Chapter 86: Your Grandson
Chu Yan and her son rode in a horse carriage; apart from the guard driving the carriage, there were no other two people.
Yue Tang and Wei Zhang exited the Xu Family doorway. After sending the child over, the guards who had been waiting outside the door also followed along with Jiang Shao.
Jiang Shao said, “If the Princess goes to the Chu Family now, how about I bring the Du Family father and son? First, it can make them dog eat dog and tear each other apart; second, we can catch them all in one net, saving the trouble of dealing with it later.”
In the past, everyone had privately speculated endlessly about what kind of person A Li’s mother was to make their Prince so unforgettable, willing to be a widower raising the child himself rather than remarrying. Only until she appeared in the Prince’s Mansion did everyone suddenly understand a bit. Just Madam’s appearance and demeanor alone surpassed tens of thousands of people, not to mention that she was also the Princess of the Prince’s Mansion?
Even though they knew back then that she was Princess Yongjia who had escaped death after being victimized, without having witnessed her bravery firsthand, it was merely a bit more admiration.
Until tonight’s series of tactics to lure and capture Du Yu and Chu Xin, even Jiang Shao, the Commander of the Imperial Guard Department in Prince Jingyang’s Mansion who received a salary from the Imperial Court, could not help but feel genuine admiration from the bottom of his heart!
There were so many women in the world; as he followed Yan Bei from Mobei to the Capital City, he had only seen this one with such composure in the face of crisis!
For such a woman, let alone their Prince being unable to forget her—even they who served in the Prince’s Mansion could not let go!
If their Prince Jingyang’s Mansion could have a Princess Consort like this, it would simply be the good fortune of Prince Jingyang’s Mansion!
With the Prince’s Mansion’s power and influence secured, it would be the greatest good fortune for all of them!
As the Commander of the Prince’s Mansion, Jiang Shao naturally had to take the initiative for their Prince in handling matters!
Yue Tang smiled at him: “No need to mobilize troops. The Du Family father and son are just a running dog; I’ll keep them for some use later.
“Besides, I have no intention of confronting the Chu Family just yet or showing my face.
“If you have nothing else, please come with me. Let’s go see how Chu Yan makes a scene.”
Jiang Shao had come with the intention of showing diligence, so no matter what Yue Tang said now, he only had one word: “Yes.”
At once, they said no more to each other and quickly chased after the direction of the horse carriage.
While the Top Scholar’s Mansion side was crowded with people, the Chu Family remained entirely peaceful.
Chu Ying naturally knew about the matters between Chu Xin and Du Yu these past few days.
The Chu Family was a great clan with over a hundred years of history; though it had experienced several ups and downs, its foundation had never collapsed. Chu Ying’s elderly father had entered officialdom in his youth, rising steadily, and even in old age still held a heavy responsibility in the Imperial Court.
For great clans like theirs that endured over a century and still prospered, it was inseparable from strict governance. In the Chu Family, all children, regardless, had to obey their father’s orders in their actions.
From childhood, the elderly father had told Chu Ying that the family was like a tree, constantly extending its branches and leaves to shelter the clan members from wind and rain and seek benefits. And every clan member should contribute their strength to their family, giving everything.
The principle of one prospering all prosper, one suffering all suffer—they had to understand it from childhood.
As the legitimate eldest daughter of the Chu Family, Chu Yan should righteously bear more responsibility for the family, but she only cared about herself, seeking only to stay together with her childhood sweetheart Yue Rong for life—how could that be allowed?
Even if Yue Rong died, she could not expect to stay out of it alone.
If unwilling to work for the family, then sink into the quagmire with the family.
Chu Ying did not think he was wrong.
Even Chu Xin, as the future heir of the Chu Family, had no power to make decisions alone—unlike the Du Family, where that old thing Du Minghuan had no ability and only knew to drag Du Yu into stirring things up.
In the end, the incident three years ago left a loophole for Du Yu; three years later, killing Zhang Shaode still went wrong, and with the matter not handled well, who was directly affected?
The Chu Family!
So when Chu Xin came to see him and said the Du Family should be silenced, he agreed.
Xin’er this child had always been cautious; Du Yu had already entered the trap. Although no one expected he would actually obtain Yue Tang’s whereabouts, as long as he captured Yue Tang, or even just got her whereabouts, Chu Xin waiting in the rear could immediately catch them all in one net!
But at this moment Chu Xin had not returned, and Chu Ying still felt somewhat uneasy in his heart.
He looked up at the darkness outside the window; only bamboo leaves rustled in the wind.
The lights under the corridor could only outline a faint shadow of the flowers and trees in the garden. The few fish in the stone vat lay motionless at the bottom; he got up and went out, strolling to the vat, and tossed in a handful of fish food.
He actually missed the mark; the fish food scattered all over the ground.
We scholars in officialdom emphasize scheming. Many years ago, before he became the Patriarch of the Chu Family, he had suggested an important decision to his elderly father.
This decision allowed their Chu Family to steadily reach the present, and everything was still developing smoothly in a positive direction.
This handful of fish food that lost its aim immediately made even him, who had always handled crises with ease, feel a sway in his heart.
“Master!”
The attendant beside him came around the rockery from under the corridor eaves.
Chu Ying tossed the remaining fish food and slowly turned around: “Has the Eldest Young Master returned?”
“Not yet.” The man glanced at him, “It’s… it’s the Heir Apparent’s Consort bringing the Heir who has come!”
Chu Ying, stepping onto the pebble path, stopped in his tracks; beneath his furrowed brows, his gaze held suspicion: “What are they here for?”
After saying that, he looked at the pitch-black sky and added: “What are they here for at this time?”
“The Heir Apparent’s Consort has urgent business to see the Master. But strangely, the Heir Apparent’s Consort only brought one guard driving the carriage!”
Hearing this, Chu Ying also felt something was off.
“Any news from the Du Family side?”
Chu Yan had been extremely close with Yue Tang in the past. Although three years ago she had personally leaked the secret and Yue Tang absolutely could not forgive her, it was hard to guarantee that Chu Yan would not be turned by Yue Tang out of regret.
“Yes!” The man said, “Du Minghuan just took people out, heading to the Top Scholar’s Mansion! And according to the guard the Eldest Young Master sent back to report the news, the Eldest Young Master later also went to the Xu Family!
“But no one knows the situation inside the Xu Family; later guards who tried to enter to scout were all blocked at the doorway!”
Chu Ying’s hands behind his back relaxed.
Top Scholar’s Mansion Xu Family?
Recently, Xu He suddenly broke off his engagement with Du Minghuan’s niece, and then was suddenly transferred to the Imperial Clan Court. Could all the anomalies happening to him be related to Yue Tang?
If so, wasn’t Chu Xin in danger?
He strode outward: “Immediately have the Second Master take people to the Xu Family to scout the situation! Bring more people, find a pretext, and barge in to see!”
“Big Brother!”
Having just stepped out of the connecting hall, a man came hurrying with his robe lifted, leaving the several servants carrying lanterns far behind.
“Bad news! Xin’er has fallen into the pit!”
Second Master Chu Rui strode up, his expression as grave as iron plate. “Du Yu tricked him to the Xu Family, then somehow Prince Jingyang and Du Minghuan also arrived afterward. Just now they took him directly to the Supreme Court on the charge of him assassinating the Top Scholar’s Wife at night!
“Prince Jingyang even wants to personally interrogate!”
The lights illuminated Chu Ying’s face; he stood under the flickering light and shadow, unmoving for a long time.
Chu Rui anxiously stepped forward half a step: “Big Brother, the Du Family has betrayed us; you must make a decision quickly!”
Chu Ying raised his right hand to stop him.
Moments later, he slowly inhaled: “What’s done is done; being anxious won’t help.” He turned his head: “Has Princess Yongjia shown herself?”
Chu Rui paused: “Not at all.”
Chu Ying lowered his hand: “They have no evidence. Even if they know we did it, they are helpless for now.
“Since she chose not to show herself, she must have other plans. Xin’er will be fine for the time being; you go to the Supreme Court first and see how they accuse him.”
Seeing Chu Ying like this, Chu Rui steadied his breath and left the connecting hall.
Chu Ying stood under the light and shadow for a moment, then turned to the attendants behind him: “All follow me.”
Chu Yan had long been invited to the flower hall. Hearing the news, Madam Chu hurriedly got up to change clothes and wanted to summon the daughters-in-law and nieces-in-law, but Chu Yan stopped her.
“Mother, go back to your room and rest. I just need to say a few words to Father.”
Madam Chu knew she had always resented her maternal home, especially after the incident at Prince Duan’s Mansion, she no longer even bothered to hide her resentment toward her father. Now running over in the middle of the night just to speak with Chu Ying—Madam Chu felt some hesitation.
Chu Yan smiled: “I came here alone; does Mother really worry I’ll flip the roof of the Chu Family?”
Madam Chu felt embarrassed instead. She sat down and pulled Yue Huan into her arms: “Even if your father is strict, it’s for your own good. Look at those Misses born to concubines—which one’s marriage is as good as yours?”
Chu Yan laughed even harder, doubling over: “Yes, I should thank him for making me a widow! Without him, how could I have such good fortune?”
“You’re truly mad!” Madam Chu pushed the child away and stood up, “So you ran back in the middle of the night just to throw a tantrum! He is still your father; without the maternal home protecting you, could you have been safe until now?”
Chu Yan sneered: “Right! I should be grateful! Then hurry and have him come out! If he doesn’t come, is he afraid of me?”
She stood up and yanked the frightened crying child: “If he won’t come, I’ll go find him!”
“Stop right there!”
Madam Chu chased after her.
The mother and daughter had just reached the threshold when someone came from the front; lantern light illuminated Chu Ying’s face as he walked in with a chilling gaze.
“Master!”
With so many men in the family, though Madam Chu was the matriarch, she had no say in outside matters. Chu Yan making such a scene clearly aimed to make the Chu Family lose face. She was both wife and mother, in a difficult position. But she still needed absolute dominance in the inner residence, so she could not ignore this daughter who had married as Prince Duan’s Heir Apparent Consort.
“You go back to your room.”
Chu Ying walked to the seat of honor and sat down; with those faint words, Madam Chu had no choice but to shut up and retreat.
She secretly pinched Chu Yan’s arm, both warning and reminding.
But at this moment, having finally awaited Chu Ying, Chu Yan was like a walking corpse, showing no reaction to her pinching.
Madam Chu had no choice but to lead Yue Huan away; Chu Yan suddenly yanked him back: “Leave him here!”
Seeing her like this, a flicker of ripple passed through Chu Ying’s originally calm gaze.
Yue Huan cried and reached toward Chu Ying: “Great-grandfather, hold me!…”
Chu Ying looked at him, then at Chu Yan with bloodshot eyes, but his hands did not extend as usual.
“He’s calling you; why don’t you hold him?” Chu Yan said, “He said you and Chu Xin treat him very well; why ignore him tonight?”
Chu Ying straightened his chest: “What exactly do you want by running over in the middle of the night?”
“To deliver your grandson!” Chu Yan slowly approached him, “You wouldn’t say you don’t understand what I’m saying, right? Chu Xin understood. Guess what he just told me?”
Chu Ying could not sit still. “You’ve seen him?”
“Of course I have,” Chu Yan took the child’s hand again, “He said Yue Huan is his bastard.”
“Impossible!” Chu Ying jumped up in anger, “How could he say such a thing to you?”
“Never mind how he said it; if he didn’t say it, how would I know your secret?” Chu Yan placed both hands on the child’s shoulders, “They say even a tiger won’t eat its cubs—how could you bear to use this bastard of unknown origin to impersonate imperial clan bloodline and deceive me?
“You’ve been planning for this day for a long time, right?
“Never thought of the day I would discover it?
“Of course you have! You’ve surely thought of countermeasures long ago. Worst case, if I found out, just let me die. Right?
“Anyway, the Chu Family’s bloodline is already seated as Prince Duan’s Heir; whether I live or die doesn’t matter. You can fully control the Imperial City Department through him!
“And with the Imperial City Department, not to mention dealing with the Shen Family, even contending with the Mu Family on equal terms wouldn’t be difficult, right?”
She spoke faster and faster, her voice sharper and sharper, each word stabbing Chu Ying’s eardrums like needles!
It similarly pierced the eardrums of Yue Tang, Wei Zhang, and Jiang Shao under the eaves.
Wei Zhang said via internal energy: “Keeping this child is the proof of the Chu Family’s schemes, to accuse them of deceiving the sovereign. What if Chu Yan really returns the child to the Chu Family?
“At that point, the Chu Family certainly won’t allow her to expose the child’s origins.”
Yue Tang was silent for a moment: “Just watch.”
Burying this thread with Chu Yan was to drag Chu Ying’s tail; she didn’t expect much from Chu Yan’s hate-driven visit, but dragging the culprit into the water and making the father and daughter completely break would be beneficial.
Every additional enemy among her foes meant additional benefit for her.
The current Chu Yan was indeed acting strangely, but no matter what she did, it wouldn’t be reason for Yue Tang to act now, because if the Chu Family dared to swap the child, they must have left a way out.
“You are truly lawless!”
Inside the room, Chu Ying was caught off guard by Chu Yan’s sudden questioning. Looking at Chu Yan retaliating with such venomous words, he could no longer hold back and swung a slap at her face.
But just as the slap landed on her face, her two hands suddenly grabbed Yue Huan’s neck and smashed him toward the corner of the pearwood table ahead.
Before the cry of “Great-grandfather” finished, Yue Huan fell to the ground.
“Huan’er!…”
Chu Ying retreated two steps, watching him curled on the ground. After a cry of alarm, he pounced to pick him up, but blood was already gushing from his seven orifices. He twitched a few times and then stopped moving!
“Huan’er!”
Chu Ying shouted hoarsely.
Then he set the child down, jumped up, and pointed at Chu Yan: “You actually killed him! You’ve lost all conscience; you are his mother, and you actually killed him!”
“Who says I killed him?” Chu Yan’s gaze was unusually calm, “You’re right; I am his mother—how could a mother possibly kill her own child?
“Lord Chu, our Prince Duan’s Heir died in the Chu Family, in your mansion—surely it wasn’t you who killed him?”
