Chapter 27: The General’s Manor, Young Master Chu

Compared to Xifeng’s worries, Chu Junhan was thoroughly at ease in the General’s Mansion.

“Greetings, Young Master!” An old maid curtsied, and without hesitation, plucked a grape from the table and popped it into her mouth.

The child before her lounged in a high-backed chair, legs crossed, humming a tune, with plates of grapes stacked beside him. His eyes were half-closed in contentment.

Chu Junhan opened his eyes just a sliver, scrutinizing the maid as she chewed the grape.

This was Nurse Zhang, the governess who had disciplined him in his previous life. His mother had trusted her deeply, rewarding her handsomely every time she returned to Pingzhou. Zhang’s sons, too, had risen to minor official posts thanks to his father’s support.

Such a person, having taken all the Chu family offered, had turned traitor! Had Nurse Zhang not tipped off the Liu family in the end, how would the dog emperor have learned that Father’s army had yet to enter Pingzhou?

“Young Master?” The old maid, seeing Chu Junhan ignore her, called out again.

“Who told you to touch anything on my table? Where did this servant come from, so ignorant of proper manners?” Chu Junhan cast her a sidelong glance, his expression full of displeasure.

The maid hurriedly knelt. She had been sent by the Liu family that morning to attend to Chu Junhan, assuming he was just a five-year-old child, never expecting to encounter such a tough character. “Young Master, my hands were rash, I deserve punishment—deserve death!”

“Yes, you certainly deserve death! You know nothing of the distinction between master and servant; you deserve nothing less!”

The old maid was sweating profusely, frightened by the commanding tone of the child before her. With her years of experience, she could usually coax any child into submission. Clearly, Chu Junhan was not an ordinary child.

“Sister Yingdie, what punishment should a dog servant who dares touch the master’s possessions receive?”

Yingdie was startled, unsure which play her young mistress was performing, but answered truthfully, “Born in the Liaozhou military camp, according to camp rules, the penalty is fifty strokes.”

“Then fifty strokes it is.” Chu Junhan casually plucked a grape, tossed it in the air, and caught it in his mouth.

The old maid’s legs buckled, and she collapsed, knocking her forehead against the floor repeatedly. “Young Master, please spare me! My old body couldn’t withstand it. Besides, in Pingzhou the custom is only three days without food!”

Chu Junhan climbed down from his chair, grabbed a bunch of grapes, and circled the kneeling maid, eyes full of disdain, mouth curling into a wicked smile. “Since you serve in the Chu household, you will follow Chu family rules. Drag her away and beat her soundly. Let’s see who dares defy me again!”

“Yes, sir!” Several young attendants, intimidated by Chu Junhan, lowered their heads and dragged the kneeling maid out.

Yingdie shivered at the screams echoing from the courtyard. “Young Master, this could be fatal.”

Fatal? Was the lives of dozens in the Chu family not worth as much? In this life, no one would escape!

She hadn’t yet decided how to punish Nurse Zhang, but this foolish woman, ignorant of danger, had walked right into the blade. Clearly, she was eager to die.

“Let her die, then. The Chu family’s rules must not be broken.” Chu Junhan continued eating grapes, unconcerned.

Yingdie wanted to protest, moved her lips, but could only reply awkwardly, “Yes, Young Master.”

She stared at the insouciant child before her, bewildered. She found it harder and harder to understand her young mistress. Was she born with a cruel disposition?

Not long after, a young attendant ran up to Chu Junhan, head bowed low. “Young Master, the maid... she’s dead.”