Wu Ling was dressed up today to look as adorable as jade and snow, with a vermilion dot between her brows, resembling a New Year’s painting doll.
However, she was still just an infant, unable to speak in complete sentences and only capable of babbling a few words.
Several ladies politely praised her a couple of times.
But Wu Jiaojiao wouldn’t let the opportunity slip. She quickly added, “Ling’er isn’t just adorable—she’s clever too.”
Lin Shuang lowered her gaze and gently interrupted, “Jiaojiao, please don’t say such things. The child is still young; she’s not as miraculous as you make her out to be.”
Though her words were meant to dissuade, her eyes held a glimmer of anticipation.
Wu Ling nestled in her arms, her gaze drifting past the crowd and suddenly landing on the screen depicting the vast frontier landscape.
Her heart skipped a beat.
This was it.
In her previous life, she had predicted a great victory at the border during Wu Xiong’s birthday banquet, earning her the reputation of a spiritually gifted child.
She was still young and couldn’t speak in full sentences, but as long as she could get the adults to finish her words, it would be enough.
Wu Ling suddenly stretched out her small hand, pointing directly at the screen.
Lin Shuang immediately noticed and feigned surprise, asking, “Ling’er, what do you want?”
Wu Ling’s little face tightened, her lips moving as she struggled to squeeze out a word: “Bor…der…”
The people in the hall were taken aback.
Old Mrs. Wu leaned closer. “Border?”
Wu Ling patted the solitary city on the screen, her childish voice faltering: “Win…”
Wu Jiaojiao’s eyes instantly lit up.
“Border? Win? Is Ling’er saying the border will win?”
Old Mrs. Wu also grew excited, tightening her grip on Wu Ling. “Could it be that there will be news of a victory at the border?”
Lin Shuang quickly interjected, “Old Madam, Jiaojiao, please don’t say such things. Ling’er is just a child; how could she understand anything about border victories?”
The more she protested, the more it seemed like she was trying to cover something up.
Seeing everyone’s attention on her, Wu Ling pretended to be frightened and shrank back into Lin Shuang’s arms. Then, she pointed toward the door and softly uttered a third word: “News…”
Border, win, news.
Three fragmented words instantly silenced the entire hall.
The border war was currently the most critical matter in the court!
For an infant less than a year old to utter these three words while facing a frontier map during the birthday banquet of the Loyal Marquis was simply too coincidental.
Wu Xiong’s eyes lit up, his heart pounding wildly.
Suppressing his joy, he feigned calmness and said, “Children speak without restraint. Please don’t laugh at her.”
Though he told them not to laugh, the pride on his face was impossible to hide.
Old Mrs. Wu grinned from ear to ear. “I always said Ling’er was extraordinary!”
Wu Jiaojiao glanced at Jiang Xiu and deliberately remarked, “Some children are born unable to even cry, while others are naturally blessed. They truly are different.”
Everyone present understood that the child Wu Jiaojiao referred to as “unable to cry” was Fu Fu.
Wu Zhan’s little face paled, and he said earnestly, “Sis…ter…good.”
He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse, but his words drew the attention of several ladies nearby.
The Marchioness of Yong’an said gently, “The second young master can speak now—this is a joyous occasion. The child is protecting his sister and is very sensible.”
Wu Jiaojiao’s expression stiffened.
Meanwhile, Fu Fu was nearly bursting with laughter.
[Hahahaha, daring to impersonate an Auspicious Omen with just three words.]
[Border, win, news?]
[News will indeed come, but unfortunately, it won’t be of a great victory.]
[The great victory at the border was a pyrrhic victory bought with Uncle’s right arm and half the lives of the Jiang family army.]
[This time, if Uncle doesn’t go to his death, what will she use to win? Empty boasts?]
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
A gatekeeper rushed frantically to the entrance of the flower hall, his voice trembling: “Marquis! Someone from the palace has arrived!”
The entire hall erupted in commotion.
Old Mrs. Wu was so agitated she nearly stood up.
Wu Jiaojiao whispered, “Ling’er was right! It must be news of victory!”
Lin Shuang held Wu Ling tightly, her eyes brimming with wild joy.
Wu Ling finally let out a sigh of relief.
It had come.
Her title of Auspicious Omen was about to be restored!
Wu Xiong suppressed his excitement and asked in a deep voice, “What message came from the palace?”
The gatekeeper knelt on the floor, stammering, “An urgent report from the border has arrived in the capital. His Majesty has summoned the Marquis to enter the palace immediately for a council.”
Wu Xiong could no longer contain the joy on his face.
But before he could speak, the gatekeeper, pale-faced, added, “Only… it is not a great victory.”
The flower hall fell silent instantly.
Wu Xiong’s smile froze.
Old Mrs. Wu’s handkerchief dropped to the floor.
Wu Ling looked up sharply.
The gatekeeper said in a trembling voice, “Both sides have temporarily halted the fighting. His Majesty summoned the ministers to the palace to discuss the subsequent defense lines.”
Not a great victory.
Not a win.
Just a temporary halt to the fighting.
Everyone’s gaze, subtle yet unmistakable, fell upon Wu Ling.
The infant who had just been praised for her spiritual insight now had a deathly pale face, clutching Lin Shuang’s clothes tightly.
How could this be?
In her past life, it clearly wasn’t like this!
She stiffly looked toward Fu Fu in Jiang Xiu’s arms.
Fu Fu was quietly watching her, her dark eyes like a bottomless well.
[The Auspicious Omen has backfired.]
[Old almanacs aren’t reliable anymore.]
The guests exchanged glances.
Someone whispered, “It’s just a child babbling nonsense. How could anyone take it seriously?”
The smile that had just been on Old Mrs. Wu’s face vanished as if slapped away.
Wu Jiaojiao stood with her mouth agape, unable to speak for a long moment.
Lin Shuang unconsciously tightened her grip on Wu Ling, her fingertips nearly digging into the child’s small arm.
Wu Ling’s eyes reddened with pain, but she dared not cry.
How could it not be a great victory?
In her past life, it was clearly on this very day.
It was also at this birthday banquet that news of victory from the border arrived from the palace. Wu Xiong gained face publicly, and she was praised for the first time for her spiritual insight.
But now, everything was wrong.
Wu Ling stiffly turned her head to look at Fu Fu in Jiang Xiu’s arms.
Fu Fu was still young, nestled in her swaddling clothes, her cheeks soft, her eyes dark and bright, looking no different from any ordinary infant.
Yet Wu Ling felt inexplicably cold.
[Why are you looking at me?]
[Your stolen memories of the future have expired. Are you blaming me for that?]
Jiang Xiu lowered her head to adjust Fu Fu’s swaddling clothes, the corner of her mouth twitching ever so slightly.
Wu Xiong’s expression had turned utterly grim.
Since the palace had summoned him for a council, he naturally could not delay.
But the news had come too quickly—so quickly that everyone who had heard Wu Ling’s words moments earlier had not yet had time to forget.
Border. Victory. Report.
Now, an urgent report from the border had indeed arrived.
But it was not a victory.
This turned his earlier barely concealed pride into a complete joke.
Several guests exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat ambiguous.
The Marchioness of Yong’an gently set down her teacup and said softly, “Children babbling naturally don’t understand such matters. Marquis, please do not take it to heart.”
Her words sounded like consolation.
But to Wu Xiong’s ears, they seemed like a reminder to everyone—that the Wu family had simply overthought things earlier.
Old Mrs. Wu’s face burned with embarrassment as she forced a smile. “The Marchioness is right. How old is Ling’er? What could she possibly know about borders or not?”
Wu Jiaojiao quickly added, “Yes, we were just playing with the child.”
The more she explained, the more guilty she appeared.
Lin Shuang lowered her eyes, tears already welling up.
“It’s all my fault.”
“Ling’er was just curious about the screen and carelessly wrote a few characters. I failed to stop her, causing everyone to misunderstand.”
Her words were clever.
With a single mention of “misunderstanding,” she attempted to lightly dismiss the earlier praise from Old Mrs. Wu and Wu Jiaojiao.
But which of the ladies present in the hall wasn’t a seasoned expert honed in the inner household?
Who couldn’t discern the meaning behind her words?
It was the Wu family who had earlier praised the child as a lucky star, and now that things had gone awry, they claimed it was a misunderstanding by others.
Truly adept at shifting blame.
Jiang Xiu remained silent all along.
Until Wu Xiong looked at her.
In that glance, there was a faint hint of misplaced anger.
As if today’s embarrassment was all her fault!