Chapter 281: Requesting Three Days of Mourning
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“Mother, is Grandmother still alive?” Lu Chao Chao asked Madam Xu with a serious expression.
Madam Xu nodded. “You actually care about her?”
This little one had always hated the old madam for her cruelty. Why was she suddenly so kind-hearted?
“She’s still hanging on to her last breath. Today, the clan leader opened the ancestral hall to officially recognize Lu Yuan Xi and Lu Jing Huai into the family registry. The old madam was so enraged she coughed up blood. I doubt she’ll last much longer.”
Lu Chao Chao let out a small “Oh.”
“I heard there’s an exam tomorrow. Chao Chao, have you prepared?” Madam Xu asked.
Lu Chao Chao blinked her big eyes. “I’m ready.”
“Mother, I need to go review my books now.” With that, she bounced off toward her room.
The little girl clasped her hands together. “Grandmother is suffering so much. May she find peace and pass on soon.”
She then knelt down, bowed solemnly, and climbed into bed.
Reviewing? That was out of the question.
Before dawn the next day, Yu Shu was already attending to her, helping her wash up.
“You mustn’t be late today. The Chief Minister wants to assess everyone’s knowledge.”
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes remained shut, her small face flushed with sleep. She let the maids clean her up while still half-asleep.
With the exam on her mind, she had no appetite. She lazily took a couple of bites before heading out. As she stepped outside, she accidentally kicked Windchaser’s broken bowl, sending it clattering.
“Wake up, Windchaser!”
“The morning is the best time of the day. Get up and guard the door.”
“Look at me—I woke up so early!”
Lu Chao Chao huffed, rousing the confused dog before climbing into the carriage.
Windchaser wagged his tail, staring at his now-empty bowl.
How heartless!
“Take a detour to Chief Minister Yuan’s residence,” Lu Chao Chao mumbled, still groggy.
“A student must bring warmth to her teacher.”
Upon arriving at the Yuan residence, she dashed into the main courtyard on her short legs.
The servants didn’t dare stop Princess Sunshine from causing mischief, so they could only watch helplessly.
Bang, bang, bang!
She pounded on Chief Minister Yuan’s bedroom door with forceful determination.
Perhaps because she had a grudge against mornings, she knocked with such fervor that the door nearly fell off its hinges.
“Stop knocking! Who dares disturb me so early?!” Chief Minister Yuan, with his graying hair and beard, hurriedly opened the door.
He disliked having attendants in his room at night, so he was always alone.
As he opened the door, he was met with complete darkness.
“Can you lower your head a little?” Lu Chao Chao felt discriminated against.
Chief Minister Yuan looked down and saw Lu Chao Chao staring up at him with a face full of grievance.
“Teacher, it’s time for class! You always say, ‘The morning is the best time of the day,’” she said, eyes brimming with innocence.
Chief Minister Yuan nearly collapsed in anger. That banging—he thought Northern Zhao had been overthrown!
Just because she woke up early?!
“The sun hasn’t even risen!” he barked.
“You know that?! Yet I’M awake! So you should be too!” Lu Chao Chao fumed.
Chief Minister Yuan gritted his teeth. “Fine, fine! I’m up, you little menace!”
“What terrible karma did I accumulate in my past life to become your teacher?!”
Recalling his recent fright, he leaned in slightly to listen for her thoughts.
Hearing nothing, he was somewhat relieved.
The entire court had nearly died of shock last time.
Lu Chao Chao, satisfied that she had succeeded in waking her teacher, let go of her resentment.
“Fetch my heart medicine!” Chief Minister Yuan shouted.
“Have the imperial physician prescribe me a year’s supply!”
Lu Chao Chao giggled, grabbed her book bag, and ran off to the carriage.
“Don’t worry, old man. You’ll live at least another ten years,” she reassured Yu Shu.
Besides, she had merit protecting her. Anyone who taught her would only gain blessings and longevity.
By the time she reached the academy, the sky was still dark.
She swayed her head alongside her classmates as they recited their lessons. Chief Minister Yuan entered with a dark expression.
Lu Chao Chao grinned widely.
“Today, we have an assessment.”
“Everyone, review your notes.”
“Ah, I’m terrified! If I do poorly, my father will beat me!”
“Princess Sunshine, are you ready?” the children whispered among themselves.
Lu Chao Chao was the youngest in the class. Though exceptionally bright with a photographic memory, her interpretations were always… peculiar.
Her palms had suffered many smacks from the discipline ruler.
Lu Chao Chao waved a small hand. “I haven’t read or memorized a thing. I’m not worried at all!”
Her classmates exchanged glances, suddenly relieved.
“Princess Sunshine isn’t prepared. That means we won’t be the worst!”
“We’ll just tell our parents we did worse on purpose to protect the Princess’s dignity. Surely, they’ll hit us less.”
“Yes, yes! Princess Sunshine is so noble!” Their worried expressions quickly turned into grins.
Seeing her lack of preparation, everyone relaxed and played instead of cramming.
Chief Minister Yuan watched them coldly.
Half an hour later: “Place your books at the front. The test begins now.”
Happily, the students set their books aside.
As they struggled with their answers, Lu Chao Chao squirmed in her seat, eyes darting toward the door.
“Why aren’t you writing? What are you waiting for?” Chief Minister Yuan narrowed his eyes.
This time, he would surely smack her hands raw.
Before she could reply, hurried footsteps echoed outside.
“Chief Minister, someone from the Lu family just arrived. They request Princess Sunshine to return home immediately.” The servant wiped his sweaty forehead, panting from the run.
Chief Minister Yuan furrowed his brows, hands clasped behind him.
“The Princess is taking an exam. Is it urgent?” He shot a glance at Lu Chao Chao. So this was her plan?
No wonder she was so calm.
The servant replied, “The Old Madam of the Lu family has passed. They have come to report the mourning.”
“Although the Princess isn’t officially of the Lu family, she must still pay respects.”
Chief Minister Yuan nodded. “Go, then.”
No wonder she had been waiting! That brat had been anticipating the old madam’s death just so she could take leave!
Lu Chao Chao’s face lit up with joy, her grin nearly reaching her ears.
But realizing she was being watched, she quickly covered her face. “Oh, woe is me! Grandmother, why did you leave so soon…?”
[Wow! Perfect timing—three days of mourning leave!]
“Teacher, I request three days of leave to mourn… sob…”
“Granted!” Chief Minister Yuan growled.
Lu Chao Chao nearly burst out laughing as she bolted from the hall.
Behind her, her classmates panicked.
“Wait! The Princess gets to leave. What about us?! My father will kill me!”
“Help! The Princess abandoned us!”
Xie Yu Zhou paled.
Last time, he had given Lu Chao Chao a single drop of wine and was beaten by his parents for three days straight.
Shakily, he raised his hand. “Teacher, I also request leave.”
Chief Minister Yuan glanced at him. “Reason?”
The young boy solemnly declared, “My father has passed. I must go home to mourn. Three days…”
Seeing the teacher’s darkened face, he hesitated. “Uh… One day. Just to bury him.”
Surely if he dodged the test, he wouldn’t get beaten?
Chief Minister Yuan’s gaze turned icy.
“Go to Prince Jing Xi’s manor and report—his son is spreading rumors of his death.”