Chapter 52 Ah Zhao Is Also Your Daughter

“Zhao Zhao, do you really need your mother to kneel and beg you before you’ll let General Chu release Meng Meng?” Chu Mu could see clearly the shifting expressions on Lady Shen’s face.

How could she have the face to be disappointed in A Zhao?

Seeing that Chu Mu’s expression was growing colder and colder, Lady Shen’s resentment deepened. Zhao Zhao was just being too unreasonable. She, as a mother, had already humbled herself to this extent to beg her, yet Zhao Zhao remained unmoved, even showing her a cold face. Gritting her teeth, Lady Shen said, “Fine, fine, fine… I’ll kneel for you, I’ll kneel… I beg you, please ask General Chu to let Qian Meng go…”

As she spoke, Lady Shen made to kneel before Chu Mu.

Shen Zhao immediately stopped her, a deep ache grinding in her heart. “Enough! Lady Shen, do you want to drive my lady to her death?” Shen Zhao’s furious shout rang out.

She was her daughter too. For Shen Qian Meng, she was willing to do anything—even kneel before her. But did she not know that a mother kneeling to her daughter was a violation of all that was right and natural? No matter the reason, if word got out, it would be Shen Zhao who would be condemned by all.

It would be Shen Zhao who would be roasted over the coals by public censure!

Did she ever consider her as her daughter at all? Even for a single moment?

Suddenly, Shen Zhao threw Shen Qian Meng to the ground and carefully picked up Zisu in her arms. Step by step, she walked toward Lady Shen, gazing into her mother’s flustered eyes.

Using Chu Mu’s body, she voiced what she had kept buried in her heart for so many years: “To Lady Shen, is Shen Qian Meng your only daughter? Isn’t Shen Zhao your daughter as well?

Why is it that in your eyes, there is only Shen Qian Meng, and never Shen Zhao? No matter who is right or wrong, in Lady Shen’s eyes, it is always Shen Zhao who is to blame. Why, Lady Shen? Why do you never see Shen Zhao’s grievances?

Why can’t you protect Shen Zhao, even just once, just once would be enough!”

Lady Shen instinctively replied, “Zhao Zhao is the elder sister, she has her father and brothers doting on her. My Meng Meng has only me…”

That phrase again! Every time Shen Qian Meng tormented her, her mother would ask her to yield to Meng Meng. The reason was always the father and brothers’ favoritism, while her mother, though not saying it aloud, resented her for taking away the love they could have given to Shen Qian Meng.

But she had never taken anything, never spoken ill of Shen Qian Meng before their father and brothers.

It was Shen Qian Meng’s own actions over the years that had disappointed them. Their love for her was no less than for themselves, only their disappointment in Qian Meng.

But as for her mother, she always believed her precious Meng Meng deserved to be adored by all. If others did not revolve around Qian Meng, then her Meng Meng was wronged.

All her mother’s heart was tilted toward Qian Meng, never remembering that she, too, was her daughter.

Shen Zhao took a deep breath. “Lady Shen, if you kneel to A Zhao today, have you considered the consequences? Have you thought about how the world would revile her?

It doesn’t matter if you dislike her, but as her mother, how can you knowingly bring her harm? Even a tiger knows not to eat its own cubs. Don’t you know to protect your own child? Must you ruin A Zhao’s reputation and leave her to be scorned by the world?”

“I… I’m not trying to harm A Zhao… I just… I only want you to let Qian Meng go…” Lady Shen’s eyes darted away.

She grabbed Chu Mu’s hand. “Zhao Zhao… Mother never wanted to hurt you or ruin your reputation, never wanted you to be condemned. You and Meng Meng are both my children, I can’t bear to see either of you come to harm.

Everything I do is for the good of you sisters. You are sisters by blood—how could there ever truly be hatred between you? Zhao Zhao, don’t misunderstand your mother’s intentions.” Lady Shen spoke through tears.

“Today, Meng Meng only came to Jinyu Pavilion to take a few sets of ornaments. Before it was given to you as dowry, Jinyu Pavilion was a Shen family business. Now it’s yours. When your father and brothers had their troubles, the family property was confiscated, and Meng Meng got nothing. She lives with two other county princesses in the residence granted by Her Majesty the Empress.

Those two have family backing, but Meng Meng relies only on herself. Her pride won’t let her be outdone. In a few days, she must pay respects to the Empress, and she doesn’t even have a decent set of jewelry to wear.

You and she are sisters; you can’t refuse to help her and let outsiders look down on the daughters of the Shen family!”

Her gaze turned unfriendly to Zisu in Shen Zhao’s arms. “It’s this wretched servant’s fault, always defying Meng Meng. Meng Meng only took five sets of ornaments and a dozen gold hairpins, but this servant dared ask her for money.

This is our Shen family’s shop! If Meng Meng takes something from her own family’s shop, what money is there to pay? If it weren’t for this wretch infuriating Meng Meng, how would Meng Meng have made a scene at Jinyu Pavilion or blamed you and raised a hand against you?”

Chu Mu shook off Lady Shen’s hand.

“So, in your eyes, Shen Qian Meng is entirely blameless, is she?”

Lady Shen nodded. “Zhao Zhao, what fault does Meng Meng have? For your father and brothers’ sake, you should not treat her like this.”

Chu Mu looked at A Zhao. Though he longed to rebuke Lady Shen, she was, after all, A Zhao’s mother. This matter must ultimately be decided by A Zhao.

At the mention of her father and brothers, Shen Zhao’s face changed abruptly, and hatred for Shen Qian Meng flared in her heart.

Back when her father and brothers were exiled, Shen Qian Meng, that traitor to her own family, was indispensable in their downfall.

If she hadn’t stolen her father’s seal, how could the crown prince and Pang Qingyun have so easily brought him down?

How could they have fabricated evidence that her father embezzled military provisions?

“Lady Shen, for the sake of General Shen and his sons, even Shen Qian Meng’s death would not suffice to avenge them!

When disaster befell General Shen and his sons, do you truly not know why?”

Lady Shen glared at Shen Zhao. “General Chu, don’t you dare slander my daughter. Don’t think I don’t know what’s in your heart. You’re Zhao Zhao’s husband, yet your heart is set on an orphan girl. Where does that leave Zhao Zhao?

Now you’re holding that wretched servant—do you take Zhao Zhao as your wife at all?

As for my husband’s misfortune, it has nothing to do with Meng Meng. If only he hadn’t been so stubborn, Meng Meng wouldn’t have been caught in the middle. How could Meng Meng have done wrong?

Meng Meng is the Empress’s adopted daughter. My husband lost his head, insisted on opposing the crown prince—did he ever consider how Meng Meng was to conduct herself before the Empress?

Now Meng Meng racks her brains day after day to please the Empress, working so hard—what is it all for? Isn’t it to save her father and brothers?

Even after being treated so poorly, she still remains pure of heart and devoted to them…”

“Enough, Lady Shen! You and she know perfectly well why Shen Qian Meng seeks the Empress’s favor. If she truly wished to aid General Shen and his sons, she would never have allowed herself to be used as a weapon to betray those closest to her.

Stop painting Shen Qian Meng as a paragon of virtue. She is unworthy!

From now on, bury these words in your heart, never speak them to outsiders. Others would only laugh at you, and above all, never speak them to General Shen and his sons.

They would only be heartbroken. Shen Qian Meng did so much to help the Empress and crown prince—if she lacks anything, why not ask them? Why come to Zhao Zhao?

And this is A Zhao’s business. If Shen Qian Meng takes anything, she must pay for it. If she doesn’t, it’s theft. Lady Shen, please take your precious daughter and leave Jinyu Pavilion—you are not welcome here.”

With these words, Shen Zhao no longer looked at her mother. If her father and brothers heard what her mother had just said, how heartbroken would they be?

Clutching Zisu tightly in her arms, Shen Zhao dared not linger any longer.

She hurried out of Jinyu Pavilion.