The Wealthy Eldest Sister Rules Supreme

Chapter 661: Extra Chapter—Father’s Kindness and Filial Piety of a Son

With each autumn rain comes the chilly cold.

The autumn in the capital city seems to arrive overnight.

The northwest wind suddenly picks up, mixed with rain as fine as ox hair, it continuously patters down for two whole days.

By the time the sky clears, people have already dressed in thick clothing. Those who are afraid of the cold even put on light padded jackets. Because Hang Xueyun is sensitive to cold, the King of Qi ordered the underfloor heating to be lit early.

Fearing that the smell of charcoal in the house would be strong, he has fresh flowers arranged all over. With the warmth, Hang Xueyun’s room is just like a sea of flowers, the fragrant smell refreshing the heart and mind.

Ever since Mrs Ruo was dismissed from the Qi palace out of desolation, and died from a severe illness, Hang Xueyun completely replaced her position, and monopolized the King of Qi’s affection.

The King of Qi is as constant as iron, yet his princesses change like flowing water.

Not to mention in King Qi’s palace, even the whole capital city has become accustomed to this and sees it as normal.

Only one person could not adapt, Chu Jinzhuo.

Even at the mere mention of the King of Qi’s affection for Hang Xueyun, he clenches his teeth in intense hatred.

But now, even with such intense hatred, he has no power to change anything.

Because Mrs Ruo tried to poison the King of Qi and Hang Xueyun, the King of Qi has come to have a strong aversion to him. Even though Chu Jinzhuo is now eighteen years old, the King has not sought a position for him, nor does he bother to arrange a marriage.

The situation is such that Chu Jinzhuo is only being kept in the house, left to fend for himself.

Chu Jinzhuo, thinking of this, crushes another half of the teacup in his hand.

“Second young master…” The surrounding servant sees the fresh blood seeping from between Chu Jinzhuo’s clenched fingers and turns pale.

“It’s nothing.” Chu Jinzhuo keeps a straight face. After releasing his grip, he simply wraps his hand with a handkerchief from the side.

The pain in his heart has long numbed him, this pain on his hand is nothing in comparison.

“I haven’t greeted my father in a long time, and now that he is having dinner at home, I should pay him a visit.” Chu Jinzhuo stands up, “Just so happens that I bought some crab cakes when I came back from outside, they seem to be what Concubine Hang likes. I might as well bring them to her.”

“Even though my father doesn’t favour me as a son, he is still my father after all, I still need to fulfil my filial duty.”

The servant purses his lips, picks up the food box, and follows Chu Jinzhuo.

They arrived at the courtyard where Hang Xueyun was, at this time the King of Qi was having dinner with her.

Knowing that Chu Jinzhuo came to pay respects, the King of Qi’s face was filled with displeasure, “Why did he come?”

“Reporting to the King, the second young master said he knew that Concubine Hang likes crab cakes, so he bought some from outside. He also realized that he hasn’t paid his respects to the king in a long time and came to express his filial piety.”

Whether he expresses filial piety or not, the King of Qi is indifferent.

But hearing that Chu Jinzhuo brought Hang Xueyun’s favorite crab cakes, his expression eased a lot, “Let him come in.”

Chu Jinzhuo enters the room with his head lowered, carrying the food box, “Father, Concubine Hang.”

“I know that Concubine Hang likes crab cakes, especially bought her some, I hope you will not be offended.”

Chu Jinzhuo takes the plate out of the food box and presents it with both hands.

A maidservant at the side took it and placed it on the table next to the King of Qi.

The crab cakes looked appealing in sight, smell, and taste, so much so that it made people salivate.

However…

Previously, Mrs Ruo also sent over food in such a pleasing manner, and as a result, he and Hang Xueyun almost lost their lives.

The King of Qi squinted his eyes and casually picked a piece from the plate of crab cakes, passing it to Chu Jinzhuo, “You’re so filial, I couldn’t possibly fail to reward you. Try a piece of the crab cake.”

“Thank you, Father.” Chu Jinzhuo chuckled, putting a crab cake into his mouth and taking a bite, “It really tastes incredible.”

Then he swallowed the remaining pieces of the crab cake, still unsatiated, “Father, could you give me another one?”

The King of Qi glanced at Chu Jinzhuo, gave him another crab cake, then picked one up and placed it near Hang Xueyun’s lips, “You have a taste too.”

Hang Xueyun hummed in agreement, accepted it, took a bite and smiled meekly, passing another piece to the King of Qi’s hand.

The crab cakes were delicious, and their spirits buoyed with delight as they ate two or three of them in succession.

When he felt a little satiated and wanted to take a gulp of sour bamboo and old duck soup, the King of Qi suddenly felt a pain in his abdomen as if he was being stabbed with a knife.

That kind of pain, the King of Qi recognized quite clearly, it was exactly the same as the time when Mrs. Ruo had poisoned him before.

At this moment, Hang Xueyun, unable to hold on, vomited a mouthful of black blood and fainted on the spot.

“Treasonous son…” With great effort, the King of Qi managed to curse Chu Jinzhuo.

“Just a case of a loving father and a filial son.” Chu Jinzhuo’s lips curled into a faint smile.

At this moment, he could hardly stand, his body swaying and tottering. He had to lean against the wall for support. Black blood had seeped from between his clenched teeth and was trickling out the corner of his mouth.

Clearly, Chu Jinzhuo had poisoned the crab cakes and from the beginning planned to take everyone down with him.

The King of Qi collapsed on the ground, looking at Chu Jinzhuo who had also fallen, a deep hatred welled up within him.

Poisonous wretch, treacherous son!

If he had known earlier that both he and his mother were duplicitous, he would never have allowed Mrs. Ruo into his household!

If he had known earlier…

The King of Qi stared wide-eyed, his mouth gaping open.

The event was too sudden, and the servants took a long time to recover from their shock and began wailing and shouting.

The King of Qi’s household was immediately in turmoil.

This matter, of course, damaged the royal family’s dignity. The truth of Chu Jinzhuo poisoning the King of Qi and concubine Hang was suppressed by Chu Shengrui. To the public, it was said that the King of Qi had come down with a sudden illness which he had unwittingly transmitted to Hang Xueyun and Chu Jinzhuo, leading to their untimely deaths.

The death of the King of Qi was anything but honorable. Over the years, he had made no significant contributions to the kingdom, and he often found himself embroiled in various troubles. Given his appalling reputation and the straitened circumstances of the state treasury, Chu Shengrui took the decision to conduct a modest funeral, using the Empress’s cannot bear to see white-haired send-off black-haired as an excuse.

Chu Jinnian and Zhuang Qingning, along with their two children, rushed back to the capital through the night to handle the funeral arrangements.

Because the funeral was simplified, the arrangements were much easier. After mourning for seven days, they were buried.

Three weeks later, Chu Jinnian, Zhuang Qingning, and their two children went to the tombs to pay their respects.

From afar, they saw Chu Jinzhou standing in front of the tomb, with offerings arranged neatly in front of him and traces of burnt paper money at his feet.

Chu Jinnian didn’t say anything. He simply walked up to him and patted Chu Jinzhou on the shoulder.

“Big brother.” Chu Jinzhou snapped back to reality, a bitter smile on his lips, “I just couldn’t resist coming to see him one more time.”

Even though he never admitted to being his father.

Even though he had always wanted him dead.

But to him, this man was his biological father after all…

Yes, his biological father.

Although no one had ever spelled it out to him, from the bits and pieces he’d picked up from others, Chu Jinzhou had a pretty good idea about it.