Chapter 332 - Chapter 332: Kick Him to Death
Chapter 332: Kick Him to Death
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“My father is a scholar but has never become a Recommended Scholar.”
“A scholar? And you have to sell flowers?”
“His legs were broken by bad people. My stepmother grows flowers. The family relies on her for support.”
“Is she unkind to you?”
The little girl shook her head and then nodded. Qiao Mai continued, “Do you have any siblings?”
“I have a younger brother, born to my stepmother.”
No wonder. With the family relying on the stepmother, the father cannot say anything even if his daughter is mistreated, especially since he is disabled.
Qiao Mai sighed. “If I buy you, you will serve me as a maid and won’t have to sell flowers anymore. Are you willing?”
The little girl lifted her head and looked at her. “Can I have enough to eat?”
“You will have three meals and no chores at night.”
While eating buns, the little girl shed tears.
“But what about my father? Although his legs are broken now, he was good to me.”
“If you continue to stay in that family, you might die before your father. If you can’t even protect yourself, how can you protect your father?”
“Madam, you are a good person. I am willing to sell myself to you.”
Qiao Mai smiled, finding the girl amusing. She brought her back to Lucky Garden and had the steward summoned.
“Old Zhang, take her back to her family. Buy her for fifty taels of silver, bring her back, hand her over to Nanny Jin, let her train for a month, and then send her to Yuexian Residence.”
“Yes, Master!”
Steward Zhang took the little girl away. It had been long since anyone entered the master’s courtyard, and it was rare for Qiao Mai to accept a servant, even if she was a little one. Faithful servants had to be cultivated from a young age. As night fell, Steward Zhang returned. He reported to Qiao Mai and handed over the contract of sale.
“Master, the lady of that family is too outrageous. When she heard I wanted to buy the girl, she asked for a thousand taels of silver.”
“She dares to ask for so much. She’s not afraid of pushing it too far,” Qiao Mai commented.
“When I heard that, I turned and left. She called me back hurriedly, and we settled on fifty taels. She was still unhappy.” “Does her husband know about this?” “No. She talked to us outside.” “You handed her over to Nanny Jin?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve worked hard. Rest.”
Soon after, Yuan Jiaqi returned. “Wife, did you have a hard day today?”
“Haha, you already know?”
The two sat in front of the table. After a while, servants brought in the food, arranged it, and retreated.
“The emperor called me into the palace. He didn’t make it difficult for me, only mentioning the matter. Wife, your kick was well-deserved. It’s a pity he’s still alive. If this scoundrel lives one more day, the women in the capital will suffer. You don’t know how notorious this guy is.”
Qiao Mai ate without lifting her head.
“The emperor knows what kind of person his grandson is. He only supervised his officials but not his family. If he makes me mad, I’ll show him some color one day.”
Yuan Jiaqi’s hand trembled, shocked by his wife’s strength. Could she challenge the emperor so casually?
Seeing him stunned, Qiao Mai coldly snorted. “Do you want to be the emperor?”
Yuan Jiaqi shook his head quickly. “No one in this world doesn’t want to be the emperor, but this position is not something anyone can take. Without a foundation, soldiers, and generals, it is just a death sentence.”
“You see through it clearly. This is just a warning to the royal family. If there is another time, it won’t be just a broken rib.”
“The dandies in the capital need a good lesson. They bully the commoners with their wealth and power. The families who suffered dare not say a word.” “Investigate the bullies in the capital, write a list, and hand it over to me.”
“Oh, wife, can you give me a hundred thousand taels of silver?”
“Is there another disaster in the south?”
“Yes, there have been heavy rains in several places. If relief is not timely, there may be an epidemic.”
“Do you need grain?”
“11 you are willing to nup, more IS Deuer.’
After dinner, Qiao Mai gave him a silver note of a hundred thousand taels. Then she took him to the door.
With a wave of her hand, a mountain of grain bags appeared out of thin air in the courtyard, each weighing about a hundred catties.
“Tomorrow, have someone count it. If it’s not enough, I’ll give you more.”
Yuan Jiaqi gulped. “It should be enough. There are hundreds of thousands of catties here.”
“Okay, figure out how to distribute this grain yourself.”
“I have applied to the emperor for disaster relief. I’m afraid I will leave the capital for a month or two.”
“You have me at home. Take Dong Zhao and Dracaena with you. The horses can swim, and they will protect you.”
“Understood.”
The following day, Yuan Jiaqi attended the court session early in the morning. After returning, he immediately started dispatching people to inventory and transport the grain.
His day was consumed by this laborious task, leaving him too occupied to converse with Qiao Mai. Exhausted, he went to bed early.
Observing him in peaceful slumber, Qiao Mai sighed softly. She gently touched his ear, imbuing him with her divine consciousness.
Despite their intelligence, Yuan Jiaqi and Chuan’er could not guard against potential threats.
She could only resort to such measures. In case of any anomaly, she could promptly appear by his side.
As a concerned wife, Qiao Mai prepared some belongings for him that night.
The next day, Yuan Jiaqi departed from the capital with a large group of people.
Since her husband would leave for one or two months, Qiao Mai secluded herself and focused on improving her cultivation.
Just as she was about to close the door, a servant came to report.
“Mistress, there is a couple outside seeking an audience, claiming, claiming…”
“Speak!”
“They say they have come to acknowledge their kinship.”
“Acknowledge kinship?”
“Yes, they claim to be the biological parents of the county princess.”
Qiao Mai was momentarily stunned, then suddenly smiled, finding it ridiculous someone came to acknowledge her daughter.
Her face turned icy as she carried a murderous intent to the main hall, where she saw a couple of similar age to her.
The couple immediately stood up and somewhat awkwardly gave their respects.
“Greetings, Royal Consort.”
“Don’t rush to acknowledge kinship. First. tell me who you are and where you
live.”
“We reside in the capital. My surname is Yu, and this is my wife, Madam Yu.
Our family has been in business for generations.”
“Where was your child lost?”
“She was not lost. My wife was chased by someone. In desperation, she could only leave the child at the doorstep of a family in Tianshui Town and then hurriedly left.”
“Tell me in more detail. What was the weather like at the time? How old was the child when you left her? What kind of blanket did you wrap her in, and what clothes was she wearing?”
“My wife suffered from amnesia after barely escaping. She only remembers the general details. Unfortunately, she can’t recall the specific circumstances.” “How did you hear that my daughter was adopted?”
“After my wife remembered this incident, we searched in Tianshui Town. Residents mentioned your family had arrived in the capital, so we came here.”
“Are you sure my daughter is yours?”
“We are not sure. We only want to confirm this clue and fulfill our wish. Please grant our request.”
“Go back. She is not your child.”
“Royal Consort! Please, fulfill our wish!”
The couple immediately knelt before her. Qiao Mai looked at these two people acting. They were probably backed by someone who had investigated thoroughly, making the scheme seamless.
Qiao Mai tapped her fingers and nodded to a servant waiting on the side.
The servant hurriedly left. After a short while, Ling’er arrived at the hall. She looked at the unfamiliar couple.
“Mother, who are they?”
“Greetings, County Princess!”
“They claim you are their daughter, so I called you here. Surprisingly, there is a slight resemblance. The people behind you worked hard for this.”
Hearing this, the couple pretended to be clueless, “Royal Consort, the princess really looks like us..”