The whole family is insanely eavesdropping on my thoughts Chapter 434
Chapter 434: The Deposed Empress
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Shi Yun silently helped Lu Chao Chao put on her shoes and socks before leading her downstairs to the main hall.
Inside the hall, a wail of despair had already broken out.
“How are we supposed to live like this? Hearts are being stolen without a sound, and so many people have already died!”
“The heavens must want our lives!”
“Don’t be afraid! I went to the temple yesterday and brought back a divine statue. It will surely protect us!”
An elderly man carefully pulled out a statue wrapped in red cloth from his robes. He had even cleansed his hands beforehand, ensuring that he was pure before touching the idol.
“This is the High God Li Guang, the deity of light. He represents justice and fairness and is known to favor mortals the most. Even his name was given to bring dawn to humanity.”
As Lu Chao Chao followed her mother down the stairs, her steps abruptly halted. A sharp pang pierced her heart.
[Li Guang!]
“Chao Chao, what’s wrong?” Shi Yun asked with concern. She had never seen her daughter’s face turn so ashen before, nor had she ever heard her speak of Li Guang with such deep-seated fear.
Lu Chao Chao lowered her head, avoiding the gaze of the gathered townsfolk.
“N-nothing…” she muttered weakly.
“Innkeeper, do you have any food? Bring us a warming pot of broth,” Shi Yun said, deciding to move on.
The attendant immediately went to the kitchen to prepare the order.
It wasn’t until half an hour later that Rong Che descended the stairs, his expression grim.
“Strange. The entire inn fell unconscious, yet no one had their heart taken.”
Yet it was certain that someone had been here.
Shi Yun glanced at Lu Chao Chao and gently patted her head. Someone had taken her away.
Just as she was about to speak, a loud knocking resounded against the door.
The crowd screamed in fright, huddling together in fear.
The innkeeper nervously called out, “W-who’s there?”
“A delivery—lotus roots for the Heaven-tier guest room,” came a clear, youthful voice.
The moment Lu Chao Chao heard it, she immediately leaped from her mother’s embrace.
“It’s for me! It’s a person! A real person!”
Shi Yun also found the voice familiar and signaled the servants to open the door.
A young man covered in mud entered. Even his usually pristine black hair was stained with dirt, and his sleeves were rolled up as if he had just come from working the fields. He held an enormous bundle of lotus roots, as thick as a baby’s arm.
The roots had already been washed clean, their white flesh glistening with moisture.
Lu Chao Chao scrutinized him suspiciously…
[Wait, why is he wearing green?]
He looked strangely familiar.
Without changing expression, the young man handed the lotus roots to a servant. “This is what Chao Chao wanted.”
Shi Yun quietly shot her daughter a glare.
The young man carried an air of mystery, appearing and vanishing like the wind, exuding an unapproachable, distant coldness—like the moon in the sky, too sacred to touch.
At times, just a single glance from him could make Shi Yun’s heart tremble.
And yet, Chao Chao…
She made him work in the fields!
“Go wash up! How could you be doing such labor? There are servants for that!” she scolded. It was as if a celestial being had fallen into the mud.
The young man inclined his head slightly. “It is no trouble.” He then ascended the stairs to clean himself up.
He glanced down at his green clothes—it was something he had stolen from Seven Sins.
As for Seven Sins, he had dressed him in burial robes he had scavenged from the mass graves.
“Mother, these lotus roots and seeds are delicious! Let’s have Sister Deng Zhi make some soup later!” Lu Chao Chao grinned, pulling at her mother’s hand.
Deng Zhi smiled and agreed.
At dawn, as Lu Chao Chao held a small bowl of lotus root soup, the sounds of jubilant shouting reached them from outside.
“The National Advisor’s disciple has arrived! They’ve already entered the county yamen and will soon hunt the demon!”
The townsfolk rushed toward the yamen in excitement.
“This soup is incredibly sweet! Even the lotus seeds have such a fragrant aroma!” Xie Yu Zhou slurped loudly.
The black dragon, clad in a gaudy floral jacket, squatted by the door, clutching his bowl.
[Sweet? Nonsense! This is rich with spiritual energy!]
[Dear heavens, I finally get to eat something good!]
As the young man, now dressed in green, came downstairs, he saw the black dragon sweating profusely and glaring at him furiously.
The black dragon’s fur bristled, and he shot up instantly.
Something was off. Just drinking a bowl of soup at the doorway had drawn the attention of the Heavenly Dao!
He nearly dropped his bowl in shock.
Shi Yun, noticing the young man’s unkempt hair, asked with a chuckle, “You dug those lotus roots yourself. Would you like to try some?”
Before the young man could answer, Lu Chao Chao immediately cut in, “He doesn’t eat mortal food!”
The young man had just been about to reach for a bowl but, upon hearing her words, quietly retracted his hand, letting it fall to his side.
“I won’t eat,” he said languidly.
Strangely, Shi Yun detected a trace of grievance in his voice.
He always seemed to be at Chao Chao’s mercy, his anger bottled up and unspoken.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that he resembled a boy from a dream—a boy who had wept before her, pleading for something she could not recall.
By noon, news from the yamen had finally arrived.
“Have you heard? That heart-stealing demon is dead! Apparently, it had a cave in North Mountain, and there was blood everywhere!”
“No one knows how it died…”
“I heard it was a mountain demon, and even its original form was exposed.”
As discussions swirled, Lu Chao Chao stood with her hands in her pockets, utterly unconcerned.
“Well, well! The demon is dead, and the people can live in peace. But who exactly acted on behalf of the heavens? They have done a great deed!” Rong Che felt relief wash over him. He had initially planned to request the National Advisor’s help upon returning to the Southern Capital.
Shi Yun turned to see her daughter licking the spicy seasoning off her fingers, oblivious to the outside world.
Just then, a young priest, clad in ceremonial robes, arrived to pay his respects.
He bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Princess.”
“The National Advisor has located the Elf Tribe and has returned to the Southern Capital. The mortal world has been restless of late, so my master has ordered me to escort you back to the palace.”
Shi Yun’s heart skipped a beat.
“The National Advisor has found the Elf Tribe?”
The priest smiled and nodded. “Yes. My master journeyed north in search of them but was about to return empty-handed—until they came to him instead.”
“They claimed they sensed the presence of their kin on us.”
“At last, His Majesty can be saved.”
Xie Yu Zhou was curious. “They say the elves are incomparably beautiful. Is that true? I’ve never seen one.”
A flash of admiration crossed the priest’s eyes.
“I have seen many beauties, but never ones like them.”
Upon their arrival in the capital, they had caused an uproar. The streets had been packed with onlookers, all gasping in awe.
“Their features are flawless, their eyes as clear as mountain springs, and they possess delicate, translucent wings. Heaven has bestowed them with all its blessings.”
“You will understand once you see them.”
“The Southern Capital is already celebrating—red silk is hung everywhere. The palace has begun wedding preparations…”
“The Empress has been deposed for condoning the Su Family’s crimes. His Majesty has ordered her immediate removal and will soon take a new bride.”
The priest shot Shi Yun a wary glance—after all, her mother remained in the Southern Capital.
A legitimate wife, properly married.
Shi Yun’s expression remained unreadable, but fury burned within her heart.
The entire Peach Source Village had been slaughtered. The Su Family had massacred countless children, yet the Emperor had protected them.
And now, for the sake of immortality…
He had discarded the Empress without hesitation.
[So this is the fickleness of emperors. I have finally seen it with my own eyes!]
Sekstifire
I’ve been wondering for a while what was that Jiang something dude’s deal. The one who told the emperor about elves in the first place. What’s his problem. Did an elf kick his dog or something.