Chapter 286: The Power of Faith
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Morning arrived, and Li Siqi slowly opened his eyes. A soft ray of light peeked through the curtains, and only then did he finally relax.
“Young Master, can you see?” his servant asked, worry clear in his voice.
Li Siqi nodded with a small smile. “Yes, I can see. Don’t worry.”
The servant let out a huge sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness! May all the gods above help you get fully better soon.”
“Oh, and by the way, Royal Garden sent over some pretty orchids again and asked you to look after them,” the servant added with a huff.
“You’re the eldest son of the Duke’s Mansion. Why do they keep sending you flowers to take care of? They must think pretty highly of themselves. But you never let us refuse them,” the servant complained, clearly irritated.
Li Siqi waved a hand as if brushing away a fly. “It’s no big deal.”
“Taking care of flowers and plants is always a bit tricky. But if I can help a small life grow with just a little effort, it’s worth it,” Li Siqi said calmly, not bothered by the servant’s grumbling.
“But Royal Garden has been very generous, sending all kinds of rare and precious plants,” the servant noted.
“Well, our Young Master is amazing. No matter how hard it is to take care of a plant, he can make it flourish,” the servant added, smiling with pride as if everything in Li Siqi’s hands was bound to thrive.
“You’re flattering me again,” Li Siqi chuckled lightly, not taking the praise seriously.
He simply believed that everything had a life of its own. [If you treat everything with care, it will feel your sincerity.]
“I’m not flattering you, Young Master. It’s the truth,” the servant insisted.
After breakfast, Li Siqi’s mother held him by the arm, looking him over from head to toe. Seeing that he looked clear-headed and healthy, she finally let him go.
“May the Bodhisattva bless my son with good health forever,” she sighed deeply.
“By the way, what was all the noise about last night?” Li Siqi asked. Ever since his eyesight had weakened, he rarely went out after dark.
“Princess Sunshine’s grandmother passed away, so she asked for leave to mourn. Then, Young Master Yu Zhou got jealous and asked for leave too, which made all the officials and even the concubines in the palace rush over to offer condolences. He was beaten half to death by Duke Jingxi last night. Today, he took a seven-day sick leave, crying so much that he lost his voice.”
“Even the Duke went over for a visit.”
“Really? That happened?” Li Siqi was surprised.
“Go to the Royal Academy and ask for an hour off for me. I’m going over there to see what’s happening…” Li Siqi instructed, then told the coachman to drive to the Lu Residence.
At the entrance of the Lu Residence, white banners were hung, and paper money was scattered everywhere.
The maids at the gate, dressed in mourning clothes, greeted the guests who had come to pay their respects.
As soon as he stepped through the main gate under a maid’s guidance, he saw chaos in the courtyard and heard loud quarrels coming from the main hall.
Li Siqi’s brow furrowed. Ever since Marquis Yuan Ze’s divorce, Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion had been going downhill, losing all its former glory. Now, with no title left, there were no rules in the household.
The young man hurried inside, worried that Lu Chao Chao might get hurt.
“Get out!” Lu Yuan Ze, unshaven and looking exhausted, angrily pointed at two people in front of him and shouted.
Lu Jing Huai coughed lightly, standing beside Lu Yuan Xi.
Lu Yuan Xi bowed to him. “Elder Brother, at least let Jing Huai say goodbye to Mother. After all, he’s her only grandson.”
“Ugh, who are you calling ‘Mother’?! Get out! You don’t deserve to call her that!”
“And you,” he snapped, glaring at Lu Jing Huai. “I should’ve known you were his son. You helped him lie to me!” Lu Yuan Ze’s face twisted in anger, and at that moment, he felt the deep despair Madam Xu must have felt—the despair of being betrayed by someone close.
“Get out, all of you! I don’t recognize you; you’re no sons of the Lu family!” Lu Yuan Ze’s eyes reddened as he heard “only grandson” again.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“Elder Brother, whether you accept Jing Huai or not, he’s still the only child listed in the family register.”
“With no son to send off our parents, at least give them a descendant to honor their graves,” Lu Yuan Xi said with a smile, making Lu Yuan Ze’s vision blur with rage.
The mourning hall was in chaos, and the guests who came to pay their respects could only shake their heads at how Lu Yuan Ze had squandered all his advantages.
“Young Master Yan Shu has arrived.”
“Young Master Lu Yuan Xiao has arrived.”
“Madam Xu has arrived…”
The servant announced at the door, and everyone looked toward the entrance.
Madam Xu wore a plain long dress, with General Rong Che by her side. Usually unkempt, General Rong had cleaned up exceptionally well, even slicking back his hair meticulously.
Behind them were Lu Yan Shu and Lu Yuan Xiao, holding little Lu Chao Chao’s hand.
“Chao Chao.” Li Siqi stepped forward and touched Chao Chao’s little face. He had a special fondness for Chao Chao’s bright and clear eyes, which always made him smile.
“Bwotha Siqi, hug!” Chao Chao stretched out her hands and jumped into Li Siqi’s arms.
Li Siqi hugged the little one, comforted by the milky scent she carried.
“Bwotha Siqi, you hungwy? Me a bit hungwy…” Chao Chao rubbed her belly.
“I’ll get you something to eat in a bit,” Li Siqi replied gently.
Chao Chao wriggled out of his arms and crouched down by the fire basin, carefully burning paper money.
Seeing this, Lu Yuan Ze was deeply moved.
“Good child, Chao Chao, you really are a good child. If Grandmother’s spirit is watching, she would be so happy,” Lu Yuan Ze wept, filled with regret. So much regret!
“Let’s offer incense for the old lady and see her off,” Madam Xu nodded at him.
General Rong took a few sticks of incense and handed them to Madam Xu, Lu Yan Shu, and Lu Yuan Xiao.
Lu Yuan Ze looked at her with hope.
“Shi Yun, Yan Shu is the most favored grandson of the old lady. Let Yan Shu guard the spirit and carry the tablet to the mountains,” Lu Yuan Ze suggested, unwilling to let Lu Jing Huai play the filial grandson. The old lady hated Lu Jing Huai most before she died; having him act as the eldest grandson would surely disturb her spirit.
Madam Xu decisively shook her head. “Marquis Yuan Ze, it’s not appropriate.”
“Yan Shu is not on the family register. How can he be considered the eldest grandson?”
“In consideration of the deceased, Yan Shu can offer a stick of incense at most,” Madam Xu firmly refused to let them keep vigil for the old lady.
[Without Chao Chao, our bodies would be rotting in the wilderness by now, our whole family dead!]
The light in Lu Yuan Ze’s eyes gradually dimmed.
General Rong stood behind her, as if declaring his own dominance.
“Elder Brother, we are all one family. Let’s not quibble. The main thing is to let the old lady rest in peace.”
“Don’t just think about the old lady; when you pass, it will also be my son who performs the funeral rites. After all, you have no son to see you off.”
The tension in Lu Yuan Ze’s mind snapped.
“Don’t even think about it!” he bellowed in hatred, overwhelmed by fury.
“Throw those brats out! Get them out!” he roared.
Once renowned, the Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion was now nothing but a laughingstock.
Lu Chao Chao sat earnestly by the fire basin, her expression serious, eyes unblinking as she watched the fire.
She paid no attention to the bickering and fighting in the mourning hall.
“Chao Chao, what’s wrong?” Li Siqi asked cautiously. Was the little one feeling sad?
[But Chao Chao was never one to be so soft-hearted…]
The people shoved and pushed each other, losing all sense of reason.
Suddenly, a sweet smell wafted through the air…
The fighting stopped as everyone followed the aroma. They saw Lu Chao Chao by the fire basin, happily munching on a sweet roasted sweet potato.
From the fire, the sound of chestnuts cracking could be heard.
Now that’s some dedication to one’s faith.
Faith so strong, it’s self-sustaining.