Chapter Five: Utter Ruthlessness

The scene before them chilled even the colorful screen beside them. It turned out the young lady's suspicion was correct—they were once again scheming to use her for some dirty purpose.

Xu Xi’s eyes locked onto her so-called biological parents with icy resolve. “So, the favor from His Majesty to bring me back was just to use me for other purposes. After all, we’ve never met or lived together in these eighteen years. In your hearts, I’m nothing but an object—brought back only to be used wherever needed. You can’t have given birth to me in vain.”

Her words left Lord Chu and Lady Liu’s faces flushing red and pale in turn.

Lady Liu wiped her tears with a handkerchief and cried, “What are you saying? Bringing you back to the Marquis’s mansion to free you from misery and plan a better future for you—isn’t that our hard-won effort as your parents? How could you speak of it so disgracefully?”

“Then why did Mo Zixiao give up on me? Isn’t a third-rank Tiger Tooth General a good future? Or do you want me to become a princess consort instead?” Xu Xi’s every word challenged them, rendering them speechless. Lady Liu wondered secretly who this girl resembled; she had clearly underestimated her.

Qian Mengyun, overhearing this, couldn’t stay silent. “Xi’er, you’re so deluded. Don’t forget your current identity—you’re the widow of the Duke of Zhen’guo. How could a widow dare to hope to marry a third-rank Tiger Tooth General?”

Xu Xi turned and glared at her. “If I, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis’s household, am unacceptable, then you, a foster daughter with lowborn blood, shouldn’t be deluding yourself either.”

She had nowhere left to retreat. Could anything be worse than those three miserable years as a widow in the Duke’s mansion? At worst, there was death—and since she no longer feared death, why fear these heartless people who wanted to devour her flesh and blood?

“You…” Qian Mengyun trembled with rage.

Chu Yue smiled. “Big sister speaks well.”

Lord Chu could no longer suppress the fury he longed to unleash on Xu Xi. He raised his hand and pointed at her angrily.

“Impudent unfilial daughter! I tolerated you for three years out of pity during your hardship in the Duke’s mansion, but instead of repenting, you grow more arrogant. Come, receive your punishment!”

At the mention of corporal punishment, the colorful screen immediately prepared to shield her.

“Father, no!” Chu Yue stood up to stop him.

“Why not? Do you think I can’t discipline this unfilial daughter?” Lord Chu was seething with anger; his shame had been mercilessly exposed, and he had nowhere to hide his face.

Chu Yue frowned. “General Mo just sent someone to deliver gifts to big sister. If you punish her tonight, the general will definitely send someone tomorrow to ask if she is satisfied with these gifts or if anything is missing. But instead, big sister will have received nothing and will have been punished. General Mo will come personally to question you—what will you say then?”

“Don’t forget, General Mo is now a favored figure before the emperor—a third-rank official,” she added.

Only then did Xu Xi glance at her sister, whom she had met only twice but who possessed sharp, shrewd eyes.

Lady Liu, agreeing with Chu Yue, quickly tried to calm the situation. “Lord Chu, please don’t be impulsive.” Then she lowered her voice and gave a warning glance, “You must not offend Mo Zixiao.”

Hearing this, Lord Chu sighed helplessly. “Fine, I’ll spare you this once. But if you dare to disrespect me or your mother again, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Xu Xi’s lips curled in disdain. “Ha. When have you ever cared for me? You pushed me into the fire with your own hands, then ignored me for three years, neither hearing nor seeing. Between us, there’s nothing but coldness.”