The Crybaby Always Wants to Redeem the Villainess - Chapter 7

“Kneel! Swear before our ancestors to mend your ways!” General’s Wife commanded, pointing to the prayer cushion at her feet.

Xiao Yi sensed the gravity of the situation. Her mother was truly serious this time. “Mother, please don’t be angry. I promise to kneel properly tonight. Did you read the letter Father sent back with me?”

Madam Xiao snapped without hesitation, “What’s there to read? This old woman will make Xiao Hengyi pay! Look what he’s turned you into!”

“Mother, please calm down and go back to rest early. I will reflect sincerely before our ancestors,” Xiao Yi pleaded earnestly.

Madam Xiao, still furious, cursed Xiao Yi, then her father, venting her anger on everyone. She had expected Xiao Yi to argue back, but instead, Xiao Yi remained kneeling obediently with her head bowed.

Despite her rage, Madam Xiao couldn’t bring herself to harm her own flesh and bl00d. She couldn’t possibly beat her to death or banish her.

The sight of Xiao Yi only fueled her anger, so she decided to avoid further aggravation and retreated to her chambers.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yi knelt resolutely before the ancestral tablets all night.

The next day, Xiao Yi emerged from the ancestral hall, intending to check on her mother, who must still be furious.

But when she reached her mother’s courtyard, a matron informed her that Madam Xiao had gone to a temple to offer incense and would not return for several months.

From now on, her mother wouldn’t interfere with anything she did!

She was free to do as she pleased!

For a moment, Xiao Yi couldn’t believe it. Then, she chuckled softly.

Turning to the nanny, she said, “This is perfect! Heaven and earth are vast, but I, Miss Xiao, am the greatest. Finally, no one can control me!”

Xiao Yi immediately returned to her room, changed her clothes, and headed out.

She hadn’t expected the rumors to spread so quickly. The common folk were already buzzing with gossip:

“Have you heard? The General’s Wife was so enraged by that female tyrant that she’s gone to live in a temple!”

“I heard. Has the General’s Wife just given up on controlling her?”

“Do you think anyone could control her?” The speaker rolled their eyes. “If anyone could, the General’s Wife wouldn’t have fled to a temple to burn incense and pray.”

“True. The General’s Wife never had a chance.”

“Having such a rebellious daughter must be the General’s Wife’s greatest tragedy!”

“Poor Madam Xiao. She’ll probably fall ill from the stress.”

Xiao Yi ignored the public’s chatter, heading straight for the Capital’s largest casino.

She arrived at Moon City Casino, determined to show those pampered young masters who the true gambling queen was!

“Eldest Miss Xiao, you’re here alone?” The casino manager greeted her with a teasing tone.

Xiao Yi curled her lip. “I’m afraid even half a person would scare you to death!” With that, she sat down and began placing her bets.

The casino manager chuckled awkwardly. “Heh, Eldest Miss Xiao, you certainly have a way with words!”

Soon, a crowd gathered around, some already placing bets, while others speculated that the notorious female bully was bound to lose. After all, they’d never heard of her gambling before.

Xiao Yi, however, exuded confidence. She started by betting small, since her funds were limited. After that, she began betting big!

After an incense stick’s worth of time, a glittering mountain of silver notes piled up before Xiao Yi, resembling a small hill.

“Eldest Miss Xiao, you’ve won enough. Shouldn’t you be heading back now?” the casino manager asked with a pained expression.

Xiao Yi ignored him, continuing to bet on big or small. Winning doubled her stake, but even losing didn’t matter—as long as she kept winning overall. Doubling her stake was insignificant to her!

After a long while, Xiao Yi’s chips had increased by another hundred thousand taels of gold. The surrounding crowd stared in disbelief.

What the hell… is she here to shut down the place?

At that moment, Xiao Yi shouted, “Bet small!”

Without hesitation, Xiao Yi continued to bet small.

Across thirteen consecutive rounds, Xiao Yi made no mistakes, and every dealer lost.

Xiao Yi remained in the gambling den for four to five days straight!

Meanwhile, the outside world was in a frenzy searching for her. The Emperor had ordered her arrest, yet not a trace of Xiao Yi could be found. For days, her whereabouts remained a mystery.

The crime she was to be charged with? Leading Grand Tutor Gu’s youngest daughter to a brothel, of course!

Even Luo Anche was shocked when he heard about Xiao Yi taking Gu Zhirou to a brothel. He could never have imagined Xiao Yi doing such a thing, completely shattering his perception of her.

He even suspected the rumors were fabricated to frame her.

Later, someone leaked Xiao Yi’s presence at the gambling den. The Emperor sent men to arrest her, but Xiao Yi defied the imperial decree, beat up the arresting officers, and trashed the gambling den.

As she left, she grumbled about not having had enough fun.

The crowd seethed with anger. A dog can’t stop eating sh1t, they thought. A female tyrant is a female tyrant—insisting on being right even when she’s clearly wrong.

That very night, a black-clad figure slipped into the Emperor’s palace. The Emperor sat at his desk, reviewing memorials.

“Your subject, Xiao Yi, kowtows before Your Majesty!”

“Oh, who do we have here? It’s Eldest Miss Xiao! I’ve invited you three times, yet you never came. I almost thought you were severing ties with me,” the New Emperor teased, raising an eyebrow.

“This humble subject would never dare!” Xiao Yi replied with utmost respect.

“Xiao Yi, you’re so domineering outside the palace. Now you’re telling me you wouldn’t dare? Who do you think you’re fooling?” That brat! Her reputation has been soaring lately. I almost thought the Xiao Yi everyone’s talking about wasn’t the same one I know.

Xiao Yi…

“Eldest Miss Xiao, you’re living quite comfortably, aren’t you? Have you forgotten why you came to the Capital? And I heard you angered Shiniang so much she moved into a temple.”

Xiao Yi… Though she hated to admit it, and there were many factors involved, it seemed that was indeed the case!

“May I ask why Your Majesty summoned me?”

“Xiao Yi, stop being so formal with me. When have you ever been this polite? It feels so unnatural when you speak to me like this.” This serious Xiao Yi felt wrong, making him grind his teeth. It was just… strange.

“So how do you want me to address you? You’re the Emperor now, and I’m your subject. Would I dare be presumptuous? I’m not tired of living yet!” Xiao Yi retorted, rolling her eyes at Luo Anche, who sat at the head of the table.

“Aha! That’s it! That’s the Xiao Yi I know!”

Xiao Yi rolled her eyes again. “The past is the past, and now is now. Back in the military camp, you were my Senior Brother, and I could tease you all I wanted. But now you’re the Emperor, and I’m just a subject. I’m not completely clueless about my place!”

“Fine, then. We hereby grant you permission to act like your old self in our presence!” Luo Anche declared, finding Xiao Yi’s formal speech utterly grating.

“Tch! Your word means nothing. My father taught me to follow the rules once I reached the Capital.”

Luo Anche… He strongly suspected Xiao Yi was spouting nonsense.

“So, are you sick in the head? You actually took that little Gu girl to a brothel! What if she’d accidentally died? Could you afford to compensate them? That old Gu patriarch would demand your life! The Gu family treasures that girl!”

“Wait a minute—don’t tell me you approached that Gu Family girl with an ulterior motive. You’re quite the schemer, aren’t you?”

Xiao Yi, Luo Anche’s words struck her like a bolt of lightning, awakening her from her daze. “I hadn’t planned on it originally, but now that you mention it, I might just do it!”

“Alright, tell me your plan. I’ll help you clean up the mess afterward.”

“And why are you ruining your reputation like this? You’re a young woman—how will you ever get married?”

Xiao Yi stared in disbelief at Luo Anche, who was babbling incessantly. “Luo Anche, how did I never realize you were such a chatterbox? You’re even more long-winded than I am!”

“Call me Senior Brother! Show some respect! Master sent you here to help me, so I need to understand the situation properly. Did Master give us any specific instructions?”

“No, Father said we should adapt to the circumstances as they arise!”

“So, ruining your reputation—was that your plan or Master’s?”

“Mine!”

“Xiao Yi, don’t forget—I’m still engaged to the Xiao Family.”