Chapter Nine: Prison Break

"Stop it!"

Chaochao unceremoniously plucked the silly flower-bird that was wreaking havoc on her head. Clutching the bird, she turned around decisively, avoiding the gaze of the entire prison cell behind her. She stroked the restless creature, not making another sound.

Old Madam Luo watched Chaochao with cold eyes, her distaste deepening. It was just as expected from the offspring of that rebellious, unprincipled hussy who had bewitched her beloved son and made him forget his own mother after taking a wife!

Old Madam Luo snorted, refusing to look at the detestable, dim-witted granddaughter again, and beckoned to her eldest daughter-in-law.

"Xiufang, come here. Get everyone settled."

"Mother?" Madam Luo the Younger paused, stunned. In such a predicament, empty-handed and destitute, what was there left to settle?

However, not daring to meet her mother-in-law’s stern gaze, she quickly swallowed her complaints, lowered her head, and listened dutifully. Only then did Old Madam Luo nod with satisfaction and continue.

"Xiufang, you are the matriarch of this household. Even if the family has fallen on hard times, you must shoulder your responsibilities. Besides, I do not believe His Majesty would truly disregard all past sentiments. Think of our Count Wending’s estate—three generations of loyalty. We have served the Emperor and the imperial court with utmost dedication and integrity. Even without a certificate of iron immunity, our loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon. We have many kin and old acquaintances, and your father-in-law’s students are spread across the four corners of the realm. How could we fall so easily? As the matriarch, you must remain steady at a time like this!"

"Yes, Daughter-in-law acknowledges your instruction."

Despite her inner disdain, Madam Luo the Younger had no choice but to accept her mother-in-law’s words. She performed a proper bow, helped the old woman toward a corner far from the waste bucket, ordered the three concubines to gather straw to make the old lady comfortable, and then turned to organize the remaining female relatives.

"Third Sister-in-law, Fourth Sister-in-law, take the children and sit over here. Madam Zhou, you and yours, over here..."

Once everyone was settled, they had cried until they were exhausted. The hour was growing late; the sky outside the narrow, high windows turned dark, and torches were lit one by one along the corridor.

Chaochao, who had remained indifferent to the chaos, felt her stomach rumbling. She stroked the bird in her arms, glancing repeatedly toward the end of the corridor. Seeing no sign of the jailers, the little girl couldn't help but mutter to herself. They had been here for most of the day, and no one had brought prison food—they were truly irresponsible! Even Xiao Yi had times when its information was wrong.

Seeing the movement behind her subside, Chaochao rolled her eyes and decisively tossed the bird out through the bars. "Go find my father."

The bird, which had been enjoying being petted, was startled, its feathers standing on end. It shrieked at the top of its lungs, "Ah! Falling to my death! Fall—"

"Shut up!"

Chaochao bared her teeth, scolding the ruffled parrot and brandishing her small fist.

The bird instantly cowed, flapping its wings to hover in mid-air, behaving perfectly. Chaochao waved her hand, urging it, "Go quickly."

Only then did the bird flutter its wings and fly off toward the corridor her master had pointed to, grumbling and swearing all the way—it was so vulgar!

Fortunately, the bird was sensible and quite clever.

Guided by the torches burning every dozen meters, it flew smoothly, avoiding the sounds of interrogation coming from the torture chamber, and darted into a familiar-looking corridor on the opposite side. The bird flew and flew.

After passing five, seven, eight, or nine cells, it finally found traces of its master’s father in a cell deep within the dim corridor on the left.

Joyfully, it flapped its wings, ready to approach, but hearing footsteps from behind, the clever bird dove into the pitch-black empty cell next door, scrambled onto an identical narrow window, and zipped right out.

Because it had rushed so quickly, several feathers were scraped off. The bird felt a sharp pang of pain and fluttered around outside the Imperial Prison dungeon, lamenting its fate for a long time. Only after it had finished complaining did it determine the direction of its master and fly off like a bullet, determined to return and demand compensation for its wounded bird-heart.

"Chaochao, Chaochao..."

Seeing the bird dive back in through the narrow window, Chaochao felt exhausted. "Why are you coming through the window again?"

The bird felt aggrieved, preening its feathers. "Guards, guards! Bird scared, feathers fell, ouchie!"

"Ha!"

The cold-hearted Chaochao grabbed the bird and inspected it up and down. Finding no missing feathers, she sneered, iron-faced. "Behave yourself and speak like a person. Where is my father? Did you find him?"

The bird went blank, realized it had lost, and obediently nodded its little head.

Chaochao was satisfied. She scooped the bird up, tucked it into her embrace, and once again ignored the scrutinizing gazes of the prison cell. With her back to them, she huddled in the corner, secretly connecting to her bracelet to retrieve the rations the bird had found. She grabbed a pinch of melon seeds and quietly peeled them to feed the bird.

The girl and the bird worked together in perfect harmony.

However, Chaochao’s attempt to stay out of trouble caught someone's eye.

"Idiot!"

This light, disdainful remark came from Li Wenxin, who had been scared half to death by rats and had only just been calmed down by her mother.

At this moment, Li Wenxin had regained her usual posture as a noble lady, sitting properly on the outer robe provided by the timid Concubine Wen. She leaned against Old Madam Luo, feeling both self-pity and shame at her earlier loss of composure.

Seeing the entire household in such a sorry state, yet watching that little idiot from the second branch playing with a bird and acting so calm, a surge of anger rose in Li Wenxin. Her dissatisfaction swelled, and with nowhere else to vent, she let out the venomous remark.

Her spiteful demeanor caused Old Madam Luo, who had been leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, to snap them open.

She glanced at her eldest granddaughter, who had lost her usual delicate charm and intelligence, and then flicked a glance at Chaochao in the corner. Old Madam Luo slapped Li Wenxin on the arm.

"Xin'er, you are the legitimate daughter of my Count's estate, raised with great care, and of noble status. Why bother yourself with a fool?"

When Li Wenxin heard this, seeing that her grandmother did not favor the fool despite the request of her capable second uncle, her eyes lit up. She quickly nestled into Old Madam Luo's arms, twisting and acting coy.

"Grandmother!"

Chaochao, with her back to the crowd, listened coldly. Her heart didn't skip a beat; she remained completely unmoved, peeling melon seeds for the bird. Catching them off guard, she even popped a piece of the warm pastry she had scavenged from the kitchen that morning into her own mouth to satisfy her hunger.

What grandmother? What family affection? It was all nonsense!

Her attitude made Li Wenxin and Old Madam Luo feel as if they had punched a pillow—it was incredibly frustrating. But after a whole day of being raided, imprisoned, frightened, and angered, everyone was exhausted and had no energy left to stir up trouble, so they fell silent.

When the watchman's clapper sounded the first watch of the night outside the high windows, the prison was filled with the sound of snoring. Only then did Chaochao gather the melon seed shells and toss them into the waste recycler. She silently threatened the bird before letting it go, then stood up quietly. Slowly, slowly, she poked her head through the gap in the bars, then her body, and finally her little feet.

Once she was standing in the corridor, Chaochao put her hands on her hips.

Hahaha, a mere Imperial Prison? Piece of cake!

Glancing back at the cell, she stepped out decisively and ran lightly toward the end of the corridor.

As she approached the exit, the bird hovered overhead, and Chaochao stopped in her tracks.

She peeked out cautiously and saw that in the interrogation room where they had been processed, several jailers were drinking and chatting with their backs to her. Two others, positioned to her side, were already slumped over the table, dead to the world. Chaochao moved decisively, darting through the interrogation room like a nimble monkey.

Successfully bypassing the jailers, and led by the bird, Chaochao ducked into the deep, dark corridor on the opposite side.

"This way, Chao-daddy..."

"Shh!"

The bird flew and chirped overhead. Although its voice wasn't loud, Chaochao shuddered, terrified that she would be discovered and ruin everything. She quickly snatched the silly bird down, covered its beak, and made a shushing gesture.

Fortunately, because the Imperial Prison had received so many prisoners that day, the Jinyiwei guards were busy lining their pockets and drinking themselves into a stupor. They didn't notice the bird's tiny hints at all, allowing this girl and her bird to roam the vast dungeon as if it were an empty house.