Chapter 2332: Thirty-Five Years of Dream, Now Awakened

The old steward has also made arrangements for you. You have spent thirty-five years in the Heavenly Palace, never married and childless all your life, so the Heavenly Palace will ensure that your two brothers and their entire families—twenty-five people in all—enjoy lifelong glory and prosperity. If your children show talent, they may be recommended for official posts and will not be overlooked.

Zeng Auntie received the favor: "Thank you, my lord steward!"

"As for you personally." Lu Yongyan took a medicine bottle from the divine altar, poured out three pills, and held them before Zeng Auntie.

"You have labored with great merit; the old steward wishes to promote you and take you along to the Divine Kingdom."

Zeng Auntie felt as if struck on the head, instinctively stepping back two large paces, her voice sharp: "No, this is not right!"

She suddenly lifted her head, gazing at Lu Yongyan and also at the divine altar behind him.

"The old steward promised me I would return to my homeland!"

At this moment, the two maidservants Xiao Yu and another also understood: the new steward's very first act upon taking office was to grant them death!

They were so frightened their legs went weak, and they knelt on the ground, weeping without cease.

What crime have we committed that we must be granted death?

"Every one of us comes from the Divine Homeland. After wandering in the mortal realm, we naturally must return to the Divine Homeland." Lu Yongyan spoke each word clearly: "The Divine Homeland is your native land. The old steward promised to let you return home, and he has not gone back on his word!"

Zeng Auntie raised her head, unsure whether it was due to tears in her eyes or the incense-smudged statue in the divine altar making her vision blur.

In fact, when the old steward whispered those few secrets to Lu Yongyan just now, she had already felt a deep sense of foreboding.

Having spent so many years in the Heavenly Palace, she well understood the weight of the two words "secret." Those secrets she previously did not know should remain unknown to her henceforth; otherwise, there would be no "hereafter" to speak of.

Seeing she made no move, Lu Yongyan continued: "Wind and rain, dew and grace—all are divine blessings. Zeng Auntie, the divine favor bestowed upon you and your family is a blessing that mortals could not cultivate in ten lifetimes."

Upon moving, Zeng Auntie was startled by the three words "your family."

She still had two brothers, and her household still had twenty-five people. If they could receive divine grace, they must also bear divine wrath, is that not so?

Moreover, this is the Heavenly Palace—what else could she possibly do?

"Forget it." She smiled through tears still unshed: "Returning in glory to the Divine Kingdom is the dream of countless believers. Thank you, Steward Lu, for fulfilling it!"

Having spoken, she picked up a pill and swallowed it.

Actually, deep down she knew as clear as a mirror: if the old steward truly wished to let her leave, why did he not mention it earlier?

Out of respect for his lifelong service to the heavenly gods, the Holy Sovereign might perhaps spare her life.

But he did not.

He knew that, compared to the risk of secret leakage, Zeng Auntie's thirty-five years of devoted service to him were insignificant.

Who let this be the Heavenly Palace?

Zeng Auntie glanced at Lu Yongyan once more.

In the Heavenly Palace, who does not know that Zeng Auntie, beside the old steward, holds high rank and great power? Over the past two years, whenever Lu Yongyan saw her, he wore a smiling face, both warm and respectful; but now, having just become the Steward of Chief Du Yun, he began to wear an iron face, impartial and wholly devoted to public duty.

Zeng Auntie smiled.

Ha, from beginning to end, what right did she have? The heavenly gods need only utter a single sentence to condemn her to death.

Thirty-five years—it is time the dream ended.

This medicine takes effect with incredible speed: from ingestion to onset, merely three or five breaths; Zeng Auntie hardly felt any pain before her life came to a close.

This too counts as the old steward's final act of mercy toward her.

Xiao Yu and the other maidservant saw her kneeling motionless, then slowly collapsing, and they could not help but gasp in shock.

Lu Yongyan looked at them, his expression indifferent: "Now it is your turn."

……

Tong Yiyi, or perhaps called Mei Wuniang, listened to the bell tolling continuously from the top of the tower, and silently muttered to herself:

Finally dead.

For the past half year, that old thing has been half-dead, repeatedly critical dozens of times. Each time, the Heavenly Palace, the Star-Plucking Tower, and Wang Ting were on high alert, also exhausting these maidservants to the point of exasperation.

The cries of "Wolf!" came too often; just when she had grown numb to it, the Steward of Chief Du Yun departed the mortal world.

Secretly cursing, she outwardly still had to kneel before the main hall like the other maidservants, not daring to lift her head.

Who does not know that the Star-Plucking Tower is the place shrouded in the heavenly gods' thoughts?

If she showed even the slightest lack of reverence, trouble would surely follow. Moreover, she knows that she and her kind cannot kneel for long.

These years, Mei Wuniang's cultivation has advanced, her hearing exceptional; she can hear the chaotic footsteps coming from above the Star-Plucking Tower. The old steward has passed, and the new steward has taken over—everyone in this tower must now be in a flurry.

After just a dozen or so breaths, several attendants rushed over:

"All rise, get to work! Where is Tong Yiyi?"

Mei Wuniang's heart gave a startled jolt, but she still forced herself to answer:

"Here."

"Come with me."

Mei Wuniang and the maidservants behind her followed these people, walking higher and higher, until they reached the third floor.

In the past few years, she has come to this place fewer than ten times in total.

Because the main altar is on the third floor.

Splendid, solemn, and empty—this is the most important place in the entire Heavenly Palace, where the Chief Du Yun stewards listen to the heavenly gods' holy edicts. She has also heard that before the Nine Abysses Great Emperor became the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, he once caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace and stole from here an object of utmost importance.

Since then, the defenses of the Star-Plucking Tower have become the strictest in the entire Lingxu City.

Each time she comes up, she dares not extend her divine sense, fearing to be accused of desecration.

Only today did she learn that behind the Star-Plucking Tower there is still a secret chamber.

Here too there is a divine altar, incense smoke curling, and three people lying fallen on the ground.

"Zeng Auntie?!"

These three people are Zeng Auntie, Xiao Yu, and another maidservant.

Mei Wuniang rushed over and immediately knelt beside Zeng Auntie, anxiously saying: "How—how did she end up like this!"

The attendant, stern-faced, said: "Zeng Auntie, out of devotion to the steward, voluntarily followed his elder self to ascend into the Divine Kingdom."

Mei Wuniang immediately burst into tears, her tears flowing like a floodgate opened, unstoppable.

What on earth is going on!

"Lord Gu's envoy"? Pah, spoken so nicely. Aunt Zeng clearly said before she came up that once Lord Du Yun's envoy dies, she would retire and return home to enjoy her twilight years in comfort.

So this so-called "voluntary" is probably just a funeral, eight out of ten times?

That old fogey Lord Du Yun's envoy is truly no good thing—he won't even give a way out to his own loyal servant of over thirty years.

The attendant, hearing her sobs grow more sorrowful, hurriedly said: "The new lord envoy said that Aunt Zeng, in her lifetime, begged for her bones to be returned home, and this request must be fulfilled. You are her personal maid, so her funeral arrangements are your responsibility."

Mei Wuniang choked: "Yes."

The attendant, afraid she would cry uncontrollably, added: "This is the divine abode—do not linger too long, and do not disturb the gods with your weeping, or it will be a great disrespect!"

Mei Wuniang pouted: "Yes!"

Indeed, she gradually stopped crying and directed the guards and maids behind her to carry away the three corpses.

She was Aunt Zeng's senior maid, and after Aunt Zeng's death, it was indeed most appropriate for her to handle the aftermath.