Chapter 169: The Sacred Relic of North Zhao
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Madam Xu clasped her hands over her mouth, tears streaming through her fingers. She urgently summoned her three sons, Lu Yan Shu, Lu Zheng Yue, and Lu Yuan Xiao.
“Chao Chao… Chao Chao has no heartbeat,” she sobbed, her voice trembling with despair.
The brothers’ faces drained of color. Lu Yan Shu leaned over Chao Chao, pressing his ear against her chest. After what felt like an eternity, he straightened up, silent. Unable to contain his anxiety, Lu Yuan Xiao glanced at his brother. Lu Yan Shu pressed his finger to his lips, gesturing for everyone to step outside.
Once alone, Madam Xu’s eyes were swollen red, her fingers icy.
“Chao Chao truly has no heartbeat,” Lu Yan Shu confirmed gravely, his words heavy with implication.
“How can this be? How can someone be without a heart? Chao Chao eats, sleeps, runs, and jumps. How can she not have a heart?” Lu Zheng Yue, who had just returned home, exclaimed in disbelief.
“A person without a heart would die. But Chao Chao, perhaps…” Lu Yan Shu paused, searching for the right words, “is not an ordinary person.”
“She seems carefree, but sometimes, I can catch glimpses of her thoughts. She was once an extraordinary figure. Mother, we must ensure no outsiders examine Chao Chao. We cannot let this become known,” Lu Yan Shu insisted sternly.
Madam Xu nodded, wiping away her tears. “The crown prince discussed this with me. He seems well-acquainted with Chao Chao’s past. He also mentioned that should Chao Chao face any danger, we are to go to the Eastern Palace and inform him,” she relayed the crown prince’s instructions to Lu Yan Shu.
Lu Yan Shu nodded, sensing the deep connection between the crown prince and Chao Chao. “Mother, Chao Chao is safe for now. Please, don’t worry. Everything will be alright in the end. Chao Chao is under heavenly protection.”
Reassured but still anxious, Madam Xu spent a sleepless night.
At dawn, Lu Yan Shu arrived at the Eastern Palace. As he alighted from his carriage, the doorman greeted him, “The crown prince expected you and instructed me to wait for you. Please come in.”
Surprised yet relieved, Lu Yan Shu entered. The crown prince was already waiting in his study, a serene smile on his face.
“I knew your concerns would bring you here,” the crown prince said, pouring tea for Lu Yan Shu. “Chao Chao’s heart is secured in a very safe place. Rest assured, she is destined to enjoy this lifetime. She is beyond harm,” he reassured with a knowing smile.
“Ask no further for now. In time, you will learn all you need to know. It is your blessing to have Chao Chao in your lives.”
Madam Xu and Lu Yan Shu, originally fated for tragedy, had altered their destinies by taking Chao Chao into their home. This act of kindness had granted them a second chance—a divine reward.
The crown prince glanced towards the basil tower, his thoughts distant and deep.
Upon his return, Lu Yan Shu found Chao Chao awake, dressed in fresh clothes, her face bright with a mischievous smile. “Me go get da betting money!”
Chao Chao had won a significant sum betting on Lu Yan Shu’s examination results.
“Momma, why you always looking at Chao Chao?” Chao Chao inquired, touching her cheek, puzzled by her mother’s constant gaze.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Madam Xu quickly looked away. “Chao Chao, you must be mistaken…”
[Did I really see it wrong?] Chao Chao wondered silently.
Arriving at the betting house with Xuan Jichuan, they found a tumultuous crowd gathered outside, demanding refunds.
“Refund! Refund! You tricked us into betting on Lu Jing Huai’s talents, and we lost everything!”
“That’s our hard-earned money! Lu Jing Huai ruined us!”
“Lu Jing Huai’s reputation as a genius is false. He can’t even compare to Lu Yan Shu!” The crowd blocked the entrance, their anger palpable.
“If you hadn’t misled us, we wouldn’t have bet on Lu Jing Huai!” they shouted.
Xuan Jichuan, along with the guards, made their way through the crowd. “Make way, make way, we’re here to collect our winnings.”
“Manager, we bet on Lu Yan Shu. Here are the receipts,” Xuan Jichuan announced, presenting several slips to the besieged manager.
The manager, dodging thrown eggs, grimaced as he verified the slips. His headache worsened as he realized they were the biggest winners.
Upon seeing the manager’s hesitation, Xuan Jichuan warned, “Manager, take a good look. This is Princess Sunshine. Do not offend the wrong people.”
The manager’s expression changed instantly. “My apologies, please follow me to settle the accounts.”
As Lu Chao Chao collected 40,000 silver taels, the crowd’s eyes turned red with envy.
“My big brother is the real genius, not that fake Lu Jing Huai,” Chao Chao declared proudly. “Will you bet on the royal exams in February?” she teased the crowd.
Shaken, they responded, “Young Master Lu Yan Shu truly has real talent.”
After Chao Chao and Xuan Jichuan left, the crowd persisted in their demands for justice from the betting house, some even calling for Lu Jing Huai to refund their losses.
“It’s strange. Lu Jing Huai is getting married in three days, yet he keeps visiting the Saintess of West Yue,” Xuan Jichuan noted, spotting Lu Jing Huai heading towards the West Yue envoy residence.
“Miss Jiang’s marriage was something he snatched from Young Master Yan Shu,” Xuan Jichuan scoffed. “Now, he fawns over the Saintess every day. It’s ridiculous.”
“Miss Jiang must regret it. After all, Young Master Yan Shu risked his life to save her, but she ungratefully broke off the engagement. Now she must regret it bitterly. Serves her right,” Xuan Jichuan chuckled.
“The Saintess of West Yue? Hehehe…” Chao Chao grinned mischievously. [Big news, big news!]
Chao Chao returned home with the silver notes, joyfully presenting them to her mother. “Momma, Chao Chao can support the family now!” she proclaimed, standing on her tiptoes to hand over the stack of notes.
Seeing her daughter healthy and spirited, Madam Xu’s heart lightened considerably. “I might have poor judgment in men, but I sure gave birth to amazing children.”
Reflecting on her fortunes, she thought, [My face is saved by my children], feeling a mix of pride and gratitude.
“Tomorrow is the Protectorate Duke’s mother’s 60th birthday. Will you come with me? The Duke wants to celebrate grandly, and all the officials will be there to pay their respects. The Protectorate Duke’s mother is also the queen’s mother,” Madam Xu explained.
Chao Chao nodded thoughtfully. [I don’t have anything special to give. Maybe I’ll give a longevity charm. Three years of added life? Is that impressive enough? Uncle Rong has been kind to me…] she pondered.
Madam Xu almost choked. Three years of added life? [That’s very impressive!]
Madam Xu wondered, her heart filled with curiosity. [What exactly is Chao Chao? She can exorcise evil, increase longevity, protect homes… How did I get so lucky to have such a blessed child?]
That night, it was reported that the Marquis Zhongyong’s residence was bombarded with rotten cabbage and eggs, thrown by angry bettors who had lost their money.
Lu Jing Huai remained unresponsive. Perhaps due to the misfortune plaguing the marquis’s residence, Madam Pei had invited a high monk to stay in their small Buddhist hall.
“The house is not at peace. You must be more diligent,” the old lady admonished, visibly distressed.
Madam Pei smiled reassuringly and glanced at the high monk in the hall. “Tonight, I will kneel and recite scriptures with the monk to show my sincerity.”