Chapter 137: The Sole Title
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
King Xuan Ping had just proclaimed Lu Chao Chao his adopted daughter and bestowed upon her the illustrious title of Sunshine, setting the entire court abuzz.
“Sunshine, the sun of North Zhao, the center of our kingdom. Isn’t this too grand a gesture?” murmured an elder minister, astonished by the decision.
While it was one thing for the king to adopt a daughter and award her a princess’s title, the designation of Sunshine elevated her above his own biological offspring, none of whom bore such significant titles.
This sparked envy among many concubines, particularly Consort Xiao, who bit her lip in frustration as her father, Duke Xiao, remained impassively distant, offering her no support.
Consort Xiao’s hatred intensified. Ever since Chao Chao’s visit to the Xiao family, mysterious deaths had plagued her mother, brother, and nephew, with her mother’s final words being a chilling directive: “Lu Chao Chao must die.”
Now, her own daughter, Xie Yi Ning, the king’s only princess, held no such distinguished title.
“Your Majesty, she is merely an adopted princess; she doesn’t require a title. Merely recognizing her as your daughter is honor enough,” Consort Xiao argued tightly, her voice laced with venom. “The true royal offspring are without titles. Granting such to an adopted child diminishes the royal lineage,” she insisted, her eyes shadowed with malice.
[Is His Majesty blind? Yi Ning is your sole daughter! How can you overlook your own blood for an outsider? Does she truly merit such honor?]
Consort Xiao, typically influential, now looked at the king with eyes brimming with feigned tears, a tactic often effective in swaying him.
The king, momentarily concerned, glanced at Lu Chao Chao who was innocently eyeing the tributes with drool on her lips, which alleviated his worries.
“The allocation of titles is my decision,” the king stated firmly. “I have been overly lenient with you. If our princes and princesses feel diminished by a lack of titles, it is a reflection of their own inadequacies. Were they truly meritorious, why would they fear being overshadowed?” he countered disdainfully.
“But why must Lu Chao Chao have a title?” Consort Xiao pressed, unwilling to relent.
“I fear she may be disrespected without one,” the king replied, his favoritism obvious.
“Are you giving me the title or not?” Lu Chao Chao asked in her childlike voice, tugging at his robe. “No title, and I go home?”
[Big brother said there would be a feast after the ceremony. Will there be a banquet? How many dishes? Can I eat lots? I have twelve teeth now…]
Lu Chao Chao’s mind raced with anticipation.
[Mom always says babies shouldn’t eat too much or greasy stuff; we should drink more milk and eat veggies. But I really don’t want veggies. If I wanted to eat veggies, why didn’t I just reincarnate as a cow?]
The crown prince, overhearing her thoughts, barely stifled a chuckle, quickly regaining his stern expression.
“Title, title, title,” the king waved his hand dismissively, half-worried she might indeed leave.
Consort Xiao stood still, her daughter glaring at Chao Chao with resentment.
It’s all her fault.
Meanwhile, Chao Chao was more concerned with when the banquet would begin and the variety of dishes to be served.
Following the ceremony, as Chao Chao eyed the tributes with evident anticipation,
“Wipe your drool, the feast is starting soon,” the crown prince whispered to her, tenderly cleaning her face.
As Chao Chao’s name was being recorded in the royal family tree, securing her official status…
Suddenly, countless magpies appeared, each carrying a bright flower, swirling above the palace.
“Look, what’s in the sky?” marveled the palace staff as flowers gently floated down.
The king, momentarily stunned, then looked at Chao Chao. She was on her tiptoes, trying to sneak a bite of roasted chicken from the offerings, her cheeks puffed out endearingly.
“It’s an auspicious sign, an auspicious sign!”
“Heaven sends good omens! North Zhao is blessed with this treasure. Princess Sunshine, long live the princess!” exclaimed Minister Fang from the Ministry of Rites, bowing deeply to Chao Chao.
“Auspicious signs for North Zhao, truly a blessing for our kingdom.”
“Your Majesty, North Zhao is indeed blessed,” the civil and military officials knelt and proclaimed, honoring Princess Sunshine.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Filled with pride, the king lifted Chao Chao, facing the ancestral tablets. [Father, your son here have finally done it! I have finally acknowledged her as a princess of North Zhao!]
His eyes sparkled with delight.
Banquet
The court was abuzz with discussions about the newly recognized Princess Sunshine, with the exception of Lu Yuan Ze and Minister Jiang, who seemed out of the loop.
Chao Chao, however, was completely preoccupied with the array of dishes at the banquet. In a secluded corner sat Xuan Jichuan, the hostage prince from Dongling, whose homeland’s recent aggressions against North Zhao had made his existence increasingly challenging. The palace staff, typically adept at flattery, now treated him coldly. As a hostage, and with rising tensions, each day became more arduous under the king’s disdain.
Princess Xuan Yin, engaged to the crown prince and set to marry post-New Year, observed her brother with concern. Their precarious position back home had necessitated their roles as diplomatic tools—a hostage and a marriage alliance.
With the two nations at war, the role of a hostage was especially fraught. Xuan Yin noticed Xuan Jichuan’s damp robe and his ghostly pallor, tears of pity filling her eyes.
[Why is Sister Xuan Yin crying? Because of her brother’s plight? In the original tale, Xuan Jichuan suffered greatly in North Zhao, but upon his return to Dongling, he ascended to power, leading his kingdom to a formidable stature. Later, he would pose significant challenges to Lu Jing Yao.]
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Chao Chao toddled over to Xuan Jichuan. The twelve-year-old had been sent by the king to the National Academy in a gesture of magnanimity, but the academy was rife with ministers’ sons, full of youthful arrogance. They had humiliated him, forcing him to act like a dog. When he resisted, they broke his ribs. Now, he sat cross-legged at the banquet, each breath a torment, unable to sit upright. His trembling hands gripped silver chopsticks, hidden bruises marking his body. His eyes were red with pain.
“Big brother, you’re bleeding?” Chao Chao asked innocently in her baby voice. Although he had once treated her roughly, he had also brought her delicious pea cakes, and Chao Chao had long forgiven him.
Xuan Jichuan bit his lip, staying silent as he wiped blood from his mouth.
“Big brother, who bullied you? Chao Chao will stand up for you!” she declared, hands on her hips, trying to look formidable. “I’ll tell king daddy!” She attempted to help him up, but any movement caused him excruciating pain due to his broken ribs, sweat beading on his forehead.
The little girl held his hand, her warmth easing some of his discomfort.
Xuan Jichuan shook his head. How could the king defend him? With Dongling antagonizing North Zhao, their relationship was already strained. He feared his life might end here in North Zhao.