Chapter 261: The Officials’ Protest
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
In the grand hall of the palace, the first prince sat quietly, his head bowed in a mix of confusion and sorrow. He struggled to understand his recent misfortunes. His father, the king, had once been deeply devoted to his mother, the beloved Consort Hui. Yet, without warning, she was exiled from the palace and now lived in isolation, her only company the flickering light of oil lamps and the dusty pages of ancient scriptures. She was forbidden from having any visitors.
The consorts who had been close to her were similarly banished to remote corners of the cold palace. Despite many pleas for leniency, the king refused even to look his son in the eyes and further punished him by assigning him a desolate, distant city as his fief, barring him from ever returning to the capital.
A shadow crossed the first prince’s face as his expression turned somber. Xuan Yin, seated beside him, gently tugged his sleeve. “His Majesty is watching,” she whispered urgently.
The first prince shot her a cold glare that made her shrink back and lower her head in silence.
At the other end of the hall, the dowager and Xie Yu Zhou presided over the festivities. Laughter and conversation filled the space as officials and nobles enjoyed the banquet.
“Sunshine, come here to Grandmother,” the dowager called to Princess Sunshine, who approached after the guests had given their birthday wishes.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao, ever the curious toddler, set down her milk bottle and toddled towards the dowager with unsteady steps.
“Little one, you haven’t wished Grandmother a happy birthday yet,” the dowager said playfully.
“Mother, please,” the king interrupted with a sigh, “after only two months at school, she’s had the royal physician called several times.”
“The tutors, despite their multilingual skills, have resorted to pantomime!” he added, his voice tinged with exasperation.
The dowager laughed, “Can you believe this little one has driven her tutors to such lengths?”
“She’s not just any child,” the king corrected gently.
“She’s more like a baby dragon,” Prime Minister Yuan muttered under his breath, his eyelid twitching as he glanced at Chao Chao.
The little girl, with her hands clasped behind her back and big, innocent eyes blinking, protested in her babyish voice, “Chao Chao no dragon, Chao Chao good, Chao Chao best. Chao Chao nice dragon?”
The dowager’s laughter filled the room. “Yes, yes, Chao Chao is the best. Grandmother loves Chao Chao most…”
Xie Yu Zhou’s lips trembled in a silent pout. [Grandmother, I’m no longer your favorite.]
“Grandma, Chao Chao love you lots. Grandma live long, long time…” Chao Chao murmured, pulling out two longevity talismans from her tiny pocket.
The king’s eyes brightened at the sight.
“Chao Chao, King Daddy loves you too,” he said, his tone filled with meaning.
Chao Chao responded dismissively, “Love, love, Chao Chao love you too.”
Yet, she held onto the talismans, not offering one.
The king’s expression fell slightly. [Little one, can’t you see I’m hinting for one?]
“Why isn’t Marquis Yuan Ze here today?” Xie Yu Zhou asked, having hoped to see Lu Jing Yao at the celebration.
Chao Chao tilted her head, “He mad, stay bed.”
The king then announced, “Today is doubly joyous. The head abbot’s sight has miraculously returned!”
The dowager gasped, “What a blessing! Amitabha. His blindness was a mystery, and so is his recovery. Truly, a sign of divine favor for North Zhao.”
Chao Chao playfully stuck out her tongue at Xie Yu Zhou, who turned his head away, pretending to be annoyed.
Sniffing the air, Chao Chao caught the sweet scent of osmanthus.
“King Daddy, what’s that?” she pointed at a jug on the table, her voice full of curiosity.
“That’s osmanthus wine, not for children. It might make you silly,” the king explained with a gentle smile.
“Osmanthus wine? What taste?” Chao Chao asked, her curiosity piqued. [It smells so yummy, better than osmanthus cake.]
The king considered her question, “It’s spicy and refreshing, yet sweet after the initial taste.”
Nearby, the sixth prince met her gaze, sharing a moment of mutual curiosity.
[Sweet, like the honey we had last time?]
The banquet buzzed with energy as officials clinked their glasses and the king offered warm smiles to his guests. Amid the celebration, Xie Yu Zhou, ever the opportunist, discreetly snagged a bottle of osmanthus wine from the table when no one was watching.
“Osmanthus wine is very sweet. Want to try? If you call me big brother, I’ll let you have a taste,” he added, his voice tinged with mischief. Recalling his own first sip of fruit wine, which was unexpectedly spicy and left him groggy, he couldn’t help but smirk at the memory.
Chao Chao pondered briefly. Xie Yu Zhou, with his pitiable resemblance to his father, seemed worthy of forgiveness, especially since he was offering her something as intriguing as fruit wine.
“Brother Yu Zhou…” she cooed, her voice sweet and endearing, striking a sharp contrast to the mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
Xie Yu Zhou couldn’t help but soften. Contrary to what Lu Jing Yao had said about her, Chao Chao was undeniably adorable. [Maybe she’s not as troublesome as he made her out to be,] he thought, watching her with newfound curiosity.
The trio of children—Chao Chao, Xie Yu Zhou, and the sixth prince—scurried under the table, creating their own little world away from the adult festivities above. Underneath, Xie Yu Zhou managed to pour a cup of the stolen wine.
Imitating the gruff voices of the adults, Chao Chao commanded, “Fill it up, fill it up!”
The sixth prince nodded solemnly, playing along.
Xie Yu Zhou carefully poured the wine, managing to fill only one cup.
“It smells so good. The adults always hide the best things from us,” Chao Chao complained, her lips pouting slightly in mock indignation.
She cautiously lifted the cup, her tiny nose sniffing at the fragrant liquid. The clear osmanthus wine seemed almost magical in its allure.
“Wait, I’ll dip a chopstick in it for you to taste…” Xie Yu Zhou suggested, trying to be responsible.
“Down it in one gulp, if you’re really brave!” the sixth prince challenged, mimicking the adults even further.
“No, no, if we get drunk, we’ll be in big trouble. Let’s just taste it with a chopstick first…” Xie Yu Zhou, a bit fearful of the consequences, insisted.
Reluctantly agreeing, he dipped a chopstick in the wine and offered it to Chao Chao.
The translucent drop of osmanthus wine hung precariously on the chopstick, catching the light and making Chao Chao’s eyes sparkle with excitement.
“Don’t let it drop…”
Chao Chao eagerly caught the drop with her mouth.
“Cough, cough, cough…” The taste was not at all what she expected; instead of sweetness, it burned her mouth, sending a shock of spiciness through her. Her cheeks flushed red as the heat spread.
Before she could spit it out, she had swallowed it.
“Hiss… It’s so spicy…” Chao Chao exclaimed, her little face contorted in discomfort, feeling as if her cheeks were on fire.
“It’s not good, it’s not good, Brother Yu Zhou, you tricked us!” the sixth prince cried out, his eyes watering from the spice, tears streaming down his face.
“Brother Yu Zhou, you’re shaking. Sit still. You’re making me dizzy…” Chao Chao complained, her voice slurred slightly as she stared at Xie Yu Zhou’s face, which seemed to spin.
Seeing her flushed cheeks and tipsy demeanor from just a drop, Xie Yu Zhou decided not to let her have any more.
“You got drunk on just a drop…” Xie Yu Zhou muttered in disbelief, watching the little girl sway slightly.
Unbeknownst to them, trouble was indeed brewing.
“My tummy is hot, my face is hot… You lied, you lied, it’s not sweet at all,” Chao Chao whined, her voice wobbly.
“It’s spicy… so spicy…” she muttered, her expression dazed, resembling someone mildly intoxicated.
Meanwhile, back at the banquet, the atmosphere had shifted dramatically.
The king’s face darkened as he looked down at Lu Yan Shu, who knelt before him.
“Lu Yan Shu passed the highest royal exams at twenty and has been an excellent teacher to the crown prince. What’s the problem?” the king questioned, clearly not anticipating such strong opposition from the officials.
Xie Cheng Xi, standing respectfully at the front of the hall, spoke up. “Father, I’ve been studying under Lord Yan Shu and finds his teachings impeccable,” the crown prince declared, his gaze sweeping across the avoiding eyes of the officials.
Madam Xu clenched her fists, her sharp mind piecing together the underlying issues – the root of the controversy lay within herself, not her children!
Sure, her eldest son had aced the highest royal exams. Her second son was earning a reputation in the military with his achievements. Her third son, Lu Yuan Xiao, might not be as naturally gifted as his eldest brother, but he was diligent and committed.
Her youngest daughter, Lu Chao Chao, was the darling of North Zhao, cherished by both the dowager and the king, and a favorite among the tutors.
She glanced at Rong Che, whose stern gaze swept over the officials. He, too, had likely deduced the root of the issue.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Rong Che, revered as the war god of North Zhao, wielded substantial influence.
Supported by the Protectorate Duke’s Mansion and with his legitimate sister married to the king, their union had merged two powerful families.
With Lu Yan Shu dominating the civil sphere and Rong Che commanding the military, plus the protective instincts of Chao Chao, they were poised to become an indomitable force.
Should the crown prince ascend the throne, neither the Protectorate Duke’s Mansion nor Lu Yan Shu would be easily controlled.
They would be unstoppable, a thought that unnerved many.
Madam Xu’s eyes filled with tears as she realized she had inadvertently become a barrier to her child’s future.