The whole family is insanely eavesdropping on my thoughts Chapter 589
Chapter 589: When Words Fail, Summon the Ancestors
At some point, the Golden Luan Hall grew unnaturally cold. Seated upon the Dragon Throne, Emperor Xuan Ping felt a shiver run down his spine. A chill crept over his arms, leaving goosebumps in its wake.
Lu Chao Chao beckoned a young eunuch to her side.
“Cover the plaque outside the Golden Luan Hall, and shroud the portraits of the True Gods on either side. I have an outside reinforcement to summon.”
The eunuch blinked in confusion.
His gaze darted to Emperor Xuan Ping, who, while rubbing the goosebumps from his arms, gave a nod. An outside reinforcement? What kind of reinforcements had she called upon?
Even the emperor felt a flicker of anticipation. Who could she possibly bring in to challenge the imperial court?
The moment the plaque and portraits were covered, the light within the hall seemed to dim, as though a great radiance had been withdrawn. A heavy, eerie presence filled the chamber.
Some officials stamped their feet against the floor. “It’s already spring—why does it suddenly feel so bone-chilling?”
They clutched their robes tighter as the cold seeped into their bones.
“Minister Xu, you must rein in your niece. You are her senior, after all. A few stern words would not be inappropriate.”
“Minister Lu, you are Princess Sunshine’s elder brother. You cannot allow her to act so recklessly!”
“A woman pursuing education? Outrageous! The first step is reading books—what comes next? Does she plan to enter the court? That would overturn the very foundation of our traditions!”
“Minister Lu, you are a scholar. You understand that women studying is utterly improper!”
Lu Yan Shu pressed his lips into a faint smile but offered no response.
“Strange…” murmured one of the ministers, rubbing his eyes. “Is it just me, or is there a white mist rising inside the hall?”
The hall was now veiled in an eerie, ghostly fog.
Lu Chao Chao cleared her throat.
“Since the esteemed ministers insist on adhering to the edicts of the Ancestor Emperor, why don’t we ask the Ancestor Emperor himself?”
The noisy court fell into immediate silence.
“Wh-what did you say?” One official, pale-faced, dug at his ear, certain he had misheard.
“Y-you mean the Ancestor Emperor? The one who passed away over a hundred years ago?” Another minister’s voice cracked as he instinctively stepped backward, shivering violently.
“Perhaps… we need not disturb the departed? Surely, we can discuss this matter amongst ourselves…”
“Yes, let us not trouble the spirits of the dead.”
Even their voices trembled now.
Before their stunned eyes, a figure gradually coalesced beside Lu Chao Chao. Draped in the Jade Burial Garments, the golden threads of his robe shimmered in the dim light, forming the unmistakable image of an imperial dragon.
They recognized him instantly.
After all, his portrait hung in the Imperial Study!
Emperor Xuan Ping, who had been watching with amused curiosity, suddenly went rigid. His eyes widened in sheer disbelief as he stumbled to his feet.
“L-l-lao zuzong!” The emperor sprang from his throne, his knees nearly buckling beneath him. In a daze, he staggered forward and dropped to his knees with a resounding thud.
The entire court gasped in horror.
They turned to Lu Chao Chao, faces filled with shock and betrayal.
Y-you—! Arguing is one thing, debating is fine, but why on earth did you summon an ancestor!?
Panic overtook the officials. With a rustling cascade of silk and brocade, they all collapsed to their knees, their hands trembling as they wiped the cold sweat from their brows.
The Ancestor Emperor surveyed the hall with an imperious gaze. Yet when his eyes fell upon Lu Chao Chao, his severe expression softened.
“Esteemed Ancestor Emperor,” Lu Chao Chao asked respectfully, “did you leave an edict forbidding the establishment of women’s academies? Did you decree that all future rulers must uphold this as an iron law?”
The Ancestor Emperor spoke without hesitation. “I did not.”
The entire court: …?!
We’ve been backstabbed by our own Ancestor Emperor!
“Please reconsider, Ancestor Emperor! This decree has been honored in Northern Zhao for over a century…” One aged official ventured timidly.
The Ancestor Emperor’s gaze darkened. “Am I the emperor, or are you?”
“Would I not know what I decreed?”
“I would never have spoken such nonsense.”
“Building schools is a great merit! Boys or girls, they are all children of Northern Zhao! Their prosperity is Northern Zhao’s prosperity!”
“Do not tarnish my name! Even though I have been in the underworld for over a hundred years, I will not tolerate such slander!” The Ancestor Emperor puffed his chest with pride. “I hold an esteemed post under the Ten Yama Kings—I will not have my reputation sullied!”
His words left no room for doubt.
His piercing gaze swept over Emperor Xuan Ping, who, despite his nerves, sat up a little straighter at the rare approval.
The Ancestor Emperor gave a nod of reluctant approval. “Choosing you to rule Northern Zhao was not a terrible decision after all. With you on the throne, the empire shall prosper.”
Tears welled in Emperor Xuan Ping’s eyes. “Thank you for your praise, Ancestor Emperor! I swear to fulfill your expectations!”
The Ancestor Emperor placed his hands behind his back and turned to the trembling ministers.
“You old, decrepit fools! What business is it of yours whether a girl learns to read? Clearly, you have far too much free time! Man or woman, they are all subjects of Northern Zhao, and they shall be treated equally!”
“If you have objections, come to the Imperial Mausoleum and challenge me in battle!”
For a fleeting moment, the Ancestor Emperor’s mind drifted to a distant past, where a young girl with starlit eyes stood upon the battlefield. A girl who seemed as though she had come from another world.
His expression grew wistful, but he quickly regained himself.
The old ministers, who had been bold enough to argue with Lu Chao Chao, had no courage left to confront their imperial ancestor.
This was the emperor who had led Northern Zhao through its most dire days. Their revered and feared Ancestor Emperor!
“Pathetic! The mere thought of women studying sends you into fits? Cowards! Every last one of you!” The Ancestor Emperor cursed at them for a solid half-hour before his voice grew hoarse.
“I never said it! I said no such thing! The Women’s Academy shall be built! If you disagree, then seek me in the afterlife!” His form gradually faded, yet his voice still echoed within the Golden Luan Hall.
The entire court remained frozen, sweat pouring down their faces, their legs numb from kneeling.
“He’s… he’s gone?” A previously defiant minister whispered.
Seeing Lu Chao Chao nod, they collapsed onto the floor with heavy sighs of relief. The hall resounded with groans and exclamations of pain as sore knees gave way.
As a eunuch helped Emperor Xuan Ping back to his throne, he swayed slightly before finding his balance.
“Princess Sunshine, if you have grievances, we can discuss them… but must you summon our Ancestor Emperor!?” Official Li pleaded, his earlier bravado completely gone.
“Yes, yes! Next time, let’s not disturb the departed, shall we?” Official Wang chimed in, now surprisingly agreeable.
Even Emperor Xuan Ping was stunned.
The Ancestor Emperor had spoken. Who would dare oppose him now?
“Chao Chao,” he sighed, his smile bittersweet, “if you ever feel wronged, your imperial father will always stand by you. But next time… let’s not call upon the ancestors, alright?”
The emperor chuckled, though tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
Summoning ancestors just to win an argument? He deeply disapproved!
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation