Chapter 237: Sunshine Festival
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Eunuch Wang stared blankly at her.
“Well-advised, but don’t do it again next time,” he muttered, expression unreadable, as he carried her out of the grand hall.
The Crown Prince was waiting outside.
“Chao Chao…” From afar, he seemed shrouded in frost, an aura of cold detachment surrounding him. But the moment he saw Lu Chao Chao, the ice in his eyes melted into warmth and serenity.
He opened his arms and gathered Lu Chao Chao into his embrace.
“Spring has just begun, and the air is still chilly. Wear your hat and scarf,” he murmured, holding her close—holding the faith he had devoted himself to.
“Your father cried…” Lu Chao Chao whispered into the Crown Prince’s ear.
A faint smile flickered in his gaze. “I know. He had to witness it firsthand to finally believe the truth.”
The Crown Prince had tried, albeit subtly, to warn Emperor Xuan Ping. As a son, he could not idly stand by while his father’s harem burned in chaos. But…
The Emperor treasured Consort Hui too much. Besides, the matter was too bizarre to be easily accepted. When he confronted his father about it, Emperor Xuan Ping scolded him harshly and even punished him with a lengthy transcription of Confucian essays.
Left with no other choice, the Crown Prince could only urge his mother to stay away from Consort Hui.
A woman who plays with fire will eventually get burned.
He just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
“Don’t pity him. Let him fall. Understand? He needs to learn his lesson.”
“Pitying a man will only bring misfortune.”
The Crown Prince’s face darkened. “You know too much!”
“Why are there so many flowers on the roadside?” Lu Chao Chao asked, pressing against the carriage window. She had noticed the streets adorned with vibrant blossoms of every color.
“For the Sunshine Festival,” the Crown Prince replied, his gaze tender as he looked at her.
“Legend has it that during a time when the Three Realms faced utter destruction, a divine spirit sacrificed their own soul to save all living beings.”
“To honor that deity, people named the day of their birth the Sunshine Festival—a symbol of hope and the rising sun.”
“The Sunshine Festival is their birthday.”
“Before you were born, we celebrated it every year.”
“But in recent years, Northern Zhao has been plagued with disasters and turmoil. His Majesty had no heart to hold the festival. Last year… you collected the Empire’s debts. Now that His Majesty has silver in his treasury, he wants to celebrate grandly once more,” the Crown Prince said with a smile.
Lu Chao Chao froze.
“Sunshine… Festival?”
[An entire festival… for me?]
For a brief moment, her little face was lost in confusion.
“Yes,” the Crown Prince affirmed. “The deity’s birthday is the twentieth of the second month.”
“Their day of passing was the tenth of the twelfth month. Every year, His Majesty and I light lamps at the Nine-Level Pagoda in their memory.”
“The mortal world has never forgotten them.”
The Crown Prince’s gaze deepened as he looked at Lu Chao Chao.
She placed a hand on her chest, an inexplicable emptiness gnawing at her heart.
[Why do I feel… lost? As if something is missing? It’s stifling…]
Her eyes felt sore, as though she should cry, yet her heart remained calm, untouched by emotion.
The Crown Prince gently took her hand away from her chest.
“The festival will have all kinds of delicious food. I’ll take you to try them all,” he promised.
As the carriage arrived at the Lu Manor, he personally carried Lu Chao Chao down.
Madam Xu was already waiting at the entrance.
She had composed herself, wearing a gentle smile as she welcomed Chao Chao home.
“Did you have fun at the palace today?” she asked.
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes lit up. She turned and leaped into her mother’s embrace. “Yes, yes, it was super fun! It was so exciting and lively!”
[Consort Hui was caught seducing another concubine! Father Emperor caught her red-handed!]
[Father Emperor lost his beloved concubine… and his little wives too…]
[And he can’t even say it out loud! He’s too scared of being laughed at by the people!]
Madam Xu’s legs nearly gave out beneath her. The Crown Prince swiftly stepped forward to steady her.
Madam Xu’s body trembled as she clutched Lu Chao Chao tightly. “Thank you, Your Highness…” Her mind reeled. Had Chao Chao caused any trouble today?
The Crown Prince watched them enter the manor before turning away. The warmth on his face faded, replaced by his usual cold and distant expression.
“Return to the Eastern Palace.”
Once inside his chambers, he dismissed his attendants, closed the doors, and retrieved a carefully preserved divine statue.
If Rong Che were here, he would have recognized it immediately—it was identical to the one he had found before.
“Chao Chao… You are heartless, emotionless. I do not know whether this is good or bad…”
A shattered soul, finally pieced back together after a millennium.
But a heart—there was only one.
She could never truly experience the full spectrum of emotions.
Right now, her joy, her sorrow, her anger, and her laughter were nothing more than instinct.
The Crown Prince sighed, rubbing his temples, before stepping into the hidden chamber with the statue.
Inside, a row of divine effigies stood in solemn reverence.
Among them were the statues of Judicial Zong Bai, War God Xing Hui, Life God Xian Ting, Darkness God Xuan Yu, Four Seasons God Gan Tang, and Fortune God Sheng He.
There was no statue of Time and Space God Chong Yue.
“Senior brothers, senior sisters… Master has returned. Why have none of you awakened?”
“Chong Yue misses you all…” The Crown Prince murmured as he lit an incense stick and began his solemn chant.
He was summoning the gods.
For a long time, he remained kneeling, eyes closed in fervent prayer.
Nothing happened.
The invocation had failed.
There was no response at all.
“Senior brother, you’re so unfair. The last time you appeared, you gave Chao Chao a roast chicken.”
“I wonder how shocked the people of the Southern Kingdom must be…” The Crown Prince smirked. The Southern Kingdom had long been unable to receive divine descent, their rituals failing for years. They must be going mad with frustration.
His smile deepened.
“Master always said we were unruly children. But now, she is the most unruly of all.”
He carefully polished the statue before placing it beside the others.
Meanwhile, back at the Lu Manor—
“Mother, I heard some incredible gossip today!” Lu Chao Chao chirped excitedly.
Madam Xu swiftly covered her mouth.
“Chao Chao, if you speak a secret aloud, it’s no longer a secret!” She shuddered. His Majesty would surely be furious!
Lu Chao Chao pouted. “Oh…”
[Not being able to share gossip is such a shame.]
[Ah well, Father Emperor’s harem was wiped out by Consort Hui, heh heh heh…]
Madam Xu leaned in, listening even more intently.
By the time Lu Chao Chao finished her retelling, Madam Xu was deeply satisfied and drifted into sleep with a smile.
You better not try rubbish o