Chapter 78

Chapter 78: The Decision The Third Prince put on an appearance of acting for the good of the country and its people, yet he also agreed to confer the title of County Lady upon Ling Jiayue. However, the Third Prince was not being so kindhearted. He knew full well that if Ling Jiayue became a County Lady, she would become involved in the political struggles of the imperial court. He wholeheartedly supported her becoming a County Lady precisely because he hoped she would be buried beneath the ruthless political strife. The Third Prince appeared to be considering Ling Jiayue’s interests, but in reality, he was praising her to death! He merely wanted to watch her rise high, only to fall hard! After Chu Chaoci proposed conferring the title of County Lady upon Ling Jiayue, he folded his arms and watched calmly. He still refused to give up. In her previous life, Ling Jiayue had gone to the battlefield and attended court; a mere County Lady would naturally pose no difficulty for her. If one had to name the only thing Ling Jiayue had not been good at in her previous life, it would probably have been palace intrigue. “Ling Jiayue” had courage and wisdom, but she was too rigid and upright. She did not understand that things which were too rigid were easily broken. In that treacherous inner palace, she naturally could not survive. “Your Majesty, Dayi has never had such a precedent. If you truly wish to reward Miss Ling, perhaps you should choose another method. Miss Ling is, after all, a young woman. How could she withstand the storms of the imperial court?” Empress Su Wanrong spoke gently at this moment. Though her voice was soft, it carried the inherent majesty of royalty. When Madam Liu heard Empress Su Wanrong’s words, she could no longer concern herself with etiquette. She rose and said, “Your Majesty, please judge wisely. Yue'er is merely a young woman—how could she bear such a heavy responsibility? I do not hope for her to become a dragon or phoenix. I only hope that she may live happily and in good health. I beg Your Majesty to judge wisely and take pity on this mother’s love for her daughter.” Mu Yuheng had originally wanted to object as well, but then he saw Ling Jiayue’s eyes. They revealed stubbornness and strength, yet also seemed to suggest that nothing in the world could truly weigh upon her heart. Mu Yuheng smiled. This was the real Ling Jiayue—fearless and forging ahead without hesitation. Very well. Very well. Mu Yuye had originally intended to follow Chu Chaoci and the Third Prince’s suggestions and confer the title of County Lady upon Ling Jiayue. But after hearing the objections from the Empress and Madam Liu, he hesitated. Should he confer the title of County Lady upon Ling Jiayue or not? Mu Yuye looked toward Ling Jiayue. The woman sat upright, her bearing completely unlike that of the daughter of a mere Prime Minister. A thought suddenly struck Mu Yuye, and he asked, “Ling Jiayue, you may decide this matter for yourself. Do you want to become a County Lady?” Ling Jiayue had been sitting upright in her seat, waiting for Mu Yuye to make the decision. Was she truly incapable of becoming a mere County Lady? She had never feared anything, nor had she ever dreaded anything that might come her way. If Mu Yuye insisted on making her a County Lady, then so what if she entered the imperial court? If she did not enter the imperial court, she would instead gain her freedom. Thus, whether she entered the imperial court or not made no difference to Ling Jiayue. When Ling Jiayue heard Mu Yuye kick the ball back to her, she had no choice but to rise and reply, “This daughter will abide by Your Majesty’s decision.” Mu Yuye laughed. “You sly girl. If I confer the title of County Lady upon you, the Empress and Madam Ling will object. If I do not confer it upon you, the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom and Yuyang will think me too stingy. I ask you a question, and you kick the ball right back to me.” Ling Jiayue merely smiled without saying anything. Mu Yuye continued, “Ling Jiayue, if you agree, I will confer the title of County Lady upon you. If you refuse, I will withdraw my offer and double your other rewards. But you must think carefully. Once I issue the imperial edict, my word will be as good as gold, and it can never be changed.” When Madam Liu heard Emperor Mu Yuye’s words, she gazed at Ling Jiayue anxiously and shook her head slightly. She did not want Ling Jiayue to become a County Lady. Ling Jiaxuan also looked at Ling Jiayue and shook his head. He did not want her to become a County Lady either, because the position was not easy to bear. Madam Liu opposed Ling Jiayue becoming a County Lady because she believed that the Ling family’s influence was already sufficiently great. There was no need for Ling Jiayue to become a County Lady as well; that would merely be adding oil to a blazing fire. Moreover, she knew that the position would not be easy to hold. The imperial court was treacherous and far from peaceful. Besides, Madam Liu had a selfish wish of her own. She hoped Ling Jiayue would stay by her side until she came of age, at which point Madam Liu would find her a man whose family and character they understood before marrying her off. That way, she could protect Ling Jiayue’s happiness and well-being for the rest of her life. After all, Ling Jiayue’s happiness and well-being were Madam Liu’s hopes and deepest wishes. Miss Zhang of Ye Kingdom felt conflicted when she heard this. From childhood, she had been taught the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. A woman had to listen to men and rely upon and obey them; she absolutely could not have opinions or thoughts of her own. That was why Miss Zhang had practiced calligraphy so diligently—to please Chu Chaoci. But Miss Zhang had never imagined that women could also become officials, or that they could shine so brilliantly. Ling Jiayue possessed possibilities that she herself could never have. She was envious, perhaps, but she was no longer jealous. She thought, I should work hard as well. I should strive to shine so brilliantly too. When Ling Yuwan heard that Ling Jiayue might be made a County Lady, she also felt envious. She gazed at Ling Jiayue’s back as though looking up at a lofty mountain. Faced with such brilliance as that of the sun and moon, how could she ever have imagined plotting against her? But Ling Yuwan’s eyes darkened. Even if Ling Jiayue was as brilliant as the sun and moon, she had plotted against the sisters Ling Ziqi and Ling Zixue and Madam Zhang. Therefore, she was someone Ling Yuwan had no choice but to eliminate! Mu Yuyang and Murong Xi both gazed at Ling Jiayue coldly. They hoped she would accept Emperor Mu Yuye’s offer and become a County Lady. Killing Ling Jiayue in the imperial court would be far more open and aboveboard than assassinating her in secret. However, they had clearly forgotten that Mu Yuheng was still there. Ling Jiayue sensed Madam Liu and Ling Jiaxuan’s opposition. She also sensed the Third Prince’s scheme, and she knew that Empress Su Wanrong did not approve either. But she had already made her decision. With a resolute gaze and a clear voice, Ling Jiayue replied, “This daughter is willing to become a County Lady!” Mu Yuye answered, “Good. I hereby confer upon you the title of First-Rank County Lady. From this day forth, you are the first County Lady in all of Dayi. You may now attend court, and you will possess authority of your own. You must make good use of that authority to seek blessings for the people of our nation, so that you do not betray the painstaking arrangements I have made today.” “This daughter receives the edict. Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace. Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long, long live Your Majesty!” Ling Jiayue knelt before Mu Yuye and bowed in thanks. From this moment on, Ling Jiayue was the first County Lady in all of Dayi. This position could elevate her to greatness, but it could also destroy her. It all depended on what she did with it. When Madam Liu saw Ling Jiayue accept the edict and offer her thanks, she became frantic. Grabbing Ling Jiayue, she said, “Does our family really need you to become an official? Do you know how dangerous being an official is? Aren’t you stabbing a knife straight into your mother’s heart?” Ling Jiayue calmly comforted her. “Mother, please don’t worry. Your daughter has considered this carefully. I will never place myself in danger.”