Chapter 78: I, Lu Chao Chao, Make Money
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
“What have I done wrong? Your Majesty, please speak and tell me!” Lu Yuan Ze implored to the empty air after having stood outside the throne hall for countless hours.
As the morning court session ended, the ministers hurriedly dispersed, giving him a wide berth as though he carried a contagious disease, fearful of being associated with the disgrace he seemed to have attracted at the start of the year.
Shivering from a cold that seemed to pierce through to his very bones, Lu Yuan Ze’s entire frame was rigid with cold. He rubbed his face vigorously to warm himself and hurried to locate Eunuch Wang. Grabbing the eunuch’s arm, he begged in a whisper, “Eunuch Wang… Eunuch Wang… please, I must know, how have I displeased His Majesty?” As he spoke, he discreetly slid a silver tael into the eunuch’s sleeve.
With the king already departed, Eunuch Wang covertly appreciated the weight of the silver and commented, “Your lordship, perhaps leading with your left foot upon entering the hall was ill-advised. It’s considered disrespectful to His Majesty…”
Lu Yuan Ze’s face fell with dismay. “But… but I entered with my right foot!”
Eunuch Wang’s expression became stiff. [His Majesty would find fault whether it was the right foot or left. Even if you had jumped in with both feet off the ground, he would still find something to criticize, even the way you breathe.]
However, Eunuch Wang kept these thoughts to himself, instead offering a polite smile as he responded, “We servants dare not presume to understand the king’s deeper motives.” Maintaining his composed demeanor, he continued, “Whatever transgressions your daughter has committed, unfortunately, you must bear them.”
[Last night, His Majesty tasked me with filing his nails throughout the evening, and I could barely clean all the rouge from his fingers. You deserve this, suffering on behalf of your daughter!]
Lu Yuan Ze’s sense of unease deepened with Eunuch Wang’s enigmatic smile. Later, he returned to his Marquis mansion, still bewildered, and walked into a heated argument with the clan elders who were about to depart for the village.
“Three thousand taels of silver must be delivered in three installments. How can the Marquis household claim inability to pay? Now that you’ve found wealth, do you look down on us, your impoverished relatives? Do you see us merely as parasites?” one elder accused angrily.
“Your wife shows far more kindness!” snapped the clan chief. “When your father waged his campaigns, he conscripted all the young men from our clan, taking even our food and funds. Without the clan’s unwavering support, where would you stand today?”
“Don’t exhibit such ingratitude!” the elder’s face darkened as he spoke. “For those who died, we need at least ten taels of silver annually to support their widows and orphans.”
With a stern expression, holding back his growing anger, Lu Yuan Ze declared, “In three days, the full amount will be sent to Clear Creek Village. You will receive everything as promised!”
The clan elders left in a storm of anger over the unpleasant encounter.
Having endured humiliation at the palace earlier, Lu Yuan Ze’s mood soured further within his home. The entire mansion was enveloped in a somber air, with everyone too intimidated to speak. Skilled at managing her husband’s volatile emotions, Su Zhi Qing quickly led the marquis to her private courtyard.
“He must be embarrassed from something that happened outside, and now he’s taking it out on us. Thankfully, you’re no longer his target,” Head Maid Deng Zhi remarked, somewhat relieved.
Madam Xu smirked in response, “You’re the only one who dares to say it. We’re still clueless about what he did to earn such public censure from His Majesty.”
“Who knows, probably something he brought upon himself,” Deng Zhi responded, shaking her head, her gaze indicating she was reluctant to speculate on court matters.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao was seated on the floor, a small brush in hand, diligently painting her nails.
“I don’t know either,” she replied innocently when questioned.
[I’m merely a toddler who still drinks milk, how could I possibly know…] Lu Chao Chao thought to herself.
Madam Xu barely held back a chuckle. “You’re only a year old, of course, you wouldn’t understand.”
“Where’s Second Pot?” she asked curiously.
“Your second brother…” Madam Xu grew thoughtful, her mind drifting back to the sounds of the boy crying the previous night. He seemed to have matured suddenly, becoming more reserved and introspective.
“Our family may not have a notable legacy, but I brought several estates and businesses as my dowry. Since your eldest brother has chosen academia, your second brother plans to travel south to engage in business. He also intends to oversee how your second uncle is managing the flooding at Lianlou River,” Madam Xu explained.
Lu Chao Chao, with memories of her previous life, waved her small hand excitedly: “Wow, me, make money…”
Madam Xu affectionately pinched the baby’s nose. “What money can you make at your age?”
Lu Chao Chao pouted. “I can, I can.”
Despite her declarations, no one took her seriously.
Feeling overlooked, Lu Chao Chao crawled under the bed and retrieved a red envelope from her personal storage space, spilling its contents on the floor.
Unfortunately, her storage held everything but money. After all, who uses money in the cultivation realm?
She poured out a pile, her small rear end sticking up as she started counting earnestly: “One, two, three… Seven… eight…”
After a thorough count, she had accumulated only sixteen taels of silver.
Her round little face filled with frustration, and she kicked the small box under the bed.
The royal family’s generosity seemed meager compared to her needs.
Grand Princess sends a jade pendant. Uncle King sends a jade pendant. Brother Crown Prince sends a jade pendant. Granny Dowager sends a jade pendant.
Collecting all the royal jade pendants, she wondered if they could summon a dragon.
Frustrated by the modest gifts, Lu Chao Chao kicked the box several more times, deeming the gifts miserly.
Clutching the money pouch, she crawled out from under the bed and approached Madam Xu, extending her tiny hands.
With a serious and determined expression, she declared, “I, borrow, money…”
“Heaven’s little fairy, borrow money!”
“Investing! Share money!” Lu Chao Chao’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
[Help me a bit, and when I return to the celestial realm, I’ll repay it a hundredfold.]
Madam Xu tried to maintain her composure but her lips twitched as she struggled to hold back laughter. She then handed her five taels of silver: “Here, little fairy, take this as a gift from your mother, no need to return it.”
Lu Chao Chao looked somewhat disdainful of the modest amount, but still reached out to accept it.
“Yuqin, note,” Chao Chao instructed Yuqin, the maid, to record the transaction in a ledger.
Madam Xu of the Marquis’s Mansion: five taels.
Yuhua commented, “Little Miss said, when she earns enough, she will definitely repay it double.”
Madam Xu nodded, clearly not overly concerned about the financial implication. “Mm mm mm, momma here is waiting for you to make a big profit.”
Disheartened by her mother’s casual attitude, Lu Chao Chao toddled away in a huff.
She then made her way to her eldest brother’s courtyard, eagerly extending her hand: “Big pot pot, lend money…”
Lu Yan Shu, seated in a wheelchair, still exuded a youthful glow despite his physical limitations.
“What’s the matter, Chao Chao? Want to buy something? Big brother will buy it for you,” he offered kindly.
Lu Chao Chao shook her head, her voice soft and childlike: “Borrow money!”
Lu Yan Shu chuckled softly: “Our Chao Chao also wants to support the family? That’s wonderful.” He then instructed a servant to bring over twenty taels of silver, which he handed to Lu Chao Chao.
Yuhua received the silver, and Yuqin documented the transaction.
“Go out, I want to go out,” Lu Chao Chao next approached her third brother, expressing a desire to venture outside.
“In this heavy snow, where do you intend to go?” Lu Yuan Xiao asked, surprised by his sister’s request.
[Borrow money, start a business! I wonder who the richest friend of Third Brother is…] Lu Chao Chao mused.
Seeing her with a pitiable expression, Lu Yuan Xiao felt a tug at his heartstrings. “Well, third brother here is getting tired from reading anyway. I’ll take you out for a visit.” He informed Madam Xu and then left the house with the maids and servants in tow.
“She’s gone out to play?” Madam Xu smiled broadly, amused by the situation.
Deng Zhi covered her mouth, giggling: “Our little miss is so intelligent, speaks early, and loves to imitate. Hearing the second young master talk about doing business and making money, she’s also clamoring to do the same.”
Unbeknownst to Madam Xu at that moment, Lu Chao Chao was on the verge of accomplishing a great feat for the nation and its people.
Of course, this initiative would also lead to a flurry of butt-spankings for the various children across the capital.
Hehe