The second night after her successful escape, Xiao Cui stole all the money and fled. Zhao Haitang, drugged, slept alone in the grass. When she woke, the sky was bright, and not a soul was in sight.
"Xiao Cui, where did you go? How could you leave me alone like this? Xiao Cui, come out quickly~"
Zhao Haitang’s voice was hoarse. Only then did she face the reality. Betrayed by someone she trusted, she curled into a ball and cried helplessly.
"Wuwuwu~ Why is this happening? Wasn't I good enough to you, Xiao Cui? I don't even know the way. Where is this place? Chaojin, come and save me quickly, I'm really scared."
She cried for a long time, realizing it was about to rain. She kept cheering herself up, talking to herself as she left the spot. She planned to find shelter quickly, but her feet were already blistered, and she kept circling in the woods.
Her stomach rumbled incessantly, and her feet hurt too much to take another step. She found a large tree for shelter, tears of grievance streaming down her face. For the first time, she missed Prime Minister Zhao dearly, hoping the Zhao family would find her soon.
Xiao Cui was knocked unconscious by Jun Jiuli before she could get far. This money couldn't be wasted. The carriage was left to her; what kind of life she had from now on was up to her.
Prime Minister Zhao knelt in the imperial study, his head buried in the ground, not daring to look up. His heart pounded like a drum, not knowing how to get through this ordeal. He didn't even have time to resent Zhao Haitang.
"My dear minister, do you have any dissatisfaction with my decree?"
"Your humble servant dares not. Your Majesty, please forgive me. My daughter is frivolous and lacks discretion. I will find her."
"Hmph, it seems she holds my Second Prince in very low regard."
As the Emperor spoke, he threw the memorial in his hand onto Prime Minister Zhao's head. Zhao Zhao remained motionless, enduring the Emperor's wrath.
"She left the city on the twelfth day. Why did you delay reporting it? Prime Minister Zhao, do you know this is deceiving the Emperor?"
"Your humble servant dares not. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."
"I think you dare quite a lot!"
The Emperor decreed that, in consideration of Prime Minister Zhao's past merits, his life would be spared, but he would not escape punishment. He was stripped of his position as Prime Minister, demoted to commoner status, forbidden from entering the capital for eternity, and his household's assets were confiscated into the national treasury. This was to be carried out immediately. His daughter, Zhao Haitang, defied the imperial decree, and troops were dispatched to search for her. Alive or dead, her whereabouts must be found.
Prime Minister Zhao knelt perfectly straight. No one knew what he was thinking; his face was calm as he accepted the decree and expressed his gratitude.
"I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving! This is my home. I am the Second Young Lady of the Prime Minister's Mansion. Who dares touch me?"
A group of soldiers arrived in a mighty procession to confiscate the estate, throwing the entire Prime Minister's Mansion into chaos. Zhao Rui'an stepped forward and slapped Zhao Youlan, roaring in anger.
"Be rational! Pack your belongings. Do not touch any gold or jewelry. Times have changed."
Zhao Youlan, covering her face, was filled with grief. "Father, I don't want to leave. Why has it come to this? Ahhh~ I hate Zhao Haitang! Why did she have to drag me down? Why didn't she just die, that shameless slut!"
"Silence! It has come to this, and there is no turning back. You should save your energy. We will depart for our old home in Suzhou tonight."
"Wuwuwu~"
Zhao Youlan cried, but her hands moved nimbly to pack. Aunt Song tried to hide some things but was discovered by sharp-eyed soldiers. Never again did she dare. Clutching her son, she wept incessantly.
The servants were dismissed. The family, carrying a few bundles, boarded an ordinary carriage and swayed out of the city. A few close colleagues secretly stuffed some silver into their hands.
The journey was peaceful, and they were not troubled. The women of the household wept daily, and Zhao Rui'an sighed incessantly. He hated himself for not keeping a better eye on Zhao Haitang, for raising such a daughter.
However, this was still better than Zhao Haitang marrying into royalty and causing more trouble. But their family's official careers were ruined. Thinking of this, even as a grown man, tears welled up.
...
The Second Prince was furious. Many unfavorable rumors had spread about him in the capital. It was said he had been wronged, and the Emperor intended to compensate him. For a while, the Second Prince regained immense popularity.
The Emperor intended to move against the Chu family. Jun Jiuli sneaked into the imperial palace overnight. She forced a dose of poison into him, and he died immediately.
She forged his handwriting, installing the Ninth Prince on the throne. After finishing, she placed it in a secret compartment. The adult princes fought fiercely amongst themselves, and their factions clashed bloody.
In the end, the Second Prince narrowly won, with the other princes either dead or severely injured. Before the Second Prince could savor his victory, Consort Xiao opened the secret compartment and obtained the late Emperor's will.
The neutral factions all supported the Ninth Prince. The Second Prince's faction, though willing, was powerless. The Second Prince was confined to his residence, and the Emperor's dream was shattered.
The new Emperor was only ten years old. The Chu family was powerful, and he had to win their favor. The Chu family not only held military power but also had influence in the court.
...
Fortunately, Zhao Haitang had read many storybooks. She dug for wild vegetables and ate insects along the way. After three months of wind and rain, she finally, with great resilience, found the Chu family's estate.
The fabric of her clothes was tattered, and she was disheveled. She looked nothing like her former radiant self; no one would believe she was the Prime Minister's daughter.
With a message from Jun Jiuli, she successfully became a maid on the estate. She was wise enough not to blabber about her identity.
After familiarizing herself with the estate, she took on the task no one else wanted: delivering meals to the irascible and frightening Chu Chaojin. Looking at the food box, she saw only a bowl of very thin porridge and a bowl of boiled wild vegetables.
The food was worse than that of the lowest servants. Zhao Haitang's heart ached. Her Chaojin was clearly a pride of heaven, so why had he fallen to such a state?
She thought that if only she could see Chu Chaojin, she could cheer him up. He would surely return to his peak and change his name for her. They would no longer have to hide, and they would enjoy endless wealth and prosperity.
This was the first time she had seen Chu Chaojin since that day at the Prime Minister's Mansion. Before she could even utter the words "long time no see," she was so frightened by Chu Chaojin's current disheveled appearance that she stumbled to the ground, spilling the contents of the food box.
With a movement from Chu Chaojin, Moying numbly stepped forward, intending to slap Zhao Haitang. Many servants had bullied their masters these days, and he had become a professional enforcer.
Although most of the time he was held down and beaten, as there were more of them. He had also lost his martial arts, and he was constantly injured. He had tried to escape but couldn't; daring to leave Chu Chaojin's side would result in even worse beatings.
Seeing their fierce demeanor, Zhao Haitang immediately revealed her identity. Moying grew even more resentful and wanted to kick her. However, Chu Chaojin stopped him in time, and Zhao Haitang remained by Chu Chaojin's side.
Enduring hardship together for a short period was manageable, but enduring it for a lifetime would lead to mutual loathing. Zhao Haitang resented Chu Chaojin for his incompetence, while Chu Chaojin felt that everything happening now was thanks to Zhao Haitang.
With Moying's help, Chu Chaojin tormented Zhao Haitang until she was unrecognizable. The three of them never left that small room for the rest of their lives, exchanging insults and blows.
Jun Jiuli destroyed the Dragon Guard training base and taught Chu Chaojun from a young age to rely on himself rather than others. The Chu family, in their generation, had excellent Qinggong skills. Chu Chaojun joined the army at the age of seven.
He used his strength to make 200,000 soldiers willingly submit to him. Throughout his life as an official, he only served the people and never harbored any rebellious thoughts.
The next family head was meticulously trained by the current head, never entrusted to anyone else. Once a child strayed, they were immediately rectified, ensuring quality from childhood.
The Chu family's businesses flourished in all sectors, and the Emperor abandoned any thoughts of interfering because he couldn't. Great Yan prospered, and the Chu family's prosperity for a hundred generations seemed imminent.
When this body reached the age of fourteen, Jun Jiuli left this plane. Chu Lanyi should have had her own normal and smooth life. Only Chu Chaojun knew of the difference.
He had two elder sisters, both of whom were extremely important to him. He did not inquire about the reasons; if his sisters wanted to speak, he would listen.