The whole family is insanely eavesdropping on my thoughts Chapter 573
Chapter 573: A Spark that Ignites the Prairie
“To think that he is a grandson of the Lu family. This is all the Lu family’s fortune.”
“It all rightfully belongs to the Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor…” The Old Madam wept bitterly, unwilling to accept this fate. She regretted it, deeply regretted it.
Back then, blinded by selfish greed, she had allowed a concubine to enter the household, driving away her rightful daughter-in-law and grandson.
And now, she was left without any descendants.
Her three grandsons had become unparalleled figures, yet the Lu family had cast them out.
“It’s not that the Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor lacked fortune—it’s that they failed to grasp it. Who in the capital isn’t laughing at them now?”
“Our young masters and young ladies are all extraordinary. Any family would consider themselves blessed to have just one of them. And yet, the Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor had both brilliance in literature and martial arts but failed to hold onto it. Who can they blame but themselves? They simply have no fortune.” Deng Zhi’s words were sharp as a blade, making the Old Madam’s eyes well up with tears of blood.
“Today, we came here specifically to see this place one last time. After today, we shall never return.”
“After all, we were cast out. There is neither righteousness nor propriety in paying respects here.” Shi Yun smiled faintly.
Lu Yuan Ze stared at her in a daze, his body moving towards her instinctively.
But as the gates swung open, sunlight poured in, illuminating Shi Yun like a celestial being. The moment he approached, the light seared him, forcing him to retreat into the shadows in agony.
Shi Yun had become someone beyond his reach.
Little Shan Shan lay in the nursemaid’s arms, his wide eyes curiously scanning the surroundings. His gaze fell upon the corner where Lu Yuan Ze stood, and his tiny brows furrowed slightly.
“What has the young master found so fascinating?” The nursemaid teased him, yet he refused to look away.
Lu Yuan Ze followed the child’s gaze.
The little one bore the perfect blend of Rong Che and Shi Yun’s features—adorable beyond words. A mere glance at him revealed their unmistakable lineage.
Just one look, and Lu Yuan Ze could not tear his eyes away.
This was their child.
He had long known that Shi Yun had married Rong Che, yet seeing them in perfect harmony, seeing their child… he could not suppress the jealousy roiling in his heart.
Once, all of this should have been his.
Overcome with resentment, his pupils turned crimson, and his nails elongated into sharp talons.
Power surged wildly within him.
He fixed a deadly glare upon the infant. A child so young had yet to close his celestial sight—he could see him.
If he could frighten him into a stupor, perhaps…
His jealousy towards Rong Che knew no bounds.
Yet when Shan Shan saw his monstrous visage, he only responded with a bright, sweet smile. And then…
His innocent eyes darkened into something ancient and unfathomable.
The wild energy that Lu Yuan Ze had painstakingly amassed was abruptly drawn from his body as if caught in an invisible vortex. Bit by bit, it seeped towards Shan Shan, absorbed entirely.
Lu Yuan Ze’s malevolence dissipated instantly. Panic overtook him as he staggered backward, yet the absorption did not cease.
Only when his very soul threatened to collapse did Shan Shan let out a satisfied burp, snuggling into the nursemaid’s arms for a peaceful slumber.
Lu Yuan Ze was struck with sheer horror—what manner of entity was this child?!
When Lu Yan Shu and the others finished their offerings, Lu Chao Chao spoke up: “Royal Father has granted this land to me.”
“It would be a shame to let it go to waste.”
“Why not tear down the manor and its ancestral hall to build an academy?”
“For farming families, sending a child to study is as difficult as climbing to the heavens. This academy will be for the children of farmers alone. Tuition will be free.”
“They may work in exchange for board and meals.”
“His Majesty has granted me the title of Princess Sunshine, and I receive a stipend every month, yet I have never once claimed it. Brother, tomorrow, please retrieve the sum for me. Then we can begin construction at once.”
Xu Shi Yun nodded in approval. “Chao Chao, your heart is with the people. As your mother, I am pleased.”
Lu Chao Chao had spent years traveling the land, witnessing firsthand the struggles of the common folk. She understood that to educate a scholar often required the combined efforts of an entire clan.
From the shadows, Lu Yuan Ze nearly lost his mind upon hearing this.
“No! The manor cannot be torn down! The ancestral hall must remain! This is the foundation of the Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor!”
“Lu Chao Chao! You are a descendant of the Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor! How dare you commit such an act of blasphemy?!”
“If it is demolished, then nothing will be left…” Lu Yuan Ze collapsed in despair. Even his very soul was fading.
Yet among the gathered crowd, not a single person spared him a thought.
As they exited the courtyard, Shi Yun lingered momentarily, her gaze sweeping the shadows.
Lu Yuan Ze looked up in a trance, and for a moment, he thought their eyes met.
He froze.
“You… you can see me? Shi Yun, you can see me?!”
A sudden memory flashed in his mind—when Chao Chao had descended into the Netherworld, she had mentioned that Shi Yun was of the Elf Race.
Yes, Shi Yun was an elf. She could see him!
He could not explain why, but suddenly he lunged forward to chase after her.
“Shi Yun… Shi Yun… I regret it, I regret it so much…”
He rushed out of the ancestral hall, ignoring the searing pain of the sunlight, oblivious to the Old Madam’s terrified screams behind him.
“Shi Yun, I regret everything…”
He reached out, desperate to grasp the hem of her robes, but Shi Yun turned away without a second glance.
He tried to move forward, but it was as if his entire body had been set aflame, an unbearable agony consuming him.
His fingers disintegrated before his very eyes, bit by bit vanishing into nothingness.
“Shi Yun, look at me… just once… I regret it… I wish, I wish I could go back…” He murmured as he gazed at her departing figure.
In his final moments, he saw the Shi Yun of the past—the gentle girl who had once called him ‘husband’ with shy devotion, her world revolving around him.
He closed his eyes, embracing nothing but memories.
The Old Madam watched helplessly as her son turned to dust before her.
Gone. Everything was gone.
The underworld’s envoys arrived, escorting her away.
Lu Chao Chao heard the cries behind her but did not turn back.
“Third Brother, tomorrow, in my name, visit the homes of the court officials to seek donations.”
“Tell them I intend to establish the Sunshine Academy. One academy in each city, where the children of farmers may study free of charge, attending a trial period of one month.”
A month was sufficient to discern who truly sought knowledge.
It was a bridge for the common folk to change their fate.
“Donations? These officials borrowed silver from His Majesty decades ago and still refuse to repay it.”
“You think they’d be willing to contribute? That’s a fool’s dream!” Lu Zheng Yue scoffed.
Lu Yan Shu chuckled. “Each academy will have a monument at its entrance, listing the names of the highest donors in order.”
The great noble clans would never refuse such an opportunity for prestige.
Lu Chao Chao waved a hand. “If they decline, I shall personally pay them a visit.”
After all, she knew precisely how much they had embezzled.
They owed the people, and it was time to repay their debt.
At her words, the gathered officials shuddered, recalling her infamous debt collection visits.
“It should… go smoothly,” Lu Yuan Xiao murmured. More than smoothly—she would likely gather a great sum.
“Chao Chao, you have already gifted cultivation techniques. Why now an academy?” Lu Yan Shu asked as they left.
“Mortals are weak, and no one shields them.”
“But they can learn to shield themselves.” Lu Chao Chao’s smile was bright.
“I wish to sow a spark and wait for the prairie to blaze.”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation