Chapter 13 Is Also a Treasure

Where is the Azure Cloud Inn?

Why would the innkeeper want to harm her? Is there a greater mastermind behind this? Who could that be?

How could a newborn baby provoke such a ruthless attack?

Jiaoyue noticed that the six uncles and her own father all wore expressions of deep anger; clearly, they knew exactly who the grandfather was referring to.

Indeed, the seven brothers all understood who the man their father spoke of was. Only that person could have evaded their father's swift intervention without being caught.

Reporting to the authorities was merely a formality—after all, a life had been taken—and they held no hope of uncovering anything.

Eldest Uncle Meng Wenxi spoke coldly, “Father, do you mean to let our little niece be bullied like this without consequence?”

“Exactly. We absolutely cannot let this slide. It’s a slap in the face to the Meng family,” said Second Uncle Meng Wenhao, his voice gentle yet laced with a hidden sharpness.

Third Uncle Meng Wenchuan said, “I refuse to believe the innkeeper can remain faceless forever.”

Fourth Uncle added, “Father, the fifth and I will go. We must find this person and repay them tooth for tooth.”

Sixth Uncle said, “I’ll go as well. I know some people in the underworld.”

Meng Wenzhuan slammed his hand on the table and stood up. “What has happened to the Meng family? How could anyone dare do something so cruel to a newborn child?”

At that moment, Jiaoyue felt a warmth in her heart, surrounded and protected by her family.

Yet, hearing their words made her recall the notice she had seen—could the mastermind behind all this be the emperor?

Who else could exert such pressure on the Meng family?

The emperor desired Lanzhishan, but her grandfather had declared it would be granted in sixteen years. Clearly, the emperor could no longer wait and wanted Jiaoyue to die immediately to claim Lanzhishan now.

Jiaoyue had to admit, her mind was sharp; from these surface events alone, she had almost guessed the truth.

The head of the Meng family glanced coldly at his youngest son, who had dared to bang the table in his presence. “Wenzhuan, calm down.”

The youngest son’s parents had spoiled him to some extent, especially his mother, causing him to develop a rebellious streak.

“How can I calm down when they want my daughter’s life?” Meng Wenzhuan retorted angrily.

Jiaoyue looked at her father with gratitude. A child protected by her father was indeed precious; in this life, she was truly a treasure.

The Meng family patriarch said, “Your daughter is my granddaughter, the one our family has waited centuries to have. We cannot just let this go. No need to get so angry now; we will repay this when the time is right. That innkeeper is but a mere pawn. Revenge must target the real mastermind.”

His tone was calm, devoid of anger, but the seven sons all knew their father well. The calmer he appeared, the more furious he truly was—his patience was stretched to the limit.

Jiaoyue’s excitement grew. If they couldn’t find the innkeeper, her grandfather intended to strike directly at the true mastermind behind the scenes. Beneath his refined and gentle demeanor, her grandfather was no fool.

Yes, being so fiercely protected by family felt wonderful. She would protect them in return.

Meng Wenzhuan said, “Father, what is your plan? I will follow through.”

The patriarch’s eyes darkened. “You stay home and look after your wife and daughter. Since someone dares stab at the heart of our family, they must be prepared for their own heart to be bled dry.”

Hearing this, Meng Wenzhuan knew his father’s actions would be faster, fiercer, and more precise than his own—and that no trace would be left behind.

If you think you can vanish without a trace, I will root out the source. Even if you know it was me, without evidence, you can only suffer silently.

“I’ll obey, Father,” Meng Wenzhuan said, sitting down.

The patriarch sighed silently. Did his son not understand his own character? If this was his decision, then it had his approval; otherwise, he would have listened to him.

“How is the little treasure? Was she frightened?” the patriarch asked.

Jiaoyue felt a surge of happiness hearing her grandfather’s concern. No matter the reason, his love for her was genuine.

Meng Wenzhuan replied, “She cried terribly but wouldn’t nurse from the wet nurse. We made some rice oil for her, and after eating that, she fell asleep.”

Meng Wenxi asked, “I heard our little niece cried so hard she refused the wet nurse’s milk, thus avoiding the danger?”

Sixth Uncle, intrigued, said, “Our little niece is truly remarkable.”

Meng Wenzhuan, unable to hide the uniqueness of his daughter from the family, nodded. “When Yueya was in her mother’s arms, she stopped crying. But when trying the wet nurse’s milk, she cried again. That caused the wet nurse to have a toxic reaction, so Yueya avoided a life-threatening ordeal. Perhaps the scare was so great she refused even her mother’s milk, but she ate plenty of the rice oil and dislikes being swaddled. She sleeps sprawled out with her little fists raised—absolutely adorable.”

At first, he spoke with tenderness, but gradually his tone took on a hint of pride.

Jiaoyue felt a bit embarrassed hearing her father’s words. Did she really sleep sprawled out like that? Though small, she had to keep up appearances. Could such things be kept private?

The six uncles were speechless. The youngest son had never known discipline. While he managed to maintain a refined image in public, resembling a graceful and noble gentleman, one should never provoke him, or they would see his true nature.

This wild and unruly man was surprisingly held tightly in check by his wife and daughter—something none of them had expected.

The patriarch gave his seventh son a sharp look. “What does Yueya mean?”

Meng Wenzhuan looked at his father with mock grievance. “I don’t even have the right to name my own daughter. Can’t I at least give her a nickname?”

The patriarch’s lips twitched. “She’s my granddaughter, and I don’t even have the right to name her. You should be grateful you at least gave her a nickname.”

He felt a bit aggrieved, as if the family thought he had named his granddaughter, when it was actually an ancestral name.

The other six brothers exchanged helpless glances at their father and youngest brother, amused by their jealousy over the little niece’s name.

Fifth Uncle Meng Wenyao quickly changed the subject. “Seventh brother, is it the ‘tooth’ from teeth, or the ‘sprout’ from budding?”

Meng Wenzhuan replied immediately, “The sprout. Since the ancestors named her Jiaoyue, meaning bright moon, I think our little treasure is like a tiny bud, growing steadily under our protection until she becomes a full moon.”

“Now that you say it, that nickname is quite fitting. Our little Yueya will surely grow into a full moon,” Meng Wenyao agreed.

Eldest Uncle Meng Wenxi added, “Not only do we have her, but also her brothers. Little Yueya will live a carefree life.”

“Exactly. Yueya will never lack brothers, there are more than ten of them,” said Second Uncle Meng Wenhao proudly.

Among the seven brothers, six had all sons; except for Sixth Uncle who currently had only one, the others each had two sons. So little Yueya already had eleven brothers.

Hearing this, Jiaoyue realized having so many brothers wasn’t so bad after all.