On the second floor, in Mr Chu's room, the old man lay seriously ill and bedridden, yet he remained aware of everything happening in his home.
This included the theft case involving Chu Ci and Meng Yuxin.
Mr. Chu turned to the butler beside him and asked, "What do you think of Chu Ci?"
The old butler was thin with grey hair, had regular features, and wore a neat and respectable suit. His kind and gentle face resembled that of a gentleman, and at first glance, he appeared more like a knowledgeable scholar than a butler.
Despite being an old servant who had served Mr. Chu for forty years, he was more trusted by Mr. Chu than several of the Chu family's children.
The old butler appeared very gentlemanly and elegant. He didn't speak much but carried out Mr. Chu's orders without hesitation.
"I wouldn't dare to make a casual comment."
"Don't worry; just speak frankly. There's no need to hold back. Based on the past week we've spent together, what do you think of her? Does she deserve a share of my inheritance?"
Old Master Chu insisted on hearing the old butler's opinion.
He had two sons and a daughter, all eager for a share of his inheritance, yet he was uninterested in their opinions. Instead, he valued the old servant's insights.
The old butler paused for a moment before responding, "Miss Chu Ci bears a strong resemblance to the late Madam, but her personality is entirely different. It seems that her troubled past has influenced her, leading her to adopt a rebellious attitude. However, with proper guidance, she has the potential to change. After all, she is the descendant of Master and Madam, which gives her a strong foundation."
"But I don't have the time to wait for her to change," Old Master Chu sighed, expressing regret over not bringing Chu Ci back sooner.
If Mr. Huo refused to treat him, he would only have two months left.
"Master, please don't blame yourself," the butler replied. "This is a scandal involving the Chu family, and it was wise of you to keep it a secret."
Old Master Chu looked worried. "Yuheng and Qingyan may not treat her well, but she is my granddaughter, after all, and I must think about her future."
A dying man's words are often filled with kindness. Since Old Master Chu has become seriously ill, he has reflected on many things from the past, and his feelings of guilt and pity for his granddaughter, Chu Ci, have become increasingly evident.
"Master, are you suggesting you want to leave property to Miss Chu Ci?" the old housekeeper asked, having served Old Master Chu for many years and immediately grasping his intention.
Old Master Chu nodded. "Not only that, but I also plan to give her even more as a form of compensation from the Chu family to her, and for..."
Old Master Chu suddenly stopped speaking in the middle of his sentence, as if he had remembered someone.
The old housekeeper knew that Old Master Chu was thinking about that person again. Since he fell seriously ill, the master often reminisced about them.
After a pause, Old Master Chu addressed Old Guanjian, saying, "Yuheng and Qingyan handled this theft poorly. Chu Ci's surname is Chu, while Meng Yuxin's surname is Meng. We must make clear who is related and who is not."
Regardless of any shortcomings, Chu Ci is still the old master's legitimate granddaughter. No matter how refined Meng Yuxin appears, how long she has been with the Chu family, or how well she has been raised, she has no blood relation to the old master.
"I understand the master's intentions. I will find an opportunity to punish the second young master and his wife."