Lol, got tricked since I don"t check next chapter in advance. This chapter is similarly long to the previous one so only one chapter for this week too (it"s just like two chapters but under same t.i.tle instead). Next chapter is back to the normal length (thankfully). And, this is the start of a big arc.
Chapter 48 – A Heaven-sent Fortune Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator"s hard work. Don"t think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase and translator!)
The "internal injury" when His Highness Crown Prince got frightened had yet to heal when another incident occurred.
This early morning, Chu Xun didn"t have to go to cla.s.s so he slept a bit later than usual. However, he got woken up by the clamouring noises outside. Originally he wanted to turn his body inside and cover himself over with the quilt to ignore it but the people outside didn"t let him. In a short awhile, someone knocked heavily the Crown Prince"s door nonstop. Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Your Highness, Your Highness, come out quick. A big problem has appeared!"
Zhu Li shouted outside. After shouting, with one leg, she kicked open Chu Xun"s door. She didn"t even give Chu Xun time to wake up.
Chu Xun unconsciously tightened his grip on the quilt and shouted, "Zhu Li, you"re being more and more impolite!"
Who knew, without waiting for Zhu Li"s any response, he saw her running like a wind into the inner room. In a blink, she put down an unknown thing on His Highness Crown Prince"s resplendent bed.
Chu Xun was stupefied for a while. What is this thing?! He collected himself and looked. He jeeringly bounced from the bed. "F*ck! Where does this brat come from? Quickly remove him from this Crown Prince"s bed! Zhu Li, if your skin is itchy, go out by yourself and turn to the right to receive plank punishment from Xiao gonggong."
Xiao Jing Zi entered inside after Zhu Li and explained to Chu Xun, "Your Highness, this matter cannot blame Zhu Li. Today this morning, we found this child at the entrance of Little Young Master Mei"s room. We don"t know who left the child there, it was as if the child fell from the sky."
He scrutinised that child. Approximately two years old, the child was raised to be delicate and full of life. The big eyes stared at Chu Xun without making any ruckus, extremely cute.
However, this little child before him couldn"t properly speak nor run yet. How could this child appear by himself deep inside the imperial palace? It must be some martial arts expert who had unknowingly sneaked inside and threw this little baby at Mei Qian Deng"s room door.
In the end, who is so bored to do this?
His Highness Crown Prince lowered his head as he pondered. If he knew which audacious to the extreme person that dared to make this type of prank in the palace, he would surely punish that person harshly. "Wait, so you"re saying this child appeared at the entrance of Mei Qian Deng"s room?" Chu Xun seemed to have caught a small crucial point.
Xiao Jing Zi nodded his head and replied, "Yes, yesterday Young Master Mei told nucai that he wants to wake up early today to practice sword arts and asked for the serving people to prepare h water to wash his face earlier. So, during daybreak, Zhu Li and I went to Young Master Mei"s place to send hot water and clean clothes. Instead, instead, we saw this child sitting in front of Young Master Mei"s room, fully focused in eating tanghulu[1]."
Chu Xun"s eyes twitched. This is obviously someone deliberately targeting Mei Qian Deng. Otherwise, why doesn"t that person choose to put the child at the Ming Jue Palace"s princ.i.p.al owner——this Crown Prince"s room door. That way would attract more attention from everyone. However, if it was a malicious targeting, a little baby didn"t seem to have enough destructive power. Compared to harming and slaughtering, the person who left this child seemed to be more like trying to make fun of Mei Qian Deng.
"Go and bring over Senior Official Song!"
Recently, Senior Official Song"s behaviour was unusual, he kept trying to trap Mei Qian Deng. Previously, didn"t he try to disguise as a ghost to frighten Mei Qian Deng to tears? It just that his plan failed. He didn"t manage to trap Mei Qian Deng, instead he trapped him instead. Now that this brat appeared, it might be Senior Official Song"s another wicked idea towards Mei Qian Deng.
While Chu Xun was waiting for Senior Official Song, he carefully scrutinised this little baby who at most could stutter two words. If this was Senior Official Song"s wicked idea, maybe this child was borrowed by him among the capital"s n.o.bles. Chu Xun attempted to start off from this child"s appearance to deduce which family was this brat from.
Sadly, after a round of remembering all those n.o.bles and ministers that he recognised, none of them matched. The descendants of the n.o.bilities had to enter the palace once on the first day of the year annually, their numbers were staggering huge. Chu Xun didn"t have strong memories of most of those children. To boil it down, it was because Chu Xun didn"t like children. He would avoid them as much as possible.
"Wei, who is your father?"
"Yiya." That child"s big, round eyes were innocent and ignorant, showing that he didn"t even pay attention to him.
"Then, what about your mother?"
"Pupu." That baby started to play with his own saliva, spitting bubbles.
Chu Xun, "Xiao Jing Zi! His saliva had come out! Quickly, take him away!"
Mei Qian Deng appeared. The female warrior calmly used a handkerchief to wipe clean that child"s mouth. Then, she took him in her arms. When that child saw Mei Qian Deng, he chuckled. It looked like he really liked female warrior Mei. He hugged the female warrior"s neck with his head resting on her shoulder. He was so obedient that it felt like trying to curry favour.
Chu Xun was astonished. Mei Qian Deng actually liked children?
Before Chu Xun could ask, Mei Qian Deng brought the child to take a walk. "Wei, boor, don"t go! That brat is a boy or a girl? Let me tell you, when he peed your whole body, you will cry."
"Geha! Gehahaha!" The brat and female warrior Mei outside had already amused themselves.
When Senior Official Song entered the palace, Chu Xun interrogated him about that child.
Senior Official Song was astonished. Even if he wanted to awaken Mei Qian Deng"s girly heart, he didn"t do this finding a brat and putting him in front of female warrior Mei"s room. This idea was actually quite good though. Senior Official Song used all his Chun Gong Hua[2] to swear, he really didn"t do this!
"You have the motive to commit the offence and the ability to do so too. Not you? That you tell this Crown Prince, who else will do such silly prank?!"
"It turns out in Crown Prince"s heart, laofu"s impression is unexpectedly this bad."
"En."
"Maybe it"s that kid from Zhao family! He too likes to prank." Senior Official Song immorally pushed the issue to Zhao Mo Ran.
Coincidentally, Zhao Mo Ran had entered the palace, "Teacher! Your s.h.i.+rking is too undeserving of your responsibility!" A few days ago they were still comrades, together they frightened His Highness Crown Prince. Yet now he had turned against his comrade. Senior Official Song, how can you be like this?! Zhao Mo Ran said, "My martial art has always simple. To sneak inside alone is already nearly impossible, what more to bring a child along. Your Highness Crown Prince, please perceive it clearly!!"
Chu Xun pondered. It"s not the two of them? Broadly speaking, only these two have the highest probability. If it"s not them, then who else?
"Senior Official, to prove your innocence, this Crown Prince orders you to thoroughly investigate this matter."
"Yes."
Senior Official Song sized up that mysterious child that came from the sky. Then, he shook his head. He too didn"t know which family this child was from. His aged hand stretched out wis.h.i.+ng to do the next step of investigation but that child got frighten and turned his body to hug Mei Qian Deng"s leg. Mei Qian Deng conveniently carried that child in her bosoms and softly consoled, "Baobao[3], don"t be afraid."
The action made Senior Official Song almost had his eyegla.s.ses fell off[4]. He had never thought that the crucial point to guide back manly girl Mei Qian Deng to show motherly side was actually a little baby.
"When did this child appear at Ming Jue Palace?"
Female warrior Mei shook her head. "Not sure of the exact time at all. I didn"t notice any abnormality."
It looked like this mastermind"s martial arts was extremely strong. Senior Official Song rubbed his chin. Just like Chu Xun, he had not a shred of an outline.
"Can this child talk?" Zhao Mo Ran who was at the side asked.
Mei Qian Deng nodded.
Zhao Mo Ran then bent over and asked, "Little friend, what is your name?"
"Bao, bao, baobao."
Zhao Mo Ran couldn"t help but to seek help from Mei Qian Deng. Mei Qian Deng shrugged her shoulders. She too had no method.
The child was a boy. The clothes on his body was of best quality. He looked tender and delicate. A look was enough to know he was taken care extremely well previously. Raising a child was not a one or two day matter. To be raised into this, his family must be rich and influence. Maybe he was some sort of a legal eldest grandson and would have to inherit the family in the future. Hence, they made guesses, could it be that some influential family got involved in a fight and hence sneaked this child outside. In the world, the hardest place to enter was the imperial palace. Possibly, the people in the fight didn"t want the biological parents to find this child.
Otherwise tell me, did the personage that couldn"t get along well with the Emperor and the Crown Prince need to use a child that couldn"t even walk properly to plot against?
"Basically, this is a child of unknown ident.i.ty. He cannot be left inside the palace." It was seldom for Senior Official Song to have serious look, releasing an intimidating aura. "However, someone dares to break the ground where Taisui presides[5]. We must get to the bottom of this. Little Deng, laofu need to check this child for a bit first." In case he was a human bomb or he had some sort of disease. There were some people who liked to use children unscrupulously since they looked harmless.
"At here?"
"Go to the Imperial Physician Bureau then."
After pa.s.sing Senior Official Song and a group of imperial physicians" secretive check, they found out: This is a very healthy child.
Senior Official Song had lived quite some years yet it was his first time encountering this sort of bizarre thing.
In the end, who was it that threw away this child inside the imperial palace and why do so?
Senior Official Song"s eyebrows were tightly knitted. He was at his wits" end. He gave up, "Ai, never mind then! Laofu will first let people to investigate which family lost their children recently and then make decision from it." He looked at Mei Qian Deng and the child in her bosom. He stretched his hands out, "Come, give this child to laofu. Laofu will take care of him for the time being."
Although Mei Qian Deng was unwilling in her heart, the overall situation must be prioritised. She gritted her teeth as she pushed baobao into Senior Official Song"s hug.
At first, baobao"s reaction was not big, only pus.h.i.+ng aside Senior Official Song as half of his body reached out to Mei Qian Deng and got pulled back forcefully by Senior Official Song. Senior Official Song had never been a kind grandpa. He nearly clipped this baobao with his armpit to walk away. In a flash he got glared by Mei Qian Deng twice and so didn"t make any silly move.
"Senior Official, which place are you arranging for baobao?"
Senior Official Song lived alone so he couldn"t actually follow him to this old fogey"s house.
"I have lots of subordinates. Just look for someone who had gave birth before to take care of him."
Mei Qian Deng turned around and faced Chu Xun. Chu Xun"s whole body was started. Because it was the first time Mei Qian Deng used this type of look to look at him. This look was an innocent one, an imploring one and even carried tinges of acting cute, a watery eyes. "Your Highness Crown Prince, it"s better for me to get out of the palace to take care of this child."
"You"re the Crown Prince"s study partner, not a wet nurse!"
Zhao Mo Ran"s eyes shone, "Then, why don"t we bring him back to my place? There are lots of servants in my place and my wet nurse back when I was a child is there too. She knows how to take care of children."
Mei Qian Deng was happy. In any case, it was far better than letting Senior Official Song bring back home.
Chu Xun got disturbed by this brat for a whole day, his headache painful to death so he just waved his hand, letting them to do as they wished. As long as this child didn"t appear before him, anything was fine.
Ever since Mei Qian Deng picked up baobao, two times every three days she would run away from the palace.
Zhao Mo Ran"s words were not false. The old servant in his house took great care of baobao. The little child was exceptionally intelligent. When Mei Qian Deng was not around, he was lovable and obedient, not making any noise no matter who hugged him. But the moment he saw Mei Qian Deng, he would be adhesive of her, not letting anyone to hug him.
Mei Qian Deng even choose a new name for him, called Xiao Jian[6].
Chu Xun couldn"t understand, "Why pick such a bad sounding name?"
"Because he like swords."
Chu Xun"s eyes twitched, "Your name choosing taste is really too random."
Baobao Xiao Jian actually did have a natural interest in swords. The thing he liked the most was sitting on the floor licking tanghulu while watching Mei Qian Deng sword-dancing.
"Plus, a sword is hidden under his feet."
This was the only clue. A pocket-size sword was tied with red string to Baobao Xiao Jian"s ankle. Though it was only as big as a thumb tip, the sheath"s workmans.h.i.+p was meticulous and complicated. Plus, the pocket-size sword really could be taken out. Mei Qian Deng used her own finger to try it out. The sword had already revealed, it was incomparably sharp.
With a light touch, Mei Qian Deng had felt her fingertip got cold. Following that, her blood had flown out. Mei Qian Deng instantly stuck the bleeding fingertip into her mouth.
Chu Xun saw and got angry. He scolded her, "Are you stupid or what? Why did you put that much strength to touch it?!" While scolding, he took out her hand. Lowering his head, he carefully checked. Then, he took out a handkerchief and wrapped up Mei Qian Deng"s injured finger. He even tied a b.u.t.terfly knot at the end.
Mei Qian Deng, "……"
Senior Official Song had studied this pocket-size sword on Baobao Xiao Jian and only gave two phrases praising the superb workmans.h.i.+p but he couldn"t think of any other clue.
Today, a bright sun and gentle breeze[7] with autumn sky high and air brisk[8].
Mei Qian Deng carrying Baobao Xiao Jian followed behind Chu Xun with Zhao Mo Ran at her side. The four of them were walking at the main street in the capital city. It attracted others to repeatedly turn their head back.
Actually, in the beginning, Chu Xun got taken away by the Emperor to discuss on the national affairs. Zhao Mo Ran didn"t enter the palace so Mei Qian Deng ran outside to find Zhao Mo Ran and play with Baobao Xiao Jian. Mei Qian Deng remembered it had been a long time since she saw Lady Su, the female cook who got tricked by Mo Nian Yuan to come to the capital city. Hence, carrying Xiao Jian she went to the vegetarian restaurant with Zhao Mo Ran.
As a result, when Chu Xun returned he couldn"t find Mei Qian Deng. After asking, he found out that she had went to search for Zhao Mo Ran that stinky brat. Jealousy rose inside his heart. With a stamp, he chased after them from the palace. First, he went to the place Zhao Mo Ran stayed without expecting with an empty result. When he was informed they had went to the vegetarian restaurant, he chased crazily to the vegetarian restaurant.
Lady Su had an innocent temperance and bad memory. After a long time, her love and hatred towards that hateful trickster had already mellowed down. Now, she was focused in doing business. The vegetarian restaurant business was getting better. Lady Su fancied Mei Qian Deng the most. It had been a long time so she was extremely delighted. But when she came over, the sight of the child in her bosoms separating the two burned deeply in her mind. She was so shocked, her tears had almost flow down.
"Young Master, Young Master had already this big son?" she asked with traces of crying.
"This is my adopted son, Xiao Jian." Mei Qian Deng had a calm face but there was a flash of joy in her eyes.
Zhao Mo Ran glanced again at Mei Qian Deng. When did you recognise this adopted son? Why I don"t know?
Lady Su loved the house and its crow[9]. She wanted to help Mei Qian Deng to hug the child but Xiao Jian hugged Mei Qian Deng"s neck while crying, "Deng! Deng Deng!" This nickname was not taught by Mei Qian Deng but self-made by Xiao Jian. Xiao Jian couldn"t talk smoothly but his brain was extremely smart. He heard others called her Mei Qian Deng so he knew it was the female warrior"s name. Hence, he picked the easiest nickname to call her.
Mei Qian Deng felt this child in the future would be a flexible, talented person. Every time she was practising her sword arts, she would let him stay at the side. Sometimes, Xiao Jian would randomly gesticulate, almost similar to a sword dance.
"He likes to eat tofu. Help prepare a bowl of tofu custard for him," Mei Qian Deng helped her out.
Lady Su responded and went away.
The scene up until here was still completely harmonious. Deep inside, Xiao Jian was a hyperactive child. With unfamiliar people he didn"t dare to be unbridled, acting well-behaved. Only when he was with Mei Qian Deng would he become a monkey. He couldn"t stay put inside the restaurant so he pulled Mei Qian Deng to run around outside. A step had just exited the restaurant"s entrance when the scene changed.
The lane was rolling with raising smoke and dust for a moment. Around ten people of all kinds were running. The one at the head had a red ball hanging on his head. When running, the ball jumped around, extremely interesting. That person ran while looking back and swore at the back, "Stinky women, this baobao[10] is not afraid of you. If you have the ability, come and get me then!"
In a blink, he had ran to the entrance of the vegetarian restaurant. Mei Qian Deng was afraid Xiao Jian got accidentally injured so she had already hug him in her bosoms. That leading person saw Mei Qian Deng and looked face to face for a split second. He raised one finger pointing at Mei Qian Deng, "What are you looking at? Never see a street tyrant?!"
Following closely was a group of women in red clothes carrying red-ta.s.selled spears chased into the lane. The leading woman shouted loudly, "Zhang Hu Bao, if you f*cking mom is a man, don"t run!"
Zhang Hu Bao was that street tyrant. He made faces at the woman behind him, "Only idiots will not run, you shrew! Let"s see how you will marry in the future!"
Mei Qian Deng blinked her eyes. She recognised that iron lady at the back was the Fourth Young Miss Di that Chu Xun had a blind date before. Mei Qian Deng quite admired Fourth Miss Di. Then, she recognised Zhang Hu Bao was that little local tyrant who made a ruckus in front of the vegetarian shop wanting to force Lady Su to marry him previously. Right away, she took out a leg. Hugging Xiao Jian, she did a cyclone leg attack and swept away Zhang Hu Bao on the ground.
"Aowu!" Zhang Hu Bao let out a blood-curdling screech.
"Hahaha." Xiao Jian liked the most when Mei Qian Deng brought him to fly around, the stimulation was unparalleled.
"Dang! Who are you girl? To actually dare to hit me, this Young Lord!"
Fourth Sister Di used this chance to use martial arts and arrived. Her whole body was riding on Zhang Hu Bao"s body while she turned around his arms and locked them. "Letting you run right?! Now let"s see where you can still run to."
"Aowu. Shrew, let go! Quickly let go!"
The noises outside had attracted numerous customers to come out and watch the fun. Lady Su and Zhao Mo Ran came out too. Lady Su covered her mouth in surprise when she saw the little local tyrant in embarra.s.sing position on the ground. Zhao Mo Ran quickly arrived beside Mei Qian Deng and grabbed her shoulders as he inspected around, "Are you alright?"
It was also at this moment that the spotless His Highness Crown Prince came out from the chaotic crowd. His Highness Crown Prince"s discerning eyes instantly saw Zhao Mo Ran"s action. Instantly, his little universe exploded. With hasty steps, he rushed forward and pulled away Mei Qian Deng. Using a slightly reproaching tone, "Why it"s always bad things happened when you come out? Who have a grudge with you again?"
He still thought Zhang Hu Bao was aiming at Mei Qian Deng. With a turn of his body, he shouted loudly at the little tyrant under Fourth Miss Di, "Previously, you made a ruckus in front of this vegetarian restaurant too. It looks like if I don"t send people to throw your family, you will never stop!"
Zhang Hu Bao, "……"
Baobao"s heart is grieving. Baobao"s heart is bitter. But Baobao doesn"t say!
"It"s thanks to this Young Master"s help that today I finally can catch this stupid brat." Fourth Miss Di saw it was Crown Prince. Under this broad daylight, in front of the ma.s.ses, she didn"t dare to expose his ident.i.ty so she pretended not to recognise him.
Recently, Di Mu Yang got called by Old General to return to their house. Heard it was because there was some abnormal movements of nomadic civilians at the north. Old General prepared to bring along Di Mu Yang to suppress them. Chu Xun cupped his hand in another hand at Fourth Miss Di as a greeting. Turning his head around, he stared at Mei Qian Deng again. What a good person, so it turns out you"re the one causing troubles!
"What are you doing standing there for? Follow me back now."
"Oh." Mei Qian Deng could feel Chu Xun"s anger. Now, she had learnt to be obedient, to follow the Crown Prince"s temper.
She pa.s.sed Xiao Jian to Zhao Mo Ran. Zhao Mo Ran had just stretched his hands when they heard Chu Xun said, "Bring that child along too!"
En???
Mei Qian Deng couldn"t understand Chu Xun"s meaning a bit.
This was saying to let Xiao Jian have dinner in the palace before returning?
It was still Zhao Mo Ran who understood. Lowering his voice, he asked Chu Xun with a smile, "Your Highness also notices Xiao Jian is so cute and so want to bring back to the palace to raise him?"
"Mind your own business."
Zhao Mo Ran still gave him a way out, "Your Highness" consideration is more thorough than us. It"s Mo Ran exceeding his place."
Hence, Chu Xun walked at the front while Mei Qian Deng hugging Xiao Jian following tightly. Zhao Mo Ran accompanied them up until the palace gate. Then, he bid farewell and left.
"Someone come."
"What order does Young Leader have?"
"Go and investigate the case of Yue family from the Luming Mountain. Check if there is still any survivor."
"Yes."
[1] Sugar-coated Chinese hawthorn
[2] 春宫画. Literally, Spring Palace Painting. Ero ero paintings.
[3] Not sure if I had done this one before. A pet name. Can mean both baby and darling.
[4] I admit. At first, I thought this is something wrong until I look up on the history of eyegla.s.ses and they do exist as early as 12th century in China (so don"t feel weird if some guy in Chinese costume drama wear it unless it"s the wrong dynasty)
[5] An idiom. Means, daring to defy the mighty or challenge the powerful.
[6] Literally, Little Sword. Not to be confused with the swearing little b.i.t.c.h (same pinyin)
[7] An idiom. Means, a warm and sunny weather.
[8] Phrase used to describe fine autumn weather.
[9] Chinese idiom. Means, to love everything and anyone connected to someone.
[10] This baby or maybe this Bao Bao (his full name is Zhang Hu Bao).
Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator"s hard work. Don"t think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase and translator!)