With that, she suddenly rose again and bowed to Jiang Wanrong, who had also been listening in a daze nearby.
The gesture frightened Jiang Wanrong so much that she dropped to her knees on the spot.
"Your Majesty, this is far too great an honor for me."
Wu Qingyuan completed her bow with steady solemnity before slowly straightening and helping Jiang Wanrong to her feet.
"Child, this bow... is not from Empress Dowager Wu Qingyuan, but from a mother who has wronged you.
They say an eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. This is a bow the Chu Family owes you."
"Your Majesty... you needn't do this."
After hearing the Grand Princess's story and looking at Wu Qingyuan before her now, Jiang Wanrong felt most of the resentment in her heart melt away.
Every grievance had its source, every debt its debtor. The one she ought to hate was Chu Zhaohua.
But what could she hold against a woman who survived on hatred alone?
Chu Lange was at an age prone to sentimentality. Once she had heard the story, her eyes brimmed with tears, and she burst into sobs.
"Boohoo... grandaunt may be quite bad, but she's so pitiful too!"
Beside her, Little Wukong seemed to understand only half of it. He could not help tugging at Chu Youning's sleeve. "Aunt... is this what the Tutor meant when he said every hateful person must have something pitiful about them?"
Seeing how silent everyone had become, Chu Youning drew a long breath. She reached out and pinched Little Wukong's cheeks, making her voice sound a little brighter:
"Well done, you little rascal. Looks like being cooped up in the palace to study has done you some good. You finally said something right."
"But Aunty... you're gonna pinch my face all crooked."