Jinyi Spring

Chapter 211 Soft-legged Plague

Before entering the palace, Old Madam Ming had given advice on how to deal with the Second Princess:

"That girl deserves to be taught a lesson. A few slaps will completely crush her arrogance from the start. The Emperor treats her poorly, and even Empress Dowager Xue doesn't care about Prince Zhao and the Xue family, let alone Xue Qinghe."

Shui Chuchen said to Caiju, "Go to the Shangyi Bureau and tell them that the Second Princess cursed my elder sister with vulgar language. Ask them to send someone to deal with her."

Caiju knelt down and replied, "Yes."

Granny Li then presented several more invitations, namely those from Song, the wife of Xiao Henian; Liu, the wife of Wang Tu; Qin, the mother of the female doctor Lao Cai; and her daughter-in-law.

These families were all people or relatives who had contributed to Shui Chuchen's exoneration and had been rewarded by the emperor, and were also people Feng Chuchen was eager to meet.

Tomorrow is the 29th of the lunar year, and I need to see them before the New Year, so I have to arrange everything for tomorrow.

Shui Chuchen sent the messenger back with a message: Uncle Xiao's family and Feng Buji will arrive at the end of Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow; Old Doctor Cai's mother, Qin, and her daughter-in-law, Zeng, will arrive at the end of Wushi (11 AM-1 PM) tomorrow; and Wang Tu's family will arrive at Weishi (1-3 PM) tomorrow.

Uncle Xiao's family and Wang Tu's family are staying for lunch and dinner.

Banxia looked around and lowered her voice, saying, "Princess, I heard that General Wang's wife, Liu, is a cripple. She's not even as tall as General Wang's shoulder, and one of her legs is bent, so she walks with a limp."

"People who saw this all said it was a real pity that General Wang was paired with her. Many people tried to arrange for him to take concubines, but General Wang refused them all, saying only one thing—'My wife came to me when I was at my lowest point, and I cannot betray her.'"

Upon hearing this, Shui Chuchen felt as if something had gently pricked her heart.

Soft-legged plague is what is now known as polio.

Back then, Wang Tu was disfigured, of unknown origin, and even his identity was fake. Which family would be willing to marry their fine daughter to him?

Now that Liu is married, it must be difficult for her to find a husband. Liu is virtuous, and the Liu family helped and supported him during his most difficult time, helping him through the toughest period.

Now that Wang Tu has turned his life around, been granted an official position, and been given a house, some people feel sorry for him, thinking that Liu Shi is not good enough for him. But Wang Tu remembers that short but stubborn woman who gave him a home when he was at his lowest point... He cannot forget his roots.

Shui Chuchen lowered her eyes, but she felt a fire burning in her heart, both warm and bittersweet.

Ming Shanyue once said that Liu was gentle and virtuous, managing the household perfectly. Wang Tu treated her extremely well, and they were a harmonious couple, living a simple but peaceful life. Such a couple was far better than those who were well-matched in social status but estranged.

Shui Chuchen said softly, "He is a true gentleman."

It's not just praising Wang Tu, but also marveling at the rare sincerity in this world.

Throughout history, very few men have remained faithful to their wives who shared their hardships after achieving wealth and status.

She asked, "How is their son?"

Banxia smiled and said, "General Wang's son is excellent. Young Master Feng has met him and said he is tall, handsome, well-mannered, and good at both literary and martial arts."

A smile appeared on Shui Chuchen's lips. With a benevolent father and a kind mother, their child was naturally exceptional.

A little over two quarters of an hour later, Caiju came in to report, "Your Highness, the Bureau of Ceremonies has sent Granny Bai to the central route."

Shui Chuchen glanced at Eunuch Tang and Granny Li. The two of them simultaneously twitched the corners of their mouths, but neither of them said a word.

Shui Chuchen immediately understood that Granny Bai was probably ineffective. Sending someone like that meant either the head of the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau was trying to curry favor with Empress Dowager Xue, or they looked down on Princess Yong'an, who came from the countryside. However, with Caiju present, they couldn't say anything openly.

Shui Chuchen picked up her teacup, took a slow sip, and then got up and went outside.

From the middle lane came Shui Raofu's cursing voice, several decibels louder than before, as if she had deliberately come to the base of the wall to curse. Her voice was choked with sobs, filled with hatred and pain, like a small beast driven to the brink of despair, so pitiful that it made one's heart tighten.

"You bumpkins! Liars! What makes you so great? You killed my mother, leaving her without even a tombstone—are you satisfied now? Are you happy?"

She cried out, her voice trembling and almost hoarse.

A nanny's voice rang out, gentle yet tinged with timidity, "Second Princess, please calm down... The 'Admonitions for Women' says, 'Choose your words carefully and do not utter evil words.' Your insults to your elder sister are damaging to your reputation..."

"My mother was murdered, what do I care about my reputation!"

Shui Raofu cried even louder, her grief and indignation overwhelming her. "That person ran out to his death in the middle of the night, why is my mother being blamed? My mother is innocent—she died without a proper burial, without even a grave... Waaah..."

The old woman stammered, her voice even lower, "Your Highness, the 'Admonitions for Women' says, 'Be humble and obedient, respectful and cautious, and do not disobey.' If the Empress Dowager finds out about your outburst, she will be heartbroken... Why don't you go back to your room and rest?"

Shui Raofu wouldn't listen at all, and cried even harder, "I'm not going back! What does she think she is? A country bumpkin, all rustic and rough, does she even deserve to be my older sister? Bah..."

The old woman wrung her hands anxiously, but still pleaded softly, "Your Highness, please don't say that... lest you hurt the harmony between the sisters..."

Shui Chuchen stood under the eaves, originally turning to go back inside. But just as she took a step, Shui Raofu's voice faintly drifted over from the other side of the wall.

This time, instead of calling her a "country bumpkin," she lowered her voice, her tone choked with sobs and hatred, "...She deserved it! If she hadn't run out in the middle of the night, how could she have been eaten by a pack of wolves? Even God couldn't bear to see it, so the wolves tore her apart, leaving not even a complete corpse. It's clear she was a jinx! My mother was wronged; that person was the root of all evil..."

Although the words did not name names, everyone knew who "she" referred to.

This is the second time the Second Princess has openly insulted Empress Xiaoxian.

Shui Chuchen stopped in her tracks, turned her head, and the indifference in her eyes instantly froze into ice. Her face was as white as frost, her lips were pressed tightly into a line, and her whole person was like a drawn sword.

"Princess……"

As soon as Granny Li spoke, Shui Chuchen strode towards the backyard.

"Eunuch Tang, Peony, bring your men and come with me to the middle road." Her voice was not loud, but it was chilling.

Although there was a door in the wall separating the east and middle roads, both sides were locked, so we had to go to the garden and enter through the back door.

Eunuch Tang stiffened, and without a word, beckoned several of the stronger eunuchs to follow closely behind. Peony ran the fastest, keeping pace with Shui Chuchen, poised to shield him from arrows.

Li Mama hesitated for a moment, then followed, whispering as she ran, "Princess, should we go to the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau and call for a more capable nanny?"

"No need." Shui Chuchen said without turning her head.

Caiju followed. (End of Chapter)