The Blue Dragon Clan’s Very Suspicious Little Chick - Chapter 41

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 41

After the Sashin Festival in three years ended in complete disaster, the Emperor was so displeased that he did not even appear at the banquet.
As a result, only the direct line of the Sashin Clan gathered, and the Emperor’s empty seat naturally cast a harsh pall over the evening’s atmosphere.
In the Banquet Hall, guarded thickly by Sashin Palace’s escort, the eldest regional commander from the south, Ju Sang-ryun, began speaking bitter words with an uncomfortable expression.
“Did anyone here see the expression on Hwa Je-hak’s face during the Sashin Festival today?”
His awkward voice cut sharply through the already-heavy silence.
Aran sat at another table with the children as usual, but the Phoenix’s keen ears were perked toward the upper seats where the adults had gathered.
Hwa Je-hak?
She’d never heard of such a person in her past life.
Who was that? If he’s a Je-hak, isn’t he a scholar from the Imperial Archives?
In any case, no one answered Ju Sang-ryun’s question.
The old man’s mouth twisted without bothering to hide his displeasure.
“Is there anyone here who doesn’t know that man has the Emperor’s trust at his back and manipulates the imperial court?”
His voice was lowered, wary of whether any imperial guards might still be nearby, yet his tone was as if he were scolding a subordinate.
“The only ones who could possibly check him are we of the Sashin Clan, and yet the Sashin Festival has been ruined like this—what are we to do about it!”
Ju Sang-ryun, speaking with obvious displeasure, set down the cup he’d been holding with a sharp sound against the table.
Baek Hee-jae, the western regional commander, opened his mouth with a pale face.
“I am truly sorry, Commander Ju, and you as well, Commander Hyun, Commander Cheong.”
Cheong-un looked at him with sympathetic eyes.
“Commander Baek, how is your son faring?”
“He’s regained consciousness, though…”
Blue veins stood out on the back of Baek Hee-jae’s hand as he gripped the cup.
He continued as if shame-stricken.
“I thought he was old enough now to bring to an official ceremony, but it seems my eagerness got the better of judgment.”
“Pah! What an embarrassment this is!”
Just then, Ju Sang-ryun leaned forward, his upper body tilting, and raised his voice toward Commander Baek.
“You know full well that all those recent remarks by His Majesty about special privileges for the Sashin Clan are nothing but schemes from Hwa Je-hak. And in the midst of all this, because of one small child, we have failed to properly perform the Sashin Festival—our rightful duty and prerogative—what in heaven’s name are we to do about it!”
Now the atmosphere in the banquet hall had gone completely cold.
Unable to bear it any longer, Cheong-un opened his mouth.
“Commander Ju, it is only what happens when a child grows nervous. In any case, the rite was performed, and blaming it now won’t undo what happened.”
“A child?”
Ju Sang-ryun cut him off with a hollow laugh.
“Commander Cheong, you’re so relaxed about everything—I envy you for it. But that’s exactly why you’d bring an adopted son, not of direct bloodline, and think nothing of lowering the authority of the ceremony!”
The moment Aran flinched at the red-eyed gaze that swept past her, Tae-o, sitting across the table, caught her hand.
“Don’t listen.”
His voice was so small she could barely make out the movement of his lips.
Aran, habitually tensing, let out a soft, diffident laugh just as Cheong-un finally could not hold back and objected.
“That’s too harsh a thing to say.”
Then Hyun Ui-cheon, the northern regional commander who had so far remained silent, finally interjected.
“Enough.”
Now all eyes moved toward Commander Hyun.
He spoke coldly.
“Let’s keep this appropriate. What are you all doing in front of the children.”
Though he wore a suppression collar, the moment Commander Hyun opened his mouth, the air around them grew as if frozen.
The banquet ended in silence after that.
Aran too had to leave without learning anything more about Hwa Je-hak.

***

“Why did that baby White Tiger faint?”
On the way back to the Lodging, tenderhearted Yeon asked.
She must have felt hurt by the harsh words Ju Sang-ryun had unleashed at the banquet, but Cheong-un held Aran close and looked down at Yeon with a warm smile.
“It’s because he’s just a toddling baby, and when he came to such a big ceremony, he got so nervous he couldn’t help it.”
Min opened her eyes wide and chimed in.
“But that kid is actually older than we are, isn’t he?”
“Well…”
Cheong-un thought for a moment, then opened his mouth again.
“To be precise, the Crown Prince and the youngest of White Tiger Palace were born earlier than you, but the imperial family is born in human form to begin with, so they grow terribly slowly. Tiger demi-humans also develop at a slower pace.”
Well, Cheong-un was simply putting it in the best light—Baek Sa-heum was exceptionally delayed for a tiger.
To Aran, who remembered him from her past life, it was frankly absurd.
Even if he had been the Emperor’s puppet, Baek Sa-heum’s misdeeds were notorious beyond reason.
She had never met him face to face, but Aran had cleaned up several villages he’d trampled through.
She had no interest in whether a wretched tiger fell or not.
Aran deftly changed the subject.
“Is that why we don’t see the Crown Prince very often?”
“Ah, the Crown Prince is…….”
Cheong-un continued slowly.
“After the Empress passed away last year, his wounds run deep. Unlike you, who never knew your mother’s face from the start, the Crown Prince grew up in the Empress’s arms and lost his mother overnight.”
Which was better—never having a mother, or having known her love, however briefly?
Aran was certain it couldn’t be the former, but Cheong-un’s explanation went on.
“Though he lost his mother, unlike you who grew up surrounded by your father’s, Hwi’s, and Master Sureun’s affection, the Emperor cannot even reside in the same building as his young son.”
“Then the Crown Prince must be so lonely.”
It seemed the gentle youngest was troubled even for the youngest of White Tiger Palace and the baby prince, whom he’d never spoken to.
Cheong-un stroked his kind son’s head and nodded in agreement.
“Your father thinks the same. So if you should happen to see the Crown Prince again, treat him well. And the youngest of White Tiger Palace too.”
Aran slipped in another question.
“But the Southern Regional Lord seems to have a terrible temperament, doesn’t he?”
“What?”
At the abrupt question, Cheong-un burst out laughing.
“Aha, I can’t really say he has a good temperament. Still, you shouldn’t speak ill of an adult when he’s not present.”
“But you can’t say that sort of thing to his face either, can you?”
At Aran’s rebuttal, even the naive twins agreed.
“That’s true.”
“Indeed it is.”
While Cheong-un stifled his laughter, Aran asked what she really wanted to know.
“That grandfather was speaking so loudly when he was angry that I heard him—who is Je-hak Hwa?”
“Ah, Je-hak Hwa is…….”
Cheong-un began matter-of-factly.
“You know the Imperial Archives where scholars work? A scholar of high rank who works there.”
“Is he extremely important? Second only to the Emperor?”
When Min asked with gleaming eyes, Cheong-un chuckled.
“By rank alone it’s not quite that, but in truth Je-hak Hwa holds quite a high position now. He’s not only a Je-hak but also the Emperor’s chief advisor, and moreover he’s the Crown Prince’s uncle.”
Je Geon-u’s uncle?
But if she didn’t remember him, he probably didn’t live very long.
So why should she care?
Aran thought indifferently as they arrived at the Lodging.

***

Deep in the night, when So-rim slept soundly.
Aran quietly took on a new form and placed around her neck the Jeol-maek-san Bracelet that Tae-o had brought her.
As she slipped out of the Lodging, the Swallows who had helped her two nights before chirped in greeting.
“Chirrup chirrup!”
(Going for an evening stroll again, elder?)
“Chirp.”
(Right. Keep watch like you did before.)
How fortunate that no one knew her true form.
Tonight, Aran intended to go to the Crown Prince Palace, feed the Jeol-maek-san Bracelet to Je Geon-u, and show him an Illusion so terrible his heart would stop from shock.
If it didn’t work, she could try several more times over the next four days.
They said the Crown Prince having nightmares and convulsions was common enough.
If she couldn’t resolve it this year, she would cultivate her power further and return.
There was no rush—Je Geon-u’s ascension to the throne was still far away.
Her Illusion was developing day by day.
But as she flew toward the Crown Prince Palace, she suddenly caught sight of a pavilion to the west.
Aran glanced at the pavilion, which seemed to lie in quiet sleep.
Had sympathy rubbed off on her from the overly kind twin—to be curious about a wretched tiger simply because he was young?
Aran shook her head at herself.
“Chirp.”
(Don’t meddle, Aran.)
Yet her wingbeats had grown sluggish, lacking any real momentum.
It was just as Aran finally settled onto a garden tree, unable to abandon her reluctance.
A small child sat motionless before the wide-open window, but the moment he caught sight of Aran, he jolted to his feet.
For Aran, it was utterly startling.
She’d thought he was asleep!
“Chirp? Tweet?”
(Is that Baek Sa-heum? Why is the little thing awake and suddenly jumping up like that?)
The Deeply Suspicious Chirping of the Azure Dragon Clan — Chapter 41
E-book Publication Date | August 5, 2026

Author | Ravioli
Publisher | Odd Eye
Submissions/Inquiries | [email protected]

UCI | G720:N+A101-20260722065.0041
List Price | 100 won

© Ravioli 2026

This e-book is a copyrighted work protected under copyright law.
This e-book is published under contract with the author, and reproduction, duplication, distribution, or sharing without written consent from both parties is prohibited.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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