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  Chapter 12: The Cost of the Chapter (12 points)

  Chapter 75 Settling Accounts Upon Return

  Subscribe, pink powder

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  Chu Kei's face was flushed red as she walked hastily, her footsteps quick and urgent, with Yu Feng almost having to jog to keep up behind her.

  Zhu Yichan thought about what to say, she knew it very clearly, although her heart was filled with mixed emotions of anger and joy. However, when faced with this situation, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed to listen, which is why she got scared and flustered, only thinking of turning around and running away. In fact, Zhu Yichan didn't need to explain so anxiously, because she wasn't... angry. She didn't speak up because of Lan Qi's strange behavior, Lan Qi gave her a very strange feeling...

  Her face turned crimson, her mind was dizzy, and she couldn't think of anything strange about Lan Qiuniang. The only thing that kept echoing in her ears was what Zhu Yuxuan had just said...

  After returning home, she hastily washed and lay down, closing her eyes. The recent events kept replaying in her mind, making her feel anxious and restless. Unbeknownst to her, the corners of her mouth were curled up, and deep within, she felt a sense of weightlessness...

  This night, how many more stories have unfolded...

  The next day, she got up early and was invited by Men Shi in person. Chu Keqi seemed to be exceptionally favored and gave Men Shi enough face.

  Because they couldn't delay the newcomers' ceremony of paying respects to their elders and ancestors, everyone got up at the crack of dawn. By the time it was light, everything had been packed away, and after a simple breakfast, Chu Ke'er wore her cyan-colored cloak, while Yu Feng held onto her small bundle, as they made their way over to the Duchess's side.

  The moment of farewell, Chu Ke saw that both Chu Yun Ting and Chu Yun Qing were dressed up. Chu Yun Ting had changed a lot overnight, her face was pale, with dark circles under her eyes, and her lips were pale. Although her hair was combed neatly, there were still some disheveled roots at the temples, making her look like she had aged several years.

  Chu Yunqing was indeed successful in his heart, but his spirit was not good either. His eyes were red and swollen, his expression was dispirited, and he didn't have the slightest bit of a triumphant return to court.

  Spiritually refreshed, it seemed that only Chu Ke'ai was. From the county king's concubine's courtyard, she got on a green curtain sedan chair and walked to the gate, her mouth corners always curled up. Coincidentally, the crown prince's consort sat in the same carriage with her, Chu Ke'ai took a closer look, big sister Crown Prince Consort's eyes although covered with thick powder, were still very red, her eyes swollen very obviously.

  She laughed even harder, and the crown prince's face turned even darker.

  At the door, San Ye Zhu Yuxu and Wu Ye Zhu Yuhuan came out to see them off. Under everyone's gaze, Brother Zhu Yuhuan and Chu Keqi didn't say anything, but he stood there quietly looking at her, wanting to say something. Chu Keqi already knew, and returned him a smile, which was enough to comfort Zhu Yuhuan in his heart.

  Zhu Yifei didn't say a word to the three sisters from start to finish, nor did he look at them. He just supported Old Man Chu and was very respectful to Chu Nanchen.

  Said goodbye and got on the car to depart.

  In the Wangyuelou on the top floor of the mansion, Zhu Yichen stood at the highest level, staring intently at the crowd at the entrance of the mansion, searching for that familiar figure. A strange pain rose in his heart, and his slender fingers tightly grasped the window frame. After seeing the familiar figure get into the car and disappear from view, he anxiously pounded on the window frame again, muttering softly: "Keqi, I'll definitely wait for you..."

  As he watched the carriage disappear into the distance, his heart felt as if it had been hollowed out...

  Chu Kei sat in the carriage, let out a long sigh, and finally left the Duke's mansion. In the Duke's mansion, she had acknowledged her biological brother for this life, gained two more people she could fully trust, and found family members she could turn to for anything. The helplessness, panic, and despair that Chu Kei had buried in her heart due to being in an unfamiliar environment gradually turned into hope, a hope to live well...

  The Junwangfu will surely be lively in the future, with a clever and gentle concubine by the prince's side. The princess consort will be busy responding to her new role and won't have time to think about her natal family. Zhu Yuxu has gained a principal wife he doesn't like, and it's likely that he'll make some trouble for her. Chu Yunqing is also someone who can't be underestimated; the couple will surely clash. The Junwangfei will get involved in the mix, and from now on, no one will have time to think about things they shouldn't be thinking about...

  Chu Ke smiled, the hustle and bustle of the Junwang Fu would no longer have anything to do with her from now on. Inside, except for her brother Zhu Yue Huan, there was no one else who could make her pay attention.

  The horse carriage ran for half a day and by noon, they had already entered the city of Beijing. Here, Chu Ke was more familiar than anyone else, as her past life and present life were all spent here.

  She saw from afar the alley of the Chu mansion, and her heart trembled slightly. From then on, as Chu Keqi, she lived a diligent and meticulous life.

  The carriage had just arrived at the entrance of the alley, and several gatekeepers had already come to greet them. The large gate opened, and a few women in elegant clothes walked out, followed by more than a dozen clean and tidy maidservants, who stood respectfully at the door to welcome them back to the mansion.

  Chu Kei got off the carriage and looked at the woman wearing a deep blue embroidered jacket with a hundred folds, that was her own mother, Liu Yiniang.

  Madam Liu is probably around thirty-five years old, extremely beautiful, with a clear and elegant appearance, slender figure. If compared in terms of looks, Chu Yun's wife, Chu Yunshi, was not as good-looking as her. This can be seen from the appearances of Chu Yunting and Chu Yunqing. It is said that Chu Yunting resembles the former Chu Yunshi very much. In Chu Keqian's opinion, Chu Yunting's appearance compared to Madam Liu's can only be described with one word - far inferior.

  Liu Yiniang's eyes searched the crowd, passing over Old Lady Chu and Chu Nanchen, until they landed on Chu Keqian, at which point they lit up with hope and surprise as she gazed at her. However, after being stared at by Chu Keqian for a slightly longer period of time, Liu Yiniang became flustered, somewhat panicked, hastily lowering her head to glance at her own attire before being swept forward by the people beside her to pay respects to Old Lady Chu and the others with a bow.

  Chu Xue's heart moved slightly, thinking of the gaze of Liu Niang just now. She clearly saw that when Liu Niang glanced at Chu Nan, her eyes were calm and peaceful, as if she had seen an ordinary person, someone unrelated to her.

  Beside Liu Niangniang stood a woman wearing a green silk pipa-sleeved jacket with a narrow waist and a long, trailing skirt in pale green gauze, her bright red lips and cheeks flushed with powder, looking fresh and delicate as she hurried forward to support Old Mrs. Chou.

  This person... Chu Ke's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she recalled that the last time she saw her, wasn't she just a maid serving by Father's side? Could it be...

  She couldn't help but think more about it, and Mrs. Chu frowned at the tender woman and said, "Take the lady away."

  Then Xian'er hastily bowed her head and went to help up Madame Chuguang of the new Chu family.

  Chu Kei was stunned.

  Mr. Chu and Chunan have already entered, a group of women surrounded Mrs. Chu into the inner courtyard. They came straight to Mrs. Chu's side, the maids were busy again, the aunties served Mrs. Chu to sit down, Chu Gaoshi finally had a sense of presence here, the new auntie helped her sit down, hastily took over the handkerchief from the maid and handed it to her to wipe her hands.

  Chu Yunting and Chu Yunqing were still absent-minded at this time, each thinking about their own affairs. Chu Keji also wanted to return to her own courtyard to rest, but since Old Lady Chu hadn't spoken, no one dared to leave.

  After bustling around Mrs. Chu for a while, the maids who should retreat retreated, and those who should wait waited. Then Mrs. Chu said, "Come over."

  Everyone was stunned, not knowing who she was referring to. They secretly raised their eyes to look and saw that Old Lady Chu's eyes were fixed on the new madam. The new madam also realized that Old Lady Chu was calling her and hastily walked over, her knees softened, and knelt beside the footstool.

  "They still didn't know that this was Hong Xiuniang." Old Lady Chu said with her eyes cast down, "From now on, you must be more mindful of your manners when you see her."

  This sentence was obviously said to the three sisters of Chu Ke Hui, Chu Ke Hui stood up first and responded, Chu Yun Qing and Chu Yun Ting only reacted at this time and hurriedly stood up and responded, it wasn't until then that they discovered that this aunt's dress was different.

  Chu Ke's behavior is strange. Chu Gao Shi is the niece of Madam Chu, why did she rush to promote her father's maid to be a concubine just a few months after entering the house? Is it really because she was anxious about having an heir and went crazy? Looking at Chu Gao Shi again, there wasn't any sign of discomfort or awkwardness on her face, but rather a calm expression.

  What did Mrs. Chu say to comfort her? Or was this just an act?

  The matter involved Liu Niang, so Chu Ke couldn't help but notice. She glanced at Liu Niang with a very unintentional look, and Liu Niang was also very calm, which made her feel full of doubts.

  Hongxiu was so moved by Chu Lao's introduction that she didn't know what to do, twisting her body and moving her lips as if wanting to speak, but as the host of the house, she dared not say anything, and could only blush and gaze at Chu Lao with sparkling eyes.

  After entering the house, Liu Yiniang stood behind Chu Gaoshi with her head slightly lowered, her face calm as water, without a single ripple. Chu Ke couldn't help but think, is this really a heart as calm as water, or is it just pretending to be unruffled? If it's really a heart as calm as water, what's the reason? Is it because she has given up on Chu Nanchen? Or is it because she no longer has any thoughts in this mansion?

  Mrs. Chu slowly drank the tea brought by the maid, and stopped talking. The whole room was somewhat inexplicable, and everyone had been sitting in the car for half a day, wanting to go back and wash up and rest.

  The always humble Mrs. Liu raised her head, looked at Chu Keui with some concern, and just as she did, their eyes met, causing Mrs. Liu to hastily lower her head in embarrassment. Chu Keui, on the other hand, fell into deep thought. It seems that Old Lady Chu has made some move, and Mrs. Liu... also appears to be well aware of the old lady's intentions.

  Everyone waited patiently for Old Lady Chu to finish her tea, the aunts didn't dare speak, and even Chu Gaoshi was too afraid to say anything. The room was unusually quiet, so quiet that it was abnormal. Even Chu Yunting and Chu Yunqing looked up at Old Lady Chu with raised eyes. Old Lady Chu continued to drink her tea slowly, no one knew what she was thinking or planning.

  It is by.

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