Chapter 266: The Frustrated Officials
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“Uncle King, Yu Zhou didn’t do anything bad! I only… only gave her a tiny drop of wine!” Xie Yu Zhou’s small face turned pale with fear. He had just given Lu Chao Chao a single drop of wine, but the court officials were so furious that he thought they might lash out at him.
Xie Yu Zhou felt a wave of terror, as though he might faint from the intense stares of the enraged officials.
[Who would believe this? I just gave her one drop of wine, and now everyone’s looking at me like I’m a monster!]
He didn’t understand that this single drop of wine had caused Lu Chao Chao to accidentally spill secrets, leaving the officials both frightened and bewildered.
The king waved his hand, and Xie Jingxi quickly led his frightened son away. A slight smile formed on Lord Jingxi’s face. His son had been unruly at home, and despite a year of efforts, he couldn’t change his behavior. But now, a single drop of wine given to Lu Chao Chao seemed to have done the trick.
Lu Chao Chao clung to her big brother’s neck. “Big Bwother, why you cwying?”
Lu Yan Shu glanced at his mother, feeling a deep ache in his heart for both her and Uncle Rong.
“Just some dust in my eyes,” Lu Yan Shu whispered softly.
“Oh, let Chao Chao blow it away… whoosh, whoosh…” Chao Chao blew gently, her innocent gesture warming Lu Yan Shu’s heart.
“The newly appointed top scholar will become the crown prince’s tutor. Does anyone object?” the king asked again, his eyebrows raised.
Lu Chao Chao looked up. [Let’s see who dares to oppose my big bwother.]
Her gaze fell on Minister Fang.
Minister Fang felt a shiver down his spine. “Your Majesty, I have no objections. Chao Chao’s family has always been good to us. How could I oppose this?” He wisely refrained from mentioning his earlier attempts to sway the king.
The king looked around the hall, satisfied. Chao Chao was proving to be quite useful! Yet, a thought nagged at him—how was he suddenly able to hear Chao Chao’s thoughts?
“Since there are no objections, this matter is settled. Eunuch Wang, prepare the decree.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the eunuch replied quietly.
“General Rong is the War God of North Zhao, and North Zhao cannot be without you. No one is allowed to interfere with your marriage!”
The officials glanced nervously at Lu Chao Chao. They wanted to protest, but they were afraid she’d reveal more of their thoughts.
The king looked smug. [Serves them right.]
“Come here, Chao Chao, let King Daddy hold you!”
“Ooh, so nice… but you’re getting a bit chubby, little one…” he teased.
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes narrowed.
The king suddenly felt uneasy, realizing he might have crossed a line by teasing her.
[Who’s chubby, huh? I didn’t even say your hat was gween!]
[Hmph, Chao Chao mad at King Daddy!]
[He deserves it for what Concubine Hui did to him!] She gritted her tiny teeth.
The First Prince looked at Lu Chao Chao, shocked and confused.
[Mother put a green hat on Father??]
Everyone in the court stared at the king, terrified. His favorite concubine had betrayed him?
“Silence!” the king roared.
Lu Chao Chao looked at him, confused. “Who talking? Chao Chao no say anything…” She rolled her eyes, trying to look innocent.
The king felt a chill down his spine. “Today’s celebration is over! Everyone, leave the palace now!”
Inside, the king kept praying, “Don’t talk, don’t talk…”
[Is he upset because of Concubine Hui? Makes sense. He thinks she loves him, but she’s just using him.]
[He thinks she came to the palace to make him happy, but she really wants another lady…]
[And who said she likes ladies?]
[Oh, and Concubine Shu would do anything for her.]
The sixth prince stared blankly at Lu Chao Chao. What did she just say??
The king staggered and almost fell, but the queen caught him.
The king gently patted the queen’s hand. “Wan Wan, thankfully I still have you. You are loyal to me, and I will never betray you.”
The queen smiled softly. “Your Majesty, you’ve had too much to drink.”
The king’s face remained blank, but inside, he was filled with regret and embarrassment.
[Why did I tease Lu Chao Chao? Why did I call her chubby? Stupid mouth!]
Chao Chao might have been a little greedy and her cheeks a bit round, but she was still just a baby. She didn’t look that much chubbier than any other two-year-old…
[Why did I say that? Why did I have to be so stupid!]
The king worried whether the officials had overheard her thoughts. Judging by their faces, it was best not to mention it.
“Eunuch Wang, go and warn all the civil and military officials. No one is allowed to talk about what happened tonight! If I hear any rumors, I’ll wipe out their families!” The king’s face was stern and severe. He was determined to protect Chao Chao from any harmful gossip.
Eunuch Wang, though confused, obediently went to deliver the warning to each family of the officials.
The First Prince, visibly distressed, looked at his father. He opened his mouth to speak but found himself speechless.
All his grievances against the king vanished in that moment.
The king had spared him, which he could only see as an act of mercy.
Madam Xu wiped away her tears and helped Rong Che to his feet. “Why are you so foolish? You earned all that military honor with your life, and you just threw it away!”
Rong Che looked at her with a happy smile. “Military achievements are just numbers; people are what matter. If I have Lady Yun, being a simple noble at home doesn’t bother me.”
Madam Xu scolded him with a stern look, but inside, her heart felt warm. “So silly.”
Rong Che smiled broadly. He wasn’t foolish at all. By stepping down from his position, he ensured he could be with Lady Yun forever.
Making a name for oneself was for those without commitments.
He, Rong Che, only wanted to be with his beloved.
Xie Yu Zhou cried as he followed his father, Lord Jingxi. “Father, it was just one drop of wine. It’s not something to die over. Please don’t let them kill me…” He still shivered remembering the deadly looks from the officials.
Those old officials really seemed like they wanted to end him.
He couldn’t grasp why that tiny drop of wine had sparked such chaos!
After the palace cleared out, Rong Che looked at Chao Chao with concern. He had noticed that those with royal blood and the civil and military officials could hear Chao Chao’s thoughts.
“Madam Xu, General Rong, please go back to your residence for now. I will escort Chao Chao back later,” the crown prince said, cradling Chao Chao tenderly, his expression soft.
Though young, the crown prince always seemed wiser than his years.
“Mommy, I gonna go home with Brother Crown Prince later, okay?” Chao Chao spoke in her sweet, babyish voice, waving her little hand.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Madam Xu said reluctantly, bowing and then leaving the palace with Rong Che.
They didn’t go far, though, waiting just outside the palace gates with Lu Yan Shu.
The crown prince sighed gently. “Chao Chao, what are we going to do with you…”
“The officials are almost scared to death because of your thoughts. They’ll probably have nightmares tonight…”
He hadn’t anticipated that after being entered into the royal records, Chao Chao’s fate would become intertwined with the nation’s. The fact that the officials could hear her thoughts was unforeseen.
The little girl smiled, still unaware that her innermost thoughts were not private.
By the time the crown prince took her back to the Eastern Palace, Chao Chao was already half-asleep.
He bent down, listening to her strong, steady heartbeat. “Chao Chao, I promise, I’ll make sure everything is set right.”
“Just hold on a little longer…”
“Chong Yue wants to take the Heart of North Zhao, just bear with it…” In his previous life, his master had remained composed during a heart extraction, but now, he hesitated to proceed.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
His hand shook, and his heart weighed heavy with sadness.
Allowing Chao Chao to feel her heartbeat, even for a brief period, he questioned whether it was the right choice.
But recalling that Chao Chao had spent two and a half years without ever feeling a heartbeat made him relent.
He was terrified, afraid that she might never experience this simple, vital part of life.
Unaware of the young man’s thoughts, the little one slept soundly, cheeks rosy, her thick lashes fluttering gently, a picture of peace and innocence.