Lady Lu looked at Lu Chao with both heartache and reproach.
"This time, no one can change my mind. You must stay home until spring begins. I’ll make sure to nourish your health properly."
For once, Lu Chao was surprisingly obedient.
"Alright, I won’t go anywhere."
Lu Chao became like a porcelain doll in the household—everyone treated him with utmost care, speaking in hushed tones as if afraid he might shatter.
Lady Lu gathered a few elderly maids to study medicinal dishes, and under Xingyao’s supervision, Lu Chao was subjected to a regimen of five meals a day—akin to fattening a pig.
Apart from still suffering from frequent insomnia and nightmares, Lu Chao’s health gradually improved.
On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the day of the Minor New Year, Lady Lu led the entire family in offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God. The servants meticulously arranged the offerings and trimmed willow branches.
Xingyao stared at the malt sugar candies on the altar, swallowing hard. The candies made for the Minor New Year were nothing like the ordinary sweets bought any other day. Seizing the moment when no one was looking, she tiptoed, her tiny hand stealthily reaching toward the altar.
"Third Brother, squat down."
"What’s the matter?"
Lu Chao, puzzled, crouched down—only to have something sweet shoved into his mouth.
Turning his head, he couldn’t help but laugh. The plate of Kitchen God candies had only a few pieces to begin with, and she had swiped the two largest ones, still hoping to get away with it.
"Lu Xingyao! Stealing candies again! The Kitchen God hasn’t even had his share! Do you want a spanking?!"
"Mmm… not… not stealing," the greedy little one mumbled through a mouthful of candy, her voice growing smaller and smaller, like a mosquito’s hum, as if realizing her denial was utterly unconvincing.
"You’re in trouble later!"
Shishu quickly signaled a maid to replace the plate with a fresh one.
Lady Lu took the incense sticks handed to her by a servant, bowed before the Kitchen God’s image, and inserted them into the incense burner, murmuring a prayer. Then she turned and beckoned to Lu Chao and Xingyao.
"Come quickly and bow to the Kitchen God for blessings."
"O Great and Merciful Guardian of the Household, bless the Lu family with peace and prosperity. Grant forgiveness for sins, turn misfortune into fortune. May Yuanzhao triumph in the imperial examinations, may Yuanyi succeed in all endeavors, may Chao’s health be restored and his wishes fulfilled, and may Xingyao grow wise and blessed."
"Wishes fulfilled?"
Lu Chao and Xingyao knelt side by side on the prayer cushions, listening to Lady Lu’s devout supplications to the Kitchen God. Silently, they closed their eyes.
If possible, may the Kitchen God protect that spirited young man and let him live well.
"Kitchen God Grandpa, your candy is so yummy! Here’s some of mine—it’s yummy too, for you!"
Little Xingyao fished out two pieces of milk candy from her pocket and sneakily placed them on the altar.
"Lu Xingyao!!"
Even the usually composed and gentle Lady Lu gritted her teeth in exasperation. Sensing trouble, Lu Chao swiftly scooped up Xingyao and made a quick escape.
No sooner had they returned to the courtyard than they spotted Liu Yao.
"Young Master, Qingyuan and the others have come. Will you see them, or…?"
Lu Chao nodded.
"They came all this way to visit me. How can I turn them away?"
At the academy, they were always together, and he could refuse if he didn’t feel like meeting. But now that they had traveled all the way to Yuxi, he couldn’t bring himself to be so standoffish.
Zhou Qingyuan, Zhang Qing, and Chen Ning'an waited at the county office gate. When Liu Yao emerged, they had braced themselves for rejection—yet to their surprise, they were granted entry without delay.
"He’s willing to see people now?"
"How is his health these days?"
Liu Yao answered each question patiently, then couldn’t resist adding,
"My young master has improved somewhat. If possible, I hope you gentlemen won’t upset him again."
Let him have a good New Year.
The last half of that thought remained unspoken.
Though it had only been about ten days since they last saw Lu Chao, Zhou Qingyuan felt oddly disoriented. Countless words swirled at the tip of his tongue, but in the end, they dissolved into a sigh.
"You came all this way. What brings you here?"
Lu Chao gestured for them to sit, his expression puzzled.
"I’m leaving for Chu Zhou tomorrow for the New Year. Thought I’d visit you before then," Zhou Qingyuan said, pressing his lips together.
"I thought you came to collect your year-end bonus," Lu Chao joked.
The group burst into laughter.
"You’re absolutely right! I even brought two helpers to make sure you don’t welch on us," Zhang Qing chimed in.
Every year before the New Year, Lu Chao prepared bonuses for them—mainly because he had few people to rely on and squeezed every bit of help he could get from them. A year-end reward was only fitting.
Seeing Lu Chao almost back to his old self eased their anxious hearts. Steering clear of the topic of the northwestern war, they chatted merrily.
When Lady Lu heard of Zhou Qingyuan’s arrival, she was delighted and had the kitchen prepare a feast, insisting they stay the night.
Lord Lu, Lu Yuanyi, had returned to the ancestral home in Yingchuan the previous day. According to local customs, if the family couldn’t celebrate the New Year at the ancestral home, they had to offer incense to their ancestors on the Minor New Year.
With Lu Chao’s poor health and Lord Lu’s busy schedule at the county office, Lu Yuanyi had been the one making the trip alone these past few years. This year, however, the Lu family had a new addition, and Lord Lu couldn’t refuse his duties. He had barely managed to carve out time for a quick return to Yingchuan.
By the time the two returned, it was already dinnertime. After a few rounds of drinks, Zhang Qing grew tipsy.
"Lu Chao, I toast to you!"
Without waiting for a response, he poured himself another cup.
"I, Zhang Qing, rarely admire anyone… but you’re one of them. Hic."
"And Xiao Zheng is another."
Zhou Qingyuan tensed, shooting a nervous glance at Lu Chao before signaling Chen Ning'an. In the next second, Zhang Qing stumbled and crashed to the floor.
Just as Lu Yuanyi moved to help him up, Zhang Qing continued his drunken rambling.
"I want to go to Shuozhou! Damn it, this is pointless! Pointless!! They signed the peace treaty!! Hic!! Disgrace!! A disgrace!!"
"Wuwuwu… Shuozhou… they…"
Lu Chao’s hand, holding the teacup, froze mid-air before slowly lowering it.
"Uncle Lu, Zhang Qing’s had too much to drink—just spouting nonsense. Our apologies! I’ll take him to sober up right away!"
Chen Ning'an clamped a hand over Zhang Qing’s mouth, dragging him out while offering awkward smiles.
Lord Lu had already heard about the humiliating treaty at yesterday’s gathering. He sighed and waved it off, saying nothing more. The shameful peace agreement was like a slap to the face of the Great Yuan Dynasty. Any patriot would seethe with anger at the court’s incompetence.
The banquet table fell silent for a moment.
"Lu Chao! Let’s go back to the northwest!! Let’s go kill—help—mmph!!"
Chen Ning'an barely managed to cover Zhang Qing’s mouth again as the latter wriggled free, his face flushed with fervor as he stared pleadingly at Lu Chao.
Lord Lu’s eyes widened. Recalling the contents of the official bulletin and looking at his frail third son, he was momentarily struck speechless.
"Uncle Lu, he’s drunk and babbling. Please don’t take offense at the disruption."
"Ah, haha, no worries, nephew. Let’s keep drinking."
The banquet ended abruptly.
"Young Master, His Lordship awaits you in the study."
As expected, right after escorting Zhou Qingyuan and Chen Ning'an to their guest quarters, Lu Chao was met by Lord Lu’s attendant.
"Father."
"You… Was it you who drove back the Luocha invaders and repelled the Tartars in the northwest?"
Lord Lu cut straight to the point.
"Father, don’t take Zhang Qing’s drunken words seriously. You know my condition—how could I possibly lead troops into battle?"
Lord Lu circled his son once, studying him with concern.
"If you can't speak of it, then don't. My son, perhaps you should plead illness and rest at home for a while. Here in Yuxi, at least your father can still protect you. Your health can't endure any more strain."
Given the current state of affairs, he wouldn’t be surprised to wake one day to news of the Second Prince ascending the throne—after all, even Lord Zhou had already been demoted to Chuzhou.
After years of weathering the slow grind of life in Yuxi, his outlook had shifted. The pursuit of official rank no longer held the same weight. Now, a quiet, ordinary life with his family seemed far preferable to the constant unease of the past.
"Very well. I’ll follow your advice."
