Chapter 232: Surprise Turns to Shock
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Little Lu Chao Chao gently tugged at Madam Xu’s hand, her voice soft and pleading, her eyes wide with innocent hope. Overcome by her daughter’s heartfelt request, Madam Xu sighed deeply, her thoughts drifting back to a defining moment from her youth.
“He… the only decent thing he might have done in his entire life was probably… saving mine,” she confessed, her mind traveling back to when she was just fifteen, visiting the temple for blessings.
“I was returning home when I was ambushed by mountain bandits, and it was Lu Yuan Ze who rescued me, shielding me from a knife attack,” she recalled vividly.
Lu Yuan Ze had heroically intervened, pulling her close as a bandit’s knife sunk deep into his shoulder. His clothes were soaked in blood, and her heart raced with both fear and shock.
For a young girl of fifteen, such a dramatic rescue left a lasting impression.
“The Xu family didn’t care much about social status. Yet, my father, from just one look, was convinced he was not a good man.”
“Blinded by what I thought was love, I stubbornly insisted on marrying him.”
“He knelt outside the Xu family’s gate for three days with his injury. Out of pity, I joined him in his fast,” Madam Xu admitted, her smile tinged with a sense of irony.
[How do I tell Mother that the whole knife incident was staged?]
[From the moment he saw Mother, he was orchestrating a deception…]
A thought struck Madam Xu, and she murmured, “A ruse?”
“Mother, do you remember what the bandit leader looked like?” Chao Chao asked innocently, clutching a jade bottle in her tiny hands.
After a pause, Madam Xu replied, “Yes, I remember. The leader briefly showed his face…”
[Oh, Father had arranged for the bandits to kidnap Mother, only to stage a heroic rescue.]
[He even went so far as to eliminate the bandits to silence them. Such an elaborate scheme…]
[Poor Mother, completely deceived from the very beginning.]
Anger flashed across little Chao Chao’s face. How could she expose such a harsh truth to her mother?
Madam Xu clutched her chest, struck by a sudden pain.
“Mother, I caught a water ghost… don’t be scared…” Chao Chao opened the jade bottle, releasing a shadowy figure.
As the figure materialized, Madam Xu’s eyes widened in recognition—it was the face of the bandit leader.
The water ghost squirmed, its essence burning painfully.
Barely recognizable, the ghost knelt, pleading, “Madam Xu, please forgive me.”
“It was Lu Yuan Ze who ordered me to kidnap you. He wanted to play the hero to win your affection. Please, forgive my actions…” He rolled on the ground, his cries filled with agony.
Madam Xu stood motionless, her mind reeling—the bandit was one of Lu Yuan Ze’s men!
“Mother, are you okay?” Chao Chao asked, her voice laced with concern.
Madam Xu leaned heavily against the table, her eyes moist with unshed tears.
It had all been a lie.
Her entire life, a cruel joke.
Her hands shook as she pressed her lips together, trying to stifle the surge of bitterness.
“Mother, should I disperse the water ghost? He has wronged many innocents…” Chao Chao looked up at her mother, her face serious, understanding that her mother needed time to process the revelation.
With a slight nod, Madam Xu gave her assent.
Chao Chao acted swiftly, her small hands gesturing as the water ghost’s spirit dissipated into nothing, erased from existence.
Chao Chao left the room, her mood somber.
[Sigh, Father’s actions are truly despicable…]
[He deserves to be alone in this life…]
[I’m not happy… not happy…]
[I need to find something fun to cheer up.]
Madam Xu heard these thoughts faintly but didn’t dwell on them, knowing her daughter was merely seeking a distraction.
Seeking solitude, Madam Xu was unaware when Chao Chao slipped away to the palace.
Meanwhile, in the royal study, the king felt an unexpected chill.
“How is Consort Xian feeling?” he inquired of Eunuch Wang.
Consort Xian had been unwell recently, declining the king’s invitations under the pretext of her illness.
The king, recalling her previous kindness in preparing him soup, contemplated a visit.
“I heard she’s quite ill and hasn’t left her chambers,” Eunuch Wang reported.
Just then, a young eunuch hurried in.
“Your Majesty, Princess Sunshine has arrived at the palace, and she seems quite upset and moody…”
The tiny princess, her chubby cheeks rosy from the cold, looked adorable as she toddled around, one hand filled with seeds, the other clutching a milk jug.
“Father… where are you headed?” her voice was endearingly childlike.
The king smiled warmly, lifting Chao Chao into his arms. “I’m going to see Consort Xian; she’s caught a cold.”
“Sunshine, you’ve grown heavier.”
“Why did you come to the palace today, little one?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.
Chao Chao pouted adorably. “Chao Chao feel yucky. Came to find fun.”
The king was puzzled. The palace as a place for fun? An uneasy feeling crept over him…
“The dowager misses you. Shall we dine together later?” he suggested, hoping to distract her.
Chao Chao’s eyes lit up. “Can I also visit Consort Xian?”
“Of course. Your presence might cheer her up,” the king replied, amused by her enthusiasm.
“Let’s go informally, just us…”
The king carried her out, heading towards Yongning Palace, not far away.
“This is the entrance to Consort Hui’s residence. I’ll introduce you later. You’ll like her.”
“When Consort Hui first arrived, she faced much hostility from other concubines, especially from the proud Consort Shu, who confronted her on her very first day.” Back then, the king was newly crowned and distracted by his duties.
By the time he could intervene, Consort Hui and Consort Shu had reconciled.
“You must have helped Consort Hui quite a bit, right, Father?” Chao Chao asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
The king chuckled, tweaking her nose affectionately. “You are a clever little one.” He remembered his efforts to help Consort Hui adapt to palace life.
Outside the side hall, a maid noticed the king and blanched, fearing she needed to alert others.
The king raised his hand, signaling for discretion. “Don’t tell Consort Hui and Consort Xian. I want to surprise them,” he said with a playful grin. The maid bit her lip, visibly anxious.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“Consort Xian is sick. Perhaps I should warn her…” she stammered nervously.
“You foolish girl, how dare you obstruct the king!” Eunuch Wang scolded.
“If you jeopardize Consort Xian’s fortune, you’ll regret it!”
“Step aside!” he commanded, following the king into the side hall.
The maid paled, aware that the king usually bypassed this area. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she worried.
[Wow…]
[King Daddy, this surprise might lead to a shock…]
[Can you handle the ensuing drama?]
A spark of excitement lit up Chao Chao’s face, her previous irritation forgotten.
Oh my, need to prepare seeds XD