The whole family is insanely eavesdropping on my thoughts Chapter 570
Chapter 570: The Only Fear I Have is My Wife
The night before the results of the autumn examination were announced, the Lu family members, though silent, carried an air of tension and worry.
Lu Yuan Xiao pressed his lips together. Once a chubby and naive child, he now carried himself with a newfound steadiness. “Mother, there is no need to worry. No matter the outcome, I have given my best effort.”
“I have already reviewed the exam questions with Yuan Xiao. He is more capable than I am.” Lu Yan Shu praised without hesitation.
He had lost many years to delay, lacking the foundational depth that his younger brother had steadily built over time. Despite his natural talent, he could not compare to his third brother’s extensive learning.
“Third Brother is diligent and hardworking. He sleeps the latest and wakes the earliest in the manor. Even in the dead of night, his shadow can be seen at his window, tirelessly studying.” It was once thought that Yuan Xiao might grow into a hedonistic young master, yet now, he showed the potential of a great scholar.
His status among scholars was already highly regarded.
Regardless of age, many admired and respected him. Even a child as young as three who approached him with questions would receive a serious and thoughtful answer.
“Yes! Third Brother is the hardest-working in our family!” Lu Chao Chao never missed a chance to flatter him, hoping he might lighten her academic workload.
Yuan Xiao pressed his lips together, a hint of shyness in his expression. “I must work hard to match my older brother and sister.”
He was the least gifted of the family—this was no joke.
His eldest brother could master knowledge with a single glance, and Chao Chao had a photographic memory. Meanwhile, he needed to spend countless nights committing things to memory.
That dinner stretched late into the night. Only after Yuan Xiao left did Shi Yun finally allow herself to show a hint of nervousness.
“I was afraid of adding pressure to Yuan Xiao if he noticed my anxiety.” Her voice was soft.
“Madam, do not worry. The Third Young Master’s efforts are evident to all. You must have faith in him,” Deng Zhi reassured her while carrying little Shan Shan into the room.
“Speaking of which, it is strange—these past days, Young Master Shan Shan has been incredibly easy to care for. He eats and sleeps without fussing.”
“Except that he cannot stand the scent of blood.”
“Last time, the wet nurse pricked her finger while embroidering by the window. Though he was far away, the moment the scent of blood reached him, he vomited up all his milk.”
Just as Rong Che entered, he halted, his expression flickering. For days, an ominous worry had plagued him.
The household’s chickens and ducks had been found with their throats torn open, completely drained of blood. A suspicion had been forming in his mind—one he dared not share with Shi Yun.
But as he stepped through the doorway, he saw Shi Yun cradling the chubby Shan Shan. He nearly teared up.
“Daddy’s here! Call Daddy…”
“Dada…” Shi Yun pointed to Rong Che, encouragingly coaxing Shan Shan.
At only eight or nine months old, the child was incapable of forming clear words, but he could mimic sounds.
For instance, when calling his sister, he would make a “jiji” sound.
Shan Shan tilted his head, glanced at Rong Che, then quickly turned away, refusing to look at him again.
“You little rascal! How can you ignore Daddy?” Shi Yun chuckled.
Deng Zhi stifled a laugh behind her hand. “The first person the young master ever called was the young miss. His first word was ‘sister.’”
Rong Che felt inexplicably jealous. He exhausted himself playing with his son, yet Shan Shan remained indifferent.
Finally, in frustration, Rong Che tapped the child’s forehead. “You little troublemaker…”
Just then, the sound of drums and gongs echoed from outside.
A young maid rushed in, breathless with excitement. “Congratulations, Madam! Third Young Master has placed first in the capital examination! The announcement officers are already at the main gate!” Thankfully, she had run fast enough to claim the first reward.
“Truly?”
“Reward them! Triple everyone’s monthly wages!” Rong Che was overjoyed and immediately rewarded the messenger maid with extra silver. She peeked at the amount and gasped—half a year’s salary!
Shi Yun gathered the family and hurried to receive the good news.
At the main entrance, a crowd had gathered. Deng Zhi had already prepared scattered silver coins, standing on the steps to distribute celebratory money.
“Congratulations to Master Lu Yuan Xiao for achieving first place in the capital exam! In three days, he will enter the palace for the final imperial examination.”
The government officials handling the announcement treated the Lu family with the utmost respect.
After all, Rong Che was the Stabilizing General of Northern Zhao, and Shi Yun held an imperial title. Their eldest son had already secured top honors in all three levels of the examination, their second son guarded the border, their third son had now attained the title of First Scholar, and their daughter was both the Princess of Northern Zhao and the Empress of the Southern Kingdom.
If the Lu family so much as stamped their feet, Northern Zhao itself would tremble.
Ah, Lu Yuan Ze had been a fool to abandon this family.
With Yuan Xiao’s triumph, people in the capital once again compared him to Lu Yuan Ze’s branch, sighing over Rong Che’s incredible fortune.
Shi Yun knew that Yuan Xiao still had the palace examination ahead, so she closed the doors to outside visitors, informing only close friends and family.
Yuan Xiao himself remained unaffected, calmly discussing academic theories with his companions, utterly unshaken.
Three days later.
Under the escort of his entire family, Lu Yuan Xiao entered the palace for the final exam.
That night, Rong Che sneaked back home, whispering to Deng Zhi, “Where’s Shan Shan?”
His arms were suspiciously full, his movements secretive.
“The young master is napping. If you miss him, you can peek inside, but be quiet so he isn’t disturbed,” Deng Zhi advised, knowing that at his age, having a son made him deeply sentimental.
Rong Che nodded, glanced around, and tiptoed into the room, shutting the door behind him.
He took a deep breath and pulled out a brilliantly colored pheasant from his robe.
The bird was immaculately clean, with no trace of filth or foul smell.
He carefully placed the pheasant near Shan Shan’s bed.
His heart pounded with torment.
What if Shan Shan was truly bloodthirsty? What then?
Could he correct such an instinct? Would he end up raising a monster destined to bring calamity?
For countless nights, Rong Che had lost sleep over the thought of his gentle son becoming a killer.
The pheasant clucked and paced around, its movement eventually waking Shan Shan.
The child sat up abruptly.
He even rubbed his little fists against his sleepy eyes before spotting the bird.
His eyes widened instantly.
Rong Che shut his own eyes in despair, unwilling to witness his son’s bloodlust.
But instead of snarls and hunger, a piercing wail filled the room.
“Ahhhh!!!”
“Ch-chi-chi…!!!” Shan Shan screamed, his cries high-pitched and terrified.
With a loud bang, the door burst open as Deng Zhi and the wet nurse charged in like madwomen.
Little Shan Shan, usually calm, was in a complete state of panic, pointing at the pheasant while sobbing uncontrollably.
Before anyone could react, he slid off the bed, tiny feet landing first, hands gripping the mattress as he scrambled down.
On all fours, he hurriedly crawled out the door.
By the time the household caught up, he had already made it past the threshold.
“Hurry, someone pick up the young master! Who brought a pheasant inside and scared him?!” Deng Zhi stomped her foot in frustration, ordering both the child and the bird to be retrieved.
Rong Che stood there, dumbfounded.
No, I had expected you to pounce on it, to drink its blood.
I never expected you to scream and flee in terror!
“General, what are you doing here?” Deng Zhi glared at him, noticing the stray feathers in his hair.
Rong Che turned slowly.
His wife, holding their still-shaking son, stared at him with a cold expression.
Rong Che paled.
I’m doomed.
In this lifetime, the only fear I have… is my wife.
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