Chapter 129: Scrambling to Repay Debts
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
The Crown Prince’s forehead was slick with sweat.
Knowing she was coming to the Xiao family today to collect debts, he feared she would suffer a loss and had rushed over in haste.
“Chao Chao, are you hurt?!” The Crown Prince’s expression shifted sharply.
“Who did this?! Wretched scum! How dare they harm you?” He knelt down, gently blowing on the wound on Lu Chao Chao’s forehead.
“Imperial Uncle, Chao Chao is not even two years old. If she lacks understanding, I ask for your forbearance. How could you quarrel with a child?” His tone was stern, laced with a hint of murderous intent.
After all, she was his faith.
Imperial Uncle Xiao was so furious he couldn’t find words to respond for a long moment.
“Me? Dare to hit her?! Are you joking?!”
The truth was, she hadn’t wiped out the Xiao family entirely; they should consider themselves lucky.
“The injury on her forehead was inflicted by Xiao Yu Hang!” Imperial Uncle Xiao swallowed his anger, holding it back.
“Xiao Yu Hang? Isn’t that your grandson? Where is Xiao Yu Hang? I will not spare him!” The Crown Prince’s face darkened as his voice trembled.
His hands were shaking faintly.
In his past life, anyone who had witnessed her sacrifice to save the world would have treated her like a treasure, holding her dear to their hearts.
“Ask Lu Chao Chao!” Imperial Uncle Xiao turned his back, annoyed.
“I didn’t suffer any loss.” Lu Chao Chao grinned.
[Hehe, I bit off his ear! Then Imperial Uncle Xiao kicked me flying. By now, that brat is probably half-dead.]
[Oh no, wait, tomorrow he’ll die along with his father and grandmother.]
The Crown Prince blinked.
What? Collecting debts… did it have to be this intense?
“Where are the guards? Didn’t I leave you my personal guards?” he asked, exasperated.
Lu Chao Chao waved her hand dismissively, full of confidence. “They’re boring. I didn’t bring them.”
[With guards, how can I have a proper fight?]
[Ah, back in my day, I lived for battle…]
The Crown Prince’s mouth twitched. She was clearly itching for a fight.
Imperial Uncle Xiao’s figure was cloaked in despair. “Debt repayment is a matter of course. Just bring someone to haul the silver.”
The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow. Imperial Uncle Xiao repaying so easily? Unbelievable.
“There are still fifteen families left…” Lu Chao Chao began counting on her fingers.
“I’ll go with you.” The Crown Prince’s heart ached.
He called for the medicine chest and personally tended to the scrape on her forehead. Though it was just a small scratch, Xie Cheng Xi’s heart clenched painfully.
In her past life, her soul had scattered. In this one, she should live with reckless abandon for herself.
“Chao Chao, no one is worth you getting hurt over. Do you understand?” The Crown Prince crouched beside her, looking at her earnestly.
Lu Chao Chao tilted her head, gazing at him.
“All beings under heaven have their destinies. You owe no one! You should live as you please.”
Lu Chao Chao gave a noncommittal “Oh.”
The Crown Prince sighed, looking at her small head.
“Let’s go. I’ll help you collect the debts.” With him present, surely these stubborn old officials would pay up.
…
At the Li family residence, repeated knocking yielded no answer.
“Your Highness, the master has gone to the palace.”
They moved to the Xia family residence.
“Your Highness, Master Xia has also entered the palace.”
Before long, a palace servant came rushing to find them. “Your Highness, all the debt-owing officials have already entered the palace.”
The Crown Prince immediately brought Lu Chao Chao back to the palace.
…
The palace was brightly lit, and the imperial study was crowded with people.
The officials who, just yesterday, had sworn they had no money and would rather die than pay, were now scrambling to repay their debts.
“Your Majesty, I have repaid my debt in full. Can you please ensure Lu Chao Chao doesn’t visit my residence?”
“Your Majesty, I stayed up all night to gather the sum. I even donated extra. Please keep Lu Chao Chao away!”
“Your Majesty, I must repay first!”
“Your Majesty, let me go first. I arrived earlier!”
The imperial study resembled a bustling marketplace. Everyone was clamoring to repay.
The Emperor was dumbfounded.
What on earth had Lu Chao Chao done?
The Chief Eunuch marked off the amounts on the ledger, and the officials left nodding contentedly, as if they had scored a great bargain.
“Father.” The Crown Prince entered, carrying Lu Chao Chao in his arms. The noisy study fell silent as the officials tensed.
Moments ago, the room had been in chaos, but now they avoided Lu Chao Chao’s gaze like frightened quails.
Who would dare oppose her? At the Zhou family, Official Zhou had wept bitterly as he repaid. At the Prince’s residence, the princess consort had fled despite being heavily pregnant, and now they were divorcing. At the Xiao family, well, right after she left, Lady Xiao, the heir, and the grandson had all mysteriously died!
Even Imperial Uncle Xiao couldn’t endure her visit. Who would dare resist?
“Dismissed,” the Emperor waved.
The officials scattered like they were being chased by ghosts.
“Chao Chao, your success in collecting debts merits a grand reward,” the Emperor said, beckoning her over.
“Grand Eunuch Wang, tally the loans and repayments.”
“All thanks to Chao Chao,” the Emperor declared warmly.
The eunuch calculated. “Your Majesty, the total loaned was 1.02 million taels. And the repayment…”
He paused, eyes widening, and quickly presented the ledger.
The Emperor glanced down. “1.32 million?!”
Even he was taken aback by the number.
“They donated extra,” Lu Chao Chao said casually, sitting cross-legged in a chair and munching on nuts, using the Imperial Jade Seal to crack them open.
The Emperor beamed with pride. “Good, good, good. Burn incense and inform the late emperor—I’ve recovered the long-overdue debts!”
“For your reward, 13%—130,000 taels—is yours. I am a man of my word.”
Lu Chao Chao paid no attention, asking only, “When’s dinner?”
Hearing her stomach growl, the Emperor immediately summoned the imperial kitchen.
After she finished eating, the Emperor whispered, “Chao Chao, how about I become your father? I’m far more reliable than Lu Yuan Ze. No one would dare bully you under my rule!”
Lu Chao Chao nodded. Her thoughts, however, lingered on her mother.
…
Late that night, Lu Chao Chao returned to her manor.
Imperial Uncle Xiao entered the palace, weeping bitterly.
Who could believe that a debt collection had turned him into a lonely old man?
“Mother, I’m back!” Lu Chao Chao clung to Madam Xu’s leg.
“Did you miss me?”
[Ah, Mother smells so good! Father missed out.]
“Your pockets are bulging. What treasures are those?” Madam Xu teased.
Lu Chao Chao clutched her pockets defensively. “Chao Chao’s treasures! No peeking!”
She scampered off, stacking chairs to stash her goodies on the highest shelf. Returning, she gloated, “Now no one can find them!”
Madam Xu entered the room, her gaze level with the stash.
“…”
Her: gonna put them high up?
Her mom: (immediately seeing them) when did theses get here?