Chapter 264: The Court’s Secret Eavesdropping
(This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation.)
“Heartbeat?” Lu Chao Chao murmured softly.
She tilted her head in confusion, looking at Xie Cheng Xi. “Eh? It really beats! It jumped right into my heart…”
“So fun… so fun…” Lu Chao Chao squinted her eyes in amazement.
“It has always belonged to you.”
“It is… merely returning to its rightful owner.” But only for a brief time.
“Before dawn, we must return it. The mortal world cannot yet part with the Heart of Northern Zhao.”
The Crown Prince carried her out of the Nine-Level Pagoda. Lu Chao Chao, filled with curiosity, patted her chest. “Dong dong dong… it feels like thunder inside me.”
“Big Brother Crown Prince, it sounds like thunder…”
“Huuh…” The little one yawned, her eyes turning red.
Drowsiness weighed on her, and she leaned limply against Xie Cheng Xi’s shoulder. “Mama… I miss Mama…” she mumbled, her gaze hazy between wakefulness and sleep.
“I will take you to find her.”
As the Crown Prince arrived at the main hall, the Sixth Prince and Xie Yu Zhou were hanging their heads, hesitating to enter.
“Big Brother Crown Prince…” The Sixth Prince looked at Lu Chao Chao with concern.
He glanced at the hall. At this moment, the court officials were enraged, and Lu Yan Shu stood alone against them all.
“Although Lu Yan Shu has achieved the highest ranks in all three imperial examinations, he is still young. He lacks the experience to be the Crown Prince’s mentor…”
“Your Majesty, please reconsider.”
“Filial piety is paramount. Lu Yan Shu is the legitimate heir of the Marquis Zhongyong’s household, yet he follows his mother in separating from his father, disregarding the Marquis. Your Majesty, talent alone is not enough; without virtue, how can he be the Crown Prince’s teacher?” Official Wang spoke up.
The Eldest Princess could barely contain her anger, but Lord Cheng, her husband, held her back. “You must not interfere. If you speak, they will only fear you more.”
Duke Zhen Guo was livid, his face turning purple. “What nonsense! The Marquis had an illegitimate child of the same age as his heir. He took the mistress as his wife, disowning his legitimate children and severing ties. What does this have to do with Lu Yan Shu?”
“Lu Yuan Ze has already expelled him from the family, cutting all relations. How is that unfilial?”
“Lu Yuan Ze brought this upon himself! This is his retribution!” Duke Zhen Guo was furious. He had waited years for his daughter-in-law, and now they dared to oppose it?!
If he could, he would have struck them all down.
Official Wang’s expression hardened. “A father is still a father. Even if he errs, he remains his blood.”
“Madam Xu may separate from him, but Lu Yan Shu cannot ignore his father. Life was granted to him by Lord Lu. Can a mere document sever their bloodline?”
“This is unfilial conduct!”
“He is unfilial and unworthy to be the Crown Prince’s teacher!”
“You shameless dog! I know exactly what you people are plotting!” Duke Zhen Guo exploded in rage.
“You fear the prominence of the Rong family’s military achievements and Lu Yan Shu’s scholarly brilliance. If he becomes the Crown Prince’s mentor, he will stand in your way in the future!”
“Do not slander him! He is a good child!” Duke Zhen Guo’s eyes turned bloodshot. The old man, long detached from court affairs, was now trembling with fury.
Rong Che took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Striding to the center of the hall, he knelt down solemnly.
“Your Majesty, my marriage has nothing to do with the court or Northern Zhao. It is my personal affair.” He glanced at the officials, who quickly averted their eyes.
“If the esteemed officials fear the Rong family, then I…” Rong Che inhaled deeply.
“I am willing to resign.”
“I beseech Your Majesty’s approval.”
His words shocked the entire court, leaving everyone speechless.
Madam Xu accidentally knocked over her teacup, tears streaming down her face.
She clenched her fists tightly, staring at Rong Che, shaking her head continuously.
The Old Madam of the Rong family took her hand, gently prying open her fingers. Seeing that her nails had pierced her palm, she frowned in distress.
She took out a clean handkerchief and wrapped the wound.
“It’s not worth it. It’s really not worth it,” Madam Xu murmured. She had never thought Rong Che would give up his military honors.
Those were ranks earned through years of bloodshed on the battlefield.
She had been married to Lu Yuan Ze for years, but he had never loved her so deeply.
“It is worth it. Why wouldn’t it be? As long as Che’er is willing, it is worth everything. Be at ease…” The Old Madam patted Madam Xu’s hand, her gaze filled with kindness.
“Absurd!” The Emperor was livid.
What should have been a joyful birthday banquet had turned into a tense standoff.
“The Southern Kingdom eyes us hungrily, and Eastern Ling’s borders remain unstable. You are the War God of Northern Zhao. You may not resign!” The Emperor rejected him outright.
“Lord Rong, romantic affairs are trivial; the nation is the greater love,” Official Wang advised.
“Do not lecture me on priorities! If family is unimportant, why do you still have descendants?!” Duke Zhen Guo snapped furiously.
Official Wang’s face darkened.
Rong Che knelt straight-backed, his gaze firm.
He was serious.
“For the first half of my life, I lived for Northern Zhao. Wherever war erupted, I was there. But now… I want to live for myself. I beg Your Majesty to allow it…”
If he hadn’t rushed to the battlefield back then, Shi Yun wouldn’t have married Lu Yuan Ze!
He had already lost her once. He could not lose Shi Yun again.
Madam Xu sobbed silently, tears falling like raindrops.
“Do not cry. A man who cannot protect the woman he loves is no man at all!”
“If he lacks the courage, he may as well become a eunuch! If he hesitated, I would look down on him!” The Old Madam was unfazed and instead consoled Shi Yun.
“But in the future, you must not despise him for being only the heir of the Stabilizing Duke’s Manor.” The heir had only a title, but the War God of Northern Zhao wielded true power.
Madam Xu could not stop crying. Rong Che saw this, and his heart ached for her.
Lu Chao Chao only felt her ears ringing. The noise was unbearable.
She covered her ears with her hands, her little face scrunched up.
[Stop arguing! Stop arguing!! Too noisy, I can’t sleep!]
Suddenly…
Silence fell over the court.
Rong Che widened his eyes slightly, touching his ear in bewilderment.
Was he imagining things due to anger?
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed, his brows furrowing deeply. What was going on? He could have sworn he heard Chao Chao’s babyish voice shouting in his head.
But Chao Chao…
She was lying lazily on the Crown Prince’s shoulder, not even opening her mouth!
The Emperor opened his mouth, feeling an ominous premonition.
“Did you hear that?” The Empress Dowager whispered to the Empress.
[So loud! So annoying! So frustrating…]
The civil and military officials swallowed nervously. Why… did they hear Princess Sunshine’s voice?!
The Crown Prince, seeing the solemn expressions on their faces, was stunned.
Then his face changed drastically!!
He had long noticed a flaw in Chao Chao’s reincarnation.
Those with a blood tie to her—or a deep bond—could hear her thoughts.
Fortunately, only her family and some of the Xu clan could hear her.
But now, as Princess Sunshine, she was officially recorded in the Imperial Registry.
And with her heart restored…
The Crown Prince glanced at his father, then at the bewildered civil and military officials. His vision darkened…
Could it be…
Everyone could hear her inner voice now?!?!