Home/The very suspicious chick of the Blue Dragon clan/ch 41

Chapter 41

After the Divine Beast Festival—held for the first time in three years—ended in utter chaos, the emperor was so displeased that he didn't even appear at the banquet.

As a result, only the direct-line members of the divine beast palaces gathered, and the emperor's empty seat naturally soured the atmosphere of the feast.

In the banquet hall, tightly guarded by the divine beast palaces' escorts, the eldest among them—Southern Great Lord Joo Sang-ryun—spoke with an uncomfortable expression.

"Did any of you see Academician Hwa's expression at today's Divine Beast Festival?"

His grating voice sharply cut through the already subdued atmosphere.

Aran was seated at a different table with the children as before, but her sharp Vermilion Bird ears were pricked toward the head table where the adults sat.

Academician Hwa?

She'd never heard of that person in her previous life.

Who is that? Isn't an Academician a scholar of the Royal Library?

Regardless, no one answered Joo Sang-ryun's question.

The old man's lips twisted with undisguised displeasure.

"Is there anyone here who doesn't know that he's been using His Majesty's trust to manipulate the imperial court?"

His voice was deliberately low in case any imperial guards remained nearby, but his tone was as if he were scolding his inferiors.

"The only ones who can keep that man in check are us divine beast families—and yet this is how the Divine Beast Festival ends up ruined! What are we to do about this!"

Joo Sang-ryun set down his wine glass with a sharp clack on the table.

Western Great Lord Baek Hui-jae opened his mouth with a pale face.

"I truly apologize, Great Lord Joo, and Great Lords Hyeon and Cheong."

Cheongun looked at him with pitying eyes.

"Great Lord Baek, how is your son?"

"He has regained consciousness…"

The veins on the back of Baek Hui-jae's hand, gripping his glass, stood out blue.

He continued, as if ashamed.

"I thought he had grown enough to bring to official events, but it seems I was too hasty."

"Hah, really! What a disgrace!"

Just then, Joo Sang-ryun leaned forward and raised his voice toward Lord Baek.

"You know full well that His Majesty's recent talk of the divine beast families' privileges is all part of Academician Hwa's schemes. And in the midst of that, because of one young White Tiger, we failed to properly perform the Divine Beast Festival—which is both our duty and our right! What are we to do about this!"

The atmosphere at the banquet had now completely cooled.

Unable to bear it any longer, Cheongun spoke up.

"Great Lord Joo, it was merely a child being nervous. In any case, the ritual was offered, and criticizing it now won't make the accident unhappen."

"A child?"

Joo Sang-ryun laughed derisively and cut him off.

"I envy how easygoing you are about everything, Lord Cheong. I suppose that's why you'd bring an adopted child—not even of direct blood—and lower the authority of the ceremony!"

Just as Aran flinched at the crimson eyes that glanced her way, Taeo, seated across from her, reached out across the table.

"Don't listen."

His voice was so small it was barely discernible from his lip movements.

Aran, who had tensed out of habit, let out a soft laugh—just as Cheongun could no longer hold back and retorted.

"That's rather harsh."

At that, the Northern Great Lord Hyeon Ui-cheon, who had been silent until then, finally intervened.

"Enough."

Now everyone's gaze turned to the Great Lord of the North.

He said dryly.

"Let's moderate ourselves. What are we doing in front of the children?"

Though he was clearly wearing a restraint, the air around them seemed to freeze when the Great Lord of the North spoke.

In the end, the banquet fizzled out inconclusively.

Aran also had to leave without learning more about Academician Hwa.

---

"Why did that baby White Tiger faint?"

On the way back to their lodgings, the tender-hearted Yeon asked.

Though Yeon must have been upset by Joo Sang-ryun's harsh words at the banquet, Cheongun held Aran tightly and looked down at Yeon with a warm smile.

"Why? He's just a toddling baby—he got nervous coming to such a big event."

Min cut in with wide eyes.

"But isn't he older than us?"

"Hmm…"

Cheongun thought for a moment before speaking again.

"Strictly speaking, the Crown Prince and the White Tiger Palace's youngest were born before you. However, the imperial family is born in human form, so they grow very slowly, and tiger beastmen also tend to develop slowly."

In fact, Cheongun was being generous—Baek Sa-heum was exceptionally slow even for a tiger.

To Aran, who knew him from her previous life, it was almost absurd.

Even if he had been the emperor's puppet, the rumors of Baek Sa-heum's atrocities were notorious.

She'd never actually encountered him, but Aran had had to clean up several villages that Baek Sa-heum had trampled.

She didn't care whether a wicked tiger fell or not.

Aran subtly changed the subject.

"Is that why the Crown Prince isn't seen very often either?"

"Ah, the Crown Prince is…"

Cheongun continued slowly.

"He has been deeply wounded since the Empress passed away last year. Unlike you, who never saw your mother's face from the start, the Crown Prince was raised in the Empress's arms and lost his mother overnight."

Which was better—never having a mother, or having been showered with a mother's love, even briefly?

Aran thought it could never be the former, but Cheongun's explanation continued.

"Though he lost his mother, unlike you who grew up with the love of your father, Hwi, and Su-ryeon, His Majesty cannot even reside in the same building as the young Crown Prince."

"Then he must be so pitiful."

Yeon seemed quite concerned even for the White Tiger Palace's youngest and the baby Crown Prince, whom she'd never even spoken to.

Cheongun stroked his kind youngest son's head and agreed.

"Your father thinks so too. So if you ever see the Crown Prince again, be kind to him. And to the White Tiger Palace's youngest as well."

Aran subtly cut in again and asked.

"By the way, the Southern Great Lord seems to have a bad temper, doesn't he?"

"What?"

Cheongun burst out laughing at the sudden question.

"Haha, I can't exactly say he's the good-tempered type. Still, you shouldn't speak ill of an elder, especially not in a place where he isn't present."

"But you can't exactly say that to his face either, can you?"

Even the naive twins agreed with Aran's rebuttal.

"That's true."

"Seems that way."

While Cheongun held back his laughter, Aran asked what she really wanted to know.

"That old man was shouting so loudly I heard him—who is Academician Hwa?"

"Ah, Academician Hwa is…"

Cheongun began casually, as if it were nothing.

"You know the Royal Library where the scholars work? He's a high-ranking scholar there."

"Is he incredibly important? Next after His Majesty?"

When Min asked with sparkling eyes, Cheongun chuckled.

"In terms of official rank, not exactly—but the current Academician Hwa holds a fairly high position. He's both an Academician and His Majesty's strategist, and also the Crown Prince's maternal uncle."

The Crown Prince's maternal uncle?

But since she didn't remember him, he probably didn't live very long, did he?

Should I just ignore him then?

Aran thought indifferently as they arrived at their lodgings.

---

Late at night, when So-rim was fast asleep.

Aran secretly transformed into a bird and put on the Jeolmaeksan bracelet Taeo had brought her.

As she stealthily slipped out of the lodgings, the swallows who had helped her the previous night chirped happily.

"Chirrrrr!"

(Are you going out again tonight, Elder?)

"Pip."

(Yes. Guard the place well, just like last time.)

How fortunate that no one knew her true form.

Tonight, Aran intended to go to the Crown Prince's palace, feed Jeolmaeksan to Je Geon-u, and show him a terrifying vision that would stop his heart.

If it didn't work, she could try a few more times over the remaining four days.

It was said that the Crown Prince frequently had nightmares and fits anyway.

If she couldn't resolve it this year, she'd come back after honing her abilities further.

Je Geon-u's ascension to the throne was still far off—there was no need to rush.

Aran's illusions were improving day by day.

But as she was flying toward the Crown Prince's palace, she suddenly noticed the western pavilion.

Aran glanced at the silent pavilion, where everyone seemed asleep.

Had Yeon's kindness rubbed off on her? She found herself curious about a wicked tiger just because he was young.

Aran shook her head at herself.

"Pik."

(Don't meddle, Cheong Aran.)

Even so, her flapping wings wouldn't pick up speed.

Just as she finally gave in and landed on a garden tree—

A child was sitting alone in front of a wide-open window, and upon spotting Aran, immediately stood up.

This was quite startling to Aran.

She'd thought everyone was asleep!

"Pit? Peep?"

(Isn't that Baek Sa-heum? Why is that little thing awake and suddenly standing up?)

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