The Female Regent’s Daily Guide to Spoiling Her Wife - Chapter 14

“Master, there’s movement at the Crimson Sleeve Pavilion,” Xi Gui reported cautiously, watching Lu Zhao’s expression.

Since Yang Yuan’s imprisonment, Lu Zhao had been wearing a dark, terrifying scowl for days. He hadn’t once inquired about the situation at the Crimson Sleeve Pavilion, instead spending his time in the study investigating Yang Yuan’s disgraceful affairs, searching for something unknown.

Lu Zhao wearily closed his eyes for a moment, and when they reopened, they gleamed with a cold light. Grasping the long sword at his side, he said through gritted teeth, “Let’s go! Select a few skilled in lightness martial arts to accompany me. Be careful not to be seen.”

Xi Gui replied respectfully, “Yes!”

Under the bright moon and sparse stars, a carriage slowly made its way toward the city gates on the quiet streets of Yindu.

Inside the carriage, Zheng Rong finally breathed a sigh of relief when she lifted the curtain and saw the city gate. Once they left Yindu, they would head north immediately, leaving everything in the capital behind!

At the city gate, the guard on duty was an old acquaintance of hers. He had specially arranged to open a side gate for them to slip away unnoticed.

Suddenly, a group of men surrounded the carriage. Xi Gui addressed those inside, “Those who leave the city after curfew without permission shall receive forty strokes of the cane!”

In an instant, Zheng Rong’s heart sank to the depths. Everything had been arranged for tonight, how could there be an inspection?

Lu Zhao’s unhurried voice sounded from outside, “Manager Zheng, where are you planning to take Miss Niannian?”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Rong felt her scalp tingle, fear spreading from the depths of her heart. Lu Zhao had likely seen through their little scheme and had been having them watched all along.

Zheng Rong’s hand, clasping Niannian’s, trembled slightly as she whispered, “Niannian, no matter what, we must not reveal Xiaxia’s identity, understand?”

Niannian’s eyes were full of panic, but she nodded, “Mother, don’t worry, I know.”

Zheng Rong took a deep breath, forced herself to remain calm, and lifted the carriage curtain, feigning surprise as she asked, “We were just heading out of town to do some shopping. What business does Your Highness have with us? It is late, but we thought we’d rest after arriving.”

Lu Zhao narrowed his phoenix eyes, his face as cold as ice. Ignoring Zheng Rong, he waved a hand to the men behind him.

His attendants immediately dragged the coachman from the carriage. Lu Zhao said coldly, “Xi Gui, escort Manager Zheng and Miss Niannian back to the manor!”

Zheng Rong, greatly alarmed, blocked the men and protested, “Your Highness! The person in the carriage isn’t Niannian. After you left that day, Niannian ran out after you. If she’s gone missing, you can’t blame us for it!”

Lu Zhao sneered, “Still stubborn even at death’s door! Take them back!”

Xi Gui respectfully gestured for Zheng Rong to proceed, “Manager Zheng, if you please.”

With no other choice, Zheng Rong boarded the carriage, and she and Niannian were taken by Lu Zhao to his suburban villa.

When Zheng Rong and Niannian stepped out of the carriage, though they had mentally prepared themselves, Lu Zhao’s heart still ached when he saw clearly that it was not the familiar face. That person truly wasn’t her—so who was she?

Anger flashed in Lu Zhao’s eyes. That woman had such audacity! Sweet-talking and deceiving him, then leaving without a trace, without an ounce of sincerity.

His expression growing even more furious, Lu Zhao said in a low voice, “Take them away! Lock them up separately!”

“Yes!”

Zheng Rong and Niannian were completely cut off from the outside world. Though meals were delivered daily, they were unable to see each other, confined for three to five days in a row.

One evening, Lu Zhao finally entered Niannian’s room. Without a word, he coldly stared at the young woman before him, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.

After a long silence, Lu Zhao said coldly, “Speak! Who is that person really?”

Nian Nian shook her head repeatedly, “Your Highness, I truly don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lu Zhao frowned impatiently, suddenly raised her hand, and violently threw the teacup on the table to the ground. She stood up, looking down at Nian Nian with a cold glare. “I’m giving you a chance. If you refuse to speak, so be it. I wonder how many days Zheng Rong can survive!”

“Guards! Bring Zheng Rong here!”

A middle-aged woman was roughly thrown by the door, her hair disheveled and her head drooping, making her face indistinct. Her figure, however, clearly identified her as Zheng Rong. Her clothes were already in tatters, revealing whip marks and bloodstains all over her body.

Nian Nian burst into tears and tried to rush forward. “Mother!”

Xi Gu grabbed her firmly. Lu Zhao said coldly, “For every day you refuse to speak, she will endure another day of torture. I wonder how many days she can withstand?”

Nian Nian’s legs gave way in fear, and she stumbled backward, collapsing onto the nearby bed. She cried out, “Mother! Are you trying to drive us to our deaths?”

Lu Zhao crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes dangerously like a vengeful demon from hell, fierce and sinister. “Who sent you? Where has that person gone?”

Nian Nian’s lips trembled as she recalled Yun Xia’s description of Regent Lu Zhao as gentle, refined, and kind-hearted. How could she be this ruthless now?

Torn between worry for Zheng Rong and fear that Lu Zhao would truly eliminate them both, Nian Nian felt a surge of panic and frustration. With a loud sob, she cried out, “You you’re nothing like what Xia Xia said. She told me you were the kindest sister though you may seem cold, your heart is incredibly good.”

Lu Zhao stared at the young girl in astonishment. “Xia Xia?”

Still crying, Nian Nian pleaded, “Please don’t hurt my mother, and don’t hurt Xia Xia either. We’ve already suffered so much. Why do people like you keep tormenting us?”

Lu Zhao, annoyed by Nian Nian’s crying, waved a hand at Xi Gu. “Leave us.”

The woman on the floor quickly got up and retreated with Xi Gu.

Nian Nian’s eyes widened as she stopped crying, realizing she had been deceived.

Lu Zhao pressed her lips together and said calmly, “Now that you’ve finished crying, speak. Otherwise, next time it really will be Zheng Rong! Who is Xia Xia?”

Looking at Lu Zhao under the lamplight, Nian Nian felt an inexplicable sense of calm. She recalled all the praises Xia Xia had once spoken about Lu Zhao, and a bold idea surfaced in her mind: Could it be that Regent Lu Zhao had truly fallen for Xia Xia? That would explain why she had imprisoned Yang Yuan and was now questioning who “Nian Nian” really was. It would also explain her obsession with finding out what had happened to the original Nian Nian.

With this thought, Nian Nian cautiously revealed everything about Yun Xia—the hardships she had endured since childhood, Xu Xin’s cruelty, Xu Yunshen’s inappropriate advances, and Xu Ruoxiang’s constant bullying.

That night, after Lu Zhao left the room, she sat in the courtyard for a very long time. She had learned that the person she knew as Nian Nian was actually named Xia Xia.

She now understood that the suffering Xia Xia had spoken of was real. After her mother passed away, she and her older sister had become maidservants to the Xu family’s young lady, Xu Ruoxiang. Hard labor was the least of their worries beatings and verbal abuse were daily occurrences. What pained Lu Zhao even more was learning that the despicable Xu Yunshen had harbored improper intentions toward Xia Xia, and that Yang Yuan had violated her older sister.

Lu Zhao’s heart ached with a constant, throbbing pain. That charming, coquettish little one who always loved to act spoiled around her had now returned to that wretched place, and she had no idea how much more suffering awaited her.

Yet Lu Zhao was also furious furious that the other had never truly trusted her, furious that she hadn’t told her the truth, furious at her lack of faith. She would rather return to the Xu residence and scheme on her own than rely on Lu Zhao!

Lu Zhao hung her head low, her long eyelashes veiling the emotions in her eyes. For the first time in over twenty years, she felt defeated. Had she not treated her well enough? Why had the other left so decisively? If she hadn’t realized that Nian Nian had been replaced, would they have drifted apart forever? Would she have found a good family to marry into someday?

At the thought, a sour taste rose in Lu Zhao’s heart, and her teeth gritted with suppressed frustration. Back then, in the prince’s mansion, she should have just taken her!

Xu Yunxia, just you wait!