Chapter 15: Days of Silence (5)

Chapter 15: The Days When One Cannot Speak (Five)

Transmigrated?

What did that mean?

Emperor Qixuan and Consort Shu exchanged a glance.

The reason Chu Yaoyao could remember the specific dates was because this segment had been emphasized in the text.

Father Shi held an eighth-rank position and was not permitted to attend palace banquets.

He felt quite despondent on the night of the banquet. Later, when the female lead comforted him, her original words were

"Father, there is no need to belittle yourself. I believe that in time, your presence will surely be felt at every palace banquet."

It was because of this single sentence that Father Shi began to pay attention to this daughter he had neglected for many years.

For the majority of the subsequent plot, the story served to prove that sentence true.

Chu Yaoyao continued to reminisce.

【Today, the Marchioness of Zhongyi held a banquet. The female lead's original body, Shi Jingjing—the daughter of the Hanlin Academy Registrar—attended with her mother. Midway through, she was pushed into the water, choked, and fell into a coma.】

【When she woke up again, her soul had become a modern corporate slave, Shi Qingqing!】

【From then on, possessing modern knowledge and mindset, the female lead attracted the attention and affection of many outstanding men in the capital. To win her heart, there was constant open conflict and backstabbing; they even went as far as fighting each other physically for her sake.】

【Afterward, under their help and protection, the female lead ascended to the pinnacle of her life.】

As a reader, it had actually been quite satisfying to watch, but now that she had become the cannon fodder used as a stepping stone for the female lead, she could only offer a single "Heh."

【Our Third Prince was just one of many nameless simps. In the end, he even packaged up the entire Great Qi empire and gave it to the female lead as a dowry!】

Emperor Qixuan clenched his fists. That rebellious son!

The foundation his ancestors had fought so hard to build was being handed over just to please a woman?

What a scoundrel!

"Oh! Third Prince, where are you going? Slow down, don't trip!"

Su Maowen's voice drifted in from outside the door.

However, none of the three paid it any mind.

【First step: I must hurry and make soap to cut off the female lead's source of wealth and snatch her first pot of gold!】

What was soap?

Emperor Qixuan didn't have time to think deeply about it.

Because Chu Yaoyao was muttering again.

【Should I struggle a bit instead? Should I have my Emperor father notify the Marquis of Yongyi's manor to prevent the Shi mother and daughter from attending the banquet? That way, Shi Jingjing won't fall into the water, and would the female lead even have the chance to transmigrate?】

That was indeed a way.

Emperor Qixuan pondered.

"I haven't finished approving the memorials. I'm returning first."

Once he stepped out the door, Emperor Qixuan's expression changed drastically. Killing intent flickered in his eyes, and his entire body seemed shrouded in a layer of ice, emitting a chilling aura that made people tremble with fear.

Su Maowen raised a hand to wipe away cold sweat. What was happening now?

He hadn't heard any arguing inside just now.

Why was the Emperor angry again?

Could it be because the maid chosen by Little Lu wasn't good, and Consort Shu was angry with the Emperor?

This Little Lu was usually quite clever, yet she had made such a massive blunder at a critical moment.

But since she did call him Master after all...

"Your Majesty, how do you intend to deal with Little Lu?"

Originally, Emperor Qixuan had been unable to care about this matter, but upon his reminder, he immediately remembered that maid who would poison Wanzhi and Yaoyao.

"Let her receive fifty strokes of the heavy cane!" If the punishment were too severe, it might affect Wanzhi's plans.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Su Maowen wiped his cold sweat in lingering fear. Although fifty strokes could take half a life, at least the life would be preserved.

Returning to the Imperial Study, Emperor Qixuan wrote the key information on a piece of paper.

By piecing together what he had heard from Yaoyao's inner voice over the past two days, he had already guessed about seventy to eighty percent of it.

At the Marquis of Yongyi's banquet today, the Shi daughter would be pushed into the water, after which an otherworldly soul would occupy her body.

That woman was also immodest, flirting with men everywhere. The Third Prince would fall for her honey trap, and his already meager brains would turn into that... "love brain" thing, being deceived and manipulated by her, eventually handing Great Qi over to another.

Emperor Qixuan did not care why that woman possessed such great charm that made everyone lose their souls for her.

But if this woman threatened the sovereignty of Great Qi, then she could not be allowed to exist!

But on second thought, if the real Shi Jingjing died, wouldn't the otherworldly soul still occupy the body?

Therefore, she could not only not be killed, but she had to be monitored and protected at all times.

Thus, the leader of the secret guards received a strange order.

"Find several people to monitor the daughter of the Hanlin Academy Registrar. If she encounters any danger, protect her."

Hearing this, the leader of the secret guards was visibly stunned for a moment. Had he heard correctly?

The Emperor wanted them to protect the daughter of an eighth-rank official?

But the obedience ingrained in his bones toward Emperor Qixuan allowed him to react quickly.

"Yes."

Afterward, Emperor Qixuan had Su Maowen go to the Marquis of Yongyi's manor to deliver the decree.

"Go personally and tell the Marquis of Yongyi to drain all the water in his manor. If it can't be drained, fill it in! Also, the Shi mother and daughter are not permitted to enter the manor!"

Yaoyao's method wasn't foolproof; even if she wasn't allowed in this time, she would find an opportunity to sneak in next time.

So you want to fall into water? Then I shall make sure you can't find any water!

Not just lakes, but wells, fish tanks—anywhere there was water.

Fill them all in for me!!!

Upon hearing the oral decree, the Marquis of Yongyi looked at Su Maowen in total confusion.

"Manager Su, not letting people into the manor... is easy enough, but filling in the lake..." That was a massive project, and besides...

Today was supposed to be the Lotus Viewing Banquet.

Su Maowen looked at him with a smile. "Marquis, the Emperor's arrangement must have its purpose. We only need to obey the decree. Isn't that the logic of it?"

The Marquis of Yongyi shook his head repeatedly. What on earth did the Emperor mean?

But the imperial decree had been issued.

Fine, fine. Order people to fill it in.

The Marchioness of Yongyi came to ask, "Marquis, why fill in the lake? What about the banquet?"

The Marquis of Yongyi glared, his beard twitching, "What else can we do? The lotuses will be gone, so the banquet is canceled!"

On the other side, Mother Shi was throwing a tantrum in Shi Jingjing's room.

She had finally used her connections and spent a large sum of money to secure an invitation.

She had intended to take this girl to the Marquis's manor to scout for a young master from a good family.

She hadn't expected the banquet to be canceled, meaning the silver was wasted!

Looking at the relieved Shi Jingjing, Mother Shi poked her forehead in frustration.

"You have such a beautiful face, but can't you be a bit more useful? How will you help your brother in the future if you're like this?"

Shi Jingjing felt very wronged. If there was no banquet, then they just wouldn't go; she didn't want to go in the first place.

Mother Shi was still scolding her.

Suddenly, Shi Jingjing walked straight toward the courtyard. If one looked closely, her eyes were vacant and her expression was dull.

"Where are you going? I haven't finished talking!" Mother Shi chased her out the door, only to see Shi Jingjing burying her head in a water vat.

"Ah! You dead girl! Are you looking for death?!"

Mother Shi grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the ground.

The secret guard hiding in the tree retreated; it seemed he wouldn't need to step in.

"Truly remarkable! A few words and you're acting like you want to die. As your mother, am I not even allowed to say a few words to you?"

At this moment, Shi Jingjing seemed to have regained consciousness. She lunged forward crying, "Waaaah... Mother, I think I've been possessed!"

(End of Chapter)