Chapter 199: Chao Chao’s Bottom Line
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Lu Jing Huai stood in the snow for a long time.
So long that even the little maid hiding at the corner was trembling from the cold before he finally left silently.
By the time he returned home, the maid had already arrived before him.
Jiang Yun Jin’s face was deathly pale, her body swaying as if she could collapse at any moment. She had imagined Lu Jing Huai losing interest in her, but she had never expected the truth to be so revolting.
“No wonder… No wonder… After our wedding, he never wanted to consummate our marriage.”
“Lu Jing Huai!” Jiang Yun Jin’s tears fell in heavy drops.
“How dare you deceive me like this!”
She must have been blind to have chosen Lu Jing Huai!
Thinking of Lu Yan Shu, her heart ached even more.
“Madam, please don’t cry. The young master has returned to the manor. Be careful not to let him see anything unusual. Today is the first day of the new year, and you still have to pay respects.” The maid carefully redid her makeup, covering the paleness of her face.
“Besides, this is only something I heard. There’s no actual proof yet…” the maid whispered.
Jiang Yun Jin bit down on her lip so hard that blood seeped out.
“Say nothing about this. Have someone follow him in secret,” Jiang Yun Jin took a deep breath, forcing herself to appear normal.
The marriage she fought so hard to secure turned out to be this humiliating!
Expressionless, she walked into the main hall.
Lu Yuan Ze and Lu Jing Huai had already returned and were seated in the hall waiting for her.
“Father, Mother, may you have a prosperous New Year,” Jiang Yun Jin lowered her head in greeting, never sparing Lu Jing Huai a glance.
Madam Pei smiled and said, “Good, good, may you soon bear a child and bring more joy to the family.”
Jiang Yun Jin’s expression stiffened slightly.
“Jing Huai studies hard. Jin Niang, make sure to take good care of him,” Madam Pei said with a gentle smile, though her eyes turned displeased at Jiang Yun Jin’s grim face.
“Why are you pulling such a long face? You are in charge of the household, and no one in the manor has mistreated you. Acting like this on the first day of the new year will chase away good fortune,” Madam Pei scolded with resentment.
Jiang Yun Jin had begged to marry into the Lu family. Madam Pei was proud of this and often lorded it over Jiang Yun Jin, the only time she could assert her authority.
“Enough,” Lu Yuan Ze interrupted her.
He simply wanted to have a peaceful meal on the first day of the year.
Madam Pei swallowed her anger. The room was filled with different thoughts. Her eyes reddened—Lu Yuan Ze must regret driving Madam Xu away!
She had seen it herself—Lu Yuan Ze had chased after Madam Xu’s carriage!
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao was already sitting in the palanquin heading to the palace.
As Princess Sunshine, she had to enter the palace to pay respects on the first day of the new year.
“I dun wanna go to the palace…”
“But dey give lucky money… an’ dey let me eat…”
“Yestaday, Emperor Daddy even sent a cookbook…”
“Can’t I eat all three meals at once?”
Eat breakfast, eat lunch, then eat dinner—all at once. No waiting.
Holding onto Windchaser’s leash, Lu Chao Chao mumbled all the way.
As soon as they entered the palace, Windchaser darted off, dashing around wildly. It knew the palace well.
Upon arrival, Lu Chao Chao headed straight for the Empress Dowager’s residence.
“Windchaser! Windchaser! Don’t run away!” Lu Chao Chao hurriedly tried to catch him.
Chasing her dog through the palace, weaving in and out, Lu Chao Chao was soon drenched in sweat.
This place looked desolate. She had never seen such a sight in the palace before.
“Where is dis?” she asked.
Yu Shu whispered, “Princess, this is where banished consorts are kept.” It was also what others called the Cold Palace.
Lu Chao Chao faintly heard the sound of crying from inside.
“Mother Consort, Mother Consort, please forgive Ning’er. Ning’er knows she was wrong.”
“Ning’er never wanted to harm you. Ning’er was just scared. Please, Mother Consort, forgive me…”
“Release me at once! I am the Emperor’s only daughter! You wretched servants, let me out of here!”
Xie Yi Ning’s cries were heart-wrenching as she pounded against the wooden doors. The cold palace was overgrown with weeds, its desolation evident in every crumbling corner. Only a handful of palace maids remained, one of whom had even lost her tongue.
“You wretched slave, don’t block my way!” Xie Yi Ning snarled, recognizing the woman before her.
That maid had once served her. A mere mistake—tea that was too hot, a scalded tongue—and Xie Yi Ning had ordered her tongue to be cut out.
Now, fate had led them to meet again in this forsaken place.
Inside the dim chamber, Consort Xiao sat disheveled upon her bed, her left cheek wrapped in bandages that seeped with fresh blood.
“You still think you can leave?” Her voice was sharp, filled with venom. “You ruined me! You turned me into neither human nor ghost, and now you want to escape?”
“I cherished you, protected you, yet this is how you repay me?”
“Xie Yi Ning, you wretched creature! Why did I not drown you at birth? You cost me the Emperor’s favor, sent me to this cold palace, and pushed me into the jaws of a bear!”
“You heartless wretch, I am your mother!”
“I spoiled you, indulged you, and in the end, I destroyed myself!”
A sharp slap echoed through the chamber.
Xie Yi Ning’s cries grew shrill.
Beyond the doors, Lu Chao Chao watched with not a hint of sympathy. “One reaps what one sows. The outcome is quite fitting.”
In the original tale, Xie Yi Ning and Lu Jing Yao had been the best of friends.
Overindulged by Consort Xiao, Xie Yi Ning grew arrogant and reckless. She took pleasure in tormenting others.
She had once personally turned Lu Yuan Xiao into a human swine, displaying him for amusement in the most gruesome manner.
Leaving the cold palace behind, Lu Chao Chao made her way to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
Within the warm chamber, silver-threaded charcoal glowed in the brazier. She removed her outer coat, revealing her plump figure.
“Imperial Grandmother!”
Like a tiny cannonball, she launched herself into the Empress Dowager’s embrace.
“Oh my, my little Chao Chao is growing sturdier by the day!” The Empress Dowager chuckled, nearly toppling over from the impact.
“’Cause Grandmother told Chao Chao to stay healthy!”
“Chao Chao is doing just that!”
Her words brought a smile to the Empress Dowager’s face, her wrinkles deepening with joy.
“You mischievous little one.”
The Empress Dowager then spoke with warmth, “I have yet to thank you for your efforts in purging the Xiao family. Had they been left unchecked, they would have corrupted our bloodline.”
“Also, thank you for helping my useless younger brother.” Love and gratitude filled her gaze. If not for Chao Chao, she would have long since perished.
Had it not been for Chao Chao, the Xiao clan’s tainted lineage would have destroyed everything.
Her only daughter, the Eldest Princess, had given birth to twins—all thanks to Chao Chao’s blessing.
“You truly are Grandmother’s treasure. The only good thing the Emperor ever did was making you his adopted daughter.” The Empress Dowager’s expression softened.
“Bring the red packets,” she ordered.
She had prepared them in advance, knowing Chao Chao would come to offer New Year’s greetings.
Seated regally upon her chair, she watched as the plump little girl knelt upon the prayer mat, her movements clumsy as she bowed.
“Happy New Year, Imperial Grandmother! May you live a hundred years and more!”
The elderly woman beamed. “And may my little Chao Chao have a joyous New Year, with peace and happiness always.”
She handed over the red packet.
Then another.
“And may my little Chao Chao remain safe and sound for all the years to come.”
Lu Chao Chao gleefully accepted them.
“I hear Chao Chao will begin schooling after the new year?”
“Then, may you excel in your studies.”
She offered another red packet.
Lu Chao Chao’s small hand hesitated mid-air before pulling back, eyes blinking with exaggerated slowness. She then shook her head rapidly, her chubby hands waving in firm rejection.
“Imperial Grandmother, Chao Chao has principles!”
“Chao Chao won’t take money that shouldn’t be taken!”
The Empress Dowager: ???