Chapter Eleven: Returning to the Residence of the Duke of Guo

“Father.” Qian Mengyun called out tearfully.

Marquis Chu, upon seeing the chaotic mess in the main hall of the marquis’s residence, caused by the Qian couple, frowned deeply.

The three daughters were tangled in a fierce scuffle, and Chu Xi stood nearby, her hair disheveled.

He turned to Chu Xi and asked, “Did you strike as well just now?”

Chu Xi shook her head. “No, it was Qian Kun who pushed me down, causing my injury.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Jingzhi immediately turned his gaze toward Qian Kun, who was now lying on the ground, moaning weakly.

“What’s wrong with him this time?”

Chu Xi felt that others should not be implicated in this matter, so she stepped forward decisively.

Before she could speak, Mo Zixiao interrupted, “Marquis, just now Qian Kun was disrespectful to the eldest young lady and pushed her down, causing her to be injured. I could not hold back and ended up twisting his hand.”

Chu Jingzhi raised his brows in surprise. He had not expected Mo Zixiao to break Qian Kun’s hand for Chu Xi, and was momentarily speechless.

Not wanting Mo Zixiao to be troubled, Chu Xi said, “This was caused by me. General Mo was only inadvertently involved.”

At that moment, Lady Liu hurried over. “Why are you fighting again? What kind of grudge do you two have against each other?”

But when she saw Qian Kun lying on the ground, she immediately understood the situation.

Her face darkened. “Yun’er, did you really get into a fight with your sister because of him?”

Qian Mengyun naturally sensed the accusation in Lady Liu’s tone and her reproach for fighting with Chu Yue over Qian Kun.

Taking the opportunity, Chu Xi said, “There are differences between close and distant relations. They know best in their hearts; otherwise, they wouldn’t have their hair pulled out like that.”

“Shut your mouth! If it weren’t for you, they wouldn’t have fought, and Qian Kun’s hand wouldn’t have been broken by General Mo!” Marquis Chu scolded Chu Xi furiously, his eyes and voice full of blame toward her, the root of the trouble.

Caiping could no longer hold back. “Marquis, the eldest young lady just returned home two days ago. The Qian family insisted on meeting her, but right after meeting, they began to slander her in every possible way...”

With a sharp slap, Marquis Chu struck Caiping hard across the face.

Caiping immediately sat down, ears ringing and eyes dazed.

“This is no place for a servant like you to speak,” he said harshly.

Chu Xi had no intention of arguing further, but seeing Caiping struck made her lose her patience entirely.

“The first day I returned, you wanted to punish me for the gifts General Mo brought me. Today, the Qian family came, and it was you who told me to meet with them. If this marquisate truly cannot accommodate me, then I will return to the Duke of Zhanguo’s residence now. At least there, no one bullies us.”

She then turned to Wang Mu and Caiping. “Let’s go back to the Duke of Zhanguo’s residence immediately. Though life is hard there, we won’t be humiliated, beaten, or falsely accused.”

Marquis Chu had not expected Chu Xi’s temperament to be so fierce. He had thought that since she had suffered at the Duke of Zhanguo’s residence before, she would be grateful to be brought back and obedient out of fear of being sent back. But it seemed this girl was completely contrary to his expectations.

Lady Liu glanced secretly at Mo Zixiao’s face. She saw his furrowed brows, clenched fists, and angry expression—probably because he heard Chu Xi say that he was going to punish her last night, and it involved the gifts he had given her.

She quickly stepped forward. “Marquis, calm down. Ultimately, it’s the Qian family’s lack of restraint. They actually laid hands on Yue’er just now. They’re getting more and more arrogant. If we had known this would lead to such a situation, we shouldn’t have let them into the residence, nor should we have called Xi’er to meet them.”

With that, she gave Marquis Chu a meaningful glance, indicating that Mo Zixiao’s expression was grim at this moment.

Marquis Chu immediately cast a sidelong glance at Mo Zixiao standing nearby, noticing the fury burning in his eyes, as if ready to erupt at any moment.