Silence.
Not the peaceful kind.
The dangerous kind that feels like the air itself is holding its breath.
Smoke from the kitchen still floated through the hall.
Servants were frozen mid-run.
Chopsticks were stuck halfway to mouths.
Even the fire outside seemed to pause.
And there she was.
Lei Yue.
Standing at the doorway like she owned the world.
Lei Hua stared at her like she had just seen a living god.
(*She's real… SHE IS REALLY REAL… this is not a filter… this is not AI… THIS IS A FINAL BOSS QUEEN—*)
Lei Yue slowly walked forward.
Each step was calm.
Each step made everyone's heart jump.
Lei Ming hurried forward nervously.
"Y-Yue'er, you came back earlier than expected…"
Lei Yue's eyes moved slightly.
Cool. Sharp. Lazy.
"I smelled chaos from three streets away."
The hall trembled.
Lei Rong's fingers tightened inside her sleeves.
Lei Yue's gaze swept through everyone.
Broken stove.
Scared servants.
Shocked family.
Lei Hua holding cursed-looking papers.
Then she stopped.
Her eyes met Lei Hua's.
Time froze.
Lei Hua swallowed.
(*Don't panic. Don't panic. Don't faint. Don't kneel. Don't call her queen. Don't—*)
Lei Yue tilted her head slightly.
"…You must be the lost daughter."
Lei Hua's legs went soft.
(*HER VOICE IS EVEN COOLER UP CLOSE—*)
Lei Yue continued calmly:
"You look… noisy."
The family gasped.
Lei Hua almost died on the spot.
(*NOISY?? I AM YOUR FUTURE CLINGY LITTLE PET PLEASE DON'T HATE ME—*)
Lei Yue turned her eyes slightly.
Lei Hua froze.
Then Lei Yue said softly and clearly:
"Stop screaming in your mind."
Everyone's breath stopped.
Lei Hua's soul left her body.
(*SHE HEARD IT— SHE HEARD IT— SHE HEARD IT—*)
Lei Hua slapped her own mouth.
"I— I didn't— I wasn't— I—"
Lei Yue raised one finger.
Lei Hua shut up instantly.
The hall: DEAD SILENT.
Lei Yue stared at her calmly.
"Your thoughts are very loud."
Half the family nearly fainted.
Lei Ming's knees gave out.
Granny Lei grabbed her chest.
Lei Rong's face went pale for the first time ever.
Lei Hua's brain exploded.
(*SHE KNOWS. SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING. THIS IS MY GODDESS. THIS IS MY SHIELD. THIS IS MY LIFE WARRANTY—*)
Lei Yue spoke again:
"And your system is poorly concealed."
The air cracked.
Lei Hua almost screamed but managed to swallow it.
(*SHE EVEN KNOWS THE SYSTEM?!?! I'M SAVED. I'M SAVED. I'M NEVER DYING AGAIN—*)
Lei Yue looked mildly annoyed.
"Control your excitement. It's irritating."
Lei Hua nodded like a chicken pecking rice.
"Yes yes yes yes yes!"
Lei Rong finally couldn't hold it anymore.
She stepped forward with a forced laugh.
"Sister Yue… you must be tired from traveling. Don't let small things disturb you. This Lei Hua has always been strange…"
Lei Yue looked at her.
Just one look.
Lei Rong's smile stiffened.
Lei Yue didn't raise her voice.
Didn't insult her.
She only said:
"Your pulse is unstable."
Lei Rong's back went cold.
"Your breathing is fast."
Lei Rong's fingers trembled.
"And your heart is louder than Lei Hua's thoughts."
Everyone turned to look at Lei Rong.
Lei Rong panicked.
"I—I don't know what you mean!"
Lei Hua's Gossip System suddenly chimed.
[DING. Host. The person in front of you is scheming to destroy your reputation tonight.]
Lei Hua gasped.
Then thought too loudly:
(*SHE'S PLANNING TO FRAME ME TONIGHT?!*)
The whole hall exploded.
"WHAT?!"
"FRAME?!"
"TONIGHT?!"
Lei Rong's face turned white as paper.
Lei Yue slowly turned her head.
Looked at Lei Rong again.
This time, her eyes were no longer calm.
They were cold.
Dead cold.
Lei Yue spoke one sentence:
"Throw her out."
Everyone froze.
Lei Ming stammered:
"Y-Yue'er… shouldn't we investigate first—"
Lei Yue glanced at him.
Just a glance.
Lei Ming immediately shut up.
Two guards stepped forward.
Lei Rong screamed.
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS! I'M THE ADOPTED DAUGHTER—! I'M LOVED—!"
Lei Yue said lightly:
"Not today."
They dragged Lei Rong out.
Her screams echoed through the compound.
Lei Hua stood there shaking like a leaf.
(*ONE SENTENCE. ONE. SENTENCE. AND SHE'S GONE. THIS IS NOT A PERSON THIS IS A NATURAL DISASTER—*)
Lei Yue turned to Lei Hua again.
"You."
Lei Hua jumped.
"Y-Yes my queen— I mean sister— I mean—"
Lei Yue leaned closer.
Whispered softly:
"From today on… stay behind me."
Lei Hua's brain completely crashed.
(*I'M ADOPTED BY THE FINAL BOSS. I WON. I WON THIS LIFE—*)
Lei Yue straightened.
Her voice became cold again:
"And don't get in my way."
Lei Hua nodded so hard she almost sprained her neck.
Outside the compound, five powerful presences slowly approached.
And far away—
In the palace—
The Emperor sneezed.
And said softly:
"…Something interesting has begun."
END OF CHAPTER 9