Chapter Four: Letting Go of This Hope

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After hearing this, Chu Xi sighed softly. Although deep down she was reluctant to go, she had no choice but to slowly rise to her feet.

Cai Ping’s eyes were wide with curiosity, almost popping out, her joyful little expression utterly uncontrollable.

“Miss, I told you just now, Pang Hu still has feelings for you. After all, you two grew up together like childhood sweethearts.”

Chu Xi shook her head. “Don’t forget, I am now the widow of the Duke of Zhen Guo.”

Cai Ping reluctantly wiped off her smile. “Miss, let’s go then. It’s better to see for yourself what Mo Zixiao’s intentions truly are.”

The two of them arrived at the main hall, where the Marquis and his wife were already seated, waiting for them. On either side sat Qian Mengyun and Chu Yue.

Chu Xi led Cai Ping in bowing, but the word “Father, Mother” stuck in her throat, unable to be spoken.

Chu Yue, ever sweet-tongued, waved and called out, “Eldest sister, come sit here, let’s sit together.”

Beside her, Qian Mengyun clenched her fists, wishing she could grab Chu Yue’s hair, but she could only sit upright, restraining herself.

The Marquis gestured to the empty seat kept especially for Chu Xi, lifting his chin and saying coldly, “Sit.” His voice was laced with unfamiliarity and indifference.

Chu Xi walked over and sat down.

Qian Mengyun couldn’t hold back and said, “Xi’er, General Mo sent someone with quite a few gifts for you.”

Chu Yue sneered, “Oh, that tone sounds so bitter. Are you secretly wishing those gifts were for you instead?”

“You…” Qian Mengyun was at a loss for words in response to Chu Yue.

At that moment, Lady Liu spoke up, “Xi’er, right after dinner, General Mo sent some things over, specifically saying they were for you. Your father and I know you had an engagement with him once, childhood sweethearts as well, but the situation is different now. If this continues, it might invite gossip.”

Just as Chu Xi had suspected, they would never allow a third-rank son-in-law to be favored. Though he was related by blood, they had no affection for her. Calling her here was merely a warning to know her place and maintain her chastity.

With this thought, Chu Xi raised her eyes to Lady Liu and asked, “Where are the things?”

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The Marquis frowned with anger. “I’ve already checked and put them away. Tomorrow, you’ll reply to General Mo and let him give up on you.”

Chu Xi sneered. She met the Marquis’s overbearing and unquestionable gaze and challenged, “Reply? How? The gifts were sent to me, but I didn’t even get a glance before they were taken away. Am I supposed to tell General Mo the truth like this?”

Seeing the tension rise, Lady Liu hurried to mediate.

“Xi’er, your father is just concerned about your reputation and the family’s standing. Don’t you think about your younger sisters who have yet to marry?”

Chu Xi remained firm, “They should at least give me those things. What’s the point of confiscating them? Did Mo Zixiao send me anything shameful?”

For three years she had eaten bugs and tree bark, yet her own parents never cared for her wellbeing. Now they used such excuses to silence her; how could she accept it?

Moreover, she understood Mo Zixiao well. He despised poverty and knew her hardships within the Marquis household. Surely he sent her something to help her survive.

Though she sought nothing for herself, if she wanted to plan a future for Cai Ping and Wang Mu, she needed money in hand.

At this, Chu Yue spoke again, “Father, Mother, what exactly did General Mo send eldest sister? Are you planning to secretly give these things to Qian Mengyun out of favoritism?”

“When did I say that?” Qian Mengyun could no longer contain her anger towards Chu Yue. Just as she was about to stand, she saw the Marquis’s eyes blazing and forced herself to sit down.

The Marquis glared at Chu Yue. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Lady Liu glanced at the Marquis, who sighed in resignation. “Fine, bring everything out.”

Soon, a dozen servants and maids entered one by one carrying the items.

“Oh my, so many,” Chu Yue exclaimed in surprise. She had thought Mo Zixiao would only send some small trinkets, maybe ginseng or bird’s nest tonics.

But unexpectedly, Mo Zixiao had sent everything—seasonal clothes and bedding, cosmetics, hairpins, jewelry—all meticulously complete, and even five hundred taels of silver.

Seeing the neatly stacked silver ingots on the tray, Cai Ping clenched her small hands excitedly.

She thought to herself, now Miss finally had a powerful protector. Even if the Marquis and his wife wanted to mistreat her, they would have to restrain themselves out of consideration for Mo Zixiao.

“No wonder Father confiscated these gifts. This is obviously a betrothal gift for Xi’er. If word got out, outsiders would think Father and Mother were so cruel to Xi’er that an outsider had to send these gifts to insult the household.”

Qian Mengyun could no longer hide her jealousy and resentment, deliberately voicing these words for the Marquis to hear.

Sure enough, the words struck a chord. “She is after all raised by our Marquis household, knowing courtesy and restraint—that is the true lady of our house.”

Qian Mengyun basked in the public praise, especially in front of Chu Xi and Chu Yue, feeling exceedingly proud.

Chu Yue rolled her eyes in disbelief.

Chu Xi sneered, “Yes, I too wish I were raised by the Marquis household, to become a proper lady like her, enjoying such treatment. But until I saw what Mo Zixiao sent just now, I realized fate is different for everyone, and blood ties mean something.”

Wasn’t it said just now that the Marquis household never mistreated me? Then why, if Mo Zixiao hadn’t sent these gifts, had I never seen a single one?

Lady Liu’s face darkened.

“Xi’er, you only just returned to the mansion today. How do you know I won’t slowly provide these things for you? Besides, the Marquis and I are your biological parents. Since you came back, you haven’t once called us father or mother, and now you speak to us with such hostility. Is the Marquis wrong to have begged the Emperor to take you back?”

“Exactly. I pleaded with the Emperor to grant permission for you to leave the Duke of Zhen Guo’s mansion, yet the one brought back is an enemy who bears us resentment.”

The Marquis and his wife thought that by saying this, Chu Xi would feel ashamed and fall silent, allowing them to resolve the matter as they wished.

But Chu Xi raised her eyes to them and asked, “Bringing me back to the Marquis’s mansion—was it to mend and reclaim the lost eighteen years of family affection, to raise me to old age, or do you have other plans for me?”

These words stunned the Marquis and his wife. One opened their mouth but was speechless; the other lowered their eyes in guilt.

The couple exchanged glances silently, wondering how she could know—who had leaked the secret?