Jiang Shumiao is a queen of the kids wherever she goes, and she's incredibly popular. All the children love to surround her.
But things have changed recently.
The cause was still the Yao family.
Apart from Yao Cong, the eldest son who was expelled from the family, all the male members of the Yao family were beheaded, the women were sent to the brothel, and the ancestral home was sealed off.
But the Yao family also has other relatives by marriage.
Yao Cong's birth mother died early, and his stepmother had her own children. As the saying goes, with a stepmother comes a stepfather.
Although his father didn't mistreat him, he certainly didn't particularly like him.
So much so that when he was kicked out of his home, his own father didn't say a word in his defense.
His stepmother came from the Feng family of Shiping, and her younger sister was the wife of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. His youngest son, Pang Xiangyu, was studying at the Imperial Academy and sat to the right of Jiang Shumiao.
Pang Xiangyu is a very well-behaved little boy, one of the few children in the kindergarten who listens attentively in class.
During the last pet incident, he followed in Jiang Shumiao's footsteps and brought a tank of goldfish. Knowing that Jiang Shumiao loved to eat, he often brought snacks from home and hid them in his little backpack for her.
A lackey.
But lately, this little follower has become quite distant from Jiang Shumiao.
Jiang Shumiao didn't pay much attention at first, until one day Liu Jing'an accidentally knocked over his inkstone, and the ink smudged, making the book dirty.
Liu Jing'an immediately looked to Jiang Shumiao for help.
With a flick of her finger, Jiang Shumiao caused the ink to spread and disappear without a trace.
Liu Jing'an's eyes were filled with admiration.
"Miaomiao, you're amazing."
Jiang Shumiao stood with his hands behind his back, concealing his achievements and fame.
The Fifth Princess asked curiously, "Pang Xiangyu, why aren't you saying anything?"
You should at least say thank you.
The other children also looked over.
Pang Xiangyu tidied up his brush and ink, and said politely, "Thank you."
Then he sat up straight and didn't look at Jiang Shumiao again.
Three- or four-year-old children are simple and innocent, but also very sensitive. Especially those who usually play together, they easily noticed Pang Xiangyu's cold and distant attitude.
The Fifth Prince asked, "What's wrong with you? You haven't been playing with us lately."
Pang Xiangyu lowered her head and remained silent.
The oblivious Liu Jing'an was completely dumbfounded.
Jiang Shumiao glanced at him, then belatedly realized that Pang Xiangyu hadn't spoken to her in a long time, and couldn't help but ask, "Do you have a problem with me?"
The children all looked at him.
Surrounded by gazes, Pang Xiangyu's eyelashes trembled, her eyes lowered, and she said in a muffled voice, "No."
Jiang Shumiao saw through his lie and said a little angrily, "I used a truth-telling talisman on you."
A naive threat can be very effective.
Pang Xiangyu finally raised her head, her expression stubborn yet aggrieved.
“My mother won’t let me play with you.”
Jiang Shu gave a vague "ah".
Why?
The children were puzzled.
Pang Xiangyu was also very upset. "My mother said that it was because of you that my cousin was exiled. He had to wear heavy shackles, walk a long way, and had no food. It was so miserable."
The little boy's eyes were filled with tears, and his voice was choked with emotion.
Jiang Shumiao was shocked.
The Fifth Prince sensed something amiss, "Who is your cousin?"
Pang Xiangyu wiped away her tears. "My cousin is Yao Sanlang, he's only thirteen years old. Waaaaah, you could have saved him. My mother said that goddesses come to save all living beings, but you just stood by and watched him die. You're not a good goddess. I'm never playing with you again."
The children all stared at each other, mouths agape.
She looked at Jiang Shumiao for a moment, then at Pang Xiangyu, at a loss for what to do.
The Fifth Princess defended her best friend, saying, "The Crown Prince said that the Yao family did many, many bad things, which is why Father punished them. You can't blame Miaomiao."
Pang Xiangyu continued to cry.
The little guy was sad, both because his cousin had to suffer so much at such a young age and because he himself would never have any good friends in the future.
Jiang Shumiao finally spoke up, "Do you know what human sacrifice is?"
Pang Xiangyu sobbed and remained silent.
Jiang Shumiao continued, "Then do you know what sacrificial offerings are?"
Pang Xiangyu continued to sob, but nodded.
"Know, know".
"Human sacrifice is the killing of living people in various ways and using them as sacrificial offerings."
Pang Xiangyu suddenly opened her eyes wide.
Many three- or four-year-old children already understand the meaning of death, and upon hearing this, they all stared at Jiang Shumiao.
Jiang Shumiao gave a clear and articulate explanation.
“The Yao family worships gods, and their offerings to the gods are people.”
The Fifth Princess gasped, clutching Jiang Shumiao's hand nervously, her youthful face filled with terror.
Pang Xiangyu was stunned.
No matter how big the trouble involving the Yao family became, it never reached the ears of the innocent and naive children.
Apart from Jiang Shumiao, all these little kids were completely unaware of the details.
“I’ve been to the Yao family’s ancestral hall. The statue there is full of skulls inside. The oldest one is no more than ten years old, and the youngest one is the same age as you.”
Pang Xiangyu almost fell off the stool.
Some of the more timid ones were already crying from fright.
"Waaaaaah..."
One affected another, and in the blink of an eye, a large number of students in the study collapsed in tears.
The Fifth Princess also wanted to cry, but seeing Jiang Shumiao's calm expression, she held back and gripped Jiang Shumiao's small hand even tighter.
This time, Jiang Shumiao didn't try to coax the children anymore; instead, she dragged Pang Xiangyu out directly.
Fuqu, who was waiting outside, had already heard the commotion inside, but she didn't dare to go in. Then she saw her master carrying a child in one hand and leading the noble little princess by the other, followed by a string of little rascals who were clearly scared but couldn't help wanting to keep listening.
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