How to Deal with Having the Villainous Tyrant’s Child Chapter 159

Chapter 159

Lu Hanzhi took a deep breath, feeling a tightness in his chest.

Every time he found these crucial clues, they always seemed to stop at the most critical points.

Yuwen Min said, “I’ve had the Shadow Guards continue the investigation, but so many years have passed that many details are impossible to recover. Whether we can uncover them or not, Su Wan’ning and Chou Niang are inextricably linked.”

Lu Hanzhi nodded in agreement. “Yes… understanding her motives reveals her deeper intentions. I think I now understand why her mind is so twisted.”

Yuwen Minasked, “Oh? What’s the reason?”

Lu Hanzhi said, “It’s jealousy, I think. Her name was Chou Niang, which shows she was extremely ugly. She was the lady’s personal maid, so her life must have been miserable. Yet she had witnessed the young lady’s thousandfold pampering—radiant beauty, prosperous family, a life like paradise in every way. The envy built to its peak, and then turned into jealousy. Jealousy, when taken to the extreme, leads to a twisted mind.”

Undoubtedly, other things must have happened, fueling those emotions and driving her insane.

As the saying goes, when heaven intends someone’s downfall, it first makes them mad.

If Su Wan’ning, upon gaining the system, had focused only on changing her tragic fate and living a practical life, she wouldn’t have reached this point.

Now there was no turning back; she could only spiral further into madness, step by step.

Behind her lay heaps of white bones—she likely no longer cared about anything.

As Lu Hanzhi had predicted, Su Wan’ning was trapped in her own predicament but didn’t regret it; in fact, she craved success even more.

The Crown Prince now appeared strong and stable, seemingly enjoying imperial favor—but that was merely decorative.

He had the title of Crown Prince, but no real power in his hands.

Ever since the emperor returned to court, the crown prince’s role as regent had been purely nominal.

Moreover, the emperor’s health seemed genuinely restored.

This explained why she was so eager to activate the second backup plan. She had assumed she’d never need it, yet here she was, forced to use it sooner than expected.

At the Crown Prince’s residence, Su Wan’ning stood by the window.

Zong Yuan had little to do with her personally; in fact, she should thank “that woman.”

She had treated her relatively well, providing good clothes, food, and entertainment.

Ha, all a pretense of virtue, flaunting her own advantages against the backdrop of someone else’s suffering.

And yet, in the end, she blamed me. Was it wrong to ruin someone else’s life for a marriage?

If you truly cared for me, why did you promise me to that butcher who sold meat?

If you truly cared for me, you should have let me serve the head of the household as a child bride when I had no other choice, allowing him to take me in properly.

But what did you do?

Su Wan’ning closed her eyes. Chou Nu was a thing of the past, from a previous life.

Now, she was Su Wan’ning—the young lady adored by thousands, with wealth, status, and every advantage.

At the thought of her begging for mercy before dying, Su Wan’ning’s heart swelled with satisfaction.

You were pampered and adored, weren’t you?

You were high above everyone else, weren’t you?

Where was your compassion and kindness?

Where were those acts of benevolence you bestowed?

If you truly had goodwill, you wouldn’t have given me hope only to disappoint me over and over.

If you truly had goodwill, you wouldn’t have let me live as a young lady of fortune only to reduce me back to a lowly maid!

Never having something leaves one unambitious; having something and then losing it is cruel.

Su Wan’ning hurled the cup on the table to the ground, and the fine white porcelain shattered into pieces.

Only then did she realize the cup was from Han Ji.

Looking at the pristine porcelain, a cunning glint flashed in Su Wan’ning’s eyes.

Lu Hanzhi, huh!

Thinking back, this cousin had treated her the best in the past, pampering her like a true younger sister.

He had taken her to meet nobles across the capital, introduced her to one prince and princess after another.

A simple physician’s daughter, she had made friends with princesses, interacted with princes, and even established relations with palace concubines.

With her medical skills, she massaged and treated concubines, provided porridge to the common people, and gave free medicine to the poor.

She was a genuinely good person, so virtuous that she made her surroundings look dim by comparison.

She was the mud beside a beautiful gem, yet even this gem received a good reputation, simply because it did not despise the mud.

Society expected her to be grateful; otherwise, she was considered ungrateful.

She served until her coming-of-age ceremony, bore a child, and remained unmarried in her twenties.

All because even this mud had someone who cared for her.

Reflecting further, her mother had treated her best. Those poisonous, manipulative tricks were all taught in childhood.

A single cup of arsenic, and the tall, strong butcher would meet his end.

Unfortunately, her mother had been killed by her father, a leper caretaker, when Su Wan’ning was thirteen.

As a child, she had resented her mother for not giving her that same beautiful face.

Then she thought: had she inherited her mother’s face, would she not also have been casually given to a leper caretaker for the sake of drawing the head of the household’s attention?

Su Wan’ning stared at her now stunning reflection in the mirror. Some things were addictive: beauty, wealth, glory.

Outside the door came the sound of a maid knocking. “Side Consort Wan, Prince Zhong Yuan requests an audience.”

Su Wan’ning frowned, silently cursing—hadn’t she said they weren’t to be allowed to come without permission?

There was no other choice; she could only say, “Please ask him to wait in the small hall. I’ll come over shortly.”

The maid nodded and went to deliver the message.

Zong Yuan appeared in plain white clothing, holding a handful of lotus seeds, his face alight with joy.

He murmured a childhood rhyme as he walked: “Little one goes to pick lotus, barefoot walking north, picking lotus in the southern pond, fish play among the lotus leaves, fish play among the lotus leaves west, fish play among the lotus leaves east…”

Su Wan’ning’s voice came from behind him: “Little one, you’re so grown up, and you’re still singing that nursery rhyme? Aren’t you ashamed?”

Zong Yuann turned around. The moment he saw Su Wan’ning, he ran to her, hugging her tightly. “Sister! Sister, I’ve finally found you! I’ve missed you so much!”

Tears streamed down his face, mixing with his sorrow like a rain of blossoms—heartbreakingly tender to behold.

Su Wan’ning embraced him, patting his back gently. “Look at you, so big, and you still cry so easily?”

Zong Yuann wiped his tears. “Sister, don’t you remember? You taught me this rhyme!”

Su Wan’ning sighed. “Of course I remember! ‘Little one goes to pick lotus, barefoot walking north, picking lotus in the southern pond, fish play among the lotus leaves, fish play among the lotus leaves west, fish play among the lotus leaves east, fish play among the lotus leaves south…’”

As she sang, her own tears began to fall.

Zong Yuan frowned. “Sister, you’re scolding me, but aren’t you crying yourself?”

Su Wan’ning pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes. “I just thought of our childhood… I couldn’t help it. If only our parents were still alive, you wouldn’t have been left so young to…”

Zong Yuan stepped forward, covering her mouth with his hand. “Sister, what are you saying? Haven’t you forgotten what we promised when we parted? No matter the opponent, we must find a way to become strong, to avenge our parents! Sister, our parents didn’t die in vain! They treated me like the world, and without you, Zong Yuan would have died long ago. Without our parents, Zong Yuan would have ended up on the streets! Before our parents’ graves, I swore that even if my bones were crushed and scattered, I would tear that thief to pieces!”

He sniffed, his eyes shining with both innocence and determination.

He grinned. “Sister, I’ve grown up now. I’m a man. It’s my turn to protect you!”

Su Wan’ning sighed in quiet relief. “If our parents could see this, they’d be very pleased.”

Zong Yuan blinked, looping his arm through hers as they sat down. “I’m happy too. Seeing you marry the Crown Prince and live well… I’m happier than anyone.”

A bitter smile crossed Su Wan’ning’s face. Sensitive as ever, Zong Yuan immediately asked, “Sister, does the Crown Prince treat you badly?”

Su Wan’ning shook her head. “No, he treats me very well. He even neglects the princess consort and attendant for me. He’s a good man. But I’ve used him, only to uncover the culprit who killed our parents—the one who set the fire.”

Zong Yuan asked eagerly, “Have you found out, sister?”

Su Wan’ning hesitated, then shook her head. “Ah Yuan, I regret it. I shouldn’t have brought you to Great Zhao. I’ll speak with your brother now and have him take you back to Eastern Sea.”

Zong Yuan was bewildered, frowning. “Sister, what are you saying? We came to the capital to uncover the truth about our parents’ deaths, to avenge them! How can you regret it now? Our parents died horribly; we can’t just say we regret it. Sister, we’ve walked ten thousand steps to get here. Now you say regret—it’s too late!”

But Su Wan’ning couldn’t stop shaking her head, saying, “No, Ah Yuan, I just want you to live well, to live safely. Whether as a man or a Xiao Langjun, finding someone and living peacefully is the best. Ah Yuan, I can’t lose anymore. You’re my only family now. If anything were to happen to you like our parents… how could I bear it?”

Zong Yuan stared at her in silence for a long moment, then finally said, “Sister, the day you saved me and brought me home, Ah Yuan’s life became part of the Su family. The Su family is the root of my ancestral recognition, so I named myself Zong Yuan. The eight years in the Su family were the happiest eight years of my life. If I cannot avenge our parents, what meaning does my life hold? It would be better… to follow our parents in death.”

He then drew a dagger from his waist, aiming for his delicate white neck.

Su Wan’ning rushed forward, trying to block the blade.

The dagger was sharp; she cut four of her fingers in the attempt.

Zong Yuan anxiously grabbed her hand. “Sister! Are you crazy? You… you’re hurt!”

Su Wan’ning held him close. “Ah Yuan, it’s you who drove me to madness! Don’t speak of death so casually! Our parents are already gone. If even you die, leaving only me in this world… how could I survive?”

Zong Yuan couldn’t help but laugh. “Sister, I knew it. You still care about me most. Since you do, then tell me the name of our enemy! Zong Yuan isn’t afraid to die; he only fears dying in vain. Avenge our parents’ blood feud—then even if I die, my life will have been worthwhile.”

Su Wan’ning choked back tears and nodded. “…Alright, sister will tell you.”

Zong Yuan lifted his head, looking into Su Wan’ning’s eyes as she spoke deliberately, word by word: “Lu Hanzhi.”

Zong Yuan frowned. “Lu Hanzhi? Prince An’s Wang Fei?”

Su Wan’ning nodded. “Exactly.”

At the Prince An’s residence, Lu Hanzhi sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he muttered, “Who’s cursing me now?”

Then he saw Ah Shu, who had been playing nearby with Ah Chan, suddenly clutch her chest and tremble as if in extreme pain.

Your favorite BL chaos wouldn’t be possible without coffee… lots of coffee….
Support Ciacia’s translation temple on Kofi—and if the cliffhanger demons are haunting you, join the Han’er Tier to purge them with advanced chapter access (up to 5!) before the masses even blink.