Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 352 - 351: Bird Pot Lid

Princess Rong Zhao was filled with fury and jealousy.

The more she looked at the little girl, the more astonished she became. The brilliance of her smile was too familiar.

Before Rong Zhao, a beautiful, graceful, and radiant visage emerged.

She knew who the little girl was. Her face blanched and her hands clenched into fists.

This brat is really cured of her illness? She’s just as beautiful as that wretch, her smile just as dazzling, even more joyous. How is this even possible!

Chen Afu’s pregnant belly and the happiness on Chu Hanyan’s face turned Rong Zhao’s heart bitter. She didn’t care anymore and started walking quickly towards Chen Afu.

Chen Afu looked up and saw Rong Zhao, what a small world.

This was not the Princess Mansion, and she was not only guarded, she also had Jin Yanzi with her. She wouldn’t endure Rong Zhao’s nonsense anymore. Were she not pregnant and if her children weren’t with her, Chen Afu would’ve liked to settle the scores from the past.

But the situation was different now, it was best to avoid unnecessary trouble as much as possible. She said, "Let’s go," and began to move away with the guards who were carrying the children by the corridor. Because she was pregnant; she didn’t dare to haste their way.

Princess Rong Zhao was almost thirty meters away from them, and with her dignified status, she couldn’t chase them by running hastily. She yelled at her servants and guards, "Are you all deaf? Go and stop them now!"

The guards who heard her command immediately went to stop Chen Afu and her companions.

Princess Rong Zhao moved towards them. Several bodyguards had surrounded Chen Afu and the others; she couldn’t get close. She said coldly, "According to the law of the land, I am a princess. According to family law, I am a mother. Why do you not pay your respects when you see me?"

Chen Afu could only bow and say, "I apologize, princess. My eyesight has deteriorated after my pregnancy, and I didn’t see you clearly. Please forgive me." After bowing again, she said, "Please excuse me, princess. I need to pray to the Buddha and Bodhisattva for a smooth birth." She tried to move again.

Rong Zhao, infuriated, sharply yelled, "Don’t you dare move!"

Chu Hanyan was so frightened by the shout that she burst into tears. Ever since she had recovered from her illness, everyone around her, be it relatives, servants, or children, greeted her with a smile. No one had ever scolded her like this before. What’s more, this was a scolding aimed at her mother, coupled with an anger-filled glare.

She cried out, "Mommy, I’m scared."

Chen Afu gently patted the little girl held by the guard to console her, and then turned to Rong Zhao and said, "Princess Rong Zhao, you have scared my daughter into tears. This is a sacred site dedicated to Buddha, where every worshipper is supposed to be filled with kindness and compassion. Only then will Buddha and Bodhisattva bless them. Your shouts and screams lack reverence for Buddha, and devoid of affection towards the younger generation. No matter how much incense you burn or how many times you kowtow, it would all be meaningless."

This hit Rong Zhao’s sore spot and she wanted to hit someone. However, Chen Afu was being protected by guards and Rong Zhao couldn’t get near her. She called out to her servants and guards, "Go! Tear that wretched girl’s mouth off!" she pointed at the crying Chu Hanyan and said, "This little girl’s crying is giving me a headache."

A lot of Rong Zhao’s guards were waiting outside the temple compound while others accompanied Marquis Chu. Only ten guards, six eunuchs and servant girls were by her side, their combat ability nowhere near those of Chen Afu’s group.

Only ten out of Chen Afu’s group engaged in the fight with the rest protecting their charges.

Weapons weren’t allowed in the temple, so it was a brawl of fists and kicks.

Apart from them, everyone failed to notice a small swallow take building its nest not far above the people, hiding behind the eaves. As the congregation fought, no longer paying heed to their surroundings, the nimble bird quickly plucked a long hairpin from Rong Zhao’s hair and darted off into the sky. She had long coveted this hairpin, an exquisite piece decorated with a large pearl, two cat’s eyes stones, and four emeralds. Jin Yanzi had always wanted to steal it but failed to do so because Rong Zhao was particularly fond of it.

The fight scared the visitors off, and some monks hurriedly came to mediate.

Marquis Chu also arrived. Before, he was bored accompanying Rong Zhao tour the main halls and resting in a corridor. When a servant told him that Princess Rong Zhao had encountered Madam Chen, Marquis Chu was alarmed and rushed over.

He held Rong Zhao’s hand and shouted at the guards, "Stop it!"

The guards immediately dropped their arms.

Pointing at Chen Afu, Rong Zhao complained to Marquis Chu, "She insulted me."

Marquis Chu frowned and said, "Whatever the problem is, let’s talk about it back home."

Just then, an unbelievably surprising scene was unfolded. Birds from all directions gathered and formed a thick, pot lid-like circle directly above Rong Zhao.

Seeing this, Rong Zhao’s servants quickly opened two umbrellas, one over Rong Zhao’s head and the other over Marquis Chu’s.

Rong Zhao was terrified. She had no time to dwell on Chen Afu and Chu Hanyan. She screamed and ran towards the main hall, her servant following her with the umbrella.

The "bird pot lid" in the sky followed Rong Zhao. Suddenly, with a whoosh, bird droppings came down like rain, dense and messy, adding a thick layer of bird droppings on the umbrella over Rong Zhao’s head.

Marquis Chu didn’t run. Like all the other stunned onlookers, he watched the astonishing scene.

When Rong Zhao had entered the main hall, Marquis Chu finally averted his gaze. He knew that Chen Afu was pregnant with twins. He was overjoyed, but his expression didn’t change.

He spoke softly, "It’s been tough on my daughter-in-law. Take good care of yourself for the Chu family."

Chen Afu curtsied and replied with a smile, "Thank you for your concern."

Marquis Chu nodded, glanced at Dabao, and then turned to Chu Hanyan, his lips curving into an undetectable smile.

The little girl, Chu Hanyan, like everyone else, was looking up at the pot lid-shaped bird flock above the main hall, lost in wonder, and had forgotten her fear. Her little mouth was open in awe.

Marquis Chu smirked and led his people towards the temple where Rong Zhao was.

Chen Afu let out a soft and sweet laugh, signaling a guard to stay back to "join the fun" and said to the others, "Let’s go."

The guards and servants shielded her and the children as they walked towards the corridor. Dabao and Yan’er who were being held, pleaded with the guards to go by the corridor, so that they could continue watching the spectacle.

Chen Afu walked along, smiling all the way. The guards and servants, trying to suppress their laughter, didn’t dare to laugh out loud. After all, Rong Zhao was a princess, the nominal mother of their master.