Chapter 31: Baby Talk Insults are Really Dirty
The novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
The door slammed shut with such force that the entire frame shuddered violently.
Deng Zhi, caught between terror and disbelief, watched as a crack began to snake across the once-sturdy door. “How can this be happening? Aren’t they afraid of the cinnabar drawing of the door god?” she exclaimed, her voice trembling. “Is it possible that the drawing isn’t powerful enough to ward off evil spirits?”
Madam Xu, looking serious and contemplative, questioned, “Where did you get that cinnabar drawing from?”
Deng Zhi’s face drained of color, and she appeared on the verge of tears. “It was… it was a gift from the lord,” she whispered, barely audible. “Before you were to have the baby, the lord commissioned it. Back then…”
The implications of Deng Zhi’s words sent a chill through Madam Xu, hinting at a darker truth.
The door creaked and groaned as its hinges began to give way, prompting Ying Xue and Jue Xia to retreat further into the room, standing protectively in front of their mistress, their bodies shaking.
A creepy giggling sound accompanied by a metallic clanging noise seemed to come from all directions.
“We’ve found you…” A menacing voice filled the space, amplifying the fear and tension.
As the door appeared on the brink of collapse, Madam Xu clenched her teeth so hard she tasted blood. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, a testament to her fear.
“Why haven’t we heard the protective chants yet?” Ying Xue cried out, her voice laden with tears and fear.
Lu Chao Chao, positioned defiantly like a small frog with her hands on her head and legs splayed, began to stir. The ongoing eerie noises had roused her, clearly annoying her. She woke up groggy and visibly upset, her fury seeming disproportionate for her young age, more akin to the rage of a disturbed spirit than that of a child.
With a decisive “Thump!” she puffed out her cheeks in anger, her tiny fists clenched as if ready to express her indignation.
Deng Zhi, struggling to maintain her own composure, covered her mouth and whispered, “Shh,” attempting to calm Lu Chao Chao.
Suddenly, the tumult ceased. The aggressive force at the door halted its attack, the mocking laughter and taunts ended, and even the sound of the wind fell silent.
An eerie, profound silence enveloped them.
Lu Chao Chao, still visibly agitated, brushed past Deng Zhi’s finger. She pointed her chubby index finger at the door, her mouth open as if she were scolding someone fiercely.
“?#@&*@#?%&%5???4?&……” The child, hands on her hips, ranted in her baby language. Although her words were unintelligible, her angry expressions made it clear she was deeply upset, seemingly hurling a string of insults.
Madam Xu stood in stunned silence, hands over her ears, her face a picture of total confusion and helplessness, as if the sudden quiet had thrust her into a state of shock, leaving her uncertain of what to do next.
“What did the young miss just say?” Ying Xue whispered to Jue Xia, leaning in close to keep their conversation private.
Jue Xia, equally baffled by the young miss’s fierce demeanor, observed, “She looks really angry,” her voice filled with a mix of admiration and affection. “It’s like… she’s trying to be intimidating, but it’s actually quite endearing, like a kitten trying to appear menacing. It’s quite charming.”
“My dear little troublemaker, please, let’s not use that kind of language. There are evil spirits outside, and they don’t take kindly to being provoked. They could hurt people!” Deng Zhi spoke with a mixture of calm and genuine concern, trying to diffuse the situation with her gentle words.
Outside, it was as quiet as if the world had come to a standstill. Lu Chao Chao, clearly satisfied with the sudden peace, couldn’t resist a yawn, her contentment evident.
Outside, a shadowy figure, comprising terrifying spirits that would normally strike fear into anyone, trembled in fear. This turn of events was so unexpected and remarkable that it would leave any observer in awe, convinced they had witnessed a miracle.
Lu Chao Chao, overcome by sleepiness, rubbed her eyes some more before deciding to settle back to sleep. Her soft breathing was the only sound in the quiet room. Outside, the menacing white fog that had enveloped the door began to dissipate, retreating as quietly as it had arrived.
Deng Zhi, displaying surprising courage, leaned against the doorframe and asked, “Madam, why did they leave? Do you think it was really the young miss’s words that drove them away?”
Madam Xu, visibly annoyed and skeptical, retorted sharply, “Nonsense, Chao Chao was just babbling in her sleep. A child her age knows nothing about these matters.”
Deng Zhi, unable to conceal her amusement, chuckled softly. “Yes, of course.”
After the tumult of the night, everyone felt a profound sense of relief and gratitude for the ensuing calm.
“I’ll go check the front door to see how things are outside,” Madam Xu announced, her tone reflecting her lingering concern. She donned an outer coat, ready to assess the situation firsthand.
“I’ll accompany you,” Deng Zhi offered, sharing her concern, particularly for the safety of the third young master.
Opting not to take a lantern to avoid attracting any lingering evil spirits, they found the mansion eerily silent, save for the destroyed cinnabar painting on Madam Xu’s bedroom door, evidence of the evil spirits’ brief presence.
“Madam!” Deng Zhi cried out, tears of frustration and anger in her eyes as she noticed the damage.
Madam Xu, however, remained stoically calm. “From now on, anything he sends will be kept separate.”
Her thoughts turned bitterly to Lu Yuan Ze, the man who had married her amid much fanfare, binding her life to the service of the Marquis’s mansion while he enjoyed the company of his mistress. “I swear, Lu Yuan Ze, you will regret this. You will end up with nothing!” Although it is said that tigers do not eat their cubs, in this moment, Madam Xu questioned the extent of Lu Yuan Ze’s heartlessness.
The yard remained silent, but beyond the mansion, the night was alive with the eerie sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling, a stark reminder of the turmoil they had just escaped. Standing by the door, Madam Xu and Deng Zhi looked outside, searching for any sign of normalcy.
“It’s strange how suddenly quiet our street has become,” Deng Zhi remarked, visibly puzzled. Just a short while ago, the atmosphere had been thick with the chilling cries of evil spirits.
In that moment, a profound silence fell over the area, deep and unsettling.
“Could this peace be due to the abbot’s presence?” Madam Xu pondered aloud.
Deng Zhi nodded, indicating her agreement. “Maybe that’s it.”
Then, Deng Zhi’s face lit up with relief. “Madam, I can hear chanting,” she said, her voice filled with hope.
True to her words, the strong rhythm of holy chants soon filled the air, effectively dispersing the evil spirits hidden within the dense white fog, driving them away little by little.
Worried about Lu Yuan Xiao’s safety, Madam Xu and Deng Zhi decided to remain on the steps by the door, opting against seeking refuge inside for the time being.
The night seemed to stretch on indefinitely, fraught with a tense anticipation of fear. It was only with the arrival of dawn, as the first light of day began to shine, that the thick fog started to clear. Gradually, it receded into the darkness, lying in wait for its next opportunity to spread.
From the streets, soft sounds of crying could be heard, expressing the relief and thankfulness of those who had endured the night’s horrors.
Looking tired but cautiously making his way, Lu Yuan Xiao returned to the mansion. Madam Xu quickly escorted him to Sheng Feng Garden, concerned for his safety.
“Did you have an okay night? Weren’t you scared?” Madam Xu inquired as she prepared breakfast. Initially hesitant, Lu Yuan Xiao started eating, partly to alleviate his mother’s concern.
Unable to shake off his worries, Lu Yuan Xiao asked, “Mother, was anything wrong at the mansion last night?”
Madam Xu recounted, “Last night, we faced evil spirits that had entered the yard. They were more aggressive than before, causing some injuries. Thankfully, the abbot arrived just in time to prevent a worse catastrophe.”
“Yesterday, I was with the group that included Lu Jing Huai,” Lu Yuan Xiao said, his expression darkening as he spoke the name. He was well aware that Lu Jing Huai, known for his sharp intellect, was his father’s illegitimate son. “Mother, Lu Jing Huai is held in high regard, and many believe he’s set to top the national exams by getting through all three stages. There are even rumors he could single-handedly break the three days of darkness during the festival with his own power. But guess what? Those evil spirits didn’t seem to care about him at all and began attacking him! It’s strange, isn’t it? Given that the righteous energy of scholars is supposed to ward them off.”
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao, who was sitting on the bed holding an apple, displayed a tiny, sharp baby tooth, not fully grown in yet. She was using this small tooth to scrape the apple into a mush, making it easier to eat.
[It’s because he plagiarized Big Brother’s works… Before Big Brother turned eight, he was already famous throughout the capital, unmatched. But not even two years after Big Brother became paralyzed, Lu Jing Huai suddenly emerged as a child prodigy. His achievement of becoming a scholar at ten was by taking credit for the innovative topics my brother had written before.]
Both Madam Xu and her son were shocked by this insight, with Madam Xu’s face turning grim as the reality of the situation dawned on her.