Chapter 155: The Ascendance of the Provincial Champion
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
No one could have foreseen it.
At the Grand Assembly of the Four Realms, it was the two-year-old Lu Chao Chao who captured all eyes.
She emerged as the most unexpected victor.
Emperor Xuan Ping couldn’t suppress his laughter. “Ah, the late emperor! Your vision was truly prophetic.”
The emissaries from Western Yue stormed out in fury.
The Saintess of Western Yue cast a lingering gaze at Lu Chao Chao before departing the banquet with her entourage.
Lu Jing Huai cleared his throat softly and addressed the Emperor, “Father, Jing Huai will return shortly.”
He sought an excuse to leave the grand feast. Meanwhile, Lu Yuan Ze, mired in his frustration over the unbestowed honors at Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor, paid him no mind.
Despite his injuries, Lu Jing Huai had compelled himself to attend the palace gathering that day. With hurried steps, he pursued the departing delegation from Western Yue.
“Saintess, please wait a moment…”
The four maids guarding her shot him wary glances.
Lu Jing Huai bowed respectfully. “Saintess, I am Lu Jing Huai, elder brother to Chao Chao. I have come to offer my sincerest apologies on her behalf. Chao Chao is still a child and does not grasp the gravity of her actions in taking the divine sword of Western Yue.”
“I assure you, Jing Huai will persuade her to return the sword to preserve the harmony between our two nations.”
His tone was earnest, his demeanor respectful. The maids relaxed slightly, sensing his sincerity.
“You seem sensible,” one of the maids remarked with a snort.
Saintess Jing Li waved her hand dismissively. “Stand back a bit.”
The maids exchanged glances before retreating to a respectful distance.
Jing Li’s voice was soft and enchanting, imbued with a captivating charm that made Lu Jing Huai’s cheeks flush. “So, you’re the brother of Princess Sunshine?”
“Yes,” Lu Jing Huai replied, swallowing hard.
Saintess Jing Li was breathtaking—her beauty surpassed that of noble maidens like Jiang Yun Jin. Her allure was ethereal, sacred yet perilously enticing, capable of leading one astray.
She approached slowly, an intoxicating fragrance wafting toward him. Lu Jing Huai’s throat tightened.
“Your little sister is quite intriguing. Why don’t you ask her to accompany me back to Western Yue?” Her breath brushed against his skin, sending a shiver down his spine.
In Western Yue, the Saintess held authority equal to the Emperor himself. Her very presence could sway the foundations of the realm.
Without hesitation, Lu Jing Huai nodded in agreement.
“Thank you, Young Master Jing Huai. Should you have urgent matters, you may seek me at the Western Yue Embassy.” She handed him a token before gracefully departing.
Lu Jing Huai coughed lightly, watching her retreating figure, his gaze darkening as he clenched the token in his hand. Despite the searing pain from the whip scars on his body, his breathing remained steady as he endured silently.
Upon his return, Marquis Zhongyong glanced at him. “Where have you been? Don’t wander aimlessly in the palace, or you might offend someone important.”
“Yes, Father,” Lu Jing Huai responded coolly, withholding any mention of his encounter with the Saintess of Western Yue.
By then, the palace banquet had concluded. As Lu Chao Chao was still an infant, she could not remain in the palace overnight and needed to stay with Madam Xu.
“Chao Chao, you’re amazing! Can I touch the Sunshine Sword?” Lu Yuan Xiao asked eagerly.
As the sole legitimate son of Marquis Zhongyong’s household, Lu Jing Huai could attend the palace banquets. Madam Xu held an imperial title, but Lu Yan Shu, Lu Zheng Yue, and Lu Yuan Xiao remained commoners.
By the palace gates, rumors had already spread of their young sister drawing the divine sword.
“No touching! Minister Jiang nearly got skewered by it earlier,” Madam Xu exclaimed, her voice trembling at the memory of the incident.
“Won’t hurt my brother! If it tries, I’ll throw it into the Dragon’s Abyss!” Lu Chao Chao’s childish voice carried an unmistakable warning as she handed the Sunshine Sword to Lu Yuan Xiao.
Tentatively, Lu Yuan Xiao touched the weapon. “Wow! So this is the divine sword?”
“The fierce Sunshine Sword of legend seems rather… tame,” he remarked, puzzled.
Madam Xu rolled her eyes skyward. Tame?
Rong Che had been sent flying by that ‘tame’ sword. Perhaps it was only docile in Chao Chao’s hands.
Exhausted in body and mind, the group returned to their manor.
After hastily freshening up, everyone retired for rest.
Madam Xu instructed a servant to select a bottle of healing elixir from the private storeroom and deliver it to Rong Che.
The following morning arrived swiftly.
“Hurry! Hurry! The results are about to be announced!”
“Let’s find a good spot quickly!”
Madam Xu stood before the Buddha altar early in the morning, bowing repeatedly. “Oh, merciful Bodhisattva, please bless Yan Shu’s years of hard work to finally bear fruit and let his name be on the list.” She dared not dream of him taking the top spot, only hoping his years of enduring grievances wouldn’t go in vain.
“Madam, please don’t worry. We sent someone early to wait at the announcement board. The moment the results are out, they’ll rush back to share the good news,” Deng Zhi consoled.
Madam Xu had barely slept the previous night, tossing and turning, clearly anxious about her eldest son’s examination results.
“Make sure not to show too much emotion in front of the young master. Let’s not pressure Yan Shu unnecessarily,” Madam Xu reminded with care.
Meanwhile, little Lu Chao Chao clasped her tiny hands in mock calculation, speaking with a calm expression: “It’s the tenth day of the ninth month. Great joy is in our house today.”
The little one’s serene demeanor concealed her sharp tongue. If that shameless fraud could steal my brother’s brilliance and still become the Top Scholar, how could my brother, who personally participated, do any less?
At Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor, the tension was equally palpable.
“Has the messenger come with the good news?” the ailing Old Madam asked, forcing herself to stay upright.
Ever since her younger brother was sentenced to death and Lu Jing Huai had been secretly meeting a concubine, her health had deteriorated rapidly. Now, her frail form knelt before the Buddha altar, earnestly pressing her forehead against the ground in prayer.
“It’s not yet time for the announcement,” a maid tried to comfort her.
Madam Pei, adorned in luxurious garments, carried a smug air about her. “Have you prepared the red envelopes for the rewards? My son is certain to make it on the list. We can’t appear stingy when distributing rewards later,” she instructed boldly.
“We must not bring shame upon Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor,” she added before dismissively waving her hand. “Double the servants’ monthly allowances as well.”
The maids and servants stifled their disdain, quietly rolling their eyes.
When Madam Xu was the mistress of the house, she frequently bestowed seasonal vegetables, fresh fruits, and even meat dishes as rewards. Their monthly allowances were generous, and they received multiple sets of clothing each season.
During festivals, they were given double allowances, and on family birthdays, even servants were granted small gifts, desserts, and bonuses.
In stark contrast, Madam Pei had delayed last month’s allowances by half a month. Her miserly ways had turned the household into a lamenting pit. The Mid-Autumn Festival passed with only half a mooncake and not even a single meat dish to mark the occasion.
The gap between life under Madam Xu’s management and the current state was vast. The Old Madam’s private savings were nearly exhausted trying to fill the gaps.
In the front hall, everyone anxiously awaited.
“Has the announcement been made?”
“Are the firecrackers at the gate ready?”
“Where is Jing Huai?” The Old Madam would ask periodically, her worry evident.
Suddenly…
A commotion erupted outside.
“The messenger is here!”
“The messenger is heading down our street!”
A young maid hurriedly reported.
The Old Madam and Madam Pei stood up in excitement. The Old Madam clasped her hands together, unable to suppress her joy. “Bodhisattva bless us! Jing Huai has brought honor to the family!”
Madam Pei eagerly asked, “Has the servant we sent to check the announcement returned?”
The maid replied, “The crowd is enormous. He hasn’t made it back yet; he’s likely caught in the commotion.”
The group hurried to the main gate.
Someone called out loudly to the messenger, “Sir, may we ask who the good news is for?”
With a broad smile, the messenger announced, “It is for the Jie Yuan! Congratulations to Young Master Lu for achieving the top score!”
The servants of Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor burst into laughter and cheers.
“Heavens! It’s our young master!”
“Our young master has secured the Jie Yuan title, topping the provincial exams!” The servants rushed inside to share the news.
The maids immediately ushered the messenger inside. “Sir, Young Master Lu belongs to our manor!”
“Old Madam, Madam, our young master is the Jie Yuan!”
Hearing this, Madam Pei almost fainted from joy.
“My son? My son is the Jie Yuan?” Madam Pei shrieked, tears streaming down her face. Her son had lived up to expectations and surpassed Lu Yan Shu!
The Old Madam’s hands trembled as she clutched her prayer beads. “He did it! He did it! Jing Huai did it!”
“Set off the firecrackers! Quickly!” she commanded.
A servant immediately stepped forward to light the firecrackers.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Fireworks exploded in the skies above the manor, and firecrackers crackled in celebration.
Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor was immersed in a sea of joy.