Chapter 334: Rong Che’s Morning Sickness
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
“Brother Si Qi, come to the Southern Kingdom with us.”
Lu Chao Chao stood up, pulling Li Si Qi onto a stool beside her. She gently caressed his eyes—so clear and bright, yet unable to see a thing.
“Chao Chao will definitely cure Brother Si Qi’s eyes.” Her voice was muffled with determination.
Li Si Qi lightly grasped her small hand. It was warm—how wonderful. Chao Chao was still alive.
“It’s alright. Just being able to sense Chao Chao’s presence is enough for me.”
After arranging the departure schedule at the Protectorate Duke’s Manor, Lu Chao Chao did not linger long.
“We shall set out in three days…” The sky darkened as she stood at the manor’s gates, gazing at it in contemplation.
[Does Brother Si Qi know who I am? Does he know his true identity?] Her chest felt heavy. Just how much had they sacrificed to bring her back to life?
The little one looked listless, her tiny face scrunched up, clearly not in high spirits.
As she entered the dining hall, her parents were already seated at the table.
“Chao Chao, come eat. There’s your favorite roast chicken today…” Shi Yun beckoned her over.
Just as Rong Che was about to speak, suddenly…
A wave of nausea surged in his chest, and he abruptly retched.
“Urgh…” One dry heave left the whole table startled.
“What’s wrong? Could it be you caught a cold last night?” Shi Yun was stunned and hurriedly patted his back, pouring him a cup of water.
Rong Che shook his head and waved his hand dismissively.
“I don’t think so. I have no symptoms of a cold.”
“I’ve just been feeling unsettled these past few days. The sight of greasy food makes me queasy. Maybe I’m just sick of heavy meals. Let the kitchen prepare some light porridge and vegetables.”
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “But you love fatty pork and roast chicken just like me.”
As soon as her words fell, Rong Che scrambled to his feet, rushed outside, and bent over, retching uncontrollably.
Shi Yun grew anxious. “Summon the physician!”
The household physician arrived quickly. After checking Rong Che’s pulse and examining his tongue, he frowned deeply.
Shi Yun’s heart clenched. “Is it serious?” Her tone was urgent. Rong Che had spent years in the military and was always in excellent health. He had never shown such symptoms before.
“Not at all. General Rong is in perfect health.”
“That’s precisely why I’m puzzled.”
“His constitution is robust, with not even a trace of a cold. It is quite strange indeed.”
“I’ll prescribe a few warming herbs for the stomach. Perhaps they will help.”
As the physician left, Rong Che lay pale and exhausted after vomiting so much.
“I feel awful…” The towering general clutched Shi Yun’s hand, looking at her with pitiful eyes.
Shi Yun couldn’t help but chuckle.
He looked like a miserable, oversized puppy.
“Even just the scent of oil makes me sick…” Rong Che, who had never been so feeble before, swallowed down the acid rising in his throat.
Shi Yun turned to Deng Zhi. “Take away the greasy dishes. Serve light porridge and vegetables.”
“Is there any pickled mustard greens?” Rong Che gulped at the thought.
“It should be soaked for a day in sour brine, then lightly seasoned. It’ll go perfectly with porridge…” His hopeful eyes fixed on Shi Yun.
“Fortunately, one of the nannies Father sent specializes in pickling vegetables. Deng Zhi, have her prepare some.” On the day of Rong Che’s wedding, the Stabilizing Duke’s Manor had sent several skilled chefs as part of the dowry.
Rong Che’s appetite returned a little as he ate porridge paired with sour radish.
“You should rest at home today.”
“We leave for the Southern Kingdom in three days. If your health remains unwell, the journey will be difficult.” Shi Yun sighed. How had he suddenly fallen ill?
“If you’re still feeling bad tonight, we’ll summon the imperial physician.” She tucked him into bed, speaking softly.
“Yes,” Deng Zhi nodded.
“Inform the Southern Kingdom envoys: we depart in three days.”
By the afternoon, the household bustled with preparations for the trip.
“Old Madam Ning is gravely ill. Pack extra medicinal herbs… Wait a moment,” Shi Yun called Lu Chao Chao over. The little girl was chewing on a chicken leg while sighing.
“Chao Chao, can we take a Nine-Turn Golden Lotus with us?”
Chao Chao blinked. “Of course! This is a treasure, Mother.”
She pulled out a jade bottle and handed it to Madam Xu. “Keep the lotus inside. It will preserve its medicinal potency.”
After Shi Yun plucked a flower, Lu Chao Chao retrieved several spirit stones from her spatial storage, setting up a formation to protect the remaining lotuses in the backyard.
“Madam Ning saved my life. This golden lotus will serve as my gift to her.”
Tilting her head, she mused, “A gift? Should Chao Chao bring some local specialties too?”
Shi Yun fondly patted her head. “You’ve grown up, Chao Chao. Gifts are about sentiment, not value. If you want to give something, prepare a little.”
Since gold and silver were of little consequence, it wouldn’t be troublesome.
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes twinkled.
A gift?
Shi Yun was busy packing, leaving Chao Chao to rummage through her belongings for presents.
“Hmm, I must prepare a gift for Granny Ning.”
“As for the Southern Kingdom’s royal family… Who knows if they’ll truly treat me well? But fine, I’ll prepare something anyway. It’s not like it costs me anything.”
She muttered to herself while pulling out brocade boxes from her spatial storage.
The spirit lake within her storage sparkled, and her eyes lit up.
“Oh! The lake is lined with pebbles!”
With a flick of her mind, she summoned translucent stones to her hand, faintly radiating spiritual energy.
“Hehehe, it worked! They’re spirit stones! All spirit stones!!”
“I’m rich! Who said sword cultivators are always poor? I refuse to believe it!”
Years ago, she had… acquired a spirit vein and hid it in her storage. With time, the pure spring had turned into a spiritual lake, its stone-lined bed transforming into spirit stones!
“Wow… I’m the richest little cultivator in the world!” The sudden realization of her newfound wealth melted away her earlier gloom.
Spirit stones were categorized into supreme, high, and low grades.
But since she had not dealt with spirit stones in ages—and these were ones she had made herself—she couldn’t quite distinguish their quality.
“Well, I’ll just throw in a few.”
She fished out a handful of stones from the lake, placing two in each brocade box.
Hehe, this cost her nothing at all.
Just some stones she had tossed in long ago.
Tubs and tubs of stones.
Stacking the boxes by her bedside, she excitedly told her mother, “Mother, Chao Chao has prepared the gifts!”
“Good, good. Did you dip into your little treasury?”
Chao Chao pouted. “No way. Hehe, they’re just pretty little stones! I picked them one by one by the river…”
“Will they like them?” She looked at her mother with expectant eyes.
Shi Yun ruffled her hair. “Gifts are about thoughtfulness, not wealth.” A child gifting pretty stones suited her age.
Shi Yun pondered how to console Chao Chao if the Southern Kingdom’s royal family refused them.
“How is Father’s health?” Chao Chao peeked at Rong Che lying on the bed.
In just a single day, he had vomited until his face turned ashen, looking utterly drained.
The commotion even alerted the Stabilizing Duke’s elderly couple.
Old Madam of the Stabilizing Duke gazed at Rong Che and murmured, “Have you summoned the imperial physician?”
Shi Yun nodded. “Yes, they examined him and found no issues.”
The old madam frowned. “How odd. You look exactly like I did when I had morning sickness.”