Chapter 8: Dare To Rob Things From This Palace?! (2)

As long as this gamble raised enough money to honor Prefect Wu, he could free himself from being labeled as the ordinary folk and have Prefect Wu and his royal highness the prince as backers in the future. How would then he still be afraid that there will be no promotion to a high official position?

Having received the promise, Qian-shi was naturally happy. Holding her grandson while stepping out of the door in high spirits, she headed to Anping county residence.

***

After lunch, Xu Yun Yao was resting for a bit, with Ruan-shi humming beside her.

While in a daze, she heard the servant maid’s gossip.

“The mysterious Taoist priest of Chaoyun Temple has gone into seclusion. Many pilgrims want to find him but couldn’t.”

“I heard that on the day when the Taoist priest announced his seclusion, someone saw him vomit blood and wondered if he was seriously ill.”

“When did this happen?”

“It seems to be the day when the old Madam went to Taoist Temple for fulfilling her promise.”

……

After having enough sleep, Ruan-shi did not let the servants serve Xu Yun Yao. She personally dressed her in good clothes and finally opened the treasure box. From the inside, a golden longevity lock was taken out and cautiously strapped on her daughter’s neck.

Xu Yun Yao sat quietly and let her do as she pleased.

“Hmmph! These people are talking nonsense! It turned out to be really okay!” Xu Yan Yao felt bored while playing with the lock of longevity when a sharp female voice sounded in the room all of a sudden. She lifted her head and saw a plump woman with a wretched appearance, holding a little boy about three years old, coming in.

Behind her, Bi Wen had a helpless face.

“Aunt? Please, sit down quickly. Bi Wen, pour some tea.” Ruan-shi got up and greeted her with respect.

Qian-shi placed her grandson Yong’gēr beside Xu Yun Yao. When her sharp eyes saw the lock of longevity hanging on the little girl’s neck, she said sourly, “She really is the daughter of an official. You can hang such a large piece of gold around her neck at will.”

Ruan-shi knew her temper, so she just smiled and said nothing more. But Xu Yuan Yao secretly sneered. This old woman’s eyes were wandering restlessly since stepping foot in the room. At a glance, she could discern that she was greedy.

“I want this and this!” As soon as Yong’gēr was seated on the couch, he reached out for the treasure box that Ruan-shi had not had time to put away. At one fell swoop, a smooth and lustrous piece of jade lion was held in his hand.

“Bang!” In addition, he had knocked down the treasure box and grabbed a big eastern pearl that rolled out.

“That’s our madam…” Bi Wen hastily spoke.

“Oh, your madam has a lot of these things. If the children like them, she can give them.” Qian-shi rolled her eyes, rushing to interrupt Bi Wen’s words.

Ruan-shi smiled stiffly. Although she felt distressed, she could not say anything.

Looking at the scene, Xu Yun Yao couldn’t help but knit her brows. Then she noticed the little fat boy staring at her lock of longevity while crying, “I want this too; Hers is bigger than mine!”

As he swept, he reached for it.

Xu Yun Yao got angry at once, slapped the unreserved claws of Yong’gēr, and gave him a jerk. While the little fat boy was falling on the bed, she quickly picked up the jade lion and the eastern pearl that had fallen from his hands, neatly stuffed them into the treasure box, and then tightly held it in her arms, glowering at the little fat rug rat who was pushed and was now bawling.

You dare rob anything from this palace! Do you not want to live anymore?!

“What is wrong with this child? It’s just a few small things. It’s nothing, just give it to your cousin.” Seeing her little grandson had eaten a loss, Qian-shi hurriedly picked him up while speaking to Xu Yun Yao in a displeased tone.

Ruan-shi was standing awkwardly on one side. Seeing that Yong’gēr was crying badly, after some thinking, she pulled off the jade pendant at her waist and handed it to him, “Yong’gēr is a good boy; don’t cry, this…”

To be continue