Chapter 328: Reporting Chao Chao’s Name
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
The emperor remained silent.
He gazed at the unconscious crown prince on the bed, his heart as if torn apart by knives.
“He was once a celestial star, a fragment of his soul descended into the mortal realm to become the Crown Prince of Northern Zhao. Now, his soul is unstable, which likely means that his main soul in the heavens is in danger.”
“Princess Sunshine is the key to restraining all of this.”
Abbot Shi Kong smiled at Lu Chao Chao.
Lu Chao Chao pursed her lips, her childlike face unable to conceal any secrets.
“Does the princess have something to say?” the abbot asked.
Lu Chao Chao hesitated for a moment before whispering, “You gonna die, right?”
The emperor was startled.
Abbot Shi Kong calmly patted her head, his expression serene. “Yes, Princess. Death is not to be feared.” He had calculated something he should not have.
He divined the fate of the celestial emperor star, but the emperor star retaliated. He had never been able to fully grasp it. Yet, while divining the Crown Prince’s fate, he inadvertently glimpsed Lu Chao Chao’s destiny and realized—
The emperor star was right beside him.
The emperor took a deep breath. He understood now—everything was because of Xie Cheng Xi.
He bowed deeply to Abbot Shi Kong.
The abbot received the gesture without resistance.
“Thank you, Master, for your efforts on Cheng Xi’s behalf.”
As for sending Chao Chao to the Southern Kingdom, he was still deliberating.
Lu Chao Chao thought for a moment and then began theatrically rummaging through her robes.
The emperor’s eyelid twitched.
He watched in disbelief as she pulled out a pearl the size of a fist from her seemingly flat garment.
Do you take me for a fool?
The emperor silently looked to the heavens, forcing himself to play along with her act.
“This is a Soul-Fixing Pearl. Placing it by Crown Prince Brother’s bedside will keep his soul from dispersing.”
Abbot Shi Kong nodded with a smile. “Princess Sunshine possesses such a divine artifact?”
“I have only read about it in the archives of the library.”
“It is said that this pearl nurtures souls and was once a treasure under the care of True Monarch Ling Xiao. However, it was lost several thousand years ago.”
“Your Majesty, with this pearl, there is no need for urgency. At the very least, His Highness will remain safe for a year.” Sure enough, as the Soul-Fixing Pearl was placed by the bedside, color returned to the Crown Prince’s face.
His soul, nourished, seemed to enter a deep sleep.
The emperor felt slightly relieved.
“Where did you get this?” he asked casually.
Lu Chao Chao blinked her eyes. “I picked it up.”
“True Monarch Ling Xiao and his wife were fighting. They fought until the heavens dimmed and the earth darkened, and all sorts of treasures got thrown outside. I picked this one up…”
The emperor gave her a long, scrutinizing look.
Seeing the serious expression in her eyes, a cold sweat broke out on his back.
Lu Chao Chao grinned wide with delight.
“After the abbot passes, he should go to the Buddha Realm, right? Here, take this as a token. The Buddha Realm will surely treat the abbot well.” She fished out a golden alms bowl.
“Report my name when you arrive.” Lu Chao Chao spoke with sincerity.
Without much thought, Abbot Shi Kong accepted the bowl and thanked her.
After the abbot left, the emperor squatted before Chao Chao, bringing his eyes level with hers. “Chao Chao… Cheng Xi may be my legitimate son and the Crown Prince of Northern Zhao, but when I accepted you as my adopted daughter, I did so sincerely.”
“You are still young. The Southern Kingdom is a den of tigers and wolves. I will not send you into danger.”
“For the trip to the Southern Kingdom, I will find another candidate.”
He patted her head.
“Emperor Daddy, Chao Chao is willing to go to the Southern Kingdom for Crown Prince Brother.” The little girl’s eyes were earnest.
“I know you are a good child, but I do not feel at ease.” The emperor did not agree.
“That heartless bunch will surely try to devour you whole. How could I possibly rest easy…” The emperor shook his head.
It wasn’t until dawn that the ministers left the palace.
As they were leaving, a young monk came to report.
“Abbot Shi Kong has passed.”
Abbot Shi Kong sat cross-legged on his meditation mat and entered nirvana.
The emperor issued a decree to construct a pagoda for the abbot’s burial and to allow future generations to pay their respects.
“Chao Chao, does that golden alms bowl have some special significance?” the emperor asked casually.
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes sparkled. “The Buddha Realm secretly nurtured a Buddha Child, preparing to have him lead the realm.”
“Before the succession ceremony, I tricked him and took his golden bowl.”
“See, this is it.”
“If Abbot Shi Kong brings this to the Buddha Realm, they will immediately recognize him as my person! They will surely protect him!”
“Reporting my name—Abbot Shi Kong will have a great surprise!”
The emperor inhaled sharply, nearly leaping in shock.
He looked at Lu Chao Chao with horror, utterly convinced by her nonsense.
Reporting her name—last time, did that not result in a beating?!
Abbot Shi Kong, I am truly sorry!
The emperor trembled as he asked the young monk, “Did the abbot have the golden bowl with him when he passed?”
“He was holding it, cradling it as he entered nirvana.”
The emperor scratched his head.
His gaze shifted to the Soul-Fixing Pearl by the Crown Prince’s bedside, and, unable to help himself, he asked, “That Soul-Fixing Pearl… you really just picked it up, right?”
He looked at Lu Chao Chao expectantly.
To his dismay—
Lu Chao Chao guiltily scratched her head.
The emperor!!!!
“I picked it up.”
Well, it was somewhat related to her.
True Monarch Ling Xiao and his wife were arguing, and someone asked her to mediate.
At first, it was only a war of words. She mediated for a bit, and then they started fighting with all their might.
She followed them around, picking up all the gold pieces they dropped.
By the time they finished fighting, their home was in ruins.
Enraged, they fought again.
The emperor massaged his temples. “Ah, just leave the palace already. The more I see you, the more my head hurts…”
Lu Chao Chao had yet to leave the palace when she ran into a eunuch dashing toward her.
Sweat-covered and nearly crying, the eunuch panted, “Princess Sunshine, the Southern Kingdom envoys are causing trouble at the Lu household!”
“They pushed Old Madam Xu to the brink of suicide.”
“Right now, they’re locked in a public confrontation. Please hurry back!” The eunuch could not enter the Golden Luan Hall during court sessions, nor could he find Lu Yan Shu, so he had no choice but to seek out Lu Chao Chao.
A cold frost settled over Lu Chao Chao’s face.
Her expression darkened as she rushed back.
Before the carriage even stopped, she could hear the commotion outside.
“Who dares to take my daughter? Not unless you step over my dead body!” Old Madam Xu gripped her cane, her voice sharp and unyielding.
“Shi Yun is my Xu family’s daughter! No one can take her!”
“Madam was born and raised in Northern Zhao! How dare you claim her with just a word!” Deng Zhi shielded Shi Yun, her fury evident.
Nan Mu Bai merely gazed at Xu Shi Yun indifferently.
No wonder she looked familiar.
Her features bore a slight resemblance to his imperial grandfather. Yet, he had never realized it before.
“She’s a Xu family daughter? Ridiculous!”
“Do you remember the baby in the snow?” Nan Mu Bai’s gaze turned icy as he looked at Old Madam Xu.
“Xu Shi Yun is of the Southern Kingdom’s royal blood! She is a princess of the Southern Kingdom!”
The crowd erupted in shock.
The onlookers all turned to gaze at Madam Xu.
“Old Madam, you always claimed Xu Shi Yun and Third Master Xu were twins. But look at them—there is no resemblance at all!”
“Moreover, the midwife who delivered them never mentioned twins!”
At Nan Mu Bai’s signal, a haggard old woman was brought forth.
Her eyes were murky, her mouth twisted in a vacant grin. She was clearly no longer sane.
“Under the Soul Capturing Technique, no lies can be told.”
“What did you do to her?! You shameless fiends! The Soul Capturing Technique harms the soul! You are destroying her!” Deng Zhi roared in fury.
“Well, she was too stubborn.” Nan Mu Bai sneered, unfazed.
To him, the lives of mortals were as insignificant as ants.