Chapter 78: The Plot Thickens

No! Absolutely not!

Renqing only has one daughter, and no son has yet been born. His body must not be ruined under any circumstances.

She hurriedly said, “Mu’er, that was prepared for you by your mother. You love it the most. Your eldest brother has never liked sweets since childhood. I know you care for your brother, but later I’ll have the main kitchen make the dishes he enjoys. At tonight’s banquet welcoming the return of the dust, you three brothers can drink to your hearts’ content.

“You’re already grown up, still chasing after your brother to feed him pastries. Aren’t you embarrassed? Come back quickly, sit beside your mother, and have some pastries yourself.”

Mu’er had always been the most obedient to her, although she’d changed somewhat in the past couple of days. But that was because Mu’er had been pushed to the brink, which made her behave unusually. After all, everyone has their own temperament.

Shen Zhao didn’t stop walking toward Chu Renqing, but spoke with her back to the old madam, saying:

“These are pastries made by your own hand, Old Madam. Even if my elder brother doesn’t like them, he’ll eat them. After all, I’ve eaten these pastries for nineteen years—nineteen whole years.”

Chu Renqing’s expression instantly turned severe, his eyes fixed on the pastry in his younger brother’s hand.

Mother had used this method to harm her youngest for nineteen years. The youngest would never have suspected that the mother he believed in would ever hurt him. Normally, who would doubt their own mother’s intentions?

Thinking of how his mother had enjoyed everything his younger brother brought her all these years, yet still, in secret, had remained so ruthless and malicious, Chu Renqing’s heart grew ever more resentful toward her—and ever more guilty toward his younger brother, the guilt overwhelming him like a surging tide.

“You’re right, little brother,” Chu Renqing said. “These are pastries made by mother herself. How could I, her own son, not eat them?”

With those words, he freed a hand, took the pastry, and, without the slightest hesitation, brought it to his mouth.

Even if it were deadly poison, he would still eat it without a second thought.

“Eldest—!” The old madam’s tone changed abruptly as she rose from her chair.

Damn it! Was her eldest out of his mind, eating that tainted pastry?

Chu Renqing saw his mother’s reaction and allowed himself a satisfied smile. So, mother, you do know how to worry for your own child. Yet why must you be so venomous toward someone else’s son? Even when that person treats you as his own mother and brings you comfort, you still refuse to let him go.

Now, watching your own son eat the tainted pastry you made, how does it feel?

Meanwhile, Chen Kang took advantage of the moment when Chu Renqing caught the pastry and tried to stuff it into his mouth, breaking free from Chu Renqing’s grip. He immediately reached to pull out the cloth stuffed in his mouth.

But before his hand could reach the cloth, a sharp pain exploded from his kneecap.

With a loud thud, Chen Kang dropped to his knees.

His kneecap—had fractured!

Chu Mu dropped the hem of his robe, his eyes cold and chilling. To cause trouble right under his nose—did Chen Kang have a death wish?

Chu Renqing snapped back to attention and yanked Chen Kang’s arms sharply behind his back. Two sickening cracks echoed in the air, followed by a muffled cry.

Pain twisted Chen Kang’s already ravaged features. His face flushed deep red, veins bulged in his neck, his eyes bulged outward.

Agony!

His arms—his arms had been broken by Qing’er!

“Eldest! Let go!” The old madam’s forehead pulsed with veins.

He couldn’t treat Chen Kang like this—such actions would bring divine retribution.

But Chu Renqing did not let go; instead, at Shen Zhao’s subtle signal, he pulled Chen Kang’s arms even harder.

This time, Chen Kang’s eyes rolled back white, and sweat instantly drenched his clothes. Droplets rolled down his forehead and cheeks.

His arms were utterly ruined.

“Eldest, as your mother I command you to let go of Doctor Chen immediately!” The old madam’s voice trembled.

Shen Zhao saw through everything.

Is that all it takes for you to feel pain, to be unable to endure? The real show is only just beginning.

“Old Madam, the way you speak truly chills my brother’s heart. Do you know what insults Doctor Chen hurled at my brother, to make him hate the man so much? Without asking right or wrong, you scold my brother and order him to release Doctor Chen. Anyone who didn’t know better would think Doctor Chen was dearer to you than your own son.”

Everyone present was stunned, each with their own thoughts.

A cold light flashed in Chu Mu’s eyes. His gaze flicked back and forth between Chu Renqing and Doctor Chen.

Recalling what Ah Zhao had said in Chu Renqing’s room—“If I didn’t know all this, someday the General’s estate and even the Chu family’s property would all end up as your descendants’ wealth”—and remembering the panic on the physician’s face, everything suddenly made sense.

There was a good chance Chu Renqing was not his father’s son, but the child of the venomous woman and this wretched man.

If that was true, her audacity was staggering.

Chu Renqing, however, looked at his younger brother with unwavering resolve. He didn’t know what the youngest intended, but he would support him with all his might. After all, he owed him and his true mother too much.

The old madam, meanwhile, glared venomously at Chen Kang. Was it he who had filled Qing’er’s head with nonsense, provoking him to anger? But Qing’er was upright and honest, never one to make things difficult for others. If Chen Kang had truly lied, Qing’er wouldn’t have treated him this way.

Panic rose in her heart. Could it be—could it be that Chen Kang had told Qing’er the truth about his origins, wanting to acknowledge him as his son?

Damn it! Damn that Chen Kang. If he dared, she would kill him. She and her three children had made it this far—she would let no one destroy what they had now.

Not even if that person was Chen Kang—no, Du Kang!

After composing herself, the old madam said, “Mu’er, Doctor Chen is old and sometimes says foolish things. He must have offended your eldest brother. You should persuade him to let it go. You know what kind of man Doctor Chen is—he’s followed you through thick and thin for years, if not meritorious, then at least hard-working. Can you really bear to see him suffer?”

Shen Zhao feigned disappointment. “Old Madam, Old Madam, both the madam and I were present at the time! It’s not that I’m ungrateful, but Doctor Chen said things worthy of death a thousand times over, things that would ruin my brother’s reputation and get him expelled from the Chu family.”

At these words, the old madam’s heart leaped into her throat, her gaze as sharp as a blade toward Du Kang.

If he dared ruin her children, she would make him wish for death.

“Mu’er, tell your mother what nonsense this old fool spouted,” she demanded.

Shen Zhao pretended to hesitate. “Are you sure you want me to say it, Old Madam? If I do, everything my brother now possesses will be lost—he’ll even be driven from the old Chu manor.”

At that moment, an excited voice came from the doorway.

“Well, Third Brother, out with it! What foolish thing did Eldest do, to end up on the brink of being cast out?”

Second Brother Chu’s face could barely contain his excitement.