Liu Bo’s smile stiffened on his face, his gaze shifting evasively as he stroked his goatee.
“This old servant… truly… knows nothing of it…”
“Really don’t know?”
Luo Luo tilted her small head, her clear black pupils fixed unblinkingly on Liu Bo, making the old steward so uneasy that cold sweat nearly broke out on his forehead.
“Grandpa Liu, people who lie to Luo Luo will grow long noses.”
“Ahem, ahem…”
Liu Bo coughed violently, his aged face flushing red.
Before he could fabricate an excuse, the little princess pouted, and golden teardrops began falling instantly.
“Wahh… Luo Luo is so pitiful… Father and Mother are going to call off the engagement, Luo Luo will become a little beggar with no father to love her or mother to care for her, and will have to sleep under bridges…”
She cried with such genuine, heart-wrenching sobs, her small shoulders shaking with each gasp.
How could Liu Bo withstand this?
His heart, liver, and lungs all twisted into knots. He hurriedly pulled out a fine cotton handkerchief, clumsily yet gently wiping the little ancestor’s tears.
“My dear, my little ancestor, don’t cry, don’t cry. You’re breaking this old servant’s heart into pieces. Please stop crying…”
“Wah… If Grandpa Liu doesn’t tell Luo Luo where the dowry is hidden, Luo Luo will keep crying.”
Luo Luo sniffled, wiping her tears fiercely with her small hand.
Liu Bo was utterly defeated. After glancing around furtively, he leaned close to Luo Luo’s ear like a thief.
“In the deepest part of the storeroom, the one with the longevity bronze lock, little ancestor. You must never say it was I who told you…”
“Got it! Thank you, Grandpa Liu!”
Luo Luo instantly transformed her tears into laughter, her face still wet but her smile dazzlingly bright.
She turned and scurried away on her short legs, rushing energetically toward the storeroom.
The heavy carved nanmu door was naturally shut tight, secured with a large bronze lock.
But this couldn’t stump the little princess.
Luo Luo huffed and puffed as she moved several stepping stones, then clung to the window frame with her small hands, standing on tiptoe to press one round eye against the window crack to peer inside.
The room was brimming with dazzling treasures!
Piles of brocades and silks like small mountains, gold-painted chests, and huge, round luminous pearls…
“Wow…”
Luo Luo’s small mouth formed a perfect “O,” her eyes wide and round.
These were Mother’s treasures!
Tongtong had said that as long as these beautiful treasures were destroyed, that scoundrel father wouldn’t be able to use them to call off the engagement.
Her chubby little hand rummaged through her exquisitely embroidered pouch and pulled out a black, crude explosive.
Holding it up, she aimed it at the window crack, then her small brows furrowed in dilemma.
So many beautiful treasures—wouldn’t it be a shame to burn, damage, or break them?
Lady Luo Luo was a thrifty little princess who knew how to manage a household!
Her pink, plump little fist clenched firmly, her small face set with serious determination.
In that case, she would “properly dispose” of them herself.
With a grand wave of her hand, she summoned a large group of idle servants who had been lounging in the sun and chatting.
“Everyone, come and listen! Today, whoever helps this princess move all these treasures out and dig a big pit in the backyard to ‘properly store’ them will be heavily rewarded. The reward…”
Luo Luo rested her chin on her small hand in thought, then her eyes lit up.
“Each of you will get one golden bean!”
“Golden beans?”
The previously listless servants instantly brightened, their eyes gleaming.
“Me! This humble one will do it! This humble one is best at digging pits and filling soil!”
“Princess, princess! I’m strong, I can carry two chests with no problem!”
“Pick me, pick me! I’m the most careful at digging holes and burying things, I guarantee even the earthworms won’t find them!”
The crowd pushed and shoved, each vying to be first, creating a chaotic and heated scene.
After all, the Prince had given a strict order: as long as the little ancestor didn’t tear down the manor, everything was to be left to her!
Luo Luo, satisfied, clasped her hands behind her back and nodded like a little adult, casually pointing at a few people.
“You, you, and you! Just you few! Now! Immediately! Get to work!”
The selected “lucky ones” were as if injected with adrenaline, grabbing hoes and shovels as they charged toward the backyard with enthusiastic shouts.
Luo Luo didn’t idle either, following behind like a little foreman, directing the work.
“This pit is too shallow, dig it deeper. Luo Luo’s treasures are so many they could be buried until next year’s Lantern Festival!”
“Yes, Little Princess!”
Everyone responded in unison, putting all their effort into it. Soil flew everywhere in a scene of bustling activity.
Xuan Ying stood expressionlessly under the shade of a tree, holding his sword, the corner of his mouth twitching suspiciously.
“…Really, shouldn’t we report this to the Prince?”
The commotion was a bit too much.
Yun Ying, leaning against the tree trunk, lazily yawned and leisurely retorted:
“The Prince’s exact words were, ‘As long as she hasn’t torn down the manor, don’t bother me.’ Burying a few things is nothing?”
He even leisurely picked at his ear.
The vanity cases and precious curios from the rooms were carried out in a steady stream by the fierce-looking servants.
Luo Luo followed closely on her short little legs, not forgetting to seriously instruct:
“Be careful, be careful. These are my mother’s most treasured belongings.”
“Yes, Little Princess, we understand!”
Everyone became even more cautious.
In the study, Xiao Lin was frowning at a mountain of documents.
Suddenly, he noticed bursts of noise coming from outside the window, so disruptive it made him restless, even faintly hearing the clanging of metal tools.
Irritated, he threw down his vermilion brush, his brows tightly furrowed. “What is all that noise outside?”
A shadow appeared at the door. “Reporting to the Prince, the Little Princess has taken people to bring out all of the Pei family’s dowry from the storeroom. She is currently directing the servants… to dig a huge pit in the backyard, intending to seal and store it.”
“What?!!”
Xuan Ying’s vision went dark, and he nearly fainted.
Last time, this little rascal blew up two chests, and he had to empty his private coffers to replace them. Now she actually wanted to bury all the dowry items he had gathered for the Pei residence?
He shot to his feet, stars dancing before his eyes, his temples throbbing violently.
With a daughter like this, he’d live fifty years less!
Backyard.
“Here, pile up another chest.”
“That pit, pack it down firmly. Yes, stomp on it a couple of times!”
Luo Luo’s little face was flushed with excitement as she stood on a decorative rock, waving her little hands and directing everything in an orderly manner.
Completely unaware that a chilling murderous intent was rapidly approaching from behind.
“Xiao! Luo! Ning!”
The sinister voice, cold as the deepest winter wind, suddenly exploded behind Luo Luo.
The small figure stiffened abruptly, the hairs on her back standing on end.
Luo Luo turned her face and, upon seeing it was Xiao Lin, instantly put on an innocent smile.
“Daddy, Luo Luo… Luo Luo was just… just…”
(,, . ,,)
Her little feet subtly tried to block the freshly piled mound of dirt beside her, her dark eyes darting around nervously.
“Just helping Mother safeguard her treasures. Look, Daddy, Mother’s things are Luo Luo’s things, right? Luo Luo is sealing them away to protect them from insects, moths, and… and thieves.”
Xiao Lin’s gaze swept over the dispersing servants like a sharp blade, finally fixing on Yun Ying’s innocent expression.
“Yun Ying!”
Yun Ying shrank her neck and muttered softly: “Your Highness… it was you who personally decreed that unless the young princess turns the manor upside down, there’s no need to report…”
Xiao Lin: “…”
At this moment, he only wished he could turn back time and bury the version of himself who had uttered those words.