Chapter 229: Yin Peach Blossom
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Lu Chao Chao secretly tugged at her elder brother and led him away.
“Big Brother, lock the door properly…” The little one reminded him earnestly.
“Big Brother, if Uncle Rong becomes our stepfather, do you like it?” Lu Chao Chao tilted her head up, reaching for Lu Yan Shu’s hand.
Lu Yan Shu’s brows curved into a gentle arc, his gaze filled with warmth as he looked at his sister.
“If Chao Chao likes him, then Big Brother likes him too.”
Lu Yan Shu no longer longed for a father’s love.
When he had drowned years ago and was left paralyzed due to prolonged suffocation, his father’s first words upon his recovery were not of concern but of anger—anger that he could no longer bring value to the marquis manor.
What truly crushed him was never his paralysis but the disappointment in his father’s eyes that he could not hide.
“Chao Chao, do you like Uncle Rong?” Lu Yan Shu asked softly.
Lu Chao Chao nodded firmly.
“He treats Mother well…”
“He treats Chao Chao well too…”
Lu Yan Shu playfully tapped her small nose. “That is enough then.” His heart ached for his little sister.
Chao Chao was the most pitiful.
Born to be cast away, drowned at birth, unwanted by Lu Yuan Ze. She had never known a father’s love, not even for a moment.
Lu Yuan Ze was far too heartless toward her.
Lu Yan Shu understood that as an elder brother, he could not make up for the fatherly love Chao Chao lacked.
He had overheard Chao Chao’s thoughts before—her past life was devoid of familial warmth, never having experienced true kinship.
He wanted her to be cherished by all…
Lu Yan Shu stayed home for only a day before being taken away by his fellow scholars.
That night, Lu Chao Chao stood before Madam Xu, unfolding a letter from her second brother.
“Mother, did Second Brother really get promoted?” she asked curiously.
Madam Xu wiped away a tear in secret. “That fool of a son, climbing ranks on the battlefield is always a gamble with life, trading merit for honor.”
She felt proud of her son’s achievements, yet her heart ached for him.
“Did he write to Sister Wen Ning?” Lu Chao Chao asked seriously.
Madam Xu chuckled through her tears.
“You little busybody, Wen Ning is his fiancée. How could he forget her? You don’t need to worry about that…”
Lu Chao Chao giggled mischievously.
After Madam Xu coaxed her to sleep, she returned to her room with her son’s letter.
Lu Chao Chao lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
Suddenly…
She sniffed lightly.
The little girl rolled out of bed, put on her shoes and socks, and climbed onto a stool to open the door.
Yu Shu woke up with a jolt.
Lu Chao Chao pressed a finger to her lips. “Shhh…”
Yu Shu was momentarily stunned but followed instinctively.
On the left side of the residence lived Rong Che; on the right was the Wen family.
The Wen family had returned to the capital last year after serving away, and they often gathered with Madam Xu during festivals. The two families had a close relationship.
“Miss, I smell something…”
“It smells like burnt paper money…”
Yu Shu shivered, goosebumps rising on her skin.
A chilling sensation spread through the air.
Lu Chao Chao patted Yu Shu’s shoulder, easing her fear slightly.
[Huh? Ever since I drew the Sunshine Sword, Northern Zhao shouldn’t have any lingering evil spirits…]
[The Sunshine Sword is of pure yang energy, capable of deterring all ghosts and fiends…]
Lu Chao Chao pondered—perhaps because she had stored the Sunshine Sword inside her jade pendant space, its effects had been limited.
She found a dog hole and crawled straight into the Wen family’s courtyard.
Not a single guard was alerted.
She stopped outside Wen Ning’s courtyard.
Lu Chao Chao frowned slightly. How could there be Yin Peach Blossoms?
Inside Wen Ning’s courtyard, an overwhelming sinister aura coiled above, lingering in a dark mass.
“This is my future sister-in-law!” Lu Chao Chao fumed.
With her second brother away, she would protect her future sister-in-law!
Lu Chao Chao picked up a fallen leaf from the ground, infused it with spiritual energy, and the withered leaf turned vibrant green.
She flicked it toward Wen Ning’s door.
The leaf landed, sticking to the door.
The ominous energy dissipated like a receding tide.
Lu Chao Chao clapped her hands. “Back to bed. Tomorrow morning, I’ll check on Sister Wen Ning.”
Something was definitely wrong.
The little one stored the thought in her heart and rose at dawn to visit the Wen family.
“Uncle Wen, I miss Sister Ah Ning…”
“Can I visit her and play?” The moment Master Wen stepped out to leave for court, Lu Chao Chao latched onto his foot.
Master Wen quickly greeted her properly.
“Ah Ning has been unwell these past days. Be careful not to catch anything, Princess.”
Master Wen was fond of Lu Chao Chao.
The little girl shook her head earnestly. “Chao Chao isn’t afraid! Chao Chao is very strong!”
“Second Brother isn’t home, so Chao Chao must take care of Second Sister-in-law!” she declared, sounding like a tiny adult.
Master Wen couldn’t refuse and allowed her in.
A maid led Lu Chao Chao inside.
“These past nights, the young lady has been having nightmares. She wakes up dazed, yet even the imperial physicians can’t diagnose the issue…” the maid sighed.
The door opened to reveal Wen Ning sitting by the window, lost in thought.
Lu Chao Chao tugged at her sleeve. “Sister Ah Ning, are you thinking about Second Brother?”
The little one’s voice was clear and bright.
Usually, Wen Ning would blush at such teasing words.
But today, she merely stared blankly.
She opened her mouth slightly, her hands resting near the letter Lu Zheng Yue had sent her.
Her eyes were red-rimmed. She had been bottling up her emotions, not knowing how to express them or whom to confide in.
“Sister Ah Ning, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”
“Tell Chao Chao, and I’ll stand up for you, okay?” Lu Chao Chao asked, concern evident.
“Was it Second Brother? Did he make you sad?”
Wen Ning lifted Chao Chao into her arms, eyes reddened. “Chao Chao, I… I am truly a bad woman…” She choked, overwhelmed.
She dared not speak to anyone about the heavy weight pressing on her heart.
“Chao Chao, I really like Brother Zheng Yue. I’ve liked him since childhood…”
“Every time he writes to me, I feel happy…”
“But…” Wen Ning hesitated.
Her face turned pale, and she looked utterly lost. “I don’t understand why, but every night, I dream of a… a strange man.”
She didn’t dare tell anyone. But Chao Chao, being so young, made it easier to unburden herself.
Yet, she still felt ashamed and conflicted.
“He is strikingly handsome. In my dreams, he whispers affection to me. I see him every night…”
But Wen Ning liked Lu Zheng Yue.
She didn’t understand why she was dreaming of another man.
“He even gave me an address in my dreams, asking me to find him.”
“I didn’t go yesterday, and in my dream, he questioned me angrily—why didn’t I come? His expression was terrifying and manic. I was drenched in cold sweat.”
“Then, somehow, he suddenly vanished from my dreams, and I finally woke up.”
“Chao Chao, I’ve wronged your Second Brother. I am a terrible woman…”
She had stayed awake until dawn, too scared to sleep again.
A maiden dreaming of an unknown man—if word spread, her reputation would be in ruins.
She felt immense guilt toward Lu Zheng Yue.
[Yin Peach Blossom!]
[My future sister-in-law is entangled with Yin Peach Blossom!]
[Good! How dare some wandering ghost lay hands on my sister-in-law?! They must be tired of living!]