Chapter 280: Kill the Chicken to Scare the Monkey
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation.
“Please, I beg you.”
“Shut up! Your abacus beads just flew off and hit the Old Madam’s face!” Lu Yan Shu clamped his hand tightly over his younger sister’s mouth.
[It’d be great if it killed her. Then I wouldn’t have to take the exam!]
[Ooooh, she better die right on time!]
[She’s never done a single good deed in her life. If she dies on my exam day, that’d at least earn her some merit.] Lu Chao Chao’s little face drooped in dismay.
She felt no sympathy for the Old Madam.
Despite her pitiful appearance, no one was as ruthless as her.
It was her idea—along with Madam Pei’s—to have Lu Chao Chao drowned.
Originally, Lu Yuan Ze had planned to frame the Xu family for embezzlement. But with one word from the Old Madam—saying corruption charges still held a chance of survival, but treason would destroy them completely—the entire Xu family was sentenced to extermination.
With just a single sentence, she had sealed the fate of an entire clan.
Lu Chao Chao felt nothing but loathing toward her.
Even Lu Yuan Ze and Madam Pei’s scheming had been fueled by the Old Madam pushing from behind the scenes.
She wanted to support her own natal family. Unfortunately, she ended up dooming her own lineage instead.
Lu Yan Shu nearly laughed aloud.
He was only worried that Chao Chao might actually end up killing the Old Madam with that abacus. The old woman didn’t seem to have much time left as it was.
“Is the exam really that miserable?”
“How about I teach you for a few days? The Prime Minister has invited me several times to give lectures to the students.” Lu Yan Shu stroked his sister’s small face. So soft. So adorable.
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes spun with thought.
“Then… Big Brother can’t give me homework!”
Lu Yan Shu agreed without hesitation.
The next morning, Lu Chao Chao cheerfully carried her small school bag to class.
“Big Brother is my teacher today! Happy, happy!” The little one clutched her brother’s hand and skipped out the door.
“Keep an eye on things. If the Old Madam breathes her last, send someone over.”
“Wearing mourning clothes? Not a chance!”
“The family registry, the severance letter, everything is already prepared. Mourning is for descendants. That has nothing to do with us!” A family line cut short should have the awareness of its own doom.
Shi Yun’s expression was cold, completely devoid of pity.
Through Chao Chao’s inner thoughts, she had already pieced together her past life.
Why should her children suffer such fates?
Those people had never shown her children mercy—why should she show them any?
This was simply the punishment they deserved!
“This is exactly how it should be! Serves them right!” Deng Zhi grinned.
That afternoon, instead of Lu Chao Chao returning home first, it was her elder brother who arrived.
“Big Brother, why are you here today? Come in, sit! Chao Chao was just saying this morning she wanted to go to Uncle’s house to eat candied pork knuckle.” Shi Yun welcomed her brother inside.
But Xu Yi Ting’s face was unusually grave.
He waved his hand, dismissing the servants.
Then he instructed his attendants to guard the outside and let no one approach.
“Shi Yun, that dragon-patterned jade pendant—has anyone outside seen it?” Worry lined Xu Yi Ting’s brow as he looked at his sister, feeling a pang in his heart.
She had nearly frozen to death as a newborn in the snow.
Raised with great difficulty, she had fallen victim to that wretch Lu Yuan Ze.
And just when she was finally engaged to Rong Che and could have some peace, the Southern Kingdom had sent their people.
Shi Yun’s eyes narrowed. “Only Chao Chao and Deng Zhi know.” Then she paused.
“And Lu Yuan Ze.”
“Back when we were first married, I had no guard against him. I once showed him the jade pendant. A few years ago, Madam Pei even urged him to demand it. After I refused, I gave the pendant to Chao Chao.” A hint of guilt appeared on Shi Yun’s face.
“Has that pendant brought trouble?”
Xu Yi Ting shook his head. “Keep it hidden. Do not show it to anyone. That jade pendant is likely a vital treasure of the Southern Kingdom’s royal family.”
“The envoy from the Southern Kingdom is Nan Mu Bai, the eldest son of the Eldest Princess.”
“The royal bloodline of the Southern Kingdom is unique. Their daughters do not marry outside, and all royal descendants have an equal chance to summon deities. Back then, the Eldest Princess was the foremost candidate for the imperial throne.”
Xu Yi Ting gazed deeply at Shi Yun. When he had first carried her home, she had been a tiny, frostbitten infant, her eyebrows dusted with ice.
Such a fragile child, yet they had raised her into a fine woman.
She had built a family and had children of her own.
But now, they were facing a formidable force.
“Originally, the Eldest Princess was the favored heir of the late emperor.”
“However, one year, the emperor was ambushed and stranded outside the palace. He was rescued by a farmer’s daughter, lost his memory, and married her. They had a daughter.” This was information Xu Yi Ting had gathered from the palace.
Shi Yun’s fingers tightened around her teacup, her breath catching.
“It is said that the emperor sold paintings for a living until the Eldest Princess tracked him down and forcibly brought him back to the palace. But after regaining his memories, he could no longer find the mother and child.”
“Before leaving, he left behind a dragon-patterned jade pendant…”
The teacup shattered in Shi Yun’s grip.
Her eyes reddened as she looked at her brother, lips pressed tight, at a loss for words.
“Since his return, the emperor has been secretly searching for the mother and child, but after more than thirty years, there has been no trace.”
“Originally, the Southern Kingdom’s emperor intended to pass the throne to the Eldest Princess, but in recent years, that decision has been postponed.” Xu Yi Ting frowned deeply.
“There are even rumors that he will only abdicate if his long-lost daughter is found. But if so, the Eldest Princess would never tolerate their existence. The assassination attempt on you last time was likely her doing.”
“Big Brother, I only want to be a daughter of the Xu family. I do not want to leave Northern Zhao, nor my home.” Shi Yun’s voice trembled.
“I have no attachment to the Southern Kingdom. I have no ambition for power. I only wish for a simple, peaceful life.”
“I know.” Xu Yi Ting sighed.
“Don’t be afraid. You will always be our little sister. No one can take you away.”
“Nan Mu Bai is currently investigating whether any abandoned girls appeared in the capital thirty-five years ago. Fortunately, Mother had just given birth to our younger brother at the time and publicly announced that you and he were twins. This helps conceal your identity.”
“As for Lu Yuan Ze…” Xu Yi Ting’s expression turned cold.
Dead men tell no tales.
But Lu Yuan Ze was an official of the court and under heavy scrutiny due to his scandal. Moving against him would be difficult.
“Don’t worry. There’s always a way forward. Your children are all extraordinary, and with Chao Chao and General Rong, even His Majesty wouldn’t permit them to take you away. Just avoid interacting with the Southern Kingdom’s envoys for now. Keep your distance.”
Besides, Shi Yun was just an ordinary person.
The Southern Kingdom’s royal family had their mysticism—if she went, she would be devoured whole.
Even with Chao Chao’s abilities, she was just a two-and-a-half-year-old child. What could she do?
Xu Yi Ting only stayed a short while before departing in haste to discuss matters with their father.
Shi Yun sat in silence until nightfall.
Only when Chao Chao returned home did she finally compose herself, smoothing her expression into a smile.
Lu Chao Chao had left the house joyful, but returned with a face as black as the bottom of a pot.
“How was your lesson today, Yan Shu?” Shi Yun asked.
Lu Yan Shu smiled. “Very smooth.”
“Did Chao Chao’s classmates actually behave?” Shi Yun was curious. Even the Prime Minister had fallen ill from dealing with them—how had Yan Shu managed?
Lu Chao Chao’s face drooped.
“Big Brother killed a chicken to scare the monkeys. My classmates are terrified of him.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was the chicken!” Lu Chao Chao puffed her cheeks and glared at her brother indignantly.
Of course it went smoothly—her suffering was the foundation of his success!