Chapter 603

Chapter 603: Self-Inflicted Consequences

The next morning.

Lu Chao Chao woke up beaming, her face lit with delight.

“Princess, did something good happen today? You seem to be in a wonderful mood.” Yu Shu asked with a chuckle.

Lu Chao Chao grinned mischievously. “I’m about to become a little rich lady!”

After a good night’s sleep, she felt refreshed and suddenly thought of a clever idea. She couldn’t touch the treasures in her space, but she could certainly melt down gold and silver!

She had spent the night driving away Little Heavenly Dao and smelting precious metals.

Since Lu Chao Chao was leaving today, the breakfast spread at the estate was particularly lavish. Some dishes were even personally prepared by Xu Shi Yun.

The women’s academy could not be left unattended, so she would remain in Northern Zhao.

“Why does Shan Shan look so down? Is he reluctant to leave his mother?” Lu Chao Chao asked, cradling a small bowl in her hands as she noticed the little boy’s despondent expression.

Shan Shan sat on a tiny chair, positioned between Lu Chao Chao and Rong Che.

“His voice sounds off, too. It’s hoarse.”

The nanny looked troubled. “Last night, the young master suffered from nightmares. He woke up crying multiple times, mumbling something about a stolen head.” At just over nine months old, Shan Shan’s speech was still unclear, though he was ahead of most children his age.

“Perhaps he’s anxious about leaving home,” Rong Che commented from the head of the table, his eyes tinged red.

His children were leaving, and as their father, his heart felt heavy.

Shi Yun shot him a pointed look. [If you start crying, then I won’t be able to hold back either.]

Lu Chao Chao devoured two full bowls of rice before setting down her chopsticks.

She glanced at Shan Shan, who hesitated before carefully lifting a teacup and offering it to his sister with unsteady hands.

Everyone smiled at the sight. “Young Master Shan Shan is so thoughtful toward his sister.”

Rong Che felt a pang of jealousy. “Even I have never received tea from my son…”

He glanced at Shan Shan, then at Lu Chao Chao, then back at his son again.

Biting his lip, Rong Che grumbled, “You heartless little thing! I stayed up all night worrying about you leaving, and yet you only dote on your sister…” The more he spoke, the more wronged he felt.

His son, who was cold toward almost everyone, showed rare devotion only to Lu Chao Chao.

His heart twisted with bitterness.

After breakfast, Shan Shan picked up a teacup from the table and played with it idly in his hands.

Everyone was busy loading luggage onto the carriages, so the nanny placed him on a couch and began gathering his travel essentials.

When the carriage finally stopped outside the Lu estate, Rong Che, his eyes still reddened, stepped forward to carry his son.

As soon as he sat down, Shan Shan, with great solemnity, held out a steaming cup of tea with both hands.

“Oh, my good son…” Rong Che rushed forward, hastily taking the tea.

Tears nearly spilled from his eyes.

When Shan Shan was born, Shi Yun had nearly lost her life. Then came the shocking revelation—he was the reincarnation of an ominous spirit, destined for bloodshed and violence.

Rong Che had always kept an emotional distance, fearing that too much love would nurture a ruthless monster he wouldn’t be able to control.

But as the child grew, resembling both him and Shi Yun more with each passing day, Rong Che found himself loving him more deeply.

And that love brought with it an overwhelming fear—he could only hope Shan Shan would grow up kindhearted.

“My son, you must listen to your sister, do you hear me? Your mother and I are too soft-hearted to punish you, but Chao Chao? She will not hesitate to teach you a painful lesson. Behave, and you’ll get hit less.”

“A true man knows when to bend and when to stand tall. Pride is something you can discard.”

“Thicker skin brings good fortune.”

“People always say your mother is lucky, with such accomplished children. But in truth…”

“I am the luckiest one.”

“Look at me—I started as a bachelor general, shamelessly married into my wife’s family, and now? I have a promising son, a princess for a daughter, and the most beloved wife. Tell me, am I not the luckiest man alive?”

“I’ve already won at life!”

“Back then, when I married into the Lu family, the entire capital ridiculed me for having no spine. As the only son of the Stabilizing Duke, I humbled myself as a son-in-law! Pfft… The ones who mocked me the most are now the ones green with envy.”

“You should learn from me—be thick-skinned, be diligent in front of your sister. Dignity? Toss it aside.”

Rong Che, having walked this path, passed on his life philosophy to his son.

The key to happiness? A complete lack of shame.

He raised a smug eyebrow. “Your father, I, have been blessed. My entire life is built upon my wife’s prestige.”

Not long after, Shi Yun entered the room, eyes red-rimmed.

Xie Yu Zhou had already been forcibly sent out of the prince’s manor earlier that morning and was now seated inside a carriage.

Zhu Mo carefully supported A-Wu, but she swatted his hand away irritably. “I’m only two months pregnant, I’m not that fragile.” She wasn’t even showing yet, nor could she feel any fetal movement.

Zhu Mo remained unbothered. “Better safe than sorry.”

“I’ve lined the carriage with thick cushions and added a shock-absorbing formation beneath it. You and the baby will travel comfortably.”

A-Wu lowered her gaze, her hands subtly clenching at her sides. She casually remarked, “Chao Chao mentioned that you once had a marriage with the Phoenix Clan?”

Zhu Mo tensed up immediately, his expression turning nervous as he hurriedly explained, “A-Wu, don’t overthink it. That was a political union between our two clans. I had no feelings for her.”

His voice even carried a hint of disdain.

“She was the one who clung to the Dragon Clan, refusing to leave. I was never involved with her… The only one in my heart is you—and our child.”

A-Wu took a deep breath before offering a sweet smile. “Why are you so flustered? I’m not angry.”

“I just think that, if you don’t love her, it would be better to settle things and part ways properly. It wouldn’t be right to keep her waiting.”

Zhu Mo hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.

“A-Wu, I accepted her betrothal gifts, and they have already been used by the Dragon Clan. I can’t return them.”

“Later, I wrote to the Phoenix Clan, explaining everything. But they refused to suffer such humiliation. They demanded I kneel three times and kowtow nine times at their palace to admit fault—and return the bride price—before they would agree to a divorce.”

“I am the Dragon Clan’s Crown Prince! How could I bow to them? The Three Realms would think I was afraid of them!”

“I would never bring such shame upon myself.”

A-Wu’s clenched fists loosened, and the struggle in her eyes slowly faded. She lifted her head, her smile soft and serene. “Alright.”

Yet deep within her gaze lay a chilling frost. [So, you do care about your dignity?]

[But on the day of your grand wedding, you left me alone before the eyes of the entire Three Realms, allowing them to mock and ridicule me. Even I, as strong as I was, nearly succumbed to madness.]

Zhu Mo looked at her apologetically, his gaze brimming with undisguised affection.

“She holds the title of wife, yet it is you who suffers because of it…”

“A-Wu, don’t worry. You are my only true wife in this life. If I ever break this vow, may the heavens strike me down.”

A-Wu chuckled and, once he finished speaking, reached out to gently cover his lips.

“Don’t speak nonsense. The gods are always watching. I believe in you… that you will give me and our child happiness.”

“Mm. Once everything is settled, I will take you back to the Dragon Clan.”

“Now that you carry the bloodline of our people, those old dragons will be overjoyed.” Once that happened, even the Phoenix Clan wouldn’t be able to prevent her from entering the family.

A-Wu stroked her stomach, a small, unreadable smile playing on her lips.