Chapter 265: A Crime Not Worthy of Death
(This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation)
“Did you hear that?” one court official whispered, his voice shaking with disbelief.
“You heard it too?” another official responded quietly, his face pale with surprise.
The king cleared his throat loudly, snapping everyone back to reality. All eyes turned toward Lu Chao Chao… or rather, her mouth.
“Where is that sound comi—” Minister Wang began to ask, but Minister Fang quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
[Father used Mother’s dowry to support his mistress. That mistress’s son tried to kill my big brother, leaving him in a wheelchair for ten years. And people are still defending him?] Lu Chao Chao thought furiously.
[Oh, it’s Minister Wang… That makes sense…]
Minister Wang’s eyes widened slightly. What did she mean by that?
[Minister Wang is indeed very filial…]
Minister Wang straightened up, a proud look flashing across his face. Of course, he was known for his filial piety.
Even the young Princess Sunshine noticed his good character and praised him in her thoughts.
[Too bad Minister Wang can’t have children…] the little one sighed softly.
Minister Wang: ??!!!
The entire court turned to look at him, stunned!
Can’t have children? Impossible! Minister Wang’s wife had given birth to two sons and a daughter!
Minister Wang’s face turned purple with rage. Lies! Absolute nonsense! But Minister Fang kept his hand firmly over his mouth.
[Poor Minister Wang… he’s the only one who doesn’t know he can’t have children. His father and his wife all know…]
Minister Wang’s mother had passed away a few years ago due to illness.
[To keep the family line going, his old father came up with a dirty trick, hehe…]
[Minister Wang’s father took matters into his own hands and secretly got his daughter-in-law, Madam Wu, pregnant. Minister Wang is actually raising his half-siblings as his own children. How funny. Even today, his wife is still sleeping in his father’s bed… Tsk tsk…]
[Indeed, very filial…]
[But since Minister Wang is so filial, he must forgive his father, right? A father’s kindness in raising a child is greater than the sky, after all. What could be wrong with just wanting to continue the family line?]
Minister Wang stood there as if struck by lightning, frozen in place.
His father… and his…
Wife??
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
But… he recalled how his father, who usually didn’t care about anything, was always particularly attentive to his “grandchildren,” far more than he ever was…
And when he scolded Madam Wu, the old man would even threaten to punish him according to family rules.
Minister Wang gritted his teeth, feeling the eyes of all the officials on him. He immediately said, “Your Majesty, I must leave the palace for urgent matters.”
The king nodded slightly.
Minister Wang turned and hurried out, his official hat falling off in his haste. He quickly picked it up and continued running.
Lu Chao Chao blinked her big eyes, lying on the crown prince’s shoulder. Her gaze fell on Minister Zhou.
[You know, Minister Zhou looks better in women’s clothes than in men’s…]
[Minister Zhou is quite daring…]
[It’s one thing to like wearing women’s clothes, but he even went out at night, wearing makeup and a veil, and flirted with a fellow official. He became that official’s secret crush!]
Minister Zhou: !!!!!
Minister Zhou’s legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
He stared at Lu Chao Chao, trembling all over.
The entire court was horrified, their eyes wide open. Minister Zhou! Wearing women’s clothes!
And which official actually thought he was their secret crush?
His reputation was in ruins, completely destroyed! Minister Zhou opened his mouth, wanting to tell Lu Chao Chao to stop, but Lu Chao Chao hadn’t even opened her mouth.
He was doomed.
He was finished…
[Minister Zhou is really interesting. Every day, he argues fiercely with Minister Li in the court. But then, he turns around, dressed in women’s clothes, with delicate makeup, and flirts with Minister Li…]
[Poor Minister Li, longing for his secret crush for decades, thinking she left without a word…] Lu Chao Chao giggled, smiling as she thought.
“Smack!” Minister Li slapped Minister Zhou across the face.
Minister Zhou wanted to cry but had no tears. Back then, he was young and impulsive, always arguing with Minister Li, unable to bear it, that’s why he did what he did…
The two of them turned around and started wrestling with each other.
There was no time to pay attention to Lu Yan Shu.
The king’s scalp tingled with fear, “Take them away! Cover their mouths!”
The female courtiers were baffled. “What’s going on? Why aren’t any of the ministers speaking?”
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes swept over the crowd.
[Hey, who’s that standing in front of my brother? Looks like Minister Zheng…]
[Oh, he’s a supporter of the previous dynasty. He hasn’t given up on restoring it. In his study, there’s even a dragon robe from the old dynasty.]
The king’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, false accusations!!” Minister Zheng tried to shout, but before he could finish, the leader of the royal guards covered his mouth and dragged him away.
The king gave a quick glance, and soldiers immediately went to his house to search for evidence.
[What’s happening? He’s been taken away?] Lu Chao Chao watched as he was dragged away, blinking her blurry eyes.
She yawned.
Unexpectedly… The ministers who had been confronting Lu Yan Shu, refusing to back down, all took a step back, looking at her in fear.
Lu Chao Chao’s gaze swept over a few more times, and some ministers immediately ducked their heads, hiding behind their colleagues.
Lu Chao Chao patted the crown prince’s shoulder. “Why is Big Brother standing there all alone? Is he feeling wronged?”
The crown prince hesitated. Uh…
He was feeling wronged earlier.
But now…
“Put me down,” Lu Chao Chao said, wriggling to jump down. The crown prince, panicked, quickly set her down.
She wobbled drunkenly as she took three steps toward Lu Yan Shu.
Lu Yan Shu hurriedly crouched down and caught the incoming Chao Chao.
“Big Brother, are you unhappy? Did someone bully you?” Lu Chao Chao put her hands on her hips, but not very steadily, nearly falling flat on her face.
“Chao Chao will stand up for you. Who bullied you?” Lu Yan Shu quickly picked her up.
The little girl turned to stare at the old ministers, her red cheeks puffed out. “Did you bully my big brother?” She frowned angrily, looking fierce despite her small size.
“No, not me!” The official closest to her quickly took a step back.
“Although Young Master Lu is young, he is a scholar of outstanding character and virtue. I didn’t bully him!” The minister who had been the loudest in opposing earlier hurriedly changed his tune.
Lu Chao Chao made a sound of understanding.
“Then… was it you?”
“Or was it you?” She pointed her small finger one by one, making the crowd turn pale with fright.
They all straightened their faces and answered seriously, “No, Your Highness, not me!”
Lu Yan Shu sniffed, his expression suspicious.
He sniffed her again and again.
“Chao Chao, have you been drinking?!” The young man, who hadn’t changed his expression even while confronting all the officials, now looked a bit scared.
Who was the idiot who gave a two-year-old a drink?! This could be dangerous!!
Lu Chao Chao giggled, raising her hand to point at Xie Yu Zhou and the sixth prince.
She turned her head and sold them out immediately.
“It was Brother Yu Zhou and sixth prince Brother who gave me a drink…”
“Osmanthus wine, not sweet, tricked me, don’t drink it.”
“Spicy, tummy spicy, mouth spicy… Dizzy, head dizzy…” Lu Chao Chao clung affectionately to her big brother’s neck, smelling the refreshing scent on him, feeling a little better.
“Take them out and beat them to death! How dare they give Princess Sunshine alcohol!” a minister shouted from within the crowd, pinching his voice.
He didn’t dare let Lu Chao Chao see his face, fearing she might reveal something terrible again.
What did they do to Princess Sunshine? How does she know everything??
Xie Yu Zhou and the sixth prince saw the murderous looks from the officials.
(This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation)
“Waaah!” They burst into tears.
“I… I only gave her a drop. I know I was wrong…”
“I just gave her a little wine. Why should I be beaten to death?!”
“Uncle King, it’s not a crime worthy of death, it’s not a crime worthy of death!!” Xie Yu Zhou had imagined a punishment like having his bottom whipped, maybe facing the ruler.
But he didn’t expect them to want him beaten to death!!
Just for a drop of wine at that!!!