Chapter 148: Her Sword Qi
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Madam Xu punished Lu Chao Chao by confining her indoors for three days.
Lu Chao Chao responded with a calm “Oh,” her expression steady and unbothered.
[Staying home is fine. Home is fun too…]
Madam Xu struck her palm, but Lu Chao Chao merely stretched out her hand with a composed face, utterly fearless.
Her small, pale hand even swayed slightly, showing no sign of worry.
[Go ahead, hit me! I’m not scared!]
Madam Xu pondered for a moment and then declared, “Tonight, no chicken drumstick for you.”
This immediately broke Lu Chao Chao’s defenses. She clung to Madam Xu’s leg, crying sorrowfully, “Nooo! I was wrong! Please, hit my palm instead…”
[So cruel! Too cruel! That drumstick is my daily source of joy! I can’t live without it!] Tears streamed down her face as Lu Chao Chao confessed her error.
“Deng Zhi, keep an eye on her. No chicken drumstick for dinner tonight,” Madam Xu instructed, intending to regulate Lu Chao Chao’s diet.
After Madam Xu left the room, she whispered, “No drumstick, but prepare minced meat porridge and seafood congee in the kitchen.”
“Make some dishes the child loves.”
The maid couldn’t help but chuckle. “Madam can’t bear to truly confine her for three days, nor hit her palm. It’s just an excuse to improve her diet.”
The household had hired two chefs skilled in baby-friendly dishes—one for main courses, the other for snacks.
Madam Xu glared at the maid in mock annoyance. “Chao Chao is still young; we can’t risk harming her digestion. She’s just…”
A soft smile played on Madam Xu’s lips. “She’s upset on my behalf, trying to vent her anger for me.”
“How could I truly punish her?” Her expression darkened.
“She was born unloved by her father and grandmother. Even the Lu family refused to acknowledge her, excluding her from the family registry. How could I bear to be harsh on her?”
In truth, Madam Xu felt guilt toward Lu Chao Chao.
“Many people adore Chao Chao, but a father holds a different meaning to a child,” Madam Xu sighed helplessly.
“In some ways, I’m grateful His Majesty recognized Chao Chao as his adopted daughter. At least it makes up for the absence of a father figure.” She worried deeply about how such a loss could affect Chao Chao’s growth.
She even feared other children would mock Chao Chao for not having a father.
Now that Chao Chao was a princess, no one dared taunt her.
“Madam, tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival. Why not take a walk?” Deng Zhi suggested, noting Madam Xu’s unease, likely caused by her concerns over the eldest son’s examination results in two days.
Madam Xu’s eyes brightened. “Perhaps a visit to the Matchmaker Temple would be nice. Yan Shu will turn nineteen after the New Year; it’s time he marries.” The topic of Lu Yan Shu’s marriage had been a thorn in Madam Xu’s heart since the Jiang family humiliated him by breaking off their engagement in public.
“I’ll let the young miss know. It will cheer her up,” the maid added before hurrying off to relay the happy news.
At the time, Lu Chao Chao was squatting in front of Windchaser, holding out her tiny hands, trying to claim his drumstick.
“Is mine!”
“That drumstick is mine too… Don’t you agree?”
“Let me have a bite?” She stretched her palm out again.
Windchaser lifted a paw and silently covered the bowl, staring at her intently.
Lu Chao Chao puffed out her cheeks. “Stingy! Stingy, stingy!”
By the time the maid arrived, Lu Chao Chao and Windchaser were already quarreling. She quickly separated the two.
“Little ancestor! How could you argue with Windchaser? His drumstick is in his bowl, and you can’t have it!” The maid coaxed both parties before successfully resolving the dispute.
She carried Lu Chao Chao to the dining hall, where the child finally calmed down.
…
The next day was clear and crisp, with the autumn sky high above.
Lu Chao Chao accompanied Madam Xu to the Matchmaker Temple. Her hands clutched a piece of Double Ninth Cake, her cheeks puffed out and dusted with crumbs.
“We’re going to pray for a match. Your elder brother is ready to find a wife.” Madam Xu gently wiped Lu Chao Chao’s face.
The Matchmaker Temple was just outside the city. A large, ancient tree stood nearby, adorned with countless red strings of fate, creating a joyful scene. Many mothers had brought their sons and daughters to have their fortunes read and matches made.
Madam Xu held Chao Chao’s hand as they climbed the Ladder of Unity.
“Madam, the Tree of Fate is over there. Let’s try our luck first,” a servant suggested. The tree’s countless red strings fluttered in the breeze, drawing numerous worshippers.
Nearby, an elderly couple prayed earnestly, hands clasped tightly as they murmured, “May the Matchmaker bless our son with a loving partner soon.”
“Rest assured, we’ll bring a generous offering,” they added, their weathered faces filled with hope.
“Parents’ hearts are always full of care,” Madam Xu sighed.
She clasped her hands in prayer but hadn’t even spoken Lu Yan Shu’s birthdate when—
A breeze arose.
“Wind’s picking up…”
The red strings on the tree danced in the wind, and one string broke free, floating directly onto Madam Xu’s clasped hands.
Madam Xu blinked in confusion.
“I haven’t even given Yan Shu’s birthdate yet…” She was puzzled but delighted, interpreting it as the Matchmaker’s blessing.
The elderly couple nearby exclaimed enviously, “Madam, you are truly fortunate!”
“May your wishes come true as well,” Madam Xu replied graciously. She noted their noble bearing and surmised they were from the capital’s elite, though unfamiliar to her.
“After you,” Madam Xu stepped aside to let them go ahead, ever the picture of elegance and courtesy.
The group then proceeded to offer incense and have their fortunes read, finishing quickly. Later, Lu Chao Chao enjoyed a vegetarian meal in the temple.
Although not as refined as the food at the National Temple, it was satisfying.
“Let’s visit the back mountain next. There’s a stone there that brings good luck when touched,” Madam Xu said cheerfully, after donating to the temple.
The mountain path was steep and slippery from rain, but with the help of bodyguards, Madam Xu carefully led Chao Chao up.
Upon reaching the peak, Chao Chao froze at the sight of a large stone inscribed with the characters “Dawn-Dusk” carved by sword qi, which had lingered for millennia.
[This is my sword qi.]
Her mouth opened slightly. [My cultivation abode was called Dawn-Dusk Mountain.]
Memories of her seven disciples, now revered as gods, surfaced. Seeing the Dawn-Dusk Stone confirmed it—this was her world, thousands of years after she had saved it.
“Touch the stone. They say it tingles and refreshes you, washing away all fatigue. On the Ghost Festival, it even protects the area from malevolent spirits,” Madam Xu remarked. She touched it lightly, shivering slightly at its cool, tingling sensation.
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes reddened. [This is my sword qi.]
As the Ancestor of Swordsmanship, her sword qi had remained unscathed for a thousand years, its power warding off evil.
She extended a small hand and touched the stone.
Suddenly—
The mountain trembled.
Everyone stumbled, struggling to stay upright. Madam Xu nearly fell but clung tightly to Chao Chao, pressing against the stone for support.
“What’s happening?”
“An earthquake?”
Lu Chao Chao quickly withdrew her hand, and the trembling ceased. Her heart surged with emotion. The sword qi had responded to her presence.
[It recognized me.]