Chapter 75: No Rumors, No Lies
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
“Wahhh… wahhh…”
“Stop crying, stop crying. Bring the imperial feast.” The Emperor noticed her swollen eyes from all the crying, worried that the ancestors might visit him in his dreams that night. He immediately ordered the Imperial Kitchen to bring over an array of dishes.
“Your father said this sweet Eight-Treasure Duck is something you’ll surely enjoy. He specifically summoned you to the palace to taste it.” The Crown Prince, seeing how reserved the Lu brothers were, suggested they dine in the adjacent room to ease their nerves.
Lu Yuan Xiao guessed it was because his second brother’s face was too awkward to look at.
The Crown Prince personally served Chao Chao a dish. Her small face was flushed from crying so much.
Sharing her life essence, the Crown Prince could feel Lu Chao Chao’s emotions as if they were his own.
[What adults consider trivial can feel like the end of the world for a child.]
She really missed that bowl of dog food.
The Crown Prince picked up a pair of silver chopsticks and, under Eunuch Wang’s astonished gaze, held the food to Chao Chao’s lips.
“Come now, crying while eating can cause choking. Quickly, try the imperial feast…” he coaxed with a gentle tone, so unlike the solemn and austere image from the rumors.
The Emperor didn’t bat an eye at this.
The Empress Dowager’s miraculous recovery had been deemed a divine event by the Imperial Physicians. She had even confided in him, saying she could now eat three bowls of rice in one sitting and felt brimming with vitality.
The Emperor kept this news tightly under wraps.
[Ah, how I envy her.]
Lu Chao Chao ate through her sobs, sniffling as she went.
“Sooo tasty…” She pointed at the duck.
The Emperor didn’t even glance up. “Make sure to pack a portion for her to take home when she leaves the palace.”
After a pause, he added, “And reward the chef who prepared the Eight-Treasure Duck.”
Eunuch Wang replied with a smile. He knew the chef—a fellow from his hometown who specialized in sweet dishes. Though the man’s culinary skills were excellent, his reserved demeanor had made him the target of many within the Imperial Kitchen.
In the past, his dishes were always placed the farthest from the Emperor. But now? He might soar to unprecedented heights, finally finding an appreciative audience for his craft.
“Go to the Heaven-Supporting Hall and check whether the Divine Flower has bloomed yet,” the Emperor instructed, his tone carrying a trace of urgency.
Eunuch Wang understood the gravity of the matter and immediately responded, “This servant will personally look.”
“What flower flower?” Chao Chao tilted her head in curiosity.
The Crown Prince patted her tiny pigtails. “It’s a flower. The Divine Flower.”
“It’s the deity enshrined in Northern Zhao.”
“There are countless gods across the Three Realms, but only with divine protection can Northern Zhao withstand malevolent spirits, ensure favorable weather, and bring peace and prosperity to the nation.”
“Each year, if the Divine Flower blooms, it foretells a prosperous year with no natural disasters for Northern Zhao.”
“Last year, the Divine Flower did not bloom. Northern Zhao suffered earthquakes, floods, and widespread displacement of its people.” The Crown Prince’s expression dimmed.
Chao Chao only half-understood his explanation.
“If the Divine Flower blooms, it means the deity is offering their blessing,” he clarified further.
“Above Northern Zhao is another kingdom dedicated solely to the worship of deities. It’s called the Southern Kingdom. Every three years, they come to Northern Zhao to perform blessings.”
Northern Zhao always had to bow and scrape before them.
Chao Chao let out an “oh,” but her understanding still fell short. The Crown Prince didn’t elaborate further.
“You’re not even one year old yet. Eating too much greasy food will make your tummy hurt,” the Crown Prince chided gently as he had the Eight-Treasure Duck removed. Chao Chao puffed her cheeks in anger, her little mouth curling upward in a pout.
She huffed before scrambling away on all fours, making her way to the Emperor’s table.
The Emperor was reviewing memorials when he noticed Chao Chao furtively pulling out a small bottle of crimson nail dye from her pocket. Its vivid color immediately caught his attention.
“Children shouldn’t use nail dye. You often suck your fingers, and it’s toxic,” he said, taking the bottle from her hands.
Chao Chao panicked. “Gimme! Gimme back!”
The Emperor shook his head. Nail dye was made from flower paste and alum. It was poisonous if ingested, and children were prone to such habits.
“Wan…”
“Wanna play…” Chao Chao clung to his leg, her small voice soft and pleading.
“Uncle…”
“Imperial Uncle…” The little one pouted, her milky voice tugging at heartstrings.
“There’s a flower… can bloom… paint nails…” Her bright eyes shimmered with hope.
The Emperor froze.
[If I help you bloom the Divine Flower, will you let me paint my nails?]
The Crown Prince suddenly stood upright.
“Father, Chao Chao is saying she can make the Divine Flower bloom.”
The Emperor’s gaze sharpened. “Is this true?”
The little one raised her chin confidently. “Carry me! Go see.”
The Emperor personally bent down, scooping her into his arms, and led the way to the sacrificial hall with the Crown Prince following closely behind.
The hall was heavily guarded, with officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Judicial Review exhausted from their watch. When they saw the Emperor approach with his entourage, they bowed respectfully.
“Your Majesty.”
“The Divine Flower has yet to bloom.”
“We’ve tried everything—ritual dances, sacrificial offerings—to no avail.” Even slaughtering livestock hadn’t evoked a response.
If the flower didn’t bloom, it meant Northern Zhao’s pleas to the divine had gone unanswered.
“Must we truly resort to child sacrifices?” the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review asked hesitantly.
The Emperor’s brows furrowed. “Impossible!”
“Northern Zhao worships a righteous deity, not an evil one. Child sacrifices are out of the question,” the Crown Prince firmly interjected.
“But if the deity refuses to answer, what are we to do?” the Minister of Rites sighed, rubbing his weary face.
[If I’d known, I’d have retired like Tutor Xu. At least he doesn’t have to face this mess.]
Chao Chao’s curious eyes darted around the sacrificial hall. The altar bore a table laden with offerings: chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep. A green flower stem with no roots or leaves stood upright in a glass vase, its bud tightly wrapped, revealing no hint of color.
Despite its lack of roots or water, it stood tall and unwavering, exuding an air of mystique.
The Emperor dismissed the others. “I will pray personally with my son. Everyone else, leave.”
Once they were alone, the Crown Prince explained, “Northern Zhao venerates Zong Bai, the Judicial Deity.”
“He oversees the laws of the Three Realms, embodying discipline, fairness, and impartiality. A mere trace of his divine light can bestow Northern Zhao with prosperity and harmony.”
He sighed. “But he is also the most difficult deity to serve.”
“Though many seek his favor, Northern Zhao rarely receives his blessing.”
[Zong Bai? That name sounds familiar.]
[Why is there no statue of him?]
“Deities’ statues are all housed in the Southern Kingdom. As their servants, mortals are deemed unworthy,” the Crown Prince explained, ruffling her hair.
Chao Chao couldn’t stop thinking about the name Zong Bai. Her eyes twinkled as thoughts raced through her mind.
Disciplined? Impartial? The Enforcer of the Three Realms?
[Sounds awfully strict and somber.]
“The offerings are wrong,” she chirped.
“Impossible! Legend has it that Zong Bai places great importance on rules. His preferences are widely known, and the offerings were meticulously chosen based on tradition,” the Crown Prince retorted.
The Emperor couldn’t help but chuckle. He knew desperation was leading him to grasp at straws.
Chao Chao slowly pulled out a handful of milk candies from her pocket. After some hesitation, she added another.
After deliberating again, she retrieved yet another.
Her small hand held three milk candies. Then, she produced a half-eaten sugar-coated hawthorn skewer, complete with a tiny bite mark.
“He likes these,” she said, standing on her tiptoes to offer them. But she couldn’t reach the altar, her small figure dwarfed by the towering table.
“This is unacceptable! Every year, the offerings are carefully selected from treasures across the land. If this angers the deity, the consequences could be severe,” the Crown Prince exclaimed, his heart pounding.
A few candies and a half-eaten skewer? What kind of offerings were these?
Even the Emperor’s gaze betrayed skepticism.
[Trust me. Trust me. He loves them.]
Zong Bai?
The Zong Bai she knew loved snacks!
The Crown Prince bit his lip, glanced at his father, then placed the offerings on the altar.
“Judicial Deity, if punishment must be dealt, let it fall upon this devout believer,” he said, bowing reverently.
Before he could finish bowing, the bud floating in the glass vase began to bloom slowly…
The Emperor…
The Crown Prince…
The deity had responded???
Wait a moment. The Judicial Deity, famed for his adherence to divine law, liked snacks?
Centuries of scriptures never mentioned this!
Everyone had been following the legends!
Lu Chao Chao: Don’t spread rumors or believe lies.
You’ve all been worshiping myths. Mine’s the truth!
Sigh….
I like the premise of the story but it seems like the “capable , strong, intelligent ” FML isn’t really that much..
I mean yeah your body is an infant but must your actions be really like that ?
Very stupid
In earlier chapter,she mention abt this..she thought to herself why she couldn’t sometimes control her own actions,why did she behave like a child..
She’s sweet as a baby. Unlike her freak of nature, transmigrated half sister.