Chapter 59: Chu Mu’s Eccentric Elder Brother

“Madam, the eldest master and mistress have returned from the ancestral home in Jinzhou.”

Chu Mu’s brows tightened. His elder brother and sister-in-law had always remained at the ancestral residence in Jinzhou. He had tried many times to persuade his brother to come to the capital, but his brother always refused, saying that one must not forget their roots, and as the eldest son, he was obliged to guard the ancestral home and honor their ancestors. Even during festivals and the New Year, the elder brother’s family never came to the capital to reunite with their mother. The last time his brother visited was the year he married Ah Zhao, and he stayed only five days before leaving in haste.

What could have caused his brother and sister-in-law to come together from Jinzhou to the capital now? As he pondered, Chu Mu glanced at Chu Miao. Since his brother and sister-in-law had also arrived, why did Chu Miao reach the General’s Mansion a day earlier? Moreover, Chu Miao had not mentioned their arrival. He caught a fleeting look of tension and guilt on Chu Miao’s face. His brother and sister-in-law had only one daughter, whom they cherished like a precious jewel. With her parents arriving, why was she anxious and guilty?

The old Madam’s angry expression softened into joy. Her eldest son had finally come to see his mother. Yet a trace of sorrow crossed her face, for there had always been a rift between them—a pain in her heart. She had hoped that her eldest and his wife would remain by her side, just as her second son’s family did. But she knew that her eldest would never stay in the capital—he had been deeply disappointed in her, and despite the many letters she sent, he never replied, avoiding his own mother as if she were a stranger.

Still, the joy of seeing him outweighed her grief. However, seeing Liu, wounded and kneeling, and Shen dressed in men’s robes, gave her a headache. She could not let her honest and upright eldest son witness such unpleasant matters, especially not her punishment of her third daughter-in-law.

She quickly ordered, “Hurry and welcome the eldest master and mistress inside.” Then, turning to Liu, she said, “Go to the inner hall at once, do not disgrace yourself here.” She glanced at Chu Mu in men’s dress, wrinkling her brows. Though she wanted to punish Shen now, it was not the right moment. Suppressing her anger, she continued, “This time, I will spare you. The gifts for Shanjun and Shanan must be prepared properly.”

She instructed the kitchens to prepare extra dishes for the evening, for she wished to host a welcoming banquet for her eldest son and daughter-in-law. She also ordered several signature dishes from the Golden Jade Pavilion and demanded that Chu Mu change out of those men’s clothes immediately, so as not to offend her sight.

Chu Mu frowned. He would not provide the things Shanjun and Shanan required; he had already made it clear to his mother that he would no longer concern himself with them. Since his brother and sister-in-law rarely came to the capital, he would see to their hospitality, even without his mother’s instructions.

“Yes, daughter-in-law will arrange a welcoming banquet for elder brother and sister-in-law,” she replied.

Just then, a steady voice came from behind, “Mother, your son greets you. There is no need for sister-in-law to make a fuss over us. A simple family meal will suffice.”

Chu Mu turned and saw his elder brother. After so many years, his brother was just as calm and steady as he remembered. Yet, he sensed a hint of anger on his brother’s face—was he mistaken? His brother was always gentle, never raising his voice or showing anger. And his sister-in-law’s eyes were reddened, as if she had been crying. His brother was honest and upright; his sister-in-law was virtuous and composed, always dignified in public. He had never seen her like this.

What had happened between them?

He was not the only one to notice the unusual air between the couple. The old Madam too saw her son’s anger and was startled by the expression. Had the couple quarreled, and come to the capital for her to mediate? That was not her son’s way—he would not come for such trivial matters.

Liu, still kneeling, furtively watched her elder brother-in-law and sister-in-law, feeling a twinge of shame. Her sister-in-law, lacking a son, had always stood below her, but now that this prissy, pretentious woman saw her in such a state, she must be thoroughly delighted.

Chu Renqing swept his gaze over the crowd, pausing first on Chu Miao. At a single glance, Chu Miao shivered—her father’s look was terrifying. He had always been loving toward her; when had he ever looked so severe? Was he here to drag her back and marry her to that impoverished scholar? Impossible! She did not wish to marry that poor student.

Chu Renqing’s gaze did not linger on Chu Miao but fell upon the injured woman kneeling in the hall. His face grew stern as he looked at her, her battered form echoing the memories of another wounded woman from his childhood.

His mother had promised him that she would devote herself to goodness and never again commit evil, praying daily for the pitiful soul who had died by her hand. But what had she done now?

Had she forgotten how that woman died? Forgotten why his father had grown to despise her? Yet here she was, tormenting another woman in the same way.

And who was this victim?

“Mother, who is she? What crime has she committed to be punished so?”

Chu Mu felt gratified—his brother was compassionate and could not bear to see others suffer. He was renowned in Jinzhou for his kindness. Naturally, he could not endure seeing his second sister-in-law so grievously wounded.

The old Madam’s face darkened. In her son’s eyes, she was nothing but a cruel mother. “She is your second sister-in-law, Liu. You have just returned; go and rest in the courtyard I have kept for your family. Liu has committed a fault and deserves punishment. It is not as though I tormented her without reason.”

When Chu Renqing learned it was his second sister-in-law, he stepped forward to look at Liu, who had been so cruelly abused. His neck veins bulged. “Mother, what fault could she have possibly committed for you to treat her so?”

He then turned to Shanjun and Shanan, who had just stood from their seats. “Mother, did you consider Shanjun and Shanan—how heartbroken they must be, how they must view you as their grandmother? However wrong she may be, you should not beat her so in front of her sons!”

The old Madam was silenced. Her eldest son always accused her without knowing the whole story—did he ever ask why Liu was punished?

“Renqing, it is Liu who... she committed an unforgivable sin. I punished her only with Shanjun and Shanan’s consent. She is utterly unfit to be their mother.”

She dared not speak plainly, for if she admitted to condoning Liu’s embezzlement of the General’s estate, her son would only hate her more.

Chu Shanjun and Chu Shanan echoed her, “Elder uncle, it is mother who erred and deserved punishment. Grandmother was merciful not to cast her out.”

Chu Renqing frowned at Shanjun and Shanan. This was their mother—no matter how grave her mistake, they should not watch her be beaten before their eyes.

“Mother, may I ask what fault my second sister-in-law committed?”