Chapter 148: Her Sword Qi
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Madam Xu decided to ground Chao Chao for three days as a punishment.
Chao Chao merely uttered, “Oh,” her voice devoid of any emotion.
[I don’t mind staying in; there’s plenty to do at home anyway…]
When Madam Xu clapped her hands together in frustration, Chao Chao, unperturbed, simply shrugged, her tiny, pale hand trembling slightly—clearly, she wasn’t scared.
[Go ahead, hit me. It doesn’t bother me!]
Contemplating further, Madam Xu declared, “You won’t get any drumsticks tonight.”
This announcement devastated Chao Chao. She latched onto Madam Xu’s leg, weeping, “Noo, I wuz bad, can you smack my handies instead…”
[This is the height of cruelty! My beloved drumstick, how can I survive without it?] Tears flowed as she pleaded.
Madam Xu instructed the servants, “She’s not to have any drumsticks tonight. It’ll do her good to cut back on heavy food.”
Once she was alone, Madam Xu whispered, “No drumsticks, but make sure to prepare her favorite minced meat and seafood porridge in the small kitchen. And add some dishes she likes.”
The maid chuckled lightly, sensing Madam Xu’s true intentions. “Madam doesn’t really want to confine her for three days or strike her hands. She’s just adjusting the child’s diet.”
The household had two chefs skilled in preparing baby food; one specialized in main meals and the other in snacks.
Madam Xu cast a stern glance at the maid. “Chao Chao is still little; we must be careful with her diet. She’s only acting out because she feels I’ve been treated unfairly and wants to protect me.”
“How could I truly punish her?” Madam Xu’s voice softened. “From her birth, she hasn’t felt her father’s or grandmother’s love. The Lu family refuses even to acknowledge her existence in the family records. How harsh can I be?”
“Many adore Chao Chao, but the love of a father means something unique,” she added, feeling helpless.
“I’m thankful that His Majesty acknowledged her as his adopted daughter. It at least fills the gap of not having a father, which is crucial for a child’s development.”
Madam Xu was also deeply concerned that other children might ridicule Chao Chao for lacking a father. Now that she was a princess, however, no one dared mock her.
Seeing Madam Xu’s continual anxiety, likely stirred by the upcoming examination results for the eldest son, Deng Zhi suggested, “Madam, tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival. Perhaps a walk outside could lift your spirits?”
Madam Xu brightened at the suggestion.
“Why not visit the matchmaker’s? With Yan Shu turning nineteen soon, it’s high time he thought about marriage,” she mused. The cancellation of his engagement by the Jiang family had left her bitter, and she was keen to resolve this issue.
“I’ll let the little miss know—it will cheer her up,” said the maid, feeling sympathetic towards Chao Chao, and hurried off to share the news.
Meanwhile, Chao Chao was outdoors, squabbling with the family dog, Chase Wind, over his drumstick.
“This mine!” she insisted, pointing at the drumstick.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
“Dat drumstick mine too… you ‘gree, right?”
“Can I has bite?” she asked, reaching out her hand.
Protective of his meal, Chase Wind covered the bowl with his paw and gazed at her intently.
Chao Chao pouted, “Selfish, selfish, selfish!”
When the maid arrived, she found Chao Chao and Chase Wind in the midst of their dispute.
“Little ancestor, why are you fighting with Chase Wind? You can’t take it once it’s in his bowl!” she exclaimed, separating the two.
After calming both the child and the dog, she carried Chao Chao back inside.
The following day dawned bright and clear, perfect for their visit to the Matchmaker’s Temple.
Chao Chao, clutching a Double Ninth cake, had crumbs all over her face.
“We’re off to pray for a good match for your brother,” Madam Xu explained, cleaning Chao Chao’s face as they approached the temple.
Outside the temple stood a grand ancient tree adorned with myriad red threads, symbolizing connections of fate, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Many families were there, consulting astrologers about their children’s prospective matches.
Madam Xu and Chao Chao ascended the Ladder of Hearts toward the Tree of Fate.
“Look, that’s the Tree of Fate. Let’s try our luck there first,” suggested Madam Xu as they approached the densely-threaded tree.
Nearby, an elderly couple prayed fervently for their son’s marital prospects, promising to bring generous offerings to ensure his happiness.
“The love of parents is boundless,” Madam Xu remarked, moved by their devotion.
As she prepared to pray, a gust of wind stirred the tree, causing a red thread to fall directly into Madam Xu’s hands.
Confused, Madam Xu hadn’t even recited Yan Shu’s birth date yet. Assuming it was a sign of the Matchmaker Temple’s efficacy, she was delighted.
The elderly couple beside her looked on enviously. “Madam, you are truly fortunate.”
Madam Xu smiled warmly at them. “I hope your wishes are fulfilled soon as well.”
Recognizing their dignified presence, she guessed they were prominent figures from the capital, though she had not met them before.
“Please, go ahead,” she said, stepping aside to let them proceed.
After their prayers, Chao Chao enjoyed a vegetarian meal in the temple. While not as elaborate as at the National Temple, it was still quite satisfying.
“Later, Mommy will show you a special stone behind the temple. They say it brings good luck if you touch it,” Madam Xu said, donating some money to the temple before leading Chao Chao toward the mountain behind.
The path was steep and slippery from recent rains. Madam Xu gripped Chao Chao’s hand tightly, aided by their secret guards as they climbed.
At the peak, they reached the Morning and Evening Stone, marked by ancient sword qi.
Chao Chao stared in awe; the inscription confirmed her spiritual home, Morning and Evening Mountain.
She recalled her seven disciples, now deities.
This stone proved she hadn’t merely stumbled into a novel; she had arrived millennia after her legendary deeds.
“Touch the stone; it’s said to alleviate fatigue and ward off evil during the Ghost Festival,” Madam Xu encouraged, feeling the stone’s cool, tingling sensation.
Overcome with emotion, Chao Chao reached out. Her touch caused the mountain peak to tremble—a stark response from the stone to her presence.