Chapter 19: Returning to the Capital

Three days later.

Xu Huairen finally returned to Huaicheng, carrying the imperial edict once more.

Worried about his son, he went straight to the General’s residence.

When he saw Tang Wu being supported out, his face pale and weak, his expression froze in surprise.

So it was true—this man was really ill.

Tang Chaochao had come along with Song Rongzhi.

Seeing this little princess, Xu Huairen’s grip on the edict faltered slightly.

Because it was an oral decree and Tang Wu was indeed sick, he did not insist they receive the edict kneeling.

Just as they had expected, Emperor Kangjian ordered them to return to the capital.

As the family of three thought there was nothing more, Xu Huairen raised the edict and announced,

“Second Miss Tang, please receive the edict.”

Tang Chaochao stood there, puzzled.

Xu Huairen repeated himself when she did not kneel.

Annoyed, Tang Chaochao snapped,

“If there’s an edict, then read it yourself!”

Xu Huairen did not dare offend this young lady, fearing another beating.

He kindly reminded her,

“Second Miss Tang, receiving an edict requires kneeling to listen.”

Tang Chaochao pointed to the jade pendant hanging at her waist.

“With this, isn’t kneeling unnecessary?”

Xu Huairen’s eyes flicked to the jade pendant and twitched involuntarily.

Good heavens, General Tang must have feared this daughter would suffer harm as well and had given her the jade pendant bestowed by the late emperor for protection.

Tang Chaochao listened silently as the edict conferred upon her the title of Princess Chao’an.

The emperor was indeed cunning.

Rather than comforting her grieving father, he simply bestowed upon her a rather nominal title of princess, hoping to pacify the Tang family over the death of their eldest daughter.

Once the edict was read, Xu Huairen hurriedly said,

“Princess Chao’an, my son…”

He wanted to ask if he might finally have his son returned.

This matter was truly an unwarranted disaster for him.

Tang Chaochao thought for a moment.

“You may take the boy now, but there is something I must warn you about, Master Xu.”

Xu Huairen frowned.

“Princess, please speak.”

Tang Chaochao smiled wryly.

“Though you may be innocent in this matter, your niece isn’t very bright and vain, but if she becomes a pawn without realizing it, how you die might be something you yourself never understand.”

With that, she turned away, supporting Song Rongzhi as they left.

Xu Huairen stood dumbfounded, staring blankly.

His eyes involuntarily shifted to the pale, evidently gravely ill General Tang Wu.

Tang Wu coughed lightly twice.

“Master Xu, what my daughter says is true. You care for your son, but you must also look after the rest of your family.”

Supported by Tang Shan, he prepared to leave.

“Oh, and have someone bring Master Xu to receive his son.”

The servant bowed and took his leave.

Xu Huairen was led directly to the wood storage room in the General’s residence.

When Xu Luowan saw her uncle, tears of grievance streamed down her face.

Since being confined here, save for the one time she was scared into wetting herself and was cleaned by a maid, she had not washed or groomed herself.

Her hair was tangled and unkempt, covering her head.

Her once delicate face was filthy.

Now, when she cried, there was no trace of the usual fragile innocence—she looked no different from a beggar.

Xu Huairen barely glanced at her and instead searched for Xu Jiaye.

Xu Jiaye’s condition was no better.

He was on the brink of depression from confinement.

When he saw his father, his eyes suddenly reddened.

So his father still remembered him.

Because of the last visit from Tang Chaochao, Xu Jiaye finally understood why his seemingly delicate cousin had insisted on coming to Huaicheng.

She had even gotten entangled with the eldest Miss Tang.

This could spell doom for the Xu family!

So, when Xu Huairen had gone to untie his son, he heard a torrent of complaints.

Xu Jiaye told him everything—how Xu Luowan had insisted on coming to Huaicheng and how she’d been incited by Xie Tingyao.

Previously, Xu Huairen had not grasped the meaning behind Tang Chaochao’s words.

Now, hearing his son’s account, everything became clear.

He strode swiftly toward Xu Luowan.

“Smack!”

A loud slap rang out.

Xu Luowan’s face instantly swelled.

She still hadn’t processed it—she had done nothing wrong.

Xu Huairen shouted angrily,

“Fool!”

Xu Luowan was heartbroken, tears streaming uncontrollably.

She had only come to see if Tang Mumu was truly dead.

She had done nothing else, yet she was treated as though she had broken the heavens’ laws.

Seeing her pitiful state, Xu Huairen was so furious he nearly vomited blood.

“When we return to the capital, you will stay indoors and reflect upon your mistakes. You are forbidden from leaving the residence, or else you’ll be sent to the mountains to become a nun!”

Xu Luowan bit her lip, wanting to argue, but dared not.

She could only cry herself into a sobbing mess.

Before returning to the capital, Tang Chaochao visited Prince Lin’s small courtyard once more.

She found it deserted, with no trace they had ever been there.

She had wondered if her sister’s death was connected to Prince Lin.

Otherwise, why would he just happen to be in Huaicheng?

Yet after checking the travel records,

Although Prince Lin and his group had changed names and appearances, they had arrived in Huaicheng over a month ago.

If they were the perpetrators, they would have left immediately after committing the crime, not lingered in Huaicheng.

This was why Tang Chaochao had not pursued the murderer directly.

By the time she returned, the culprit would have long fled.

Half a month later.

The carriage slowly approached the city gates of the capital.

Tang Chaochao lifted the curtain to look around.

Song Rongzhi’s voice echoed in her ears,

“Your father has a younger brother named Tang Wen. When you meet him, address him as Second Uncle.

Second Uncle has a son and a daughter. His son, Tang Yaozu, is a year older than you; his daughter, Tang Yuntao, is a year younger.

Also, there’s your Second Aunt and your grandmother.

Your Second Aunt is somewhat snobbish—you’ll see when you meet her.

As for your grandmother, she doesn’t like your mother much, mainly because your mother failed to bear a son.

In Kang’s kingdom, filial piety is paramount.

Chaochao, just remember—don’t give others a chance to find fault with you.”

Tang Chaochao turned to her mother with a smile.

“Mother, I understand.

But you said so much—why didn’t you mention my maternal family?”

Song Rongzhi’s expression shifted uneasily.

Tang Wu spoke up from beside him,

“Your maternal side has a stubborn temper. They were adamantly opposed to your mother coming to Huaicheng with me.

Now it’s been seven years since they left—probably still angry.”

Tang Chaochao understood.

Her maternal family couldn’t bear to see their daughter suffer.

But her father had abducted his own daughter and taken her to such a remote place.

So she and her sister were born in the capital.

Then the fine needles in her sister’s body—they must have been implanted long ago without her knowledge.

“Mother, during this time, have you ever returned to the capital?”

Song Rongzhi thought a moment.

“Except for your maternal grandfather’s birthday three years ago, when your sister returned alone to stay for two months, we haven’t come back.”

Tang Chaochao’s eyes darkened at this.

At that moment, the carriage stopped.

The curtain was lifted, and Tang Shan’s voice came through.

“Reporting to the General, the matriarch and others are waiting near the city gate.”

Tang Chaochao raised an eyebrow.

As the family of three descended the carriage,

A large group of people approached from the opposite side.

At their head was an elderly woman in her fifties.

Flanking her were two youths about Tang Chaochao’s age—a slender, pale-skinned young man who looked like a scholarly type,

And a young lady dressed exquisitely, with tassels swaying in the breeze atop her head.

The pretty young girl’s face bore a stiff, forced smile.