Chapter 46: The Miraculous Sight of Seeing Ghosts
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Madam Xu entered the room looking for her child, but the bed was empty. Surprised, she asked, “Where’s Chao Chao? Didn’t she say she was excited to witness the miracle this afternoon?”
The recent activities of Lu Jing Yao, considered miraculous by many, were the talk of the town and had even reached the royal palace, stirring the court officials.
“She was eager to witness the miracle, but now she’s outside feeding the birds with a large plate of leftover rice. Ying Xue went with her for company. Why don’t we join them?” the head maid replied.
Madam Xu hesitated, cautioning, “The square might be too crowded for Chao Chao today.” She noticed Deng Zhi grabbing an umbrella and asked, “It’s sunny today, why do we need an umbrella?”
The weather had been cold, but today was unusually sunny.
Deng Zhi, smiling mischievously, said, “It was the young miss’s idea. She insisted on bringing it along. She’d be quite upset without it.”
Madam Xu chuckled, knowing Chao Chao’s temperament well. Rather than being sad, Chao Chao was more likely to throw a tantrum, which involved spitting and blowing bubbles through a bamboo tube used for her milk bottle while mumbling what sounded like curses—an adorable and seemingly intense sight.
To maintain the peace, Madam Xu decided to bring the umbrella with them. To their surprise, they found Lu Chao Chao by the lake, sitting and spreading rice grains while mumbling, “Rain… rain… come again…” in her childlike voice, trying to keep her balance.
Birds, drawn by the rice, gathered around her, competing for the grains and her attention. Despite the beautiful scene, Lu Chao Chao seemed displeased with the pigeons, shooing them away with a look of disgust, insisting on Ying Xue holding the umbrella to ward them off.
As the birds came and went, the plate of rice Lu Chao Chao held never seemed to run out, no matter how much she fed them, adding a touch of magic to the ordinary scene of birds fluttering in the sky.
Deng Zhi openly complimented, “Miss Chao Chao is so kind-hearted.”
This made Madam Xu take a deeper look at her daughter.
The sunlight highlighted the girl’s innocence and happiness. She wore a green jacket, her hair tied up in cute buns decorated with red bells that tinkled, enhancing her appeal. Her smile was bright, spreading happiness all around her.
In her sweet voice, the baby sang internally, “Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain… Make my mama happy.”
As Madam Xu traveled in the carriage, she looked up at the sky, wondering if her daughter’s hopeful song could really bring rain. The trip to the square was slow due to the large crowd gathered in anticipation of the miracle.
“Madam, we own two shops nearby. We can watch the event from the second floor of one,” Deng Zhi offered, leading Madam Xu through the crowd. After making their way through, they reached their grain store.
“Madam, please, upstairs.” Deng Zhi pointed to the stairs, where the upper floor provided a clear view of the event. The servants had prepared tea and snacks for Madam Xu’s comfort as she took her place by the window, looking out at the stage set some distance away.
The air buzzed with whispers, “So many birds in the sky, never seen so many before. All kinds of birds…”
Once looked down upon, Pei Jiao Jiao now held her daughter proudly. Her improved status was acknowledged by someone who praised, “You really know how to have children, madam. A son with great talents and a daughter with such abilities. She’s like a lucky charm for North Zhao, possibly bringing it good fortune.”
Pei Jiao Jiao, looking poised, modestly replied, “If it brings good fortune to North Zhao, it would be my Jing Yao’s honor.”
Lu Jing Yao, young but with a mature undertone in her voice, said with a hint of resentment, “Me, help you!” Her slightly unclear speech pointed to her young age.
Pei Jiao Jiao, seeing potential in her children’s talents, felt confident about her family’s future. With a wise son and a heaven-blessed daughter, she was optimistic.
Lu Jing Yao, looking up, considered her unique destiny. If heaven chose her for reincarnation, she must be the story’s destined heroine.
At that moment, she was at the center of the crowd, sitting with composed anticipation. Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself as more people gathered, drawn by the potential of witnessing something truly remarkable.
She realized that the crowd was a mix of ordinary people, court officials, and even royalty.
Deep down, she understood the true nature of her parents’ relationship. Her mother and father represented true love, leaving Madam Xu, the legal but unloved wife, feeling like an outsider. Despite her official status, Madam Xu felt like an unwelcome intruder, a resentful figure holding a position not earned by love.
The sky turned into a show with more pigeons and various exotic animals joining in, captivating the crowd. Their amazement and excitement grew louder by the minute.
As more people filled the streets and looked up, Madam Xu felt a mix of emotions. She wondered about the legitimacy of Pei Jiao Jiao and Lu Yuan Ze’s love. If their love was true, perhaps bringing her into their family was justified. But the secrecy, the hidden marriage, and children, seemed like a direct insult. And the plots against her and her child’s lives to make way for their children felt like a profound betrayal. Did their lives hold no value in the eyes of others?
Anger and a sense of defeat washed over Madam Xu as she watched the birds, wondering if even fate was against her.
“I want to go down and see this for myself,” Chao Chao internally begged, wanting to join the crowd.
Deng Zhi held her back, expressing concern, “Madam said not to go downstairs. She’s probably worried about the crowd and the risk to you, Little Miss…”
As the crowd’s fascination with the birds continued, a group of young men in blue surrounded Lu Jing Huai. “Brother Jing Huai, your sister might attract the attention of influential people. Now is the time to rise with her,” they suggested, seeing an opportunity for political gain.
Lu Jing Huai remained indifferent, as if he had no ambition. “My goal is to support my sister, not to use her success for my own benefit,” he said, rejecting the idea of leveraging his sister’s achievements.
Sure enough, a wave of applause greeted the fraud as his friends praised his talents and expressed confidence in his success in the upcoming royal exam, regardless of the spectacle.
As the sky hinted at an impending storm, Lu Chao Chao quietly sat on the head maid’s lap, a grass blade between her lips, as if preparing for the change.
In the city’s heart, the crowd’s excitement peaked, some starting to chant, calling the event a miracle. Pei Jiao Jiao watched from afar, amused by Jing Yao’s ability to influence public opinion so skillfully at such a young age. Jing Yao’s knack for leading chants and moving people was a clear sign of her cleverness, a trait she had mastered well.
“Miracle, miracle… Miracle, miracle…” The entire city was ensnared by a sense of marvel, everyone looking up, their eyes wide and mouths agape in sheer wonder at the scene unfolding above.
But then, the mood began to shift subtly. Initially, it was just a few sporadic drops, a soft “Drip… Drip, drip, drip…” that slowly turned into a more consistent rain. With growing curiosity, people started to notice the unusual moisture, tasting it, touching their faces in bewilderment, and sharing puzzled looks under the darkening sky. “Is it really raining?” they whispered to each other as the initial excitement evolved into a ripple of confusion that quieted the noisy crowd.
The curiosity intensified when someone pointed out something unexpected, their voice filled with astonishment, “Why are the raindrops white?” This question caught everyone’s attention, highlighting the strange nature of the event. Soon, another voice added, with a hint of revulsion, “Strange, these raindrops smell odd.” As the crowd noticed the unusual, fishy odor that lingered in their mouths, expressions of disgust appeared on their faces. “This doesn’t seem like normal rain,” became the murmured agreement.
With increasing unease, the crowd looked up again. As the truth set in, the initial awe turned into shock. What was thought to be miraculous rain was actually coming from the birds above. To the city’s horror, it became evident that the white raindrops were not water, but an unpleasant substance dropping from the birds themselves.