Chapter 124: Chu Mu Flies into a Rage and Furiously Rebukes Lin Jiaojiao

Biting her lower lip, Lin Jiaojiao let tears streak down her fair cheeks. She turned toward Chen Baoyi with an expression of apology and pleaded, "Miss Chen, it was Jiaojiao's recklessness that led me to offend you. I was unaware of your identity beforehand and misunderstood you. However..." She then looked toward Chu Mu, her face filled with deep distress.

"However, Sister Shen should not have deliberately withheld the truth about Miss Chen’s identity just to see me make a fool of myself in front of everyone, letting me become a laughingstock without understanding why."

Chu Mu could no longer hold back. "Lin Jiaojiao, that is enough! Even if you didn't know Miss Chen’s identity, does that give you the right to humiliate others? It is clearly your own wrongdoing; why do you refuse to reflect on yourself and instead insist on casting dirt on others at every turn? If I don't remind you, are you incapable of using your own brain to think or your eyes to see? Am I your father or your mother, that I must consider every little thing for you?"

Lin Jiaojiao stood frozen, stunned. How could Shen dare—how could she dare—not to play along with her words? She had already admitted her mistake and offered a face-saving gesture; why did she have to point out her faults? Was Shen not afraid that upon returning to the Great General's Manor, she would embellish the events of today and report them to Brother Mu? Did she no longer wish to remain in the manor? Just because she was granted the charity of attending a banquet, did she really think she could turn the tables?

"Sister Shen, aren't you afraid that by humiliating me like this, I will tell Brother Mu? Aren't you afraid that Brother Mu will punish you again? It is true that I am a guest staying at the Great General's Manor, but Sister Shen, have you ever stopped to think why I am staying there? If my brother hadn't died tragically while saving Brother Mu, why would I be living under someone else's roof? If he were still alive, I would be a proper lady of an official's household, with a status no lower than yours, Sister Shen."

She wanted everyone to know that Shen was ungrateful.

Chu Mu’s chest heaved violently—he was furious. He had told Lin Jiaojiao countless times: he owed her, but Zhao did not. It was Lin Hu who saved his life, not Zhao’s. He would repay that debt himself; she had no right to repeatedly use that favor as a weapon to blackmail Zhao and ruin her reputation.

Chu Mu took a long, deep breath. "Lin Jiaojiao, let me tell you again, and this will be the final time. It was Chu Mu whom Lin Hu saved, not me, Shen Zhao. It is Chu Mu who owes the debt of gratitude to Lin Hu, not me. From the day you entered the manor, the entire Great General's Manor has treated you as an honored guest. You live in the finest quarters and your food, clothing, and accommodations are the best the manor has to offer. When you first arrived, you had nothing to your name. Now, you are draped in fine silks and adorned with jewelry, with servants at your beck and call. I have never treated you with the slightest neglect. My conscience is clear."

Lin Jiaojiao gripped her fists inside her sleeves. That wretch Shen owed her everything. She was hoarding Brother Mu, hoarding the position of the General’s wife. These things should have been hers. Everything she received at the Great General's Manor was her due; everything she ate, wore, and lived in belonged to Brother Mu. By what right did Shen dare to criticize her?

"Miss Shen is right. No matter how great a favor may be, it cannot withstand being constantly brandished by others. And as for you, Miss Lin, your brother made a sacrifice, but what does that have to do with Miss Shen? Furthermore, this life-saving grace is owed by General Chu to your brother, not by her. For these years, the way the Great General's Manor has treated you is plain for all to see. Because of you, we are all well aware of how much the General has neglected his own wife. Deaths on the battlefield are common occurrences; while you demand others repay a debt, you should also learn to be grateful yourself, rather than returning kindness with malice."

Lady Pang could not help but chime in; they all understood the implication behind Miss Lin's words. It was clear she had used this debt to threaten Miss Shen more than once. Poor Miss Shen, married to a man as blind as this General Chu. If you want to repay your own debt, do it yourself—why torture Miss Shen along with you? This debt was clearly a bottomless pit; no matter what Miss Shen did, in this Miss Lin’s eyes, it was never enough, and she was completely ungrateful. If it were her, this Lin girl would have been long gone. No one who dared to threaten her had even been born yet.

Chu Mu furrowed his brows. Lady Pang was clearly speaking up for Zhao, yet he felt something was strange. He just couldn't put his finger on it.

Lin Jiaojiao’s complexion shifted between pale and flushed. Were they all blind? Why did they all take the side of that wretch Shen? She was the victim, she was the one who deserved sympathy! It was all that wretch Shen’s fault for misleading everyone.

"Lady Pang, it is not as you think, it is Sister Shen who..." Lin Jiaojiao tried to shift the blame onto Chu Mu.

Chen Baoyi interrupted her, looking displeased. "You should stop calling her 'Sister.' If you keep calling her that, there's no telling how much more you'll tarnish her reputation. You don't need to explain; everyone here has eyes and can see the truth clearly. Ever since you entered the Pang estate, all your dirty schemes have been plain for everyone to see."

"Someone come, see the guest out!" Lady Pang said, looking at Lin Jiaojiao with growing impatience.

Lin Jiaojiao’s face turned deathly pale. If she were cast out like this today, she would become the laughingstock of the capital before the day was through.

"Aunt Pang, please calm your anger. This young lady is truly pitiful; if she were to be driven out now, how could she ever face anyone again?"

A melodic voice drifted from the corridor. Hearing this, Chen Baoyi’s face immediately turned cold. How annoying. Chu Mu and Lin Jiaojiao both looked toward the speaker. Chu Mu frowned; he couldn't believe someone was actually speaking up for Lin Jiaojiao. Lin Jiaojiao, meanwhile, cast a look of gratitude at the young lady.

Chen Yuyan approached the group with grace. As she passed Lin Jiaojiao, she did not stop, nor did she even spare her a glance. Instead, she bowed to Lady Pang. "Yuyan pays her respects to Aunt Pang." She then looked at Chen Baoyi with a smile, chiding her with feigned intimacy: "Baoyi, I heard you from afar, relentlessly criticizing this young lady. You are not a child anymore; even if you dislike someone, you should show some restraint for the sake of Aunt Pang’s face. You really shouldn't act so impulsively. After all, this young lady is Aunt Pang’s guest. Don't let it happen again."

Chu Mu’s gaze toward this young lady shifted several times. Though she appeared to be looking out for Chen Baoyi, every word was a criticism of her conduct—she was cut from the same cloth as Lin Jiaojiao. It was truly off-putting. How could women be so full of twists and turns? Could they not just be direct?

Chen Baoyi rolled her eyes at Chen Yuyan. Playing the saint again, as if she were the only good person in the world. She really loved to show off.

"I am not like you, Cousin," Baoyi said bluntly. "I like what I like, and I dislike what I dislike. Do you even know what this Miss Lin did to make me lose my temper? As the daughter of the Duke who protects the nation, my status is noble. Must I endure being called lowly? I am not like you, Cousin, who keeps everything bottled up inside. I cannot endure it."

Chu Mu looked at Chen Baoyi with approval. This Miss Chen was much like Zhao—direct and honest. Why hide behind a mask?

"I'm sure this young lady didn't mean it, Baoyi. Don't hold it against her. Aunt Pang, this is the white jade Bodhisattva that Grandmother asked me to bring you." She signaled to the maid behind her to present the brocade box.

Chu Mu’s expression changed instantly. Disaster—he had forgotten a crucial matter that concerned Zhao's dignity.