Chapter 17: Returning to My Maternal Home
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
As Lu Chao Chao gazed upwards from the comfort of her cozy cradle, she observed her elder brother Lu Yuan Xiao standing above her. He appeared weary and burdened by concerns.
“My dear little sister, I am exhausted… The relentless routine of studying has drained me thoroughly. It feels as though even my soul is weary…”
Lu Chao Chao, still too young to comprehend the rigors of academic pursuit, pondered with naive curiosity whether studying truly was as daunting as her brother portrayed it.
In a mix of defiance and a desire to impart a lesson, Lu Yuan Xiao said, “My dear sister, you’re merely a child and yet unaware of the hardships the world presents. Trust me when I say that studying represents the most formidable challenge. I will read something to you, and you’ll likely fall asleep straight away.”
With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he extracted his well-worn copy of the “Three Character Classic,” a text with which he had struggled for three years. He sat cross-legged before her cradle and began to read in a gentle tone.
“The most arduous task in life is to acquire knowledge. People are innately virtuous. While nature renders us somewhat similar, it is our habits that distinguish us…” He faltered after a few sentences, resorting to reading directly from the book.
“Relationships between parents and children, between spouses… ah… and the sequence of the zodiac animals, beginning with the Rat and concluding with the Pig…” He paused, scratching his head in confusion.
No sooner had he set the book aside than the infant began to mimic the phrases he had just uttered.
[People are innately virtuous. While nature renders us somewhat similar, it is our habits that distinguish us…] She echoed her brother, including his hesitations.
The book dropped from Lu Yuan Xiao’s hands with a thud.
He stared at the baby in astonishment.
[Is this not comprehensible to anyone? My brother truly lacks acumen. Fear not, once I grow up, I will care for him. He will serve well as a figurehead.] Lu Chao Chao mused internally, her thoughts a blend of affection and resolve.
Overcome, tears welling in his eyes, Lu Yuan Xiao snatched up the book and hurried from the room, feeling more inadequate than ever as he realized he could not surpass even his two-month-old sister!
Madam Xu, with a look of concern, was utterly perplexed: “Could someone check on my second son? He seemed fine moments ago.”
Why had his mood altered so drastically?
To her, it appeared as though his entire world had crumbled, an upheaval unprecedented, surpassing even the occasion when he was discovered gambling by Madam Xu.
Lu Chao Chao, incapable of voicing her thoughts, silently assessed her brother, considering him not only intellectually deficient but also highly emotionally volatile.
[The hearts of men are as elusive as needles lost in the ocean. In the future, I will not merely seek needles. I shall embrace the entire ocean!] With these ambitious musings, Lu Chao Chao drifted into a serene sleep, succumbing to slumber shortly thereafter.
In the hushed darkness, Lu Chao Chao lay comfortably on her tiny bed, her fair skin and plump belly visible in the dim light of the room. The flickering oil lamp cast a warm, yellow glow around her. Madam Xu tenderly wrapped the brocade quilt around Lu Chao Chao, ensuring she was cozy and snug.
As she hovered between sleep and wakefulness, Lu Chao Chao’s consciousness ventured towards an illusory dream. She found herself in a tranquil, white landscape, drawn by a strong sense of purpose towards a mysterious figure—the grand grand princess, immersed in profound prayer.
“I would commit to a lifetime of vegetarianism if a deity could bless me with a child. To have a child that even slightly resembles Chao Chao would be my greatest wish,” the grand grand princess prayed with fervor in the dream.
Upon opening her eyes in the dream, Lu Chao Chao stood before the astonished grand grand princess.
“Chao Chao?” The grand princess was taken aback.
For more than a decade, the grand grand princess had yearned for a child. She had consulted numerous physicians and prayed to various deities, yet she had never envisioned encountering Lu Chao Chao in such a manner.
In the dream, Lu Chao Chao inquired, “Do you desire children?”
“Would you prefer a boy, a girl, or perhaps both?” Her voice was tender and sweet, deeply moving the grand grand princess.
“Any child would be a blessing. I have no preference,” the grand princess replied, her voice filled with emotion at the prospect of motherhood.
Lu Chao Chao then extended her hand, drawing streams of golden light from the grand princess—a symbol of her virtuous deeds. “You have led a life of kindness. I will bless you with twins,” she declared. Suddenly, a brilliant light surged into the grand princess’s abdomen, and then Lu Chao Chao vanished as the dream dissolved.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Back in the real world, inside the grand princess’s chamber, she awoke abruptly.
“Chao Chao!” she exclaimed, sitting up, her body drenched in sweat, filled with astonishment and confusion.
Her husband, roused by her cry, instructed the maid to illuminate the room with a lamp, casting a soothing light throughout.
“Was it a nightmare that awakened you?” he inquired with concern, their bond evident despite their sorrow from childlessness.
“You’ve been so enchanted by Chao Chao today, you’re even dreaming about her now?” he remarked, surprised by her intense affection for Chao Chao.
The grand princess felt an unusual warmth in her belly, as if a gentle flame had ignited within. She leaned close to her husband and whispered excitedly, “My husband, I believe tonight is the night we will conceive.” Her face glowed with hope and determination under the lamp’s illumination, while her husband looked on, his heart swelling with love and warmth for her.
As dawn approached, marking a restless night’s end, Madam Xu was already awake, dressed, and traveling in a carriage to her childhood home—a place brimming with memories but also evoking unfamiliar emotions.
“Madam, there’s no need for concern. The old lord and lady adore you deeply; they won’t hold your absence against you,” her attendant, Deng Zhi, attempted to reassure her.
Madam Xu, her lips pressed tightly together, remained silent. The thought of revisiting her family’s home after over a decade filled her with both excitement and anxiety.
When the carriage halted at the grand entrance of the Xu family estate, Madam Xu inquired with concern, “Have you heard anything about my husband this morning?”
“The Marquis did not return home last night, but he sent a message this morning, assuring he’ll be back before lunch,” Deng Zhi replied softly, aware of the sensitivity of the subject.
Madam Xu endeavored to maintain her composure as she disembarked from the carriage, but internally, she felt a sharp ache in her heart, realizing her husband had likely spent the night with his mistress again.
As she made her appearance, the Xu family’s gatekeeper called out joyously, “The miss has returned! The miss is home!” His voice echoed, heralding her long-anticipated return.
Stepping onto the estate, Madam Xu surveyed the familiar yet distant surroundings. The unchanged mansion evoked a flood of memories. The servants, recognizing her, displayed profound respect with their bows.
“Welcome home, Miss Shi Yun,” they greeted her using her maiden name, rekindling the warmth of her earlier years.
As she proceeded further, Madam Xu was greeted by fireworks illuminating the sky, celebrating her return. “Milady, these fireworks have awaited use since your wedding. We never had the opportunity to deploy them until now,” Nanny Wang explained, her cheeks wet with tears of joy and relief.
“Your mother and sister-in-law await inside,” Nanny Wang continued, her gaze admiring the beauty of Lu Chao Chao and the joy she brought in the summer’s warmth.
“Thank you, Nanny Wang,” Madam Xu responded, overwhelmed by emotion as she stood at the threshold.
As the doors swung open, Madam Xu beheld her mother, appearing weary yet hopeful—a woman who had endured her own trials, including time in jail. Their eyes met, and they both burst into tears.
Madam Xu, deeply touched, knelt down, crying, “Mother, I’m back.” The years of silence and distance made it difficult for her to articulate more.
“You heartless girl, did you want to see me dead before returning?” Her mother cried out, her reproach infused with love, revealing the profound pain of their separation.
“Why didn’t you return sooner? I only wished to guide you on your wedding day, yet you stayed away for so long,” her mother lamented, her actions displaying love rather than anger.
Zhou Shi, Madam Xu’s older sister-in-law, approached with tears in her eyes, attempting to console her, “Please, don’t cry. It’s a joyous day; our sister has returned. Let’s not spend it in tears.”
Seeing her mother, grey-haired and sobbing, nearly collapsing from the depth of her emotions, Madam Xu felt each sob as a stab to her heart.