Chapter 547

Chapter 547: Bloodline Suppression

Xie Yu Zhou’s eyelids twitched.

“Why did he suddenly open his eyes? He doesn’t understand us, does he? Hahaha…” Xie Yu Zhou couldn’t resist poking the baby’s fair little face.

“Come on, get up and hit me! Hit me!” He twisted and turned in front of the baby.

Sticking out his tongue playfully, Xie Yu Zhou then chased after Chao Chao’s steps.

The infant lay in the cradle, silently gazing at the sky before closing his eyes once more.

This child was truly difficult to care for.

Shi Yun’s previous children had all been fed by wet nurses. Even before this child was born, arrangements had been made early on.

Yet, when the wet nurse tried to feed him, he refused.

He pressed his lips tightly together, outright rejecting the milk, his little face filled with resistance.

Shi Yun had no choice but to support a pillow behind her waist and feed him herself.

Rong Che dismissed everyone from the room, allowing Shi Yun to hold the baby while sitting on the bed.

Moments later, a piercing scream echoed.

“Ah!”

Rong Che rushed inside in alarm, only to find Shi Yun’s face twisted in pain. Blood stained the baby’s lips in her arms.

He had bitten her—despite having no teeth.

Rong Che was both heartbroken and furious. He no longer knew how to feel about this child.

Clearly, this was their child, his and Shi Yun’s. Yet his heart was filled with a mix of love and frustration, fearing that he wouldn’t be able to suppress the child’s instincts, that he might one day bring calamity upon the world.

Gritting his teeth, Rong Che took the baby and moved him aside before tending to Shi Yun’s wound. “Don’t feed him anymore. From now on, not a single drop!”

Shi Yun pressed her lips together. She had clearly felt it—what he had sought wasn’t milk but blood.

“The wet nurse shouldn’t feed him either. For now, use a spoon,” Shi Yun sighed. “It’s not the nurse’s fault. Let’s just do what we can.”

Lu Chao Chao, upon hearing that her mother had been hurt, felt a pang of sorrow. “Mother, the abbot said he would listen to me. Why don’t we put him in my room?”

“I promise I’ll take good care of my little brother!” The little girl pounded her tiny chest with determination.

“You’re only four and a half. You still need someone to care for you at night.” Shi Yun immediately refused. She couldn’t bear for Chao Chao to suffer.

“But Sister Deng Zhi sleeps in the outer room. Maybe he’ll behave better with me?”

“Mother, you’ve just given birth. You haven’t recovered your strength yet. Just put his cradle in my room. I won’t handle him directly—Sister Deng Zhi will.” Chao Chao assured her earnestly.

“Madam, let me try,” Deng Zhi volunteered. “This child will be handed over to the young lady eventually.”

But Shi Yun shook her head firmly. Chao Chao was only four and a half. Raising her brother was not her responsibility.

She didn’t want her daughter to suffer.

In Shi Yun’s mind, guiding the child meant Chao Chao would instruct him verbally while others carried out the tasks.

“He’s still young. I can handle him for now. At worst, I’ll starve him until he eats properly. You’re still growing, Chao Chao—I won’t let him disturb your sleep.” Shi Yun waved her hand, coaxing her daughter out of the room.

Chao Chao sighed in defeat.

Shi Yun spoke with resolve, but what mother could truly ignore a starving, wailing child?

Throughout the day, she struggled, unable to get him to eat. Anxiety gnawed at her.

That night, Chao Chao tiptoed into her mother’s room.

Inside, Shi Yun was secretly wiping away tears, speaking in hushed tones with Rong Che.

“Are we really going to keep starving him?”

Rong Che took a deep breath. “Shi Yun, he is our child. You ache for him, and so do I.”

“You understand, don’t you? What he craves is blood. We can’t raise a bloodthirsty monster. Since he was born into our family, we must be prepared. Being cruel to him might become a daily necessity.”

Otherwise, how could they ever set him on the right path?

Rong Che already felt the immense difficulty ahead.

Knock, knock. Chao Chao rapped on the door.

Both parents hastily wiped their tears as their daughter entered, pretending nothing was wrong.

“Mother, let me feed my brother,” Chao Chao suggested eagerly, feigning ignorance of their reddened eyes.

Shi Yun turned away, afraid her daughter would notice her sorrow. She merely nodded in agreement.

The baby lay in the curtained crib while Deng Zhi quietly comforted Shi Yun. No one noticed Chao Chao’s movements.

Holding a small bowl, Chao Chao whispered, “Little brother, your sister is here to feed you. Am I good to you?”

“Alright, open wide…”

The infant had fair skin, but his dark eyes held an unsettling depth. He stared at her, unblinking.

He bit his upper lip, refusing to open his mouth.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Chao Chao grew annoyed. Glancing outside the curtain, she tilted the bowl and gulped down the milk herself.

In an instant, the bowl was empty.

Her eyes sparkled as she nodded. “Still tastes the same.”

“You don’t want it? Then I’ll have it all!” She grinned mischievously at her stunned little brother before cheerfully skipping off to find her mother.

“Mother, he ate!”

Shi Yun turned with tear-stained eyes. “Really? He truly ate? Chao Chao, thank you!”

Chao Chao nodded earnestly. “Yes, he ate. I only had to feed him once! He really does listen to me. Next time he refuses, just call me! It’s no trouble…” Her voice trailed off as she patted her stomach, feeling a little full.

Overjoyed, Shi Yun smothered Chao Chao in kisses.

The little girl, still carrying the scent of milk, giggled happily.

Every day, Chao Chao took time to feed her brother, always finding ways to send others away. Being naturally well-behaved, her family never suspected a thing.

For three consecutive days, the baby, once prone to fits of crying, became quiet.

Sleeping for hours on end, he barely made a fuss.

“Good, good. The little master truly listens to Chao Chao. He barely cries anymore. Look at him—sleeping so soundly,” Deng Zhi noted with relief.

Chao Chao stealthily poked his cheek. [Ha, he’s faint from hunger.]

She knew well that blood was essence, the source of vitality. His nature was inherently cruel. Yet, he had underestimated her resolve. She had been absorbing miasma and was in no hurry. She was deliberately testing his limits. He had gone two days without food or drink, and now his energy was completely drained.

On the third day, Chao Chao brought another bowl of milk.

Before she could even lift her hand, the baby opened his mouth like a starving hatchling, terrified she might take it away.

He feared she would let him starve.

Their parents’ cruelty was softened by their love. Though he had no past memories, he could sense emotions—his parents ached for him.

But his sister…

She would let him die.

She had never wavered.

Chao Chao pouted slightly, a bit disappointed. She had wanted to see just how stubborn he could be. But in the end, she had won. If he could starve and survive, she would starve him until he yielded.

Rong Che watched as the baby drank greedily, not even stopping when he choked. His heart ached, yet he felt relieved.

“Let me try,” he said, taking the spoon.

Chao Chao grinned and leaned against the cradle, watching with satisfaction.

Her brother obediently swallowed every spoonful.

Shi Yun and Rong Che finally felt a weight lifted from their hearts.

Yet they all understood—this child would be harder to teach than they had imagined.

Fortunately, in these early days of infancy, he could do little harm.

And with Chao Chao by his side, things would remain in balance—for now.