Chapter 8: Tyrant Dad, Your Imperial Mausoleum Has Been Robbed!

"Bang!"

Upon hearing the news of her father and brother’s tragic deaths, Consort Shu could no longer maintain her composure; in her panic, she knocked over her bowl and chopsticks.

Chu Yaoyao looked over with concern.

[Oh, Mother, the two of us are going to be sent to the Cold Palace again. Being sent to the Cold Palace would be the best-case scenario; with the label of treason slapped on us, we might not even keep our lives this time.]

Consort Shu’s lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something.

"My beloved consort, your clothes are dirty. Go back and change first."

Consort Shu was naturally unwilling to leave at such a moment. "But..."

Emperor Qixuan tried to keep his tone as gentle as possible. "Go back. I will come to see you later."

Was Emperor Qixuan truly that calm? Of course not; he was also forcibly suppressing his rage.

That was the army of Great Qi, his own subjects, but... something was wrong...

He knew the loyalty of the Li family better than anyone. It made no sense to issue an execution order without even conducting an investigation.

There must be some other reason behind this.

Yaoyao continued to recall, [In the plot, Mother was framed for using witchcraft against the Crown Prince and thrown into the Cold Palace. After the news of the Li family’s treason arrived, Mother knelt at the gates of the Cold Palace for three days and three nights, begging the scumbag father to reinvestigate the case.]

Chu Yaoyao cast a resentful little glance at her "cheap" father.

[The scumbag father was with Consort Li at the time, enjoying the comfort of her company; how could he possibly remember that a person like Mother even existed?

My grandfather’s entire family of over a hundred people was executed, and Mother’s hair turned white overnight from excessive grief.

She had wanted to follow her family in death, but she held on for my sake. Later, when I was murdered, Mother completely lost all hope of living...]

The information was so shocking that neither father nor son noticed the contradiction in her words—she had said "Yaoyao," not "me."

Thinking of this, Chu Yaoyao felt exceptionally heavy-hearted.

[According to the original plot, the news of the Li family’s treason reached the capital five days after Mother was thrown into the Cold Palace.]

[Poor Li family, so loyal and patriotic. Grandfather spent his whole life fighting on the battlefield for the country, only to end up like this.]

[Hmph, tyrant! Dim-witted emperor!]

Emperor Qixuan couldn't be bothered to address how she referred to him; he only felt that something was wrong—increasingly wrong. How could he have possibly let Wanzhi kneel for so long?

[After Yaoyao left, Mother also hanged herself.

Because Mother had lost her title and rank, she couldn't be buried in the imperial cemetery next to the Emperor’s mausoleum. But that’s probably for the best.

After all, the tyrant father’s imperial mausoleum was robbed later on.

The gold and silver treasures buried with him were looted clean, the scumbag father’s coffin lid was pried open, and his remains were dragged out and scattered everywhere—a piece here, a piece there. Eventually, the wind blew, and the scraps were all gone.]

"Bang!"

"Insolent!"

Head Eunuch Su, who was serving nearby, knelt down trembling. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

Emperor Qixuan couldn't take it anymore. The imperial mausoleum robbed? Remains gone?

It was simply... a supreme humiliation!

"What is the Imperial Kitchen doing? There are still bones in this fish! What if it gets stuck in my throat!"

Eunuch Su lowered his head. "This servant deserves death. Please, Your Majesty, forgive me."

[Sigh, the tyrant father is acting up again. How could a carp not have bones? If you're afraid of bones, don't eat it. Give it to me; I'm not afraid.]

Hearing this, Emperor Qixuan felt like a deflated balloon.

"I have no appetite. Crown Prince, accompany me to the Imperial Study to discuss state affairs."

As he spoke, Emperor Qixuan picked up Yaoyao and strode away.

Watching the delicious food get further and further away, Chu Yaoyao felt heartbroken.

She had thought that once the scumbag father and Mother left, she would be able to have a big meal.

[You're discussing state affairs, why are you taking me with you? I haven't eaten my fill yet.]

[This is my first time eating imperial cuisine, too! It might also be my last.]

Hearing this, Emperor Qixuan was so annoyed he put her down. "You've eaten too much; I can't carry you. Walk yourself."

Chu Yaoyao looked at her own little arms and legs, looking disbelieving.

[Is the scumbag father... getting weak?]

Emperor Qixuan, who had only walked two steps: My hands are itching; I want to hit someone!

He turned back and scooped her up again.

He marched toward the Imperial Study, fuming.

As Emperor Qixuan and the Crown Prince left, Eunuch Su stood up, wiped the cold sweat from his brow, and trotted to catch up.

As he ran, he thought: *Sigh, the Emperor is becoming more and more temperamental. My life is so difficult.*

***

In the Imperial Study.

Emperor Qixuan looked at the border position on the map with a gloomy face.

Considering Yaoyao was still present, the Crown Prince tactfully brought up the matter of increasing food supplies to the border.

Emperor Qixuan gave him an appreciative look. "I have the same intention."

"Xiyue has wolfish ambitions; we must be on guard. Border supplies are a major matter."

Yaoyao, who was scribbling on a piece of paper, twitched her little ears.

[Sending supplies? Is there a plot point like this?]

"In your opinion, who should be sent?" Emperor Qixuan’s question seemed directed at the Crown Prince, but in reality, his attention was entirely on Yaoyao.

[The candidate? It has to be Commander Zhao. Not to mention Zhao Jingwu’s integrity and loyalty, just look at his friendship with Grandfather’s family. My eldest uncle once saved him on the battlefield; he would definitely not harm the Li family.]

*So that’s it. It seems this person can be used.*

The Emperor and the Crown Prince exchanged a look.

Seeing the expectant look on Yaoyao’s face, the Crown Prince lowered his head and chuckled.

"Your son believes that since the allocation of military supplies is the responsibility of the Ministry of War, it would be better to send Li Yan, the Director of the Bureau of Provisions."

[No!]

Chu Yaoyao grew anxious.

[Absolutely not him! Li Yan is a huge corrupt official. He dares to embezzle military supplies issued by the imperial court. The soldiers are protecting the country, yet he drinks their blood! He knows Grandfather has already become suspicious; he is dying for Grandfather to die on the battlefield.]

*What?!*

Father and son looked at each other, both seeing the murderous intent in the other's eyes.

Such a person truly deserved to die!

"Speaking of Li Yan, hmph, someone submitted a memorial yesterday saying he was taking bribes. I have already ordered an investigation." As he spoke, Emperor Qixuan handed the memorial to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince took it and looked, feeling extremely helpless. *Father, isn't this just a standard greeting memorial from an official?*

[Huh? There's such a thing? But hasn't Li Yan been arrogant for a long time? Let me take a look.]

Chu Yaoyao tried hard to stand on her tiptoes, stretching her neck to look.

But she forgot that she was illiterate here.

[Fine, I don't recognize it.]

*If you can't read, what are you looking at?*

Emperor Qixuan loosened his clenched fist.

The Crown Prince, who had been intentionally or unintentionally avoiding Yaoyao’s gaze, also relaxed and said righteously, "There is such a thing? Truly, one can know a person's face but not their heart."

"Your son has another candidate: Commander Zhao Jingwu."

[Yes, yes, that’s him, it has to be him.]

[Come to think of it, the Xiyue general is simple-minded. Perhaps he thinks his plan is foolproof, or perhaps he wants to ensure victory, but he has used 70% of his troops to surround Grandfather and the others. The rest are just old, weak, and disabled soldiers with no combat power.]

[If we take advantage of them surrounding Grandfather and send troops to raid the Xiyue camp, we could definitely catch them off guard!]

Thinking of this, Chu Yaoyao clenched her little fists, full of fighting spirit.

But she quickly deflated.

[But how am I supposed to tell the cheap father about these things?]

Emperor Qixuan: *No need to say it, I already know.*