Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 827: Chapter 827: His Majesty The Emperor Has Passed Away! (Seeking Monthly Votes)
 

Taoist Master Zhu said with a plump face.

Under the gaze of Liu Sisi and Di Yelei, a shade of embarrassment gradually crept over his face, which turned beet red as he gritted his teeth and stood there repeating himself.

“If you agree, I, as an old Daoist, will not mention anything else, and I will definitely allow him to return home to reunite with your family in ten years, how about that?”

“No way! I don’t agree!”

Before Di Yelei could speak, Liu Sisi, who had just come to her senses, instinctively refused. “Immortal Chief, Xiao Xiao is my child, I will absolutely not let my child become a Daoist, don’t even think about it!”

She spoke firmly and decisively, leaving no room for negotiation.

Although she had no animosity towards Daoists, there was no way she would let her child become one! Liu Sisi would rather sell iron from broken pots than allow her own children to become Daoists!

“Sisi, why would you speak to Immortal Chief in such a manner?”

While Di Yelei was addressing Liu Sisi, his gaze remained fixed on Taoist Master Zhu, with a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Others might look down on or underestimate the old Daoist before them, but Di Yelei had spent nearly half a year with Taoist Master Zhu and knew full well how skilled he was at divination.

That’s why he wondered, why had Taoist Master Zhu taken an interest in Xiao Xiao? Why had he mentioned wanting to take him as a disciple?

Was he aiming without basis?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Ɲονɡᴑ.сο

Most likely not!

With that thought, his heart became immediately cluttered.

A layer of mild anger colored Liu Sisi’s eyes. When it came to her weaknesses, her children were naturally her greatest vulnerability!

A streak of resentment flashed through her heart, and she wore a shallow smile on her face. “Such jokes are not at all funny, Immortal Chief, please don’t make such jokes again!”

A flicker of disappointment passed through Taoist Master Zhu’s eyes, he glanced at Xiao Xiao beside him, then forcefully reigned in his thoughts and took a step back before speaking.

“Enough! You can think about my proposal. If you agree, you know where you can find this poor Taoist.”

“Ye Lei will thank the Immortal Chief for his misplaced affection for Xiao Xiao.”

Di Yelei greeted him with a fist greeting. “A meal has been prepared in the living room, please, Immortal Chief, move to the living room to enjoy it.”

“Then I thank Marquis Yongping very much.”

Taoist Master Zhu announced his title and walked towards the living room.

“Don’t be angry, the Immortal Chief didn’t forcefully try to take Xiao Xiao as his disciple, what are you worried about?”

Di Yelei lifted his hand and ruffled Liu Sisi’s hair until it became a tangled mess, then he smiled contentedly. “You take the children down first, we’ll talk more in details later.” Having said this, he headed directly to the living room.

Liu Sisi’s face never brightened through the whole ordeal.

Watching Di Yelei’s retreating back, she quickly led the three children back to the courtyard.

Not long afterward, Di Yelei rushed back in a hurry. “The Immortal Chief said he was tired, he ate his meal and is now resting for the time being. Big brother has returned, he’s asking for us in the study.”

Liu Sisi still wore a stern face, glanced at him without speaking, and left the house lifting her skirt hem.

All the way there, no matter what Di Yelei said, she remained silent until they reached the study when Di Yelei finally stopped talking.

“Big brother, we’re here.”

In the study, Di Hongyuan was frowning in distraction when he saw the two come in, and he quickly asked.

“How did it go? Did you discover anything when you entered the Palace?”

Since this was a serious matter, Liu Sisi didn’t bother being angry. She shared her findings and insights after Di Yelei finished talking about what he saw in the Palace.

“The general situation is indeed as Ye Lei described. However, I’ve noticed a few discrepancies. But, I’m not sure if my feelings are correct…”

Liu Sisi hesitated, unsure whether to speak further.

“Third Sister-in-law, there are no outsiders here. Please, speak your mind,” Di Hongyuan quickly encouraged her.

Emboldened by Di Hongyuan’s words, Liu Sisi felt much more at ease, “Well, if I’m wrong, just point it out. I did notice several anomalies. First, the Immortal Chief seemed to have expected my visit from the start; he knew what I came for before I even spoke.”

“Hmm, I’ve heard before that the Taoist Priests at Qingfeng Temple have the ability to foresee events. It seems that this might really be the case,” Di Hongyuan nodded repeatedly.

But Liu Sisi wasn’t there to sing praises for Taoist Master Zhu and she continued, “Second, we encountered almost no obstruction entering the city. Isn’t it said that the Empress’s real brother is guarding the imperial court? How could he let us pass so easily?”

Di Hongyuan and Di Yelei exchanged glances, “That is indeed a point of suspicion.”

“Third, Yang Yikun is the Empress’s real brother. We killed him and the Empress just let us go so simply—even though there were people ambushing us along the way, it always felt like a bluff. This… it’s just too strange.”

“Sisi is right; I mentioned earlier that the thugs who came to kill us were indeed weaker,” Di Yelei added.

Di Hongyuan nodded silently, without saying a word.

“Fourth, as Ye Lei mentioned earlier, where did Eunuch Xiao, who used to serve His Majesty, go? Where are the familiar servants? Fifth, why did the Imperial Physician have to look at the face of that unfamiliar little eunuch while diagnosing? Sixth, and this is the most important point…”

As she spoke the last words, Liu Sisi clammed up, hesitating for a long while in silence.

The two men didn’t rush her and simply sat in silence beside her.

After a while, Liu Sisi sighed, “The sixth point is that I always feel that the person lying on the dragon couch is incredibly unfamiliar. When I grabbed his hand before, that hand… that hand…”

“Sisi, what exactly are you trying to say?”

“I feel that the hand, it doesn’t feel like… his fingertips had…”

Before Liu Sisi could finish her sentence, a commotion of hurried footsteps erupted from outside, followed by an urgent knocking on the door.

“Old Master Marquis! Princess, something terrible has happened! His Majesty… has passed away!”

“What did you say?”

The three people in the study exclaimed in unison.

The visitor was an elder from Di Hongyuan’s side, his face awash with panic, “Just now, the news came from the Palace that His Majesty… has passed away!”

Di Yelei and Liu Sisi had just forced their way into the sleeping palace and seen His Majesty’s face. And now, His Majesty had suddenly passed away! This…

This coincidence could no longer be called a coincidence!

“So that’s how it is! No wonder there was no one stopping us from leaving the palace, no wonder the ambushes we encountered on the road were so easily dealt with, no wonder… it turns out the Empress has been waiting for us here!”

Di Yelei and Di Hongyuan’s complexions turned ashen.

But being no ordinary people, they quickly recovered, standing up resolutely, “Staying here won’t help. Let’s hurry to the Palace and see how things stand. Also, we must instruct at home to put away any colored decorations, hang up white lanterns, change into mourning clothes, and set off immediately!”