Chapter 129

Chapter 129: Marriage Mu Yuye looked at the son he had raised himself, and seeing that he had actually committed such a deranged act for the sake of the throne, he was utterly disappointed in Mu Yuyang. Just as he was about to order Mu Yuyang dragged out and punished, Ling Jiayue spoke. “Your Majesty, please wait.” When Mu Yuye heard Ling Jiayue stop him, he asked, “General Ling, what do you have to say?” “Your Majesty, I have heard that the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom gave the Third Prince a poison for which an antidote is required. Why don’t we first pretend to have been poisoned and use this opportunity to demand the antidote from Chu Chaoci? Then, when the time is right, we can expose Chu Chaoci’s crimes to the world. Once that happens, Ye Kingdom will be left without a leader. Wouldn’t it then be ours for the taking?” Ling Jiayue explained calmly and methodically. Listening to her, Mu Yuye fell into deep thought. This did seem like a good bargain. If they could use this opportunity to bring down Chu Chaoci, it would be ideal. But if they failed, they might end up losing more than they gained. Mu Yuye said, “Since you proposed this matter, you shall be the one to carry it out.” Ling Jiayue had not expected Mu Yuye to entrust the matter to her so readily, and she froze for a moment. When Mu Yuye saw that she did not respond, he teased, “What is it? Can you not do it, beloved subject?” “Since Your Majesty has entrusted me with it, I will go through fire and water to resolve this great threat posed by Chu Chaoci. However, this matter requires borrowing the Third Prince for a while,” Ling Jiayue said indifferently. “Hmph. He is no longer a prince. From this moment onward, the Third Prince, Mu Yuyang, is to be removed from the imperial genealogical register and reduced to a commoner. If he can cooperate with General Ling and help bring this matter to a successful conclusion, it can be considered atonement through merit. If he cannot, then he will spend the rest of his life in the prison of the Imperial Clan Court, never to leave!” Remembering all of the Third Prince’s acts of colluding with the enemy and betraying the nation, Mu Yuye felt his anger rise. The more he looked at the Third Prince, the more furious he became, and he simply stripped him of his status and made him a commoner. The Third Prince—no, he was no longer a prince—Mu Yuyang heard Mu Yuye’s decree. Tears and mucus streamed down his face. He knew that the Emperor’s decision not to kill him was already an enormous act of grace. Trembling, he prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing my life.” Mu Yuye merely snorted at Mu Yuyang’s appearance and paid him no further attention. Ling Jiayue, meanwhile, looked at him with a beaming smile. “Third Prince, there’s no time to lose. Let’s leave now. The sooner we deal with Chu Chaoci, the sooner you can enjoy some freedom. Don’t you agree?” After suffering blow after blow, Mu Yuyang had long since lost the sharpness he once possessed. He merely nodded and followed Ling Jiayue away. When Mu Yuheng saw Ling Jiayue taking Mu Yuyang with her, he followed as well. Ling Jiayue instructed Mu Yuyang to write a letter by hand, telling Chu Chaoci that he had successfully administered the poison and demanding that Chu Chaoci hand over the antidote. Mu Yuyang obediently wrote the letter. Once he had finished, Ling Jiayue sent Feng Yu to deliver it. Before long, Feng Yu returned with a reply. Ling Jiayue accepted the letter and immediately opened it to read. The more she read, the graver her expression became. Mu Yuheng asked, “Yue’er, what does it say?” Ling Jiayue handed him the letter. Mu Yuheng took it, read it, and shouted angrily, “What insolence! How dare he make such a demand? Yue’er, you’re not actually planning to go, are you?” Ling Jiayue remained silent, quietly considering the matter. Seeing that she did not answer, Mu Yuheng grew somewhat flustered. “Yue’er, Chu Chaoci wants you to go to Ye Kingdom. He clearly has ulterior motives. You absolutely must not go. There must be another way.” As it turned out, the moment Chu Chaoci received the letter, he knew that Mu Yuyang had failed. In his reply, he wrote that he already knew who Ling Jiayue was. He also said that he regretted how he had treated her back then. So long as Ling Jiayue was willing to marry him again, they could act as though none of it had ever happened, and he would treat her well once more. Ling Jiayue fell silent. After a long while, she spoke. “Yuheng, I have to go. In truth, I am the late former Empress of Dayi. Chu Chaoci slaughtered my entire Ling clan, as well as the Liuhuo Army that I personally raised and trained. This enmity cannot be reconciled. If I want revenge, I must return to Ye Kingdom. Only then can I truly avenge myself.” After saying this, Ling Jiayue looked intently at Mu Yuheng, expecting him to be shocked. To her surprise, Mu Yuheng smiled. “Yue’er, I knew who you were long ago. If you want to go, then I’ll go with you. Have you forgotten? Whatever you want, I will make it happen for you.” “Yuheng, thank you. Then I’ll have to start preparing to marry into Ye Kingdom. Only by taking revenge there will it be true revenge. Once Chu Chaoci is defeated, Dayi will finally be truly safe,” Ling Jiayue said. Mu Yuheng, however, spoke in a sullen tone. “Although I know your marriage will only be expedient, I still feel uncomfortable about it. I’ll go back and make preparations as well. I’ll be part of your bridal entourage and ‘marry’ into Ye Kingdom with you!” Hearing the sourness in his voice, Ling Jiayue could not help laughing. But then she looked at him seriously. “Thank you, Yuheng!” Mu Yuheng said, “There’s no need for thanks between us. Let’s go report this to Father now and depart at once.” Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng reported the matter to the Emperor, Mu Yuye. Mu Yuye was also startled when he heard Chu Chaoci’s demand. “Beloved subject, are you truly certain about this? Marriage is no trivial matter. You must not treat it carelessly.” Ling Jiayue replied firmly, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. However, as long as Chu Chaoci remains alive, Dayi will never know peace. I am willing to go through fire and water for Dayi and will not shrink from anything!” “Good. General Ling, you truly are a pillar of Dayi. Rest assured, I will prepare your ‘dowry contribution’ properly and send you off in grand style. I absolutely will not allow the people of Ye Kingdom to look down on you.” Seeing that Ling Jiayue was willing to sacrifice herself for the nation, Mu Yuye was deeply moved. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” Ling Jiayue understood exactly what Mu Yuye’s “dowry contribution” meant, so she kowtowed and expressed her gratitude. Afterward, she returned to make preparations. When Madam Liu and Ling Taian heard the news, both were utterly shocked. Ling Taian remained relatively composed, but Madam Liu nearly fainted upon hearing it. Wiping away her tears, Madam Liu said, “Yue’er, you really are the bane of my existence. Why are you going to Ye Kingdom again when everything was going so well? You refuse to let me have even a moment’s peace, insisting that I worry myself sick over you. You really are going to be the death of me.” Seeing Madam Liu like this, Ling Jiayue felt deeply guilty. “Father, Mother, please forgive me. I have to do this. But I am not truly marrying Chu Chaoci. I intend to overthrow him when the opportunity arises. I ask that you lend me your support.” Ling Taian looked at this stubborn child before him and let out a deep sigh. “Enough. If you want to go, then go. Whatever you want to do, the Prime Minister’s Residence will spare no effort to help you. Just come back safely.” “Thank you, Father,” Ling Jiayue said. Several days later, Ling Jiayue was married off. The scene was truly extravagant. Chu Chaoci had gone to great lengths to welcome Ling Jiayue as his bride, while Dayi had prepared a dowry procession stretching ten li for her. Everything appeared so beautiful. Yet only Ling Jiayue knew that this marriage was merely the beginning of her revenge. With Cheese Lord, the power of the Prime Minister’s Residence, and the people Mu Yuye had arranged for her, she swore to repay blood with blood!