Chapter 99

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Underhanded and Despicable When Ling Jiayue heard Chu Chaoci’s words, her expression remained impassive, but a monstrous hatred still surged within her heart. The lives of everyone in the Ling family and all the soldiers of the Liuhuo Army weighed on her heart like a massive stone day after day. She wished she could kill Chu Chaoci immediately—but she could not do so yet! Ling Jiayue composed herself, then said with a smile, “I wonder why the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom has done this. I am Ling Jiayue, the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister of Dayi, as well as a First-Rank County Lady of Dayi. What is this? The Sovereign of Ye Kingdom has come to attend my family’s banquet, yet he does not even know who the host is?” Ling Jiayue finished speaking with a smile, but Chu Chaoci still felt that she was indeed “Ling Jiayue”—his former Empress, the “Ling Jiayue” whom he had manipulated and schemed against for years! Thinking of this, Chu Chaoci completely released his grip on Ling Jiayue’s neck. The moment Ling Jiayue found herself free, she immediately retreated several steps, widening the distance between them. Ling Jiayue looked at Danyun, who had been knocked unconscious by Grand General Murong. Her gaze turned cold as she continued addressing Chu Chaoci. “Why did the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom order his subordinate to knock my maid unconscious? Are you not afraid of being ridiculed by others?” Chu Chaoci merely smiled. “I had no intention of doing so, but your maid was far too arrogant. That was why I stepped in to teach her a lesson on your behalf. Grand General Murong acted rashly for a moment. I hope Miss Ling will not take offense.” Ling Jiayue sneered inwardly. Chu Chaoci was still as shameless as ever. He had clearly attacked her maid, yet he claimed to have disciplined her on her behalf. What utter nonsense! With a cold laugh, Ling Jiayue said, “You have been very considerate, Sovereign of Ye Kingdom. My Ling family’s maid is our own responsibility, and I will naturally discipline her properly. There is no need for the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom to overstep his authority.” As she spoke, she moved forward to take Danyun from him, but Murong Xi refused to let her. Ling Jiayue glared angrily at Murong Xi. “Grand General Murong, please understand where you are. You came to attend a banquet at my Ling family’s residence, and my family welcomes you. But if you continue behaving so outrageously here, do not blame me for showing you no mercy!” Chu Chaoci smiled. “Miss Ling, there is no need to be so tense. Grand General Murong meant your maid no harm. It is only that everything you have done resembles that of an old acquaintance of mine. I was anxious for a moment and wanted to acknowledge you. Grand General Murong was merely concerned for me, and that was why he overstepped himself.” Ling Jiayue had thought she had managed to muddle through the situation, but Chu Chaoci had brought up an old acquaintance again, filling her with disgust. Her tone grew heavier as she said, “I wonder which old acquaintance the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom is referring to! I have lived in Dayi since childhood and have never met the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom. Now release my maid. If you continue acting so outrageously, I will call the household guards!” “But I heard that you were raised in a Buddhist temple from childhood, not in the Ling family residence. I also often traveled to Buddhist temples. Perhaps we truly are old acquaintances.” The more Chu Chaoci looked at Ling Jiayue, the more she reminded him of his former Empress. Recalling everything that had happened in the past, he could not help but soften his tone. “Then you must have mistaken me for someone else, Sovereign of Ye Kingdom. I was raised in a Buddhist temple in Dayi, not in one in Ye Kingdom. I have never set foot in Ye Kingdom in my entire life. You must have mistaken me for someone else!” Ling Jiayue’s attitude grew increasingly hostile, and she practically shouted her final sentence. However, Chu Chaoci had never seen this side of Ling Jiayue—or rather, the Ling Jiayue of his previous life had been far too proper and restrained. This version of Ling Jiayue gave Chu Chaoci a sense of novelty. A desire to conquer her arose within him. He wanted to possess this Ling Jiayue, who gave him such a completely new feeling! Chu Chaoci softened his voice even further and said gently, “Oh? Is that so? Then I must have felt an instant sense of familiarity with Miss Ling—or perhaps I fell in love with you at first sight. Miss Ling, would you be willing to come to my side? I will make you a Noble Consort.” When Ling Jiayue heard this, she nearly retched inwardly. The same old ploy again—and he even wanted to make her a Noble Consort? She would not even agree to be his Empress, let alone his Noble Consort! Besides, what kind of filthy place was his harem? Did he truly have no idea? Ling Jiayue sneered at Chu Chaoci in her heart. Seeing that Ling Jiayue had remained silent for a long time, Chu Chaoci assumed that she had been tempted and continued, “Miss Ling, I like you and value you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. If you are willing to come to my side, becoming a Noble Consort will only be the beginning. Advancing further in the future will not be impossible.” As an emperor, Chu Chaoci loved nothing more than political intrigue and the arts of controlling others. He wanted to take Ling Jiayue into his arms. Perhaps once he grew tired of her, he might kick her aside—but for now, Chu Chaoci was desperate to make Ling Jiayue his own. Murong Xi, standing nearby, panicked. He had attempted to assassinate Ling Jiayue several times. Although Ling Jiayue did not yet know that he was responsible, she might eventually discover the truth. If Ling Jiayue gained absolute power in the future, he would be nothing more than meat on the chopping block, at her mercy to live or die. “Your Majesty, isn’t this being rather rash?” Murong Xi asked tentatively. Chu Chaoci shot him a cold look. Murong Xi shuddered and immediately fell silent. In his heart, he could only pray that Ling Jiayue would refuse. Yet he also knew that power, wealth, and glory were things few women could turn down. If Ling Jiayue gained influence in the future, killing him would be effortless. Ling Jiayue was consumed by an extreme loathing for Chu Chaoci and had no desire to pay him any attention. She merely found his daydreaming laughable. Chu Chaoci, however, thought Ling Jiayue was deeply tempted. He walked toward her and said in a soft, gentle voice, “If Miss Ling agrees, I will immediately go and propose to Ling Taian.” As he spoke, he even extended his hand hypocritically, intending to smooth the loose strands of hair behind Ling Jiayue’s ear. Ling Jiayue suddenly drew her dagger and viciously stabbed it toward Chu Chaoci’s hand. Seeing the dagger thrust toward him, Chu Chaoci abruptly stepped back and demanded, “Miss Ling, what are you doing?” Seeing that her dagger had forced Chu Chaoci back, Ling Jiayue calmly put it away. “What am I doing? I would like to ask the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom what he thinks he is doing.” Chu Chaoci looked at her in confusion. “What have I done?” Ling Jiayue gave a cold snort. “Sovereign of Ye Kingdom, you came to attend a banquet at my home, yet you first intercepted my maid and me here. Then you claimed that I resemble an old acquaintance of yours, and now you say you want to make me your Noble Consort? Do me a favor and go home to look in a mirror. Even if you are the sovereign of a kingdom, you are not so irresistible!” As Chu Chaoci listened to Ling Jiayue’s words, his expression became increasingly strained. His face darkened, and he said coldly, “Ling Jiayue, you truly refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! I have lowered myself to speak with you at such length because I value you. Do not be so ungrateful!” Seeing that Chu Chaoci had finally revealed his true intentions, Ling Jiayue retorted, “Then this humble girl is truly grateful that the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom was willing to lower himself. But I know that I am unworthy of you, so please let me go. You should stop resorting to such underhanded and despicable methods.”