Quick Transmigration: The Mad Beauty Refuses to Be the Scapegoat!-Chapter 517 - 30: The Cannon Fodder Vase in the Scheming Novel (Part 30)

Chapter 517: Chapter 30: The Cannon Fodder Vase in the Scheming Novel (Part 30)

Chu Yunci merely stared at her, his fair and handsome face displaying a smile that contained a trace of eeriness.

"Jiang Lai, do you think that because your father has done a few things for me, the Tai Shi family is now firmly seated high in my favor?"

"No, no, no, my father did this merely to repay Your Highness’s past kindness, with absolutely no ulterior motive.

You can consider, Your Highness, my father only has me, a daughter, and he harbors no great ambitions, only wishing to secure a place in the court and retire peacefully when the time comes.

Your Highness is wise and discerning, you surely see this."

Jiang Lai loved to shower Chu Yunci with flattery because he enjoyed hearing it. Even if he knew she was deliberately flattering him, it still pleased him.

This type of villain is quite easy to deal with; although ruthless, he can’t resist being swayed by kind words.

With just a few words, Chu Yunci’s mood improved considerably.

His long middle finger lazily tapped on the tabletop.

"Hmm, so you don’t need to worry."

"Hmm?"

"You can be the first."

"Ah?"

"To flatter me."

"..."

This damn man, does he even know what nonsense he’s spouting.

Speaking in a tone of giving a boon, telling her she can be the first to flatter him, it turns out there truly are people in the world arrogant enough to think their nonsense smells sweet.

Jiang Lai kept her smile intact.

After all, her father was still working under him, yet hadn’t reached the pinnacle of authority.

In keeping with her usual attitude of pursuing tasks with meticulous care, Jiang Lai diligently continued to soothe him.

"That would be a boon from Your Highness to me, I am grateful, Your Highness."

Little Buding thought Jiang Lai had never been so aggrieved in her life.

But Jiang Lai herself didn’t feel aggrieved at all, instead, she worked with all her enthusiasm and effort.

In the end, Chu Yunci, in a good mood, allowed her to leave early and even, as he departed, told her with a "I’m giving you a favor" expression.

"I’ll have dinner at your house tonight."

Jiang Lai wore a broad smile.

"Your Highness gracing us with your presence, our humble home will be truly honored! I’ll rush home to prepare a meal with my mother."

"No need to prepare too formally, just follow your previous family dinner standard."

This guy was certainly not at all courteous; the previous standard was hardly just a family dinner. Even if the Emperor came, the standard wouldn’t be any different.

However, Chu Yunci didn’t dine in vain. Shortly after, Jiang Taishi was promoted to Grand Tutor, responsible for teaching all the princes of the Three Palaces, becoming one of the Three Grand Officers. Although lacking actual power like the previous Taishi, it unmistakably represented the Emperor’s favor.

Moreover, being able to become a teacher to the princes meant that should any prince ascend the throne, this Grand Tutor would directly become the Crown Prince’s Master. Though lacking actual power, he would hold the greatest authority by the Emperor’s side.

One could say he had reached the pinnacle of authority.

When Jiang Lai heard this news, the progress bar of her task was filled up as well.

Little Buding was speechless.

He never imagined in this lifetime that someone’s flattery could get their own father to this level, especially someone right beside him.

Nor did he expect the originally heartless, psychotic, perverted villainous second male lead to be soft-eared.

"Why does he like hearing your flattery so much?"

There are thousands in the world flattering him, if they all had such an effect, Chu Yunci might as well be a Bodhisattva, sitting there listening to good words and fulfilling wishes daily.

But now he is feared by everyone, an Evil God; how could such a god spend all their time granting wishes like a genie, fulfilling Jiang Lai’s wishes after a few kind words?

So Little Buding didn’t understand.

Why Chu Yunci made Jiang Lai an exception.

However, Jiang Lai herself was quite composed.

"Maybe because I’m beloved by everyone. After all, initially, didn’t Chu Yunci plan to cut off my fingers?"

Now?

He summoned her to the palace daily to hear her flatteries.

Finding enjoyment in it, spreading the word, everyone would think Chu Yunci has some peculiar fetish.

Up and down in the Capital City, many people knew about Jiang Lai and Chu Yunci’s affairs, and the rumors varied widely.

But most content spoke of their unclear relationship.

Jiang Lai’s identity was sensitive; she used to be Chu Yunci’s sister-in-law. Although they divorced, that former identity stayed present. Now whenever the two meet, they should avoid suspicions, yet now it turns out she actively visits the palace daily, many have seen it.

Jiang Lai didn’t care, she merely considered their words foolish nonsense.

Chu Yunci, with sharp senses, couldn’t possibly ignore these rumors; his method was direct: anyone spreading them was simply dragged out and executed.

After four consecutive executions, there were no more such rumors in the palace.

Following this, news of the Emperor’s critical illness also spread.

When the guard came to report it, Chu Yunci was dining at the Jiang Family.

The atmosphere at the Jiang Family was always pleasant, and Mrs. Jiang’s culinary skills were commendable, so after dining twice there, it became Chu Yunci’s second dining hall; having meals there often gave him a chance to discuss court affairs with Grand Tutor Jiang.

They didn’t shy away from Jiang Lai and Mrs. Jiang; after all, neither of them listened, and instead, sat together chatting about the Capital City’s noble ladies’ secrets. The mother-daughter relationship was close, resembling sisters rather than mother and daughter.

"Your Highness, the Eighth Prince is the first to enter the palace, should we hurry up as well?"

The Emperor’s demise was imminent within days, beforehand, the Eighth Prince had secretly returned from the disaster relief area, believing no one was aware, not knowing Chu Yunci had long been observing his every move.

During this, Chu Yunxuan had been hiding in the palace all along; this day he directly entered the Emperor’s chamber, not exiting until now.

Meanwhile, Chu Yunci remained calm, his demeanor of having victory assured made even Grand Tutor Jiang follow suit in remaining composed.

"Your Highness, news just came from the palace, His Majesty is not well."

"Hmm, let’s sit a bit longer, we’ll go over when dawn breaks."

At dawn, the carriage was already prepared outside, and as they reached the Imperial Palace, news of the Emperor’s death spread.

By now, all the princes had already knelt before the great hall, while Chu Yunxuan knelt inside.

Seeing Chu Yunci arrive late, the Eldest Prince anxiously pulled him to kneel together, his voice trembling.

"Chu Yunxuan was inside with Father the entire night, fearing the legacy may have changed, what shall we do now?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Chu Yunci advised him to stay calm.

"Don’t you know Father’s temper? Until the last moment, who knows whom he will relinquish the throne to?"

The Chief Eunuch began reading the legacy.

"By the decree of Heaven, I am granted the great position in the world, quell calamities and cease wars... Eighth Son Yunxuan, bestowed wisdom and filial piety, the world’s allegiance..."

Hearing this, Chu Yunxuan, kneeling in the front, trembled with excitement, almost standing up to accept the decree immediately.

While the Eldest Prince’s face turned ashen, collapsing in despair, tears streaming, he stared at Chu Yunci unable to utter a single word.

Yet Chu Yunci remained calmly watching the Chief Eunuch.