Chapter 61: Seizing the Crown Prince
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
In a moment of deep reflection, Madam Xu contemplated the situation with a serene composure, emanating an air of innate kindness. Addressing Miss Su, she said, “Given the esteemed stature of your family, Miss Su, I see no need to be harsh. The hasty decisions of my husband have led us to this juncture, and although the past cannot be undone, we must look forward. To simply make you a concubine would not befit the dignity of the Marquis Mansion and would display ingratitude. Therefore, I propose to elevate you to the status of a legitimate wife, equal to me.” After pausing thoughtfully, Madam Xu added with concern, “However, as you are aware, my husband is currently consolidating his power within the royal court. It would be imprudent to stir scandal at this moment. I know him well, and he would not endorse this now. Let us keep this arrangement confidential within our estate. You will be treated as a legitimate wife, and once his position is secure, your formal recognition will be celebrated magnificently.”
Su Zhi Qing responded with a profound bow, her voice filled with gratitude, “Thank you, Madam, for your generosity. I am prepared to serve in any capacity required, even as a slave or maid, to express my gratitude.”
However, internally, she was startled by the unexpected offer, deeming Madam Xu’s plan somewhat naive.
“There’s no need for you to demean yourself as a slave or maid. After all, you saved the life of Zheng Yue, which holds as much value to me as my own life,” Madam Xu reassured her. She then instructed her maids, “Please help Miss Su gather her belongings and move them to the vacant courtyard, which will henceforth be known as Qingping Courtyard.” Addressing Su Zhi Qing again, she continued, “You won’t need assigned maids. Visit the accounting office and withdraw three hundred taels of silver to furnish your new quarters and hire servants as you see fit.”
With a shy acknowledgment, Su Zhi Qing appreciated the significant promise made to her. She knew well the preferences of Lord Yuan Ze and looked forward to her future elevation to legitimate wife status, pending his approval.
After Su Zhi Qing departed, the warmth faded from Madam Xu’s smile.
“Madam, she continually expressed her thanks as she left,” Deng Zhi mentioned, his voice carrying a light chuckle.
“For now, let’s keep her true status concealed. Within the mansion, she should be accorded the respect due to a legitimate wife, as I’ve stated,” Madam Xu declared, intending to leverage this situation in her ongoing rivalry with Pei Jiao Jiao.
Subsequently, Madam Xu withdrew into seclusion, claiming illness as her reason.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao sat contemplatively in front of a small box, placing inside it a jade pendant gifted by the king, and remarked sarcastically, “The king is quite parsimonious. What use is a jade pendant when it cannot be enjoyed like a chicken leg?”
Unbeknownst to her, the pendant was more than an ornamental piece; it was a symbol of royal authority, highly coveted for its influence and prestige.
As she finished her day’s chores, her thoughts drifted to the young crown prince’s welfare. “I wonder how the little crown prince is faring…” she pondered, her mind wandering to the royal child.
In the tale’s original unfolding, the young prince had become weak after spending an entire night caring for the dowager, leaving him vulnerable to a malevolent spirit. Yet, the narrative shifted when the dowager was diagnosed with the plague due to her intervention.
“Could it be that he has averted disaster?” Lu Chao Chao mused, leisurely sipping from her milk bottle, blissfully unaware of the gravity of the situation unfolding around her.
That afternoon, as Lu Zheng Yue visited Madam Xu’s quarters, the city outside buzzed with the excitement of the Laba Festival.
Clasping her brother’s hand, Lu Chao Chao eagerly pleaded, “Please, Second Brother, can we go to the festival?”
In a playful tone, Lu Zheng Yue asked, “And what would you offer me in return?”
With dramatic flair, the little girl knelt, her bow resonating in the room, “Thud, thud, thud…”
Lu Zheng Yue couldn’t help but laugh, moved by her sincerity. “Your cuteness is shortening my lifespan,” he joked, lifting her up. “Alright, I’ll take you, but you must promise to behave. If not, this will be our last outing.”
With a nod of agreement, her face lit up with excitement.
As they were about to leave, they encountered Su Zhi Qing exiting Lord Yuan Ze’s study.
Su Zhi Qing looked radiant yet momentarily taken aback by Lu Zheng Yue’s intense gaze.
It was then that Lu Chao Chao exclaimed innocently, “Little… little mother!” catching both Lu Zheng Yue and Su Zhi Qing by surprise.
Realizing the truth in his sister’s words—that Su Zhi Qing was indeed his father’s consort, meriting the title “little mother”—Lu Zheng Yue addressed her as such, his voice thick with emotion, before departing with teary eyes.
Stunned, Su Zhi Qing remained motionless. From then on, she was known as “Little Mother” within the household, solidifying her position.
Once out of sight, Lu Zheng Yue said to his sister, “Chao Chao, the real drama is yet to start.”
With Lu Chao Chao in tow, he moved through the bustling streets, her charming innocence drawing many admiring glances.
“That’s my second sister-in-law, my second sister-in-law!” Chao Chao thought excitedly.
“Quick, look!” she exclaimed.
“That’s my brother’s officially betrothed, Sister Wen Ning!” she thought internally.
His eyes followed her pointing finger to a carriage bearing the Wen family crest.
“The Wen family has returned to the capital?” he mused, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
He had fond memories of Wen Ning, once affectionately calling him “Brother Zheng Yue.” Now, as he observed, a young woman’s slim, graceful hands emerged from the carriage, her lips curving into a delicate smile, her eyes sparkling like stars.
“Ah, that’s my future sister-in-law!”
“Oh, foolish Second Brother, why don’t you approach her? My sister-in-law has returned to the capital!”
“Second Brother, you’re such a fool, a complete fool! Sister-in-law has always had feelings for you since childhood, and yet you threatened to use your own life as leverage to end your engagement with Sister Wen Ning! And after that…”
“After that, the story took a tragic turn when the heroine betrayed our mother, leading to our family being arrested and sentenced to death. Sister Wen Ning tried desperately to save us but ended up implicating her own family…”
“She was ambushed in an alley and… oh, how terrible…”
“Sister Wen Ning was found lifeless and exposed naked in that alley…” Lu Chao Chao’s eyes filled with tears, her narration leaving Lu Zheng Yue visibly shaken.
A wave of sadness washed over Lu Zheng Yue.
“Wen Ning, Wen Ning, she…”
Seeing Wen Ning so vibrant, yet knowing the cruel fate awaiting her, overwhelmed him with emotion.
“Ah, ah, ah, why are you running away, Second Brother?” Lu Chao Chao, puzzled and distressed, watched as her brother moved away and hid from sight.
“Sec… second sister-in-law!” she called out innocently.
Lu Zheng Yue corrected her softly, “Chao Chao, that’s not your second sister-in-law. I don’t deserve her,” he said quietly, gently patting her head. Despite her youth, Chao Chao had recognized Wen Ning from her portraits.
Chao Chao looked puzzled, not fully grasping his words.
“Wen Ning is a kind-hearted girl. I don’t deserve her; she deserves someone far better,” Lu Zheng Yue said, his voice heavy with regret as he watched Wen Ning from afar.
As they spoke, a servant hurried towards them, breathless. “Second Young Master, I’ve been searching everywhere for you. Please hurry; the eldest young master has gone to the Eastern Palace and has requested Ms. Chao Chao’s presence immediately,” the servant explained, his face flushed from exertion.
“Ah, is the little crown prince in trouble again?” Lu Chao Chao wondered internally. Despite the earlier events, it seemed their destinies were intertwined with the crown prince’s fate.
Lu Zheng Yue felt uneasy hearing this.
Without fully understanding what awaited them, they quickly made their way to the Eastern Palace, where the atmosphere was unusually chaotic and unguarded.
“What’s happening?” Lu Zheng Yue asked a servant anxiously.
“The crown prince… he fell into the water. Upon awakening, it appeared as though his soul was missing…” the servant recounted, his voice trembling with fear.
Upon their arrival, they found Lu Yan Shu in a wheelchair, his expression grave. He immediately took Chao Chao into his care.
Having been close to the crown prince recently, Lu Yan Shu had a firsthand account of the incident. The crown prince, after regaining consciousness, seemed to be caught in an internal struggle as if his body were a battleground for two souls.
“Don’t worry, Chao Chao. The crown prince has specifically asked for you,” Lu Yan Shu reassured her, his concern palpable amid the tense situation.
For reasons unknown, the crown prince had urgently requested Chao Chao’s presence, leaving Lu Yan Shu no choice but to bring her.
“Oh dear, the crown prince is struggling. If he loses this battle, it could be his end…” Lu Chao Chao thought, sipping her milk, unaware of the worry etched on her brothers’ faces.
I like how this mc so detached like watching drama