Chapter 47: This Place Cannot Lack Me
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Moments ago, the crowd had been a picture of frenzy, their faces brimming with unbridled excitement.
Now, their pupils shrank in horror. “Ahhh!!” they screamed, their expressions a mix of resistance and utter shock.
“It’s bird droppings! Bird droppings!”
“Run, run! The heavens rain down bird droppings!”
“Forget the rain—it’s a downpour of bird filth! Save us!”
No one dared to lift their head for fear of the vile stuff landing in their mouths. Panic-stricken, they scurried about like frightened mice, heads bowed low.
The chaos from earlier vanished in an instant, replaced by a scene of sheer mayhem. An unending torrent of bird droppings descended from the heavens. The sheer density of the crowd made it impossible for anyone to dodge or hide.
Even officials of the North Zhao Imperial Court were among the victims, their faces turning crimson with anger as bird droppings crowned their heads.
“What divine miracle?! This is utter nonsense!”
“Complete rubbish! To hell with your so-called miracle!” Some even began to hurl curses openly.
The once-reverent crowd was now a picture of disarray, their faith shattered as they fled in disgrace. Among them, Madam Xu stood stunned, her heart a whirlwind of emotions as she observed the chaotic scene before her. Those who had earlier proclaimed the marvels of a divine miracle now cursed freely, their voices filled with disdain.
Deng Zhi widened her eyes, momentarily unable to process what she was witnessing.
“Bird droppings rain… this is bound to make Northern Zhao a laughingstock,” she murmured, watching the zealous crowd devolve into bedraggled clarity. She stifled a laugh that nearly escaped her lips.
“Truly, the Bodhisattva must be smiling upon us, avenging Madam.”
She burst into hearty laughter, struggling to contain herself.
Madam Xu, however, thought back to Lu Chao Chao’s peculiar behavior. She raised her hand to rub her temple. No doubt about it—this was Chao Chao’s doing!
[She did it for me, to avenge me and bring me joy.] Madam Xu’s heart softened. [Such a thoughtful little sweetheart.]
The rain of bird droppings persisted for a full half-hour. The streets became impassable, and retching sounds accompanied every step the crowd took as they departed, hearts full of venomous resentment towards Lu Jing Huai’s household.
Even the imperial carriage, rushing past the gates, carried echoes of furious shouting from within.
On the elevated platform, Pei Jiao Jiao’s face was a mask of panic. Someone even kicked her in retaliation.
“A deranged mistress lured us out to suffer this! Truly, mistresses are good for nothing.”
“And their illegitimate children are even worse!”
Madam Xu could no longer suppress her laughter, chuckling lightly.
Lu Yuan Ze hadn’t escaped unscathed either.
“Lord Lu, do you have a grudge against this official? You intentionally coaxed me out here to witness this so-called miracle, only to leave me drenched in bird filth! I will not forgive this slight!”
“Lord Lu, you’d better be prepared!”
“Lord Lu, take care of yourself!” The officials clutched their soiled faces, clambering aboard their carriages in utter humiliation as they sped away.
Under her umbrella, Madam Xu carefully climbed into her own carriage. Upon returning to the gates of Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor, she issued orders.
“Prepare some hot water. I need a bath.” Although no bird droppings had touched her, the stench seemed to permeate the entire capital, leaving her uneasy.
She bathed two or three times and had incense lit in every corner of her room before she finally felt some relief.
“Where’s Chao Chao?” she asked.
Before anyone could answer, the little one appeared, crawling with all her might towards the doorframe. Her chubby little hands tightly gripped a thin stick.
The threshold of the main courtyard was high, and Lu Chao Chao struggled against it, her face a picture of near-tears.
“Help, hug… Chao Chao…” she whimpered, stuck midway. Neither able to go up nor down, she was a pitiful sight.
Deng Zhi hurried forward to lift her down. Once upright, the little one wobbled unsteadily, using a stool for support. The stick in her tiny hand was offered to Madam Xu as she bowed her head timidly.
“I-it… w-was Chao… Chao Chao’s… f-fault,” she stammered, her soft voice slow and deliberate, her pronunciation adorably clumsy.
She extended her tiny hand forward, chubby and dimpled, its sheer cuteness melting hearts.
“What did you do wrong?” Madam Xu couldn’t bear to punish her. Her little daughter’s appearance alone was enough to turn her heart into a puddle.
The little one wore an expression of pitiful innocence, her long and dense lashes glistening with tears. Yet, Madam Xu knew that in her heart, she was standing triumphantly with her hands on her hips, laughing to the heavens.
[Heh, heh, heh… I put laxatives in the bird feed.]
[Let her go wild, let her act up, and then make a mess all over her face!]
“No… should not… put… medicine,” stammered Lu Chao Chao, her words halting as if they barely managed to squeeze through.
“Pun… punish me…” She furrowed her tiny face, tightly shutting her eyes and tilting her head away. Stretching out her little hand, she struck a pose like a brave soul accepting her fate.
Madam Xu’s heart softened at the sight.
She scooped Chao Chao into her arms, holding her tightly. “My sweet Chao Chao, how could Mother bear to punish you? I know you only wanted to protect me, isn’t that right?” Madam Xu kissed her cheek, a faint milky fragrance lingering in the air.
Chao Chao opened her dark eyes, bright and clear as polished onyx, and nodded firmly.
…
Lu Yuan Ze did not return to the manor even as darkness fell.
At dusk, Madam Xu received an urgent letter marked for a hundred-mile dispatch.
“Flooding in Lin Luo?” Her complexion turned pale, and her hand tightened on the letter. She recalled her daughter’s words about the Lin Luo flood, how Second Uncle had been misled and the dike collapsed, leaving him torn apart by refugees.
“Why did he go to the dike personally? It’s so dangerous there!” she cried. The torrential rains had swelled the rivers to bursting—a breach could happen at any moment.
Deng Zhi hastily reassured her, “Please don’t worry, Madam. The Second Master said that if he hadn’t gone to the dike, no one would have realized the problem in time. His discovery averted a major disaster.”
“But now he’s stationed there day and night, practically gambling with his life,” Madam Xu said, tears of worry streaming down her face.
Deng Zhi knew the gravity of the situation but could only offer hollow comfort. “The commoners hold him in great esteem. They bring him food every day. Please, have faith—the Second Master knows what he’s doing.”
Wiping her tears, Madam Xu asked, “Has the letter been sent to my family?”
Deng Zhi nodded. “The letter was sent to the Xu family first.”
Without delay, Madam Xu took Chao Chao and returned to her maiden home. The Old Madam, frail in health, seemed unaware as the family kept the news from her.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao, in her adorably clumsy way, entertained the Old Madam, coaxing laughter and joy out of her. While the elder was amused, Madam Xu sought out her father for counsel.
Seeing her father and elder brother’s composed handling of the matter brought her some solace.
As for her silly little daughter…
She sat cross-legged on the bed, amusing the Old Madam to tears. Chubby fists curled tightly, she attempted to stuff one into her mouth. [Grandmother, Grandmother, watch me perform—I’ll swallow my fist for you…]
“Omph… omph…” Drool trickled down her hand as she opened her mouth wide, determinedly trying to shove her fist inside. [Grandmother, just watch—I’ll fit the whole thing, see?]
“Oh, my little treasure! Take your fist out! You’re such a darling, my heart…” The Old Madam laughed so hard she wiped away tears.
When Madam Xu entered the room, the Old Madam gestured at her, still chuckling. “Tell me, you were such a poised and graceful girl growing up. How did you end up with such a lively little sprite of a daughter?”
The Old Madam’s face was sore from so much laughing.
What delighted her further was the response from the twin brothers of the second household, Xu Yu Heng and Xu Yu Qing. They had finally shown signs of interaction.
These two grandsons, born as twins during a difficult labor, had always been dear to her heart. Yet they were like they lived in their own worlds, oblivious to all around them, despite being seen by countless physicians.
But now, they were smiling under Chao Chao’s antics.
Xu Yu Qing held a piece of pastry in his hand. “Eat… Sister… eat…”
Xu Yu Heng tilted his head, gazing at Lu Chao Chao in bewilderment. Why could he hear his sister’s voice?
The fist-swallowing sister was silly yet endearing.
He held a handkerchief, gently wiping her drool. Lu Chao Chao’s face flushed red from her efforts to swallow her fist. [Oh dear, coaxing adults is so exhausting!]