Chapter 392: Begging Her to Come Out
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Nan Feng Yu’s eyes gradually turned red.
With a loud thud, she knelt before the Old Emperor’s window. “Father Emperor, the Su Family is gone.”
“It was all my fault. I was useless! Even the Divine Attendant Clan of the Southern Kingdom has been uprooted completely, allowing the kingdom’s dignity to be trampled upon!” Nan Feng Yu sobbed in a low voice.
The Old Emperor’s eyes widened sharply, his throat producing raspy sounds as though his heart had been clenched in an iron grip. He was in such agony that he couldn’t even catch his breath.
“Father Emperor… Father Emperor, what’s wrong?!” Nan Feng Yu’s tears fell even harder.
She stared straight at him, her fists clenched tightly beneath her sleeves.
A deep breath…
Suddenly, the Old Emperor exhaled a long breath, his entire body drenched in cold sweat. It felt as if he had survived a calamity.
Nan Feng Yu could not hide her disappointment, though nothing showed on her face.
She merely dug her nails into her palms and said with red-rimmed eyes, “Father Emperor, you nearly frightened Feng Yu to death.” She looked utterly shaken. “Mother Empress also cried until she fainted earlier. Ah…”
“Who could have expected that Princess Sunshine would suddenly awaken her divine power, inheriting the bloodline of the Southern Kingdom? She grew up in Northern Zhao and feels no connection to our land. Why would she spare a thought for our kingdom? In her rage, she massacred the Su Family, annihilating their entire lineage…” Nan Feng Yu wiped away her tears.
“All because the Su Family refused to support the Empress of the Western Palace…”
“Had I known she would use divine power against the Southern Kingdom, it would have been better if she had remained an ordinary mortal.”
“Now, many court officials are unwilling to establish the Western Empress. Fearing she might strike at them as well, I had no choice but to imprison her.”
The Old Emperor, barely hanging onto life, lit up briefly upon hearing that Lu Chao Chao had awakened her divine power. Yet, upon hearing the rest, he could only sigh deeply.
“Handle everything as you see fit. She has been spoiled in Northern Zhao.”
“And the Goddess?” The Old Emperor asked weakly, his gaze filled with longing.
Nan Feng Yu dabbed at her tears. “Everything is proceeding smoothly. In at most half a month, we will hold the Ascension Ceremony for the Goddess. By then, the Southern Kingdom will have a foothold in the Divine Realm and no longer serve as mere attendants beneath the gods!”
“The Goddess is truly filial. Just yesterday, she spoke of reporting to the Divine Realm upon her ascension to extend Your Majesty’s lifespan.”
A smile bloomed on the Old Emperor’s face. “She is a good child.”
A palace servant brought a bowl of dark, murky medicine. Nan Feng Yu personally cooled it down and spoon-fed it to the Emperor.
His eyelids grew heavy with fatigue. “And Madam Ning?” he asked in a low voice.
Nan Feng Yu hesitated for a moment. “She has not visited even once.”
The Old Emperor mumbled something under his breath as drowsiness overtook him, and he fell into a deep sleep.
At that moment, the Ning Manor was in utter chaos.
The Fake Madam Ning leaned on her cane, her expression filled with terror. She shouted angrily, “How did you raise her? How could she commit such a monstrous act—massacring an entire clan?! Come with me to the palace to beg for forgiveness!”
Madam Xu, already troubled and anxious upon hearing that Chao Chao had been imprisoned in the Grievous Prison, turned and slapped Fake Madam Ning across the face.
The slap sent her stumbling, her nose dripping blood.
“Outrageous! Wretched child! How dare you strike your own mother!”
“Someone come quickly! A daughter is beating her own mother!” The old woman collapsed onto the ground, wailing loudly.
Two elderly maids stood in front of Madam Xu, their expressions filled with discontent. “Madam Xu, the Old Madam searched for you across rivers and mountains, throughout every inch of the Southern Kingdom. To treat her with such disrespect is unforgivable!”
“Striking your own mother—are you mad?!” The maids glared at her in fury.
“Is this how you were raised?”
Madam Xu sneered coldly. “Mother? Does she deserve to be called my mother?” Her gaze was filled with killing intent.
“She was merely a maid. What gave her the audacity to impersonate my mother?!”
Fake Madam Ning froze in shock.
“You ate with her, slept beside her, memorized her every habit, all so you could replace her!” Rong Che stood protectively behind Madam Xu, never leaving her side.
Fake Madam Ning let out a bitter laugh, clutching her chest. “To deny me as your mother, you have truly gone to such great lengths.”
Madam Xu was about to speak when the true Madam Ning suddenly tugged lightly at her sleeve.
“Granny Wu, I trusted you!” Madam Ning’s voice was hoarse, but still recognizable.
Fake Madam Ning stiffened and looked at her in stunned disbelief.
Madam Ning removed her veil, revealing a face covered in scars. Yet, one could still glimpse her past beauty despite the years.
“How… how is this possible?!”
“A ghost! A ghost! You were dead! You were supposed to be dead!” Fake Madam Ning shrieked in horror, stumbling backward in terror.
“Impossible! We personally poured boiling oil over you, burned your face and throat! We sealed your coffin ourselves! A ghost! A ghost!” Overwhelmed, Fake Madam Ning curled up into a trembling ball.
The two elderly maids turned pale, their faces filled with terror as they looked at Madam Ning.
“The Old Emperor never truly cared about me, so you conspired with the Su Family to deceive him and my children…” Fortunately, fate had not yet abandoned her.
“You told me you had a daughter who was kidnapped, making me sympathize with you. But it was all a lie…” Madam Ning sighed deeply.
Rong Che said flatly, “Keep them under strict watch. Do not let word leak out.”
Fake Madam Ning saw the shadow beneath Madam Ning’s feet and desperately kowtowed, crying out, “Madam Ning! It was Her Majesty the Empress who ordered it! I never intended to deceive you.”
“I really did have a daughter who was kidnapped—I was not lying about that.”
“I had my own hardships…” Knowing she had no escape, Fake Madam Ning prostrated herself in submission.
Madam Xu sneered. “You did have a daughter, but when she was fifteen, you sold her to a brothel!”
“Take them away!”
Fake Madam Ning’s mouth was gagged, and she, along with the two elderly maids, was knocked unconscious and dragged away.
“Do not alert them yet. We go to the palace first!” Madam Xu’s expression was grim.
Madam Ning wiped her tears and clasped her hands in prayer. “I do not want the title of Empress, nor do I seek revenge or recognition. I only wish for Chao Chao to return home safely.” The old woman dared not hope for anything more. She could not bear to lose another loved one.
Upon reaching the palace gates, they found them heavily guarded, with Nan Feng Yu refusing to see them.
“I must see His Majesty!” Madam Xu demanded.
“His Majesty is unconscious. The Eldest Princess is currently acting as regent. She is busy overseeing state affairs and handling the Su Family’s funeral. She is not receiving visitors at this time,” the eunuch at the gate said with a polite yet unyielding smile.
“I am an envoy of Northern Zhao. I demand an audience with the Eldest Princess! You insolent servant, move aside at once!” Xie Jing Xi roared.
The eunuch smiled and waved his hand dismissively. “Prince Jing Xi, in the Southern Kingdom, one must abide by the Southern Kingdom’s rules.”
“This is not Northern Zhao! You will not be allowed to run amok here!”
Madam Xu knew that Chao Chao had divine power, but she was only three and a half years old—she must be terrified!
They could only watch helplessly as the eunuch walked away arrogantly.
At that moment, Xie Yu Zhou, who had returned unnoticed, tugged at Madam Xu’s sleeve.
“Aunt Xu, Chao Chao asked me to deliver a message.”
“She said, ‘Do not worry. I will make the people of the Southern Kingdom beg for my release!'”