Chu Shuo suddenly stood up. "There’s such a show to watch?! Sixth Sister, let’s go quickly!"
Chu Yan interjected, "Second Brother, while Second Uncle is at fault, he has already received the family punishnt and will be sent to the Shenxing Court. That’s enough suffering. We should go and plead for leniency, not just watch the drama."
Chu Shuo clicked his tongue. He went over and put an arm around Chu Yan’s shoulder. "What do we need to plead for? Have you forgotten how he looked down on you all the ti?"
Chu Yan pressed his lips together but firmly said, "We’re still family. I don’t mind."
Chu Shuo knew Chu Yan’s nature. Having lost his mother at a young age made him inclined to please others.
"Sixth Sister, if you plead, Father will surely listen," Chu Yan added.
Nanli refused, "I don’t want to get involved in the elders’ disputes. Fifth Brother, you should not ddle in this matter either."
"But..."
Before Chu Yan could finish, soone else arrived. It was Lady Tian, accompanied by Chu Nanying.
Chu Shuo, always kind to his younger sister, imdiately put on a smile. "Seventh Sister, why are you still up so late?"
Chu Nanying’s face was filled with sorrow, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She rushed over and grabbed Nanli’s sleeve. "Sixth Sister, Uncle is being scolded by Father. Please go and persuade him!"
"Yes, A’Li, please persuade him," Lady Tian said cautiously.
Nanli shot a cold glance at Lady Tian. Matters between elders were not for younger ones to interfere, and considering Seventh Sister’s health, she shouldn’t be up so late.
Lady Tian saw Nanli’s displeasure and whimpered, "A’Li, I really couldn’t handle it anymore, so I brought Ying’er here. Ying’er is indeed frail, but if Second Master suffers any more, she won’t be able to focus on her own health."
Chu Shuo snorted, "If Second Uncle truly cared for Seventh Sister, he wouldn’t have done such a thing."
"Father knows his mistake," Chu Nanying pleaded with tears, "Sixth Sister, he really knows his mistake."
Nanli reluctantly agreed, "Then I’ll go and take a look."
Chu Shuo, feeling displeased, swallowed his dissatisfaction.
Lady Tian was relieved and thought Nanli had agreed to help. "Thank you, A’Li."
Under the cover of night, they arrived at Qiutang Pavilion.
Inside the main room, Chu Hanlin’s furious reprimands could be heard.
Upon the servants’ announcent, Chu Hanlin ceased his scolding and allowed them to enter.
Chu Hanming, having just been punished, was lying on the ground, his wounds still fresh, making his appearance quite pitiful.
Seeing her husband like this, Lady Tian felt both heartache and sha.
"Father!" Chu Nanying cried out as she ran over, "Does it hurt?"
Chu Hanming wanted to cry out in pain but had to keep his tone gentle in front of his stern elder brother. "It doesn’t hurt. Go back."
Chu Nanying, recalling Lady Tian’s teachings, clung tightly to Chu Hanming’s sleeve, refusing to let go. "Daughter will take the punishnt for you. I’m not afraid."
Chu Hanming was touched, his nose growing sore.
However, Chu Hanlin’s face grew colder. "Soone, take Seventh Miss to rest."
"Uncle!" Chu Nanying cried out hoarsely.
Being young, she couldn’t resist the maid’s strength and was soon carried away, her cries fading.
Chu Hanlin, extrely angry, berated Lady Tian as well. "I specifically told you to let Seventh Miss stay at Xianghe Courtyard to avoid upsetting her and worsening her illness. Yet, you didn’t care about her condition at all!"
Chu Shuo nodded in agreent.
Chu Yan, unable to watch any longer, tugged at Chu Shuo’s sleeve.
Lady Tian shrank back, saying, "Elder Brother, Ying’er was just too worried about her father."
She glanced at Nanli, her eyes pleading.
Nanli ignored the look and said to Chu Hanlin, "Father, you may punish him as you see fit. Seventh Sister’s condition has improved a lot. Even if she does fall ill, I can stabilize her with acupuncture."
Chu Shuo gave Nanli a thumbs up.
Chu Yan was stunned.
Lady Tian and Chu Hanming were almost fainting. If you didn’t speak, no one would think you were mute. Why add fuel to the fire?
Chu Hanlin nodded slightly, regaining his composure. "I don’t expect much from you, but I can tolerate you wasting ti. However, I will not tolerate such deceitful behavior."
Chu Hanming looked up, "Elder Brother, Mother has already punished . Are you planning to use family law on as well?"
"If you’re beaten again, your bottom will be ruined!" Chu Hanlin declared decisively. "We will split the family. Tomorrow, you and your wife must move out of the Marquis’s residence!"
Everyone in the room was shocked by this announcent. It essentially ant that Chu Hanming was disowned, and any future troubles he caused would no longer be connected to the Marquis’s residence.
Lady Tian stood there, stunned. After years of enduring as a concubine and finally becoming the principal wife, she had not yet enjoyed the benefits of her new status, only to be cast out?
Chu Hanming quickly said, "Elder Brother, I’ve already received the punishnt. How can you throw out? I’m your own brother! How can you be so unkind?"
"Father, Second Uncle really knows his mistake. Kicking him out of the Marquis’s residence is too harsh a punishnt," Chu Yan pleaded.
"Silence!" Chu Hanlin glared at him, his gaze fierce and warning.
Chu Shuo quickly pulled Chu Yan back and whispered, "Don’t speak. You don’t want Father to be angry with you too."
The head of the family’s decisions were not to be questioned by others.
Chu Yan’s eyes reddened, feeling distressed.
Chu Hanlin continued, "Every ti you cause trouble, I clean up the ss. For so many years, you’ve shown no improvent. I’ve realized that it’s because your mother and I have been too lenient, so you’ve beco arrogant. My mind is made up: you and your wife must move out tomorrow!"
"Elder Brother!" Chu Hanming, knowing his elder brother’s decision was final, tried another approach. "Ying’er is still so young. Can you really bear to have her separated from her mother?"
Lady Tian caught on and nodded. "Ying’er’s illness isn’t completely healed. How can she be moved now?"
"Exactly," Chu Hanlin said. "That’s why she will stay with her grandmother."
Chu Hanming’s eyes widened in fury. "Elder Brother, she is my daughter. How can you separate us?"
"With your temperant, how can you raise her well?" Chu Hanlin’s expression was resolute. "If you say one more word, you’ll get less money. Think carefully!"
Indeed, Chu Hanming and Lady Tian exchanged glances, not daring to say another word.
Chu Hanlin, having made his decision, prepared to leave. He called Nanli over, with his sons following behind.
To his daughter, his anger had dissipated, replaced with a hint of apology. "A’Li, I was too lenient with your Second Uncle before. Fortunately, nothing major happened. If he had lost his life, I wouldn’t have known how to face your grandfather."
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