Chapter 4: Changing Uncle’s Fate
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
“Why not consider the name Lu Chao Chao for her? The word ‘Chao’ translates to ‘morning,’ symbolizing hope and the promise of new beginnings,” suggested the man thoughtfully.
Upon hearing this suggestion, Madam Xu was overcome with emotion. Tears formed in her eyes as she tightly gripped the luxurious quilt beneath her, her knuckles turning white with the intensity of her hold. This physical reaction was a reflection of the tightness she felt constricting her heart.
She was immediately taken back to a memory where she had wandered into Lu Yuan Ze’s study, only to find an impressive stack of documents. Each page was filled with carefully considered names, demonstrating the depth of his thought in this matter. Names like Lu Jing Yao conjured images of majestic mountains and vast landscapes, metaphors for her beauty and intelligence that merited unlimited admiration. Then there was Lu Zhi Yuan, a name that suggested wisdom and elegance, reminiscent of a kite floating effortlessly in the wind or a fish gliding through water.
Each name he considered carried his deep wishes and blessings for their child.
However, the choice of a name inspired by the dawn seemed to Madam Xu to lack the grandeur and depth of the other options. She reflected on how the names given to their other three children hadn’t fully captured their essence either, a fate she wished to avoid for her daughter.
Just as she was about to suggest an alternative, the room filled with the baby’s joyful babbling. “Yayayaya, I want to be Chao Chao, I like the name Chao Chao, Mama, Mama, I want my name to be Lu Chao Chao…” she babbled excitedly, stretching out her tiny arms.
Hearing this, Madam Xu exhaled a soft sigh and gently tapped her daughter’s nose, conceding, “Seeing how happy it makes you, Chao Chao it shall be.”
The baby’s tiny fingers touched her mother’s hand, bringing them to her cheek in a gesture that seemed to express a wisdom beyond her young years. “Mama, don’t cry, don’t be scared, Chao Chao will protect you… Chao Chao is super, super, super amazing…” she declared inwardly with all the conviction in her heart.
Despite the tears streaming down her face, Madam Xu couldn’t help but smile, deeply moved by her daughter’s intuitive words.
Feeling a pang of guilt, Lu Yuan Ze spoke to his wife, “These recent times have been tough on you. With the ongoing turmoil at court, I’ll be preoccupied this month.” His expression of remorse was rare, and whenever he showed it, Madam Xu would urge him to prioritize his duties, unaware of his extramarital involvement.
“We’re navigating these times together, so I can’t place the blame solely on you. However, I do feel that our little Chao Chao deserves so much more,” Madam Xu said, her voice laden with profound sorrow.
Lu Yuan Ze’s gaze drifted to where Lu Chao Chao lay peacefully in her cradle, and he couldn’t stop himself from drawing comparisons to his other daughter, Lu Jing Yao.
Interestingly, both Lu Chao Chao and Lu Jing Yao were born on the same day. Jing Yao arrived looking red and slightly wrinkled, her cries soft and tentative, possibly due to her premature birth.
In contrast, Lu Chao Chao was born appearing robust and healthy, her skin smooth and fair like porcelain, highlighted by notably long eyelashes and eyebrows. Her eyes sparkled with an undaunted spirit as if she were a celestial being under the protection of the Bodhisattva.
Yet, after just a fleeting glance at Chao Chao, Lu Yuan Ze found his thoughts returning to Jing Yao, his heart clearly with her.
With a smile, he then promised, “Our Chao Chao has indeed been slighted, but Daddy will rectify this. To make amends, I’ll gift you the Hot Spring Villa.” He picked her up, his smile widening.
“Go on, say thank you to Daddy, Chao Chao. The Hot Spring Villa, along with its vast lands, now belongs to you,” Madam Xu added, her words causing a slight shadow to pass over Lu Yuan Ze’s expression.
Initially, Lu Yuan Ze had only planned to give the Hot Spring Villa itself, but upon hearing Madam Xu advocate for their daughter, he didn’t resist expanding the gift to include the adjacent lands, feeling a sense of guilt. This change meant he had originally earmarked the villa for Jing Yao and now had to consider a different present for her.
“Daddy is so wealthy,” thought Chao Chao.
Caught up in the moment, Lu Yuan Ze didn’t realize his oversight until he felt the unexpected warmth of urine soaking his clothes. Looking down in shock, he noticed the infant grinning up at him, gumming happily.
“Ah, ah, ah, she’s wet herself. The little miss has made a puddle,” exclaimed Ying Xue, the maid, quickly taking the baby from his arms.
With a resigned look, Lu Yuan Ze suppressed any frustration, recognizing the futility of getting upset with an infant.
Seeing the humor in the situation, Madam Xu suggested with a chuckle, “Dear, perhaps it’s time for you to change.”
After Lu Yuan Ze had left to change his clothes, Madam Xu playfully scolded Lu Chao Chao, calling her a “little troublemaker.”
“That’s the least he deserves for not cherishing my beautiful mother enough. It’s karma for neglecting Mama!” thought Chao Chao.
After Lu Yuan Ze reappeared, dressed in a new set of clothes, he scarcely lingered before exiting once more.
Disturbed by his abrupt departure, Madam Xu commanded, “Find out where my husband has gone.”
Ying Xue, ever loyal, and Jue Xia, sharp-witted, promptly departed, leaving the infant in her cradle.
Before long, they returned and informed her that he had been to Deshan Hall, the residence of the family’s esteemed matriarch.
“He took the old madam’s prayer beads with him. She was in particularly high spirits today and bestowed them upon him,” they reported.
This news deeply unsettled Madam Xu, leading Jue Xia to speculate, “Perhaps the lord intends to reserve those beads for the eldest young master.”
The topic of Lu Yan Shu, the eldest son, was a delicate matter within the Marquis’s household. A child once full of promise, a tragic mishap at the age of nine left him with physical impairments, casting him as a somber family secret, shrouded in sadness and silence.
Madam Xu had previously implored the old madam for these prayer beads, attributing to them divine potency. The old madam’s refusal to part with them, citing “Yan Shu’s destiny,” had led to Madam Xu’s fruitless pleas, kneeling for three grueling days and nights.
These beads, consecrated by the abbot of the National Temple and highly esteemed throughout the capital, were considered immensely sacred. Each of the one hundred and eight beads was regarded as priceless, and their endowment to the old madam was seen as an omen of forthcoming affluence and honor for the Marquis Zhongyong’s lineage, elevating their value significantly.
The apparent ease with which these esteemed beads were now dispensed stirred great concern in Madam Xu.
Later that evening, the return of Deng Zhi, the chief maid, was startling. She appeared pale and noticeably troubled, clutching a wooden doll tied with a name card around its neck by a white ribbon. Her hands trembled as she offered it to Madam Xu, then promptly knelt, her distress evident.
“Oh no, oh no, isn’t this akin to the witchcraft that precipitated my uncle’s premature demise?” thought Chao Chao. Unaware of the gravity of the situation, young Chao Chao continued to contentedly blow bubbles, undisturbed by the unfolding events.
The instant Madam Xu touched the effigy, a cold shiver ran through her, and she nearly let the foreboding artifact slip from her grasp.
Despite her own trepidation, Deng Zhi tried to reassure her. “The estate is securely guarded. Please be at ease, Madam.”
The discovery of this item struck fear in the head maid. She was acutely aware of the peril these cursed objects represented. Given the Xu family’s prominent position in the capital and their patriarch’s former role as the royal tutor—a position he resigned amidst the king’s growing distrust—any implication of involvement with dark sorcery could trigger the king’s paranoia, putting the Xu family at risk of damning allegations.
Furthermore, the standing and dignity of the family were under threat, especially since Madam Xu’s brother held a prominent role as a third-rank official, a position earned through their father’s esteemed contributions. This familial prestige and honor were key factors in Marquis Zhongyong’s decision to pursue Madam Xu for marriage. Any hint of scandal could potentially isolate Madam Xu, depriving her of her family’s support and leaving her exposed to vulnerabilities within the Marquis’s household.
Upon closer inspection of the name card attached to the carving, a wave of distress washed over Madam Xu, her expression tensing with concern.
Deng Zhi, who had been raised within the walls of the Xu family estate, believed she recognized the script. “This appears to be penned by Old Lord Xu,” she ventured, referring to Madam Xu’s father.
Yet, with a heavy heart and tear-streaked cheeks, Madam Xu corrected her, “No, this is my own handwriting.”
This acknowledgment sparked a whirlwind of emotions—relief that it wasn’t her father’s handwriting, fear for what the carving signified, and a deep-seated sense of gratitude. As the youngest daughter, Madam Xu had received most of her education under the watchful eye of her elder brother, who significantly influenced her penmanship, closely resembling their writing styles.
After her union with Lu Yuan Ze, he once admired her script and asked her to teach him to emulate it. However, as time passed and due to his apparent disdain for her lineage, she found herself increasingly estranged from her own family. This disconnection felt like losing a part of her identity, a painful reminder of the sacrifices she had made in her marriage.