Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Returning to the Maternal Home

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.

Lu Yuan Xiao sat slumped at the foot of Lu Chao Chao’s cradle, his face a picture of despair.

“Waaah… Little sister, I’m so tired… Reading is so exhausting!”

“I’m suffering here…” he groaned.

[How hard could reading really be? I’ve never read, but surely it’s not that difficult,] thought Lu Chao Chao as bubbles formed at her lips.

Unconvinced, Lu Yuan Xiao retorted, “You’re too young, little sister. You’ve never felt its sting! Reading is the hardest thing in the world!”

With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, he added, “How about I read some to you? I bet you’ll fall asleep before I’m done!”

He pulled out a well-worn copy of the Three-Character Classic. Despite three years of study, he had yet to finish it. Sitting cross-legged by the cradle, he began reading aloud in a low, singsong voice.

“The greatest hardship under the heavens is studying,” he declared before continuing haltingly, “At the beginning of life, human nature is kind… Nature is similar, habits make us distant…”

Barely managing a few more lines, he stumbled and scratched his head in frustration.

“Parents and children, husband and wife in harmony… uh… The twelve branches, from Zi to Hai…”

Just as he placed the book aside, the soft, babbling voice of his two-month-old sister filled his ears, reciting with childish precision, “At the beginning of life, human nature is kind… Parents and children, husband and wife in harmony…”

Even the spots where Lu Yuan Xiao had fumbled were repeated flawlessly.

Thud.

The Three-Character Classic slipped from his hands to the ground.

Staring slack-jawed at the cradle, Lu Yuan Xiao gawked at the infant. His mind swirled.

[This isn’t something you need brains to master. My third brother is so foolish, he can’t even manage what I can do in a cradle,] mused Lu Chao Chao. [Forget it. When I grow up, I’ll take care of him. He can be my family mascot.]

Overwhelmed, Lu Yuan Xiao burst into tears, clutching the book to his chest as he fled the room, his cries echoing through the halls. It was as though his very world had crumbled—unable to match even his infant sister.

Madam Xu, catching sight of her son’s despair, furrowed her brow in concern. “Go and see what’s wrong with Yuan Xiao. He was fine just moments ago. Why is he suddenly so distraught?”

His reaction seemed even more heartbroken than when she had caught him gambling. This was a level of devastation she couldn’t fathom.

Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao lay in her cradle, exasperated by her brother’s antics. [Third Brother is truly a dim-witted pig—so temperamental too.]

[The heart of a man is like a needle lost in the sea. When I grow up, I won’t bother fishing for such needles! I’ll claim the whole sea!]

Satisfied with her resolve, the tiny infant drifted off to sleep.

That night, under the flickering glow of a yellowing oil lamp, Madam Xu gently adjusted Lu Chao Chao’s quilt. The child sprawled unceremoniously on her small bed, her round belly exposed in the cool night air. But as Madam Xu tucked her in, Lu Chao Chao stirred.

Caught in a haze between wakefulness and dreams, she felt herself pulled into an ethereal white expanse. It wasn’t long before a distinct sense of purpose drew her forward—the sensation of being called.

A voice filled the space, laden with reverence and hope. “This humble devotee vows to live a life of vegetarian piety, offering daily incense to Chao Chao. All I ask is for her blessing of a child… even half a child will suffice.”

The voice paused, adding longingly, “If only the child might resemble Chao Chao—just a little.”

The voice belonged to the Eldest Princess, who had spent more than a decade praying for a child. Despite consulting countless imperial physicians and deities, her pleas had gone unanswered—until now.

As the princess lifted her gaze in the dream, she saw none other than Lu Chao Chao standing before her, radiant and small.

“Chao Chao?” the princess gasped, astonished. This was her first time seeing the child in her dreams.

Lu Chao Chao’s voice was as sweet and soft as sugar syrup, filling the princess’s heart with warmth. “Do you want a child? A boy? A girl? Or perhaps both?”

“Both! I’m not picky—just give me a child, and I’ll leap with joy!” the princess exclaimed.

Holding out her tiny hand, Lu Chao Chao drew threads of merit energy from the princess’s form. “You have lived a life of goodness. A blessed child is your due. I’ll grant you a pair of twins.”

A golden light flickered, and a strand of glowing energy shot into the princess’s abdomen. As Lu Chao Chao’s form faded, the dream dissolved into darkness.

At that very moment in the Princess’s Manor, the Eldest Princess jolted awake, gasping, “Chao Chao!”

Beads of cold sweat covered her forehead as doubt and astonishment churned within her.

Her Prince Consort stirred beside her, awakened by her exclamation. As a maid lit the lamp, the room filled with a gentle warmth.

“Yuer, did you have a nightmare?” he asked tenderly. Though they had been married for fourteen years and shared a deep love, the absence of children had weighed heavily on their otherwise perfect union.

“You mentioned liking Chao Chao earlier today. Were you dreaming of her just now?” he continued, knowing how much his wife adored the child. Yet, even he hadn’t expected her fondness to manifest so vividly.

The princess placed a hand over her abdomen, her expression softening as she felt an unfamiliar warmth there, as though a tiny flame had been kindled within.

Wrapping her arms around the Prince Consort’s neck, she whispered fervently, “My love, tonight… tonight, I will conceive a child!” Her flushed cheeks and determined gaze glowed in the lamplight.

Moved by her conviction, the Prince Consort’s heart swelled with both affection and desire. The maids discreetly withdrew, leaving the couple to their intimacy. After fourteen years of marriage, the night stretched long and sleepless.

By dawn, Lu Chao Chao awoke to find herself dressed and settled inside a carriage.

“Madam, please don’t worry. The Master and Madam wouldn’t blame you. They dote on you dearly,” reassured Deng Zhi softly, noticing Madam Xu’s anxious demeanor.

Madam Xu pressed her lips together, remaining silent. It had been over a decade since she last returned to her family home. How foolish she had been to let so much time pass.

“Where is the Marquis?” she asked upon alighting from the carriage, her gaze lingering on the familiar facade of the Xu family estate.

“The Marquis didn’t return home last night. He sent word early this morning, promising to join us before lunch,” Deng Zhi replied in a hushed tone.

Madam Xu’s face betrayed no emotion, but her heart ached. The pain was hers alone to bear.

As soon as she stepped forward, the porter at the gate shouted excitedly, “The young mistress has returned! The young mistress is home!”

His jubilant cries echoed through the estate as Madam Xu walked through the grand entrance. Though she had been married for over a decade, the manor remained as she remembered it. Maids curtsied respectfully as she passed, addressing her by her maiden title.

“Greetings, Miss Yun.”

It was the name she had been called in her youth, spoken now with the same affection as before.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Just beyond the hanging flower gate, fireworks crackled and burst into the sky.

“The young mistress has been gone for so long. These fireworks have been kept ready for her return, no matter when that might be,” explained an elderly nanny, tears streaming down her cheeks as she approached.

“The Old Madam and your sisters-in-law are all waiting for you,” the nanny added, taking Lu Chao Chao into her arms. She paused, marveling at the child’s cherubic features.

The warmth of June lingered in the air as Lu Chao Chao’s chubby arms peeked out from her swaddling. Her giggles were infectious, melting the hearts of everyone who saw her.

“Thank you, Nanny Wang,” Madam Xu said, her eyes brimming with tears. Standing at the threshold, she hesitated, her heart heavy with a mix of anticipation and regret.

The heavy doors creaked open with a groan.

Inside, the Old Madam, weary from her recent days in confinement, looked up eagerly. Despite her fatigue, hope shone in her eyes.

The moment mother and daughter’s gazes met, tears streamed down their faces.

Madam Xu stepped forward on trembling legs, falling to her knees before the hall. Her voice broke as she cried, “Mother, your daughter has come home to see you!”

She could say no more, her sobs choking her words.

“You heartless girl! You nearly drove me to my grave!” The Old Madam, ever dignified and composed, now wept uncontrollably. As she lightly struck Madam Xu’s shoulder, her voice trembled with anguish.

“How could you stay away for so long? You’ve held a grudge against me all these years just because I tried to stop your marriage. Did you really think I meant you harm? I’ve waited for you until my hair turned white,” she lamented, her blows falling as gentle as feathers.

“Mother, please don’t cry. It’s a blessing that our little sister has returned,” interjected Zhou Shi, the wife of Xu Yi Ting, her eyes red-rimmed as she helped the Old Madam to her feet.

The Old Madam, her hair streaked with silver, swayed unsteadily as her sobs wracked her frail body. Seeing this, Madam Xu’s heart felt as though it were being torn apart.