The beloved daughter of the Houfu is seven years old

Chapter Four: Punished to Kneel at the Ancestral Hall

Shen Qingqiu didn’t know how long she had been unconscious. When she finally opened her eyes, it was already deep into the night.

Madam Liu, seeing her daughter awake, quickly wiped her tears and moved to help her sit up. Shen Qingqiu’s eyes shifted slightly—Chen Mama, upon meeting her gaze, was so frightened that she dared not enter the room. After all, Shen Qingqiu had actually killed someone. What inner-courtyard woman had ever witnessed such a thing? Being scared was only natural.

She turned her gaze back to the tearful Madam Liu and, for once, felt a twinge of guilt. “You… you’re not afraid of me?”

“You little brat! It’s my fault—I didn’t raise you right! How could you do something so daring? What would I do if you died?!” Madam Liu only blamed herself for having spoiled her daughter too much. “How could you dare to kill someone?!”

“I did kill someone. If you’re scared, then go tell Lord Shen to abandon me—”

Before she could finish, Madam Liu gave her a few hard smacks on the butt. Shen Qingqiu, fuming, furrowed her brows. But when she saw the teary apricot eyes of Madam Liu, she couldn’t bring herself to say another word.

“If they really want your life, then I’ll take your place. At worst, I’ll die instead,” Madam Liu said firmly.

Shen Qingqiu felt as if her heart had been scalded by a hot iron. When Madam Liu reached out, she pursed her lips and nestled into her arms.

Chen Mama, seeing the mother and daughter so close, grew anxious and couldn’t help but speak up: “Madam, that girl Zhi’er has gone to the Eldest Madam—she’s definitely gone to tattle. We have to go too! Otherwise, the Eldest Madam, who’s always favored that girl, will turn against us!”

Madam Liu wiped her tears. “And what if we do go? I’m just a lowly concubine. In the Eldest Madam’s eyes, I’m worth less than Zhi’er. I only hope she’ll show mercy to Qingqiu.”

Soon, the punishments for Madam Liu and her daughter were announced. Madam Liu was to kneel in the ancestral hall on the back mountain for two days and three nights for failing to properly raise her child. As for Shen Qingqiu, she was only confined for three days—with no kneeling required.

Madam Liu had been trembling in fear awaiting her sentence, only to find it was far lighter than expected. She was stunned.

“If Song-shi dares to punish me, I dare to take it,” Shen Qingqiu said indifferently.

“Don’t talk like that—it’s disrespectful! She’s your legal mother!” Madam Liu began praying and chanting, “May the ancestors bless us…”

It was just kneeling for a few days. Her lowly life wasn’t worth much anyway. She got up from the ground and called, “Chen Mama, pack my things!”

Chen Mama cautiously peeked in from outside the door and immediately saw the little demon who had killed someone sitting calmly inside.

Those black eyes were staring straight at her. Chen Mama hesitated—should she go in?

“Boo!”

“Sweet heavens!” Shen Qingqiu pulled a scary face, and Chen Mama shrieked and fell to the ground, struggling to get up.

“Stop fooling around! If you keep this up, I’ll spank you!” Madam Liu scolded. She was anxious to serve her punishment, afraid that arriving late would earn her even harsher treatment. “Chen Mama, we’ll stay at the ancestral hall tonight. The earlier we go, the sooner we return.”

Chen Mama gave a hurried response and quickly went inside to pack some clean clothes. Madam Liu turned to Shen Qingqiu and reminded her, “I’ll be gone for a few days. You must behave. If anyone bullies you, endure it until I return…”

“You’re not taking me with you?”

Madam Liu assumed she was just being clingy. “I’m being punished, not going on a pleasure trip.”

“I want to go too,” Shen Qingqiu insisted.

With Madam Liu’s low status in the household, she was easily bullied. If Shen Qingqiu stayed behind, she’d worry.

Madam Liu couldn’t refuse her daughter and couldn’t bear to leave her either, but she knew the family likely wouldn’t allow it. As expected, when they reached the estate gate, Shen Qingqiu was stopped just as she was about to climb into the carriage.

“Madam! Madam! The Eldest Madam said only you are to be punished!” the steward called out.

Shen Qingqiu was halfway through lifting the curtain. Upon hearing that, she poked her head back out and smiled sweetly. “Am I not allowed at the ancestral hall?”

Her innocent gaze landed on the steward, but for some reason, he suddenly remembered the moment she killed Yue Mei—her face cold, stabbing as if it were tofu instead of flesh. She had killed someone, yet in the days that followed, she ate and drank like nothing happened. And she was only seven years old!

“If Steward Shen thinks I can’t go, then carry me back,” she said, arms outstretched, her delicate little face full of innocence.

The steward: …Forget it. He didn’t dare touch this little demon.

“I’ll… I’ll go feed the horses more grain!”

With a cold snort, Shen Qingqiu climbed into the carriage.

When Song-shi received the steward’s report, she didn’t stop Shen Qingqiu from going to the ancestral hall, but her brows furrowed even more deeply. “That concubine really lacks discipline. Once our guest leaves, I’ll have to properly clean up the inner courtyard.”

After two hours of bumpy travel, they finally arrived at the back mountain ancestral hall. Shen Qingqiu, still in her small child’s body, was drowsy from the ride. She didn’t want to walk, stretching out her arms to be carried.

Madam Liu was already exhausted. Chen Mama, after a moment’s hesitation, ended up carrying the little demon herself.

Shen Qingqiu didn’t sleep well. As she turned over, her head landed against Chen Mama’s chest.

With one arm supporting her rear and the other helping Madam Liu, the three of them finally reached the ancestral hall. Since it was punishment, of course Song-shi had sent someone to supervise. Madam Liu knelt respectfully before the ancestral tablets, and since it was still early evening, they each had a bit of flatbread to eat.

Shen Qingqiu had originally planned to stay by Madam Liu’s side the whole time, but she underestimated how sleepy a child’s body could get. When she woke, it was already past midnight.

A dark shadow flashed outside.

She jolted awake.

Next to her, Chen Mama was snoring, fast asleep with her head on her arm.

Suddenly, a cry rang out—

“Who are you?! Let me go! I am a concubine of Lord Shen!”