Chapter 12
Chapter 12: Retribution Came Too Fast, Like a Tornado
Sweetie bounced back to the cold palace and immediately spotted Mother in the courtyard.
“Hah!” Consort Li held a branch like a sword, her body moving like lightning.
Slash, slash, slash—cold light flashed, and several thick bamboo stalks in the corner snapped clean through.
“Mother is amazing!” Sweetie clapped until her palms turned red, eyes full of stars.
Consort Li finished the movement and scooped her up. “Sweetie, do you want to learn? If you learn martial arts, you can protect yourself and chase off bad people.”
“I do! I want to learn!” Sweetie’s eyes shone. “Tian Tian wants to become strong! Tian Tian wants to protect Mother!”
Consort Li hugged her tight, her chest burning.
She’d picked up these skills by chance back on the estate. After entering the palace, she’d hidden them away, never daring to show a hint.
But after walking through the gates of death once, she was awake.
Sweetie carried miracles. Consort Li couldn’t shield her every moment. Sweetie needed real skills.
So she acted immediately.
Before Sweetie could even blink, Consort Li plucked her up and “nailed” her into a horse stance in the yard.
Normally, a child would cry within minutes. But Sweetie had been drinking spirit spring water lately—she didn’t feel tired at all, and her stance was almost perfectly correct.
Consort Li’s eyes widened.
She dragged over two clay jars filled with water. “Sweetie. Hold these.”
Sweetie took one in each hand. Her little body stayed steady, not even a wobble.
Consort Li sucked in a sharp breath.
This wasn’t just a good seedling.
This was a once-in-a-century martial arts genius.
Sweetie held the stance for a while… then got bored. She lowered her head and started whispering at the ground.
Consort Li stepped out and looked closer. “Sweetie, who are you talking to?”
“The little ants!” Sweetie pointed seriously. “They said someone is carrying a box over here to bring us food-food!”
Consort Li laughed. “Silly Sweetie, it’s not even mealtime. No one would—”
Knock, knock, knock!
Consort Li froze, then went to the door.
Through the crack, she saw a girl holding a food box.
Chu Jiao Jiao.
“Consort Li…” Chu Jiao Jiao’s voice trembled with tears. “You’ve suffered so much! Jiao Jiao missed you terribly!”
Consort Li’s heart went cold.
Before Tian Tian returned, she had loved Chu Jiao Jiao as her own child. She’d poured care into her, protected her, even tried to keep things “fair” when Tian Tian first came back so Chu Jiao Jiao wouldn’t feel too much of a gap.
But the moment Consort Li fell into trouble, Chu Jiao Jiao moved to Consort Xian’s side and cut ties clean.
Consort Li didn’t blame her for wanting to avoid being dragged into disaster. But the speed—how neat and practical it was—still left an unpleasant taste.
When Consort Li didn’t respond, Chu Jiao Jiao pouted. “Consort Li… are you angry with Jiao Jiao? Do you blame me for not coming to see you all this time?”
Consort Li shook her head.
She stopped caring long ago.
A child who wasn’t yours… was never truly yours.
She didn’t blame her.
“Princess Ying Yue,” Consort Li said flatly, “what are you doing here in the cold palace?”
Chu Jiao Jiao dropped to her knees with a thud, her sobs instantly turning theatrical.
“I… I came to beg Tian Tian. Please—spare Nanny Wu! She may be terrible, but she’s still my birth mother!”
She wailed louder, tears dripping onto the ground like she was watering a garden. “Consort Li, she’s uncultured. She only bullied you because she was terrified in the cold palace. Her crimes don’t deserve death! Please be magnanimous—spare her life! The kindness of raising someone is greater than the sky!”
In truth, Chu Jiao Jiao didn’t care whether Nanny Wu lived or died.
She simply couldn’t afford to look cold-blooded in public. If the emperor executed Nanny Wu and she never even pleaded once, it would stain her reputation.
Consort Li’s voice stayed cool as ice. “Princess Ying Yue, those words are wrong. Nanny Wu is suffering consequences she earned.”
Then she looked at Chu Tian Tian, brows tightening. “Sweetie, ignore her. You don’t need to wrong yourself.”
Chu Tian Tian blinked at Mother—steady and calm—then set the jars down and walked to the door.
Her little face was blank, her baby voice clear.
“Fine. I’ll plead.”
Inside, she snorted. Nanny Wu couldn’t die yet.
Nanny Wu definitely knew who swapped her with that bad sister.
Sweetie went to Imperial Father. With only a few words, she secured a pardon.
Nanny Wu’s death sentence was lifted, but punishment remained. She was thrown into the imperial prison.
The emperor rubbed Sweetie’s head. “Sweetie is kind-hearted. The academy entrance exam is arranged. But… you must pass with real skill.”
“What’s the test?” Sweetie tilted her head.
Wu Ya hurriedly answered, “Reporting to the princess: two parts. Basic knowledge from the Four Books and Five Classics, plus one choice from qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, riding, or archery.”
Sweetie’s mouth drooped. “But Tian Tian doesn’t know any of that… Imperial Father~ find Tian Tian an awesome master!”
The emperor laughed. “Fine. Tomorrow, go see Han Lin Academician Li. He was the crown prince’s first teacher back then.”
The moment he finished speaking, the system’s voice rang out.
[Ding!
Redemption mission released!
Because court historian Li Hong Yuan records you as a tyrant, you fly into a rage and order his execution, igniting outrage among officials and plunging the court into chaos.
Immediately reverse Li Hong Yuan’s impression of you and make him praise you of his own accord.
Otherwise, the court will collapse and Host will not live long.
Mission reward: Divine skill—Perfect Pitch.]
Chu Tian Tian’s eyes went wide.
Then she lifted an innocent little face. “Imperial Father~ Han Lin Academician Li… what’s his full name? Tian Tian wants to prepare a small gift for Teacher.”
Wu Ya replied, “Reporting to the princess: Official Li’s given name is Li Hong Yuan.”
Li Hong Yuan.
Chu Tian Tian’s face collapsed.
Inside, she wailed: So it really was true—twenty-years-later her was a huge villain!
Retribution came too fast—like a tornado.
Life was hard. Sweetie sighed.
What else could she do? For the sake of not being written down as a tyrant… for the sake of keeping her tiny life…
She clenched her little fist, fierce in the cutest way possible.
“Charge! Target—win over Li Hong Yuan! Make him praise me!”
Bright and early, Sweetie trotted toward the Imperial Study.
Halfway through the imperial garden, two figures suddenly stepped in front of her.
Chu Jiao Jiao—and the Seventh Princess Qing Yue.
“Stop,” Princess Qing Yue said arrogantly. “Chu Tian Tian, why are you sneaking around? Where are you going?”
Sweetie frowned. “None of your business. Move.”
Qing Yue covered her mouth and giggled. “I heard you want to enter the Royal Academy too? You can’t even read. Dream on.”
“It’s true,” Sweetie said, puffing out her chest.
Chu Jiao Jiao laughed beside her. “This is hilarious. Chu Tian Tian, do you even know the Royal Academy has an entrance exam? You probably can’t even read the questions. When you start crying, no one will coax you.”
Qing Yue chimed in, enjoying herself. “Exactly. The academy isn’t a place any random cat or dog can enter. Someone with talent like Jiao Jiao can enter Class A. You… ha.”
Sweetie’s little fist tightened. Her baby voice sharpened with anger. “Tian Tian is super amazing too. Tian Tian will enter Class A.”
Chu Jiao Jiao’s eyes flicked, malice glinting. “Then dare to bet? If you can’t get into Class A, you’ll kneel and kowtow three times in public, admitting you’re a big bragger.”