Chapter 253: Crazy Man and Crazy Woman 13

Wu Chufeng’s words plunged Wu Daniu into deep thought.

He looked at Xiao Mumu, and with just a glance, she immediately understood what he meant.

“Grandfather, don’t! Don’t hand Zhixiao over! He’s the father of my child. Are you really going to let my child grow up without a father?”

Wu Daniu’s gaze was as cold as ice. He stared at Xiao Mumu, his tone laced with an unquestionable authority:

“Mumu, you are with child, and that is the Wu Family’s bloodline. I will not mistreat you. But Li Zhixiao must be dealt with. He’s involved in the imperial examination scandal—a crime punishable by death! I cannot allow the Wu Family to be dragged into utter ruin because of him!”

Hearing this, Xiao Mumu’s face turned deathly pale, and tears rolled down her cheeks like pearls from a broken string.

She threw herself at Wu Daniu’s feet, clutching the hem of his robes, her voice trembling. “Grandfather, I’m begging you! Zhixiao was just foolish for a moment. He… he’ll change, I promise! For the sake of my child, please, spare him!”

Wu Daniu looked down at Xiao Mumu, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by grim resolve.

He said coldly, “Mumu, get up. The rules of the Wu Family cannot be broken. Li Zhixiao must pay the price for his actions.”

With that, he waved his hand sharply and shouted to the guards outside, “Men! Seize Li Zhixiao and tie him up!”

The moment Wu Daniu’s voice faded, several guards burst in. Without a word, they slammed Li Zhixiao to the ground.

Li Zhixiao’s face was ashen, his lips trembled, and his eyes were wide with terror.

He struggled to lift his head and cried out hoarsely, “General! General! Listen to me! This… this wasn’t my doing! It was Mumu! It was all Mumu’s idea! I… I was never directly involved!”

Hearing this, Xiao Mumu shot her head up to look at Wu Daniu, her voice sharp. “He’s right, Grandfather! I was the one who handled everything!”

The moment she spoke, the hall fell deathly silent.

Wu Daniu’s gaze sharpened instantly. He stared at Xiao Mumu, his voice laced with fury.

“Mumu, do you have any idea what you’re saying? You’re pushing the entire Wu Family into a pit of fire!”

Tears streamed down Xiao Mumu’s face, but her voice, though trembling, was resolute.

“Grandfather, I know exactly what I’m saying. Zhixiao… nothing can happen to him! He’s the father of my child. I can’t watch him die! I did everything. It has nothing to do with him!”

Li Zhixiao slumped to the ground, his eyes filled with terror and despair.

He opened his mouth as if to argue, but found he couldn’t make a sound.

Wu Daniu watched this scene coldly, a vicious glint in his eyes.

He waved his hand sharply and commanded the guards, “Men! Drag Li Zhixiao out! Break his hands and feet! Blind him and make him mute! Remember, leave him alive, but from this day forward, he is never to speak or write again!”

The guards immediately moved forward and dragged Li Zhixiao out.

Li Zhixiao struggled desperately, but it was no use. He could only let out a few muffled whimpers.

Seeing this, Xiao Mumu’s heart felt like it was being shredded. She lunged forward to stop them but was forcefully pulled back by Wu Daniu.

Wu Daniu said coldly, “Mumu, if you try to stop them again, don’t blame me for forgetting the bond we share as grandfather and granddaughter!”

Stunned by his words, Xiao Mumu collapsed to the floor, watching helplessly as Li Zhixiao was dragged away.

Her sobs echoed through the hall, but they could no longer elicit a shred of pity from Wu Daniu.

Wu Daniu watched the weeping Xiao Mumu with cold eyes. Although he felt a pang of pity, his resolve was far stronger.

He turned to Wu Chufeng. “Chu Feng, I’m leaving matters at home to you. Keep a close watch on Mumu and don’t let her cause any more trouble. I’m going to the palace for an audience with the Emperor right now to report this matter. We can’t afford any delays.”

Wu Chufeng nodded, his voice steady. “Father, rest assured. I’ll take care of things at home.”

‘Today, he had also wanted to see what choice Wu Daniu would make. The moment he saw Li Zhixiao being dragged out, he understood the outcome.’

‘Since Wu Daniu had chosen not to cover for him and to protect Xiao Mumu at the same time, he was happy to keep an eye on things.’

‘Li Zhixiao was a man of no real talent or learning. He only became a scholar by relying on Xiao Mumu. How could he deserve it?’

‘Why should those with actual talent have to make way for someone like Li Zhixiao?’

Just as Wu Daniu was about to leave, Wang Cuihua suddenly rushed out and blocked his path, her face pale and her voice trembling.

“My lord, you can’t go! If you go, the Wu Family is finished!”

Wu Daniu frowned, his tone laced with impatience.

“Cuihua, get out of my way! This concerns the very survival of the Wu Family. I must see the Emperor myself!”

Wang Cuihua desperately clung to Wu Daniu’s sleeve, her eyes filled with terror.

“My lord, think this through! If His Majesty finds out about the examination scandal and decides to press blame, our entire family could be implicated! Do you want to watch our whole family, young and old, be beheaded?”

Wu Daniu looked at Wang Cuihua coldly, a hint of warning in his voice. “Cuihua, are you threatening me?”

Wang Cuihua flinched at his gaze, but thinking of her two children, she gritted her teeth and continued.

“My lord, I’m not threatening you! I’m thinking of our family! If you go see the Emperor and he flies into a rage, the Wu Family really will be finished!”

Wu Daniu fell silent for a moment, a flicker of conflict in his eyes.

‘He knew Wang Cuihua had a point. But if he didn’t report this to His Majesty promptly, the Wu Family would eventually be dragged into this mess anyway.’

“His Majesty is a wise ruler. If I don’t report this as soon as possible, this matter will eventually implicate us anyway. The Wu Family is where it is today not just because of my own struggles, but because His Majesty was willing to give a chance to a man of humble origins like myself. Our Wu Family cannot be ungrateful!”

‘Though he said as much, the truth was that Wu Daniu was even more afraid of the Emperor finding out on his own because he failed to report it in time.’

‘By that point, the outcome would no longer be something he could influence.’

‘If he confessed of his own volition now and offered up something in return, he might still be able to preserve a decent measure of the Wu Family’s glory.’

‘One must be pragmatic. He, a man of humble birth, had gotten where he was today partly due to luck, but an even more important reason was his ability to read the situation.’

‘Otherwise, of all the men who had earned military honors, why was he the one who ended up as a First-Grade General?’

Having said his piece, Wu Daniu strode out of the hall and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

Wang Cuihua watched his retreating back, a flicker of panic and venomous resentment in her eyes.

She gritted her teeth and began to scheme. ‘No, I can’t just sit here and wait to die! If Wu Daniu goes, the Wu Family is done for. I have to think of a plan, quickly!’

She turned quickly and whispered to her personal maid, “Hurry to the academy and bring the two young masters back. Tell them there’s been a family emergency and they must return at once!”

The maid didn’t dare ask any questions. She simply nodded and hurried out the door.