Chapter 267: The Pei Family’s Secret
Chao Chao lay still, her tiny body trembling. The crown prince’s voice was soft, almost a whisper. “Chao Chao, stay strong… just hold on.” His hand rested on her small chest, feeling her rapid heartbeat.
“I’m sorry, Chao Chao,” Xie Cheng Xi said, his voice filled with regret. His hands hovered above her chest, shaking as he traced a strange symbol in the air. Suddenly, a soft glow appeared in the center of her chest.
Thump, thump, thump…
Her small heart struggled with each beat.
“It huwts… it huwts…” Little Lu Chao Chao whimpered. Her tiny eyebrows scrunched up in pain, and her small body curled into a ball. Cold sweat dotted her forehead.
“Just a little more, Chao Chao…” Xie Cheng Xi’s voice was shaky, almost like he was about to cry. He closed his eyes, concentrating hard, pressing down with more force.
A warm, gentle light emerged from her chest, and Xie Cheng Xi quickly caught it in his hands. It was a glowing orb, warm and pulsing like a heartbeat.
Chao Chao, now drenched in sweat, drifted into a deep sleep. The crown prince gestured to the palace maids. “Clean her up, but let her rest.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” they answered, bowing low.
With that, the crown prince left the room, taking the Heart of North Zhao back to the Nine-Level Pagoda. The glowing heart floated in front of him, hesitating as if it didn’t want to return to its place.
“Back where you belong,” Xie Cheng Xi said softly.
The heart hovered for a moment but slowly drifted back to its original spot. Once it settled, the bright royal star vanished from the night sky.
The crown prince descended from the Nine-Level Pagoda, waving his hand to disperse the spiritual energy around it. Soon, the royal guards would wake up.
As he left the palace gate, he noticed the Abbot standing there, staring up at the sky.
The old man mumbled to himself, “Where did it go? Why did it vanish?”
“What are you looking for, Abbot?” the crown prince asked, noticing the worried look on the abbot’s face.
The Abbot seemed relieved to see him. He clasped his hands together and bowed. “This humble monk was watching the stars tonight and felt a great disturbance in the Three Realms…”
Before he could finish, he coughed up blood.
“Master, stop talking! Revealing the secrets of heaven will cost you your life!” a young monk hurried to his side, his face pale with fear.
The abbot sighed deeply.
The crown prince brushed it off with a wave. “Abbot, your eyes have just recovered. Please take care of yourself. I’m not interested in the secrets of heaven.”
[All I want is for Chao Chao to get her heart back and truly come back to life.]
Not wanting to linger any longer, the crown prince gently picked up the sleeping Chao Chao and brought her back to Madam Xu.
“Thank you, Your Highness, for taking care of my daughter,” Madam Xu said, her voice filled with gratitude.
“There’s no need to thank me, Madam Xu. Chao Chao means more to me than my own life,” the crown prince replied, gently handing Chao Chao to her.
As their carriage moved away, Lu Yan Shu glanced back. The crown prince stood at the gate, still watching them leave.
“Did you… hear Chao Chao’s thoughts today?” Madam Xu asked quietly.
Rong Che was surprised, then nodded slowly.
“Yes. And I’m afraid it wasn’t just me. The entire court and royal family might have heard them too,” Rong Che replied, clearly worried.
Madam Xu took a deep breath, concern creasing her brow.
“What should we do? They won’t think Chao Chao is some kind of demon, will they?”
“It’s not that we don’t trust you, but this is very unusual. Ever since Chao Chao was born, we’ve been able to hear her thoughts,” Madam Xu confessed, feeling guilty for hiding this from Rong Che.
Rong Che, however, smiled warmly. “No, you did the right thing. Always protect yourself first. The person you should love most is yourself. Never trust anyone completely,” he advised.
Yun Shi had been deceived for eighteen years; it was wise to be cautious.
“As for Chao Chao, don’t worry. His Majesty values her greatly and won’t let the officials spread rumors. Anyone who dares to leak information will face severe consequences,” Rong Che reassured her. Knowing the king’s temper, anyone who dared would face punishment that could affect nine generations.
Who would dare risk their entire family like that?
Madam Xu felt a bit of relief.
Meanwhile, Li Zi Xi sat huddled in the carriage, shivering from the cold.
“Scholar Li, why didn’t you come to the banquet today?” Madam Xu asked.
Li Zi Xi looked puzzled.
“Madam Xu, I did attend.”
“I was sitting next to Brother Yan Shu, but then the table collapsed, and wine spilled all over me. When I went to change, a tile fell and hit my foot.”
“His Majesty didn’t let me back in, so I had to wait outside the door.”
“It was so cold and windy out there,” Scholar Li Zi Xi complained.
“…” Madam Xu didn’t know how to respond.
The carriage stopped at the Lu family’s gate, and Rong Che reluctantly bid farewell after ensuring everyone was safely inside.
Just as Rong Che was about to leave, he noticed someone standing in the shadows.
“Lord Yuan Ze, looking as weak and fragile as you do, aren’t you afraid I might mistake you for an enemy and strike you down?” Rong Che smirked, teasing him.
Lu Yuan Ze coughed softly, his face pale.
After vomiting blood at the Buddhist ceremony, his health had severely declined.
“General Rong, I’ve been married to Yun Shi for eighteen years. Even if we have misunderstandings now, it’s still our family’s issue. I hope you’ll stay out of it!” Lu Yuan Ze had heard rumors of Rong Che planning to marry Madam Xu, so he hurried out despite his illness.
[My Chao Chao! My Yan Shu!]
When he learned Yan Shu would be teaching in the Eastern Palace, he regretted it so much he felt sick.
Rong Che looked down on him with disdain.
“Lord Yuan Ze, you abandoned your wife and children for ‘true love.’ You’d better appreciate it. As for me and Yun Shi, that’s none of your business.”
“You should be more worried about yourself. If you hurry home, you might catch a good show,” Rong Che chuckled mischievously.
[Heh, Lu Jing Huai turned out to be a child born out of wedlock. I can’t wait to see the drama unfold!]
Seeing Rong Che’s mocking expression, Lu Yuan Ze’s heart raced. A deep unease washed over him.
“Lord Yuan Ze, you’re in for a surprise,” Rong Che said with a bright smile. “Go home!”
Lu Yuan Ze bit his lip, feeling uneasy. He turned and hurried back.
When he reached the gate, the doorman was surprised. “Master, why are you back so early?”
Lu Yuan Ze spat angrily. “Do I need to explain to a mere servant why I return home early? Who do you think you are?!”
Upset from his encounter with Rong Che, he kicked the servant in the chest, making him cry out in pain.
A maid who was by the door gasped and turned to run back inside.
“Stop right there! Why are you running? Do you think I eat people?” Lu Yuan Ze snapped, finding the maid’s behavior suspicious.
The maid stopped, her head bowed, hands nervously clutching her dress, trembling all over.
“Why are you shaking?” Lu Yuan Ze asked, completely confused.
With a thud, the maid knelt on the ground. “I-I’m not shaking…”
[What should I do? What should I do? Why is Master back so early? He wasn’t supposed to be back now!]
Now that Lu Yuan Ze had caught her, she couldn’t go back to warn anyone.
“Where’s the Madam?” Lu Yuan Ze asked, rubbing his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
“The Madam… The Madam…” The maid’s palms were sweaty, her eyes darting back and forth.
“The Madam is in the back courtyard, putting Miss Jing Yao to sleep,” she said, keeping her head down, too afraid to look up.
Lu Yuan Ze’s brows furrowed deeply.
Just hearing Lu Jing Yao’s name irritated him.
“I’m going to Deshan Hall to check on Mother,” he declared, heading toward the back courtyard.
The maid’s eyes widened in shock. [Deshan Hall?!]
“No, no, the Old Madam is already asleep. Master, you might wake her…” The maid blocked Lu Yuan Ze’s path.
Lu Yuan Ze’s gaze turned icy. “Move out of my way, you wretched servant! I want to see what you’re so afraid of!”
He kicked the maid aside, sending her sprawling on the ground in pain.
In his mind, he could still see Rong Che’s mocking, disdainful smile.
[What is my wife up to? I have to find out!]