Chapter 45: The True Essence of Cremation
This novel is translated and hosted on BCATranslation
“Ah, dolly!” Lu Chao Chao hugged her new doll tightly, showering it with kisses. Her actions were a sweet testament to her genuine affection and love.
“Yan Shu made this doll for you just last night,” Madam Xu said with a touch of disapproval in her voice. She glanced at the doll critically, noting that it was missing an eye and had an overly large mouth, making it look more ugly than cute.
Feeling a strong attachment to her new doll, Lu Chao Chao puffed up her cheeks and let out a stubborn “Hmph!” Her eyes widened, pretending to be more upset than she really was.
Deng Zhi chuckled softly. “The young miss secretly came up with the design, and the eldest young master made it especially for her,” the head maid explained.
Clutching her doll, which she affectionately named ‘Ugly,’ Lu Chao Chao started crawling around on her little adventure.
“Let her be. Crawling is good for her, especially since she’s only nine months old. After the New Year, we’ll switch to lighter clothes, and she’ll be walking in no time,” Madam Xu said, her tone softening as she watched Lu Chao Chao with a smile. Her previous annoyance vanished as she admired the child’s spirited nature. “Ying Xue, Jue Xia, keep an eye on her while she plays.”
Lu Chao Chao moved around energetically, drawing the attention of the dogs in the mansion, who barked at her out of curiosity.
Eventually, she grew tired and leaned against a wall, trying to take a few steps on her own, her breaths heavy with determination.
Her adventurous spirit soon led her to the entrance of Deshan Hall.
The room was filled with the scent of Buddhist incense from the candles, creating an atmosphere of calm and tranquility.
Taking deep breaths, she pushed open the door to the small Buddhist hall, which was usually kept closed and dark inside.
Inside, a meditation cushion was placed at the entrance, and in the center, incense burned amidst a mist that barely revealed the peaceful figure of a Bodhisattva statue, creating a dimly lit, mystical atmosphere.
“Young Miss, we should go back. The old madam won’t be happy if she finds us here,” Ying Xue said quietly, concerned.
With determination and curiosity in her eyes, Lu Chao Chao climbed onto a stool and from there onto the offering table. After some thought, she moved the Bodhisattva statue over to make space for her clown doll, treating it with the same respect as the sacred statue. Now, both the doll and the statue sat side by side, with the doll appearing as if it had earned a special kind of honor.
With a proud smile showing off her two little teeth, she tugged on Ying Xue’s sleeve, making a bold request without words.
“Ah? You want to replace the Buddha statue with this?” Ying Xue exclaimed, shocked and worried about the old madam’s reaction.
However, it was hard to refuse Lu Chao Chao’s sincere look. With a brave heart, Jue Xia quickly hid the Buddha statue in her clothes to keep it out of sight.
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she spread her hands wide, signaling it was time for them to sneak away together.
They moved cautiously, avoiding the watchful eyes of the guards, and managed to return to the peaceful Sheng Feng Yard without being noticed.
On their way back, they stopped to watch a small duckling swimming in the lake, no bigger than a hand. Lu Chao Chao was delighted and decided to take the little duckling with her.
“In this cold weather, how did this duckling get here?” Madam Xu wondered, puzzled by its presence.
The duckling’s soft, white feathers felt wonderful to touch, and Lu Chao Chao held it close, enjoying its warmth and company.
Holding the duckling near her face, she happily said, “Pic from laky, cute,” her eyes shining with love for her new fluffy friend. “What?!” she exclaimed excitedly, even sharing some of her hidden snacks with the duckling.
The duckling, however, quickly walked away, its tail feathers wiggling amusingly.
“Ducklings like grains. Deng Zhi, get some for it, please. And make sure it’s cleaned well if the young miss wants to play with it,” Madam Xu instructed, ensuring the duckling was taken care of.
After being washed and cleaned, the duckling smelled nice and fresh, and Lu Chao Chao loved it even more. She liked the duckling so much that she wanted it to sleep next to her at night.
“Young lady, ducklings shouldn’t sleep on the bed. It might… make a mess,” Ying Xue warned, concerned about a potential mess.
The little girl was determined. She set up two pillows, one for herself and another for the duckling, insisting, “Good… friend. Together…” She then carefully placed the duckling next to her and cuddled it as she fell asleep.
Throughout the night, Ying Xue tried several times to move the duckling away, but each time she did, the little girl woke up, causing Ying Xue to eventually give up.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCATranslation
The next morning, there was a sad surprise.
Barely awake, Lu Chao Chao screamed, “Cold!!” Tears and snot streamed down her face as she cried.
While crying, she pointed to the duckling, which was now still: “Wuwuwu… squished… dead.”
“Dead…” she cried out, her tears revealing her innocence and sorrow, evoking a mix of laughter and sympathy from everyone.
Madam Xu had noticed the duckling’s weak state when it arrived, thinking it might not live long, so this outcome didn’t surprise her.
“Don’t cry, it wasn’t your fault. Should we bury the little duckling?” Madam Xu suggested gently, trying to comfort the upset child, who kept crying.
With tears in her eyes, Lu Chao Chao pointed to the ground and sobbed, “Cold…”
“Then, how about we cremate it? So it can be reborn as a human.” Touched by Lu Chao Chao’s deep sadness, Madam Xu hugged her, offering solace and empathy for the loss.
Ying Xue carefully picked up the duckling and went outside, while Lu Chao Chao, feeling a sense of urgency, tried to escape Madam Xu’s hold.
[Wuwuwu, I want to say goodbye…] Overcome by her feelings, Lu Chao Chao wanted to be present for the duckling’s last rites, her struggle to express herself fully highlighting the constraints of her young age. It was as if she was coming to terms with the pure innocence of her current life.
“Watch her closely. Make sure she doesn’t get cold in this weather,” Madam Xu told a maid, her attention briefly diverted by a letter she was reading. It was news that Lu Zheng Yue, another son of hers, would be back in three days, which lifted her spirits.
Madam Xu felt a mix of excitement and nostalgia. Her eldest son, Lu Yan Shu, was seventeen, and her second son was sixteen. The second son’s long absence was the first time he had been away from home for so long, filling her with both pride and longing.
Soon after, Ying Xue returned, holding Lu Chao Chao in her arms. The child’s face was covered in soot, but her eyes shone with a clarity reminiscent of the sky after a refreshing rain, pure and bright.
“Why is your face so dirty?” Madam Xu asked, puzzled by the child’s appearance. “Has the duckling been cremated?” she added, showing her concern.
“It was burned…” Jue Xia said sadly, describing what happened. “At first, the young miss was apologizing to the duckling on her knees, crying as we did so. But when the cremation started and the smell grew stronger, she stopped crying and started drooling… Eventually, the duckling’s wings became crispy, and its skin and meat turned golden brown as it fried in its own fat. In the end…” Ying Xue explained humorously, recalling the scene.
Madam Xu was shocked. “She ate it?!” Her voice was full of disbelief.
Ying Xue quickly clarified, “No, no, the young miss didn’t eat it. She only ended up grabbing a handful of ashes.”
With a headache coming on, Madam Xu rubbed her temples, thinking about the situation. “Please clean her up quickly. Zheng Yue will be back in three days, and he hasn’t met Chao Chao yet,” she said, gently tapping Chao Chao’s forehead affectionately.
[Oh, my second brother is coming home with his true love…] Lu Chao Chao thought to herself, amused and fondly thinking about her brother’s romantic situation. [My silly, love-struck second brother…]
Madam Xu looked a bit annoyed when reminded of Lu Zheng Yue’s engagement, which was an unexpected match that landed on their laps.
“It scared everyone three months ago when the second young master had that accident and fell off the cliff,” Deng Zhi added, touching her chest as if she could still feel the fear from that time.
Madam Xu felt deeply emotional, recalling the stressful time when Lu Zheng Yue was missing for three days after his fall until they finally heard he was safe and recovering. The plan was that he would return after making a full recovery from the injury.
Ignoring their conversation, Lu Chao Chao started looking around and pointed at some black spots in the sky, asking, “Black… birdies?”
Seeing the baby’s curious gesture, Head Maid Deng Zhi became quite upset as she explained why birds were gathering in the sky. “It’s because those sluts outside are causing chaos again.”
Madam Xu’s disapproving look made Deng Zhi immediately regret her harsh words, especially in front of the young girl. She quickly lowered her head, silently acknowledging her lapse in manners.
The scandal involving Pei Jiao Jiao, who was exposed as someone’s mistress, had become a major topic of gossip, attracting negative attention and ridicule from the community. There was widespread speculation about the identity of her lover, placing her in an unwanted spotlight and subjecting her to public scorn.
“That little girl Lu Jing Yao is trying to protect her mother’s honor, but imagine, she’s only nine months old and already talking so clearly. There are rumors going around that…” Deng Zhi paused, giving a wry smile. “It’s said that birds are strangely attracted to her. Now, she’s quite a sight in the square, drawing birds from all across the capital. They fly around her, creating a scene that has even caught the attention of the palace,” she continued, describing the extraordinary situation.
Hearing about the birds and the spectacle, Lu Chao Chao’s eyes lit up with excitement and wonder, eager to see more.
Watching her daughter’s keen interest, Madam Xu felt a wave of worry. She knew Chao Chao had a tendency to get into mischief, and with this new fascination, someone was bound to end up in a tricky situation.