Chapter 99: Divorce
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
In the stillness of the night, the crown prince found himself tormented once again by a recurring nightmare that had haunted him since birth. He dreamed of a celestial maiden, radiant with divine grace, suspended between heaven and earth. Her body was consumed by fierce flames as she sacrificed herself to maintain the cosmic order for the sake of the Three Realms. Gazing up into the heavens, he watched her brave figure ascend through the cosmos, her physical form disintegrating into the mortal realm amidst the roaring flames. The heavens and earth lamented her sacrifice, plunging the Three Realms into mournful darkness, eliciting tears from all who bore witness.
In his dream, he eventually found himself collecting fragments of her shattered hairpin and erecting a memorial tomb in her honor—a site that attracted a continuous stream of mourners every day.
Jolting awake, the prince felt an all-too-familiar ache in his heart as he wiped away his tears with shaky hands, his face already wet. A palace servant quickly offered him a damp towel to dab his face.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, the crown prince struggled to compose his thoughts for a considerable time.
“Your Highness, did you have that dream again? It’s been quite some time since it last disturbed your sleep,” remarked a close attendant, well-versed in his struggles.
In his youth, he frequently awoke from such nightmares, crying out for someone to save the celestial maiden. As he matured, he had managed to contain his emotions. Indeed, it had been a long while since he had last had the dream, a change that coincided with his encounter with Chao Chao. He never quite understood why meeting her filled his heart with such joy and familiarity, or why her happiness could move him to tears. Perhaps, by erecting her memorial, he had forged a mystical connection, allowing him to sense the echoes of her heart.
“Your Highness, are you planning to go out?” the servant inquired, poised to accompany him, but the crown prince signaled for solitude.
He proceeded alone to Marquis Zhongyong’s residence, comforted by the sight of the lights there. His followers would ensure the safety of their cherished deity.
Meanwhile, at the Marquis’s residence:
“The young miss has transformed misfortune into potential future blessings,” someone noted.
“It’s unfortunate that Miss Chao Chao’s first birthday celebration had to be postponed,” Deng Zhi sighed.
“That despicable woman benefits from this,” Ying Xue added, casting a glance toward the main house.
Today also marked Lu Jing Yao’s first birthday celebration. Chao Chao had been kidnapped, yet the elderly lady and Lu Yuan Ze attended the birthday festivities without a second thought for their abducted granddaughter, displaying blatant favoritism.
“The postponement is actually for the best; sharing the same day would have displeased Chao Chao,” Madam Xu commented dismissively. “As long as Chao Chao returns safely, that’s all that matters.”
Madam Xu then dispatched a reassuring letter to her family.
“Has a new date been set for the birthday celebration?” she inquired.
“Yes, three days from now. However, Milady, there’s something troubling… that Song Yu, it seems the court has indeed won him over. I’ve heard he wishes to meet Miss Chao Chao,” Deng Zhi whispered cautiously.
Madam Xu frowned slightly.
“Deny the request,” she stated firmly, not wanting Chao Chao to have any association with a bandit leader.
At that moment, Lu Chao Chao lay smiling in her sleep on her familiar bed, her dreams filled not with sacrifice or salvation, but with tantalizing visions of chicken legs, four-joy meatballs, braised eel, fresh shrimp balls, and cherry pork, making her drool in her sleep.
The following day, before dawn, the elderly lady and the Marquis summoned Chao Chao to the main hall.
Dressed in new clothes and carried by Madam Xu, they approached the hall, overhearing a child’s voice from within. Madam Xu’s expression instantly turned icy as a maid pulled back the curtain and announced their arrival.
The laughter inside paused momentarily as Madam Xu entered, catching sight of a little girl nestled warmly in the elderly lady’s arms.
[The female lead, it’s the little female lead! Why is she here at the marquis’s residence? According to the original story, she should be plagiarizing past famous works to aid Lu Jing Huai in gaining influence.]
Madam Xu scoffed inwardly at the thought. The female lead? Such a lowly individual also deserving of the protagonist’s role?
“Can’t you speak? Are you mute?” snapped the elderly lady upon noticing Lu Chao Chao, her irritation palpable. “At such a young age and already so troublesome, it’s no wonder she was kidnapped.”
“Look at Jing Yao; can you even compare to half of her worth? If you could, that would be a miracle for our family,” the elderly lady continued, convinced of Jing Yao’s superiority.
Lu Chao Chao merely glanced at her, her expression darkening. Sick and still stirring trouble.
[The old hag has a mouth but speaks no sense. May her throat fester and her mouth rot,] Lu Chao Chao cursed silently.
The elderly lady suddenly choked, feeling an itch in her throat and coughing. “How can you speak to your grandmother like that? Have you no manners? Cough, cough…” she exclaimed, enraged.
Madam Xu interjected, “Mother, Chao Chao is just a year old, please don’t be too harsh. She doesn’t understand…”
The elderly lady grew even more furious.
Lu Jing Yao, striving to be helpful, hurried to fetch water. “Drink some water, old madam…”
“Look how clever this child is,” the elderly lady commented, her mood softening slightly at Jing Yao’s actions.
She then glanced dismissively at Lu Chao Chao. “At such a young age, you exhibit jealousy and disrespect! This is Jing Yao; yesterday was her first birthday, and the young master sent an invitation to the marquis’s residence. Given our close ties, she was brought back here,” the elderly lady explained indifferently.
“The marquis values Jing Huai, hoping he can support our household,” she added.
Lu Jing Yao earnestly bowed to Madam Xu, who responded with a cold nod and said nothing further.
“My Chao Chao is innocent and joyful, unlike some who master the art of flattery from a young age,” Madam Xu countered.
Lu Jing Yao’s expression froze, tears welling up as she looked at the elderly lady.
“Chao Chao was kidnapped and suffered greatly, yet you didn’t inquire once about her wellbeing, instead showering praise on outsiders. To those unaware, they might think Lu Jing Yao is your true granddaughter,” Madam Xu remarked with a light chuckle.
The elderly lady’s expression stiffened, and she fell silent for a moment. “Nonsense, you manage everything here, and Yuan Ze doesn’t even have a concubine!” she defended loudly.
Madam Xu waved her hand dismissively. “Mother, I didn’t say he had a concubine either. Why are you so anxious? It was merely a casual remark,” she explained, smiling.
The elderly lady: “…”
“Chao Chao’s first birthday celebration has been set for three days from now. I came especially to inform you, mother,” Madam Xu concluded.
Jealousy flickered in Lu Jing Yao’s eyes. All the attention and celebration that should have been hers were instead directed towards Chao Chao. Her eyes reddened with envy, but she consoled herself, knowing that after the birthday celebration, everything would finally be hers. Her mother, hidden away for eighteen years, would at last stand openly before everyone, and Madam Xu would be disgraced and expelled from the marquis’s residence. All of this would be her own doing. Lu Chao Chao, with her elder brother paralyzed, her second brother a wastrel, and her third brother worthless, had no one to rely on.
I love the story I wish Chao chaos parents get divorced
??? Why did they said that the scum dad has no concubines? I thought the young girl 2nd brother brought was an official concubine?