Chapter 67

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Crisis on All Sides Aside from the people of Dayi speculating about Mu Yuheng and Ling Jiayue, the Ye Kingdom envoys present were also gossiping about the pair’s identities. Everyone there was looking at them with ambiguous expressions—except for one person: Murong Xi. From the moment Ling Jiayue entered, Murong Xi had noticed her. At the time, he felt every hair on his body stand on end, because Ling Jiayue looked far too much like the former Empress of Ye Kingdom. In particular, the naturally noble air she exuded with every gesture was almost identical to that of the Ye Kingdom Empress who had passed away not long ago. After Ling Jiayue entered, Murong Xi stopped a passing palace maid. Pointing at Ling Jiayue, he asked, “Who is that young lady? She’s dressed so dazzlingly that it’s impossible to look away.” The palace maid glanced at Ling Jiayue and replied, “Reporting to the general, she is Ling Jiayue, the legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Ling of Dayi.” When Murong Xi heard her name, his heart gave another jolt. Could the former Empress have returned to hunt him down and claim his life? But how had this woman become the legitimate daughter of Dayi’s Prime Minister? Was it truly possible for two women in this world to look so alike? Or was it merely a coincidence? Pretending to be curious, Murong Xi asked again, “May I ask whether Miss Ling is already betrothed?” The passing palace maid smiled sweetly. “Is Grand General Murong thinking of asking Miss Ling for her hand? Our Miss Ling is the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter. She was previously betrothed to the Third Prince, but the two of them broke off the engagement not long ago. If Grand General Murong has fallen for Miss Ling, you can always confess your feelings to her.” Seeing that the palace maid had misunderstood him, Murong Xi let her think what she wished and could not be bothered to explain. He answered perfunctorily, “That is wonderful. I fell for Miss Ling at first sight. If I could win her heart, nothing would please me more.” The palace maid covered her lips and giggled. “Then this servant will congratulate the general in advance on winning the beauty’s heart. This servant takes her leave.” After curtsying, the palace maid withdrew. No matter how imposing Grand General Murong was in the Ye Kingdom, he was currently in Dayi. He restrained his usual arrogance and nodded courteously to the palace maid. After gaining a general understanding of Ling Jiayue from the palace maid, Murong Xi watched her with a cold, sinister gaze, like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness. Murong Xi thought: No matter which Ling Jiayue you truly are, and regardless of whether you have come to seek revenge against me, I will certainly clip your wings. Just as I did to the unjustly slaughtered Ling family and the Liuhuo Army, I will smash your bones apart, one joint at a time. By now, Murong Xi had already come to regard Ling Jiayue as his number-one imagined enemy—one he had to eliminate as quickly as possible. Ling Jiayue, however, had not noticed that Murong Xi had recognized her. Yet on the path of revenge, Ling Jiayue had never feared anyone. She would cut through every obstacle in her way. No matter how difficult the road became, Ling Jiayue would personally kill Chu Chaoci and Murong Xi. Even if Murong Xi did not make himself her enemy, Ling Jiayue would still kill him. From the moment Murong Xi had helped Chu Chaoci push the Ling family and the Liuhuo Army into a dead end, the three of them had been locked in a life-or-death struggle! Ling Jiayue was still fretting over the clothes she had worn today, while Mu Yuheng was secretly congratulating himself. After all, the effect he had wanted had been achieved. At this banquet, aside from the Third Prince, who hated Ling Jiayue, there were also Murong Xi and Ling Yuwan, who was seated behind Ling Jiayue. Though the three of them each harbored their own schemes, all of them wanted Ling Jiayue dead. A peach-blossom banquet meant to bring young men and women together in marriage had now become a place fraught with danger for Ling Jiayue! Yet aside from remaining wary of the Third Prince before her, Ling Jiayue knew nothing about Murong Xi or Ling Yuwan. “Yue’er, find an opportunity later to go and change out of those clothes. They’re too eye-catching. You only just caused a great commotion by breaking off your engagement with the Third Prince. Don’t get entangled with the Seventh Prince as well,” Madam Liu whispered to Ling Jiayue when there was a lull. Ling Jiayue had long wanted to change out of the beautiful clothes, but she had not been able to find an opportunity. She said to Madam Liu, “Mother, I want to change too, but I haven’t found the chance. Later, you can say that I can’t hold my liquor. Then I’ll have Danyun and Lingxue help me down to change.” That was exactly what Madam Liu wanted to hear. She agreed, “All right, Yue’er. Go change out of your clothes later.” The whispers between Ling Jiayue and Madam Liu did not escape the notice of Ling Jiaxuan and Mu Yuheng in the men’s seating area opposite them. Both of them guessed that Ling Jiayue wanted to change her clothes, but their thoughts were completely different. Ling Jiaxuan shared Ling Jiayue’s feelings and wanted her to change as soon as possible. Mu Yuheng, however, did not want her to change at all. He wished everyone in the world could see the two of them wearing matching couple’s outfits, but he could not bring himself to say so. Feng Yan sneered inwardly at his master’s method of pursuing a girl. If he were pursuing Lingxue, he absolutely would not use such a method. He would certainly make Lingxue willingly put on the clothes herself. However, Feng Yan did not dare let these thoughts show. He was afraid Mu Yuheng would punish him. When Ling Jiayue decided the time was right, she secretly gave Madam Liu a look. Madam Liu understood immediately. Ling Jiayue then pretended that the alcohol had gone to her head and that she could not sit steadily. She even accidentally spilled a little wine on her skirt. Ling Jiayue rarely lost her composure, so the Censor’s Wife, seated beside her, spotted it at once and mocked, “Oh my, even the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s Residence has moments like this? I truly have had my eyes opened today.” Madam Liu replied calmly, “My daughter cannot hold her liquor. I’m afraid I’ve made you laugh, Censor’s Wife. Danyun, Lingxue, hurry and help Miss down to ‘sober up.’” Danyun and Lingxue answered, “Yes, Madam.” They prepared to help Ling Jiayue down. Supported by the two of them, Ling Jiayue was just about to rise and leave to change her clothes when Mu Yuheng, Ling Yuwan, Mu Yuyang, and Murong Xi all made their moves. Seeing that Ling Jiayue was about to change her clothes, Mu Yuheng instructed Feng Yan to protect her secretly. There were many people in the palace today, and he was worried someone might jostle or harm her. Mu Yuyang and Murong Xi, meanwhile, each gave orders to their secret guards, intending to assassinate Ling Jiayue in secret and disguise her death as an accident. Ling Yuwan was preparing to accompany Ling Jiayue to change her clothes. She was afraid Ling Jiayue would remove the sachet, ruining all the painstaking effort she had put into her plan. Thus, she took all the powder from the spare sachet she had prepared and scattered it over Ling Jiayue’s clothes. The schemes of these three people could not have been more vicious. Just as Ling Jiayue was supporting herself with Danyun and Lingxue’s hands and was about to stand, Eunuch Chen suddenly arrived with an announcement: “His Majesty and the Empress have arrived! The Sovereign of Ye Kingdom, Chu Chaoci, has arrived!”