Chapter 254: The Abbot Returns to the Capital
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“I’ve wronged you,” Lu Yuan Ze admitted, his voice laden with regret.
“But Father didn’t wrong you, did he?” His tone turned sharp. “He valued you greatly back then, and he cherished Yan Shu dearly. Yan Shu is his eldest grandson, after all!” Lu Yuan Ze’s expression became cold and unforgiving. “You may choose not to return, but Yan Shu must acknowledge his ancestry. He belongs to the Marquis Zhongyong household!”
Madam Xu almost laughed in disbelief. “The Marquis Zhongyong household? You don’t even have the plaque anymore. What kind of marquis are you? Stop trying to make yourself seem important!”
“It wasn’t me who wronged the old marquis, it was you! Stop trying to guilt-trip me!” Madam Xu spat, the saliva landing squarely on Lu Yuan Ze’s face. Fortunately, she had already written the letter severing ties with him earlier; otherwise, he might have taken advantage of her now.
“The old marquis would never rest in peace with a son like you. If you want to acknowledge your son, you’ll have to wait for the next life!” Madam Xu called out loudly, “Deng Zhi, see our guest out!”
Lu Yuan Ze tried to argue further, but Deng Zhi and the guards approached and pushed him back, preventing him from coming any closer.
“Yan Shu is my son too!” Lu Yuan Ze shouted, veins bulging on his forehead.
Lu Yan Shu stood quietly in the hallway, dressed in a long robe, his expression calm and detached.
“Yan Shu, come home with me,” Lu Yuan Ze pleaded. “We’ll hold a ceremony to honor our ancestors. When your grandfather was alive, he doted on you the most. He always lamented that he suffered from his lack of education and constantly wished for his descendants to pursue scholarly achievements. You are the most accomplished of this generation. He would be so happy.”
Lu Yan Shu, holding a book, stood firm. “You should go. I will find time to offer incense to my grandfather.”
A glimmer of hope shone in Lu Yuan Ze’s eyes.
“But acknowledging my ancestry? That’s impossible.”
To acknowledge his ancestry would be a betrayal to his mother. He would never do that.
“You!” Lu Yuan Ze fumed.
“Master Lu, have some self-respect. You personally wrote the letter severing our ties, and even His Majesty has seen it!” Rong Che said, entering while holding little Chao Chao’s hand. “You tried to exchange Lu Jing Huai for Yan Shu. Everyone in the capital knows this.”
Lu Yuan Ze’s eyes darkened. “I’m talking to my son. What does this have to do with you?”
“Son? I didn’t hear anyone calling you father,” Rong Che retorted nonchalantly, making Lu Yuan Ze’s face turn red with anger.
“Chao Chao, come to Daddy,” Lu Yuan Ze called out, clapping his hands to coax the child.
Chao Chao pouted in disgust. “You not Daddy. Lots of people wanna be my Daddy. Don’t need you.”
Lu Yuan Ze tried to hold back his anger. “Chao Chao, you’re too young to understand. A stepfather can never compare to a real father. A real father is family, even if the bones are broken, they are still connected.”
“Then just smash the bones to ashes. No bones, no connection,” Chao Chao replied earnestly.
“You unfilial girl! Aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning?” Lu Yuan Ze shouted furiously, pointing at her.
Rong Che pulled Chao Chao behind him. “Master Lu, she isn’t even on the family register. How can she be unfilial? If anyone deserves to be struck by lightning, it’s you. Remember when you and Madam Pei were caught and your hair was burnt by lightning, exposing your backside? Just leave. You’re an eyesore.”
Embarrassed and angry, Lu Yuan Ze stormed off, his face red with shame.
Meanwhile, Madam Xu hosted a banquet to celebrate Lu Yan Shu’s success in the royal exams, creating a stark contrast between the two families.
Fuming, Lu Yuan Ze returned home to find Madam Pei sitting in the main hall, her voice icy. “You went to see Madam Xu again, didn’t you?”
“All you think about is Madam Xu! What about my dignity? I am your wife!” she cried, her face red with tears. The entire capital was mocking her.
“Dignity? What dignity do you need?” Lu Yuan Ze retorted coldly. “When you agreed to be my concubine, you threw away your dignity. Now you want it back? You can’t even raise the children properly or manage the household. What use are you to me? You’re just a concubine. What dignity are you talking about?”
The most hurtful words often come from the ones closest to you. Madam Pei clutched her chest, her face pale and trembling, on the verge of collapsing from anger.
Lu Jing Yao cursed inwardly, thinking her mother useless.
“Father, please don’t scold Mother,” Lu Jing Yao cried, tears welling up in her eyes. “The abbot from the National Temple said I have a great future ahead. When I grow up, I will bring honor to you and Mother.”
Lu Yuan Ze snorted but stopped his tirade.
“Jing Yao doesn’t understand. Why did our lives get worse after Chao Chao came? Before she was born, you and Mother got along well, Brother had a great reputation, and Grandmother wasn’t paralyzed. We even had the Marquis title. But after she was born, you and Mother started fighting, Brother got into trouble, Grandmother had a stroke, Aunt was killed, and we lost the Marquis title. Could it be that Chao Chao is a jinx?”
Lu Yuan Ze’s thoughts darkened. Lu Jing Yao covered her mouth quickly. “Father, I’m just rambling. Don’t mind me. How could Chao Chao be a jinx? It must be a coincidence.”
Lu Yuan Ze fell silent, pondering. “Everything changed after she was born. I was struck by lightning and demoted. Everything started then.”
“Jing Yao, you really are my good fortune.”
Lu Jing Yao sighed. “If Chao Chao can jinx her own father, won’t recognizing her as a princess bring misfortune to North Zhao?”
Lu Yuan Ze raised an eyebrow. “Tomorrow is the grand Buddhist ceremony. The abbot from the National Temple will be back in North Zhao. I’ll take you to see him. When you were still in your mother’s womb, he predicted you’d have a noble fate and even gave you a special prayer bead. He must think highly of you…”
Lu Yuan Ze looked at his daughter with joy. “Jing Yao, you truly are my daughter.”
“That unfilial girl, Chao Chao!”
Lu Jing Yao nestled in her father’s arms, gazing at him with admiration. “Chao Chao is so ungrateful. You are her father, yet she disrespects you. I will always honor you and make sure you are happy.”
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“Good, good, Jing Yao, you are so obedient!” Lu Yuan Ze’s anger dissipated.
That evening, he even had dinner with Madam Pei and Jing Yao in high spirits.
The next day was the grand Buddhist ceremony. Lu Yuan Ze dressed meticulously, holding Jing Yao’s hand as they left the house proudly.
“Today, Chao Chao’s good days are over!”
The grand Buddhist ceremony aimed to spread the teachings of Buddhism and bring salvation to all. Most commoners were too busy earning a living to attend, so it was mainly attended by noble families seeking blessings. Even the Prince and Princess Consort of Jingxi were present, sitting on meditation cushions with devout expressions.
The abbot of the National Temple was a revered monk, hosting a ceremony at the royal temple, a position of high honor.
However, Lu Yuan Ze was stopped by a young monk before he could approach the high platform.