Chapter 4 A Sharp Tongue Leaves the Beloved Pale and Faint

Shen Zhao had just entered the front courtyard when she caught sight of a figure clad in moon-white, her entire appearance devoid of any color. She stood beneath the eaves, waiting for Shen Zhao to approach. In the whole residence, only Lin Jiaojiao, that delicate and frail lotus in full bloom, would dress so plainly and affect such weakness.

She put on this act every day, yet only the blind Chu Mu seemed unable to see through it.

Before Shen Zhao even got close, she heard a soft, sickly-sweet voice call out, “Brother Mu, are you heading to morning court?”

Shen Zhao rolled her eyes inwardly. She was dressed in full court regalia at this hour—if not going to morning court, where else could she be headed, a brothel?

She replied in a cold tone, “Miss Lin, has your heartache traveled to your eyes now? So young and already blind?”

At her words, Lin Jiaojiao wavered, looking utterly devastated. Tears welled up in her eyes as she bit her lip delicately. “Brother Mu, how could you say such things to me? I was only concerned for you. Did I do something wrong? Have I made Brother Mu misunderstand me, or has someone been speaking ill of me in your presence?”

Brother Mu had never spoken to her like this before. He was always gentle, never raising his voice, never willing to upset her. Today, she had sent Deputy General Zhang to invite him, and when he didn’t come, she knew something was wrong. In the past, whenever she claimed heart pain, no matter the hour, if Brother Mu was at home, he would always come to comfort her before attending to anything else.

Shen Zhao looked at Lin Jiaojiao, who seemed on the verge of collapse, and thought to herself, what a performance.

Had she really said anything so terrible?

Such pitiful posturing.

Because of Lin Jiaojiao, Chu Mu had often spoken harshly to her, even ordering Deputy General Zhang’s men to beat her servant girl, Dai’er, to death.

At the thought of Dai’er, who had been with her since childhood, Shen Zhao’s gaze toward Lin Jiaojiao turned even colder. If not for her own concerns—her father and brother still awaiting rescue—Lin Jiaojiao would have long since been sent to the grave to answer for her crimes.

Her tone hardened. “Heaven sees all. You know what heartless things you’ve done—do I need to enumerate them for you? Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘A good dog doesn’t block the way’? If you have no business, then get out of my sight!”

Lin Jiaojiao’s face turned ashen—not from powder, but from the sudden loss of blood. Her limbs went cold; she trembled uncontrollably.

What did Brother Mu mean by this? Had he learned something?

No, impossible—Brother Mu always believed her. Someone must have poisoned his mind against her.

With a trembling voice, she pleaded, “Brother Mu… what’s wrong? How can you treat me like this?” Tears streamed down her face, a string of pearls no one could bear to scold.

Unfortunately, Shen Zhao was not Chu Mu, that blind fool who pitied every weeping beauty.

Despite her tearful plea, Brother Mu still offered no comfort. Clutching her chest, Lin Jiaojiao cried out in pain, “Brother Mu, my heart hurts, it hurts so much!”

The pain was real. How could Brother Mu bear to see her so aggrieved, to tell her to get out, to refuse her comfort? Someone must have slandered her in front of him. Brother Mu would never change so suddenly for no reason.

Suddenly, she stilled. It must be that wretched Shen woman, stirring up trouble. Besides her, there was no one else in the Grand General’s Mansion who disliked her so. That must be why Brother Mu was angry.

Shen Zhao watched Lin Jiaojiao’s shifting expressions and knew the woman was about to make trouble for her. Well, that was just as well. Let Chu Mu see for himself what kind of person his so-called pure, obedient Lin Jiaojiao really was.

“Enough,” Shen Zhao said, “stop crying. You’re making my head ache. Anyone who didn’t know better would think the old madam had died and you’re in mourning, wailing in your white robes. Don’t delay me on my way to court. And from now on, don’t appear before me without reason. I don’t care for sickly beauties or weepy, feeble women.”

Seeing Lin Jiaojiao on the verge of fainting, she added mercilessly, “Learn from your sister-in-law Zhao what it means to be a true noblewoman and mistress of a household. Stop relying on the petty tricks of concubines scrambling for favor; that’s beneath you.”

Her words were full of praise for Shen Zhao and utter contempt for Lin Jiaojiao.

Lin Jiaojiao understood at last. It had to be Shen Zhao who had turned Brother Mu against her. Her face darkened ominously.

So be it, Shen Zhao thought. If you’re going to act up, I’ll fan the flames. Let Chu Mu experience firsthand the means of his precious cousin.

She looked at Lin Jiaojiao with open disdain. “Enough. You were never a true noblewoman—no matter how you try, you’ll only ever be a poor imitation. Dress yourself in all the finery you want; it won’t make you noble. Or perhaps you’re simply ill-suited to this household? Or is it that you can’t stomach delicacies, since you’re always falling ill? Perhaps, like a wild boar that can’t eat fine bran, you’re simply unfit for wealth and status.”

Lin Jiaojiao’s eyes rolled back; unable to withstand any more of Chu Mu’s scorn, she collapsed in a dead faint. She had truly passed out, her vision going black—overwhelmed by Brother Mu’s cruelty.

Shen Zhao made no move to help. The servants waiting to escort her to court were already at the gate, and Lin Jiaojiao had come alone, with no one in tow. It was early and the front corridor was seldom used at this hour.

A loud thud rang out as Lin Jiaojiao hit the ground hard. Even Shen Zhao winced at the sound.

Serves you right! she thought.

She beckoned toward the shadows. “What are you two waiting for? Take her back to the West Garden.”

Two figures emerged, bowing to her. “At once. We’ll return Miss Lin to the West Garden immediately.”

They were Chu Mu’s secret guards, Chu One and Chu Two. As far as she knew, there were more—three, four, five, up to a dozen or so. Convenient for her.

After all, she was Chu Mu now. The real Chu Mu would never reveal that they had switched bodies. It was too far-fetched—no one would believe it, only suspect Shen Zhao was causing trouble.

This was truly delightful.

Chu One and Chu Two watched their master’s departing figure, astonished by what they had just witnessed and heard. They exchanged uncertain glances.

Chu One looked at Chu Two in wonder. “Chu Two, did Miss Lin really faint from anger at our master’s words?”

Chu Two replied, bewildered, “I think so… it seemed that way.”

Their master had changed somehow, though they couldn’t quite say how. More articulate now, perhaps. Yes, their once-taciturn master had become eloquent. No wonder they felt something was different.