Chapter 9: After Beating the Son, Beat the Father

Anan was also puzzled. A month ago, the Divine Doctor Feng had already sent a message to their prince. The content of the letter was simple and clear, yet it made those of them serving as guards overjoyed.

Prince Lin: If you wish to recover, come to Huaicheng.

The man sitting in the wooden wheelchair inside the room was none other than His Highness Prince Lin of Kang Kingdom, the youngest brother of the current Emperor Kangjian. Yet a whole month had passed, and Divine Doctor Feng had still not appeared.

Anan worried that his master was overthinking and tried to change the subject. “Master, today when I went to buy medicine, I encountered something quite interesting.”

Prince Lin showed no interest. His expression was indifferent as he shifted his gaze to the plum blossoms outside the window.

Seeing this, Anan quickly said, “I saw General Tang’s youngest daughter beating someone on the street.”

Prince Lin raised an eyebrow and suddenly spoke, “The second daughter of the Tang family who just returned from the mountain?”

Anan thought his master was intrigued and continued, “Master, do you know who she was hitting?”

Before Prince Lin could answer, a voice interjected eagerly, “Who was she hitting?”

Axi entered from outside and leaned toward Anan, his peach blossom eyes full of curiosity. He was very intrigued by the second Miss Tang who had come down from the mountain. Kicking her own father and opening her sister’s coffin for an autopsy—Axi had never seen such an extraordinary woman.

Anan glanced at him before replying, “She first hit the son of Minister of Rites Xu Huairen, and now she’s beating Xu Huairen himself right in the street.”

Axi couldn’t help but curse, “Damn, this lady is fierce. No way, I have to see this show with my own eyes.”

No sooner had he spoken than he rushed out of the room. Anan wanted to remind him that there was still medicine brewing on the stove for the master, but Axi was already gone.

“Reason?” Prince Lin’s sudden question made Anan give up on trying to fetch Axi back.

“Master, Miss Tang said that Xu Huairen is the murderer of her eldest sister.”

Upon hearing this, Prince Lin’s lips curled into a faint smile. “The capital is going to be lively.”

Anan didn’t quite understand his master’s meaning. Seeing that Prince Lin had fallen silent, he withdrew. With Axi gone, someone had to stay to watch over the medicine on the stove.

Axi hurried to the main street. Seeing the dense crowd, he exclaimed in surprise. He leapt onto the eaves, found the best vantage point, and sat down.

Tang Chaochao glanced at the man who looked beaten like a dead dog. She retracted her fist and thought that Xu Jiaye had been right—his father wasn’t someone who could take a beating easily. She hadn’t even really started.

Xu Huairen was already rolling his eyes. Xu Jiaye cautiously moved closer to his father, relieved to find that he was still breathing.

Tang Chaochao looked around and called out, “Who has a bucket of water to lend?”

The crowd exchanged glances. A brave young man shouted, “Miss Tang, I’ll get a bucket from the shop!”

Hearing this, Tang Chaochao smiled broadly at the young man. “Thank you.”

The young man was thrilled and rushed into a nearby shop. Soon, he returned carrying a bucket of water. Tang Chaochao took it and smiled again at him before turning to approach Xu Huairen and his son.

The young man was left dumbfounded by her smile. Up close, he realized that the second Miss Tang looked like a celestial being.

As Tang Chaochao raised the wooden bucket, Xu Jiaye wanted to say no. But seeing the water about to be poured, he panicked and dodged.

Xu Huairen was drenched in icy cold water.

It was winter, and just days ago there had been heavy snowfalls. Dazed from the beating, Xu Huairen shivered violently and instantly sobered up.

Meeting Tang Chaochao’s playful smile, he felt even colder.

At that moment, a sharp feminine voice rang out, “Impudent commoner! Do you know who my uncle is? Are you looking to die?”

Tang Chaochao was so used to hearing such words she felt as if her ears had grown calluses. Pretending to rub her ear, a pink figure suddenly rushed to Xu Huairen’s side.

She took a pink leather jacket from her maid and draped it over Xu Huairen. Shivering all over, Xu Huairen didn’t care that it was a woman’s garment—small as it was, it was better than nothing.

Xu Luowan, concerned, asked her uncle a few worried questions before lifting her gaze to Tang Chaochao.

She had been bored at home and heard her uncle had gone out with some men. Curious, she asked why. When she learned her cousin had been beaten, her uncle went to rescue him, and Xu Luowan and her maid followed to see the commotion.

But upon arriving, she was shocked. A whole street was filled with onlookers, and she barely squeezed through to see her uncle being doused with cold water.

Xu Luowan could not remain calm. Looking at Tang Chaochao’s face, her pupils suddenly contracted sharply.

Tang Mumu!

Wasn’t she dead?

Tang Chaochao caught the startled look in her eyes. It seemed this woman had met her sister before.

Xu Luowan, dressed in pink, was delicate and quite beautiful. But upon seeing Tang Chaochao, her fair face noticeably paled.

Tang Chaochao saw it all. Though not versed in Taoist magic, she clearly understood simple expressions and subconscious body language.

This woman was hiding something.

It seemed she had found the real person.

Tang Chaochao ignored Xu Luowan and fixed her gaze on Xu Huairen.

“Xu, how do you intend to repay my sister’s death?”

Xu Huairen, still dazed from the beating and now soaked, trembled and pointed angrily at Tang Chaochao. “Commoner! Don’t spout nonsense! I will not let this matter go!”

Tang Chaochao rolled her eyes. “Still calling me a commoner? Xu, do you still not know who I am?”

Xu Huairen thought to himself, no matter who she was, if she dared hit him, she must pay the price.

Xu Jiaye suddenly appeared beside his father and whispered, “Father, she is General Tang’s second daughter, Miss Tang. She says you killed her eldest sister. Tell me the truth—did you do it?”

Xu Jiaye had finally understood. The beating he received today was definitely because of his father. Tang Chaochao clearly didn’t want to deal with him before, but when he mentioned his father’s name, she had hit him without hesitation.

Xu Jiaye realized he must never casually name his family in the future. Who knew what other misdeeds his father had done?

Xu Huairen was shocked by the revelation of Tang Chaochao’s identity, then furiously retorted, “You brat, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Xu Jiaye did not believe him. “Father, as the saying goes, there’s no smoke without fire. You better tell the truth and reveal who’s behind you, or even I can’t save you. We might both end up dead here today.”

Xu Huairen was so angry at his son he felt like vomiting blood. What misfortune had he brought upon himself to have such a wretched son?

The father and son’s conversation was heard clearly by Tang Chaochao, but her eyes never left Xu Luowan.

Since seeing Tang Chaochao’s face, Xu Luowan had been frozen in place. Hearing the father and son’s exchange, her expression turned ashen, though she quickly regained composure.

Tang Chaochao smiled and cut off their conversation. “Xu, though I just came down from the mountain, I still know the principle of ‘catching the thief with the stolen goods.’”