Resplendent – Chapter 410

Chapter 410 — Bringing Humiliation Upon Herself

Lady Fu’an thought carefully, and indeed those eyes she’d glimpsed inside the carriage did look very much like Chu Mushan. 

Everyone in the capital knew that the Sixth Young Master of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household possessed a face so fine that one could hardly tell if it belonged to a man or woman. His eyes in particular were strikingly beautiful!

“So it was you, Xiao Liu! What brings you to riding in a carriage today? I didn’t recognize it for a moment. It’s not one from the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence!” Her display of exaggerated familiarity made every hair on Chu Mushan’s body stand on end.

“So if it’s not me, you can just strike people in the street at will? Lady Fu’an, you really are quite overbearing! I just wonder. If you happen to offend someone you can’t afford to offend, will you still be able to smooth things over then?”

Among the young ladies of the capital, Fu’an County Princess was notorious; a bully to the weak, a coward before the strong, and shamelessly persistent in chasing after men. Her reputation was as foul as it could get!

She had even once, unintentionally, offended a noblewoman of very high standing. To soothe the other party’s anger, she had once knelt on the ground like a dog to apologize, discarding her dignity, lowering herself completely into the dust. But when facing young ladies of lesser status, she would mock and ridicule them mercilessly, finding her balance by stepping on others. Such behavior was truly despicable!

Sure enough, when Chu Mushan said those words, her expression immediately tensed. In an instant, her demeanor turned submissive, and a sycophantic smile curved her lips.

“I wonder which noble young lady that might be, in the carriage?”

“Second Brother, just look at this kind of trash, buzzing around you like a fly all day long. Don’t you find it disgusting? Why don’t you just get rid of her already?” Gu Ye stepped out from the carriage. She refused anyone’s help, jumped lightly to the ground, and stood beside Chu Mufeng, shaking her head again and again.

When a strange little girl suddenly appeared from the carriage, speaking so sharply and addressing Chu Mufeng with such easy familiarity, Lady Fuan’s face changed several times in quick succession. Especially at Gu Ye’s final remark—her temper flared instantly!

In the capital, Lady Fu’an had her own survival code: she carefully remembered every noble lady of higher birth than hers, flattering them endlessly. 

As for those beneath her in rank—why would she even bother to care? And this unfamiliar girl before her—she instantly dismissed her as someone unworthy of notice.

“Second Brother Chu, is she perhaps an actress from Sichuan opera—skilled in the art of face changing?” Gu Ye covered her mouth, leaning playfully against her second brother’s arm with an exaggerated laugh—clearly doing it on purpose to provoke the other woman.

Sure enough, her tone and gesture completely shattered Lady Fu’an’s composure. With a shrill “Ahhh—!”, she lunged at Gu Ye. Her nails, which were painted a bright, blood-red, clawed straight toward the girl’s delicate little face.

If those nails had landed, Gu Ye would’ve been scarred for sure. But with three brothers present, how could they possibly let anyone harm their sister? 

Chu Mufeng quickly pulled Gu Ye two steps back. Gu Ming stepped forward, his face dark, shielding his sister with his body, while Chu Mushan casually hooked out a foot, sending the princess sprawling face-first onto the ground, like a squashed frog!

“Second Brother Chu…” Lady Fu’an’s nose scraped the ground, taking off a layer of skin, and when she looked up, she resembled a clown straight out of a tragic farce. Yet she still forced on a pitiful expression, eyes glistening with tears, pretending to be a fragile beauty overcome with emotion. It was utterly grotesque!

This time, Chu Mufeng truly lost his temper. 

That malicious woman had dared to try and scratch his sister’s lovely face! He was no longer his usual mild self. Instead, he fixed Lady Fu’an, who had just been helped up by her maid and was now venting her anger by pinching the poor girl’s arm, with a cold, cutting stare. 

His voice was like shards of ice as he spoke: “Second Brother Chu? You think you have the right to call me that? Lady Fu’an, wake up. A willful, vicious woman like you could never marry into the Chu family. Have a little self-awareness.”

Fu’an County Princess had never imagined Chu Mufeng would speak to her with such brutal, heartless words. As always, she didn’t stop to reflect on her own behavior. Instead, her gaze turned venomous, like a snake ready to strike, as she glared at Gu Ye. “It’s you!” she screamed hysterically. “It must be you! You ruined the love between me and Brother Feng, you vile little—” 

“Smack!”

A sharp slap echoed through the street. A clear red handprint bloomed on the princess’s face.

Gu Ye shook her slightly stinging hand and said dryly, “Wow, what a thick face. How hard do you have to be for it to hurt me this much? A kind person sees kindness, a wise one sees wisdom: but only a vile person keeps calling others ‘vile.’” 

“Little sister, does your hand hurt? You shouldn’t have hit her yourself. Look at that delicate hand. It’s all red now! Next time you want to hit someone, tell me and I’ll make them pay!” Chu Mushan immediately fussed over her, gently blowing on his sister’s hand.

He glared fiercely at Lady Fu’an: It’s your fault; why’s your face so thick that it hurt my sister’s hand?

“You! I’ll settle this with you!” Lady Fu’an completely lost control and lunged wildly at Gu Ye, grabbing at anything she could use to strike.

Gu Ye and her brothers scattered in an instant. Lady Fu’an’s ankle was suddenly struck by something. It went weak, and she happened to tumble forward, landing at Gu Ye’s feet.

“Oh-ho! Lady Fu’an, I can’t accept such a gift for nothing! Here—ten taels of silver, go spend it!” Gu Ye pulled a coin from her pouch and tossed it toward the county princess as if tipping a servant. 

Lady Fu’an pounded the ground in fury, her eyes like poisoned daggers. Through gritted teeth she hissed, “Just you wait! If you’ve got the guts, give your name!”

Heedlessly, Chu Mushan announced on his sister’s behalf: “She’s the legitimate daughter of Duke Zhen, Chu Xiaoqi, childhood name Bao’er! If you want trouble, come find us at the Duke of Zhenguo Manor! Sister, let’s go home quickly; don’t let Mother wait!”

Chu Xiaoqi — that appellation sounded good! You could clearly tell that she was his sister. Finally, he was no longer the youngest! His sister had returned!

“What? She… she’s a daughter of your family? When did the Zhenguo Manor have a legitimate daughter?” Lady Fu’an sprawled on the ground with mouth agape. She looked like a garishly colored toad.

Chu Xiaoliu, furious, stamped his foot and retorted, “Why should you be the one to know whether our family has a legitimate daughter? My second brother already said it. Someone like you has no chance of ever stepping foot in our Zhenguo Manor! Don’t harbor delusions!”

“Exactly! Exactly! That would be a toad dreaming of swan’s flesh!” Gu Ye drove the insult deeper. 

Chu Mufeng was the noble swan. How could Lady Fu’an, a mere toad, even covet him? It was an outright insult to her Second Brother! 

“Brother Feng, I didn’t know she was truly your sister. He who is ignorant is not guilty. Please forgive me this once…” Lady Fu’an scrambled up as the siblings turned to leave, stretching out her filthy hand to grab Chu Mufeng’s sleeve.

Chu Mufeng flicked his sleeve away and said coldly, “Anyone who bullies my sister is unforgivable. You should count yourself lucky I don’t strike back. You think you can beg for my forgiveness? Never. Sister, get in the carriage. We’re going home.”