Chapter 284: Strung Up and Beaten
The novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation.
“What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and open the door for me!”
Xie Yu Zhou patted his round belly and let out a satisfied burp.
Plump and well-fed, he was usually under strict dietary control by his mother, the princess consort. But today, he had taken a day off and sneaked out to the food street, indulging himself before finally returning home, pockets stuffed with snacks.
The gatekeeper trembled on his knees, not daring to open the door.
Just then, Xie Jing Xi arrived with a large group, his face dark with fury.
“Open the door!” His tone was full of gritted teeth.
The gatekeeper sighed. Little heir, may you survive this ordeal.
With a creak, the door opened just a sliver.
Xie Yu Zhou raised a brow. “Has Father woken from his nap? And what are you winking for? Relax, I won’t be punished this time.”
“I dodged my exams today—narrowly escaped a calamity!”
“Tomorrow, when I get my allowance, I’ll reward you all.” Xie Yu Zhou muttered as he stepped inside.
The moment he lifted his head—
He nearly jumped in fright!
The courtyard was packed with people.
His father, his mother, his imperial uncle, even his imperial grandmother had all come! And not just them—the entire assembly of civil and military officials was present!
Xie Yu Zhou’s eyelids twitched wildly.
Hiding his snacks behind his back, he stammered, “W-why is everyone here? Imperial Grandmother? Imperial Aunt?” Why did he suddenly feel like his scalp was about to be peeled?
“Guess why we’re here?” The princess consort glared at him.
Xie Yu Zhou looked genuinely confused. What does this have to do with me?
I just took a day off. How could that possibly shake the entire court?
“Speak! What did you do wrong?!” Xie Jing Xi ground out through clenched teeth.
Xie Yu Zhou swallowed hard. “I… I just took a day off.” Why did they look like they wanted to eat him alive?
Xie Jing Xi’s chest heaved violently as he pointed at his son, his entire body trembling. “I heard… you’ve been spreading rumors outside that I’m dead?!”
His voice was filled with rage, each word punctuated with teeth-grinding fury.
Xie Yu Zhou stiffened.
Then, without hesitation, he pointed at Lu Chao Chao. “Teacher said only mourning was a valid reason to take leave. Princess Zhao Yang said her grandmother died first! I just followed up by saying my father died!”
After saying that, he even looked indignant. “Teacher is biased against our Prince Jing Xi’s Mansion! Princess Zhao Yang got three days off for her grandmother, but Father, you dying only got me one day!”
Xie Jing Xi’s face turned purple. “So just for one day off, you spread rumors that I was dead?!”
“I’ll beat you to death, you ungrateful brat!”
“Look at what you’ve done!” Xie Jing Xi’s rage surged again.
The Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the entire court had all rushed over, thinking it was a funeral! His reputation was in tatters!
Grabbing a discipline ruler, Xie Jing Xi lunged at Xie Yu Zhou, making the boy howl in pain.
“Hit him! Hit him hard! Beat him to death!” The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, still shaken from the false alarm. “This brat scared me half to death in the middle of the night!”
“Save me, Imperial Uncle! I just took a single day off! How did it come to this?!”
“Imperial Grandmother, save me! I’m your precious grandchild, the only heir of Prince Jing Xi’s Mansion! Imperial Grandmother, Father wants to kill me!” Xie Yu Zhou wailed pitifully.
The Empress Dowager, who had recently decreed that no one was to beat children anymore, silently turned her head away.
“Jing Xi, don’t use the ruler.” The Empress Dowager finally spoke.
Xie Yu Zhou’s heart lifted slightly.
“Bring me my whip.”
Xie Yu Zhou’s eyes widened in horror. “Imperial Grandmother!!!”
“Imperial Grandmother, do you want my life?!” Xie Yu Zhou was on the brink of collapse.
“Whip him! Whip him hard!” The Empress Dowager’s hair was messy, her eyes red with rage. This wretched child must be beaten!
“Imperial Aunt! I’m your favorite nephew! Save me!” Xie Yu Zhou turned to the Eldest Princess, sobbing.
The Eldest Princess looked at him with distress.
“Jing Xi, don’t be too harsh. The child might be hurt too badly.”
“He’ll run away if you hit him. Tie him up first.” The Eldest Princess said seriously. “Hang him up to beat him. That way, he won’t be able to escape or damage anything vital.”
“Imperial Aunt, are you a demon?!” Xie Yu Zhou retreated in panic.
“You’re all demons! I only took a day off, and you’re going to string me up and whip me?! Wuu wuu… If I had known, I’d have gone to the exam instead!”
“Princess Zhao Yang also took a leave! Why don’t you punish her?! I refuse to accept this!” Xie Yu Zhou cried out.
Lu Chao Chao glanced at him indifferently. “Because my grandmother really died.”
Xie Yu Zhou froze, staring blankly at Lu Chao Chao.
“Why didn’t you say that earlier?!”
With a thud, he knelt on the ground. “Father! Father! I know my mistake! I won’t lie again! I won’t skip school anymore! Father, I only took one day off! Why does it feel like you want to kill me?!”
“One day off? Look at the entire imperial court!”
“You took one day off, and the whole court came to your house for a funeral!”
“You deserve to be beaten!” The Emperor was still pale from the shock.
“F-funeral?” Xie Yu Zhou looked at Lu Chao Chao in horror.
Lu Chao Chao blinked innocently. “Yep. I notified everyone.”
Xie Yu Zhou…
I’m doomed.
That one day off came at too high a price.
Strung up and beaten, Xie Yu Zhou’s miserable cries echoed through the mansion. Even the princess consort wiped away tears.
She turned to the imperial physician. “Prepare a fertility prescription for me.”
The physician sighed deeply. “Understood.”
Xie Yu Zhou’s wails resounded through the entire Prince Jing Xi’s Mansion.
“Wow, Brother Yu Zhou is bursting with gold coins!” Lu Chao Chao crouched below, picking up the snacks that fell from his robes.
They were still warm—delicious!
“Wuu wuu wuu… Lu Chao Chao! You were born to curse me!”
“You ruin me!” Xie Yu Zhou sobbed uncontrollably.
Having been a tyrant in his territory for years, he had now returned to the capital only to be thrashed twice—all thanks to Lu Chao Chao.
He was truly pitiful.
All he wanted was a day off. Now he had earned seven.
Seven days to recover.
Prince Jing Xi and his princess consort personally escorted the guests out, bowing and apologizing profusely.
The couple exchanged tearful glances.
Forget it. Let’s have another child.
As Lu Chao Chao walked away, the court officials looked at her warily.
“Princess Zhao Yang, will you not be taking the coffin back?”
Lu Chao Chao paused. “That would be a waste. Give it to my imperial uncle. Just in case he dies from rage in the future, he’ll have it ready.”
The officials choked. She really would give it away.
Seeing that coffin, wouldn’t the little heir be beaten even harder?
They cautiously tried to converse with Lu Chao Chao.
Listening intently, the officials found nothing unusual in her words and secretly sighed in relief.
Strange. Why did we hear her thoughts last time?
The Emperor and the officials remained puzzled.
The Crown Prince picked up Lu Chao Chao. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to the mourning hall.”
He walked away, concealing his contributions with a dignified air.
From afar, within the Southern Kingdom Embassy—
“That foolish-looking boy—is he really North Zhao’s lucky star?” Nan Mu Bai was stunned.