Chapter 76: The Victim Is the King
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
“The sacred flower has finally bloomed, my distinguished official; you may now return home to celebrate the New Year. Your dedication to this task has been truly remarkable,” declared the king, radiating warmth as he stepped out of the sacrificial hall.
Surprised by this proclamation, the Minister of Rites hastened into the hall with eager, rapid strides. He found before him a fragile yet splendid divine flower, its petals open in a brilliant display that outshone any seen in years past.
Overwhelmed by the sight, the Minister of Rites, with wide eyes and trembling, knelt beside the fallen head of the king, both crashing down with a resounding thud. “This is undoubtedly a heavenly blessing for North Zhao. The ordinary people will be immensely grateful for this divine favor. We must offer our heartfelt thanks to the deities for their generous blessings,” he exclaimed.
Others present in the hall bowed deeply, their actions mirroring a deep sense of piety and reverence.
“Your Majesty, how did you manage to cause the flower to bloom?” an official asked, brimming with eagerness.
“And how did you manage to elicit a response from the deities?” inquired another, the Vice Minister, his eyes alight with curiosity.
The king dismissed these questions with a wave of his hand, “We shall discuss this at a later time; for now, Minister Zhou, please make haste to your home for the New Year celebrations. You might still make it in time for the lantern festival…” He then took the hand of Lu Chao Chao, his smile widening as they exited together.
Upon returning to the royal study, the king maintained his cheerful demeanor. “Bring some light refreshments suitable for young children,” he commanded.
Once inside, he seated Lu Chao Chao on the throne. “Who would permit someone to snore next to their couch? That would be unthinkable. Yet, Lu Chao Chao can endure it!” he proclaimed with a chuckle.
At the king’s directive, the room was cleared, and he brought forth an ancient book filled with esoteric symbols and timeworn text.
“This sacred tome from the Southern Kingdom is crucial for the worship of the deities. The Southern Kingdom, being devoted servants of the divine, has a profound understanding of the deities. This treasured book, handed down through generations, describes the worship rituals and customs that all nations ought to observe. It specifies what the deities favor and what they forbid,” the king explained solemnly as he placed the book in front of her.
Lu Chao Chao, sitting on the throne and unable to reach the table due to her short stature, pointed at herself in bewilderment. Having no alternative, the king lifted her onto the table.
Here, she accidentally sat on petitions penned by her father, Marquis Lu.
“All that your father has written here is utter nonsense,” the king stated dryly, to which Lu Chao Chao responded by patting her chest and declaring, “Illiterate!” in a tone mixed with earnestness and a sense of righteousness.
This left the king momentarily speechless.
“Ha…” laughed the crown prince, amused by her declaration of illiteracy. “Why take pride in that?” he wondered aloud, feeling compelled to pick up the book and explain further.
“Zong Bai, the god of judicial affairs, is strict and demanding. His worship must be meticulous: annually, pigs and sheep must be sacrificed, and incense must be burned continuously to show our respect for the deities.”
Lu Chao Chao, clearly annoyed, slammed her hand down on the table, causing herself pain due to her soft, tender hands. She winced, her small face contorting in discomfort.
[It’s all just rumors! He would sneak my yellow pea porridge and my carefully cultivated spirit melons—he would hollow them out, eat the insides with a spoon, and then even urinate in them! When I discovered the ruined fruits, it was utterly infuriating…]
Lu Chao Chao’s complexion turned a nauseous shade of green.
[Strict on rules? Ha, he was the biggest mischief-maker!]
“And the Goddess of Seasons, who oversees the yearly changes, values the breeze and the dew. Her offerings must be prepared a year in advance, aligned with the twenty-four solar terms, including the Start of Spring, Rain Water, and Awakening of Insects. Among the deities, she is regarded as the most ethereal and immaculate fairy. Any errors in the sequence of the solar terms can disastrously impact the year’s harvest.”
Lu Chao Chao regarded this skeptically.
[Ethereal and immaculate? That’s all tall tales! She actually has a penchant for, well, erotic literature the most! I refuse to listen, I won’t, it’s all nonsensical preaching.] Lu Chao Chao covered her ears, dismissing it all as mere fabrication.
Resigned, the king directed the crown prince to remove the divine book.
With the troublesome book gone, Lu Chao Chao’s mood noticeably improved.
“Paint…” She gestured broadly with her hands towards the king, eager. “Rouge, paint!”
When the king pretended not to understand, she persisted, her small soft fingers wiggling, “Paint, paint, paint!”
“Babies under a year old shouldn’t use nail polish. You might chew on your nails, and it’s hazardous,” the king explained. Seeing Lu Chao Chao’s disappointment and near tears, he quickly added, “You can apply it to someone else, though.”
Her tears stopped immediately, and she turned her gaze to the only other young person in the room.
The crown prince felt a chilling premonition, sensing he was now the target of her whims. He cautiously stepped back.
The king raised his hand, stating a rule: “While you can’t use it yourself, someone else certainly can. But remember, Chao Chao, you can’t apply it on me.”
At this, the crown prince’s legs gave way, and he fell to the ground.
“Father… My life is also a life,” the crown prince pleaded from the floor. “Father, as your son and your own flesh and blood, if I am embarrassed, you share in the shame.”
Lu Chao Chao, now holding the bottle of rouge, grinned widely, delighted by the vibrant color. [Look at this color, so bright… How beautiful, I chose the most vivid one.]
The crown prince, trying to avert his fate, suggested, “Chao Chao, perhaps we could find another person? Maybe Eunuch Wang…”
Eunuch Wang’s legs trembled as he eyed the bright rouge, feeling a surge of fear. “Crown Prince, I’ve done nothing to offend you! Please have mercy on this humble servant.”
“Uncle King,” Lu Chao Chao implored with a pout, “Big potty, together!”
The crown prince suppressed a laugh, overwhelmed by a rush of bittersweet memories.
Though he knew he couldn’t escape this fate, as long as his father was involved, surely no one would dare to mock him!
Lu Chao Chao enjoys the special privilege of challenging the king because she is his beloved treasure. In contrast, the crown prince doesn’t enjoy the same freedom; the king would indeed discipline him if necessary.
“Uncle… Uncle… Next time, won’t open flower…” The little one murmured softly, prompting the king to immediately reach out his hand.
Moved by a sense of duty to the common people, to the legacy of his ancestors, and to the world at large, the king’s eyes welled up with emotion.
Lu Chao Chao opened the rouge bottle, took out the tiny brush, and began applying it to the king’s nail.
Throughout this process, the king kept his eyes closed, his fingers spread to allow Lu Chao Chao to work with the cool rouge. With each stroke, he felt a chill not just on his skin but in his heart, reflecting on the day’s length and his regret over indulging in the eight treasure duck. “Ah, the ancestors know, keeping her content is a formidable challenge. She’s quite the little tyrant.”
After finishing, she waved her hand: “Really good looking… Big Potty, your turn.”
The crown prince, a mix of dread and resignation visible in his expression, approached. His memories of the king were filled with sternness and formality; the king rarely smiled and was not one to show affection openly, not even to the queen or his other children. Now, witnessing his father, dressed in his imperial dragon robe, affectionately blowing on his nails was a surreal sight. Such an image, if witnessed by outsiders, would undoubtedly be astonishing.
Nonetheless, the crown prince willingly extended his hands, allowing Chao Chao to apply the nail polish.
“Shoes…” Lu Chao Chao suggested sweetly.
Together, they silently removed their shoes and socks, lining up their toes, ready for her to apply the vivid red rouge.
Eunuch Wang looked skyward, contemplating the scandalous impression such a scene would create if observed by outsiders.
“Lu Yuan Ze, you truly are a fool to squander the blessings bestowed upon you by the heavens,” the king sighed deeply. He was still puzzled over how Chao Chao’s earlier altercation with a dog had somehow resulted in both him and the crown prince becoming the unwitting participants in her whimsical demands.
lol they can’t even resist xD