I, the Villain, Become Invincible the More Descendants I Have

Chapter 21 The Arrival of Liu RuyanThree days into controlling the Cao Family, the entire estate was undergoing a massive overhaul.

The Great Elder’s remnants had been thoroughly purged. Li Tieniu led the guard squad in patrols day and night, and the old, corrupt rules that had skimmed resources were completely overturned. The disciples’ cultivation resources were doubled, and everyone in the Cao Family was as energized as if they’d been injected with adrenaline, walking with a spring in their step.

Emperor Cao Xukun was sitting on the main seat in the grand hall with his legs crossed, cracking melon seeds while listening to Li Tieniu’s report. Beside him, Su Wanqing was peeling grapes for him, Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya was wiping her sword, and Lin Yueer was serving tea and water. Life was incredibly comfortable.

”Young Clan Leader, the gold, silver, and jewelry hidden in the Great Elder’s secret chamber have all been counted. There is a total of 800,000 taels of silver and three crates of spirit stones, all of which have been put into storage,” Li Tieniu said, holding the ledger and grinning from ear to ear. ”I didn’t expect that old geezer to be so greedy; it’s enough for our Cao Family to spend for three years!”

”Small change,” Emperor Cao Xukun said, spitting out a melon seed shell. ”This bit of money is only enough to buy milk powder for my babies. Only when we raid Young Master Xiao Chen’s treasure vault later will that be called getting rich.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a servant scrambled in, face pale: ”Young Clan Leader! It’s bad! A woman has arrived outside, saying she wants to see you, and also... also saying that if you don’t release her daughter, she’ll tear down our Cao Family!”

”Oh? Who has such a big mouth?” Emperor Cao Xukun raised an eyebrow. ”Daring to run wild on my turf, is she tired of living?”

”It... it is Young Master Xiao Chen’s mother, Empress Liu Ruyan!”

”Empress Liu Ruyan?!”

Emperor Cao Xukun slammed the melon seed plate onto the table with a ’clack’, his eyes lighting up instantly, nearly jumping out of his chair.

Good heavens! He was just worrying about his next target, and she actually delivered herself to his door!

Empress Liu Ruyan, the number one beauty of the Central Plains back in the day, a woman with Golden Luck, Young Master Xiao Chen’s own mother, a widow for fifteen years, still retaining her charm—the conquest reward would directly double, and he could even freeload half of the Xiao Family’s luck! This was simply a pie falling from the sky!

”Quick, quick, quick! Invite her in!” Emperor Cao Xukun straightened his clothes and rubbed his hands together with a smile. ”No, that’s not right, I’ll go greet her personally! Such a distinguished guest cannot be slighted.”

The three women looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Lin Yueer pursed her lips: ”Young Master Cao, your eyes are almost glowing green. Can you restrain yourself a bit?”

”Restrain what?” Emperor Cao Xukun said righteously. ”This is a future mother-in-law... ah no, a future family member. I’m just being hospitable.”

With that, he dashed out of the grand hall.

Just as he reached the entrance, he saw a woman in a plain white long dress standing at the bottom of the steps.

The woman was in her early thirties, her skin whiter than snow, her brows and eyes as if painted. Her dark hair was held up by a jade hairpin, and her temperament was as cold and elegant as a winter plum blossom under the moon. Although she was dressed simply, it could not hide her peerless grace; standing there, it was as if everything around her lost its color.

Even though Emperor Cao Xukun was used to beauties, he couldn’t help but whistle in his heart.

She truly lived up to her reputation! This appearance, this temperament—she had a touch more mature charm than Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya and Su Wanqing; she was simply the pinnacle of beauty! No wonder she could entrance all the young masters of the Central Plains back then.

When Empress Liu Ruyan saw Emperor Cao Xukun, she frowned slightly, a flash of disgust passing through her cold eyes. She had long heard that Emperor Cao Xukun was a rogue and a villain; seeing him today, he was indeed slick and oily, with ill intentions in his eyes.

”You are Emperor Cao Xukun?” Empress Liu Ruyan’s voice was like a clear spring, but it carried a hint of coldness.

”Indeed, it is I,” Emperor Cao Xukun said with a bow and a smile. ”Empress Liu Ruyan, your presence brings great honor to the Cao Family. Please, come in, have a cup of tea, and let’s chat.”

”No need,” Empress Liu Ruyan waved her hand, getting straight to the point. ”I came today for my daughter, Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya. I know she is with you. Name your price, any amount is fine, as long as you let her return with me.”

As she spoke, she took a silver note from her sleeve and handed it over: ”This is 100,000 taels of silver, enough for you to spend for a lifetime. Release Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya, and I can let bygones be bygones regarding previous grievances.”

Emperor Cao Xukun didn’t even look at the silver note and said with a smile: ”Empress Liu Ruyan, you’re being too much of a stranger. Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya and I are truly in love; talking about money is so hurtful to our relationship. Besides, do I, Emperor Cao Xukun, look like someone who lacks 100,000 taels of silver?”

”Truly in love?” Empress Liu Ruyan sneered. ”Don’t think I don’t know your background! You snatched Su Wanqing, imprisoned Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya, and used underhanded methods to force them—it’s absolutely shameless!”

”I advise you to obediently release Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya, otherwise I will report you to the Heavenly Dao Alliance, ruin your reputation, and the Cao Family will suffer along with you!”

”Yo, now you’re making threats,” Emperor Cao Xukun sneered. ”Empress Liu Ruyan, get this straight: you are in the Cao Family now, not in your Xiao Family. If the Heavenly Dao Alliance could control me, would I still be standing here talking to you?”

”Besides, who told you that Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya is being imprisoned by me? Ask her yourself if she is staying here voluntarily.”

Emperor Cao Xukun turned his head and shouted: ”Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya, your mother is here. Come out to receive the guest... ah no, come out to meet the guest!”

Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya walked out of the grand hall, saw Empress Liu Ruyan, froze for a moment, then lowered her head and whispered: ”Mother.”

”Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya!” Empress Liu Ruyan’s eyes turned red; she hurried over, grabbed her hand, and looked her up and down. ”Are you alright? Did he bully you? Tell Mother, Mother will make the decision for you!”

”Mother, I’m fine,” Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya shook her head. ”Emperor Cao Xukun didn’t bully me; I’m staying here voluntarily.”

”What?!” Empress Liu Ruyan was like a thunderbolt, unable to believe her ears. ”Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya, what nonsense are you spouting! Did he threaten you? Don’t be afraid, Mother is here, he won’t dare do anything to you!”

”He really didn’t threaten me,” Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya sighed. ”Mother, Young Master Xiao Chen simply doesn’t care about me. Last time I was captured by Emperor Cao Xukun, not only did he not come to save me, he even told others that I was courting death myself and it had nothing to do with him. A younger brother like that—I might as well not acknowledge him.”

”Emperor Cao Xukun is very good to me, a hundred times better than Young Master Xiao Chen. I am willing to follow him.”

Empress Liu Ruyan was completely stunned, standing in place, unable to speak for a long time. She couldn’t believe that her daughter, who was usually the most protective and doted on her younger brother, would actually say such things.

Emperor Cao Xukun leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and said with a smile: ”Empress Liu Ruyan, see? I didn’t lie to you, did I? It’s all about trading sincerity for sincerity. That sister-pit maniac, Young Master Xiao Chen, how can he be as reliable as me?”

Empress Liu Ruyan came back to her senses, both angry and anxious, pointing at Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya and saying: ”You... you are really making me angry to death! How did I give birth to such an unpromising daughter!”

”Mother...” Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya bit her lip, her eyes red.

”Alright, alright, stop scolding her,” Emperor Cao Xukun stepped forward, blocking in front of Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya, looking at Empress Liu Ruyan with a playful smile on his lips. ”Empress Liu Ruyan, since Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya is unwilling to go with you, why don’t you stay for a few days? It just so happens that I also want to have a good chat with you about Young Master Xiao Chen.”

”Rest assured, as long as you stay to chat with me for a few days, I guarantee that I will absolutely not make things difficult for Young Master Xiao Chen in the future. How about it?”

Empress Liu Ruyan looked at Emperor Cao Xukun’s ill-intentioned gaze, her heart skipping a beat. She knew Emperor Cao Xukun had no good intentions, but looking at her daughter’s firm demeanor, she really had no other choice.

After hesitating for a long time, she finally gritted her teeth: ”Fine! I’ll stay! But if you dare to lay a hand on me, even if I have to risk my life, I won’t let you off!”

Emperor Cao Xukun said, ”Rest assured, rest assured, I am a gentleman.” His eyes squinted into slits as he smiled, but his heart was blooming with joy.

Empress Liu Ruyan, oh Empress Liu Ruyan, since you’ve come, don’t think about leaving.

Half of the Xiao Family’s luck, and that doubled conquest reward—I, Emperor Cao Xukun, am determined to get them!