Chapter 24: Encounter Outside
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
“It’s okay, we don’t need a doctor, and let’s not tell Mother about this,” Yan Shu said, casting a meaningful glance at his younger sibling to emphasize the importance of secrecy. “Starting tomorrow, come to my courtyard after school. I’ll help you study more diligently.”
Ever since an accident had rendered him paralyzed, Yan Shu, in a fit of despair, had ordered all the books in the house to be destroyed—a drastic action that underscored the profound change in his life.
After Yuanbao escorted the other visitors out, Lu Yan Shu was left alone in his wheelchair. He gently touched the bandage on his wrist, discovering to his surprise that the severe cut that once marred his skin had healed completely, leaving no trace behind.
For eight relentless years, Lu Yan Shu had labored to regain some movement in his fingers, which had only recently started to regain their flexibility. Now, he could even slightly lift his arm—a minor yet monumental triumph after such a prolonged struggle. His hand felt stronger than it had in years.
Despite nearly losing his life, being betrayed by his fiancée which led to his paralysis, the dissolution of his engagement, and abandonment by his family, Lu Yan Shu had never allowed himself to cry. Yet, upon realizing that he was healing, he finally let the tears flow.
When Yuanbao, his loyal servant, returned after sending the boy and baby away, Lu Yan Shu, brimming with newfound hope, commanded firmly, “Bring me a needle. I want to see if my legs can feel it.”
Yuanbao recalled the early days post-accident when he would test his young master’s legs with needles and beatings, all of which had proved fruitless. Convinced all hope was lost, Yuanbao hesitated but eventually fetched a golden needle and carefully inserted it into his master’s leg.
“Young Master?” Previously, there had never been any response, so the servant was uncertain.
But this time, Lu Yan Shu’s legs tightened and ached—a new and hopeful sign of recovery.
“This is GREAT! Young Master, this is different. Before, your legs wouldn’t even react, but now…” Yuanbao, shocked by his master’s intense reaction, was stunned. “Can you feel that? Is it painful? I need to tell the doctor; I should inform your parents!”
Yuanbao had also endured a tough eight years, witnessing his young master’s fall from grace and experiencing the fickleness of human connections as others exploited their misfortune since the accident.
“No!” Lu Yan Shu’s expression was fierce, fueled by his recent glimmer of hope. “We can’t tell anyone, not a single word! Don’t call for a doctor!”
Yuanbao, though perplexed, agreed with a nod.
…
The next day bustled with activity.
Madam Xu was occupied with planning a shopping expedition to purchase jewelry for her daughter, Lu Chao Chao. She was determined to buy longevity locks, gold rings, gold necklaces, and other treasures for her daughter’s future, preferring to spend her own money rather than let her husband, Lu Yuan Ze, squander it on his mistress.
“Madam, it’s wise of you to plan ahead. I was concerned you might dip into your personal savings for these expenses,” Deng Zhi, her trusted aide, mentioned with a hint of relief.
Madam Xu, who had often seen her husband worry over finances, was quick to offer her funds, insisting he take them. Deng Zhi viewed this as particularly undignified.
Madam Xu’s mood soured: “Since he’s okay with jeopardizing Yan Shu’s marriage for his illegitimate child, I won’t hold back. And he thinks he can use my savings for another family? He’s mistaken!”
As their carriage arrived at their destination, another carriage also halted outside the Jinpin Tower.
Stepping out, Madam Xu encountered an elegant woman exiting the other carriage. She wore a veil and a breezy dress that exuded sophistication and grace. A nanny followed her, carrying a baby about five or six months old, snug in swaddling clothes adorned with Sanskrit designs, likely sourced from a temple.
As the young woman looked up and met Madam Xu’s gaze, a subtle animosity flickered between them, despite their unfamiliarity.
“Please, come upstairs. We’ve just introduced a new line for children,” the shopkeeper warmly invited them, recognizing their status as valued customers.
“The elder sister should go first,” the young woman said courteously, yet her emphasis on “elder” carried a cutting edge.
Madam Xu acknowledged this with a swift nod.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao, perched on her maid’s shoulder, panicked internally.
[Ahhh! That’s the enemy, the main antagonist!]
[She’s the protagonist and her mother, the mistress! This woman is my father’s mistress!]
With this realization, Madam Xu halted abruptly, her anger rising so fiercely it nearly overwhelmed her. She bit her lip hard, striving to contain her burgeoning rage. The young woman’s sarcastic reference to being the “older sister” now bore a sting, filled with implications and disdain.
“What a coincidence that both your daughters are about the same age,” the shopkeeper remarked, his smile broadening in an attempt to ease the tension.
Madam Xu, however, remained focused on the baby wrapped in the Sanskrit-decorated fabric.
“Could this child be the protagonist from my daughter’s stories about her past life? She seems fragile, but there’s something unsettlingly mature in her eyes…”
Madam Xu felt an instinctive aversion to those eyes, which appeared too knowing for such a young child, disturbingly out of place.
Furthermore, she noticed the prayer beads in the baby’s hand—a complete set of 108, an item highly esteemed by the elderly lady of her household, which Madam Xu herself was never permitted to touch.
The shopkeeper, observing the beads, speculated, “There’s a rumor that the National Temple possesses a set of spirit beads, each engraved with Sanskrit and consecrated by a succession of abbots. At its core, it is a relic of immense value. It’s said that even the former king desired these beads on his deathbed but couldn’t acquire them. These beads look just like those from the legend.” The more he observed, the more he believed in their authentic significance.
The young woman’s smile was gentle, her voice charmingly youthful, “You flatter me. But yes, these are indeed the spirit beads,” she confessed, her eyes and forehead peeking out from under her veil.
Pei Jiao Jiao reveled in the envious and surprised reactions from those around her. This sensation became particularly pronounced when she observed Madam Xu, noting how the stress of managing the Marquis’ tumultuous household and caring for the ailing elderly lady had aged her prematurely.
With a discreet smile, Pei Jiao Jiao adjusted her hairpin, a gesture Deng Zhi noted with a slight frown.
“The abbot claimed my child is destined for a life filled with good fortune and blessings. He suggested these beads are meant for her amusement,” Pei Jiao Jiao mentioned casually, her offhand reference to the beads captivating the listeners.
She then recounted a story from her pregnancy, describing a visit to offer prayers with her mother-in-law, where they encountered an old Taoist. He begged the elderly lady for water to drink, promising a prophecy in return. He foretold the birth of a grandchild marked for greatness, a child favored by the heavens, and sought the water as a symbol of sharing in the family’s divine fortune.
Their subsequent visit to the National Temple resulted in an incredible honor. The abbot, a man so revered that even royals found it difficult to secure an audience with him, greeted the elderly lady personally. He prophesied that the family would soon welcome a significant new member who would bring unprecedented prosperity beyond what words could convey.
He then bestowed the beads upon the elderly lady as a blessing for good karma, which left her ecstatic, barely able to contain her joy. After their temple visit, she solemnly promised Pei Jiao Jiao, “Jiao Jiao, your greatest fortunes are yet to come.”
Her vow implied that Pei Jiao Jiao’s child, Jing Yao, was the foretold source of the great fortune.
Meanwhile, Madam Xu’s daughter seemed to become an afterthought, receiving little attention or affection from those around her.