Chapter 220: Kicking an Iron Plate
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
The Headmaster firmly covered Lu Chao Chao’s mouth.
[Pouring oil on the fire, you’ve got quite the knack for it.]
[You were one step away from convincing Prince Jing Xi to beat his own heir to death!]
The Princess Consort of Jing Xi clutched Xie Yu Zhou in her arms, weeping, while Prince Jing Xi’s face darkened, his fury evident in his ragged breaths.
Lu Chao Chao pried the Headmaster’s hand away.
“Actually, it’s not really Brother Yu Zhou’s fault.”
“When the upper beam isn’t straight, the lower beam tilts. Brother Yu Zhou is only six years old; maybe he just picked up those insults from someone else…” As she spoke, she turned her gaze to the overly doting Princess Consort of Jing Xi.
Prince Jing Xi clenched his teeth.
His appearance was unremarkable, yet his main wife was an extraordinary beauty. The contrast between them was stark.
Could it be that the Princess Consort found him ugly?
At this moment, the Princess Consort of Jing Xi collapsed onto the floor, her body limp. “I didn’t, I didn’t!”
“Princess Sunshine is sowing discord, trying to drive a wedge between us!” Her eyes were filled with fear—she knew all too well the deep-seated insecurities of her husband.
Lu Chao Chao waved a hand dismissively. “Princess Consort, you said it yourself. I’m just a child.”
“Children speak without restraint, just joking around…”
[Hmph! Your son insulted my mother and called it childish prattle. Now I’ll show you just how sharp childish words can be!]
The Princess Consort of Jing Xi’s expression darkened.
The Headmaster awkwardly covered Lu Chao Chao’s mouth again. “I beg you, ancestor, please stop talking.”
[On the very first day of his return to the capital, Prince Jing Xi is already considering divorce?]
[Hmph, who isn’t a brat sometimes?]
[Does being a child mean you can run your mouth unchecked and hurt others however you please? Only when the knife cuts into your own flesh will you learn pain…]
Prince Jing Xi glared fiercely at his wife, and this time, the Princess Consort didn’t dare defend their son.
Xie Yu Zhou stifled his cries. He had only insulted Lu Chao Chao—how had this escalated into a rift between his parents?
Even his father and mother were now at odds!
Prince Jing Xi stormed out in rage, and the Princess Consort hurried after him in panic. “My lord, please listen to my explanation! I have never despised you! I am innocent!”
The gathered crowd exchanged bewildered glances.
Xie Yu Zhou, still crying, pointed at Lu Chao Chao. “I will tell Imperial Uncle! I will tell Imperial Grandmother! They will punish you!”
“Go ahead, go ahead! Let’s see who punishes whom!”
[If Emperor Daddy punishes me, then I won’t be his daughter anymore.]
[Hmph!]
Xie Yu Zhou sobbed his way out the door, ordering his servants to prepare a carriage for the palace.
The Headmaster lightly tapped Lu Chao Chao’s nose. “Last night, the heir of Prince Jing Xi returned to the capital and took a liking to the Sixth Prince’s sword. The Sixth Prince refused to give it up, so the heir smashed his head with an inkstone. That child is utterly spoiled.”
“I don’t care how spoiled he is. He cannot insult my mother.” Lu Chao Chao’s tone was firm—this was her bottom line.
The Headmaster’s brows lifted in amusement. “You’re a good child.”
Madam Xu bid farewell to the Headmaster and picked up Lu Chao Chao to leave.
After all the commotion, the morning lessons were completely disrupted.
“Thank you, Chao Chao, for protecting Mother. Mother is truly blessed to have you.” Madam Xu expressed her gratitude solemnly.
Ever since her divorce, she had endured much gossip and slander.
But she never expected that her daughter had been shielding her in her own way.
“Chao Chao is also very happy to have Mother.”
“Hmph, he can tattle, but Chao Chao can’t?”
“Mother, I want to go to the palace too!” Lu Chao Chao wanted to see for herself—would Emperor Daddy side with her or not?
“Do you need me to accompany you?” Madam Xu asked.
Lu Chao Chao waved her hand. “Children’s matters should be handled by children! I have reinforcements…” She patted her pouch full of jade pendants. If words couldn’t settle the matter, she would just summon her allies.
Estimating her support, she figured she could summon half of the imperial court.
Lu Chao Chao mounted Windchaser and headed straight for the palace.
Arriving outside the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, she could already hear Xie Yu Zhou’s wailing complaints.
“Imperial Grandmother, Yu Zhou just returned to the capital and was immediately bullied. You must uphold justice for Yu Zhou!”
“Yu Zhou only spoke a few words, and my face was scratched! Wuwuwu…”
“Imperial Uncle, am I still your most beloved nephew? Wuwuwu… Is it just because I grew up outside the capital that people here refuse to acknowledge me?”
Xie Yu Zhou revealed the injuries on his face, causing the Empress Dowager to erupt in fury.
“Outrageous!”
“Yu Zhou, my dear grandson, who dared to scratch your precious face?”
“My heart aches! You’ve only been back in the capital for a single day, and already someone has marred your face! Summon the Imperial Physician at once!”
The Emperor’s expression darkened slightly.
He and Xie Jing Xi were born of the same mother, but Xie Jing Xi had spent years away in his fief. He had even once taken a blade for him. Thus, the Emperor deeply cherished his younger brother.
And his younger brother’s only legitimate son was, naturally, someone he treasured to the bone.
“I want to see who dares act with such lawlessness, harming even Yu Zhou!”
“I will ensure you receive justice!”
“Yu Zhou, who harmed you?” The Emperor’s cold voice inquired.
Xie Yu Zhou paused, his small face twisting for a moment.
[Imperial Uncle dotes on me the most. Yes, the most!]
[How could Lu Chao Chao, just a mere adopted daughter, surpass my favor?]
“It was Princess Sunshine!” Xie Yu Zhou declared righteously.
The Emperor felt a cold sweat break out on his back.
“Who did you say?” The Empress Dowager’s grip on his hand loosened as she stared at him in shock.
Xie Yu Zhou sniffled and exposed the marks on his arm, secretly pushing the blame onto Lu Chao Chao.
Yesterday, he had injured the Sixth Prince, but as long as he looked pitiful, his Imperial Grandmother would always feel sorry for him. This trick worked flawlessly against adults.
“Princess Sunshine, the new adopted daughter of Imperial Uncle!”
“She flaunts Imperial Uncle’s favor and acts recklessly, bullying others. Even I, your grandson, was not spared. Just look at how arrogant she is!”
“Imperial Grandmother, you love Yu Zhou the most, right?” Xie Yu Zhou gazed at the Empress Dowager expectantly.
Eh? Why was the heartache on the Empress Dowager’s face gone?
She had been wiping her tears just now…
Imperial Uncle had also been enraged a moment ago, but now his expression looked rather twisted?
After a long silence, the Emperor asked seriously, “Did you fight back? Did you hit her?”
Xie Yu Zhou’s lips quivered, and tears threatened to fall again.
“I couldn’t win. She is incredibly strong and pinned me down, then beat me up. Wuwuwu…”
“Well done! Well done!” The Emperor let out a relieved breath and spoke loudly.
The Empress Dowager also clutched her chest and sighed, “Thank goodness, thank goodness Princess Sunshine wasn’t hurt. What did you do to provoke her? Your skin is thick—be careful not to hurt her hands.”
Xie Yu Zhou: ??????
Tears hung on his face as he stared at them in disbelief.
“If Princess Sunshine hit you, she must have had a reason. She is not one to act unruly,” the Empress Dowager added.
“Mother is right. That child, Lu Chao Chao, was raised well by Madam Xu!” The Emperor nodded in agreement.
Even more commendable was Lu Chao Chao’s kind heart.
Every winter, the little one would use her allowance to set up porridge stations outside the city, providing shelter for refugees and beggars.
For her to bully others? The Emperor did not believe it for a second.
“Did you offend Princess Sunshine?” The Emperor, recalling Lu Chao Chao’s lazy nature, couldn’t help but ask.
Xie Yu Zhou shrank his neck, stammering but not daring to answer.
Seeing this, how could the Emperor not understand? Clearly, he was trying to shift the blame.
[Good heavens, he dares to distort the truth?]
“Jing Xi has truly spoiled you beyond reason! You are but a child, yet you speak nothing but lies. Someone, send him back to Prince Jing Xi’s Manor for proper discipline!”
The Empress Dowager, who had been calling him her precious grandson just moments ago, now wore a stern face.
The little tyrant bawled, his cries heart-wrenching. Why? Why?!
Meanwhile, the Sixth Prince, with his head wrapped in white bandages, grinned smugly.
“Serves you right for kicking an iron wall! You totally deserved it!”