Chapter 287: Chao Chao’s Assessment
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Lu Yuan Ze had become the laughingstock of the entire capital.
As Lu Yan Shu carried his little sister away, Lu Chao Chao was still tightly clutching a roasted sweet potato in her hands.
“Today, the envoys from the Southern Kingdom are entering the palace. His Majesty has invited you to attend,” Lu Yan Shu said as he placed his sister onto the carriage.
Lu Chao Chao’s small face darkened.
“I finally got three days off, and now I have to enter the palace again?” She huffed. “Can’t he wait until I go back to school? Then I could get another day off!”
“Ever since you started school, you’ve become more and more calculative,” Lu Yan Shu shook his head in amusement.
Lu Chao Chao scrunched up her little face in protest.
Li Si Qi found it amusing. “There’s a lantern festival tonight. Shall I pick you up after the banquet?”
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, yes! Brother Si Qi, come early, okay?”
The little one finally looked cheerful, wagging her head in excitement.
“The Southern Kingdom has always looked down on others. They hold themselves high above us and never take Northern Zhao seriously. If there is any conflict during the banquet, Chao Chao, endure it, alright?” Lu Yan Shu instructed her solemnly.
“Northern Zhao is merely mortal—we cannot contend with the Southern Kingdom.”
“They are blessed by the divine, and we stand no chance.”
“This time, they have even brought a ferocious beast—Xiangliu. I fear they intend to put us in our place.” Lu Yan Shu let out a deep sigh.
Northern Zhao was weak and could only endure.
“Let’s go. Don’t be afraid, just stay as far away from the beast as possible,” Lu Yan Shu reassured her as he led her into the palace.
Lu Chao Chao took a bite of her sweet potato and let out a small burp.
Xiangliu?
A ferocious beast?
Probably.
The palace banquet had yet to begin, but the grand hall was already filled with court ladies and ministers. Lu Chao Chao spotted many familiar faces.
“Big Brother, you go handle your business. Chao Chao is going to find some friends!” With that, she scampered off towards the Sixth Prince.
“Sixth Brother, what are you waiting for?” she asked in her soft, childish voice.
The Sixth Prince was crouched by the palace gate, seemingly waiting for someone.
“Waiting for Yu Zhou-ge. Chao Chao, have you seen Yu Zhou?” The Sixth Prince had no idea what had happened. Ever since he gave Lu Chao Chao a drink last time, the two had formed a bond through hardship.
Now, they were quite close.
“No need to wait. Yu Zhou-ge has seven days of sick leave—he’s probably still lying in bed.”
“Come on, Sixth Brother, let’s go inside together.” Lu Chao Chao took his hand and led him in.
“Ah? He got into trouble again…” The Sixth Prince sighed deeply.
What could be worse than getting beaten for giving Chao Chao alcohol?
He would ask after the banquet.
“Has Fifth Brother recovered?” Lu Chao Chao asked, scanning the hall for his presence.
“Much better, thanks to you taking him to see Consort Shu.” Since Consort Shu had been imprisoned by Consort Hui, the Fifth Prince had been feeling down for quite a while.
The Sixth Prince leaned in and whispered, “Chao Chao, stand behind me later, alright? Don’t stand in front…”
He glanced around cautiously.
“The Southern Kingdom’s envoys brought a ferocious beast that feeds on humans every day. They say it can even stop babies from crying.”
“The Southerners are the worst. They love watching Northern Zhao make fools of themselves out of fear. Since you are our most beloved little princess, they will definitely try to scare you and embarrass us.”
“Stay behind me, okay?”
Lu Chao Chao had changed into a light green dress, with silk ribbons tied around the little tufts of hair on her head, fluttering in the breeze.
“Okay, Sixth Brother!” The little one obediently stood by his side.
Moments later, Wang Yuan Lu’s voice rang out from outside.
“His Majesty has arrived—”
“Her Majesty the Empress has arrived—”
The Emperor and Empress entered one after the other, and the civil and military officials all rose to pay their respects.
“Grandmother the Empress Dowager isn’t here?” the Sixth Prince asked the Fifth Prince beside him.
The Fifth Prince placed a finger to his lips. “Shh. The Empress Dowager sweated profusely yesterday and caught a cold today. Let Grandmother rest.”
It wasn’t really a cold—rather, the Southern Kingdom’s visit was ill-intended.
The Empress Dowager was old and could not handle such shocks.
Even the Emperor’s expression was heavy today. Only when he saw Lu Chao Chao did he smile slightly.
“Why is your face all black?” The Emperor reached out and wiped the soot from the corner of her mouth. A burnt sweet potato smell lingered in the air.
The little one grinned. “Chao Chao ate sweet potatoes!”
“Imperial Daddy, are you unhappy today?” She tilted her head, her round eyes filled with curiosity.
The Emperor suppressed his frustration.
“Seeing Chao Chao makes me happy.”
“Eat quietly later. No causing a ruckus, alright?” He wanted to protect her.
Chao Chao nodded obediently.
The Emperor hesitated for a moment. “Chao Chao, do you know about Xiangliu?”
The Southern envoys had been in the capital for three days, and that monstrous beast had already devoured countless people. The overwhelming stench of blood spread for miles, filling the Emperor with both disgust and dread.
The beast’s appetite was insatiable.
The Emperor had no choice but to send criminals from the dungeons to appease it every day.
“Xiangliu…” Lu Chao Chao pondered deeply.
“Chao Chao’s assessment is—it’s not very tasty.” After a long silence, she finally spoke.
In her memories, all divine and ferocious beasts were categorized by their edibility.
The Emperor’s eyes widened slightly. Before he could question her further, a eunuch’s voice rang from outside.
“The envoys from the Southern Kingdom have arrived.”
Even before they stepped inside, the thick scent of blood filled the hall, making many furrow their brows in disgust.
“Northern Zhao’s Emperor, you wouldn’t blame us for being late, would you?” A young man’s arrogant and mocking tone grated on the ears.
“Your Majesty is quite stingy. Lord Xiangliu was not full yet, so we had to find more food along the way…” Nan Mu Bai shot a provocative glance at Emperor Xuan Ping.
Emperor Xuan Ping’s expression turned ice-cold in an instant.
Along the way… there had only been innocent civilians!
The Empress gently placed a hand over his, calming his fury.
Northern Zhao’s mortals were not yet strong enough to openly oppose the Southern Kingdom.
The Emperor exhaled sharply, forcing down his murderous intent. “The Imperial Grandson must be jesting. Wang Yuan Lu, send fifty criminals over tomorrow.”
Wang Yuan Lu lowered his head and acknowledged the command.
Nan Mu Bai smirked and cupped his hands toward the Emperor. “I hope Your Majesty understands. The Southern Clan’s bloodline is special—we kneel only to the gods and our own king. A mere mortal Emperor like yourself is unworthy of such courtesy.”
The hall fell into absolute silence.
This was blatant humiliation.
A mere prince of the Southern Kingdom dared to disregard the sovereign of Northern Zhao!
The Emperor clenched his fists tightly. It was always the same! Every time the Southern Kingdom visited, it was like this!
Suddenly, from behind the Sixth Prince, a little head popped out.
“Shameless! How dare they compare themselves to the Azure Dragon?”
“What kind of divine beast eats humans?” Lu Chao Chao huffed indignantly, voicing what everyone was thinking.