CHAPTER 787: CHAPTER 791: LUCK BAG, NOW ONLINE (26)

"The owner does not wish to see you, you may leave," the shopkeeper said, handing over the Silver Taels promised by Duke Zhen as he spoke.

Inwardly, he thought that Mrs. Qiao was indeed lucky.

A woman from a place of fleeting pleasures, not only did the nobles tire themselves sorting out her troubles, but they also redeemed her, and from now on, Xiangzhang Court would be without Miss Li.

Amidst high mountains and flowing waters, after changing her name and identity, she could start a new life.

Perhaps this was the lifelong extravagant hope of those pitiful women.

Seeing the shopkeeper speak thus, Mrs. Qiao, with a satin cap on her head, did not persist. She bowed in the direction where Su Li and the others were, then wrapped herself in a black cloak and quietly left through the back door.

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In the thirty-second year of the Xuanyuan Calendar, the Eldest Prince was deposed, and in the same year, the Second Prince and the Empress were deposed over the affair of the Witch Jars.

The two most capable adult Princes were eliminated from the struggle for power.

In the thirty-third year, the Empress, unable to accept her fate, actually contacted the Left Minister outside to force a coup; the Emperor was assassinated, and the court became unstable.

Among the remaining Princes, either there were hidden disabilities, or they were too young.

Only the ten-year-old Twelfth Prince stood out.

Just when other ministers had some ideas in mind, the Twelfth Prince, whom they thought was unfit, controlled the Imperial Guard with lightning speed and used thunderous methods.

Any objectors were sacrificed in blood.

At this point, many intelligent people began to realize why the palace was so rigorous, yet the deposed Empress was still able to execute a series of coups, even personally wounding the Emperor.

There were many other doubts that couldn’t be thought deeply about.

But what they couldn’t comprehend at all was how the Twelfth Prince, merely a ten-year-old child, managed to get so many people to willingly risk their lives for him.

And when did he start harboring such intentions...

It was terrifying to think about; the little prince’s profound scheming made them feel inferior.

But all these doubts became unsolvable mysteries with the ascension of the little prince.

The little prince stated that he really wasn’t as terrifying as everyone imagined.

It was just that year; he met someone, and that changed the destiny of his life.

Beneath the skin of jests and scolds, hid a heart of wisdom.

The world deceived him, insulted him, looked down on him, and he laughed at others for not seeing through it.

And the little prince, who saw through the disguise, was quite smug about it.

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Chang Zuo Jiao felt that her circumstances were a continuous series of ups and downs.

Just when she thought she was invincible after her rebirth, reality gave her a harsh blow.

The Chang Residence was finished, and all the powerful backers she relied on had been brought to their knees.

Just as she decided to earnestly strive as a little noble lady, the Emperor met his demise, and she, along with the old concubines and palace maids from the palace, was released.

Looking back at everything, it seemed that everyone associated with her didn’t end too well.

Chang Zuo Jiao vigorously shook her head, determined to stop this terrifying thought from continuing.

No, she was a person blessed with good fortune; otherwise, why would many people feel that by getting close to her, they were touched by her Luck Bag and had their wishes fulfilled?

Chang Zuo Jiao followed the long queue, slowly moving along.

Arrayed here were the palace concubines who remained virgins, along with some little palace maids who were willing to leave the palace.

She felt somewhat fortunate; during the nannies’ inspection in the palace, because the one inspecting happened to have been helped by her in the past, she was able to take advantage of this, securing a pass.

Otherwise, as a noble lady who had been visited by the old Emperor a few times, her fate would have been the same as those concubines—living out the rest of her life in lonely austerity.

It was almost her turn now, as soon as she left through this majestic palace gate, she would be free.

Chang Zuo Jiao felt her hidden silver note and was somewhat reassured, yet she also felt a sense of aimlessness.

The Chang family was no more, and her father, mother, and younger brother were all gone, leaving only her alone... Suddenly, she thought of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

Those years of her youth seemed somewhat beautiful in hindsight.

"Next...."

With her heart pounding, Chang Zuo Jiao passed the final checkpoint, and just as she felt a sense of relief, a carriage suddenly stopped in front of her.

Without allowing her time to think, two people jumped down from the carriage, stuffed her inside without a word, and then sped away.

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Extra (1)

"The weather is so cold today...."

"Yes, let’s hurry home and enjoy a warm hotpot. Looking at the weather, a blizzard is about to hit."

The two pedestrians quickened their pace as they conversed on the road.

After encountering a disheveled, thinly dressed beggar at the street corner, the pair spontaneously felt a surge of compassion and tossed a few Copper Coins in the beggar’s direction.

"He looks quite pitiful."

"Mr. Xue is kind-hearted."

The two hurried on their way, and the few Copper Coins they had thrown were swiftly snatched up by several beggars who emerged from the shadows.

As for the still figure sitting there, who cared?

In this freezing cold, he probably couldn’t even survive the night.

Chang Zuo Jiao was jolted to consciousness by the chime of a sound.

Her gaze followed the sound and landed on the Copper Coins, now dirtied with mud.

Copper Coins?

She had fallen to such depths.

In her past life or this one, a few Copper Coins were deemed too meager even for servants.

But now... in a mere moment of distraction, the Copper Coins on the ground were snatched up clean.

"This is mine," Chang Zuo Jiao weakly cried out.

With that small amount, she could buy a few steamed buns to eat, enough to at least fill her stomach. Right now, she was so hungry and cold.

Chang Zuo Jiao could only curl her body tighter, as if that might make her feel a bit warmer.

Memories of this lifetime rapidly flashed before her eyes.

After leaving the palace, she thought her days would finally quiet down, but what happened later?

She seemed to have forgotten some details. Oh, right, she was taken away.

She vaguely remembered the person who took her away, having seen him at a banquet.

At that time, he had stood with a group of spoiled rich kids they looked down upon, gazing at her from afar.

She was the center of attention in the crowd, and all the noble ladies of the Capital wanted to be her close friends.

"Yo, the Luck Bag of the Capital, tsk tsk tsk... more like a disaster star, right?"

This scornful remark from the man hit right at the heart of her worries.

"Look at those close to you – your parents, relatives, the Eldest Prince, the Second Prince – each one’s fate hasn’t turned out too well, has it?"

Seeing that the man was only mocking her without inflicting great harm, she mustered up the courage and asked, "What do you want to do?"

"What do I want to do? Your cause, my effect. I am the person who’s come for revenge."

She was scared, so she racked her brains for anything valuable about herself and desperately said, "Don’t be like this, I truly bring fortune. I... I can make your wishes come true...."