Chapter 32: The Abbot Was Blinded by Her Scolding
Lu Yuan Xiao tightly clenched his fists, frustration evident on his face. He could not comprehend why people persistently compared his elder brother to Lu Jing Huai, dubbing them the “twin talents.” Yet, conversations about his brother were always tinged with pity, referencing his unfulfilled potential due to his disability, which seemed to overshadow his past achievements and indirectly elevate Lu Jing Huai.
Attempting to appear nonchalant, Lu Yuan Xiao addressed his mother. “Mother, my studies have been challenging lately. I thought I might find some guidance in Big Brother’s old writings and books. Do you know where they might be?”
Madam Xu, with lips pressed tightly together, seemed uncomfortable with the question. “After your brother’s accident, he wished to remove anything that reminded him of his former life. Consequently, your father decided to clear out all such items from our home.”
[That’s not true! They were given to Lu Jing Huai!] Lu Chao Chao silently protested, clutching an oversized apple.
The atmosphere grew somber as Madam Xu, tinged with sadness, remarked, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen your elder brother.”
The memory of her firstborn filled Madam Xu with deep sorrow. She had dedicated herself to his upbringing, and his subsequent accident left her devastated. He had become reclusive, and she ached to see him, even in secret. Observing his gradual decline and loss of zest for life was heart-wrenching.
“It’s been eight years. When will he come out of his seclusion?” she inquired, her voice laden with despair.
Lu Yuan Xiao reflected on his brother’s situation. “Perhaps Big Brother will come around soon,” he expressed hope, recalling how his brother had unexpectedly shown affection towards Chao Chao, breaking his own stringent rules.
Madam Xu, offering a weary smile, found it hard to hold onto hope. To her, the mere fact that her son still lived was sufficient.
In the quiet of the day, Lu Yuan Xiao found solace in sleep, his worries momentarily forgotten.
Over the following days, he adopted a nocturnal routine, visibly losing weight within three days.
“This endless suffering, year after year, is too much. Why does this cursed fate continue to haunt us?” Madam Xu murmured to herself, her tone a mixture of frustration and despair.
Struggling to stay awake, Lu Yuan Xiao yawned before speaking, “Mother, we should be grateful I returned safely. I’ve heard concerning news that the abbot is now blind,” he mentioned, worry coloring his voice.
“Really?” Madam Xu reacted with surprise.
“Yes, when I was leaving, I noticed the abbot’s eyes were covered with a black cloth,” Lu Yuan Xiao shared before exhaustion overcame him, and he fell asleep again.
This conversation caused Madam Xu to recall a recent incident involving her daughter, Chao Chao. She remembered how Chao Chao had silently wished harm upon the abbot, upset over him giving prayer beads to Lu Jing Yao and thinking he deserved blindness. This unsettling memory made Madam Xu ponder whether her daughter possessed some unique powers.
After the Ghost Festival, Madam Xu’s spirits were lifted by a visit from her second brother. She welcomed him warmly, a stark contrast to the usual family dynamics.
At about six months old, Lu Chao Chao, now starting on solid foods, was often seen gnawing on a hard biscuit. Dressed in a bright red skirt and sitting cross-legged, she looked incredibly adorable, her sparse hair arranged into two small tufts by Madam Xu.
“Do you miss your second uncle?” he inquired, picking up Chao Chao. Unlike their strict elder brother, Xu Yi Ting, the second uncle was cherished for his kindness and his role in managing water affairs at court.
Without hesitation, Chao Chao reached out her arms and was joyfully lifted by her uncle.
His twin sons, Xu Yuheng and Xu Yuqing, both sixteen and remarkably handsome, joined them. Their birth had been fraught with difficulties, resulting in a condition known as soul-loss syndrome, which impacted their intellectual development.
“This is your cousin, Chao Chao,” the second uncle affectionately introduced them, touching his sons’ heads with both love and a hint of sorrow. His deepest hope was for them to lead normal, healthy lives.
The twins regarded Lu Chao Chao with innocence and confusion.
“Don’t worry about it, Chao Chao; your cousins find it hard to grasp things,” the second uncle explained with a resigned tone. Despite being sixteen, they still could not articulate ‘dad’ or ‘mom’.
Lu Chao Chao looked at them curiously, thinking to herself, [Brother Yuheng? Brother Yuqing? Oh, they are missing a part of their soul, that’s why…]
Unexpectedly, the twins fixated on Lu Chao Chao, their gazes locking onto her with an intense focus. For the first time in sixteen years, it seemed a silent message from Lu Chao Chao reached them, connecting with a part of their souls that had previously been unreachable.
[Wow, I have so many handsome brothers… I want a hug from my brother…] Lu Chao Chao thought, longing to be closer to Brother Yuheng, who was looking her way.
Aware of his sons’ usual lack of response, the second uncle tried to temper her expectations: “Chao Chao, your brother might not understand what you’re asking for.”
Nevertheless, Lu Chao Chao continued to reach out, her inner voice brimming with warmth and determination, [Brother, hug…]
Xu Yuheng’s expression changed, as if Lu Chao Chao was the only person in his world at that moment.
To his father’s astonishment, Xu Yuheng slowly extended his arms and embraced the little baby, leaving everyone present in awe.
“Smooch~” Lu Chao Chao affectionately kissed him.
Caught off guard, Xu Yuheng held her awkwardly yet gently.
“I’m your little cousin Chao Chao. You should call me little sister…” She boldly offered him her drool-covered biscuit.
For a brief moment, Xu Yuheng looked at her, puzzled.
Then, as if a miracle occurred, he stuttered out, “Ah… ah, sister!” His voice was coarse and hesitant, but he unmistakably uttered the word “sister” for the first time.
Overwhelmed by emotion, the second uncle could not contain his tears. “Yuheng, Yuheng, he can speak! My son can actually speak!!” It was a breakthrough after sixteen years of silence.
Encouraged by this, Lu Chao Chao then sought a hug from Brother Yuqing, who also embraced her. This moment triggered a wave of emotions and tears of joy from everyone present. Chao Chao’s interaction with the twins brought a ray of hope to their parents, who had long been in despair.
“Shi Yun, Shi Yun, your daughter is truly extraordinary!” The second aunt, through her tears, celebrated the moment. The twins were her only children, and after a challenging childbirth, she was unable to have more. This miraculous event rekindled their hope.
Madam Xu, equally amazed, offered, “Second brother, Second Sister-in-law, please don’t cry. Let’s arrange for Yuheng and Yuqing to visit our home more often to spend time with Chao Chao. Or, if you’d like, I can bring Chao Chao over to your place.”
Madam Xu was more than willing to facilitate more visits between the cousins to aid her second brother’s family.
As the second uncle and his wife wiped away their tears, they discussed plans with Madam Xu. During this time, Lu Chao Chao took the opportunity to tenderly hold her brothers’ fingers, a gesture that seemed to further connect their spirits to the here and now.
In a light-hearted manner, it was evident that the young miss had a special talent for healing souls.
While she participated in this, her attention remained on the adults’ conversation.
“The King has tasked me with the water management project in Linluo Province, and I won’t be back until after the new year. Please, take care in the capital. Your husband, he…” the second uncle said, his face marked by concern. “I don’t want to cause unnecessary alarm, but please, sister, stay extra vigilant.”
Madam Xu tightly clutched her handkerchief, inhaling deeply before responding, “Second Brother, I understand your concerns. Take care of yourself as well.”
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao, despite being preoccupied with her teething stick, listened intently to their conversation, her ears almost perking up as she caught every word, silently sensing the underlying concerns in their voices.