Chapter 122: The Loudest Cry
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Grand Duke He Shu sprang up in surprise. “Already at the door? And what about Zhou the miser? How much did he repay? Surely not much, given his notorious stinginess. How much did she collect in the end? Three thousand taels? Five thousand?”
[He must have been moved by her sitting at the door crying, almost like giving alms to a little beggar,] he mused, nodding to himself. Although he knew the debt had been collected, he remained clueless about the precise amount.
The servant scratched his head. “Actually, she didn’t cry at all. But Minister Zhou did. They say he was a complete mess, all snot and tears, as he escorted her out. Before she left, he even handed her a bunch of gold nuggets, pleading with her as she walked away. Minister Zhou owed thirty thousand but ended up repaying fifty thousand.”
“He repaid how much? That stingy old man actually paid fifty thousand?” Grand Duke He Shu’s eyes widened in disbelief. Zhou was infamous at court for his miserliness, known for sneaking out without paying when dining with colleagues.
“You wouldn’t believe it,” continued the servant, “He even tore down the gold built into his walls to repay the debt.”
Grand Duke He Shu’s eyelids twitched in amazement. “Has my royal nephew found himself a treasure-hunting mouse? Incredible skills, needing only a bottle of milk? The king sure knows how to employ people. That miser got off too easily. Watch how I make him cry! Repay the debt? No chance I’m repaying! The late king lent it to me, and now he wants it back?”
He was the late king’s youngest brother, only six years old when the late king unified the kingdom. The late king had always treated him like a son, pampering him since childhood. Even King Xuan Ping had once been reduced to tears by him when they were children.
Lu Chao Chao entered Grand Duke He Shu’s mansion with her pockets heavy with gold nuggets. As she entered, the Duchess, who was pregnant and radiating warmth, greeted her with a smile.
“You mustn’t bully Chao Chao,” the Duchess, a gentle woman in her mid-thirties, admonished. She was pregnant after thirteen years since her last child. “I only conceived this child after holding Chao Chao,” she added, her face glowing with happiness.
“Alright, alright, I won’t bully her,” Grand Duke He Shu assured with a smile.
Turning to Lu Chao Chao, he teased, “Little chubby one, I heard your father doesn’t want you anymore?”
Lu Chao Chao huffed, clearly displeased, “No mention him!”
“Wah wah wah, can’t talk about him, huh?” Grand Duke He Shu chuckled. “I’ll talk about him, what can you do? If you tell me how you made the miser repay, I’ll reward you with five thousand taels,” he proposed, intrigued by this little girl’s capabilities.
“I talked some sense into him. He even gave me these gold nuggets…” Lu Chao Chao patted her pocket, hinting at her successful negotiation.
Grand Duke He Shu couldn’t help but burst out laughing. A toddler already learning to fill her own pockets? Where did she learn that? So clever!
“If you can make me cry, I’ll repay the debt in full,” he declared playfully, massaging his wife’s shoulders.
Despite being emotionally distant from his parents and raised by the late king, he had formed a close bond with his wife over time, thanks to her meticulous care and tolerance. Their relationship had grown from lukewarm to deeply affectionate. The mansion housed only three concubines, whom he rarely favored, all provided by the king.
Lu Chao Chao looked at the lovely Duchess, covering her mouth tightly with both hands. “Not now, can’t say it!”
“Why are you teasing her? She’s so young and carrying such a burden. It might affect her growth,” the Duchess spoke softly, her affection for Chao Chao evident.
“Go back and tell the king that his uncle has no money. Tell him to give up on this idea,” Grand Duke He Shu advised as he escorted his wife back to their room, his demeanor unusually tender.
“Oh, make sure to get the bracelet back from the workshop. It’s our token of love. It’s my fault for being plump; I can’t wear the bracelet you gave me,” his wife lamented, referring to a bracelet that had broken when she played with it. Grand Duke He Shu had painstakingly collected the pieces and had it repaired but hadn’t returned it yet.
Grand Duke He Shu’s eyes softened. “I’ll buy you a new one, better and prettier,” he promised, looking at her with deep affection.
“How can it be the same? It’s our token of love,” the Duchess replied softly as she returned to her room, leaving Grand Duke He Shu pensive and distracted.
“You can leave now, little beggar. Go to the accounts room and collect ten thousand taels; that should be enough for your task,” Grand Duke He Shu said dismissively, his earlier warmth fading in the absence of his wife.
“No, I haven’t made you cry yet,” Lu Chao Chao reminded him.
“Little beggar, today I’ll teach you to know your place,” he said, now more arrogant without the Duchess’s calming presence. “Do you think you can really make me cry? See her out,” Grand Duke He Shu ordered as he stood.
Lu Chao Chao tilted her head defiantly, “The bracelet wasn’t for the Duchess!”
Grand Duke He Shu whirled around, his eyes widening. “The love letter, the bracelet, were for…” His hand quickly covered her mouth. “Don’t say it! Don’t say it!” Panicked, he even peeked outside. He whispered urgently, “Please, keep it down.”
[How does she know?!]
The Protectorate Duke’s mansion and the Cen family were just a wall apart, and their daughters were close friends. He had initially fallen for Rong Wan’er, the quiet and dignified daughter of the Protectorate Duke, even crafting a bracelet for her by hand. When he heard she was to join the royal selection for the harem, he rushed to the palace to request a decree from the late king to marry her.
On that fateful day, instead of being betrothed to Rong Wan’er like he requested, the late king matched him with Cen Wan Wan, while the woman he initially wanted went to King Xuan Ping. On his wedding day, he felt like a mourner, but over time, he fell genuinely in love with Wan Wan’s lively and kind nature. Though his heart was now wholly with his wife, deep down he harbored unease, always worried that she might discover the truth about his initial feelings.
“You love the Queen!” Lu Chao Chao declared boldly.
Outside, a teacup suddenly shattered.
That night, the mansion of Grand Duke He Shu was filled with his uncontrollable sobs. The prouder he had been before, the louder he cried now.
“Wan Wan, I was wrong… I was really wrong… Wan Wan, I never meant to deceive you,” he cried out.
Lu Chao Chao stood nearby, watching quietly like a little devil: “Your wife doesn’t want you anymore…”
Grand Duke He Shu cursed, “Damn that mouth of yours!”
Lol serves you right old man