Chapter 172: Chao Chao and the Dog
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Lu Chao Chao was nestled comfortably in Saintess Jing Li’s arms, cradled like a tiny chick.
Yuhua blushed furiously, her eyes flicking towards Jing Li’s waist before darting away guiltily. [Don’t look, don’t look. Oh my gosh, I knew it! Following the little miss always leads to surprises. This is too thrilling. Jing Li is actually a man!]
“Little one, have you stared enough?” Jing Li teased, poking Chao Chao’s chubby cheek, marveling at its softness.
“I woz just passin’ by!” Chao Chao replied in her baby voice.
Jing Li raised an eyebrow. “Why didn’t you greet me earlier?”
Chao Chao hesitated. “Saintess man… Jing Li?” she ventured, unsure of the proper address.
Jing Li nearly lost his balance, giving her a startled look. “No need for that. Just call me Sister Jing Li.” [Saintess man? Really?]
Chao Chao gave a nonchalant, “Oh.”
“I reveal I’m a man and you’re not even shocked. You’re no fun,” Jing Li complained, a bit deflated.
Chao Chao screwed up her face, then widened her eyes in an exaggerated show of surprise. “Oh my gosh, Saintess is a man!” she gasped theatrically.
Jing Li’s eye twitched at her overdone act. “Forget it. Why am I even trying with a toddler? It’s self-punishment,” he muttered, dismissing the effort.
“Men are like needles at the bottom of the ocean—hard to find and tricky,” Chao Chao mumbled.
Jing Li set her on the stone table in the pavilion. “You must keep this secret, little one. Be good…” He glanced at Yuhua, who nodded vigorously.
“Don’t worry, I’ll zip my lips!”
“But why are you a boy?” Chao Chao inquired with genuine curiosity.
“The West Yue Saintess is chosen from birth. Didn’t they check everything?”
“My sister and I were twins. At birth, she was taken away. Her name was Jing Li, and so is mine.”
“She passed away from illness at three, and I took her place.”
“Your brother is a scoundrel. He steals poetry and cheats people with it,” Jing Li scoffed.
“He’s not my brother!” Chao Chao protested, her eyes wide and serious. “My big brother is the top scholar! And he will be forever! Lu Jing Huai doesn’t deserve that title!”
“My three brothers are the best in the world!” She looked truly indignant.
“Alright, alright. He doesn’t deserve it. Would you like to come to West Yue with me? The scenery is beautiful, the people are wonderful, and the food is delicious,” Jing Li coaxed, pinching her cheek. Anyone who could wield the Radiant Sword was extraordinary.
Chao Chao’s eyes sparkled at the mention of food. “Do you have West Yue delicacies for me to try?”
“What if I don’t like them?” she pondered seriously.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Jing Li smiled, finding her straightforwardness endearing. “Starting tomorrow, I’ll send you West Yue dishes every day. If you like them, will you come with me?”
Yuhua fretted silently, afraid to voice her concerns.
When a messenger interrupted, Jing Li quickly veiled his face and departed with grace.
“Miss, how could you think of going to West Yue? Madam would be heartbroken,” Yuhua worried aloud. [Little Miss is so naive, she’d be tricked and not even realize it!]
Chao Chao yawned. “Go to West Yue?”
“After I’ve tried all the yummy food, why would I need to go?”
“I’m just playing along.”
Yuhua was left speechless. [Seriously? She’s only thinking about food! Normally, she’s not this cunning! Poor Jing Li, he thinks he’s struck a great deal.]
Upon returning to the front yard, a banquet was underway.
“Chao Chao, where have you been?” Madam Xu asked, noting her flushed cheeks and sweaty brow. She quickly dabbed her daughter’s face with a handkerchief.
“I had some melon,” Chao Chao confessed.
“Melon? It’s cold, don’t eat that. You’ll catch a chill,” Madam Xu cautioned, concern etching her features. [I’ve had enough surprises for one day!]
[Lu Jing Huai thought he could manipulate Saintess Jing Li, but it turns out Jing Li is a man and outsmarted him…]
“Pfft!” Madam Xu choked on her tea.
“Mother, are you alright?” Chao Chao asked, patting her mother’s back with her tiny hands. Madam Xu looked as though a secret had just been unveiled before her.
Madam Xu covered her mouth, suppressing a cough. [Jing Li is a man? Lu Jing Huai got what he deserved? Is that what she means??]
“I’m fine, just… ate too much melon,” she lied, taking a sip of tea to compose herself.
Seeing her mother distracted, Chao Chao sneakily snagged more meat.
“Mommy, can I bring a chicken leg for Chase Wind?” she asked, holding up a piece of meat.
“Mommy, can I bring a Four Happiness Meatball for Chase Wind?”
“Mommy, can I bring some venison for Chase Wind?”
The little girl earnestly gathered food for her dog, earning praise for her thoughtfulness.
As the banquet wrapped up and the guests departed, the Protectorate Duke Mansion settled into silence.
“This is the birthday gift from the eldest lady. She cried all day because she couldn’t come,” a maid announced, presenting the gift.
Chao Chao hurried to the old lady with tiny steps. “Here’s a longevity charm for you. Please like it…” she offered sweetly, handing over the yellow charm.
The old lady beamed with joy.
The Duke, feeling a bit left out, pouted. “I want to celebrate my birthday next year too…”
Chao Chao waved her tiny hand. “I’ll give you one next year too.”
The Duke’s face lit up with a grin.
He leaned closer to the old lady. “Can I borrow the charm for a day? I want to show it off to my old friends. The Minister of Rites had one last year and made me so jealous.”
The old lady sighed. “Take it. But only for a day! If you don’t return it, it’ll spoil your relationship with your wife!”
The Duke departed happily, charm in hand.
The old lady summoned the account books. “Shi Yun, look at this. This is our wealth in the Protectorate Duke Mansion. We keep a low profile, but we are very wealthy,” she stated, patting the ledger.
Madam Xu listened in awe as the old lady presented deed after deed, revealing their vast fortunes. She never mentioned Rong Che, but he was implicit in every word.
When Madam Xu finally departed from the Protectorate Duke Mansion, it was nearly dusk.
Rong Che awaited by the carriage. “Shi Yun, let me take you home.”
Blushing, Madam Xu could hardly meet his eyes as she quietly agreed.
“Mom, I’m going to feed the dog,” Chao Chao announced, carrying her bundle of treats and riding atop the dog.
She led the way, perfectly blocking their view as she alternated between eating and feeding Chase Wind.
“Chase Wind, are you full yet? Hic…” Chao Chao hiccupped, grinning mischievously.