You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

Chapter 13 Chu Shunqing challenges Chu Nianci

Chu Nianci turned around and saw that the person who came was her half-sister, Chu Shunqing, accompanied by a well-dressed and arrogant old woman. Chu Shunqing was leading her coldly toward them.

Chu Nianci slowly stood up and looked at her half-sister.

Although she was wearing official robes, she looked extremely haggard. The makeup around her eyes and mouth was thick, but it still couldn't hide the bruises.

Moreover, his entire face was a mixture of pale and bluish-white, as if he were seriously ill.

It's clear she hasn't been having a good time lately.

At this moment, Chu Shunqing saw his elder sister's rosy complexion and delicate beauty, living such a comfortable life, and he was so angry that his blood boiled and his eyes almost bled.

After the imperial decree took Chu Nianci away that day, the wedding banquet could not continue.

The Cheng'en Earl's Mansion was a newly rich family with shallow roots, and most of the guests only came to make a formality out of respect for the Empress.

Unexpectedly, he witnessed the ugly scene of the Earl's family scheming to seize his daughter-in-law's dowry, and in the end, the "new bride" was even carried directly into the palace by imperial decree.

Although the play was even more lively than the performance on stage, the noble families valued their reputation above all else, and they all found excuses to leave before the banquet even began.

"Something urgent has come up at home. I'll send the gift, so I won't bother you with the banquet."

"It's getting late, and the journey home is still a long way off, so I'll take my leave now."

One after another, they left with their families, leaving nothing behind.

A grand feast of delicacies was laid out, yet the room was completely empty, as if the Lin family had been kicked repeatedly.

The old man and his wife were so ashamed they wanted to disappear. Madam Xie's headache flared up again, so she returned to Shou'an Hall.

Lin Jingrui was filled with shame and indignation. He hastily dealt with the aftermath and served his mother in her room until midnight. When he returned to Wei Rui Xuan, he realized that it was all because of Chu Shunqing's actions that he had suffered such a disgrace. So he didn't even go into the main room and stayed in the side room.

That night, Chu Shunqing stayed alone in Weiruixuan, covering his face and crying until midnight before falling into a deep sleep.

Seeing that the lights in the main room were off, Lin Jingrui also went to sleep fully clothed.

In the middle of the night, a fierce fight and shouting suddenly broke out from the main house.

Lin Jingrui initially thought Chu Shunqing was throwing a tantrum, so he impatiently lit a lamp and pushed open the door, only to find a naked man wrestling with Chu Shunqing, who was only wearing a bellyband, on the bed...

A sudden roar went through Lin Jingrui's mind, and his blood rushed to the top of his head.

He rushed forward and punched Chu Shunqing in the face, then kicked the man away, grabbing his hair and slamming him hard against the edge of the table.

It wasn't until the man, his face covered in blood, cried out, "Third brother, spare my life!" that he was horrified to recognize that this was actually his "deceased" elder brother.

"What are you doing here?" Lin Jingrui asked, dumbfounded. "Didn't I tell you you weren't allowed in the main house?"

"Why can't I be here?" Lin Jingfan said, wiping away the blood as he slowly picked up his trousers and pulled them on. "What's wrong with me consummating my marriage with my wife?"

Lin Jingrui felt a mouthful of blood stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down. He felt his vision go black and watched helplessly as the other man swaggered out the door.

Chu Shunqing huddled in the corner of the bed, wrapped in a blanket, sobbing softly. His eyes were bruised from the punch.

Lin Jingrui stared coldly at her, annoyed, and asked, "Crying? How dare you cry? Did he succeed in his advances or not?"

Chu Shunqing froze, staring at him in disbelief.

She was the one who was humiliated, and instead of comforting himself, he questioned her innocence.

Seeing her expression, Lin Jingrui's face darkened further, and he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Chu Shunqing lay sprawled on the disheveled wedding bed, crying for half the night until his eyes were swollen like peach pits.

Hatred, like a poisonous vine, entwined my heart.

Chu Nianci!

If it weren't to spite her, why would I have moved into this Wei Rui Xuan?

How could they possibly run into Lin Jingfan, who should have disappeared?

No, this must all be a scheme orchestrated by Chu Nianci!

She was the one who shoved that man into her room!

What a vicious heart.

He had used his merits to get her into the palace, and she had harmed him like this.

Fine, I'll be locked in a life-or-death struggle with Chu Nianci.

She rested quietly in the mansion for a few days, applying ice packs, and the bruises on her eyes gradually faded.

Upon inquiring, he learned that Lin Jingrui's request to see the Empress had been politely refused. He immediately understood that Lin Jingrui's request to the Empress must be because he wanted to bring his sister back.

The Empress must already know about this matter, and considering the royal family's reputation, she will definitely not be willing to help. She was really worried that the Empress might soften her heart. She also heard that Xie's headache was severe and Lin Jingrui was extremely worried about his mother's illness, so she put aside her thoughts for the time being.

Chu Shunqing looked at the bronze mirror and slowly curled a cold smile.

Chu Nianci, you just wait, I will never let you get away with this.

The next day, she entered the palace. Knowing she had caused trouble, she dared not meet the Empress directly. Instead, she sought an audience with Aunt Xia Dong, the head maidservant by the Empress's side. She first apologized and then hesitantly explained her purpose, hoping to ask her to transfer her elder sister to a remote place.

Aunt Xia Dong was part of the Empress's dowry. She was in her thirties, slender, with fair skin and a cool and reserved demeanor. Her slanted eyes were shrewd and experienced. Although she was in her prime, there was a deep vertical line between her eyebrows, which showed how much she worried.

After listening quietly to her purpose, I understood perfectly.

The Empress was so angry about the scandal that she couldn't sleep well for several days, but she couldn't personally deal with it because of her dignity.

The best solution right now is to send Chu Nianci to a dark and secluded place like the Xin Zhe Ku or the Laundry Bureau.

Aunt Xia Dong looked at Chu Shunqing's face, which was filled with both hatred and fear, and sneered inwardly.

It's like someone offering you a pillow when you're about to doze off.

Since this fool has walked right into this mess, we might as well let her be the scapegoat; after all, she brought this trouble upon herself.

She waited until the Empress took her afternoon nap before bringing Chu Shunqing over, determined to completely crush Chu Nianci.

Seeing that Aunt Xia Dong not only did not stop him, but also secretly gave him a push, Chu Shunqing felt that the anger in his chest had finally found an outlet.

Now it's Chu Nianci's turn to suffer!

She absolutely had to see her elder sister's pathetic state with her own eyes.

So what if she's an official's daughter?

With Aunt Xia backing her up, she wasn't afraid of anything.

Besides, Aunt Lan, the instructor of Xiefang Palace, is the strictest in the entire palace. This time, we're waiting to see how Chu Nianci will be punished and suffer.

But who knew...

When she finally found her elder sister, full of anticipation, this is what she saw:

In the garden pavilion, Chu Nianci and Aunt Lan sat facing each other.

Several delicate pastries and a pot of tea were laid out on the stone table, and the two people chatted while sipping their tea.

Aunt Lan wore a rare, kind smile, and her eyes even revealed a hint of affection as she looked at Chu Nianci.

Thinking of the humiliation he had suffered a few days ago, and then looking at the glaring scene before him.

Chu Shunqing's eyes turned red from the sting.

She was stunned.

How could this happen?

In her past life, she had also interacted with Aunt Lan and even took her pulse.

In my memory, this old woman was extremely difficult to talk to. She never even smiled at me, let alone drank tea and chatted with me.

Therefore, I didn't give her any medicine to treat her back injury, just wanting to see this strict, almost mean-spirited aunt suffer a bit.

But why is it that in this lifetime... she is so good to Chu Nianci?

It's like he's a completely different person!

Where exactly did things go wrong?

Chu Shunqing stared intently at the harmonious scene in the pavilion, her heart a jumble of sour, jealous, and resentful emotions that burned so badly it made her stomach ache.

Seeing them approach, Aunt Lan led Chu Nianci to her feet.

Aunt Xia Dong was a lady-in-waiting in the Empress's palace, while she was only a third-class aunt in the Xie Fang Palace.

His rank is two ranks higher than hers.

Lan Cui quickly stood up and greeted her respectfully.

Chu Nianci was a palace maid who had not yet served the emperor. Following the rules, she properly curtsied to Aunt Xia Dong and then quietly stepped aside.

Chu Shunqing was determined not to let her go.

Seeing her leisurely demeanor, he was furious and coldly rebuked her, "You don't learn the rules, you're hiding away drinking tea, you know how to enjoy yourself more than the Empress."

Her words were accusatory, as if she were the one in charge.

"The affairs of my palace are none of the business of Physician Chu," Aunt Lan said coldly.

She recognized Chu Shunqing... She had recently sprained her back and went to the Imperial Hospital to ask for some ointment, but Chu Shunqing shut her down with the words "I am preparing medicine for Her Majesty the Empress." Naturally, she didn't give her a friendly look at the moment.

"Do I have the right to ask?" Aunt Xia Dong asked coldly.

Aunt Lan paused for a moment, then calmly explained, "Aunt Xia, please don't misunderstand. We're not being lazy; we're teaching her how to make tea."

"Tea making?" Aunt Xia Dong's shrewd, slanted eyes remained completely unmoved. "What kind of place is this? What is a mere young lady who has just entered the palace doing learning tea making?"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Aunt Xia said, "Look at this, she's clearly making excuses to shirk her duties. Why not send her to the Laundry Department to toughen her up and save her from learning these useless things here?"

Aunt Xia Dong didn't respond immediately after hearing this, but slowly turned her gaze to Chu Nianci, who had been standing quietly to the side...