Chapter 58: Wishing to Adopt Her as a Daughter
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Before the words had fully left his lips, a soft, sweet, and distinct voice emerged from the little one in his arms: “Again!”
“More meat!” she demanded, her small hands forming an exaggeratedly large circle. “Big, big drumstick!”
The Emperor’s smile faltered, freezing in place.
“Candy… sneaky… hush…” The child mimicked a “shh” motion, her expression mischievous and cunning.
The Emperor rubbed his temple, feeling a sudden headache coming on. He tried again, “Chao Chao, if you become a princess, you will have supreme power, servants to attend to you, and the love of everyone around you. Don’t you want to be a princess?”
Gently coaxing, he sought to win over this extraordinary little one, clearly favored by the heavens. He wasn’t about to let such a treasure slip away.
Lu Chao Chao placed her hands on her hips, her small belly puffing out as she declared with great difficulty, “Want… to… call…” she scrunched up her little face, “… bad… dad!”
“No, no, no, bad!” she reiterated, her tiny features twisting in resolute refusal.
The Emperor’s expression darkened. “That damned Marquis Zhongyong! I ought to have him flogged!” he muttered. Clearly, the little one had developed a shadowed impression of fatherhood.
He softened his tone. “I am not like your father. I’m… a good dad,” the Emperor said, smiling kindly. Of course, he wouldn’t admit that his own children often trembled at the sight of him.
Adopting this extraordinary girl into the imperial lineage seemed like a perfect solution. Yet, seeing her clear reluctance, he didn’t press further, fearing it might backfire. Winning her over with time seemed wiser.
“You don’t like Marquis Zhongyong as your father? Well, your mother must stand strong, then.” He chuckled knowingly, acknowledging that matters of marital separation were mutual and even he, as Emperor, had no right to interfere.
Chao Chao blinked her large eyes. [My mother doesn’t like that scoundrel, anyway.]
The Emperor removed the jade pendant from his waist. “This jade represents me. It carries my authority as if I were present in person.”
“If you don’t wish to be a princess now, I’ll keep the title waiting for you. Should you change your mind, come find me,” he said warmly. Despite having never coaxed his own children, he found himself willing to indulge this one.
Chao Chao casually tucked the pendant into her clothing. Her tiny hand extended. “More, more, candy,” she demanded.
The Emperor was speechless. A princess’s title, weighed against a chicken drumstick? It seemed he had underestimated her priorities.
“Fine, let’s eat imperial cuisine,” he relented, lifting her in one arm. He glanced toward the Empress Dowager, whose complexion had noticeably improved, his satisfaction deepening.
Summoning a trusted aide to care for the Empress Dowager, the Emperor instructed, “No outsiders are to visit her.”
He gently patted Chao Chao’s head, her soft, fluffy hair melting his heart. “You’re still too young. Grow up safely and steadily, without drawing too much attention.”
After spending half the day with her, the Emperor reluctantly returned Chao Chao to Shi Yun. Shi Yun, overwhelmed by the Emperor’s unusual kindness, felt a chill run down her spine. [What did Chao Chao do?]
“Shi Yun, you’ve been exceptional. Your future holds great blessings,” the Emperor assured her, dismissing her from the palace with a wave. His gaze lingered on Chao Chao, who was now yawning sleepily, before he departed the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
Three days later, Shi Yun and the other ladies of the court were finally allowed to leave the palace. Exhausted from entertaining the noblewomen, Shi Yun sent word to the Eldest Princess, advising her to rest and not worry about the Empress Dowager, whose condition seemed to be improving.
By the time Shi Yun returned to the Marquis Zhongyong’s Manor, night had fallen, and the manor was brightly lit. Barely stepping inside, she was summoned by Lu Yuan Ze.
“What did His Majesty want with Chao Chao?” he asked, curiosity evident.
Suppressing a yawn, Shi Yun replied, “The Empress Dowager likes Chao Chao and kept her a while. But later… the little one wet the bed, and His Majesty had me bring her back.”
Lu Yuan Ze’s brow furrowed deeply. “How could she wet the Empress Dowager’s bed?! Such a lack of propriety! Though, it’s not as if she’s Jing Yao…” He caught himself, cutting off abruptly.
Shi Yun’s sharp gaze flickered. “Chao Chao is just ten months old—an infant. Isn’t bed-wetting perfectly normal?” With a quiet sigh, she instructed the maids to carry the baby away carefully.
Lu Yuan Ze suppressed his irritation. “How is the Empress Dowager’s health?”
“His Majesty has sent for the abbot of the National Temple to pray for blessings. It seems she’ll pull through,” Shi Yun informed him.
Lu Yuan Ze nodded, hesitating briefly before speaking. “Do you have something to say, Marquis?” Shi Yun asked, her tone calm yet subtly edged.
“Nothing. Year-end duties approach, and you’ve worked hard. I was foolish before, causing you grief,” he said, his voice tinged with guilt.
Shi Yun’s expression softened momentarily, though her smile didn’t reach her eyes. [Does he take me for a fool?]
Later that night, Lu Zheng Yue carried Chao Chao as he strolled under the moonlight with Su Zhi Qing. Su Zhi Qing, clutching her handkerchief nervously, had finally resolved to deepen their bond. Yet…
Lu Zheng Yue was cradling a baby.
“Chao Chao clings to me, so I brought her along. Su Su, you don’t mind, do you?” he asked, oblivious to her frustration.
Su Zhi Qing forced a smile, her cheeks reddening as Chao Chao’s bright eyes focused on her chest. The baby pointed and said, “Eat… milk… milk…”
Su Zhi Qing turned crimson with embarrassment.
Lu Zheng Yue quickly covered his sister’s eyes. “Su Su, please adjust your attire. Don’t sully my sister’s innocence. She’s just a child,” he admonished seriously, his tone almost monastic.
Su Zhi Qing nearly fainted from sheer indignation.
Chao Chao snuggled into her brother’s shoulder, her inner voice triumphant. [Hmph, dreaming of seducing my brother? Over my dead body!]