Chapter 58: The Scarlet Luan Seal

Countless people dream and exhaust their entire lives just for a chance to be related to the royal family.

Right now, what lay before them was far beyond a mere relative of the royal house!

It was the Crimsonlunar Princess of the Great Xu Kingdom!

The adoptive daughter of Noble Consort Yun!

The sworn younger sister of the Ninth Prince!

Such an unreachable, monumental opportunity could be had simply with a nod!

Yet, it was refused just like that?

Noble Consort Yun was also stunned, momentarily at a loss for words, her slender frame swaying slightly.

Chai Xiao stepped in to support her, offering soft words of comfort.

"Though she comes from the background of a militia vice-commander, her parents passed away early, and she shares a deep bond with her master, akin to that of father and daughter."

"Now that she is to take an adoptive mother, she must naturally consult her master's wishes."

"This shows she does not covet power and prestige; it is a truly noble character!"

"Otherwise, what if in two days, second brother Chai Huo gets wicked ideas and tries to take her as a secondary consort? That would be far more tempting than becoming our adoptive kin!"

"If she lacked steadfastness, went along with it, and turned her spear around to deal with us, wouldn't that be even worse?"

"So, you should listen to me: adopt the fictional person 'Crimsonlunar Princess' as your foster daughter, and let Vermilion Bird represent her. She will certainly be delighted!"

Hearing her son put it this way, the vibrant light returned to Noble Consort Yun's eyes.

Vermilion Bird bowed once more.

"Noble Consort, My Lord's words are right!"

"I earnestly beseech Your Ladyship to take the 'Crimsonlunar Princess' as your foster daughter. I am willing to act as her representative, alongside the Twelve Golden Hairpins, to shoulder this responsibility together!"

With that, she glanced behind her.

The Twelve Golden Hairpins dropped to their knees in unison.

"We are all willing to undertake the responsibility of the 'Crimsonlunar Princess'! We bow in profound gratitude to Noble Consort, our Mother!"

Noble Consort Yun nodded, signaling Zhang Bao to make a record.

"At this very hour today, I recognize 'Crimsonlunar' as my adoptive daughter, conferring upon her the title of Junior Princess, in accordance with the ceremonial protocols for a Princess of the Commandery. Let the Imperial Household Department record this for the archives."

Zhang Bao acknowledged the order and noted it down.

At that moment, someone approached, clapping their hands.

"I also believe such an arrangement is exceptionally well made!"

It was none other than Junior Preceptor Su Zhongjing!

Chai Xiao stepped forward to greet him.

"Teacher!"

"You've finished the arrangements so quickly!"

Su Zhongjing nodded, casting a meaningful look at Vermilion Bird.

"Just now at the garden entrance, I happened to overhear. Vermilion Bird respects her master and honors the Dao; that is truly rare!"

Hearing this, Vermilion Bird turned slightly and bowed with cupped hands.

"Thank you for the praise, Sir!"

Chai Xiao chuckled playfully.

"Teacher, my respect for you is not a whit less!"

Su Zhongjing smiled faintly.

"My thanks to Your Highness for your grace!"

"As for adopting a fictional person as kin, this is truly the first time I have ever heard of it!"

"Your Highness dares to think what others dare not think, and do what others dare not do. This humble servant is full of admiration!"

Chai Xiao stuck out his tongue playfully.

"Needs must when the devil drives!"

"With the heavy responsibility of a million taels of silver weighing on us, we have to raise an average of one hundred thousand taels a day!"

"There's no other way! I just have to think of ways to be even crazier than the Second Prince!"

Su Zhongjing actually cupped his hands in salute.

"If madness has reason and order to it, what harm is there in being mad?"

"Qu Yuan once said: 'The whole world is turbid while I alone am clear; everyone else is drunk while I alone am sober.'"

"Many people treat someone who is clear and sober like a madman."

"Looking at it now, in this chaotic age, there are many who are turbid and few who are clear, many who are drunk and few who are sober, many who are mad and few who are sane."

"Since that is the case, we might as well all go mad, and see who stays mad until the very end!"

Hearing this, Chai Xiao's face broke into a broad smile.

Teacher, you really are praising me here, aren't you!

Su Zhongjing then bowed to Noble Consort Yun with cupped hands.

"Your Ladyship, when I heard this at the entrance earlier, I also found it strange, and felt that if an adoption was to be made, it should be of a real person."

"Yet, upon second thought, since we are forging a bond of kinship, why must it be limited to a real person, and why must it be limited to just one person?"

"Congratulations, Your Ladyship! Not only have you secured the kinship of the 'Crimsonlunar Princess,' but Vermilion Bird is willing to act as her representative."

"And kneeling right here on the ground are twelve female guards as well."

"Thirteen people in all, serving as foster daughters—what a wonderful thing!"

"To have so many children is immense good fortune indeed!"

Noble Consort Yun was startled at first, but quickly grasped the meaning.

"Splendid! The teacher's reminder is spot on. Truly the great wisdom of a Junior Preceptor!"

Noah, write this down: Princess Yiluan shall be represented by Vermilion Bird, but all Twelve Golden Hairpins shall have a share!"

"You twelve, regarding this adoption as foster kin, do you still need to go back and consult your parents or masters about it?"

The Twelve Golden Hairpins exchanged glances, looked together at Vermilion Bird, and bowed their heads in unison.

"We have no need to consult anyone! We pay homage to our Mother!"

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The sound of kowtowing echoed incessantly.

Seeing so many "daughters" added all at once, Noble Consort Yun beamed from ear to ear.

"Good! Good! Good! Rise, all of you! Thank you, maidens! Each of you shoulders a heavy burden, and I shall be counting on you in the days to come!"

The Twelve Golden Hairpins responded in unison.

"We shall dedicate our hearts and strength, and never fail this heavy trust!"

The atmosphere at the scene instantly surged with enthusiasm.

Chai Xiao secretly gave a thumbs-up, extending his hand toward Su Zhongjing for a fist-bump.

Su Zhongjing was taken aback.

What is this brat doing?

He never had such "novel gestures" before!

Is he trying to say that master and disciple joining forces has dissolved the awkwardness of Noble Consort Yun adopting a fictional person, while also boosting the morale of the maidens?

Su Zhongjing's mischievous streak was also piqued; he shook his head and extended his fist to bump against his disciple's.

Noble Consort Yun was exceedingly clever and had long taken in the master and disciple's little antic, prompting her to let out a chuckle.

Yet very soon, this mother figure of the Great Xu nation turned serious.

"You Twelve Golden Hairpins and Vermilion Bird now carry heavy burdens on your shoulders. Hurry and familiarize yourselves with your tasks, then execute them one by one!"

"Before, this was just an ordinary martial arts competition to find a husband, but this time it is selecting a son-in-law for the entire princely estate; we must not be negligent in the slightest!"

"Vermilion Bird, although your adoption must await your master's final decision, this marriage recruitment shall still be centered around you, representing the 'Crimsonlunar Princess'!"

"Be meticulous and thorough, diligent from beginning to end!"

"Very well! Since you have all received your orders, aside from Swordlightning, you may all go and make your arrangements immediately!"

"Understood!"

Vermilion Bird cupped her hands in compliance and led the golden hairpins away to execute their tasks.

In the garden, only Chai Xiao, Noble Consort Yun, Su Zhongjing, Zhang Bao, and Swordlightning remained.

Noble Consort Yun was in high spirits and clapped her hands at Chai Xiao.

"Wonderful! The major task you entrusted to me has also been completed. Does this count as finishing my assignment?"

Chai Xiao smiled and linked his arm through his mother's.

"Of course it counts! And it's a perfectly executed assignment, except..."

Anxious, Noble Consort Yun widened her eyes.

"Except what?"

"What, do you think I, your mother, didn't handle it well?"

Chai Xiao waved his hands.

"No! This couldn't possibly have been handled better!"

"It's just that, Mother, the major task I spoke of isn't just this one!"

Noble Consort Yun froze as if turned to stone, standing rooted to the spot.

"Not just one?"

"You trust your mother this much, expecting every single thing to be handled perfectly?"

"Getting up bright and early today, you've really been working Chief Steward Fei, Guard Commander Fei, Teacher Fei to the bone, and especially your mother!"

Chai Xiao wore a helpless, coaxing expression.

"What can I do? Even if I were made of iron, how many nails could I forge?"

"Therefore, I have no choice but to trouble those around me, especially Mother!"

Noble Consort Yun let out a sigh.

"Very well!"

"A mother must be strong!"

"Speak!"

"What other major tasks are there?"

At that moment, Deputy Chief Steward of the Imperial Household Department Zhu Gui approached from a distance. Seeing that the Sovereign, the Junior Preceptor, Noble Consort Yun, and the others were all present, he did not dare draw close and stopped in his tracks.

Zhang Bao furrowed his brows slightly, strode over, took the items from Zhu Gui's hands, and presented them with both hands.

"Your Highness, Zhu Gui says the first task you assigned—erecting the stage—is underway. The foundational dragon-bones are complete, and you may inspect them at any time."

"This here is the second task you assigned: the spectator tickets for the martial arts matchmaking competition!"

"They are divided into Supreme, Honorable, and Glorious tiers, color-coded yellow, purple, and red respectively."

"The seating rows and numbers have been marked."

"Alongside them, stub lines have been crafted and perforated for easy tearing."

Chai Xiao inspected them, looking quite satisfied, and handed them over to Su Zhongjing.

"Not bad!"

Su Zhongjing also found them excellent and passed them with both hands to Noble Consort Yun.

"Truly remarkable! Please inspect them, Noble Consort!"

Noble Consort Yun examined them meticulously, even rubbing the ticket material with her fingertips.

"Acceptable!"

"Begin the block printing then!"

At this point, Zhang Bao spoke up timidly.

"Your Ladyship, Your Highness, Junior Preceptor, Zhu Gui and the others suggest that if the three characters for Supreme, Honorable, and Glorious were personally inscribed by your good selves, the tickets would surely sell like wildfire!"

Hearing this, Chai Xiao was about to excuse himself on the grounds of poor handwriting and push the entire task onto the Junior Preceptor.

However, his teacher had anticipated his student's thoughts long ago and directly proposed:

"This is splendid! Perfect timing, one character each for the three of us!"

"As for me, I shall write the final 'Glorious' character. Your Ladyship, you shall take the middle 'Honorable' character. And this foremost 'Supreme' character..."

Noble Consort Yun smiled and nodded, leaving Chai Xiao dumbfounded.

With his teacher seizing the initiative and his mother agreeing, it seemed he could not dodge this chore after all.

He could only retreat to second best and seek help from Su Zhongjing.

"Teacher, you know as well as that my handwriting simply won't do; it's not fit to be seen!"

"Could you kindly write a few versions of the 'Supreme' character in both running script and regular script, so I can imitate them and pick one that is barely presentable? How about it?"

Su Zhongjing seemed to have anticipated this outcome and smiled faintly.

"Since Your Highness commands, how could I dare disobey? I shall write them right away!"

In a short while, the Junior Preceptor had written out the 'Supreme' character in running script, regular script, clerical script, and small seal script.

At that moment, Noble Consort Yun spoke softly into her son's ear.

"They always say handwriting is hard to practice, but no matter how hard it is, it can't be harder than history and mathematics, right? Only by practicing your handwriting well can you avoid being laughed at by others!"

Chai Xiao was startled, then steadied his mind and traced a few variations.

Comparing them, the small seal script—which he had seemingly never written before—turned out to be the most presentable.

Noble Consort Yun and Su Zhongjing also quickly inscribed the 'Honorable' and 'Glorious' characters in small seal script.

Zhang Bao took them all and was about to hand them over to Zhu Gui for printing.

Noble Consort Yun called him back.

"Wait!"

"I just remembered, when Your Highness mentioned the method of block printing the lottery tickets, you said that carving category seals and stamping them accordingly was a brilliant method."

"Since this is the 'Crimsonlunar Princess' seeking a husband, we should carve a 'Crimsonlunar' seal. Won't that both display royal grandeur and highlight its exclusivity?"

Oh!

This is brilliant!

Truly brilliant!

Everyone's eyes lit up, and they nodded repeatedly, even Su Zhongjing stroking his beard in approval.

Zhang Bao hurriedly pulled Zhu Gui aside and briefed him on the details—that the matchmaking event had now been elevated to the 'Crimsonlunar Princess' selecting a consort.

Zhu Gui was first astonished, then nodded repeatedly.

The two of them looked toward Chai Xiao and Noble Consort Yun together.

Mother and son exchanged a knowing smile and waved for Zhu Gui to hurry off and carry out the orders accordingly.

Chai Xiao cupped his mother's arm in his hands.

"Look at that! If you want to accomplish great things, you still have to rely on Mother!"

Noble Consort Yun tapped him lightly on the nose.

"Out with it! What trap have you dug for me this time? What major task is it really?"