World's First Traitor System (377)

Chapter 377 - Passing on the Mantle

Lu Fubao finished her official duties, and most of the day had passed.

She had long since sensed her father’s unease around little Diao Chan and had been worried.

However, the affairs of state took precedence, and Lu Fubao had to prioritize the kingdom over her personal feelings.

"Little Shunzi, where are they now?" Lu Fubao asked, placing the final memorial aside.

Qin Shun’s expression was strange, “The Imperial Father-in-Law is with Princess Chan, they're picking lotus roots in the Imperial Garden’s pond.”

"Huh?"

Lu Fubao thought she had misheard. But Qin Shun was known for his meticulous nature and wouldn't dare lie.

"Picking… lotus roots?”

“Yes, picking lotus roots,” Qin Shun affirmed. “The ones that the Imperial Hospital planted some time ago. Princess Chan seemed very happy, and the Imperial Father-in-Law was… working hard.”

Clearly, Qin Shun had been watching them, keeping track of their activities.

“I need to see them!”

Lu Fubao rushed to the Imperial Garden.

While still beyond the walls, she heard the sound of someone reciting aloud.

"Heaven and Earth were formless and dark; the universe boundless and vast. The sun and moon wax and wane, the stars and constellations are in their places. Cold and heat come and go, autumn yields to winter's store. The leap month completes the year; musical tones harmonize the laws of nature..."

Lu Fubao stopped, listening intently to the recitation.

“This is?”

“The Thousand Character Classic, compiled by my late senior brother, Yan Yuan?”

Lu Fubao’s eyes instantly filled with tears!

The late Yan Yuan, though his cultivation was only at the Divine Transformation Realm, was a highly accomplished Confucian scholar.

He had a strong focus on elementary education, and he had created numerous works.

The Thousand Character Classic had spread to all corners of the land, widely used, Yan Yuan had done great service to the children of the world!

Little Diao Chan's reciting, though childish, was well-paced and clear.

Wait!

Lu Fubao suddenly realized, she hadn't even started Diao Chan’s formal education. How could she recite the Thousand Character Classic?

Could it be...?

She hastily entered the Imperial Garden, finding her daughter beside the lotus pond.

Little Diao Chan, holding a lotus root that looked almost like a piece of jade, with a small bite mark on it, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed on something.

Beside her, was a pile of lotus roots, higher than she was, all of them seemingly freshly harvested.

"Grandpa." Little Diao Chan called out with a soft voice. "Chan’er has finished reciting the Thousand Character Classic.”

"Good!"

Lu Fubao heard her father's voice, but she couldn't see him.

“For each lesson, Grandpa picks a lotus root. A promise is a promise!”

As he finished speaking, a lotus root was tossed from the pond to the shore.

Lu Fubao quickly moved closer, seeing that the dignified Marquis Wenxin, the greatest Confucian of his era, had rolled up his sleeves and pant legs, and was wading barefoot in the muddy pond, digging up lotus roots!

The water was being pushed away on either side by his powerful spiritual energy.

“Mommy.”

Little Diao Chan saw Lu Fubao and her eyes sparkled. She stood up and toddled toward Lu Fubao while raising her lotus root.

“Mommy, eat the lotus root. Grandpa taught Chan’er about the story of 'Rong, at four years old, gives away a pear.' Chan’er is not even four, but giving away the lotus root is also good behavior.”

Filled with a complicated mix of joy and worry, Lu Fubao hugged little Diao Chan and kissed her face hard!

She then turned towards Lu Chunqiu.

“Father, what are you doing?”

“Cough!”

Lu Chunqiu, just moments ago, had been beaming, but now he tried to put on a serious expression, but he couldn’t seem to quite manage it.

He coughed, and barefoot, stepped out of the pond, looking more like a farmer than a renowned scholar.

"What? Did you not ask me to look after the child?" Lu Chunqiu asked back.

"Ah? Yes, but..." Lu Fubao was feeling more and more confused. She had worried that her father would have difficulty accepting his adopted granddaughter. But now, it seemed as if they were a happy family.

Had she misunderstood her father, and he didn't dislike little Diao Chan?

“Chan’er.”

Now, Lu Chunqiu was more interested in his granddaughter than his daughter.

“Is reading fun?”

The old man's eyes were filled with anticipation, and he could not quite contain his smile.

Lu Fubao shook her head wryly.

Was reading really fun?

She doubted that even half the world's children found joy in it. Even she, as a child, had only picked up a book out of obligation, not out of desire. To find true enjoyment in learning, she felt, would only come at a later stage in life.

“It is fun!”

Little Diao Chan, however, answered without a moment's hesitation.

"Grandpa, Chan’er wants to study every day, is that alright?”

Lu Fubao saw a flicker of joy cross her father’s face. She knew that she was a devoted student of the Confucian classics, but never reached the level that her father had hoped.

Later, she had become more interested in formations, and her father had quietly accepted that disappointment.

The Lu family's line of Confucians, teachers of the world, had reached its peak with Lu Chunqiu, and it was beginning to appear that his family line would end with him.

Regardless of her future achievements, her path would be in formations, not Confucianism.

Now, perhaps, in little Diao Chan, Lu Chunqiu saw a glimmer of hope?

“Chan’er, Grandpa has a question for you. Do you want to pick lotus roots in the pond all day, or do you want to study every day?”

Lu Fubao wanted to facepalm.

Why would her father be so demanding?

Talking to a child as if she could grasp the hidden nuances of his question?

Surely the lure of play would be too tempting for a child to resist.

But the answer surprised her.

"Grandpa, Chan’er... wants to study near the lotus pond, can I?"

As she said this, Little Diao Chan’s eyes shifted nervously. She had clearly just achieved the first great achievement of her life: telling a lie!

“Hahahaha!”

A child’s lies were usually so obvious, yet so difficult to resist. Even someone like Lu Chunqiu could see through it, and was moved by her childish behavior.

She wanted to study, and she also wanted to play in the mud and pick lotus roots.

Lu Chunqiu looked up to the heavens and laughed, devoid of any sign of disappointment.

Lu Fubao glared playfully at little Diao Chan, who blinked her big, innocent eyes, concealing a touch of mischief within them.

“Alright, alright!”

“With principles and flexibility, and while upholding traditional values, one can adapt with the times.”

“Chan’er, with her heart set on such a path, will surely succeed in the study of Confucianism, without becoming one of the stagnant and rigid followers.”

"Daughter! When the affairs in Jin City have been resolved, I intend on taking Chan’er back to Lu City. The essence of my Lu family's Confucian teachings are all within Lu City, I can only teach her properly there. What do you think?”

Although Lu Fubao had suspected this, she was still stunned.

“Father, are you planning on raising Chan’er to become your heir? But she isn’t your daughter’s…”

The words “biological daughter” were too difficult for Lu Fubao to utter.

Yet, Lu Chunqiu’s intention was clear. He wanted to mold little Diao Chan into his heir!

A female Marquis Wenxin?

This was too extraordinary!

“Hmph! That is not out of the question!”

Lu Chunqiu’s lifelong wish had been to train a true successor, and now, it seemed possible.

He looked at his daughter with a hint of resentment, as if to say, "This is all your fault for not loving to study!