all living things.

Chu Qianhuang stared at the statue of Guanyin with a firm expression.

Even if there are gods and Buddhas, she will not accept her fate. She must defy the will of heaven and change her destiny to walk out a bright future!

She fought hard to become the third princess's study partner. Only in this way could she get the opportunity that would allow her to rise to the top.

But--

Shen ruined it all.

Originally, she thought Shen was just trying to scare her with the study partner issue, but Shen had her hands beaten like this, and she couldn't enter the palace again in this state for a while, and it would probably take her more than half a month to recover. The Third Princess was a royal family, and it was impossible for her to wait for her forever. The Queen would definitely choose a new study partner for the Third Princess.

Chu Qianhuang bit her lower lip slightly.

She had finally come this far, but it was ruined by Shen's few words...

If she continues like this, will she repeat the mistakes in her dream?

“Boom!”

There was another burst of lightning and thunder outside the house.

Chu Qianhuang's willow-leaf eyes were dark and deep like a pool.

With a creaky sound, a door was pushed open slightly from behind.

Baoqin quietly slipped into the small Buddhist hall, closed the door, and quickly walked to Chu Qianhuang's side.

Although there was no one else here except the master and servant, Baoqin still lowered her voice and said, "Miss, the madam just called the mistress away. She will definitely send someone to release you soon."

Baoqin looked at Chu Qianhuang with great pity and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.

My daughter has never suffered such hardship, but the lady actually had the heart to do it to her. She is so cruel!

Not only Baoqin thought so, the lady also felt the same way, she couldn't help but say it out loud:

"Azhi, you are too cruel!"

As soon as the lady heard about Chu Qianhuang being punished, she called Shen to Rongfu Hall, feeling anxious, angry and distressed. Chu Qianhuang was her most beloved granddaughter.

Shen: “…”

Shen didn't say anything, just pursed her lips.

The lady sighed, and her tone softened a little, "When I am beaten, it hurts my heart. I also know that you love me deeply and criticize me harshly."

"However, the punishment has been imposed, and the princess's study companionship cannot be turned down."

The lady looked straight at Shen, her eyes firm and unquestionable.

Their Yongding Marquis Mansion has been declining, and becoming the princess's companion is an honor. It also allows people to see that they still have a lot of background in the Yongding Marquis Mansion.

Moreover, the third princess is the legitimate daughter of the queen and the prince's biological sister. In the past, the noble ladies in the capital fought hard for this study companion, and it was only because Sister Huang was so outstanding that she got this opportunity.

Now Chu Qianhuang is going to quit after only being a tutor for a month. Isn't this a slap in the face of the Chu family? !

The lady thought that she was reasoning with Shen in a gentle manner and analyzing the pros and cons. If Shen had known the general situation, he would have stepped down.

Unexpectedly, Shen only said a few words: "Mother, Sister Huang did something wrong."

The implication of this sentence is very clear.

The lady's face darkened, and her expression, which had finally recovered a little, suddenly darkened again. She had no idea what Shen was thinking in that stupid head.

"Azhi, Sister Huang is your daughter. You gave birth to her after ten months of pregnancy. Mother and daughter are connected by heart. You don't really think that Sister Huang deliberately instigated Sister Ling to harm Sister Chen, do you?!" the lady said sternly.

Nanny Wang also spoke up for Chu Qianhuang: "Madam, the eldest lady has always loved her younger brothers and sisters. She meant well."

The three girls were all granddaughters of the old lady, so Nanny Wang did not dare to say anything wrong about the other two and only spoke well of Chu Qianhuang.

Shen didn't want to argue with the lady, so she said, "Mother, the doctor said that Sister Huang can't hold a pen for a month, let alone play the piano."

"If mother thinks she can still be a companion, then go ahead."

Upon hearing this, the lady's eyes suddenly widened, her whole body trembling with anger, her voice trembling slightly: "You...you..."

This Shen is too reckless in her actions. She doesn't even think about the Marquis' Mansion. She is so heartless!

Nanny Wang quickly tried to calm the lady down.

Shen stood up and bowed, "Mother, if there is nothing else, your daughter-in-law will leave first."

Without waiting for the lady's response, Shen left.

“…” The lady became even angrier, her chest heaving violently. She wanted to say something but ultimately didn’t.

Nanny Wang handed the old lady another cup of warm tea. The old lady drank a sip of tea before she recovered. She gritted her teeth and said, "Ah Xiao is right. Shen Zhi relies on the support of Duke Mu's Mansion and increasingly ignores our Chu family. She even contradicts me, her mother-in-law!"

"Poor Sister Huang, her bright future was ruined by her own mother!!"

The lady's voice was trembling with anger, her face looked extremely ugly, and her fingers were tightly clenched around the handkerchief.

Nanny Wang didn't dare to respond to this. After all, Shen was not a concubine or a maid. She was the wife of the marquis and had an imperial decree. Even if the lady-in-waiting was dissatisfied with her, she couldn't do anything to her.

Nanny Wang continued to appease the Madam, and could only smile and say, "Madam, you also said that the eldest lady loves the eldest girl deeply and criticizes her harshly."

The lady was still holding her breath and took two more sips of tea, but her face still looked bad.

Mrs. Shen had always been proud and arrogant, and the old lady had very subtle feelings towards this eldest daughter-in-law. On the one hand, she liked her background, but on the other hand, she often felt aggrieved because she was not as respectful to her as the other daughters-in-law.

The lady sometimes wanted to teach Shen a lesson, but the Duke Mu's Mansion was flourishing in recent years, and her son's next job would depend on the help of the Shen family. Concubine Chu often told her to get closer to the Shen family, saying that the emperor had been using the Shen family for many years.

The lady rubbed her eyebrows, looking tired.

(End of this chapter)