【Beep beep beep——】
【Host, what exactly are you thinking? Why is there Mosaic again?】
【Adult matters are beyond a child’s understanding.】
The System clicked its tongue in speechless frustration.
【Who says I don’t understand? You’re just that audacious scoundrel wanting to tear off the Eighth Prince’s red silk bellyband!!!】
The Eighth Prince glanced at the top of Xiao Yaozu’s head, and the System, for some reason, trembled despite being a string of data.
Xiao Yaozu seriously denied it—she wasn’t that kind of person.
Suppressing the thoughts in her heart.
She contentedly patted her slightly rounded belly.
“Your Highness, thank you for the hospitality. See you tomorrow.”
The Eighth Prince hummed softly, his gaze following Xiao Yaozu’s retreating figure from the corner of his eye…
As Xiao Yaozu passed by the entrance of the Drunk Moon Tower, she was stopped by two boldly dressed women.
“Young Master Xiao, why haven’t you come to the Drunk Moon Tower these past two days? Mei Niang misses you so much!” The woman wore a professionally seductive smile.
“…”
Xiao Yaozu looked up at the signboard… Drunk Moon Tower… Suddenly, fragments of the original owner’s memories flashed through her mind…
It turned out she really was a regular at this Drunk Moon Tower and had even reserved a woman here.
Although she couldn’t do anything substantial with that woman, Xiao Yaozu had maintained this relationship.
It seemed only to preserve the image of a normal man in front of others.
“Busy today, let’s talk another time.” Faced with the woman’s enthusiasm, Xiao Yaozu smiled awkwardly.
Xiao Yaozu continued to wander aimlessly.
Unconsciously, she arrived at an arched bridge, where she stopped and stood, overlooking the exquisitely decorated boat lanterns on the Bianjing River.
“Fang Zheng, what was that rustling thing that just flew past? A big rat?”
“Lord Xiao, you’ll get used to it. They’re spies from various factions.”
“It seems Bianjing isn’t just about wealth blinding the eyes—even the spies are swarming like bees to a hive.”
Imperial Palace
“Your Majesty, the Admonishing Official requests an audience.”
Audiences were generally not held late at night without reason, suggesting an urgent matter.
“Let him in.”
Eunuch Rong hurried in with small, quick steps, leading the Admonishing Official into the Imperial Study.
“Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”
“Rise. What brings you here so late?”
The Admonishing Official remained kneeling: “Your Majesty, could you spare my daughter’s life?”
The Emperor, while reviewing memorials, spoke leisurely: “Oh? You haven’t even said what the matter is, and you’re already asking me to spare your daughter’s life… Which daughter are you referring to?”
Hearing this, the Admonishing Official understood that the shadow guards had already reported the events in his household to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, my young daughter was swapped by villains, causing her to be cast out at a tender age and even framed into a betrothal with an enemy spy.”
“Your servant is guilty.”
The Emperor set down the memorial and glanced at the Admonishing Official.
The Admonishing Official maintained his kneeling posture.
The Emperor’s intimidating gaze swept over his head, making the Admonishing Official’s heart sink heavily.
After what felt like an eternity, the Emperor finally spoke: “Was Xiao Yaozu there at the time?”
Admonishing Official: “Reporting to Your Majesty, Lord Xiao was on the roof of my courtyard at the time, which is how I learned that person was an enemy spy.”
Emperor: “That kid probably still thinks he hid well. Who is the spy you mentioned?”
Admonishing Official: “From Wa Country. Their wolfish ambitions are already stirring.”
The Emperor asked casually: “Do you think we should attack?”
The Admonishing Official lifted his head: “Your Majesty, I believe we should!”
The Emperor crossed his arms and paced a few steps in the study.
“The Admonishing Official’s failure to maintain strict discipline in his household is punishable by six months’ salary deduction.”
The Admonishing Official promptly kowtowed: “Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your mercy.”
“Dismissed.”
As the Admonishing Official slowly retreated from the Imperial Study, his back was already drenched in cold sweat.
For a court official’s child to bear offspring with an enemy state was no different than treason.
Had he not come tonight, the entire Zhao family would have been executed.
A six-month salary deduction was already an imperial grace.
Meanwhile, before entering the palace…
Zhang San saw Zhao Zhirou return and happily went to greet her, holding their daughter’s hand.
“Wife, you’re back. Did Lord Zhao acknowledge you? I’ve already packed our belongings. Our family of three can go directly to the Zhao residence.”
Zhang San completely failed to notice Zhao Zhirou’s expression as he kept talking.
Zhao Zhirou changed the subject: “Husband, I’ll go to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Let’s have a proper meal at home tonight. We can go tomorrow—it’s too late today.”
“Yes, yes. Our lives will improve from now on. Now that you’re a Zhao family heiress, you won’t have to work so hard anymore. The servants will take care of everything for you.” Zhang San had clearly misunderstood her meaning.
While cooking, Zhao Zhirou’s hands trembled slightly. The vial of poison hidden in her sleeve—what choice should she make?
The meal was unusually quiet. Zhang San noticed Zhao Zhirou’s unusual behavior and looked at her with concern.
“Wife, why are you unhappy? Finding your biological father is a joyous matter.”
“Husband, my father is a court official… I feel out of place. Can our family of three not return to the Zhao residence?” Zhao Zhirou finally choked out the words.
Zhang San was momentarily stunned, then laughed.
“It’s alright, wife. I can support you both. But if we return to the Zhao family, our daughter could marry into a good family someday, instead of ending up like me—just a lowly servant.”
“Yes… you’re right. I almost forgot. I wasn’t thinking long-term enough. Husband, I’m just… afraid.”
“Wife, we’ll go to the Zhao residence tomorrow. We must secure a good future for our child.” Zhang San comforted Zhao Zhirou, telling her not to worry as long as he was there.
After dinner, when Zhao Zhirou had fallen asleep, Zhang San secretly rose and released a carrier pigeon.
Soon, a team of soldiers surrounded the small courtyard.
Zhao Zhirou had been awake all along. She opened her eyes, disappointment evident in their depths.
Zhang San discovered Zhao Zhirou was not in the room, then spotted her in the courtyard.
Realizing his scheme was exposed, he tried to flee but was blocked by guards.
After a fierce struggle, Zhang San was captured.
Zhao Zhirou held their daughter, watching Zhang San being restrained, her heart filled with conflicting emotions.
“Rou’er, I know it’s too late for everything. Can I hold Xiang’er one last time?” Zhang San looked defeated.
Zhao Zhirou stroked their daughter’s head, thinking that Zhang San was still the child’s father.
“Xiang’er, go on. Give your father a hug.”
The three-year-old girl obediently walked toward Zhang San, but unexpectedly, Zhang San immediately took their daughter hostage.
“Husband, let the child go!” Zhao Zhirou screamed in terror.
A guard stepped forward and coldly stated:
“Zhang San, you’re trapped like a rat in a jar. What can taking a child hostage achieve? Surrender quietly, and perhaps you’ll be granted a whole corpse.”
But Zhang San laughed maniacally.
“Haha! Men of Wa Country are no cowards! If I’m going down, I’m taking everyone with me!”
“I might as well drag this little brat to hell with me!”
Just as Zhang San was consumed by his frenzy—”Whoosh!”—an arrow shot toward him.
Zhang San acted purely on instinct. He abruptly grabbed his daughter beside him and without hesitation used her as a shield in front of himself.
“No!—”
Zhao Zhirou let out a scream of utter despair.
It was already too late. Blood gushed like a spring, soaking the entire fabric.
Only Zhang San laughed maniacally.
A guard swiftly kicked out, striking Zhang San squarely in the joint.
With a sharp “crack,” Zhang San’s leg bone snapped. He collapsed to the ground with a agonized scream, completely immobilized.
Zhao Zhirou rushed forward like a madwoman, her eyes blazing red as she stood over Zhang San.
“Why? How could you do this? She was your own flesh and blood!!”
Lying on the ground, Zhang San revealed a ferocious, cold smile, glaring viciously at Zhao Zhirou.
“Why?”
“My Wa Country only accepts pure bloodlines. If not for infiltrating the Zhao residence, how would a filthy Chu Country woman like you be worthy of bearing my offspring?”
Xiang’er was already at death’s door. Her small hand clutched tightly at Zhao Zhirou’s sleeve as she whispered weakly, “Mother, it hurts so much~”
Zhao Zhirou held her daughter’s body, feeling the child’s temperature gradually fade, her heart plunging into an icy abyss.
She had been wrong. She thought he would cherish their father-daughter bond, but instead, she had caused her daughter’s death.
The man who shared her bed was a Wa Country spy—she had been foolishly devoted, and now she realized even his name was false!
And she… in the end, she hadn’t used that medicine. She had even held onto hope when he took the child hostage…
If only Zhang San had taken the child far away from Chu Country…
It was all too late…