Chapter 57 Why Has Mother Become So Ruthless and Merciless

“Madam, doesn’t this robe look familiar to you?”
Chu Mu looked at his mother with anticipation, straightening his posture, hoping she would see more clearly.
If only she could recognize the robe she had sewn for him with her own hands.
The old lady examined it carefully. The fabric was fine, but not particularly rare.
The style was old-fashioned, likely from years past.
What did Shen mean by this? Was she trying to hint that her paramour was a powerful noble?
If he truly were someone important, why would he wear clothing from several years ago?
Hmph! The little harlot was trying to fool her!
Remembering yesterday’s humiliation, her eyes flashed coldly. "Shen, you really think you can defy me? Do you believe I’m so easily deceived? Someone, teach this little harlot a harsh lesson!"
One after another, they were nothing but trouble.
Chu Mu was stunned—his mother hadn’t recognized the robe?
He hurried to explain, "Madam, you made this robe for my husband yourself. Have you forgotten? Back then..."
He tried to continue, but the old lady cut him off. "I’ve never sewn anything for Mu’er. You’re such a poor liar, little harlot. When have you ever seen me touch a needle and thread? That’s the work of lowly servants. As the lady of this house, when have I ever needed to sew clothes myself?"
Chu Mu was speechless. He remembered vividly how his mother had told him, as she gave him this robe, that she’d sewn every stitch herself.
He remembered her injured fingers, the bandages stained with spots of blood.
"Madam, eight years ago..." Maybe she had forgotten, but he could not.
"Silence! Stop lying to avoid punishment, you wretched little harlot! You’ve caused chaos in my household, and now you lie without end.
If you hadn’t insisted on cutting the expenses yesterday, none of this would have happened, and Renjie wouldn’t have been beaten..."
Her gaze, venomous, turned to Lady Liu.
"You’re not entirely blameless. If you hadn’t caused trouble, I wouldn’t have discovered a thief in my own house. Both of you deserve a harsh punishment."
She pressed her forehead, lamenting the misfortune of the Chu family for bringing in such calamities.
Immediately, a servant produced a cane, ready to strike.
Chu Mu broke free from the two servants restraining him.
He didn’t want to anger his mother, but he would never allow anyone to harm Ah Zhao.

He always remembered the old physician’s warning: Ah Zhao was weak, plagued by cold, and had been poisoned with a drug that would prevent her from bearing children.
She needed care, not more harm.
The two servants holding him were thrown aside, crying out in pain.
The old lady was furious. "Shen, are you rebelling? Who gave you the courage to disrespect me? Do you want me to force Mu’er to divorce you, cast you out of the General’s mansion?
Do you care nothing for your father and brother, exiled so far away? Kneel and accept your punishment!"
Chu Mu looked at his mother with a complicated expression.
He would never divorce Ah Zhao, nor threaten her with the fate of her family.
"Madam, I am my husband’s legitimate wife. He will not cast me away. I know you misunderstand me, but it’s because of the malicious servant at your side." Chu Mu pointed at Lady Liu. "She has deceived you and stirred discord between us. Madam, do you know how many wicked things this servant has done behind your back?
She uses her seniority to disrespect me, the wife of the General, causing me to believe you are oppressing me."
Ah Zhao’s poor impression of his mother was all due to this malicious servant’s abuse.
Today, he would expose her, whether his mother believed him or not. "She speaks ill of me before you, making you misunderstand me.
I have always respected you, never intending to defy you.
She falsely conveyed your orders, even threw my maid into a wolf den to die. You imprisoned my maid, nearly killed her, and felt guilty enough to repent before the Bodhisattva, yet she brought calamity upon you, deepening my misunderstanding."
All of this had caused his mother and Ah Zhao to misunderstand each other.
He believed that once everything was laid bare, his mother would no longer trouble Ah Zhao.
But the others looked at him as if he were mad.
Especially his second sister-in-law, whose gaze said he’d suffered some great shock—more deranged than she was.
The old lady sneered, "Shen, has your mind been kicked by a donkey? How dare you sow discord before me, accusing my maid? Who gave you such courage?"
"Madam, I speak only the truth. I am not sowing discord. This malicious servant has tormented me many times, showing two faces, and you must not let her deceive you any longer." His mother didn’t know Lady Liu’s secret dealings; it was understandable she didn’t believe him.
But he couldn’t let her remain in the dark.
The crowd’s gazes grew stranger, as if he were possessed by a ghost.
"Shen, I’ll say it again: do not sow discord or feign madness before me, hoping for my mercy.
Everything Lady Liu does is at my instruction. Why torment you? Don’t you know? You’ve been married into the Chu family for years, yet have you born Mu’er a single child?

As my daughter-in-law, you have repeatedly shown me disrespect, and your ill temperament has led you to ignore my commands again and again.
I have watched and remembered everything. Your maid was thrown to the wolves at my order.
She was merely a lowly servant—how dare she disrespect me? How dare she protect you in your defiance? Her crime deserved death!
Shen, have you forgotten? I told you: obey, be humble, and I will let you stay in the General’s mansion. Otherwise, I have no qualms about blood on my hands again."
Chu Mu was stunned.
His mother… She wasn’t deceived but truly hated Ah Zhao.
And Ah Zhao’s maid hadn’t been killed by wicked servants, but by his mother’s own order!
His mother was supposed to be a devout Buddhist, never killing!
She was supposed to be kind-hearted!
How could she have become so ruthless, so unrecognizable to him?
He didn’t understand why his mother disliked Ah Zhao.
His Ah Zhao was so lovable, so sensible—why couldn’t his mother see her virtues?
Why did she torment Ah Zhao, even commit murder because of it?
"Madam, why do you detest my wife so? Has she done something wrong?" Chu Mu couldn’t help but ask.
He wanted to know what fault Ah Zhao had, to be treated so harshly by his mother.
The old lady looked at Chu Mu with icy disdain.
Her fault? Her fault was ever marrying into the General’s mansion!
"Shen, have you forgotten everything I’ve said?
I’ve told you many times—you are not worthy of Mu’er. You should never have clung to him and married into the Chu family.
As a woman, chasing Mu’er before marriage—have you no shame? My Mu’er deserves a better bride from a noble family, one whose connections would bring honor to the Chu house, not be dragged down by your Shen family, making life in the capital a daily struggle."
Chu Mu stared at his mother in disbelief. Had she forgotten? His position as commander depended entirely on the Shen family.