How to Deal with Having the Villainous Tyrant’s Child Chapter 169

Chapter 169

After listening to the old man recount the past, Lu Hanzhi finally gained clarity about certain people and events from long ago.

He also more or less knew how he should proceed with the next step.

However, before moving forward, he had to determine whether one person was still worth saving.

Su Wan’ning had falsely claimed credit for saving Suwen—who was actually Zong Yuan—and had subjected him to mental manipulation.

Mental control could be undone, but deeply rooted beliefs were far more difficult to correct.

Judging by the fact that he had followed Su Wan’ning’s orders and sent a woman here simply to disgust him, that child clearly trusted Su Wan’ning completely.

The only person capable of correcting his worldview was Ah Shu.

Ah Shu was his true savior. Lu Hanzhi refused to believe that if even an old man could recognize Ah Shu, someone who had lived with her for eight years would fail to do so.

As for how the old man had recognized Ah Shu, Lu Hanzhi had asked him about it as well.

The old man had said, “Young Lady’s eyes were the purest I had ever seen among all children. I am over seventy years old, and I worked in the Su household as the steward in charge of receiving guests. Though I was merely the head steward of a medical household, those who came seeking treatment were often people suffering hardship. When people were poor, they were prone to deceit. Even the most pitiful among them could not hide the cunning in their eyes. As for the wealthy, relying on their status and money, they often looked down on others. Even children frequently showed that same arrogance. But Young Lady was different. Her eyes… as my old wife used to say, they were the kind of eyes only a maiden serving beneath Guanyin would have.”

The old man knelt before Lu Hanzhi and kowtowed deeply. “Young Master, Young Lady is a good person. I beg you to save her. This old man is useless now, but I still have children and grandchildren. Even if I must serve as a slave for the rest of my life, I am willing to repay Young Master for saving Young Lady.”

Lu Hanzhi stepped forward and helped him up. “Ah Shu is my own cousin by blood. How could I possibly not save her? However, Elder, Ah Shu’s situation is extremely special and extraordinarily complicated. I cannot allow others to know of your existence for now, so you will need to be hidden within the prince’s residence. I must ask you and Ah Shu to temporarily stay there. As for your children, we will send people to protect them as well. Once matters become clearer, I will still need you to serve as a witness in court.”

By then, the old man had calmed down considerably. He nodded and said, “The head of the household treated my family with kindness as vast as a mountain. As long as Young Lady can be saved, what does it matter if this old set of bones is sacrificed? Young Master, please give your orders!”

Lu Hanzhi arranged for the old man to stay by the side gate in the front courtyard. Yuwen Min’s courtyard was a place no ghost dared approach.

There was also Shadow Guard No. 1, who sat cross-legged on the rooftop every day. This living King of Hell was no easy opponent either.

After settling the old man, Lu Hanzhi and Yuwen Min, along with the others, went to the small study to hold a private meeting.

Once seated, everyone’s expressions turned grave.

Lu Hanzhi said, “At this point, it can be completely confirmed that Ah Shu is the true cousin. Su Wan’ning is the one who took her identity and entered the capital. And Zong Yuan is most likely Suwen.”

Coincidentally, Ah Shu was now called Lingshu, while her younger brother happened to be named Suwen.

Yuwen Jue said, “Then it seems that Ah Shu’s illness can only be resolved through Su Wan’ning?”

Lu Hanzhi pondered for a moment before replying, “Not necessarily. I have a plan—would you like to hear it?”

Yuwen Min said, “Go ahead.”

Lu Hanzhi said, “Su Wan’ning has done all this because she wants to place the Crown Prince on the throne. Why don’t we let her achieve that goal?”

What Lu Hanzhi said was so shocking that the small meeting room fell silent for a moment.

Yuwen Jue said, “But… how could that be possible? Father is still alive. Are we supposed to make him abdicate? Leaving aside whether Father would even consider abdication, what reason could we possibly use to persuade him?”

Lu Hanzhi said, “Do not forget how Su Wan’ning used mental attacks to control Yuwen Mingji and Yuwen Jing. She also used the same methods in the Lu household, manipulating Grandmother to achieve her objectives there. The reason she has not interfered with His Majesty is because she could not reach him. And also because we have been blocking her, preventing her from getting close. But what if we stopped blocking her? Or what if we secretly gave her a push?”

Regarding the matter of the Lu family’s old madam being controlled, Lu Xuzhi felt it deeply.

He frowned and said in a low voice, “Then she would definitely try to control His Majesty just like she did Grandmother, forcing him to abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince.”

Lu Hanzhi said, “I am certain that this is her ultimate goal. Naturally, we cannot allow her to succeed. We must expose her true nature before she gets too close to that goal—because only at that moment will her guard be at its weakest.”

Just as he habitually used defensive talismans to wrap himself and his allies into turtle shells, Su Wan’ning’s defenses were even more formidable than his.

Only by seeing through Su Wan’ning’s true nature could he shatter all of her defenses in one decisive strike.

On this point, Lu Hanzhi had in fact been extremely careful to conceal his own background as well. If Su Wan’ning were to discover his true details, breaking through his defensive talismans would be effortless for her.

Just as he had uncovered the Wan Ji Fragrance House she had set up in front of Han Ji Fragrance House last time and had used counteracting talismans to destroy her black talismans.

Therefore, if he could thoroughly grasp her background, he would naturally be able to use his own system to break her defenses—and even attack her system directly.

However, if he wanted to ensure success, he still had to continue carrying out missions.

He firmly believed that his system would be the key to restraining Su Wan’ning’s system. When two systems collided, the one with the higher level would clearly have a greater chance of victory.

He did not know how far Su Wan’ning had progressed at present, but his own system had to be raised to as high a level as possible.

Everyone more or less understood what he meant. Yuwen Min then asked, “But how do we proceed?”

Lu Hanzhi said, “We can’t be too deliberate, or she’ll notice something is wrong. We need someone to help us—but first, I have to confirm whether that person can still be used.”

Yuwen Min asked, “Who?”

Lu Hanzhi gave a mysterious smile and said, “Wang Ye, tonight I want to enter the palace—with Ah Shu.”

Yuwen Min frowned, not knowing what medicine he was selling in his gourd.

Lu Hanzhi then placed a hand on Yuwen Jue’s shoulder and said, “Second Sister-in-law, come with me.”

Yuwen Jue nodded and asked, “Do you have a plan?”

Lu Hanzhi replied, “No. I’m just taking Ah Shu to meet someone.”

Everyone knew without guessing that he intended to take Ah Shu to see Zong Yuan.

Since Zong Yuan was Ah Shu’s younger brother, his heart would surely be inclined toward her.

Even if he had temporarily been mentally controlled by Su Wan’ning and exploited because of his feelings toward the Su family, that was understandable.

If he could still be saved, Lu Hanzhi would be able to determine the next step.

If he could not be saved, then they would have no choice but to devise another plan.

Thus, that afternoon, Lu Hanzhi wasted no time and took Ah Shu into the palace.

It was Ah Shu’s first time entering the palace, and she was a little timid.

She wore a red-and-white gauze dress. Her delicate, graceful figure formed a stark contrast with her face, which was covered in scars.

Yet her eyes were just as the old man had described—clear and pure, like a maiden serving before Guanyin.

Lu Hanzhi feared she might frighten others, so he placed a veiled hat over her face.

Moreover, no one dared to inspect the carriage of Prince Chu and Prince An’s Wang Fei.

The group entered the palace smoothly and went straight to the Imperial Noble Concubine’s Chenxi Pavilion.

When Imperial Concubine Rong saw that they had come and had even brought Ah Shu along, she immediately knew that these children must have serious business to attend to again.

She had met Ah Shu before and thought she was a very good girl.

Imperial Concubine Rong had also heard about Ah Shu’s experiences from Yuwen Jue. Aside from feeling heartache, she felt nothing but indignation.

Yet there was nothing she could do. If she mishandled matters, she might ruin the children’s grand plan.

So she could only wait—wait until the children needed her to do something.

After all, she was trapped within the depths of the palace and could only provide cover when necessary.

Imperial Concubine Rong welcomed them inside and instructed Er Ya to stand guard outside.

After the doors were closed, she asked, “You brought Miss Ah Shu here—what is the matter?”

Yuwen Jue looked toward Lu Hanzhi, and Lu Hanzhi spoke up. “Mother Concubine, this time we truly need your help. Could you invite Zong Yuan to come to Chenxi Pavilion?”

Imperial Concubine Rong seemed somewhat puzzled and asked, “Zong Yuan?” Clearly, she did not understand why they suddenly wanted to see the Eastern Sea heir.

Lu Hanzhi nodded and said, “Yes. Mother Concubine, please don’t ask why just yet. Once he arrives, you will understand.”

Imperial Concubine Rong nodded. When it came to Lu Hanzhi, she trusted him completely.

After all, everything he had done had been wholly beneficial to her.

She then rose and instructed Er Ya, “Go to Xiaoyu Residence and invite Young Lord Zong Yuan over. Say that a new palace residence is being arranged for him, and that I wish to ask for his opinion.”

The emperor had mentioned this matter before, saying that Xiaoyu Residence was too small and that a larger palace should be arranged for Zong Yuan.

Given his status, he should have been the principal master of an entire palace.

However, since he had not yet been formally conferred the title, the matter had been put aside.

Using this excuse to invite him over was naturally proper and justified.

Before long, Zong Yuan arrived at Chenxi Pavilion accompanied by Aunt Liu.

As soon as he entered Chenxi Pavilion, all the doors and windows of the hall were shut.

Zong Yuan frowned, not understanding what these people were up to.

Still, there was nothing to worry about. This was the imperial palace, and everyone had seen him enter Chenxi Pavilion.

These concubines would hardly dare to kill him within the palace.

Thus, he calmly sat down on a chair, ate a piece of pastry, and said, “What? Is this how the Imperial Noble Concubine treats her guests?”

The curtain of the inner chamber stirred, and the sound of light footsteps came through.

Zong Yuan pinched a piece of pastry and looked in that direction. When he raised his head, he saw a young girl with an ugly appearance.

The girl was holding a bundle of lotus pods in her arms and gave him a foolish smile.

Zong Yuan frowned and tilted his head as he looked at her, confusion rising in his eyes.

He stood up. He was not afraid of her appearance, but instead asked curiously, “Who are you? What happened to your face?”

Then he heard the girl begin to sing a children’s rhyme:

“Little one went to pick lotus,
Bare feet heading north.
Picking lotus in the southern pond,
Fish played among the lotus leaves.
Fish played west of the leaves,
Fish played east of the leaves…”

The confusion in Zong Yuan’s eyes deepened. He stepped back and asked angrily, “Who exactly are you? Are you human or a ghost? Why are you pretending to be mysterious? You… why do you know this children’s rhyme?”

This rhyme had been composed by Sister Wan’er. Apart from the two of them, no one else in the world knew it!

Ah Shu only gave him another foolish smile. She stepped forward, holding out the lotus pods, and said, “Ah… Ah Wen… Ah Wen… hehe… Ah Wen…”

Zong Yuan met Ah Shu’s eyes head-on, and a look of utter shock spilled out of his gaze.

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