The whole family is insanely eavesdropping on my thoughts Chapter 576
Chapter 576: Is Sister Dead or Not?
When Lu Chao Chao woke up, the morning light had already filled the room.
Her eyelids fluttered open, still hazy from sleep, her vision slightly blurred. Just as she was adjusting to wakefulness, a pair of small hands suddenly pressed against her nose, startling her so much that she jolted upright.
Shan Shan, who had been crouching over her, was so frightened by her reaction that he trembled, his tiny body shivering as he stumbled backward.
“Shan Shan! Why are you here?!” Lu Chao Chao’s mind was still foggy from last night’s headache. She faintly recalled a pair of gentle hands massaging her temples, soothing her into a deep and restful slumber.
It was one of the best sleeps she had in a long time.
But now, waking up to see Shan Shan’s tiny hands hovering over her nose was unsettling.
The commotion quickly drew the attention of the maidservants outside.
“Young Master Shan Shan, how did you get here? Where is the wet nurse? Don’t tell me… you came here alone?!” The maid was astonished to find the little master in the princess’s chambers.
Lu Chao Chao rubbed her temple, sighing. “Go inform Mother at once and let the wet nurse know. If he came here by himself, the entire household is probably in an uproar searching for him.”
“Yes, Princess!” The maid didn’t dare delay and hurried outside.
Before she even reached the courtyard gate, another young maid ran in, sobbing. “The little master is missing! Someone, please help search for him!”
“The nanny has already gone to inform the madam in the front hall! We should help look for him too…” The young maid was in tears, trembling from head to toe. Shan Shan’s room had both an inner and outer chamber, with the wet nurse sleeping just outside to keep watch.
The night before, she had even checked on him once.
But come morning, he was gone.
Shan Shan was only nine months old—he couldn’t even walk yet! A chill ran through everyone’s veins at the thought of all the dreadful possibilities.
“Stop crying! Stop crying! The young master isn’t missing—he’s here in the princess’s chamber, safe and sound!” The first maid stomped her foot, dragging the sobbing girl inside.
The young maid hiccupped mid-cry, then, upon realizing the news, scrambled out the door, stumbling as she ran. “We found him! We found him! The young master has been found! Waaaaaah!”
In no time, Lu Chao Chao’s chamber was packed with people.
Shi Yun had nearly collapsed from the shock of hearing her child was missing. Rong Che had even considered whether an enemy had orchestrated the disappearance.
Rong Che stormed forward, scooped up Shan Shan, and gave him a light slap on his diapered bottom. “What were you thinking? Do you want to scare the whole family to death? You’re not even a year old, and you’re already this mischievous?!”
Shan Shan’s round eyes shifted slyly. He pouted but remained expressionless.
Rong Che grew more exasperated. But then again, the child was just nine months old—he had no choice but to suppress his temper, glaring at him instead.
“Madam, I swear I didn’t hear a single sound…” The wet nurse knelt with a miserable expression.
“I, too, heard nothing unusual last night,” Yu Shu, Lu Chao Chao’s personal maid, added. She had some martial arts training, which made it all the more perplexing that no movement had caught her attention.
Shi Yun, weak from the fright, waved her hand dismissively. “It’s not your fault.”
Shan Shan had been an enigma even before his birth.
No mere servants could contain him.
Rong Che sighed deeply. “I checked the surroundings earlier. He must have crawled all the way here. It rained last night, and there’s a long trail in the dirt by the courtyard wall—little handprints still visible.”
Lifting Shan Shan up, he inspected the child. Sure enough, his tiny hands and knees were caked in mud.
No wonder Lu Chao Chao had smelled the earthy scent upon waking.
“If you miss your sister, just have the wet nurse bring you over. You must never sneak out alone again. Understood?” Rong Che held him firmly, but Shan Shan merely lay against his shoulder with a sulky expression.
Lu Chao Chao pursed her lips. “He doesn’t miss me.”
She knew better.
Before she had returned home, Shan Shan had delighted in causing the livestock to offer up their lives, reveling in the thrill of slaughter.
But after she came back, his extravagant lifestyle crumbled overnight.
Miss her? What a joke.
If he ever lay beside her at night, it was probably just to ensure a good night’s sleep. But why would he come find her in the morning?
Lu Chao Chao studied Shan Shan, and the child stiffly turned his head away, refusing to meet her gaze.
“I suspect… he wanted to check if I was dead.” Otherwise, who in their right mind would reach out to feel for someone’s breath?
“Peh, peh, peh! Don’t say such inauspicious things first thing in the morning!” Shi Yun hurriedly spat three times, her maternal instincts immediately kicking in. “Our Chao Chao will live a long, blessed life—healthy and strong!”
“Replace all of Chao Chao’s bedding and get Shan Shan cleaned up.” Shi Yun was already overwhelmed with matters at the estate. A joyous occasion was approaching—marriage preparations had the household in chaos.
The Xu and Wen families had arranged this marriage over a decade ago, and now, the childhood sweethearts were finally coming together. Shi Yun was beyond delighted.
Shan Shan, still nestled against his father’s embrace, dared not look at his sister.
Lu Chao Chao squinted at him suspiciously. He was definitely up to something.
After breakfast, several learned scholars arrived at the estate.
“This gentleman hails from the Southern Kingdom.”
“These two were personally invited by His Majesty—renowned scholars of our time.”
“It is an incredible honor to have all three as your tutors, Chao Chao. You must study diligently,” Lu Yuan Xiao, her second elder brother, advised. He had spent the last few days exchanging insights with these scholars and had gained much from their wisdom.
The scholars, in turn, spoke highly of him.
Lu Chao Chao’s smile immediately faltered.
“Second Brother’s wedding is in a few days. Can I at least wait until after I’ve had my fill of wedding wine before starting my lessons?” Soon, she would be heading to the Brahma Kingdom—she could just run away!
“Chao Chao, one must never neglect their studies. With your talent, you must cherish every opportunity to learn.” Without waiting for protest, Lu Yuan Xiao dragged her into the study.
“Chirp… chirp… chirp…”
“Hug… hug…” Shan Shan smacked his tiny hands against the table, looking eager to follow.
Lu Yuan Xiao frowned. “Your sister must focus on her studies, Shan Shan. You mustn’t disturb her.”
Shan Shan scratched his ears anxiously, then, to everyone’s astonishment, opened his mouth: “Study…”
He patted his own chest earnestly.
The room erupted in laughter. “Shan Shan isn’t even ten months old, yet he already wants to study? Just like your third brother!”
Lu Yuan Xiao smirked and promptly handed Shan Shan over. “Then take him instead. He wants to learn.”
But Shan Shan clung to Lu Chao Chao’s fingers, refusing to let go.
“Shan Shan, if you don’t disturb your sister, I’ll let you come along. How about that?” Lu Yuan Xiao mused. One sheep or two, he might as well herd them together—eagerness to learn was a good thing.
Shan Shan gleefully clapped his hands in agreement.
Lu Yuan Xiao took his siblings by the hands and led them into the study.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation